Your pick of 5 best /5 worst equipment

[ebianco]

My favorites:
1. Danskin Barbell (foam covered), coated dumbbells ranging between 3# and 18#
2. Ankle weights for floor work! Wrist weights for aerobic toning
3. iPod Shuffle - my jogging BFF, and knee braces for jogging
4. FIRM Fanny Lifter
5. Jogging sneakers that I also use for exercise videos - $120 from Metro Run and Walk and well worth it!!!

The Bad:
1. The Lateral Thigh Trainer - really DID try to give it an honest effort but it was not challenging enough
2. 6-Minute Abs (infomercial gadget) Didn't really give it an honest effort but it was annoying to use so I freecycled it
3. Bands - don't like the rubber smell on my hands
4. Billy Bands - but only because of the high dread factor. I should try to use these more.
5. Pilates Ring - never got my use out of it, even with Karen Voight video
6. Medicine Ball 4# - just didn't have patience for it. Prefer to use dumbbells

[snapfish45]

Best
My Cardio Barre - use it all the time with Classical Stretch, Callanetics, isculpt ballet and general stretching. Best purchase ever!

Stability ball - doesn't get as much use as the barre, but still use it on a regular basis. Mostly for stretching on my own.

Schwinn air dyne - good old standby that I have had for years. Good way to catch up on old movies.

Nordic Track - Same as the Schwinn

This may seem odd, but the Easy Walk Harness for my dog, Buster. Works great when you just want to go for a good power walk and don't want to do any training. I don't know why it works so well, but it does. Certainly does wonders for our walks!

Not so great

Fanny Lifter - the only thing I use it for is a stepstool. Hate the Firm Videos that go with it.

Bands and tubing - don't hate, but prefer dumbells.

Some crunch, ab roller thing that I got at a rummage sale. Got rid of that clumsy thing almost immediately!

Ballet slippers - would rather be barefoot

2 lb gloves to use for kickbox videos - what was I thinking?