I liked the ones I purchases at the icebreaker store, but these ones not so much. they feel almost low cut.Amazon, you''re going to have to make this easier if you want reviews from me in the future. No more word minimum.
Icebreaker Men''s Anatomica Brief
I liked the ones I purchases at the icebreaker store, but these ones not so much. they feel almost low cut.Amazon, you''re going to have to make this easier if you want reviews from me in the future. No more word minimum.
CrossFit Ultra Speed Cable Jump Rope by Rubberbanditz
Got this speed rope from Santa for my garage gym yesterday. Tried it out this morning and after less than 50 double unders the plastic is shredded off the wire and the wire looks like it won''t last through a week of workouts. The handles are ok and the length is good for adjustments but whatever plastic they''re using to cover it isn''t good enough to hold up to a regular garage floor for more than 50 double unders! The rope is marketed for "Crossfitters" (me) but isn''t good enough for one flipping WOD! Come on ya''ll...less than 50!! Hopefully their bottom line about being a "quadruple bottom line company (People, Planet, Profit, Power) fitness innovation company", isn''t a load of crap like that rope I bought. I''ll update later on their customer service...more to follow. Out.
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Ripcords Resistance Exercise Bands - Power Tension 5 Pack, Circuit7 Exercise DVD, Door Anchor and Manual
I originally bought this package for a two week road trip. I managed to stay lean and on my game even with the regular drinking and road trip food. At first the guys made fun of me and by the end all 4 of them had ordered their own set for use back in the city. Wicked DVD too.
I guess these are good if you want to mimic pullup motions. For any other move that requires stepping on them to achieve the proper motion or tension, be careful.The bands are great. The DVD was a total and complete waist of money. I expected a professional trainer to give instructions with each exercise as well as show proper technique. I expected at the least a few exercise routines targeting upper and lower body. My expectation was NOT met at all. Luckily I know a certified trainer and have been given by him what the DVD did not.Hi! I bought another resistance band training program very similar to this. I started using the highest resistance (black cord) cord (working my biceps only) and only in a few days I started to grow biceps. It''s pretty AWESOME!!! I had excercised my biceps before (using another thing), but I stopped a long time ago and I gained weight. I know this will make me lose weight soon and gain muscle too. I think these will be for people that want beginner to intermediate training only though.Put it simply the product is garbage.Good idea ,but not well executed. The handle came off the Red cord after only a few uses.I felt it was not safe to use anymore.
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Lifeline Train Station Door Mount
The LIFELINE TRAIN STATION is a portable resistance band strength training gym that attaches vertically to any three-hinge door by a nylon web strap. Setup of the gym is about a one minute job. There are two cable holders attached to the nylon strap. A resistance band snaps into each holder then each snaps into the handles. The unit comes with two lightweight bands, an ankle cuff and a waist cuff. The only negative of this system is the bands that come with the system are too light. If you are moderate strength or more you will have to order additional heavier 50 or 60 pound set of two bands at a cost of around $18.00 giving you up to 60 lbs for each limb.There are two reasons this is a superior system. First it is user friendly. The band holders on the nylon strap ride on a clip that slides up and down the strap. You can raise or lower the height of the bands in a few seconds WITHOUT opening the door. If you are doing a row, you can slide the cables down to waist high, then say slide them up to the top of the door to do pulldowns. Other systems, like the BODYLASTIC unit I own (and like) require you to open the door and move the door jamb up or down to the height you want-a real pain. Second, the LIFELINE resistance bands are the best in the industry. They have an incredible smooth feel to them, superior to the BODYLASTIC bands I have on that unit that feel more jerky and tougher on the joints. On the other hand the BODYLASTIC system is more complete offering higher resistances. To get around this, I bought for around $9.00 a set of LIFELINE handles that can hold three cables at one time. You can attach two 60 lb cables to the one handle for up to 120 lbs. You can attach three bands to the one handle by wrapping the ankle cuff, which also has a cable holder on it, around the nylon strap for a total of up to 140lbs to 170 lbs depending on the bands that you purchase. (NOTE: Exercising one limb at a time is a proven superior method of training for strength. You are stronger in one limb relative to using two limbs together and can apply more force. If for instance you can leg press 200 lbs. using BOTH legs for 20 reps, you''ll easily be able to do the same 20 reps with ONE leg using 120 or more lbs-try it.)
