Best Exercise & Fitness Equipment
PurePulse continuous, automatic wrist-based heart rate tracking to better measure calorie burn all day.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found the Fitbit to be an incredible fitness device compared to the Apple watch. The fitbit can also track sleep, and give you an estimate of your cardio fitness score (V02 Max). Other features: Clearly the fitbit is not a smart watch, but the text and call notifications are great when you're working out and don't have quick access to your phone. Accuracy: Tie. I have no idea what the negative reviews are talking about (Maybe they received a defective device or have exceptionally hairy arms?). The apple watch is slightly more accurate when it comes to distance, and probably more suited for someone who runs at a competitive pace. I love watching my cardio fitness score change and keeping an eye on my resting heart rate overnight. Apple has a ton of 3rd party apps which are great, but it lacks the complete integration of the fitbit. I haven't decided which one I will be keeping yet, but if I were basing my decision on fitness alone, at a non competitive level, I would choose the fitbit hands down. There are other useful features that make the Apple watch appealing in my line of work, so I'll have to weigh those into my decision. The apple watch doesn't have the same coolness factor with regard to fitness, and really doesn't motivate me to workout anymore than my iPhone would. It is perfect for someone who doesn't care about tracking fitness goals, but wants to leave their phone at home during a workout. The ability to stream music, track distance with a built in GPS, and respond to text messages are wonderful. I have a 7 inch wrist and the large band fits me on the last 2-4 holes (keep it loose when not working out)."
"As a Blaze and original Charge HR owner, figured I'd try my hand at the newest Fitbit Charge 2. It replaces the original best selling Charge & Charge HR. Steps, Flights, Heart Rate, Calories Burned, Connected GPS (shows a little map post workout when tied to your phone, and yes, you need to bring your phone with you on walks/runs), and notifications (as of now, just texts, calendar alerts, and displays phone number of incoming calls). The Charge watch has been the workhorse of the fitbit line. Since you're familiar with the Charge already, let's go over some of the issues you may have experienced and highlights/common questions answered: 1) Build Quality: The Charge 2 is a far far superior quality than the original Charge. **If you had problems with your original Charge band bubbling, the ability to swap bands and how the tracker is connected to the bands should eliminate the issues you have experienced ** Obviously way too early to make a call on how the device will hold up, but given my experience with Blaze & Alta, this feels similar in build quality, if not better, and neither of those devices have suffered from bands falling apart on a wide scale. 5) Display is nice, 4x larger than the original Charge. The font is a bright offwhite, as opposed to the original Charge that had a soft almost blue to it. Some display day & date, and most have option to where when you tap the display it will cycle through stats (may display heart rate, date, steps taken, how far you are in your goals, your hourly movement reminders, etc). Yes, two of the watch faces are digital (numbers display, not hands) and have seconds displayed. There is no 3rd party support at this time such as facebook, instagram, etc (The Blaze watch will be offering these soon in next software upgrade, so I guess there is hope the Charge 2 will get those as well). Heart rate was spot on as it usually was with original Charge HR & my Blaze. Obviously some folks have trouble with them due to body hair and whatnot, but the sensors on Charge HR, Blaze, and now Charge 2 seem to be spot on. An issue I had with the original Charge was it getting "lost" when I hit higher cardio levels. CONS: - vibration is notably weaker than the original Charge. The Charge HR slowly scrolls texts and notifications to you, which can be annoying if you're used to the Blaze. They serve their purpose well though, and I can't ding it for this as it's a step up from the original Charge. The Blaze is their high end product at the moment, but the Charge 2 is a very close second. I'll happily answer questions as I did for when I originally reviewed the Blaze out of the gate, and edit this review to reflect common questions or any issues I face as I put the device through its paces in the coming days."
PurePulse continuous, automatic wrist-based heart rate tracking to better measure calorie burn all day.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found the Fitbit to be an incredible fitness device compared to the Apple watch. The fitbit can also track sleep, and give you an estimate of your cardio fitness score (V02 Max). Other features: Clearly the fitbit is not a smart watch, but the text and call notifications are great when you're working out and don't have quick access to your phone. Accuracy: Tie. I have no idea what the negative reviews are talking about (Maybe they received a defective device or have exceptionally hairy arms?). The apple watch is slightly more accurate when it comes to distance, and probably more suited for someone who runs at a competitive pace. I love watching my cardio fitness score change and keeping an eye on my resting heart rate overnight. Apple has a ton of 3rd party apps which are great, but it lacks the complete integration of the fitbit. I haven't decided which one I will be keeping yet, but if I were basing my decision on fitness alone, at a non competitive level, I would choose the fitbit hands down. There are other useful features that make the Apple watch appealing in my line of work, so I'll have to weigh those into my decision. The apple watch doesn't have the same coolness factor with regard to fitness, and really doesn't motivate me to workout anymore than my iPhone would. It is perfect for someone who doesn't care about tracking fitness goals, but wants to leave their phone at home during a workout. The ability to stream music, track distance with a built in GPS, and respond to text messages are wonderful. I have a 7 inch wrist and the large band fits me on the last 2-4 holes (keep it loose when not working out)."
