If you have owned an inversion table before you are probably well aware that they take up a fairly large amount of space.
If you have a spare room to use, setting up an inversion table is no hassle at all and you can keep it unfolded at all times so you can jump on whenever you feel the need.
However, if you are confined to a smaller area such as a flat, an inversion table can be a very space invading addition to a room.
While many inversion tables have the ability to be folded up when not in use, most are still quite bulky and wide. From personal experience it is also quite off putting when you have to unfold the inversion table every time you feel the need to use it.
In this post we will take a look at some of the more space saving inversion tables available and also have a look at some alternatives such as anti gravity boots.
How much space do inversion tables take up on average?
Most inversion tables have a fixed width of around 27 – 31 inches, while the area the length of the inversion table takes up will vary depending on user height due to the swiveling nature of the table.
The dimensions of the very highly rated Teeter EP-960 are as follows:
60″ x 28.8″ x 58.5″ (L x W x H) when assembled but not in use,
20″ x 28.8″ x 66″ (L x W x H) when folded
and 84″ x 28.8″ x 86″ (L x W x H) when is use at its maximum settings.
The popular and low priced Innova ITX9600 inversion table measurements are 46″ x 28″ x 63″ (L x W x H) when assembled and not in use. When it is in use the length obviously is greater due to the rotational movement of the backrest and leg bar bracket.
To get a rough idea of how the user height affects the length of the space required I took some measurements of my inversion table when the leg bar is set at different user heights.
When assembled the inversion table measures approximately 52″ x 26″ x 62″ (L x W x H).
When set to the lowest height setting of 4’10”, the maximum length when the backboard is horizontal is 66″.
When set to 5’5″, max length is 72″
And at 6 ft it is around 77″ in length.
At the 6 ft setting an area of around 3 to 4 ft in width and 8 ft in length is fairly adequate and provides around a foot of space in every direction. If however you are taller than 6 ft the length of the area needed to accommodate the table would probably increase by a foot or so to around 9 feet.
Overall if you have a space of 3 or 4 ft x 9 ft (W x L) this should be more than adequate to use an inversion table. Obviously if you are on the shorter side less length will be required.
You will also need to consider the clearance space needed when you rotate the table horizontally and ensure your ceiling is not too low.
At a bare minimum an area of 3 x 7 ft x 7 (W x L x H) should just about be OK. However a space of 4 x 9 x 9 ft will be less restrictive if you have the table set over the 6 ft range. Many inversion table brands also recommend that you have a clearance space of around 1 or 2 foot on each side.
So what are some good alternatives to an inversion table if space is an issue?
In a previous post we have explored some other alternatives to inversion tables which you can take a look at. This post highlights products such as the Stamina inLine back stretch bench and the green Inflatable inversion slant board both pictured below.
Both of these devices are clearly less bulky options and certainly require less clearance space and a little less width. You will however still need a decent amount of length so they are not the best option for saving space overall.
So what is the best inversion space saving solution?
The best inversion product to use in a small area has to be inversion gravity boots, which can be used with a rack or bar system that attaches to a door frame.
Having looked around at many of the gravity boots on offer there is one set that stands out as the safest option. The Teeter EZ Up rack and gravity boots chin up system pictured to the right are clearly the best inversion gravity boots around.
This is due to the fact that the hang up bar that attaches to the door frame is included with the boots, and the set is from Teeter so you know the set will have been tested to high standards.
Why I personally wouldn’t opt for other brands
When looking at other gravity boots on the market you will see many of them are from lesser known brands and you are required to buy the door frame bar separately.
With these gravity boots it is often recommended that you use a pull up workout out bar to use with the boots such as the one pictured below, however since I own and have experience using one of these workout bars myself (not for inversion), I would not really want to strap myself onto one with gravity boots.
For me personally they feel a little too flimsy (despite their often high weight capacity limits) and considering some of them cost as little as $20 I simply wouldn’t trust one to hang off while upside down. Even when doing pull ups using a doorway pull up bar it does not feel particularly robust and some users may worry about doing damage to the door frame.
Overall I have no issue with the actual gravity boots from brands other than Teeter and many of them are probably fairly good products.
However, for peace of mind I would certainly be more comfortable in opting for a full set that has a door frame bar (designed specifically for inversion) included rather than mixing and matching boots with pull up bars.
One downside is that the Teeter set is more expensive than the other DIY boot and bar sets, however, the extra cost is fairly justified when you consider the safety aspects and take a look at the buyer reviews and ratings.
The Best Gravity Boots for Inversion
Teeter EZ Up Inversion and Chin Up System with Rack, Gravity Boots and Healthy Back DVD
Maximum weight capacity: 250 lbs- FDA registered
- 5 year full warranty
- Instructional DVD and user manual included
- Suitable for use with door frames 28 – 36″ wide
- Quick disconnect brackets for easy assembly and removal
- Molded end caps to prevent doorway damage
- Heavy duty steel construction
- Foam bar grips for comfort
- Gravity boots feature foam liners and secure dual locking ratchet buckles
- Visit retailer to see buyer reviews
Maximum weight capacity: 250 lbs