This system should be durable, one inch nylon strap has a breaking point of close to 3000lbs. Just make sure the door is closed and locked. The real plus to this system is the incredible smooth feel of the resistance of the bands-and I''ve found after 30 years of resistance training, that high intensity resistance band training is more effective than the freeweights and the machines I had and won''t be using again.
Power Punch - 30 lb Resistance - MMA Training
I practice a diversity of Kyokushin Karate and MMA. This is a good product. It works exactly as promised and very well built. It is good for push ups and very good for punching work. Over a few months period really helped me to increase power of my punch.
Cathe Friedrich''s STS Total Body DVD
I just finished doing this workout for the first time in its entirety, and my arms are shaking so badly that I can barely type this! I have all of Cathe''s weight workouts, and I''d say that it ranks right up there as one of her hardest!Unlike most of her other workouts that focus on isolation exercises, this one uses primarily compound exercises. So, instead of doing a lot of moves that focus on just one body part, you''ll be doing exercises that work several body parts and joints. Experts say that this is best for fat loss, and I have to agree: my heart rate was really up there while doing this workout!
The workout is made up of tri-sets, where you work do series of three exercises for each body part, twice through. This is the breakdown of the full workout:
* Warm-up
* Tri-set for legs: squats, one-leg elevated lunges, power deadlifts x 2
* Tri-set for chest: flat bench press, chest flys, dips x 2 + bonus burn
* Tri-set for back and biceps: barbell rows, one-arm row, dumbbell curl x 2 + bonus burn
* Tri-set for legs: narrow squats, static lunges, stiff-legged deadlift x 2
* Tri-set for shoulders: overhead press, upright rows, lateral raise x 2 + bonus burn
* Tri-set for legs: side slide lunge with paper plate, back lunge with paper plate, wide deadlift x 2
* Core work
* Cooldown
The bonus burns primarily use the resistance band to burn out and really fatigue the muscle group you just worked. While there are plenty of exercises that are in Cathe''s previous videos, there are also a lot of new moves. The fast pace of this workout also keeps things moving along. I had to pause a few times to change my weights and set up for the next tri-set.
There are also some really nice premixes:
1. Timesaver Compound Only Exercises 53.44 min
2. Lower Body Only 22.29 min
3. Upper Body Only 24.00 min
4. Timesaver No Bonus Burn 60.32 min
5. Timesaver No Bonus Burn + No Abs 51.40 min
6. Timesaver No Abs 57.54 min
7. Timesaver Compound Only + No Abs 44.53 min
8. Timesaver Single Sets 45.50 min
The only real negative to this workouts is that it requires a lot of equipment: dumbbells in various weights, a barbell, a step or weight bench, sliding disks or paper plates, and a resistance band.
If you''ve done the full three-month STS program before and did your 1 rep max testing, you can print up a workout card to determine the weights you should lift off of Cathe''s website. You definitely don''t need to have done STS before, though, to use this workout.
Since I''ve only done this workout as the regular program, I''ll be sure to update this review after I''ve tried some of the premixes. For now, though, I just want to say that it''s a fantastic workout -and I think I''m going to have trouble moving tomorrow! ;-)
I''m still on the fence as to whether or not I liked this workout. I think I feel this way because this workout is so different than other workouts. I''m used to doing splits (working one or two body parts a day) or total body endurance workouts (using lower weights with higher repetitions.) Because of this, I only gave the workout four stars.
Other reviewers have given good breakdowns of what''s on this workout, so I''m going to talk about my impressions.
What was positive about this workout:
**it''s hard! Even using only 50% of my 1RM, I was breathing heavy and struggling.
**the Cathe we know and love is back. She''s her usual encouraging and enthusiastic self. Cathe was very subdued in her previous series, STS Cardio.
