What are your fitness gadget or accessory fails?

[fanofladyvols]

This topic came up in my check-in and I wanted to share it with the class!

While I have had some GREAT workout toy purchases, there's no way you won't run into a few fails along the way.

So what fitness toys or gadgets were fails for you?

I'll start!

Let's see there was the squishy ring from Danskin: I might as well have used a paper towel roll.

Then there was a weighted jump rope: I never could get the length right... nearly shattered the light fixture and it was just too much for clodhopper me.

Oh the pedometer: it did serve as a flexibility tool because it kept falling off me forcing me to pick it up off the ground

Armband for cellphone: I always ended up having to pull my phone out of it for whatever reason.

Many moons ago it was the home sized step. Well, the home sized step wasn't really a fail because my daughter ended up stepping on it. But for me, it was a frustrating size to try to use for all my step workouts.

I may have more but will need you guys to remind me

[patrice]

I am a life long Firmie, but to me the Wave was a big fail.

Patrice

[txhsmom]

Ditto on the Wave - that was an accident waiting to happen at my house.

Then there was the infamous Firm "Death Box". But that wasn't really our fault.

My most recent fail was the Door Barre. I really wanted that to work - but it wasn't very stable on my narrow door.

I have recently purchased, but not yet received, the CoreFirst Trainer https://mycorefirst.com/corefirst-pilates/ and the pilates program that goes with it. Hoping that is not a fail.

Not a fail, but a success - my Booty Kicker barre. I love it.

Carol

[bubbles76]

For me it was the following:

• Ab roller
• Pedometer - never used it.
• Some complicated pull up assist bands. They kept falling out of their holder. I can't describe it, but will try to link a picture if I can find it.
• Ab Rocket - this is more Big Bubble He never uses it.

I don't use the following as much as I should, but I'm hoping to do more with it:

• Rebounder - just bought stronger bungees, so I see myself using it more
• Weighted jump rope - put my calves on fire this week when I used it, so I love it again!
• Bosu - I was going to use it primarily for cardio, but I nearly tripped on it one time. I've been shy about using it, but I know I need to get back on it. I still use it occasionally for strength work.
• Bands and tubing - I just upgraded so I plan to use them more!

Although I used to own a home step, I don't consider it a fail. It introduced me to my most loved aerobic activity! I got a lot of use out of it.

[wendug]

Originally Posted by patrice

I am a life long Firmie, but to me the Wave was a big fail.

Patrice

I still need to decide if the Wave is a fail or not. I bought it off of Craigslist with the DVDs for $15. I did try all the workouts and liked it; however, I had issues with the wave in the "U" position shifting. It came with some mat to put under the wave, but it doesn't work great. I had to put the wave in storage when we ditched our carpet in the living room (my workout space) when our older doggie became incontinent and would have accidents. The Wave definitely did not work great on hardwood floors. Anyway...fast forward and we have a since lost our sweet doggie, got a new doggie, and bought a new awesome rug for the living room. Alas, the Wave is still in storage. I'll have to pull it out and give it a go again. Maybe try to find a solution to keep it from shifting.

[warriorprincess]

<groan> Kangoo boots. Not fun at all when you're not in a live class.

[kat999]

I actually love the whole Wave system and still use it. I use the Wave itself for the Transfirmer and "death box" workouts, too, since I don't have either of those devices (just align the Wave carefully with a mini step, and then you have the incline, basically). I will say the Wave workouts themselves are awfully easy and render a pretty low calorie burn at my fitness level, but I think they're fun, the music is good, and they're led by all my favorite later-era FIRM instructors.

For stuff that was a waste of money for me, I used to have this machine that you sat on, kept your feet on pedals, and then grabbed the handles to pull yourself into a quasi-standing position. I can't remember what it was called, but I guess the point was that it worked your abs and your arms at the same time? You could put your arms in different positions. But basically your legs were not really doing much. The item was very cumbersome and got quickly used to hang clothes.

Even though I'm a hardcore FIRM fan, there were a few device kits that I ditched, most notably the one with the circular band that Alison leads (Dangerous Curves Ahead, IIRC), the tubing/handle workout led by Tina (too short, the tubing thing would frequently fall apart), and the weighted glove set with Rebekah. I actually still have the gloves, though, and use them for a 10 Minute Trainer kickboxing DVD with Jessica Smith. I think it was just the workout itself that I wasn't fond of.

Stuff I got rid of that I regret: a rebounder, a VERY old stationary bike that actually worked super well, a rowing machine (I think I thought it took up too much space but now I miss it terribly), and a cross country ski machine (again, took up a lot of space, but it was really effective).

I do have a stationary bike now, but it's set to my husband's much, much taller height, so it's a pain to adjust for my own use.

[bzar]

Originally Posted by kat999

For stuff that was a waste of money for me, I used to have this machine that you sat on, kept your feet on pedals, and then grabbed the handles to pull yourself into a quasi-standing position. I can't remember what it was called, but I guess the point was that it worked your abs and your arms at the same time?

I'm pretty sure, based on your description, that that was the HealthRider (described in my post that was donated) or a copycat called the Cardio Glide.

[seagreen01]

The original Fanny Lifter which cracked was a definite fail but it was replaced and no problem since then.
Another Firm fail was a kit with weights inside a pink case. One day I picked up the case by the handle and the whole case splintered with the weights heavily landing everywhere. I could see from the splinters of the case the plastic was so thin I’m surprised it held the weights for even five minutes even though it was supposed to be a portable system.
The Firm loop on the first use rolled into a nasty thin shape even with talc to smooth it out didn’t work. In the bin with that.
I am a Firmie and always will be, I just often find FIRM equipment to not be the same as it looks in the videos when I get it.
The Wave I’m now experimenting with after many years of it being in storage. So far I’m using it for a ramp, step ups and about to try with some Transfirmer dvds as I don’t have a Transfirmer.
Just to end on a good note with the FIRM I love their nice and long flat bands and weighted gloves.

I had a fail with Reebok fitball. No matter how much air I put in it the texture and firmness of the ball never felt right. It was squishy soft. The Core Secrets ball was perfect and still going strong although I have other brands waiting in the wings as I know there will come a time for a new one.
The Reebok mini trampoline squeaked loudly no matter what I did to try and stop that.
I did like the Reebok step although one of the click into place pieces broke off so it is no longer easily portable.

My pedometer was a pain and I never trusted the readings.

I’m not sure about the Bosu, I don’t enjoy the workouts, I find them hard and I never feel safe but for some reason I think I may use it in some other way some day. I hope so it was expensive.
My step 360 pro I like a lot and feel safer on but I have read in a thread that someone had a problem with theirs so I am on watch for that.

I do love the Zumba wide round step. It feels sturdy and good quality, great for FIRM cardio workouts. I feel much safer on that for cardio than on the purple portion of the Fanny Lifter.

I loved my dance socks, they worked well over my shoes but on the second use one of the socks came apart at the seam, sadly a fail.

I love my spin bike. No fail.

[moonbeam31]

Originally Posted by patrice

I am a life long Firmie, but to me the Wave was a big fail.

Patrice

I agree! I broke my thumb while using that damn thing! Even the Death Box wasn't as bad! The Fanny Lifter and Transfirmer were nice though!