I am fully prepared for the bathmate to simply be a good tool to warm up and warm down. As my reading and clgp7’s opinion come to similar conclusions.
However, I am open to seeing if water pumping with one of these systems can bring permanent gains on its own. I doubt it but the ability to use it to warm up gently then end my work out towards the higher pressures in accordance with the IPR Theory I use I think that it will still serve a good purpose. I liked how the Penomet felt, it just didn’t fit properly. And using it to get to a high pressure for a short time is still simple enough, as I pump to 15HG for up to 60 seconds to close an IPR set with air so I can likely handle what the Hydromax will put out for a similar time frame.
I do think my purchase of it as a standalone would be an overpriced purchase. But I will be trying various routines with it as a warmup and centerpiece.
My plan is to start with it in a more marginal manner so that I can get to know the pressures and how they affect me. Then, likely in the summer or early fall that I will try to see if the bathmate can offer something in a more primary manner. Just a matter of experimentation. Though I’m prepared to be disappointed, I admit.