"As a Blaze and original Charge HR owner, figured I'd try my hand at the newest Fitbit Charge 2. It replaces the original best selling Charge & Charge HR. Steps, Flights, Heart Rate, Calories Burned, Connected GPS (shows a little map post workout when tied to your phone, and yes, you need to bring your phone with you on walks/runs), and notifications (as of now, just texts, calendar alerts, and displays phone number of incoming calls). The Charge watch has been the workhorse of the fitbit line. Since you're familiar with the Charge already, let's go over some of the issues you may have experienced and highlights/common questions answered: 1) Build Quality: The Charge 2 is a far far superior quality than the original Charge. **If you had problems with your original Charge band bubbling, the ability to swap bands and how the tracker is connected to the bands should eliminate the issues you have experienced ** Obviously way too early to make a call on how the device will hold up, but given my experience with Blaze & Alta, this feels similar in build quality, if not better, and neither of those devices have suffered from bands falling apart on a wide scale. 5) Display is nice, 4x larger than the original Charge. The font is a bright offwhite, as opposed to the original Charge that had a soft almost blue to it. Some display day & date, and most have option to where when you tap the display it will cycle through stats (may display heart rate, date, steps taken, how far you are in your goals, your hourly movement reminders, etc). Yes, two of the watch faces are digital (numbers display, not hands) and have seconds displayed. There is no 3rd party support at this time such as facebook, instagram, etc (The Blaze watch will be offering these soon in next software upgrade, so I guess there is hope the Charge 2 will get those as well). Heart rate was spot on as it usually was with original Charge HR & my Blaze. Obviously some folks have trouble with them due to body hair and whatnot, but the sensors on Charge HR, Blaze, and now Charge 2 seem to be spot on. An issue I had with the original Charge was it getting "lost" when I hit higher cardio levels. CONS: - vibration is notably weaker than the original Charge. The Charge HR slowly scrolls texts and notifications to you, which can be annoying if you're used to the Blaze. They serve their purpose well though, and I can't ding it for this as it's a step up from the original Charge. The Blaze is their high end product at the moment, but the Charge 2 is a very close second. I'll happily answer questions as I did for when I originally reviewed the Blaze out of the gate, and edit this review to reflect common questions or any issues I face as I put the device through its paces in the coming days."
These bands are ideal for. - Sports. - Fitness. - Injury rehabilitation. - body shaping. - weight loss. - physical therapy. The only way to achieve that is to let the latex rest for a long time in tightly controlled circumstances such as temperature and humidity before making the bands. This is also a great Christmas, Mother's and Father's day gift idea for men, women, dad or mom. Our extra light and light bands are great for beginners, while our medium, heavy and extra heavy exercise bands are targeted for more intermediate and advanced strength training. While these resistance bands are often used for sports and fitness, physical therapists love these physical therapy bands (rehab bands) to help them rehabilitate their patients. All of our exercise resistance bands are thoroughly tested before we ship them out to you. Take a look at our complimentary instruction guide and 41-page E-Book, where we include dozens of illustrated exercises that demonstrate how to use our resistance bands for legs, arms, back, shoulders, ankles, hips and stomach.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As long as I'm walking, running errands, working, moving around I'm getting the benefits of the resistance bands. I use the when doing any exercises that lift my rear end... (Whatever...don't judge me lol!). While shopping this fitness trainer stopped me and said that I was doing a good thing."
"I really like this product, however, i need to double up the heavy and X-heavy to get a good leg workout."
"Although it's taking new a bit of time to get used to the loops because I've never used them before they seem to be great quality."
"These are great bands that everyone should have."
"Great choice of resistance bands."
"Nice loop bands."
"Adequate for workouts."
"I really wanted to like these bands, they are pretty cheaply made and flimsy."
Best Exercise & Fitness Accessories
These bands are ideal for. - Sports. - Fitness. - Injury rehabilitation. - body shaping. - weight loss. - physical therapy. The only way to achieve that is to let the latex rest for a long time in tightly controlled circumstances such as temperature and humidity before making the bands. This is also a great Christmas, Mother's and Father's day gift idea for men, women, dad or mom. Our extra light and light bands are great for beginners, while our medium, heavy and extra heavy exercise bands are targeted for more intermediate and advanced strength training. While these resistance bands are often used for sports and fitness, physical therapists love these physical therapy bands (rehab bands) to help them rehabilitate their patients. All of our exercise resistance bands are thoroughly tested before we ship them out to you. Take a look at our complimentary instruction guide and 41-page E-Book, where we include dozens of illustrated exercises that demonstrate how to use our resistance bands for legs, arms, back, shoulders, ankles, hips and stomach.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As long as I'm walking, running errands, working, moving around I'm getting the benefits of the resistance bands. I use the when doing any exercises that lift my rear end... (Whatever...don't judge me lol!). While shopping this fitness trainer stopped me and said that I was doing a good thing."
"I've been taking my bands to the gym cuz there's never enough to go around and I just wrap it around my wrist or stick in my pocket bcuz it folds really flat."
"My favorite part is that they have "Light" "Medium" etc printed on the band so I don't have to guess or refer to a chart every time I want to grab my Medium weight band."
"The bands were packaged in a convenient storage pouch that could be carried in our gym bag or suitcase if traveling."
"Today’s workout took 15 extra minutes due to all the adjustments."
"The only one that hasn't popped was the black one."
"We’ve had to tie these bands up so that she can still exercise with them, but it feels like wasted money."
"Because they’re so cheap I’m going to keep them as backup but going to find better quality bands that won’t bunch up."
