Buying a vertical jump tester can be a daunting task.
There’s very little information on the web about these devices and they’re really expensive, so you want to make sure you get it right.
Having measured my vertical using a vertec hundreds of times in the past, I know all about these devices and can help you decide what product is right for your needs.
Most of these vertical jump measuring devices fall into one of two categories: a vertec or a vertical jump mat.
Best Value Vertec
- Vanes increase in 1/2″ increments for better accuracy
- Significantly more affordable than other options
Best For Teams
Best For Individuals
- Most affordable vertical jump mat on the market
- Super easy to operate & great portability
- Solid accuracy
Both options work extremely well, but have certain advantages and disadvantages which you need to know about.
In this article I’m going to run you through the pros and cons of each of the different vertical jump testers on the current market, and I’ll do my best to help you decide which option is best for you.
Let’s begin!
Best Value Vertec
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PowerMax Vertec
The PowerMax Vertical Jump Trainer is currently the most popular and affordable vertec on the market, making it a great option for the vast majority of users.
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Best Value Vertec
The PowerMax Vertec offers a fantastic balance between functionality and affordability.
It’s made of aluminum as opposed to steel, so it’s on the lighter side, but it comes with pins on the base that you can stick weights on as a counterbalance.
This vertec has colored measurements vanes increasing in 1/2″ increments and measures to a height of 12′, which is standard.
You can expect to pay $150-$200 more for a steel version of the same device, but from having read plenty of reviews, the aluminum frame still does a really good job.
Recommended Use
This is the best and most affordable option for anyone looking to test standing but also running vertical jump.
The Good
Allows you to test running vertical jump – super important for volleyball and basketball.
Significantly more affordable than steel vertecs.
Tip-and-roll wheels as well as weight sleeves are a nice touch.
The Bad
Durability likely isn’t as good as steel-framed options.
Best For Teams
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Skyhook Contact Mat
The Skyhook Contact Mat is a brand new digital vertical jump mat which comes with a powerful mobile app that can track the performance of multiple athletes, making it a fantastic choice for sports teams and organizations.
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Best Digital Vertical Jump Tester For Teams
The Skyhook Contact Mat is the most affordable vertical jump mat that comes with integrated data management, meaning it’ll track the progress of multiple athletes over time.
It is a completely wireless system and connects to a super powerful mobile app that is extremely easy to use.
The Skyhook mat is able to track vertical jump height, reactive strength index (RSI), and can also be used to perform the Scandinavian rebound jump test (SRJT) as well as several others.
You can also easily set up team rosters in the mobile app which runs on both iOS and Android devices.
What I like most about this jump mat is that you get free cloud storage included and there’s no software license fees to make things more difficult.
For that reason, I definitely prefer it over the EZEJump mat (which we’ll discuss shortly).
It’s also way more affordable than any other digital vertical jump mat, making it a really solid investment.
Recommended Use
This is a great option for sports teams looking to track the progress of multiple athletes over time.
The Good
Tracks a lot more than just vertical jump height.
Battery operated (so no annoying wires) and super portable with built in carry handle.
Free cloud storage included and no license fees to worry about.
Significantly more affordable compared to alternatives.
The Bad
There really isn’t much I don’t like about the Skyhook Contact Mat!
Best Vertec
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Jump USA Vertec
Although it’s far from perfect, the Jump USA vertec is probably the best overall vertec on the market. With a frame made from solid steel, it should be more durable than the PowerMax vertec and is a great option for anyone testing larger volumes of athletes.
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Best Overall Vertec
With the Gill Athletics vertec (this was the Rolls Royce of vertecs, used in the NFL combine) recently being discontinued, the Jump USA vertec is really the only other player in the vertec game.
The Jump USA vertec is constructed with steel, making it a bit more solid than the PowerMax aluminum setup.
It measures the standard 6′ – 12′ in height and has color coded vanes in half-inch increments.
There were unfortunately a few complaints about this particular vertec, mainly to do with the pole being extremely stiff and difficult to extend initially. You’ll likely have to use some WD-40 to get it moving smoothly.
