The Prowler

Note: The Prowler is not code for being a stalker.

We recorded a video talking about The Prowler sled from Elite FTS. I don’t really remember what we said about it in the video, but if I recorded the video now, I’d say that it is the PREMIER conditioning tool for the strength athlete.

The more I think about how to use The Prowler, the more I’m impressed. You can literally attack any part of the energy systems continuum by varying the weight and work/rest ratio. Put a medium amount of weight on, and do sprint repeats. Put a light amount of weight on and push it a long distance. Put a whole lot of weight on and push it a short distance. Vary the speed in all of those examples. And I’m not even scratching the surface.

The thing is versatile is hell, and now I have people using it on a regular basis. Kyle, a 15 year old weightlifter that I coach, gave some good insight after using The Prowler for the first time; “They should take people in prison and duct tape their hands to the prowler then release rabid dogs to chase them.” Crime rates would plummet since The Prowler is definitely an ass kicker.

Rip bought the Econo Prowler, which is a less expensive version of the original Prowler. You can read about it, see some videos, and see a review here. Again, I’ve never met anybody from Elite FTS, and nobody asks me to endorse anything (c’mon, this audience isn’t that big), but if I were going to have another tool in addition to a bar, plates, and rack, this would be it.

The Prowler from 70s Big on Vimeo.

If you own a Prowler or have used one, tell your stories in the comments.

23 thoughts on “The Prowler

  1. Where and how often a week do you place these conditioning workouts in your training schedule?

    I am currently working on a homemade version of the prowler, will keep you posted.

    This will depend on what program you are doing.

    –Justin

  2. We don””t have a prowler sled at my gym, but if we did I would have to modify it slightly. As a 70””s Big kinda guy who likes to press his woman overhead, I would have to fabricate a seat for her to sit on while I pushed that thing around….sparks a flying, wind in her hair. Get Big, 70””s Big.

    Haha.

    –Justin

  3. I know it”s not Friday yet but I”d like to take a word to describe what it feels like to bench press 300 lbs for the first time like I done did today: Huge.

  4. I am currently trying to get my gym to get one of these. At their current facility there”s no room, but hopefully they”re going to move to a new 25000sf facility soon.

    Also, I like the chair for the ladies idea

  5. Great input AC!

    I don”t know if AC was there just to look pretty or if we was trying to display his listening skills and his ability to look inquisitive.?

  6. Has anybody used the Prowler for pulling workouts? If so, what kinds of exercises do you do with it and how does it compare to the more traditional drag sled?

  7. I”ve never used the prowler, but I can tell you 200m sprints with a traditional drag sled w/ 3 or 4 plates will blow your legs up like nothing else.
    I”m sure the Prowler is the same way.

    I liken this piece of equipment to the scene in “Conan the Barbarian” where he pushes the wheel of pain, and is the only surviving human slave. know why? b/c he was 70s big.

  8. I have never used a prowler but it certainly reminds me of my days as an offensive lineman. Pushing a blocking sled or other 300# guys around for 6-8 second bursts repeatedly will gas you quick.

  9. At SFCF we don”t have “The Prowler”, but we do have something very similar. The gym recently purchased a pretty nice sled, but the first iteration was a homemade sled that one of our handy coaches made out of some old skis, a metal box, and some pipe. We also use a bunch of metal grates with motorcycle tie-down straps to pull as sleds sometimes. If you can”t afford to buy one online, look around that junk pile in your garage or take a trip to the hardware store. You”d be surprised what you can come up with.

  10. I purchased a Prowler 2 months ago for my gym on an impulse buy while getting a new belt from FTS.

    This is one of those things in the gym that even the hardest working guys shy away from. People look at it with fear and keep a distance from it. I ordered the harness for towing also.

    I think the thing that hurts the most is the urge to slow down when you start to gas. The minute you lose momentum it just gets heavier and more difficult.

    I like the idea of having the person shuttle weights from one location to the prowler then push or drag it back. This lets them contribute to their own demise.

  11. I do a finisher I got from Joe Hashey. You start out with a fixed distance, like 30 yards and 1 plate, sprint to the other side load 1 more plate and head back, wash rinse repeat til you can”t pull anymore weight and then take off 1 plate and work your way back down. This has the added fun of having to pick up all the plates when you are done.

  12. The prowler is a dirty whore.
    I felt like I was pushing through water and cement and my legs felt like jello. Being 4”11 pushing it by the bars is basically me just standing up straight but the low bars were awful…I face planted a few times and was completely horizontal by the 6th or 7th trip and then I was laying on the ground again….it was awesome.

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