Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Order SPRI Corfit Abs Trainer
There's not much to this product - it's a length of nylon mesh material backed with padding attached to two padded handles. You put it behind your neck when doing a crunch, and it keeps your neck properly aligned so you avoid neck and shoulder strains.
It works remarkable well. I've always had problems doing crunches since, despite all efforts to the contrary, my neck muscles get involved. I usually end up with a sore neck well before my ab muscles get a good workout. I've been avoiding crunches in favor of other ab routines but you can't beat the basic crunch for really working the abs.
This is an inexpensive, simple solution that works very well. Comfortable to use and the build quality seems adequate - certainly would not stand up to multiple users in a gym, but for one or two users at home it should last a good while.
If you're handy you could probably build one for a bit less than the purchase price. I have zero skills when it comes to sewing, so I just clicked and Amazon got it here ready to use.
Happy crunches!Get more detail about SPRI Corfit Abs Trainer.
Where To Buy Phoenix 98900 Power Rower
This machine will definitely give you a workout. It has multiple settings for tension, so you can control the intensity of the workout. It folds away, but not easily - it's takes some time and it's awkward to handle so we just leave it out. For the price, it's GREAT!!!Get more detail about Phoenix 98900 Power Rower.
Shop For Sunlite Forza F-2 Mag Bicycle Trainer
The Forza Bicycle Trainer came without adapters. I had to wait weeks for the adapters to arrive from the seller. However, with the adapters that allow use on a bike that does not have a rear wheel quick release system, the trainer works quite well and is great for cold-weather indoor training. Get more detail about Sunlite Forza F-2 Mag Bicycle Trainer.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Spinervals 14.0 Totally Time Trial
This workout is absurd and I would not recommend it for anyone except the elite level cyclist. He has you do a pretty tough warm up for about 20 minutes which get the HR up. Then you do 4 x 15 minute "time trial" efforts at gearing that is really not meant for trainer riding and certainly does not simulate time trialing. There are not many people (even very strong cyclists) who can maintain 90rpm cadence on a trainer with gearing of 53-12. Most of the workout is at 53-15, 53-14, 53-13. It's ridiculous and frankly a recipe for injury. No wonder most of the people in the video are caught cheating with their gearing and look to be pusing 50-60rpm cadence. Get more detail about Spinervals 14.0 Totally Time Trial.
Fold-A-Way Rowing Machine Review
I ordered this machine to be able to work out in hotel rooms when I'm traveling to clients by car. I already own a 'waterrower' that I'd rate 5 stars, and I routinely work out at a gym with a 'concept2' machine that uses air fan resistance (I'd rate the concept2 at 4 1/2 stars).
Delivery was as promised, the machine was easy to assemble, and it is portable in the trunk of my car--that's the good news.
I have now used the machine for aproximately a dozen workouts of 45 minutes each. I can get a marginally adequate workout using it, but I don't enjoy the experience because of machine design limitations.
The dashpot on one side squeeks unmercifully; foot placement & the rotating foot rests limit the workout that legs get. The foot straps are very good, and (when properly used) really lock the feet to the foot rests. That is important because the foot rests have an inadequate lip at the bottom of the heel that is supposed to keep your foot from slipping off. If you are tall (I'm 6'1"), good luck getting a full stroke without the seat slamming into one stop or the other.
Overall, machine is adequate (sort of), but not great. Also, before you buy, go to Brookstone's site & check the owners manual--the weight limit is 220 lbs & my sense is that they really mean that.
If you want a good machine, go elsewhere.
Given the choice with what I now know, I probably would not buy this machine.
Get more detail about Fold-A-Way Rowing Machine.
Weslo Cadence SR 12 Treadmill Walking Belt Top Quality
I almost ordered the replacement track from the manufacturer, however, due to the cost difference, I took a chance and ordered this one. Great product and saved considerable money over the replacement from the manufacturer! The directions left a little to be desired since they were not specific to my exact model, however, I was able to install it and it works great!Get more detail about Weslo Cadence SR 12 Treadmill Walking Belt.
Folding Manual Treadmill with Incline This instant
If you want to have a computer that works, DON'T BUY THIS ONE. A QUALITY CONTROL DEPT. WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT THE ONLY THING YOU GET ON THE COMPUTER IS; 8'S TO BEGIN WITH, ZERO'S AND A LETTER P, THAT'S ALL.
THE SET UP WAS OK, EXCEPT FOR THE BELT BEING BADLY SKEWED AND TOOK QUITE A BIT OF ADJUSTMENT (A QUALITY CONTROL DEPT. WOULD NOT LET THINGS LIKE THIS BE SHIPPED.
Sheldon TronessGet more detail about Folding Manual Treadmill with Incline.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tricep Rope Best Quality
This is exactly what i was looking for. I'm totally satisfied with this product.Get more detail about Tricep Rope.
Stamina 35-1400 ATS Air Rower Get it now!