**the many premixes. It''s all covered with these upper body only, lower body only, time saver, etc.
What I didn''t care for in this workout:
**the constant switching of equipment and weights. I had taken the time to do my 1RM for STS, so I wanted to be as true as possible to the weights. This meant I had to constantly pause the DVD to put on weight loaded gloves, or to add plate mates to my dumbbells, or to change the weight on my barbell. These things really couldn''t be done ahead of time since I was inevitably using the weight for a prior set.
**the set seemed very crowded. It was distracting to have so many background exercisers; they didn''t add anything to the workout. It would have been more effective to have just two or three background people.
**I''m still not sure what this workout is supposed to accomplish. If you use the suggested percent of 1RM, the weights are too heavy for endurance work. However, you''re not working each body part enough to really change the muscle.
In spite of the things I didn''t care for, I would recommend this workout, with some reservations. It is a way to mix things up, which is always a good thing. I would suggest watching the clips before ordering to see if you''ll click with this type of workout.
Buy Cathe Friedrich''s STS Total Body DVD Now
I love it!!!! This is the best strength training work out I have ever purchased. Cathe commands you to really use your muscles to engage the weights. Your muscles stay totally confused. I love the way my body is sculpting.Read Best Reviews of Cathe Friedrich''s STS Total Body DVD Here
I had heard about Cathe Friedrich for a few years. I have purchased some of her Low Impact Series workouts through Amazon On Demand and love how challenging they are. I have worked out for years and have completed a marathon and 5 half marathons. I have been working through some injuries and have been looking for fun ways to incorporate what my physical therapist wants me to do instead of going down a handout from the PT office.If you are looking to incorporate some strength training this is a great video. If you don''t have a step lay on the floor. If you don''t have barbells use handweights. I don''t trust myself with the discs so I do static lunges. Don''t use equipment as an excuse not to do this workout.
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Let me preface by saying I am a huge Cathe fan and have many of her DVD''s. I agree, however, with a previous reviewer that the weight suggestions are too heavy for a full body workout. I cannot get through this dvd in it''s entirety, namely because my upper body is so exhausted, I have trouble lifting the barbell or dumbells for the leg work or vice versa. I especially notice that my forearms are giving out during the deadlifts because they are simply too fatigued. It still is an excellent workout, however I would break it up and do the upper and lower premixes seperately along with some cardio. That way you will be able to give the weight work 100%.
Expand-Your-Hand Bands
I was happy to receive my 12$ "rubber bands" and I was eager to try them out. I gave one to my friend who uses grips all the time so he can train his opposite muscle and not end up with a bad case of tendinitis. Well the strongest one of them broke on me the second day I was using it. I had the rubber bands in my room where barely any sun enters and I thought to myself "maybe thats just defective at least I have a couple of others". My friend told me the next day that his tore as well. I tried my luck with another one also (a red one I believe) and it also broke! This was a waste of 12 dollars. I went to Officemax and bought myself a big bag of thick rubber bands for like 5$. They work great, just fold it twice and it''s even harder to expand than the red version!For those who are willing to purchase this product. Don''t waste your money on rubber bands with a silly sticker on it. Go to any store that sells rubber bands and buy the thickest and most durable ones you can find, that''s a better, cheaper, and more practical solution (you have so many rubber bands available to you in case one of them breaks.
The workout is pretty straight forward. You put the bands around your fingers, place them just under the fingernails and try as many times as you can to expand your fingers outward.
It''s a good workout, too. I do the reps until I feel the "burn" in my fingers. I do two sets each hand about twice a week. Now I feel more dexterity with my fingers after using these bands. I''m using the blue bands now (see photos posted). The other bands (except the red ones) are really too weak to give my fingers any real type of workout.
I am not a doctor or hand specialist, but I do feel using these are a good workout. If you are a weight lifter, practicing martial artist, or especially a musician learning/playing a stringed instrument(s), etc., working with these bands will definitely be beneficial to you. I am happy with them so far.
Now while these bands, I feel, do give your fingers a good workout. These are still basically rubber bands. IronMind states these bands are specially treated. Good. I do follow the advice of IronMind in "keeping these bands in a drawer, out of light, and definitely out of direct sunlight -and also away from heat (so not in the glove box in your car during the summer, etc.)".
