Review : Gymboss interval timer
By Scott Bird
This is a great little thing.
Although I first heard the name quite some time ago, it was only fairly recently that I began my foray into the world of interval training (more on that in a minute). For this type of session, the Gymboss is a perfect workout partner.
Before I talk about the device itself, let’s take a brief look at interval training.
What is interval training?
Interval training takes almost any cardiovascular exercise (running, cycling and so on) and incorporates alternating bursts of intense and moderate work. For example, on a stationary cycle you may pedal as fast as you can for 20 seconds; then continue at a much more modest pace for 10 seconds. Then 20 seconds flat out again. Keep repeating this for several minutes.
This form of training is believed by many to promote fat loss; and several studies (I’ve noted a couple of these below) support this line of thinking.
What does the Gymboss do? How does it help?
The tricky part of this style of training is often timing the intervals. Whilst you could just look at your watch or a clock, this takes your focus away from the task at hand. This is where the Gymboss steps in.
After telling the Gymboss how long you would like each interval, it will beep (or vibrate, or both) at you each time you need to switch from fast -> slow or vice-versa. This alarm will keep going off at the end of each interval as many times as you like.
Just to make life even easier, the Gymboss is small and clips to a belt (or anything else convenient). Very well designed, easy to use and exactly as I’d want it to be. Perfect.
Final thoughts
As Jim pointed out on Lean and Hungry Fitness (an excellent site, incidentally) :
I guarantee, 20 seconds has never felt so long, 10 seconds never so short, and four minutes never so painful.
Studies
A couple of the studies I touched on above :
- Short-term sprint interval versus traditional endurance training
- Two weeks of high-intensity aerobic interval training increases the capacity for fat oxidation during exercise in women
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 and is filed under Exercise.Tagged: Fat Loss, interval training
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September 11th, 2007 20:52
a buddy of mine has been preaching to me for many years to try the interval training technique. i just did it today and it whooped my butt.
September 12th, 2007 08:21
I practice the HIIT method during almost every cardio workout. (High Intensity Interval Training). And yes Israel, you are absolutely correct when you say it whoops your butt.
I am seriously soaking wet when I am done.
This little gadget is pretty cool, especially if you are horrible at keeping track of time (like me). I have been using the pre designed interval programs on the cardio machines, and this could definatly make it easier to incorporate my own program while using them.
September 12th, 2007 10:52
My Ultra Homeopathic physician has temporarily taken HIIT off my plate until we get my inner biochemistry back in order. She’s put me on a strict program of long duration low intensity cardio along with my heavy training sessions.
I’m going to miss HIIT for the little while I’m doing this, but getting my health and biochemistry back in order is of critical importance to me. When my insides are working properly, everything else just happens with less effort.
September 19th, 2007 08:13
The Gymboss is a merciless trainer! I am also using it for the Tabata Protocol and it truly does help keep you focused and shocked how painful 4 minutes of hard work can be!
October 14th, 2007 14:27
We have just started using the gymboss for our swim teams circuit. It saves us (the coaches) so much time, not having to watch the clock. We can critique the swimmers technique and work in the pool while others are doing dryland. Thank you!
October 14th, 2007 15:10
Cheers Tim, sounds great. It’s one of my favourite workout tools.
November 8th, 2007 06:29
I ordered a gymboss timer based on recommendations from people I’d seen doing crossfit. It’s great that during tabata workouts now, I get to concentrate more on my technique instead of having to keep track of rep count, form, *and* time remaining in a set.
But just as impressive to me was the customer service from Gymboss. My on-campus post office has been known to lose or delay packages. I sent a brief email to Gymboss to ask whether PayPal had passed along my payment, and the *moment* they heard I hadn’t received the order, they rushed out a second one. All I had to do was be happy when the first package arrived, and mark the second “return to sender.”
November 18th, 2007 11:03
I bought the GYMBOSS timer for my husband and he absolutely loves it. He sais it is the best timer he ever had. He uses every day and it is good for many activities. We take it with us every time we travel too since it is so small. On top of that, it is very easy to use.
November 20th, 2007 04:22
Nick, I agree. It’s amazing customer service. I recently bought one for a friend of mine, and the package was damaged in transit. A replacement was immediately shipped out, at no extra cost. Brilliant.
Ursula, that’s a great point about the usefulness when travelling. It’s a perfect on-the-road size.
January 31st, 2008 16:11
I love my gymboss interval timer. I use it for weightlifting and for cardio. Works awesome to time rounds hitting the heavy bags and speed bags. Used the evelast boxing time but the gymboss has sooo many more features.
January 31st, 2008 16:11
I love my gymboss interval timer. I use it for weightlifting and for cardio. Works awesome to time rounds hitting the heavy bags and speed bags. Used the evelast boxing timer but the gymboss has sooo many more features.
February 17th, 2008 07:30
I reviewed it on my HIIT blog, and I love it!
Gymboss Review.
August 12th, 2008 05:02
I bought a GymBoss and liked it when it worked. I had dropped it a couple of times and it still worked. Then I had it clipped to a magazine propped up in front of a stationary cycling machine I was on. The magazine fell, the GymBoss hit something and no longer worked. I called GymBoss and they replaced it after I returned it. I had it clipped to my workout shorts. When I pulled down my shorts in the bathroom, the second GymBoss came off (it was clipped on now) and hit the floor from about 2 feet up. It no longer worked. I hadn’t even been able to use it once. I didn’t bother calling them again.