Best Balance Trainers
TriggerPoint GRID foam rollers are available in three sizes and two densities. Regular density models include the original 13-inch GRID, the 26-inch GRID 2.0, and the 4-inch travel-friendly GRID Mini. Trusted foam roller of physical and massage therapists, coaches, trainers and athletes provides muscle recovery, pain relief and improved flexibility.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Here are some tips to spot knock-offs: - fakes have no printed logo on top. - no patent label on the inside. - no packaging (which contains the exercises and instructions). - strong chemical smell upon unboxing. - the fake was also way harder than the real one."
"I sometimes have a sore back from sitting in my home office for hours at a time, and being able to roll out my back or sore muscles with this product is excellent!"
"I have mild back pain from work, so I decided to buy one of these to keep at my house and I read online that Trigger Point was the best brand to buy for at home use. Basically I get home, take a really hot shower, and use the foam roller on my lower back and any areas that I worked out recently. I then take the Thermachill and rub it on all of the areas that I just used the foam roller on, and this amazing warming sensation takes over and then cools down, completely alleviating any pain."
"I was deciding between a cheap $10 foam roller and the GRID and ultimately chose the GRID. I've been using this everyday since I bought it for $35 and feel like it's definitely been worth the 25 dollar price difference over the cheap foam."
"She did warn me when I first got this it would hurt very very bad, but would help release some pain and tensions in my leg. First day using this it hurt SO bad, after time I learned to be patient and calm and hit those trigger areas that hurt in my shins and calves."
"Had one once before but it was a two for one (one fit inside the other love it, my sone was have back problems so I gave it to him after a while I was needing to use it again couldn't find the two for one on here so I got this one great quality but still would like the smaller inner foam roller ...I'm a small female and dont always want the large ring ."
Best Cardio Training
Includes the Performance Monitor 5, giving you accurate, comparable data for every row; Adjustable monitor arm.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I transitioned to an elliptical machine, which was better, but still leaves me with some pain as there is still some weight bearing. I'd stopped exercising for the last few years, and have watched my weight balloon and my health start to decline. I'm so out of shape that housework and even climbing a flight of stair leaves me out of breath. I've talked to my doctor and orthopedist - both of which suggested swimming as an aerobic activity which won't stress my knees. Came in a strong secure box, well packed with large pieces of Styrofoam. The two main sections are joined at the middle with a hook design and then a locking mechanism. I have had some experience with rowing machines in gyms in the past, so I'm familiar with the stroke and form. A low impact rowing for 5 minutes is a great way for stretching out the major muscles. Will update my progress in a few weeks - hopefully a few pounds lighter and fitter. I saw a "deal of the day" for a cheap rowing machine this morning and started to kick myself for not waiting - "I could have saved hundreds of dollars." I've purchased cheap machines for my mother, and they usually arrive damaged because the manufacturers cut corners on the packing."
"I was comparing the following machines. * Concept2 Model D ($900). * Concept2's Model E ($1100) which is higher off the ground. and probably Concept2's strongest competitor on quality (but not price)... * BodyCraft VR500 (listed for $1900, usually on sale for $1500-1600). Also high off the ground like the Model E, and with a long monorail (both Concept2 models D and E also have an available longer monorail, for people with inseams of 38 inches/96.5cm or longer). I tested the Concept2 at my local YMCA before buying it (Concept2's website shows a listing of YMCA's with a Concept2 in your zip code). I project the very cool rowing simulator software to my 52" screen TV and compete against my own prior rows, or online with people around the world. I don't believe BodyCraft has a similar software, or even a connection that you can connect to your computer. As you connect your Concept2's PM5 to a computer with a USB A/B cable (a printer style USB cable), you can track your progress with the RowPro software, and/or with Concept2's online tracking software. The free software from Concept2 can upload data from a USB cable connection or a USB thumb drive up to online software. The free Concept2 upload software works, but is not as good as the RowPro software for $100. * Air resistance only, no magnetic resistance. Magnetic resistance is boring, constant, and creates the same force of resistance constantly throughout the row stroke. Air resistance is better because you begin your row stroke at one level of force, then momentum builds and you end your row stroke with the flywheel moving fast, making it easier to pull the last bit out of the flywheel, when your arms would get sore with magnetic resistance's constant pressure. Market research from newbie rowers probably requested magnetic resistance, but experienced rowers probably prefer the traditional Air Resistance only. The BodyCraft does have a great user manual (available free online for download) that provides great stretches for rowing. The BodyCraft appears to be the US marketed version of a German company product I found online (google "FINNLO Rudergerät / Ergometer Aquon Pro Plus" or see their product on Amazon.de, the German version of Amazon.com). A rower does an excellent job making your glut strong and firm, because your glut becomes a pivotal muscle in the process of rowing. But then you learn there is RowPro software you can connect into the Concept2, which you can project to your laptop computer and/or big screen TV, and you can join a vast rowing community all using Concept2 rowers. * Misconception #4 - "Dual Air/Magnetic Resistance is better than just Air resistance". Magenetic resistance creates an artificial feeling resistance. Novices to rowing are probably impressed with magnetic resistance because they don't know about the vast community online that competes on speed. More BodyCraft VR500 Comments: * The BodyCraft VR500 is for sure an excellent rowing machine and a strong competitor to the Concept2. Fun facts notes for anyone seriously researching the BodyCraft VR500: I also found the following rower online."