I'm a competative collegiate rower, I got this erg in order to keep in shape over semester break. The noise and the difficult assembly didn't bother me. The two main problems with this machine are the lenght and the monitor. At 6' I'm not very tall for a rower and I'm not getting anything close to full extension, I'm barely half an inch away from the end of the slide on my drive and I can't pull the handle all the way in, and when I come up to the catch I can still stretch my arms almost past the fan assembly. The monitor displays distances in miles and speed in mph instead on meters and 500m split, making it extremely difficult to keep track of my performance. The seat is less comfortable the solid plastic seats in shells and the concept 2. In sumation this machine is fine for the casual rower, but not for anyone seriously invloved in the sport. Get more detail about Stamina 35-1400 ATS Air Rower.
Lifecore LC5000 Self Powered Light Commercial Grade Elliptical Trainer Buy Now
I purchased the Lifecore LC5000 from Amazon about a month ago and have been using it regularly since then.
Initial observations -- this is a large & heavy unit. Make sure you measure your space and have the room to set it up so it does not feel cramped. You are also more elevated than you are with most gym machines when using it -- I'm 5'10" and have maybe 6-8" clearance above my head with 8' ceilings. Set-up was very straight-forward and took about two hours once I had everything out of the box and laid out. It is a very solid unit and when assembled, looks like a commercial gym machine.
Pros:
Overall, I'm very pleased with this machine and would buy it again, particularly at the price I paid at Amazon ($1299, free shipping). It is incredibly smooth, relatively quiet and has a solid feel so long as it is planted on the ground (see below). Once you get into a smooth rhythm, it feels indistinguishable from the $5K machines at my local YMCA. The heart rate pick-ups (both remote & on the handles) work great.
Minor nits (reason for the 4/5 rating):
(i) the base is too narrow - the machine itself is fairly wide, and the base could have been designed to be several inched wider without impacting clearance through doors, etc. As it is, if I pick up the pace and get sloppy about focusing on staying centered, it rocks side to side a bit. I'm ~200 lbs and imagine this would be less of a problem for lighter people and maybe more of a problem for heavier folks.
(ii) the reciprocating arm handles are further back than the gym machines I am used to; I'll probably adjust to it, but at this point it does not feel completely natural. This could be compensated by foot platforms that extend more toward the back. I've thought about trying to try to engineer an extension for the platforms so I can position myself back further.
(iii) the water bottle holder is tucked under so you can't see it when you are on the machine. It's not a huge deal, but if you want a drink, you need to break your stride to either bend down to see it or grope around - it would have been fairly simple to design it so you can see it at a glance while working out.
(iv) you can't select the info that is displayed as a default on the console during your workout. For example, I like having the timer always on; on the LC5000 you need to hit a button to show the timer and after a few seconds the display then reverts back to its default mode. If your workout is 30 min or longer, you can get a sense of the relative time into the workout based on which vertical bar is flashing, but I really prefer to see the time in minutes elapsed or remaining.
Get more detail about Lifecore LC5000 Self Powered Light Commercial Grade Elliptical Trainer.
Monday, February 22, 2010
LifeSpan Fitness C2 Upright Bike Order Now
Once we got the bike together we liked it, but getting it assembled was a nightmare. My husband and I are both educated people, but these directions (loosely translated by the Chinese) are HORRIBLE. There are diagrams, but they barely look like the parts you have in front of you so are basically useless. The worst part is there are no instructions on how to install the tensioner. They totally omitted that part from the instructions. We are in the process of contacting the company about this serious issue; as the bike sits now you can only pedal at one speed and are unable to adjust the tension. I certainly don't expect this when I spend the money I did (over $500) on a piece of equipment. Another negative is the digital control panel. It's about as low budget as they come; looks impressive, but is all but useless except for the clock. Overall, - very, very dissatisfied with the instructions and certain components, but the bike is nice and sturdy (its ONLY saving grace). If we can get the tensioner issue straightened out I'll return to this review, revise it, and give the bike 4 stars.....but even as I'm writing this I'm thinking "we shouldn't have to go through all this trouble when we spent that kind of money"....
UPDATE: We contacted the LifeSpan dealer regarding the instruction issue. They were very helpful & responded to us quickly. One of the reps talked us through the missing part of the instructions and the tensioner is now installed correctly. The rep stated they are trying to get the instructions updated because they know they are terrible. Hopefully that happens soon. Anyhow, I'm very satisfied with the customer service and have revised my review to give the bike four stars.Get more detail about LifeSpan Fitness C2 Upright Bike.
FlipKlip Treadmill Book Holder 3-Pak Right now
I purchased one of these a few months ago and so many people have asked me where I got it from that I ordered three more to give as gifts. If you are a reader, or know someone who is, this is a must-have tool to read while exercising.Get more detail about FlipKlip Treadmill Book Holder 3-Pak.
