Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5

Last updated on March 14th, 2024 at 12:03 pm

Transparency Note

Exxentric was nice enough to send me the Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5 alongside some attachments for sake of review. The only thing I have guaranteed them is an article write up, two videos (first look and final review), and my honest feedback. At over $1200 for the base unit, you know I am going to make sure this is a viable purchase for the typical home gym owner and won’t collect dust.

Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5 – First Look

Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5 Specs

Flywheel training is like cable work, but way different (I’m great with analogies). It LOOKS similar to a cable machine. You have a strap instead of a cable, but from there you attach a cable attachment of your choice and get to work.

With a cable machine you perform the concentric portion of the lift by pulling (or curling, or kicking, or whatever motion you choose). You often have a portion where you might pause the rep, say at the contraction point for a curl or row. Then the eccentric portion of the lift is returning it back to normal. The tension on the cable is equal at every point. 10lbs is 10lbs, no matter where you are in the rep (not factoring in your bodies natural strength curves).

Flywheel training is a bit different. It is more like starting a lawnmower, where you PULL and hit the end and then it immediately pulls you back. The resistance isn’t equal throughout the range of motion, it ebbs and flows. And the harder you work, the harder it is going to fight you back. Those that have used a rowing machine like a Concept II Rower probably have some kind of understanding of what this feels like. If you have used a Torque Tank M1 with the magnetic resistance, it can feel somewhat the same.

What is unique is that Audrey (my 6 year old daughter), my wife Jamie, and myself can all use the same flywheel for the same exercises, and likely be good to go. There are different sized wheels which provide a different level of difficulty (I struggle to say resistance here for sake of confusion), but in my early tests even the smallest wheel has some pretty gnarly strength to it.

The Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5 comes as the base platform, and you can pick and choose your accessories to fit your needs. Exxentric sent me a pair of D-Handles, Ankle Cuffs, a straight bar, and the hip belt. With these I should be able to perform squats, deadlifts, curls, shoulder work, rows, calf work, and more.

Specs List

• Brand: Exxentric
• Made In USA: No
• Top Surface Dimensions: 29 x 17 inches
• Height: 8.3 inches
• Footprint: 32 x 20 inches
• Weight: 35 lbs
• Total Range Of Motion: 71 inches
• Suitable Athletes: All ranges
• Finish: all black
• Assembly: none
• Additional Items: Attachments mentioned above

Things I’m Looking For in the Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5

I want to be able to use the Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5 in the garage on a regular basis. I’m looking to perform squats on it (like a belt squat), RDLs, curls, and likely some other things here and there to mix it up.

I also want to include this in the house. My wife trains Friday, Saturday, Sundays. We often have sports games on Saturdays or other conflicts on the weekends in the mornings. During the summer months this can mean she has to do her workouts in the 100+ degree garage, which isn’t ideal. So my thought is that this is going to be a game changer for us.

Bring this inside, a pair of dumbbells, a few cable attachments, maybe the Booty Sprout, and we are in business. Even the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD could be wheeled inside for some additional work. This would give her full access to everything she needs to perform a valid workout in the air conditioned comfort of our house.

I also would like to see how this works with my daughter Audrey. Is it easy enough for a child to get the grasp of how it works, and be able to use the same plates that I’m using. On that idea, maybe I can trick my 70+ year old mom to try it out. She hates exercise, so we might be able to get a big win here with something unique.

Other Options On The Market

Flywheel devices aren’t exactly huge. So for direct comparison, you have items like the Kabuki Flywheels and a few other similar products on the market.

The real comparison here is going to be to things like the Beyond Power Voltra I, or the newer items like the Shogun FLEX. These are portable, take up minimal space, allow you to train movements in various ways, without dedicating space to a massive cable tower.

Now again, flywheel training is meant to inherently be DIFFERENT than cable work. So those aren’t apples to apples competitors. More so different options for portable training.

Sign Up For More

✅ I’ll have a full review on this in a few months. Myself, my wife, and my daughter will play around with the Exxentric kBox Active Platform V5 to see what we like, what we don’t, and share our thoughts. If you have something specific you’d like answered, let me know.

Sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss the review and all the other home gym content I’ve got coming your way.