"I resisted all the black Friday deals on rowers and bought this one based on the positive reviews. Despite the positive reviews, this item exceeded my expectations. I though that the seat was hard plastic, but it's very firm rubber. I was a bit worried about noise since my machine is in a hard room."
"It was also super easy to connect it to an ANT compatible HR belt that I had from another product that I no longer use, again a cool bonus."
Best Exercise & Fitness Apparel
Dickies delivers the right work socks for every worker at every job. Soft Breathable Moisture Control Fibers.
Find Best Price at AmazonBest Exercise Machine Parts & Accessories
10-1353 Size / Color: Heavy / Blue Pictured in red Features: -Designed to improve grip strength and upper extremity function.-Available in: Light, medium and heavy. TheraBand FlexBar Green is ideal for those suffering from tennis elbow pain, looking to increase flexibility and range of motion, and to strengthen the elbow, wrist, forearm, and hand.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My wife was ready to divorce me because I couldn't open jars or pour her coffee--although to be fair, I also was trying to use my elbow as an excuse for not doing the dishes. But a little more after the 2 week mark, doing 3 sets of 15 a day, I began to notice slowly diminishing soreness and stiffness, and now, after a little more than month, I have no pain flexing and extending my arm. Although there is, understandably, a little uncertainty about what strength to buy, and I would recommend the medium green because of that, I think there is more leeway if you are using it for therapy. But after receiving the package, and confirming the order was my mistake, I gave the blue bar a try before returning and it was fine for me, and believe me, I'm no strong man. But otherwise its simple design serves its purpose, and $15, while a little high for a ridged hunk of rubber, is worth it for the elbow relief."
"After months of trying the traditional treatment of ice, rest, and NSAIDs for lateral epicondylitis ("tennis elbow"), and finding no relief, I searched for physical therapy exercises and came across the "Tyler Twist" that uses the Thera-Band Flexbar."
"I don't do the workout class that gave me the injury in the first place, but I am able to work out 4 x a week pain free and truly am so thankful to this bar for giving me my life back so easily."
"Suddenly my elbow started bothering me (probably from overuse) because of constant Crossfit workouts and my regular lifting/strength training program. I refused to see the doctor though I visited a chiropractor to see if any upper back adjustments could be done in the event that the nerve was being pinched from all the way up there."
"I am avid weight lifter and after a week of pushing it on pull ups, I had a MINOR dull ache in my left medial epicondyle (golfers elbow)."
Best Exercise & Fitness DVDs
Get an hour's results in just 25 minutes a day. That's why trainer Shaun T experimented for the last year to design a program that delivers the same kind of results you'd expect from an hour-long program, in under 30 minutes. The result is FOCUS T25—and the name implies the intent: If you focus your intensity for 25 minutes and you do it 5 days a week, you will get results. The FOCUS T25 base kit includes 11 workouts on 9 DVDs, Quick-Start Guide, Nutrition Guide, ALPHA-BETA Workout Calendars, 5-Day Fast Track, and a B-LINES Resistance Band (15 lbs. Get an hour's results in just 25 minutes a day. That's why trainer Shaun T experimented for the last year to design a program that delivers the same kind of results you'd expect from an hour-long program, in under 30 minutes. The result is FOCUS T25-and the name implies the intent: If you focus your intensity for 25 minutes, and you do it 5 days a week, you will get results. 11 nonstop 25-minute workouts on 9 DVDs, Quick-Start Guide, Nutrition Guide, ALPHA-BETA Workout Calendars, 5-Day Fast Track, and a B-LINES Resistance Band (15 lbs.). NOTE: Quick-Start Guide, Nutrition Guide, Workout Calendars, and 5-Day Fast Track are located inside the shrink-wrapped DVD wallet. )* Quick-Start Guide to help you hit the ground running so you can achieve your best results Get It Done Nutrition Guide ALPHA-BETA Workout Calendars 5-Day Fast Track 24/7 Online Support. Get an hour's results in just 25 minutes a day with FOCUS T25.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Me: not a beach body coach, paid full price for program, not a professional fitness/sports person. I already ate pretty healthy, I try to avoid dairy and mostly eat seafood or fish for protein. I find that one good decision begets another, and I'm making healthier choices in my life overall since I feel better about my appearance and activity level."
"Although this workout is hard core it helped that there's a person doing the modified version."
"This is a good, fun workout program with the production quality you would expect from a Beachbody product (note: I am NOT a BB coach, so have nothing to sell you, I'm just giving my opinion). To be honest, most of us aren't training for a professional level sport, so this is not a problem and you get an amazing workout in just 25 minutes. And it doesn't require all of the equipment of an Asylum-type workout, just a mat and the included band or some weights if you have them. There's a Shakeology commercial before each workout, which is really annoying, but the discs are programmed so that you can fast forward through them. Tanya shows the modifications in these videos (she's not as obnoxious as in Insanity, and actually does a very nice job as the modifying fitness model). Although I didn't get injured doing Insanity or Asylum, I did have some pretty bad knee pain by the end of each program and had to take a break from working out. You can still get a pretty intense workout doing the modifications if you really put effort into it. The modifier is also nice for people who want to easy into a program or have joint issues or other problems. I really commend BB for putting this in and hope they include it in all of their future programs. If you are already in great shape, you may want to jump right to the Beta phase for the harder workouts. There may be "rest" exercises, but you will be working the whole 25 minutes, not even a water break. The first move of a progression is still quite a workout and the closes thing you will get to a break in your 25 minutes. Then there are periodic "burnouts" where you do the final movement hard and fast. The next exercise will start to flash five seconds before so you know it's time to switch. Typical Shaun T cardio, but not as high impact as some of the Insanity workouts. A faster-paced cardio work out that I would consider to be more "traditional" Shaun T. Lots of fun with really upbeat music. I think there are better stretching routines, and I think a light yoga workout might have been a nice alternative."