Lowest Price Powerline PHYP200X 45 Degree Hyperextension Bench
easy to put together. sturdy. more than i thought it would be. comfortable by hips and adjustable for hieght. good purchase for the moneyGet more detail about Powerline PHYP200X 45 Degree Hyperextension Bench.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Low Price Schwinn Triple-Link Pedals
I own a used studio cycle and broke a pedal. We searched the internet and finally found exactly the same pedal as the one I broke. They are sold in pairs, so I now have a spare. Beautiful. Get more detail about Schwinn Triple-Link Pedals.
Save BodyCraft F670 Hyper-Extension / Roman Chair
Arrived on time. The padding is very comfortable and the unit is easy to adjust for different levels of training. Feels very solid and durable. Very glad I selected this one over the other options available. Without a doubt, worth the extra money.Get more detail about BodyCraft F670 Hyper-Extension / Roman Chair.
Discount Lube-N-Walk Treadmill Lubrication Kit Silicon
It is what it is, a lubricator, but in my case didn't work out, cause the belt stills to stop, so maybe there is something wrong with the treadmill, but this product was ok.Get more detail about Lube-N-Walk Treadmill Lubrication Kit Silicon.
Cheapest Image 7.8 Elliptical Trainer
Ok trainer for the price, but if you need a replacement part after your warranty runs out, plan on paying a ridiculous amount of money for even the smallest items.Get more detail about Image 7.8 Elliptical Trainer.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Cheap Carmichael Training Systems CTS Train Right Climbing II DVD - 2195-2
The shipment for this product was about 3 days late but other than that there were no problems and the product was in good conditionGet more detail about Carmichael Training Systems CTS Train Right Climbing II DVD - 2195-2.
Buying 6 Second Abs - Ab Crunch Machine w/ DVD
I train at the gym 6 days a week and have used the 6 second abs for over 4 years. I do high intensity workouts and am very athletic. That being said the 6 second abs machine is an integral part of my routine. If you want 6-pack abs this machine alone is not going to do it, but don't let that statement discourage you from buying it. The BEST part about it is that you can really target the lower hard-to-reach ab muscles.
I do have to agree about some of the comments about the cheap quality of the parts however. I have had the thing that makes the machine "click" break, the front part that opens to protect the bands break, and some of the resistance bands snap. I called the company about replacement bands and they were very pleasant and sent me replacements for free.
All-in-all the 6-second abs is a nice supplement to any workout...and remember if you really want to see your ab muscles you need to do lots of cardio as well!Get more detail about 6 Second Abs - Ab Crunch Machine w/ DVD.
Buy ProForm 850 Elliptical Trainer with GameFit Technology
Once it's put together it seems very sturdy. But took 2 people 3 hours to put together. Almost everything is put together with an allen wrench, I recommend buying a nice Allen wrench with a handle to get some leverage as some of these pieces are very hard to screw in all the way.
I recommend 1) nicer Allen wrench, 2) exacto knife to get it out of the box and make sure you have an adjustable wrench or you may never get the pedals attached firmly enough which causes them to wobble.
I just stepped off of it and it was great, so if you can handle the assembly it's a good product. The pulse handle bars seem flimsy, but everything else seems very sturdy.
Get more detail about ProForm 850 Elliptical Trainer with GameFit Technology.
Purchase Lifecore R100 Commercial Rowing Machine
After three weeks of using Lifecore R100 I am very satisfied with the product. The quality and attention to details is very good and it is designed to heavy use. The delivery was faster than promised. Good job.Get more detail about Lifecore R100 Commercial Rowing Machine.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Order Multisports 200 Commercial Training Exercise Bike
I was a little worried about putting the bike together. I thought there would be a million pieces and I thought the heavy wheel would be cumbersome. But to my surprise, assembling the bike was so easy! It took me just 25 min to put it together. I love spinning but I hated the gym, so I decided to invest. This bike is great! Very sturdy and heavy for jumps and hills. Fast shipping too! Yes, I recommend this bike highly.Get more detail about Multisports 200 Commercial Training Exercise Bike.
Where To Buy Minoura Rda-850D Rim Drive Rear Wheel Trainer
Last Fall I shopped until my head hurt...fluid? magnetic? tire or rim? etc. I opted for this rim drive, and I'm thankful I made the right choice the first time. I bought the "dial" versus the remote version - your own bike's gears are the best resistance adjustment you can have!
My set-up is a Trek 820 - Even though this rim driven unit doesn't care what tires you have, I changed the stock knobbies to Kenda Kross Plus Front/Rear Slick XC Tire, 26 x 1.95" (road bike manners w/ trail edges). Popping your bike in and out of the unit is a snap. I takes all of 20 seconds to mount or unmount the bike. Great in Spring/Fall when you can occasionally get outside.
Anyway, this thing is solid to the core. Whisper quiet (not having owned a tire-drive unit, I can't compare, but this thing has zero sound). I had 4 months of heavy use on it last winter, and couldn't be happier. Price was lower last year - I think I bought from "GreenMountain" (through Amazon) for about $132. BTW, Thought I'd save the $20 for a CycleOps block and use a phone book - mistake - buy a block.