But I still have the question in my mind: How long will these bands last?
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Update: Monday June 14, 2010
"But I still have the question in my mind: How long will these bands last?"
The bands should last about a year and a half (give or take a few months).
I was using the blue bands (the next strongest after the red bands) about twice a week, keeping them in a drawer when not in use.
Then one day while I was using them, I noticed a small hole developed in one of the bands. I did another stretch and then Pop! No more band.
I recommend that if you''re going to use these bands, use just one (you get 10 bands, five different colors, 1 set of each color) at a time for both hands. You''ll get longer use out of them.
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I was a little skeptical about this product at first. Honestly, who wants to pay for some really big rubber bands? I went ahead and purchased a set of these when I was purchasing a few other things from Ironmind and honestly I use these more than most other products.These bands provide 5 different strengths and so that you may vary the resistance. In addition, unlike everyday rubber bands these are extremely durable and the perfect size. The smaller bands also work great as a rehabilitation tool for people with wrist or hand injuries. If you work with your hands on a regular basis and constantly find some residual pain in your hands, wrists or forearms you must try these out.
Overall this is an amazing, portable, workout. Once you try these you will be truly amazed at the difference they make.
Read Best Reviews of Expand-Your-Hand Bands Here
I''m a big fan of IronMind''s Captains of Crush hand grippers. Little makes me happier than seeing that the US is still making some of the highest quality products available. The same can be said for the "Expand-Your-Hand Bands". Yeah they are simply rubber bands and it is conceivable that you could perform the same excercise with common inexpensive bands of inferior quality. That said, these bands ARE ideally suited for the task... For MOST hands. But for those with large hands, you may be dissapointed as I was. My digits can comfortably span 7 inches apart without bands. However with the bands on I was only able to achieve 5.5 inches of seperation between any two opposing digits before reaching what I believe to be the functional limit of these bands. I had the same experience with all the included bands (so I don''t think it was a limitation of my hand strength). I''m sure this product will be an excellent choice for most. But for those with large hands, you might want to explore other options. Hopefully in the future IronMind will release another line for varying sized hands.Want Expand-Your-Hand Bands Discount?
Like Mr Sprouffske, I got these bands along with a Captains of Crush gripper. I figured that with the gripper I would be working my hand muscles a certain way and it would be great to have something to work them in the exact opposite direction for greater mobility and strength. Hence these bands.They work great! A lot of people work on computers all day long. Our hand muscles and wrists get tired, over-worked, and cramped from that work all day long. Even if you exercise regularly, your hands and forearms are still not getting a focused workout. That''s where Ironmind''s products come in. I have the ''Trainer'' gripper and these bands and have been using them for a little while now. I feel increased strength in my grip and my forearms.
I work out twice a week with these (usually on my two days off from gym workouts) and use both the gripper and these bands together for a comprehensive forearm and hand workout. Both these products are super convenient to pack on a trip out of town as well, since they are so compact. Whether you work out regularly with weights or not, you will benefit from these products as good gripping strength is fundamental to most everything we do. Plus it will, I suspect, keep you from getting painful arthritis as you grow older.
Cathe Friedrich''s High Step Training DVD
Beginners do not try this at home. This workout is vintage Cathe: Heart-stopping cardio, and tough weight work, topped by Cathe''s friendly demeanor and excellent cuing. This dvd utilizes the High Step, so this workout is perfect for exercisers that lack a lot of space. You will need a loaded barbell, and a medium/heavy and light set of dumbbells (Cathe uses 5 and 10 lbs).The workout is an hour long, but you will be so busy, time will fly by. There are five cycles, each containing cardio and weights.
Cycle one:
Cardio followed by Legs and Triceps
Cycle two:
Cardio followed by Legs and Shoulders
Cycle three:
Cardio followed by Legs and Biceps
Cycle four:
Cardio followed by Legs and Back
Cycle five:
Cardio followed by Legs and Chest
Finally, you enjoy a well-deserved stretch.
The legwork consists mostly of Leg Presses (followers of the Firm workouts will be familiar with these) mixed in with another leg exercise. For example, in cycle one, leg presses are followed by barbell squats; in cycle two leg presses are followed by plie squats.