"Unlike boot camps, gyms, or crossfit there are no monthly expensive charges. Some boot camp and crossfit classes average from $100-$150 a month. If at any point you feel like gased out or can't keep up switch to modified version and then back. Trust me this is much better then the hour long intense and at times to much boot camps. I use to be in great shape but just like many again I let my work and personal life distract me from my health so I find myself once again battling the weight roller-coaster."
Best Fitness Technology
Make every beat count with Fitbit Charge 2—the all-new heart rate and fitness wristband built for all-day, workouts and beyond. PurePulse continuous, automatic wrist-based heart rate tracking to better measure calorie burn all day.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found the Fitbit to be an incredible fitness device compared to the Apple watch. The fitbit can also track sleep, and give you an estimate of your cardio fitness score (V02 Max). Other features: Clearly the fitbit is not a smart watch, but the text and call notifications are great when you're working out and don't have quick access to your phone. Accuracy: Tie. I have no idea what the negative reviews are talking about (Maybe they received a defective device or have exceptionally hairy arms?). The apple watch is slightly more accurate when it comes to distance, and probably more suited for someone who runs at a competitive pace. I love watching my cardio fitness score change and keeping an eye on my resting heart rate overnight. Apple has a ton of 3rd party apps which are great, but it lacks the complete integration of the fitbit. I haven't decided which one I will be keeping yet, but if I were basing my decision on fitness alone, at a non competitive level, I would choose the fitbit hands down. There are other useful features that make the Apple watch appealing in my line of work, so I'll have to weigh those into my decision. The apple watch doesn't have the same coolness factor with regard to fitness, and really doesn't motivate me to workout anymore than my iPhone would. It is perfect for someone who doesn't care about tracking fitness goals, but wants to leave their phone at home during a workout. The ability to stream music, track distance with a built in GPS, and respond to text messages are wonderful. I have a 7 inch wrist and the large band fits me on the last 2-4 holes (keep it loose when not working out)."
"As a Blaze and original Charge HR owner, figured I'd try my hand at the newest Fitbit Charge 2. It replaces the original best selling Charge & Charge HR. Steps, Flights, Heart Rate, Calories Burned, Connected GPS (shows a little map post workout when tied to your phone, and yes, you need to bring your phone with you on walks/runs), and notifications (as of now, just texts, calendar alerts, and displays phone number of incoming calls). The Charge watch has been the workhorse of the fitbit line. Since you're familiar with the Charge already, let's go over some of the issues you may have experienced and highlights/common questions answered: 1) Build Quality: The Charge 2 is a far far superior quality than the original Charge. **If you had problems with your original Charge band bubbling, the ability to swap bands and how the tracker is connected to the bands should eliminate the issues you have experienced ** Obviously way too early to make a call on how the device will hold up, but given my experience with Blaze & Alta, this feels similar in build quality, if not better, and neither of those devices have suffered from bands falling apart on a wide scale. 5) Display is nice, 4x larger than the original Charge. The font is a bright offwhite, as opposed to the original Charge that had a soft almost blue to it. Some display day & date, and most have option to where when you tap the display it will cycle through stats (may display heart rate, date, steps taken, how far you are in your goals, your hourly movement reminders, etc). Yes, two of the watch faces are digital (numbers display, not hands) and have seconds displayed. There is no 3rd party support at this time such as facebook, instagram, etc (The Blaze watch will be offering these soon in next software upgrade, so I guess there is hope the Charge 2 will get those as well). Heart rate was spot on as it usually was with original Charge HR & my Blaze. Obviously some folks have trouble with them due to body hair and whatnot, but the sensors on Charge HR, Blaze, and now Charge 2 seem to be spot on. An issue I had with the original Charge was it getting "lost" when I hit higher cardio levels. CONS: - vibration is notably weaker than the original Charge. The Charge HR slowly scrolls texts and notifications to you, which can be annoying if you're used to the Blaze. They serve their purpose well though, and I can't ding it for this as it's a step up from the original Charge. The Blaze is their high end product at the moment, but the Charge 2 is a very close second. I'll happily answer questions as I did for when I originally reviewed the Blaze out of the gate, and edit this review to reflect common questions or any issues I face as I put the device through its paces in the coming days."
Best Exercise & Fitness Footwear
It has an attractive leather upper with stylish contrast inlays, a padded collar and tongue for additional comfort and ankle support, and a thick midsole for a completely shock-absorbed step. Sturdy lace-up sneaker featuring cushioned midsole and two-tone heel pull.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I walk 3 to 4 miles a day, and this is by far the best shoe I've ever owned."
"Comfortable and they fit perfectly - as I would expect from Skechers."
"These provide extra cushion with the memory foam insert."
"Helpful tips to those reviewing that the shoes fit too small... adjust the laces to hug the top of your foot and wear them for a bit while standing so the memory foam adjusts to your foot."
