| Author | Message | ||
     Jpeatick New member Username: Jpeatick Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2008 |
Hi there, Do any of you have any experience with the New Leaf metabolic cart in comparison to the FitMate? There is a used New Leaf for sale for $4,000. I am wondering if that is a comparable product to the FitMate. I apologize if that is a stupid question - I am new to the VO2 portion of the FaCT testing. I am eager to learn and need the metabolic cart to do so....and would love to get one that is less than $8,000. Thank you, Jennisse Schule echeloncoaching@yahoo.com 609-613-3503 | ||
| Juerg Senior Member Username: Juerg Post Number: 2070 Registered: 04-2006 |
Hallo Jennisse, Thanks for your question and I try to be as neutral as possible , because we sell the Fit Mate and therefor any thing I write here could be somewhat one sided. First to make a short answer to your question: Any VO2 equipment you can get for 4'000 $ is a bargain. In the current market there are many great affordable VO2 equipments out there. Three of the very common name you will find in a similar price range are: New Leaf, Korr and Fit Mate by Cosmed. All are , this days, of a very good quality and the test results are repeatable and in a good range with the very expensive metabolic carts. I don't like to make "negative " PR by taking any of the above equipment apart . I like to tell you what we where looking for and why we decided for the moment , that the Fit Mate covers most of our needs in the for us best and optimal way. I like to list some needs we had and than you can compare with the other equipment, whether they can cover more less or the same. We tested all of the above and the results were equal and we where happy with this with all of them. What we where looking for. 1. Replacement of sensors like O2 and CO2 sensors. ( be sure, if you buy a second hand equipment of any brand , that the sensor was just replaced ,as this will add more costs once it is in your hand. A O2 sensor will be good for 12 - 18 month and a CO2 sensor much less and has to be changed much more often , even if you not need the equipment. Same is true for a O2 sensors. ( You can't buy one for storage. So you need a way to assess the level of the sensor so you know , when to order a new one . You like that the replacement of the sensor is easy and can be done by yourself and no need to sent the equipment in to the distributor ship. You like to see, whether you have extended warranty on it and be sure if you have to sent it in you not pay a fortune to replace parts. We where looking for: - Small and easy to transport if travelling to camps. - Even possible to make a test in kayaking or Cycling with the unit in a back pack. - no need for a connection to a computer if in the field. - running on battery if no power connection. - enough storage capacity if no computer available. - Print out of tests directly from the unit so no printer needed as well. - no fixed program but the opportunity to use your own protocol ( like we use a FaCT LBP testing protocol.)Manual mode. - no time limitation to finsih a test or training. - Ability to change steps during a test manually if you see the need for it and you are not fixed once you start an assessment. - Ability to use it for a normal supervised workout , where I may show a client how respiratory technique and different respiratory action can directly influence O2 extraction . Therefor we where looking for a live screen on the equipment so the client can work out and can choose and adjust any type of a workout , as the equipment just simply shows live information. - easy to download to your computer via USB cable. Immediately retrieve any combination of graphic over programmed excel and graphic sheet. - Easy to add additional info to the excel sheet like lactate and cardiac information to compare this way. - No returning cost due to the need to buy specific masks from a company and or special big tubing. - Easy to clean and re-use with multiple users. Easy to install and light weight masks for running and any other impact sport motions. - Easy to move or carry , if you like to do a test in a circuit to see metabolic need during a weight loss or circuit training. - Readouts live steady of : VE, VO2 in ml / min RF/ FeO2, so you can see during a test and or recovery phase of a test what is going on and where you may like to take a lactate sample or not. - Wire less sensor for your Heart rate readings, but as well the opportunity to get ride of the heart rate readings from the VO2 equipment if you like to use your own Polar watch for HRV readings and or you may use a EKG or a Physio Flow parallel to the respiratory assessment. - Possibility to re-arrange the pre- programmed intensity zones into your training philosophy and still get it printed out on the effective printout. Summary : The fit mate in US $ is 7.800 $ at the moment. Compare prices and possible additional costs, service and support as well as your personal needs for your testing and your clients you may have. We travel a lot and there is a need for us , that I can move my equipment in a carry on luggage so there is no hassle nor problems with travelling and loosing the equipment. Here a summary from our lab.( Space is just below 50 % of my carry on luggage space, so enough space for cloth for the trip as well. a) VO2 equipment ( Fit Mate ) b) cardiac hemodynamic ( Physio Flow enduro) c) metabolic lactate testing (Lactate Pro) d) and Spirometer ( Koko peak ) e) An individual Bio harness system f) A Spior Tiger Smart g) a SpO2 meter All in a small box. See the smallest Lab in the world. All have some positive and some negative points , so be sure you get the most out of what you put in and you are able to do the testing you plan and not have to provide a protocol you may not be able to accept from your ideas and philosophy. Take your time and come back with more questions if needed but for sure shop around and get info from all sides not just from us , as we may be biased as well. What ever you use successfully comes suddenly the "best " choice, when other equipment could be as well of the same value. | ||
| Art_k82 Member Username: Art_k82 Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2009 |
Juerg, thank you for this information too. I found out that the sensors on the VO2 machine that I had been tested on was extremely old, probably never replaced. My girlfriend's lab is going to be getting some new equipment, maybe I will direct her to the link on FACT Canada for the Fitmate (and Lactate Pro too, they don't have that yet). Cheers, Arthur | ||
| Juerg Senior Member Username: Juerg Post Number: 2071 Registered: 04-2006 |
Thanks Arthur. Here the Worlds smallest lab as a PP.  You can see the small orange equipment on the right side beside the Laptop is a VO2 Fity mate equipment On the chair the blue stuff is the metabolic lactate testing equiopment. On the belt at teh belly is the cardiac hemodynamic. on the chest belt a Bio harness with the ability to do three dimensional force evaluation during running. On teh screen you can see live information on HR, Stroke volume Cardiac output LVET , SVR and EDV in this case. We can have many more parameters depending what you are looking for. This is a live test on a diabetic I kid to assess kcval and reaction at different blood sugar level and possible reaction on the hemodynamic of the heart. Here a bigger view of the cardiac assessment equipment ( Physio Flow )  This can be used as stand alone, so we can now go out and run or bike or ski and have all the info stored and see real activity changes in a race or a field training. | ||
| Jpeatick New member Username: Jpeatick Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2008 |
Juerg, Holy cow! You are brilliant - and amazing. Thank you for the time that took you to write all of that. I don't know how long it would have taken me to find all that out but I truly appreciate your time and willingness to help me. Jennisse |