Strength is one thing. Stability and balance are two other things! But what if you could combine all three elements into a great mix?
Now you can. Flowtank is the way forward if you want to spice up your strength training a bit! Make it more challenging. And at the same time get lots of benefits from it.
Flow tank – what is it?
I’ll be honest, when I first heard about Flowtank, my immediate reaction was: “Yeah, let’s see.” But I’ll also be the first to eat my own words again. This training tool can do something unique – in several ways.
Unboxing Flowtank
Here you can see what I said about the product the first time I unwrapped it and held it in my hands.
Watch our unboxing video below
Test of Flowlife Flowtank
Imagine how much fun can come from so little! Because it’s actually nothing and yet SO much. If you boil it down completely, it’s probably nothing more than a very strong and airtight plastic bag with an accompanying pump. But I’m fine with that, because the product is unique to me.
It’s not unique to train with water, not at all. But I just think, and here I can only speak for myself, but Flowlife has hit on something fantastic here. A strength training tool with so many different options, and which is SO easy to use. For me, it’s a really cool solution.
We have tested Flowtank in our household. And everyone is actually enthusiastic about the product. Everyone can find something fun to use it for. When my boys use Flowtank, it is of course not with the main emphasis on strength training, as they are only 8 and 11 years old at the time of writing. But it is still a pleasure for the undersigned, who is a football coach in his spare time, to sit and watch how their balance just improves. And it happens through simple play with Flowtank. There does not have to be very many kilos in it, since as written, strength is not the primary thing. But working with an element that is never still and is constantly moving. It is therefore good for both stability and especially balance. A side benefit of this is that you also strengthen some good muscles all around.
I love the flexibility of the product. And I love the effect of the product. If we start with the flexibility. Now I can take a 25 kilo training tool with me wherever I want. As long as I am willing to be 1200 grams more. When the Flowtank is emptied and packed up, it weighs approximately 1200 grams with the pump. It is quite unique to be able to take a dumbbell, kettlebell or training tool with such a large weight with me on vacation or elsewhere.
Flowtank weighs ONLY 1200 grams when packed together
The effect of a Flowtank is difficult to measure. If you only use it for strength training and, for example, larger muscles, then you might be able to follow a little. But it’s all the side benefits that I’m really excited about. A good example is when I do lunges (see also the video further down). Then I use my Flowtank most of the time. Of course to gain a few more kilos, and thereby greater strength, but certainly also to achieve stability and especially balance. When I have my Flowtank over my neck or in front of my chest when doing lunges, the body has to constantly coordinate the changing weight balance. And that makes for both a more fun and harder workout.
When this test and article was created, Flowtank was still a relatively new product on the market. Of course, I could be wrong, but I predict a great future for it. It is a product that can be used for both private and professional use. More and more teams are training together outdoors. Many people like to train with weights. I have often thought that it must be a bigger hassle to get weights back and forth to the participants. This solution is much easier. Either by having the participants bring their own, as they can be purchased for a good price, or by having the association invest in these. Associations can then also offer much more individual weight intervals to the user.
See our full big video review of Flowtank here
How to get started with Flowtank
It’s very simple. You find access to some water, and then you’re almost ready to start the workout. You can watch the short video we made, or see the short description below.
1.
Press the valve down – it will open and you are ready to fill your Flowtank with water.
2.
If necessary, pour some color into the Flowtank (this can of course be omitted)
3.
Fill with water. Until you have achieved the desired weight. Remember to check the weight BEFORE you fill with air.
4.
Click the valve back up. Now you are ready to fill with air.
5.
Fill your flow tank with air. Once you have filled it with air, you should be able to press on the side of your Flow tank and push approximately 2cm inwards.
6.
Remove the pump. Note that there will be a small “whiff”. It has nothing to do with it. It is just negative pressure being released.
7.
Screw on the protective valve/cap and you are now ready to train with the Flowtank.
Now you are ready to train.
The process takes no more than 5 minutes and you’re good to go. You may also want to watch our video below.
See how you can easily get started with Flowtank
6 good reasons to train with Flowtank
Below I have listed some of the reasons that I think make Flowtank extremely relevant in connection with my training. There are probably many more, so the list is of course not exhaustive.
Fiercely effective
As described several times in this test, strength training becomes just that bit more effective with Flowtank. Due to the water and the constantly changing weight distribution.
I would describe myself (at the time of writing) as a hardened user of the exercise “lunges” I do them often, do some of them, therefore the body has also reached a point where it is just part of the training = I don’t feel it so much in my legs and buttocks (those who do lunges after a long break know what I’m talking about. This point where thighs, buttocks and legs are just smashed. Where you have to live with the “drop 10cm before the toilet trick”)
…back to the point. The first time I did my lunge reps with Flowtank, I was back the next day as if I had taken a long break from this exercise. An added bonus was that I could clearly feel in my core that it had also been challenged quite a bit!
Train your whole body – easily
I guess only your imagination sets the limits. I have so many different options for strength training with my Flowtank. Combined with the different handles on it, I’m constantly looking into new and fun strength exercises – for the whole body.
Location doesn’t matter.
I can take my Flowtank with me anywhere – on the tip.
So whether I’m at work, on vacation or something completely different, training with a Flowtank is an option. All it requires is access to water, and most places have that. I love that flexibility. In my small training room at home, I have lots of different weights and kettlebells. What they all have in common is that they’re not very flexible and are actually far too heavy to lug around anywhere. With my Flowtank, I can easily do strength training, pretty much anywhere.