"There IS silver reflective sparkle on both sides of the back sole. Also five or six diamond like sparkles on either side below where laced, as well as reflective silver sparkle stripes on where the laces go through. As well as a silver reflective stripe up the tongue of the shoe."
"Buying second time but different color."
"This shoe is very comfortable.."
"I've been wearing these shoes for 2 weeks now, and I never had to break them in! I stand on my feet at work all day with only 1 break, and they are so comfortable."
Best Pilates Equipment
Easy to Clean Wipes down quickly for a clean, slip-free surface and enjoyable experience. 1/2" Ultra thick mat with specially designed memory foam; Protects your knees and joints, while still allowing you to grip the floor for balance.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Both my wife and I have been using it for a couple weeks... she does yoga, I use it just as an exercise mat for crunches and general exercise. You can see in my video how the mat slips and stretches.. and it was during that pose on the very first use that the top surface of the mat ripped as well. I use the mat for crunches and general exercise that doesn't put the kind of stresses on the mat that Yoga poses do."
"I've used this cushion mat for a couple of years for physical therapy and floor exercises (not yoga)."
"I have bad knees and was looking for a thicker mat that I could bring with me to yoga classes."
"I was very pleased upon receiving this mat."
"We had a thin yoga mat but it just did not provide the comfort or support my hubby needed it."
"I bought it for my wife for Christmas."
"Wonderful yoga mats."
"I prefer this one over a thicker one that I purchased because it doesn't make impressions as easily (like of your hands or knees)."
Best Running Equipment
*We. always. recommend installing LOCK LACES with your foot in the shoe to ensure a proper fit. We recommend cutting 2-3 inches below the lock to leave room for adjustment. It is very important that you align the ends of the laces with these "teeth" to ensure that the clip stays securely attached. Added compression reduces pressure points to make your feet feel better throughout the day so you can perform your best! PERFECT FOR EVERYONE: LOCK LACES are a great gift for seniors suffering from arthritis or other disabilities, autistic children, runners looking to speed their triathlon transition up, or casual users.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I got them to make my sons pants tighter around the waist and it works just great."
"It's a drag alone to have to constantly tie your shoes that are on your actual feet, but even more so tieing your shoes when it's on a prosthetic leg. Thanks to these laces I never have to tie my shoes again."
"My son is 12, has fine motor skills ranging from 3-5yrs old and is independent with these laces."
"-Each pack comes with 2 laces, 2 locks, and 2 clips for the ends, all in a nice resealable plastic bag, which I used to store my old laces just in case. (I think stretching them that much would to fit your shoes would cut off blood circulation though). -Lacing your shoes with Lock Laces is a lot like lacing with normal laces. Once you finish using all of the holes in your shoes, or the ones that you want to, squeeze the locking mechanism and put the laces' ends through the two holes. If it doesn't feel right, make adjustments to the tension on the laces until it is most comfortable."
"I'm a marathon runner and use elastic laces on all my running shoes to avoid the typical shoe laces issues."
"I wasn't sure about them, because they are elastic and with a clipless riding shoe one uses their foot to lift the pedal for extra speed and strength, but these laces do a great job holding my foot surely in my shoe as it is clipped to my pedal. I'm not sure I'd put them on a pair of combat boots, but as far as riding, running, and walking shoes, these laces are fantastic."
Best Sports Speed & Agility Training Equipment
Grab a ball today to release tight muscles from around your butt, hamstrings, quads, feet, neck and back.Highly recommended for the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis. 100% BETTER THAN MONEY BACK GUARANTEE: Worry Free Purchasing - If you are not satisfied we will refund you and send you a new one! THE ONLY TOOL YOU WILL EVER NEED FOR PLANTAR FASCIITIS - The Master of Muscle Mauler Ball is your essential tool to help roll away those deep muscle knots in the ball of your foot, rolling away that pain so you can go harder - your feet will feel as light as a feather!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My physical therapist Jennifer recommended I purchase this product to help "break up the scar tissue" resulting from a Mortens Neuroma surgery last November."
"I have nerve damage in the arch of my foot from a broken ankle."
"But then I read online somewhere to take turns standing on one foot, putting a lot more of your body weight on the ball."
"Absolutely amazing for sore and tight areas."
"This is SUPER firm, and the spikes are very long and hard!"
"When I ordered this, I wasn't 100% sure how effective this would be."
"This thing is amazing on the feet!"
"It's really helping with relief from plantar fasciitis and even some other muscles along the leg that are 'tender', my issue however really requires therapy, but this is a really good extra help to have around."
Best Strength Training Equipment
Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Just over four years ago I had an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The neurologist advised me that I had a lot of degenerative arthritis in my neck and there was nothing else they could do except send me to a pain management clinic. The doctors told me that the ibuprofen was hurting my kidneys and that my creatinine levels were too high. Then several months ago (Sept. 2016) I developed pain in my lower neck that radiated down my left shoulder blade. He didn't do an X-Ray, told me it "felt like" I had a disc out of place, gave me muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory drugs. So in November (2016), and at my wits end, I purchased this inversion table. The pain that radiates down my left shoulder still gets sore sometimes but it's bearable and continues to get better. Can't say that I really enjoy spending 10 minutes a day doing it, but it sure beats the hell out of having excruciating pain. And when I feel some soreness in my back coming on....I go get on the inversion table."
