Fitness Gear Review: Terra-Core

What is it?

The Terra-Core is a balance trainer that doubles as a fully functional bench. It partners seamlessly with dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, TRX, and all other fitness accessories. The bottom side offers push-up handles and other exercises to help build balance and agility. It’s optimal for doing crunches, planks, and building abdominal strength. The Terra-Core is tough enough for any at-home gym.

What you get:

• One Terra-Core. 
• One Workout Poster (suitable for framing)
• One Pump, extractor, & plug
• Free 14 Day Trial to Terra-Core On-Demand 
• Unconditional lifetime warranty 

Review:

The Terra-Core is a large balance trainer similar to a Bosu Ball. OK, let’s face it, it’s a supped up Bosu ball with handles. What makes the Terra-Core different from a Bosu is that is much larger and way more functional. By functional we mean with its design, multiple handles, weight and band bridge options you have a ton of different ways to workout with the Terra-Core. 

Quick note: Let’s start by saying that anything you do for exercise is amazing. The more you keep your body moving and staying healthy the better. Whatever keeps you active and feeling great is a major factor to adherence. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. With that being said, your workouts should reflect your goals. If you want to be ripped with big muscles you have to train for that. If you want to be strong you have to train for strength. If you are buying or using the Terra-Core, make sure it is in line with whatever goals you have. 

Design:

The overall design is great. It allows you to do a ton of different exercises. The Terra-Core weighs in at 28 pounds. While that may seem cumbersome, it’s actually great for the design. You want the weight so that the Terra-Core doesn’t slide around while in use. You will also use the weight to your advantage when performing exercises such as overhead press or bent-over rows. 

The rubber bubble is very well made and very comfortable. With the right amount of inflation, the bubble gives the perfect amount of support for your body during exercise and challenge during stability exercises. 

The Terra-Core has two different handle grips on its flat side. These grips can be used to diversify your exercises by changing up grip styles and performing different exercises. The Terra-Core also has band bridges around its edges. They act to secure your bands during band exercises. 

Versatility: 

Versatility is what makes the Terra-Core a nice addition to your workout regimen. Let’s face it, ab exercises are kind of boring. With the Terra-Core, ab exercises become a little more tolerable. The large rubber surface supports your body and spine at a variety of angles that opens up a ton of exercises to choose from.  If you aren’t training your core, the Terra-Core can act as a HIIT (high intensity interval training) trainer that will get your heart pumping with exercises like burpees, mountain climbers, box jumps, toe taps, push presses, etc. If you’re not in the mood for the type training listed above, the Terra-Core can also be used as a resistance trainer by using bands in the bottom bridges or utilizing its 28 pounds of weight as resistance. 

Overall, it gives an awesome amount of variety to choose from when working out. But here is the catch … Outside of core and stability training, the Terra-Core doesn’t do an outstanding job training anything else. 

Who it’s For and Expectations:

Remember, train for your goal. If your goal is to work on core strength or incorporate HIIT into your workout regimen then the Terra-Core is great. The variety of options are endless and pretty fun. However, if you are using the Terra-Core to get strong and build muscle, it’s going to fall flat. You will make some progress physically, but the lack of resistance is going to have you plateauing fairly quickly. 

People that purchase and use the Terra-Core will be more interested in core work and HIIT workouts. People that love to work up a good sweat and feel drained after exercise would be more interested tools such as the Terra-Core. Ideally though, this works best as an accessory piece to your resistance training program … Not as your main focal point of your workouts. If that’s the case and you want to make this your center piece then crush it. See how far it takes you to your goal and reassess if your goal wasn’t achieved. With that being said, there are a thousand ways to stay fit and healthy and the Terra-Core is one of them. We think it would make a great addition to your home gym and give you even more tools to work with. 

Quick note: if your goal is to lose weight then of course the Terra-Core falls in line with that goal. To lose weight you have to burn calories. The optimal way to lose weight and change your body composition is to burn calories while doing good old fashion resistance training (weight training) and some variation of cardio. The Terra-Core gives you the ability to combine both, but is very limited on the resistance training side. Again, your goal reflects how you train. Always keep that in mind when selecting a program or exercise equipment. 

One of our major gripes with the fitness industry is how they advertise. They will do anything to make a dollar. The models used are typically very lean, with large muscles or fitness-show physiques. They didn’t get that way using the product they are using in the advertisements. They got they way by using weights, eating healthy and doing it consistently over a long period of time. We want to make sure everyone who is new to the exercise understands this and sets their expectations accordingly. 

The Terra-Core App:

The Terra-Core App gives you access to Terra-Core On-Demand. The first 14 days are free but becomes $19.99 after that. You can choose between intermediate workouts, advanced workouts, HIIT workouts, core workouts, upper body, lower body, prenatal and yoga among others. The app and workouts take the thinking part out of your workout, which people tend to like, but not without a price. If you’re part of the Terra-Core Tribe and don’t mind paying the monthly fee then enjoy the many videos. If the price is a bit steep then get a little creative and use some of the workouts we have available here at Cheaterie.