You may also need to get a couple of small weight plates to sit on either end of the base to act as a counterbalance.
If you can look past that, this vertec is about as good as it gets!
Recommended Use
This is a more heavy duty vertec that’s ideal for testing larger volumes of athletes. Being made of steel it’s likely going to be a little more durable than the PowerMax vertec.
The Good
This vertec is only ~$75 more expensive than the PowerMax system and has a stronger, steel frame. Edit: The current price of this vertec is actually cheaper than the PowerMax option!
The Bad
A few complaints about the stiffness of the pole and issues with wingnuts not threading through poorly tapped holes.
Best For Individuals
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Just Jump System
If you’re looking for a super portable, extremely simple device to quickly and accurately test your standing vertical jump, the Just Jump vertical jump mat is your best option.
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Best Vertical Jump Mat For Personal Use
If you’re only really interested in testing your standing vertical jump, the Just Jump mat is, in my opinion, by far the best method.
This device is able to calculate your jump height by measuring your hang time.
It’s as simple as hitting the on button, jumping, and then seeing how high you jumped (displays on the hand held controller)!
There’s plenty of stats you can track such as reactive strength index (RSI) by using the ‘4 jump mode’.
You can also try the ’60 jump mode’ which will calculate how well you deal with fatigue over time.
Vertical jump mats, although they’re not perfect, have been proven to be very accurate and are a great way to track your personal progress over time.1https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24852256/
The best part about this device is that it’s extremely portable compared to something like a vertec which is super inconvenient to transport.
As far as price goes, these cost about the same as a cheap vertec, making them one of the most affordable options on the market.
Recommended Use
The Just Jump mat is ideal for anyone only concerned with testing their standing vertical jump (and not approach jump). It’s also the most portable vertical jump tester, making it great for traveling trainers.
The Good
Extremely quick and easy to set up and operate.
Extremely portable.
This is one of the most affordable pieces of vertical jump testing equipment.
The Bad
You can’t test your running vertical jump with these.
Best Budget Vertec
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Tandem Sport Vertical Challenger
The Tandem Sport vertec is a more budget friendly option that, despite its flaws, should still get the job done if you’re not super concerned about accuracy and durability.
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Best Budget Vertical Jump Tester
When it comes to vertecs like these, you can usually expect to pay $700+…
The Vertical Challenger is the only vertec on the market that costs less than $400, making it substantially cheaper than all other options.
Measuring from 4′-12′ in height, the Vertical Challenger does a fairly decent job overall, although it’s definitely not perfect.
The vanes increase in 1″ increments as opposed to half inch increments which is standard for most vertecs. This means you’re not going to get quite as accurate of a reading using this device.
The measurement vanes are also a little stiff and don’t move quite as smoothly as the more expensive choices, but they still get the job done.
It also comes with a reset pole which is a nice feature, as not all vertecs come standard with these.
Overall the quality of this vertec is definitely on the lower side… There was a few complaints about bolts/screws missing as well as holes needing to be rethredded.
For casual users, the fact that this vertec is half the price of the next cheapest option means we can overlook a few quality issues since it’s going to be the difference between being affordable and way too expensive.
Recommended Use
By far the best option for anyone who simply can’t justify spending $700+ on a vertical jump tester. I’d avoid this option for sports organizations looking to test large volumes of athletes – this is a far better option for individual or casual use.
The Good
This vertec is half the price of the next cheapest option and conveniently retails via Amazon!
Comes with reset pole.
The Bad
Measurement vanes increase in 1 inch increments as opposed to half inch increments.
Several minor complaints about quality.
Best Wall Mounted Vertec
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Jump USA Wall Mounted Vertec
Jump USA also produce a wall mounted version of their vertec which is an excellent option for anyone looking to save some space.
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Best Wall Mounted Vertec
If you’re looking to deck out your gym with a vertec, but don’t have enough room for a freestanding vertec, a wall mounted design might be the way to go.