Bottom line = I was looking for a compliment and occasional alternative to my home treadmill and dumbells - without dropping $700+ for a bulky, single purposed bike machine - this was exactly what I needed/wanted, and it reintroduced me to an old friend - my bike!
Get more detail about Minoura Rda-850D Rim Drive Rear Wheel Trainer.
Shop For Kreitler 4.5in Complete Roller Set
Kreitler's are the only rollers worth buying. Kreitler rollers have none of the problems other rollers do: they are aligned perfectly, have smooth round rollers, are solidly built and sturdy, and are quiet. After about 15 yrs, the drive belt split and Kreitler honored their lifetime warranty and sent a replacement promptly. Also strongly recommend the Killer Headwind Fan - it provides a hellacious workout and the breeze is really nice! Built really well, Kreitler rollers are expensive, will last a lifetime, and are worth every penny!Get more detail about Kreitler 4.5in Complete Roller Set.
Minoura GYRO V270 U-Leg Frame Bicycle Trainer with Remote
Just bought my trainer from elite cycling. Great price, excellent service and great communication.Sturdy and quiet trainer.Get more detail about Minoura GYRO V270 U-Leg Frame Bicycle Trainer with Remote.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lifecore R88 Rowing Machine Review
Background: I have severe arthritis in my knee and can no longer perform exercises that impact the joint (even lengthy walks) without experiencing considerable pain. After using Lifecore Fitness' excellent 900 RB recumbent bike for the past 8 months, for a low impact good cardio workout, I recently purchased the company's R88 rower to exercise upper body muscles and provide an alternative to the bike. The rower was easy to assemble and took approximately 1/2 hour. The instructions are clearly written and well illustrated.
Using the Rower: This machine is very easy to use. The first two days I limited my moderately paced workouts to 20 minutes on resistance setting #2. (Note: Most product descriptions -- including Amazon's -- state that the R88 has 8 resistance settings but this model only has 6 resistance settings, which is clearly specified on the shipping box and manual.) After two days I felt a pleasant soreness throughout my body (legs, abdomen, arms, chest, shoulders, back, and butt), which told me that this machine really delivers. Using this machine provides a more intense cardio workout than the recumbent bike.
Pros: The R88 rower is simple, solid, compact,very well constructed, easy to operate, and smooth. I'd compare the build quality and operation to that of driving a base model Mercedes Benz with a manual transmission. The rower's resistance settings (changed easily by turning a dial) will accomodate almost everybody's fitness level. The seat bottom is firmer than that of the RB 900 bike, which is too soft. The unit folds up and can be rolled into a relatively small storage space.
Cons: These are minor but worth mentioning. First, the monitor is not as well illuminated as shown by the company's advertising pictures. To clearly see all display info, a light (overhead or behind your shoulder) is recommended during workouts. Second, when folded for storage, the machine's wheels do not roll very easily on carpet. Third, while the flywheel fan provides a welcome breeze and cooling effect, the fan is pretty noisy especially under hard rowing.
Conclusion: Investing $699 for this quality rowing machine was a no brainer. The R88 is fun to use and provides an outstanding, impact free, total body workout. My arthritic knee is painfree afterwards. The extra features offered by the R99 rower($200 more)seem like a waste of money. NOTE: I will update my review of Lifecore Fitness' R88 Rowing Machine in a few months. G Miller -- Phx. AZ Get more detail about Lifecore R88 Rowing Machine.
Diamondback Fitness 1000Sr Step-thru Recumbent Exercise Bike Top Quality
Over the years my wife and I have purchased a lot of exercise equipment and used very little of it. We have a "Y" membership and work out regularly and have tried all the various machines and found that we use the recumbent bikes more than anything else. We looked at quite a number of recumbents for our newer smaller home with the idea of having only one exercise machine at home. We settled on the 1000Sr and could not be more pleased. The machine is so quiet we can exercise while watching TV and since so many of the shows we watch are 30 minutes long we ride the bike, watch a program on TV and - bingo - build the body and waste the mind. Watching a 30 minute program provides a decent workout and keeps us from watching the clock so closely. We have finally purchased a machine that we use on a regular basis. On Thanksgiving day, family members were riding the bike all day and universally liked it. Easy to assemble - extremely well built - will probably last longer than we do.Get more detail about Diamondback Fitness 1000Sr Step-thru Recumbent Exercise Bike.
LifeSpan Fitness TR 2000-HRC Treadmill This instant
What a help the reviews on this treadmill have been! My husband and I are both very happy with it. It is in fact quiet enough to watch TV or listen to the radio without irritation, and smooth enough to allow reading a book without strain. It feels solid and secure. The grip areas allow users of different heights to be comfortable. The programs are fine, and function smoothly. I particularly like the ability to walk both uphill and downhill. The manual that came with the machine could have been more detailed and better written, but the machine is well designed enough to make that a minor problem.Get more detail about LifeSpan Fitness TR 2000-HRC Treadmill.