The weight is adjustable
I have too many thousands of kroner in different weights to stand on. Primarily kettlebells. With my Flowtank from Flowlife, I have several of them combined in one solution. It is absolutely perfect for me that you can regulate the weight in such an easy way. It is actually so easy and flexible that I have caught myself doing it several times during the training itself. So you are in no way locked into fixed weight intervals with Flowtank.
Balance is strengthened
It’s obvious that you strengthen muscles, tendons, etc. But that you also get lots of good vibes towards your balance, that’s almost even better. Balance is often a low priority. And unfortunately also something I focused on far too late in my life.
When I, as a football coach (youth), try to learn from me. Then it is with great focus on both balance and stability. And why! Because it is SO important in many situations. If you have good balance, you will be better at many more things.
Damn beard
Now this test was written while the product was new and exciting. But even though everything becomes everyday for everything, I actually think that in 5 years I too would think that training with Flowtank is fucking fun. I’m constantly finding new exercises. There are always old exercises that challenge me in a new way. It’s fun, and it’s inspiring. It makes training more fun.
Flowtank can easily be used as a pillow in the sun
Advantages and disadvantages of Flowtank
It sounds very cliché. But can you afford to only write advantages? There are very few disadvantages that I can see, and so far have found, with this product. I have listed the ones I have found below.
Benefits
Water as weight
The extra twist that water gives in this context. It's cool. It's not new knowledge. but it's just unique now to have a product that has created the whole of it.
Flexibility
Flowtank is just generally flexible. Not just in weight, but also in its use. You can use it anywhere. You can pretty much take it anywhere, as long as you have access to water.
Adjustable weight
When and if you invest in, for example, a Kettlebell. Then it's one strike and out. The weight is what you buy. At home, it has resulted in a lot of money. For the weight ranges I use, they don't necessarily suit my wife's needs. But with a Flowtank we can easily regulate, so that it suits both of us, and actually the whole family. The kids use it too.
The price
Again I have to compare with Ketlebell and or dumbbells. When I see what I have thrown out in kroner on it, Flowtank stands out as a really good investment. An adjustable weight for under a thousand kroner. Wow, I just say.
Disadvantages
Durability (maybe)
A disadvantage, because I have to bring something. Cheap maybe? Or at least not documented yet. But the advantage that Kettlebell has, the massive durability, and you can hardly damage them. I could imagine that if you were unlucky enough to drop your Flowtank on a hard or pointed surface, it could well break.
Or something
As with the aforementioned disadvantage, this one is probably also mostly for the sake of having (more) disadvantage. I actually don't have much negative to say about Flowtank at the time of writing. I haven't really found that many disadvantages to the product.
Why is it good to train with water as weight?
That’s because no two lifts or swings are the same. You are constantly changing. Water is lively, and will therefore, in addition to weighing something down, challenge your stability and balance..
If we start with strength. For example, a regular fixed dumbbell will give you pretty much the same repetitions every time. The same weight and probably also exactly the same movement. And that’s because you’re working with a fixed weight.
With a Flowtank you still get the weight to work with, but since the water is ultra flexible, your body will activate more muscles and tendons, and in this way you will achieve a more complete and perhaps better strength training when using the Flowtank.
My 4 favorite exercises with Flowtank
There are many different exercises for Flowtank. You can always come up with new challenges. But below I have listed my 4 favorites, the 4 exercises I use the most.
Flow tank exercise: Around head
An exercise that I actually really like to use as a warm-up exercise. But try to notice in the video how the water constantly challenges you in terms of both strength and balance.
Flow tank exercise: Clean
A good, versatile full-body exercise, Clean has always been. But it just got a little more licorice with Flowtank. Because now there was an even bigger stability and balance issue to keep an eye on.
Flow tank exercise: Swing
This classic exercise that everyone who trains with Kettlebell knows. A really great exercise, but which also very quickly becomes a monotonous exercise. It doesn’t do the same when you do it with Flowtank.
Flowtank exercise: Lunges
Probably my absolute favorite. Either in one form or the other. When you watch the video, you will discover what I mean when I write in several places that balance can and will be challenged with Flowtank.
Bonus: Focus on Push ups
The last one above is not one of my favorites. As in, not at all. But it’s important to constantly challenge yourself and try to get better. The video here shows how much harder it can be to do a push-up when the surface is not completely stable.
Flow tank for the runner
I enjoy running myself (just like I enjoy so many other sports). But there are still some who don’t realize that running and strength training are a really good combination. If you do it right.
When you work with Flowtank, you also work on your balance. In many cases, this can result in a stronger core. And that’s great for runners. The stronger your core, the more stable you run, and you’ll be able to reduce those annoying sideways movements when you get tired.
Stye in the legs speaks for itself. I really like doing squats and lunges with Flowtank. Not only because I run, but also because I hike a lot. Strong muscles and tendons in the legs, it just naturally reduces the risk of injuries, and you can perform more.
About the Author:
En passioneret løber der elsker at nørde med både løbesko, og selvfølgelig også alt det fysiologiske omkring det at løbe. Ja, jeg har rigeligt med løbesko, det siger min kone i hvert fald. Men jeg kan altså ikke lade være.....