"The thing I didn't like about the Body Max IT6000 and similar models is the table isn't padded and there is no neck/head rest. are set with very strong ball knobs and backed up with easy to insert/remove safety pins. Inversion tables can be hard on people with bad ankles. Easily adjustable height for perfect positioning of nearly any size person (see height specs for exact range). It moves slowly and easily both going back and coming up--you don't want to fly to the upside down position and you don't want to have to pull hard to get yourself back up. Instructions were good, assembly was logical and not complicated. My neck and hips are in terrible shape from years of abusing my back at work, in sports, sleeping on bad mattresses/pillows, wearing bad shoes, you name it. For me, a few minutes of inversion once or twice a day is better than thousands of dollars worth of chiropractic care. I cannot overstate the value of the decision to buy this particular inversion table, or the importance of the specific features this one provides for your safety and comfort."
Best Triathlon Equipment
FEEL GOOD - FULLY LEAK PREVENTABLE TECHNOLOGY for your comfort: The soft silicone frame and nose bridge are not only designed to be comfortable, but they create the perfect amount of vacuum to KEEP WATER OUT. Our goggles are tested by professional swimmers and instructors, but if they don’t get your seal of approval, we’ll do our best to fix the situation as soon as possible. It’s usually things like “I love this!, “Looks and feels great!”, “Ranks among the top!” or simply “Five stars”.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Then my father in law tried them he loved them so I had to buy him a pair. I'm hoping it works just as well as I hate getting my hair in chlorinated water all the time. Got on Amazon prime day for a great price."
"I chose these because I am very nervous about opening my eyes underwater, since it has been painful for me in the past. These goggles work great - they have a great vacuum seal that keeps the water out."
"They give you that "eyeballs being sucked out" feeling which means they'll hold up great to leaks in the water and stay on your face as you dive in."
"My son takes swimming lessons twice a week and one night he couldn't find his set so he grabbed these. As a mom who runs her son here there and everywhere and has to grab equipment to take having a case to keep this set in it's very handy."
"I'm an open water swimmer, and am always fighting with my goggles because they fog up."
"I know it says for men, but the goggles and cap are working fine for her!"
"This set come with a nice zippered case, which I enjoy because I can store them in the boat and not worry about the goggles getting scratched."
"I am loving these goggles and case!"
Best Yoga Equipment
BalanceFrom All-Purpose Premium exercise yoga mat is manufactured and sold exclusively by BalanceFrom Amazon store. AT A GLANCE: -1/2-inch extra thick. -Excellent non-slip traction and cushion. -A free carrying strap is included. -Light weight and portable. -2-year warranty. With high density foam material, the 1/2'' thick premium mat comfortably cushions spine, hips, knees and elbows on hard floors. With double sided non-slip surfaces, BalanceFrom all-purpose premium exercise yoga mat comes with an excellent slip resistant advantage to prevent injuries.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After using this mat at a meditation class, I picked one up for myself."
"This mat is sufficiently thick to lay down on the cement floor and hold to the flat surface."
"It worked perfectly for that purpose and I plan to try using it instead of an inflatable sleeping pad during warm weather camping."
"The only thing I would have different if it were a couple inches longer to fit my whole body, but I knew the size when I ordered, so no complaints."
"My wife bought this yoga mat."
"When I first got this mat I liked it for the cushiness provided for my knees, but over time the rubber started breaking down."
"opened package this is how it is."
"While I thought it was great at first, the more I used it the more trouble I had with sinking into the mat while am trying to hold long and challenging poses."
Best Track & Field Discuses
The PORTaPIT® Shot And Discus Carrier is a highly durable, water resistant vinyl carrier that holds two discus, two shots or one of each and is stitched with water repellent nylon thread. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Made it easy for my daughter to carry her put shot and discus to school without having them in her backpack."
"My shoulder does not hurt after carrying around a disk and shot all day."
"Great for disc but I wish one side was shot specific."
"Helpful in keeping up with our equipment."
"Nice product."
Best Bike Resistance Trainers
The. Conquer Indoor Bike Trainer Portable Exercise Bicycle Magnetic Stand. folds to a compact size for storage or transport to your next race, vacation or work trip. Front wheel Riser Block Included, requires a bike with a rear quick release wheel.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I purchased the Conquer Indoor Bike Trainer Portable Exerciser so I could set it up in my shop and ride my mountain bike indoors for exercise on rainy days and during the colder days when I can't ride outdoors. I pulled the portable trainer out and unfolded it, set the bike in and got it adjusted so that it would ride straight on the roller, tightened the mounting cups, adjusted the tension to where I felt comfortable, got on the bike and took off."
"I bought this because no matter how much I try NOT to blow tires on the back of my mountain bike, I seem to have a gift (or a burr that I can't find on the spokes). Immediately, I knew it was due to the tires I have on my mountain bike."
"Works well just wish it had an adjustment for a larger tire didn’t work with the fat tire mountain bike very well."
"Can easily adjust the level of resistance on the bottom and by shifting gears."
"Excellent piece of training equipment."
"The bike I use on it is older and I do not ride it outside anyway, so the tire thing is not a huge issue for me ATM."
"I feel like I may be over tightening it, as I find my spokes on my rear wheel are always needing to be adjusted after using the trainer."
"Not enough resistance."