Sole F83 Treadmill Immediately
First of all, this is a great treadmill. It looks great, rock solid when running, very quiet and with just perfect amount of cushioning (gotta believe that it has 40% less impact on joints than running on asphalt).
I actually ordered F80 directly from Sole Fitness. I was trying to decide between F63 and F80, but the better ('whisper') deck (which is really quieter than on F63), warranty, and larger motor made me choose F80. I was surprised to see F83 delivered instead. It was quite nice because I am over 6 ft tall and extra 3 in of the deck is quite good for me. The only other difference is the heart rate % on F83 console, which is not that important. Oh yeah, and F83 is a bit heavier.
Talking about weight, it IS heavy. However, I was able to move it with my friend from garage to the basement (unpacked, of course) with no problems. However, if we had to go upstairs instead of downstairs, it would be much harder. Assembly took about 45 minutes. Those clip nuts are really bad idea, but they worked. All holes aligned just fine. However, my treadmill wouldn't turn on. What a disappointment (read more on Customer Service below).
Now that it works, I love it. Very quiet, smooth. A huge motor which you don't even hear.
A couple of minor issues are:
1. Heart-rate programs HR1 and HR2, while turned on indicate the same thing that they are for weight loss even though HR2 is supposed to be Cardio. Not a big deal because of issue #2.
2. Heart Rate programs will never be used by me. I tried HR2 and I gave up after 5 minutes at speed of about 2 mph (and no, this is not the warm-up, which I bypassed). The programs are so careful as to not to overshoot your target heart rate that they start toooooooo slow for toooo long. On the other hand, using HR2 button as an Autopilot to keep you current heart rate constant worked just fine. So, if I want to use HR program, I would reach my target rate with another program or Manual and then press the Autopilot button.
3. I wish the unit had a couple of buttons to store user info such as age and weight for a couple of users, so you don't need to enter it every time. Although it does remember the previous value entered (you still need to press Enter after it shows it to you). Also, I wish it remembered the maximum speed for each program used in the previous runs just as with age/weight (I have to press UP button too many times each time I choose a program to select higher speed).
4. The console had a little crack at the bottom (under the STOP button) and the middle part of it was scratched (a lot of micro scratches) during shipping due to packaging - the console had to be wrapped with a plastic and it wasn't.
As for some of the complains with Sole treadmills about speakers and fans...the fans are not strong but still they are good for keeping your sweat from dripping all over the treadmill. I ran once without the fans and the sweat was all over. The speakers are not your home-theater-quality speakers. But they are fine to use for 30 minutes while running.
Now about my experience with Sole Technical support (or should I say Spirit Fitness, which actually makes these treadmills for Sole?). I got a call back the next day I reported the issue. The tech said that it is either the console or the harness that is defective. It was Friday and he said he would take it to the shipping warehouse and it would be shipped the same day. On Monday I called and he said it wasn't shipped and he didn't know why. However, he would not do anything else because he did his job: he took the package to the warehouse and his job was done. On Tuesday I called and he said "it seems to be shipped" but no tracking number. On Wednesday I called and he said "it WAS NOT shipped". So, I had to talk to his manager, who promised to find out and call back. Never called back, of course, just as the tech, whom I asked to call back with the tracking number. So, it was finally shipped on Thursday. However, as it turned out, my unit was not defective. One cable near the motor was disconnected (probably during the shipping) and I didn't notice it first when I looked for the problem there. The tech didn't even ask to look there. Anyway, I am glad I got the new console as it was not cracked or scratched as the original one that went back.Get more detail about Sole F83 Treadmill.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Body By Jake Ab Scissor Ultra Best Quality
This machine gives great exercise and I use it every day. I left off the foot support that makes me crunch excessively. You can do this by just not attaching the big plastic foot piece when you assemble yours. With the bulky foot accessory off of the machine I can use one foot on the metal foot bar to add the exact degree of difficulty to the exercise that I like on a particular day. It's cool.Get more detail about Body By Jake Ab Scissor Ultra.
OSIM iGallop Core and Abs Exerciser Get it now!
I was using my iGallop within 15 minutes of its arrival on my doorstep. It is VERY sturdy, but I can move it around without help. On low speed it is quiet enough to watch television while using it.
While I expected to feel the workout in my abs, I didn't expect to also feel a workout in my legs. But I did.
I bought the iGallop to strengthen core muscles during summers when I can't ride horses. The low speed (trot) feels very much like a fast walk. The higher speeds don't necessarily feel like a canter or a gallop but have more of a lateral movement - perhaps like a racking horse? I used it for a week straight in anticipation of a bareback trail ride with a group of friends, and I feel it absolutely made a difference in my ability to enjoy that ride.
Using it is effective and fun, and I recommend the iGallop.Get more detail about OSIM iGallop Core and Abs Exerciser.