Modifications are shown for some exercises, and you can always adjust your step height and/or weights.
This dvd contains premixes (cardio only, strength only, cardio and upper body, cardio and lower body, etc.) for those who are short on time or want to focus on a particular body part.
I recommend this dvd for someone who is familiar with weight training, and with Cathe''s cardio workouts.
Cathe is an incredible trainer. This is a perfect full body workout. It was super easy to follow and the moves are challenging but easy to do. You''re sure to sweat during this workout.
This workout is perfect for those that have mastered "crunch", Kathy Smith" or anything similar. TRUST ME! If you need a challenge, this is it.
Buy Cathe Friedrich''s High Step Training DVD Now
I''ve worked out with Cathe for about 6 months now, and I have to say, this is one of my favorite workouts. It combines cardio with upper and lower body in a 60 minute circuit workout.The cardio bursts are short but intenseexpect to jump, do Power 15''s, fast feet shuffles, spike lunges, etc. Lower body work well, let''s just say, I hope you like to do leg presssince you''ll be doing it A LOT. There are a total of 6 sets of leg press on each leg. Also, Cathe inserts some static lunges and squats, among other moves. She does hover squats with pulses of 16 over the high stepyour quads will be feeling the burn, there! Arm work includes typical weighted and non-weight work, such as tricep dips off the high step, push ups, bicep curls, overhead extension, etc.
Overall, if you''re looking for a challenge and a new circuit workout to shock your muscles, this is the workout for you. Beginners, bewareyou can modify certain exercises (I use dumbbells instead of a barbell) but this is more for the intermediate or advanced exerciser.
Read Best Reviews of Cathe Friedrich''s High Step Training DVD Here
I used to be an avid "Firm" exerciser. nothing could beat those videos...until I met Cathe!! She is unbeleivable! I am not into step aerobics. I just can''t do all that fancy footwork. I love all of Cathe''s dvd''s that emphasize muscle conditioning. This workout rocks! I don''t have her high step, I use the fanny lifter from the firm. This dvd gets your heart rate soaring! I mainly use the premix section on my leg day. I prefer to do upper body on the days that I go for a run. This dvd I use on leg days and it combines lower body muscle building with cardio. I can hardly catch my breath! Worth every penny! If you don''t have a barbell you can just use dumbells.Want Cathe Friedrich''s High Step Training DVD Discount?
What can I say about Cathe''s DVD? Except it is a wonderful workout like all the others! She really gives you a great workout for the money! This one has Cardio and strength mixed in. The Cardio portion will get your heart rate up and the moves aren''t too fancy. She does work your legs ALOT in this one! I was expecting to be sore this morning..but I did some nice yoga afterward... my biceps are sore though! I would strongly recomend this DVD. If you are a beginner do use lighter weights though! Like all the others I really enjoy her DVDs!
Moving Comfort Endurance Shell Jacket
I bought this jacket at least 9 months ago, needed something for running in cool and/or damp weather but my budget was small. Wasn''t familiar with the Moving Comfort brand, figured it would probably not be as slick as some of those from the pricier/hipper brands (you know who they are!), but price won me over and very glad it did! It''s stylish enough, the fit is very comfortable, the stretchy fabric is soft and surprisingly water repellent. Love the reflective accents for evening running, great safety feature. Although the jacket is somewhat basic (no iPod pocket, etc.), it gets 5 stars for good functionality and comfort -overall an excellent value.Save 8% off
Everlast 2lb Dumbbells
- Transform your Wii Controllers into workout
- Adds 2 pounds of weight to each controller. Perfectly balanced and solidly constructed.
- Great way to add a strength element to any aerobic workout.
- Designed to securely hold the controllers, allowing full use of all buttons, straps and IR function.
