Fizz Magazine

I’ve got to admit that I was a little skeptical about the efficacy of inversion tables, and despite years of chronic lower back pain for the longest time I stubbornly refused to give this method of relief a fair crack. It was only at the repeated urging of a close friend, who having played rugby for over 20 years, suffered chronic back pain far more debilitating than mine, and swore by his Teeter Hangs Ups inversion table, that I finally decided to cave and give it a try.

Being an absolute research nut I hit the internet and read every review of every inversion table I could find. I hit the local sports stores to test drive the available models (not very effective as the sessions are too short to give you a good idea of how well it will work). I was also able to test drive my friend’s Teeter EP-550 table more thoroughly and must admit I was impressed by the build quality and did enjoy some relief even after a single session. In my research I consistently found that the most positive reaction was coming from those who had used Teeter product line. However, I wanted to make sure to do by due diligence and spent several hours comparing the information on tables from Health Mark, Stamina, Kettler, Koolatron and more.

Ultimately I wound up going with the Teeter. The rave reviews the company had received for not only their inversion tables, but for the gravity boots they manufactured, coupled with my personal experience on the device made my decision relatively easy. The next step in the process was choosing a model.

Teeter Inversion Tables

Teeter offers several different models of inversion tables, however my research had led me to their EP line of tables, and I ultimately narrowed down my choice to either the EP-550 or the EP-950. Both tables were available on Amazon and the price difference between the two was $100.

Teeter Hang Ups EP-550 Inversion Therapy Table

Teeter Hang Ups EP-950 Inversion Therapy Table

Both had scored rave reviews from numerous Amazon customers. The EP-950 actually had earned a rare 5 star rating (with better than 60 reviews at the time).

Though having used my friend’s I knew the EP-550 is a quality piece of equipment the extra features and the slightly better reviews of the 950 convinced me to buck up the extra hundred clams.

EP-550 vs. EP-950

These tables are quite similar at first glance. However, the 950 offers some impressive upgrades, including a ratchet ankle lock system which allows you to more easily reach and adjust the ankle locks. The 950 also has a pre-set rotation control – before getting on the table you can use the EZ-Angle Tether Strap to pre-set the angle to 20,40 or 60 degrees. The frame itself is more robust, using a sturdier medical-grade tubing. You also get an Ankle Comfort Dial that allows you to adjust accordingly to your foot size. This makes an enormous comfort difference. Last, and admittedly least the EP-950 comes with an instructional DVD that includes some useful exercises for strengthening your back. Just a throw in, but every little bit helps. With all these extras, and a firm belief that “you get what you pay for” I figured I wouldn’t regret the extra hundred bucks.

So, for $400 I took the leap (note that Amazon’s price is $60 cheaper than buying direct from Teeter’s own website). At 80 lbs, and 4 feet long by 2.5 feet wide it was the largest (sized) order I’d ever had shipped online. However, because the inversion table qualified for Amazon’s sweet Super Saver shipping deal I paid exactly zero dollars in additional charges. The package arrived quickly and in good shape. There was an included instructional DVD that made assembly a breeze and within a half hour of unboxing I was ready to give this bad boy a test drive.

Having used my friend’s Teeter I didn’t have much of a learning curve with my new model. The additional bells and whistles like the ratchet ankle lock system and the EZ-Angle strap were intuitive and in surprisingly little time I was snapped in upside down, with the familiar sensation of blood rushing to my head.

Over the past two months I’ve used the EP-950 on nearly a daily basis. I’ve found it to be very effective at minimizing my chronic lower back pain. Less than 5 minutes a day on the machine is all it takes (work your way up in 30 second increments). Note, I did suffer some slight discomfort in my ankles, (despite the ankle comfort dial) but only while on the machine, and it did not linger as soon as I was back on my feet again. However, if you have bad ankles this might be a deal-breaker for you, as there is definitely a bit of stress put on the joint while inverted.

Customer Service for Teeter Hang Ups

Though I have had no problems with my EP-950 and thus have had no reason to test the company’s response to issues, anecdotal evidence from other reviews suggests that Teeter goes out of their way to resolve problems and to make sure their customers have a positive experience with their inversion tables. Judging from the plethora of 5 star reviews on Amazon I’d say their customer service team is doing an excellent job.

Additional points

Assembled, the EP-950 takes up a fair bit of space at 48 x 61 x 27 (W, H, D). However if space is at a premium the EP-950 can quickly be folded up to a 28 x 66 x 16 for easy out of the way storage.

The product comes with a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty, so in the event you do have issues your EP-950 is covered. This is nice peace of mind, especially considering the $400 price tag. Are you listening electronics companies? Charging extra for an extended warranty beyond a single year is tantamount to robbery. Teeter backs up their product the way all companies should.

All in all the Teeter EP-950 inversion table exceeded my stringent expectations, and though I was very skeptical that it was anything more than a snake oil cure at first, I’ve since done a complete 180 degree turnaround. This is a great product that delivers on every promise it makes. If you suffer from chronic back, joint or even nerve pain this table may just be the pain relief you’ve long been searching for.

Click here to for more information and to read other customer reviews on the EP-950 on Amazon