Rated ★★★★★ (5/5).
Product: MAVREX — The Surf & Swim Paddle Trainer for Strength & Conditioning.
I bought the Mavrex Paddle Trainer a few months ago and it's earned its place in my week. If you surf but can't get in the water as often as you'd like, this is worth a look.
The problem it solves is simple. The swell doesn't warn you it's coming. You can spend all summer waiting on the North Sea, then the moment it finally turns on, your arms find out how unfit they are. By the second section you feel like you're swimming through sand. And paddle fitness isn't something you can win back in one session. You've either built it or you haven't. That's the reason I keep using the Mavrex whether the sea is flat or not, because the day it isn't flat is not the day I want to find out I skipped it.
Here's how it works. You get two small pulley units with resistance ropes inside that pull back on their own. You anchor them to a door, clip on either the handles or the paddles (both come in the box), and copy your paddle stroke. It closely mimics the real movement of pulling your board through the water. The clever part is that the resistance stays the same across the whole stroke. A bungee cord gets stiffer the further you stretch it, but the Mavrex stays steady, so you train the way you actually paddle.
There are three resistance levels, running from 2.5kg up to 7.5kg, so it grows with you as you get stronger. It works your shoulders, chest, back and core, and it lets you train for longer paddles without overstraining your back. I have mine set up so I can use it lying prone on my shortboard, which is a great way to build strength while keeping proper form.
You don't need long sessions either. Just a few minutes a day adds up. I noticed my paddle power and stamina improve fast, and other users have said the same after less than two weeks of short daily use.
It's also good value, coming in at about half the cost of its main rival, and you get everything you need in the box: the two units, door anchors, handles, paddles, carabiners, a setup hook, a storage bag and instructions.
Bottom line
It's a well-made, easy-to-use piece of kit that does exactly what it promises. If you live away from the coast, or even up in the mountains, and want to stay surf-fit, the Mavrex keeps you ready so that when the swell finally shows up, your arms are ready too.
Rated ★★★★★ (5/5).