Best Sleep & Snoring Aids
The hormone Melatonin regulates the day-night cycle of the human body and controls the recovery phases during the sleep. Even a little light caused, by any electronics like your cable box, laptop, digital alarm clock can be a disturbance. - if your bedroom cannot completely be shaded by black-out curtains and you want to sleep in. - if you cannot fall asleep because your partner wants to read or watch TV. - if you want to sleep while travelling, e.g. on airplanes or in trains. - if you are looking for perfect relaxation during yoga, wellness or meditation. Only super-soft, super-smooth pure silk offers the breathable, cool relaxation of the soothing masks found at the world’s premier spas. Ideal for insomnia, migraine headaches and dry-eye sufferers, as the breathable, natural fibers of hypoallergenic silk allows healthy oxygen in while keeping dry air out; Smooth silk does not absorb skin lotions, so it won't mess with night eye creams or moisturizers on your face.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If I wake during light I have a difficult time getting back to sleep due to the light streaming into my bedroom."
"I'm a light sleeper and living in a single room dorm with two other people makes it really hard to fall asleep."
"So you have to rest it just above 'eye level' on the back of your head."
"There is so much light spill at night that, even with the blinds closed and all the apartment lights off, Ican get out of bed, and walk to the bathroom at 3am without bumping into anything."
"I have purchased two of these sleep masks now and it is the softest sleep mask I have ever owned."
"Lol I forget and just slide them up on my head and they end up in the other bathroom."
"I am updating my previous review from March 23rd which I could not find on the product page. I came across one I bought last year and have attached a photo showing the change in size."
"For me it feels feather light and soft, and I like how easy it is to adjust the fit. Yes, it does let in a small amount of light around the edges, but I think this will vary with the individual fit and shape of the face. Unfortunately, all of these sleep masks did end up staining my pillowcases eventually."
Best Pilates Flexbands
Resistance levels, obtained by varying the thickness of the tubing, are color-coded in proprietary Thera-Band colors increasing in difficulty through seven levels from tan to silver. The only resistive exercise tubing endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It would be nice to have some quantitative metrics upon which to make a decision (like centimeters per kilogram), but as it seems these days most people I meet are innumerate, it might just confuse people, sadly."
"I bought the Shoulder pulley, the Handles Set and 3 different colors (weight graduations) of the tubing."
"The short one is good for one arm exorcises and the long one for two, but I would have rather cut the tubing myself to suit my own purposes instead of adapting to what someone else figured I wanted."
"My back deck has a wood arbor above it, and I can put these around a horizontal wood piece, and do a lot of exercises involving pulling down (like pullups, etc), or I can loop it around a vertical post and do other exercises, including leg exercises. I was disappointed with the customer service rep, who made promises to send email with a special offer for a future purchase for my trouble, but failed to follow up - I never got anything."
"My experience is this stuff lasts about 5 years, then you have to be very careful to be out of a danger zone in case it snaps."
"It would be nice to see the diameter and thickness; I thought this would be more challenging, and I do not consider myself strong...working to that end."
"Just as great as from the physical therapist!"
"Have to exercise good bands."
Best Girls' Athletic Skirts
Features 100% brand new and high quality. Type: Elastic waist tutu skirt. Material: Tulle+Satin. Color: Rainbow. Fashion element: Tutu Skirt Size size S:Waist 20*2cm, length25cm,for age 0-2 years. size M:Waist 22*2cm,length 26cm,for age 2-5 years. size L:Waist 24*2cm,length30cm ,for age 5-8 years. Because of light effect and weather, please allow a little bit of color difference between the picture and the object. Perfect for dance, ballet, costumes, dress up, jazz and tap, and party favors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The individual colors are separated and that's perfect because I was able to strap her into her carseat without any trouble plus it gave good movement to the skirt. It is cheaply made and I could have sewed the satin ribbon onto the tulle material to reinforce it but did'nt bother. I had a lot of compliments and made my daughters costume complete."
"It was a little underwhelming when I first took it out of the package, but I took each ribbon and ran my straightener over it (just like you would a piece of hair) and it was amazing how much better it looked."
"This skirt is perfect for my daughter's 4th birthday party."
"For the price, you can't beat this."
"I ordered this tutu for my daughter for her 3rd birthday."
"I was looking for a tutu for my very tall 6 year old daughter's birthday."
"My regular supplier of tutus (for my dance studio) was not able to meet my deadline, and I specifically needed 5 rainbow colored tutus."
"My daughter loved it the one day it lasted, then the ribbon trim started separating from the skirt and becoming a mess and trip hazard."
Best Medicine Balls
Helps develop core strength, balance, and coordination.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"They are more commonly seen in rehabilitation centers than mainline gyms, and perhaps for that reason they carry the taint of remedial or soft workouts. A ten-pound ball – roughly the weight and size of a gallon of milk – is a great way to build on a strength and fitness program. AmazonBasics brand medicine ball is a solidly crafted piece of equipment with two-tone coloring, a pebbly, rubberized basketball-sized grip, and dense feel."
"It is the EXACT quality of medicine balls you'll find in commercial gyms such as LA Fitness, 24hr Fitness or any other big box commercial gym."
"I not only use this medicine ball for ab exercises and HIIT movements (like "wood chops") but for increasing the strength and power in my ankles by gently, but purposefully, pushing it around the floor with my instep."
"Havent used it much but its nothing wrong with it."
"Works peeeeerfect for my home gym."
"Perfect for beginners like me."
"Excellent product."
"Decided to try the Amazon brand for my first medicine ball to use at home and I'm glad I did."