FreeMotion X3 Incline Trainer Buy Now
This is 99.999% identical to the same incline trainer you will see advertised on infomercials at night. Whats the .001% difference? Its the name on the product sticker. Thats it. Also you will not get the iFit cards that the other one comes with $30 value. It will use those cards if you go buy them. If you have Amazon Prime the shipping is free.
So about this trainer. I have had it for 2 weeks now and use it every day. The deck is very forgiving to my obese frame. I use cross-trainer shoes and the impact on my knees is barely noticeable compared to running on the road. Honestly the most incline I have been able to pull off is roughly 20%. After that it feels as though I am going to slide off the deck, probably wont but it feels that way and this thing goes another 20% incline over that... can you say billy goat?
The hand grips do not register my pulse correctly. It was so off I went to my doctors for an EKG because I thought I had an arrhythmia. Turns out I didnt, so I ended up buying Polar A4 Pulse Heart Rate Monitor Watch which now has me squarely in my peak zone when I am exercising.
When you get it the assembly is pretty straightforward. Keep an eye on the 5foot coated wires, you will need to use them to pull the hand sensors and other cables through the arms.
My biggest gripe is with the shipper. The delivery person wanted to leave it in my driveway or put it in my garage. I needed it in my house because it was going to rain. My back is in pretty bad shape and it took some convincing to get him to at least put it in the doorway for me. They SHOULD have had 2 people to deliver this. I did not expect it to be set up, just put in the room I was going to assemble it in. The crate is massive and I guess it weighs in excess of 300 lbs. DO yourself a favor and disassemble it completely somewhere and carry in the lighter pieces. I was not sure of the amount of effort to do this, and that is why I wanted it brought in my house. Realistically, I could have taken off 50% of the parts and brought them in and saved my back a little. So, just take it apart where they drop it and carry it all in.
Pros:
>> Very comfortable deck
>> Varied and interesting workouts without the iFit cards.
>> Can use iFit cards
>> Fantastic fan that blows directly on your face/neck while exercising
Cons:
<< Because of the degree of incline ability the deck is about 8" off the floor, while flat, and 3 feet off the floor at 40deg, so taller people may need to duck in an 8' ceiling room (dont put this in a finished basement). You naturally compensate for steep angles by leaning forward, but it might be uncomfortable for very tall people.
<< Speakers are pathetic and can barely be heard over the running motors and fan. Have my iPod Touch cranked to max and its just weak sound.
<< Heavy to move. (put it where it will stay because once assembled its massive)
Overall the cons do not outweigh the pros which are substantial in my opinion.
This is a fantastic exercise machine to use at home, or even in a professional setting (pros may scoff at it though as being gimmicky). Buy this from Amazon you will save a few hundred in shipping alone. If you dont have Amazon Prime, get it for the money you save not paying for shipping elsewhere.
I love it. Thanks for reading my review.Get more detail about FreeMotion X3 Incline Trainer.
Champion Barbell Lat Bar Package Order Now
I was a little skeptical but rest assured this is good stuff. High quality. You'd expect these in a professional gym. Have used them for a while now and still like new (how used can a metal bar get, right?). I recommend these for gym. Well worth it.Get more detail about Champion Barbell Lat Bar Package.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Cross Crunch Ab Machine Decide Now
I've been working out and training others for over 25 years. This product really works!! Don't listen to negative reviews. The product is inexpensive, well constructed, and durable. It is perfect for people with low back issues because your back is taken out of the equation during the exercise. Just concentrate on crunching and flexing your abs at the bottom of each repetition making sure to eliminate any involvement of your arms in the motion. Keep your arms stationary and curl your trunk slightly forward and down. YOU WILL GET RESULTS.
The manufacturer tells you to only do the cross twisting crunches-you can also simply put the product between your legs and do conventional crunches or work the obliques with it between your legs by putting it closer to the inside of one of your legs and crunching to the right side for a set-then put it close to the other inside of your crotch(funny word) to concentrate on the left obliques. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG.Get more detail about Cross Crunch Ab Machine.
Flex Master Ab Rocket Attachment Right now
The Flexmaster is great!!! What's great about it??
Well it has adjustable resistance cords that won't break at all. You can individually adjust each cord's resistance (usually you can't adjust resistance bands). You can work your arms, chest, legs, back, etc.... You can feel the burn as you use them. And you aren't going to get injured like you can with weights.Get more detail about Flex Master Ab Rocket Attachment.
Lowest Price Kinetic Power Computer *Wireless Analog
First of all this computer is not totally wireless. The cadence is wired which was very disappointing. Might as well have bought the wired one for $100 less. Didn't see that the cadence was wired on any advertising for it, if I would have known I would have saved myself some money. Plus there is not enough information on one screen so you have to switch screens to find more of your info. The only reason I bought this was for my husband who wanted the power info on it. He rates it a 3 star, I would rate is a 2 star. Get more detail about Kinetic Power Computer *Wireless Analog.
