Your pick of 5 best /5 worst equipment

[ssgilby]

Best:

1. Yoga Mat - I currently have a Harmony which is nice but is sometimes a little too sticky for my taste, and despite having it for 6 months, I cannot get the smell out of it. However, I'm not a yoga mat snob. I normally do yoga in my bedroom where my Harmony mat is, but on the occasion DH is using the bedroom to sleep or whatever, I'll do yoga in my basement w/o area, and I have no problems using my old cheapy mat from Target.

2. TransFirmer - I wouldn't do a Firm video to save my soul, but I use this thing almost every single day as a weight bench. I'm really using it on my current BBC rotation, and I use it for Cathes and anything requiring a bench. In a moment of lazyness I'll use it as a step too - two different heights! Although when I'm doing a pure step w/o, I'll use my regular step.

3. Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor - Don't know how I ever got along without. With my OCD nature, I can't believe I survived just "guesstimating" the intensity at which I was working out.

4. Dumbbells - I have acquired a lot of them, so I have just about every weight I need (although I sometimes have to juggle two weights in one hand). I'm slowly acquiring every weight that I need. These too get used almost every single day.

5. Rebounder - I have a really old one, back from when they were simply called mini trampolines. Cast off from my in-laws, which they actually gave us because they thought the kids would like it (and to get rid of it for free). Considering I have PF, without it I would never be able to do a lot of the high impact cardio stuff that I've grown to love.

Worst:

You know what? Other than some dud fitness DVDs, I can't really think of anything I've bought that I don't like. These items don't get used as often as the others, but I don't think I'd get rid of them: stability ball, gliding disks, pull-up bar, multiple length resistance bands/tubing, Magic Circle, weighted gloves, ankle weights, Danskin balls in 3 and 5-lb weights, Firm Sculpting Stick (I actually will use this from time to time (usually for iBallet w/os), but as has been stated, the "twigs" are pretty much useless).

[Sue B]

Best (I take it we're not counting videos?)
1. Reebok step - over a decade of service. I now use it as a weight bench.
2. Dumbbells and barbells
3. Mp3 player (mine is a Creative Zen Nano, currently eyeing the Zen Stone 2GB)
4. Inline skates
5. last but not least, all my DDR stuff! Worth every dollar!

Worst:
1. Firm BSS2 kit. What a ripoff! I will never ever ever ever again buy a Firm kit at launch, if at all.
2. Rebounder - sorry, rebounder fans, it just didn't grab me.
3. Bosu - again, not really BAD, but I couldn't get into the workouts.
4. 3# weighted balls. What was I thinking? I guess they make good paperweights...
5. Slide - broke after only a few uses.

[joycet]

Best equipment purchases for me:

Club Step
Stairmaster
The Firm barbell (It has lasted 10+ years!)
TransFirmer
I third the vote on Nike Shox Crosstrainers; just didn't work for me.


Worst equipment purchases:

Reebok Coreboard
Pilates Circle thing (I hardly do pilates so I'm not sure why I felt the need to get that ring thing)
Push Up Stands


I'm middle of the road about my rebounder. I liked it at first... I hardly use it now...

[Laura S.]

Most used:

1. Reebok step - One of the first things I bought after finding VF and starting to exercise. I still use it multiple times per week.

2. BOSU Sport - It gave me the emotional boost I needed earlier this year to get back into my exercising. I was doing it, but not accomplishing much. Buying the smaller version enables me to do cardio AND strength AND balance and I wouldn't be able to do the cardio on the regular size.

3. Stability ball - My DH bought this from his PT and then stopped using it. I took it over and have used it several times a month ever since.

4. Body/weighted bars - Mainly cheap versions. I find I like the simplicity of these bars, just grabbing the one I need. I have 9, 12, and 18 pounds.

5. Tall box/toolbox - I have used this for years, ever since getting it. It's solid and it's in one unit and it holds some of my smaller equipment.


Least Used:

1. Heart rate monitor - Got it at least a couple of years ago and then haven't used it since the intial trial period. I did a lot of research on how to use it and just couldn't integrate it into my routine.

2. Pilates ring - This piece of equipment would have appeared on the list above a couple of years ago. These days, however, I don't ever use it. I have too many other things I want to do.

3. Various bands - I tend to use my two tubings with handles. I rarely use the bands I have.


This exercise was encouraging. I quit adding to the "most used" list because the original question asked for 5. My least used list I gave up because there's not that much I don't use occasionally.

[LoveMyLab]

The best:

My step with risers
Treadmill
Ballet slippers
Ankle weights
Weighted wrist bands
Dumbells and barbells
Yoga matt

The worst:

Jump rope
Stretch bands
Stability ball
Bike rack holder for the car
Small fan to attach to treadmill

Laura

[Peggy T]

Best
1. dumbbells
2. stability ball
3. Heart rate monitor
4. pedometer
5. stationary bike

Not bad, just not used much:
1. pull up bar
2. step
3. bands
4. gliding disks
5. body bar

[Beechmil]

Best:
1. Club Step, High Step, risers
2. Polar F11 HRM
3. Barbell set
4. Stability Ball
5. Dumbbells (3-40 lbs)

Worst:
1. Firm Sculpting Stick
2. Push Up Stands
3. Yoga Strap (never need it)
4. TransFIRMer
5. Ryka shoes (don't fit me well)

[superfit41]

This is a good thread! It may motivate me to downsize even more!

Most used:

Club Step
Transfirmer
Fanny Lifter ( I simply must keep all 3 of these! )
Rubber tubing and bands ( handy for home, and travel!)
dumbells and ankle weights (should really be first, being used the most!)

Equipment least used:

Rebounder (sold after having it for a couple of months)
Bowflex (videos are a lot more fun and and motivating! )
Body bars (although, I might use these some day! )
Barbell set (I hate to get rid of this also.......... )

Well, I would love to sell my bowflex, but I think everything else I will hold on to for a while longer, at least!

Sherry

[missmomus]

Best:

1. DVD player with USB input - just hook up an external hard drive and I can watch downloads on my tv, no dvd burning required
2. XXL thick yoga mat - I don't like shoes so I use it as a mat for cardio too
3. yoga blocks - I resisted getting these for a long time but they really do help with my wrist issues in downdog - also use one in place of the ball for Squeeze and it works just great!
4. stability ball - fun, fun fun!
5. rebounder - don't use it a lot but I still love it and it was a super bargain


Worst:

1. resistance tube w/the handles - just don't like it at all
2. step - well, I use it for the WHFNs and as a footrest, but that's it!
3. ankle weights - have no idea when or how to use these
4. Victoria's Secret yoga pants, I know they are popular here but found they (size XS) sag and droop on me...ok for around the house though

Luckily there haven't been any big ticket 'follies'...I'm not really into toys and machines, especially when that money could be spent on videos!

[tytbody]

Love this thread.

What I love the most I think is:
1. Pilates Ring
2. Yoga Mat
3. Weighted Balls those 3 pounds soft ones
4. Weighted Body Bar
5. Fluidity
6. I know you said five but..I'm getting some use out of my Stability ball so.. it's a keeper

Least used Call a mover:
1. Pilates Aero Reformer
2. Bowflex
3. Bands - I hate them
4. Club Step
5. High Step


We should trade equipment. lol