Tactical X Abs is a muscle stimulator device used to burn fat and increase muscle tone. The brand claims that their device “Rapidly Sheds Your Body Fat” and that it uses the “Latest Technology.” 

But are ab stimulator devices actually proven to work? Can they cause harm? What happens if you use it for 24 hours straight? And how does this product compare to other popular fitness devices like VibroSculpt?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze research studies on ab stimulation to give our take on whether or not it's effective for building muscle.

We'll also discuss the risk of side effects, share a video where an influencer tried the device for 24 hours straight, and compare Tactical X Abs to other popular fitness devices to pick our winners (and losers).

Key takeaways:

• Some research suggests ab stimulation burns fat
• Electrical stimulation can cause muscle damage
• We do not currently recommend Tactical X Abs

Does Ab Stimulation Even Work?

Ab stimulation technologies have been studied in clinical trials.

A clinical trial published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine analyzed the effects of an ab stimulator device called the Slendertone FLEXTM and found that the device improved abdominal strength by 58%, and decreased waist circumference by 3.5 centimeters (cm).

A medical review published in the Sports Medicine journal suggests that neuromuscular stimulation can improve overall strength of the muscle.

A 2018 clinical trial found that electrical muscle stimulation reduced waist circumference in obese adults.

Overall, we consider ab stimulator devices somewhat likely to improve muscle tone and strength, and somewhat likely to cause weight loss in overweight adults based on the available research.

It’s important to note that while the underlying technology used by Tactical X Abs appears to be promising, it doesn’t appear that the brand funded any clinical trials proving their specific device to be effective for any health or aesthetic outcome.

Does Ab Stimulation Cause Side Effects?

None of the medical studies we cited in the first section of this article referenced any side effects experienced due to use of ab stimulator devices.

A 2011 medical review concluded that electrical stimulation can cause muscle damage, which is why using a device that’s clinically tested (for those interested in this type of device) is so important in our opinion.

Electrical stimulators use a varying range of power and force, and if the device has not been tested in studies, there’s no way to be certain that it will not harm the body.

Since the Tactical X Abs device does not appear to have been clinically tested, it’s very challenging to determine whether or not it’s likely to cause side effects.

We cannot find any mention of side effects on the Tactical X Abs website at the time of updating this article.

What Happens With 24 Hours of Continual Use?

A YouTube creator named “DRHOBS” used an ab stimulator device for 24 hours straight and documented the effects, in a video with over 160,000 views:

Tactical X Abs vs. Popular Fitness Devices

Here's how Tactical X Abs compares to other popular fitness devices in terms of potential efficacy and safety, in our opinion:

VibroSculpt

This device looks like a massage gun, and is purported to cause fat loss.

While vibration plates at gyms are clinically shown to cause fat loss in some cases, we can't find any evidence supporting VibroSculpt's "micro-compression" technology.

That being said, we consider the device more likely to be safe than Tactical X Abs, due to the risk of muscle damage from electrical stimulation described earlier in the article.

Winner: VibroSculpt

LegXercise

This device is promoted to support healthy circulation, but doesn't appear to be clinically tested.

However, it's likely to burn calories based on its design, and comes with very minimal risk of side effects, as we documented in our LegXercise reviews article.

We give LegXercise the advantage from a safety perspective.

Winner: LegXercise

Tummy Tuck Belt

This company provided no clinical evidence that their device worked at the time of our most recent analysis.

Weight trainers can have negative effects on breath and lung function.

We consider Tactical X Abs to be the safer choice.

Winner: Tactical X Abs

Where to Buy Tactical X Abs

There are a number of products with the “Tactical X Abs” brand sold online. It’s unclear who the official manufacturer is.

While we don’t currently recommend this device, consumers intent on purchasing it may benefit from doing so through what appears to be the official brand website, which can be accessed at this link.

There are many different products called “Tactical X Abs” on Google Shopping, as shown in the screenshot below:

image source: https://google.com

Purchasing from a third-party retailer may increase the risk of obtaining counterfeit products.

Tactical X Abs Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Minimally invasive
• May support muscle growth
• May support weight loss
• Passive

Cons:

• Brand doesn’t appear clinically tested
• One clinical trial found electrical stimulation to cause muscle damage
• Unclear official manufacturer
• Unclear device specifications

Conclusion

Tactical X Abs is an interesting brand, and the idea of passive fat loss and muscle growth is understandably intriguing to many consumers.

We consider the product potentially effective, because the underlying technology does have some research backing.

However, we don’t currently recommend this brand because device specifications are not currently published on the brand’s product page, and at least one clinical trial found that neuromuscular stimulation can cause muscle damage.

We hope that in the future, Tactical X Abs funds a clinical trial showing their product to be safe and effective. If that occurs, we will consider recommending this brand.

For consumers intent on purchasing Tactical X Abs, we recommend doing so through the website we linked to in this article.

There are a number of competing brands selling under the same trade name on Google Shopping, and purchasing from a third-party retailer may increase the risk of getting a counterfeit product.

We consider Tactical X Abs to be a safer choice than Tummy Tuck Belt, but to be less safe than VibroSculpt and LegXercise.