Low Price Best Fitness BFHYP10 Ab Board and Hyper Extension Bench
I purchased this one to do sit-ups and work on my sides (love handles).. It allows me to do what I want - once it's assembled and properly adjusted.. The installation was confusing; and there's no illusions on what exercises you can do with this bench.. I had to research online and found some exercise diagrams/illusions from other high-end hyper benches.. I was able to use those diagrams and adjust the bench accordingly for each exercise.. Once that's done, I'm on my way to burn my love handles.. Hee Haa!!!Get more detail about Best Fitness BFHYP10 Ab Board and Hyper Extension Bench.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Save iFIT Treadmill Accessory Kit
Having the kit made cleaning and lubricating my treadmill so easy. lad I bought the kit and not just lubricant.Get more detail about iFIT Treadmill Accessory Kit.
Discount Smooth Fitness 9.35HR Treadmill
I purchased this treadmill for my wife after reading several positive reviews from 3rd party sites. Her hip and knee have been hurting her and she had to stop working out on our old 10 yr old $400 crappy treadmill. She wanted to workout but it just hurt too much. This treadmill is supposed to provide a high amount of cushioning that lessens the impact on joints, bones, etc.. Well, it really does! We were very surprised and pleased with how good it feels to walk or run on it. And she's been using it for several weeks now. She's experienced less pain throughout the day because she's been able to slowly build her muscles (which hold her hip in alignment).
I have always hated treadmills (because of the impact and joint discomfort it causes). But this treadmill rocks. It's very soft to run on (but not too soft). And it's made of high-quality parts that will last many years.
PROS:
- High level of cushion that really does reduce the impact of running
- Great Quality
- Great displays (shows your progress on a track and keeps count of your laps).
- Easy to put together, but is big and heavy
- Includes a wireless polar heart rate monitor that works
CONS:
- Too expensive, but I guess it's worth it if it lasts for 10 years
- The heart rate hand grips work for me (male with large hands), but do not pick up my wife's heart rate. Maybe her hands aren't sweaty enough?
- Motion sensitive speed controls are cool but not really useful because I accidentally active them. Thus, I keep them turned off.
Overall, we're very pleased and look forward to not becoming as large as cows are we get older.[...].
Get more detail about Smooth Fitness 9.35HR Treadmill.
Cheapest Horizon Fitness T90 Treadmill
I like this treadmill for the most part; the belt is very functional, plus wide enough to be comfortable walking on. The display is good, plus it has a lot of "space" for things like water and phones/remotes to sit on.
The big problem I have with it, is the incline function isn't working. I've used the treadmill about a week, but have not yet contacted the manufacturer (I have been busy).
The treadmill came unassembled, but for the most part, it was not that hard to put together; I did it by myself in a few hours. I will add a minor gripe that one of the bolts doesn't seem to connect the pieces it should for the handlebar, but a second bolt is keeping it in place.
I want to add, that I only use the manual speed setting. I have not yet tried the other programs.
Rating: 4 of 5, is a fairly good estimate of it. It does work very well, but the issues I listed above prevent a perfect rating.
Get more detail about Horizon Fitness T90 Treadmill.
Cheap Schwinn 131 Upright Exercise Bike
I received this bike very proptly and like almost everyone else the box was open, beat up, the seat shaft was broken during shipping, and 2 screws fell out from somewhere. They had sent the wrong console AFTER I put the entire thing together! I also actually took the console apart twice to see if I was really missing something??? I wasn't - wrong console! So, I notified Amazon right away for a return, tore down the bike, and repacked it to the best of my ability, which was pathetic! UPS picked it up the next day. I had a replacement bike the very next day... talk about quick service! I think Amazon really wanted me to have this bike:) For now, I assembled the second bike in less than 30 min, since I just had plenty of experience with the first bike, and everything is good... except for the fan. It just turns on when it wants too and doesn't turn off unless unplugged. Does anyone know something I don't? Overall, very fast customer service with UPS and Amazon, the bike seems really nice and quiet. Yes, seat is pretty hard... any suggestions?
Thanks,
Liz Get more detail about Schwinn 131 Upright Exercise Bike.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Buying Precor EFX 5.37 Premium Series Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer
I will first start off by saying I workout at least 5 days a week and travel a lot. As such, I have used numerous different elliptical trainers and can thoroughly state that this is the be I have tried yet.
That being said, if you have ever used a Precor trainer, you'll be pretty familiar with all of the features which seem to be standard. One of the things I have not noticed on any other machine is the adjustable arms. You can switch them between fixed or moving. Sometimes I prefer to not use the arms so I found this very handy.
Another Great feature is the Heart Rate Monitoring. This trainer has both the hand grips and the ability to receive a reading through a chest strap. I much prefer the chest strap as I find it to be much more accurate than the handgrips. It does come with a Polar chest strap, but you can use any other Polar chest strap as well. My wife and I both have straps from Polar watches and it integrates seemlessly.