The vertec arm swings 15 inches away from the wall for jump testing and then stores flat against the wall when not in use.
You still have your standard 6′ – 12′ measurement range with this option, however for elite jumpers who can clear 12 feet, there’s no way you can raise this vertec any higher (unless you wanted to move the whole unit further up the wall).
The Jump USA wall mounted vertec is by far the best wall mounted option.
Recommended Use
This is a fantastic option for anyone who doesn’t have enough room to store or transport a vertec, but could find a wall to mount one on. They are the same price as a regular vertec, however, so it’s not going to make sense for everyone.
The Good
Takes up significantly less space than a standalone vertec.
The Bad
Will cost the same as a standard vertec.
Not ideal for freakish athletes who can clear 12′ in the air, as you can’t raise this device any higher than that.
Final Verdict?
If you want to test for running vertical jump, make sure you go for a vertec.
The PowerMax Vertec is by far the best and most popular option on the market currently.
If you don’t need to test your running vertical jump, then perhaps a vertical jump mat is going to be the best option for you.
I recommend the Just Jump System for the majority of users and the Skyhook Contact Mat for sports performance organizations.
My Vertical Jump Tester Review Process
I always make it my mission to be as comprehensive as possible with these product reviews so I can be as helpful as possible to my readers.
Unfortunately, I’ve not yet been able to personally test any of these vertical jump testers, as getting products imported into the Kingdom of Thailand (where I’m currently based) can be a fairly slow and arduous process…
How Do I Know What I’m Talking About?
Having trained full time in an elite development program as a volleyballer for a number of years, I’ve tested my vertical well over 100 times in my life, so I have a lot of experience, particularly with vertecs.
I can’t quite remember which brand vertec we used, so in the interest of full transparency I can’t yet speak about all of the products in this article from first hand experience.
I do have plans to do some more detailed testing and reviews of each of these products while I’m in the USA next year. At that point I’ll be able to update this article with more accurate information.
Research Process
I spent a good couple of days finding out as much information as possible about each of the vertical jump testers discussed in this article.
I read all the reviews and came up with this list of what I believe are the 5 best testers in today’s market.
Until recently, I had the vertec by Gill Athletics as the top vertical jump tester, but they’ve recently sold out and I’m told they’ve been discontinued.
It seems the market for vertecs in particular is quite bleak at the moment, with only the PowerMax and Jump USA devices being available in very limited quantities.
I’ve also been given direct access to the manufacturers of the Skyhook Mat who have sent me several videos of it being used, so I could get a feel for how the device functions.
Continually Updating With New Products & Information
As I gain more experience with these products, I’ll be updating this article so that you know exactly how my feelings towards each product evolve over time.
I’m also constantly on the hunt for new vertical jump testers that can offer value to the marketplace for inclusion in this article.
Feel free to read more about my product testing standards and review process.
Vertical Jump Test Equipment Price Guide
Below I’ve tabulated the rough prices for each of the 5 vertical jump testers discussed in this article.
| Preview | Vertical Jump Tester | Typical Price |
 | Tandem Sport Vertical Challenger | $360 |
 | Just Jump Mat | $799 |
| Jump USA Vertec | $750 |
| Jump USA Wall Mounted Vertec | $760 |
| Skyhook Contact Mat | $1,389 |
 | EZEJump Mat | $2,690 |
Please note that these prices definitely do fluctuate over time, so make sure you confirm the prices if you’re considering multiple options.
What Is The Price Of A Vertec?
Currently you can expect to pay anywhere from $360 to $780 for a vertec.
Cheap Vertical Jump Testers
The cheapest vertical jump tester actually worth looking at is the Tandem Sport Vertical Challenger at ~$360 but it’s very often out of stock, so you’re probably looking at around the $800 mark for the next cheapest tester.
Unfortunately there’s no real accurate and convenient way to test your vertical jump for much less than this.
When it comes to vertecs, I highly recommend spending the extra couple hundred bucks to ensure you’re going to get a product that will function for years and won’t be riddled with issue out of the box like some of the cheaper vertecs are!