The display is easy to read and is very straight forward. You can choose to customize your workouts or use any number of the presets. Truly you can get a different type of workout everyday if you choose. Another feature that I have not seen before is the ability save user info for 4 different users. Once you've created a profile it will keep track of things like your favorite workouts, best times, and calories burned. This really helps to keep you motivated to go for more.
Overall, I can't say enough about how great this is. The only potential downsides are the cost and the size of the machine. If cost is an issue for you, there may be other machines out there that fit your needs, but this is hands down the best quality in my opinion. I also mention size, which truly should not be a concern for if you are looking for an elliptical -- they all take up space, but you should measure out your space to ensure this doesn't become the focal point of your room.
Get more detail about Precor EFX 5.37 Premium Series Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer.
Buy Cory Everson Bilateral Balance Stepper
This is the 1st disappointment I have had with Amazon purchases. The stepper is not fully functional. There are air-pressure arms that do not work. So instead of feeling that resistance with each step which allows you to find a rhythm and get a good work out....this sepper just klunks from right step to left step... Balance is almost impossible and there is no work out. Big disappointment.Get more detail about Cory Everson Bilateral Balance Stepper.
Purchase Body Flex BT100 John Abdo Bun and Thigh Doer
It really helped me in first 6 months, and then I switch to one of those expensive multifunctional stations. For the price, it is a good buy, and a starter. I haven't have any problem, I am 6' tall, ergonomic, nothing bothered me.Get more detail about Body Flex BT100 John Abdo Bun and Thigh Doer.
Order Stamina 55-2065 Dual Action Elite Programmable Elliptical / Stepper
The Stamina 55-2065 Elliptical/Stepper is a nice piece of equipment. The assembly was pretty straight-forward, it took about an hour and thirty minutes which I don't think was too bad. This machine is not totally quiet but it doesn't make any squeaking, squealing and/or knocking noises like other ellipticals that I've tried. I love the great workout you get with this machine. It works almost every muscle in my body. The workout programs are quite challenging, which is a good thing. I'm still on Level 1 whereas when I was going to the gym and using their machines I was on Level 5. So this is no easy machine, again, that's a good thing.
Likes:
- Straight-forward assembly
- Very nice looking and sleek design
- Takes up little space and quite compact especially if you want to put it in a small space like a bedroom(where I have mine).
- Two machines in one! It's an elliptical and a stepper and it's easy to switch from one to the other. There's your value right there. No need to buy two machines.
- Well laid out out button controls and clear display
- A nice variety of different settings to try or to challenge yourself. They'll always be a program that will give you the intense workout that you want. So this machine is great for people of all fitness levels.
Dislike:
- The dual action bars tend to be a bit on the wobbly side. No amount of screw tightening seems to alleviate this. I'm not sure if this is normal for this type of machine or my product has a defect of some kind.
Minor or knit-picking gripes ;-):
- I wish there was a heart rate monitor on the dual action bars and not just on the stationary bars.
- I wish the display was backlit.
- I wish the water bottle holder could accommodate thicker sized bottles. I know the machine comes with one but I like to use the one I've always used.
All and all, I'm quite pleased with the Stamina 55-2065. I did months of research to try and find the right elliptical. I read both the positive and negative reviews for other machines and I was scared to purchase one until I came across this one. I'm glad I listened to the reviews and got it. This is a solid machine and will definitely give you the workout you need. No more gym membership for me.Get more detail about Stamina 55-2065 Dual Action Elite Programmable Elliptical / Stepper.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Where To Buy Double Grip Seated Row Cable Attachment
what you see is what you get... the quality is good and it works. Great for working the back and lats.Get more detail about Double Grip Seated Row Cable Attachment.
Shop For Stamina 1772 Magnetic Elliptical Trainer
I bought this machine based on some of the previous reviews I read, and I really like it. It really wasn't all that hard to assemble if you follow the directions it did take a couple of people for one part of the assembly, but other than that it was easy. I love how quiet and smooth this machine is. I think it is a great machine for the cost.Get more detail about Stamina 1772 Magnetic Elliptical Trainer.
Pure Fitness Recumbent Bike
Bike arrived unopened but hardware inside had missing pieces...called the company on 12/3 for hardware to put the bike together...as of 12/13, nothing yet....will keep you infomed. Get more detail about Pure Fitness Recumbent Bike.
Kettler HKS Coach LS Rowing Machine Review
Used it for about 6 month. Totaly satisfied. I don't use the fancy heart monitor, I just use it to work out and it's exactly what I need. I am in the decent shape and it has enough strenght setting for me not to worry about outgrowing it.Get more detail about Kettler HKS Coach LS Rowing Machine.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Stamina Air 1725 Cross Trainer Elliptical Top Quality
I am a short person and that's why I selected an elliptical with a 14" stride. It's perfect for me, has all the bells and whistles that I need. The only thing I would like to see on it is a wider base.Get more detail about Stamina Air 1725 Cross Trainer Elliptical.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)