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The wii controllers must be placed inside ''tunnels'' in the dumbbells. This creates three small issues, which aren''t very bad but slightly annoying: a. the controller has a harder time communicating directly with the Wii because of said tunnel and the position you''d generally hold a dumbbell in isn''t directly straight forward, so you miss points/hits/whatever. and b. by holding the dumbbell you''re actually pressing buttons on the controller the grip is removed so you''ve got direct palm to button pressure. and c. it''s hard to disconnect the nunchuck from the controller which is required for several other games which dumbbells would make a better workout for, so I end up popping the controller out disconnecting. well, it takes up valuable time.nice idea though and I''ll continue to use them. the design could have been better.
Read Best Reviews of Everlast 2lb Dumbbells Here
Great product for a little extra weight to use with the Wii Fit. Good starter weights I wish a heavier version would become available.Want Everlast 2lb Dumbbells Discount?
I use the dumbbells for the boxing game and nothing else. The small amount of extra weight does add to the intensity of the boxing game.Its inconvenient to take the remote out of the dumbbell each time so I switch to a regular remote when I''m not doing boxing.
You can switch controllers pretty easily in the following way:
Press the home key and go to the remote settings. There you will find the option to reconnect the remotes. You will be prompted to press the 1 and 2 buttons at the same time on each remote (in the order you want them to be connected). I press the 1 and 2 buttons on the remote that I want to become primary and then press home again to return to the Wii fit games.
Not great not sure I''ll keep using these but we will see. At least they are inexpensive (and not flimsy).
I good idea but has some kinks to work out.
The Resistance Band Workout Kit- For Men. Featuring The Resistance Band Workout Deck. By Eduardo Dias.
The product arrived cracked on one of the band''s hooks. We saw the crack and poked it. The hook broke completely off. We returned it with no problems what so ever, great seller.We did not get replacements of the same product. We went to another site and bough bands with metal hooks.
Then the product arrived. Just as described. The bands were nice and came with a little pamphlet explaining how to hook up the bands to the handles,how to use the door anchor, safety tips, etc.
But the best happened in a few weeks, when one of the bands actually broke! I was disappointed because they seemed nice, so I e mailed Show me the Fitness and told them my band had broken.
On the same day I got the following e mail:
We received an e mail from Amazon about a broken resistance band on the resistance band kit that you purchased less than a month ago.
We apologize about that.
The bands are of very high quality, but as with any mass produced product, you are bound to run into a few defects every now and then.
Please let us know which one was it (what color) and we will send you a new one.
Take care,
Eduardo Dias.
In three days I got a new band! It is good to know that there are companies that still believe in good customer service and stand by their products.
A great piece of equipment from a superb company. Recommend it 100%.I ordered the resistance band deck a while back and I''m definitely happy with the results. I do a lot of travel, and Eduardo''s regiment (along with the bands themselves) has allowed me to work out on the road without a gym. All you really need is a door! I love that the cards are simple to follow and ringed, so I don''t lose them (as I tend to do).
I researched the exercises in the deck and found that Eduardo really knows his stuff. It works all of your major muscle groups (arms and legs).
Seriously, I can''t believe how much of a burn I feel after only a couple minutes (and I''m only on two bands at a time!).
Buy it. You will not regret it.
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ASICS Men''s Team Medley Tight
I bought the ASICS Men''s Running Compression Long Sleeve and ASICS Men''s Team Medley Tight together for 2 reasons.The first reason, I live in North Dakota, and I like to run all year round (outside) and i needed something to keep my core warm, and this is perfect for me.
The second reason, i needed this for a quick costume i was putting together, and the material was perfect and durable for that use as well.
The quality which was put into this product was very good, on par with Under Armor (the current standard), but for 1/2 the price, therefore twice as good in my book.
Something else which I really like about this product is that it has just a bit of "sheen" with the top and bottom that makes it look unique and stand out just a bit, in a positive way. I cannot recommend this enough for people that are interested!
I used to wear a pear of nike compression long pants, the thin silky stuff, they lasted for as long as I had them (+8 years). I lost the pair and needed a new set. I''m trying these. So far they are ok and look & feel decent. Definitely for weather 15-30F. I wonder how they will hold up to frequent washes. At thirty bucks, I guess its priced reasonably. I also wear these under my leathers when racing motorcycles. The only thing I don''t like about these pants so far is the rubber at the ankles. It feels like its pulling on my hair a bit. I am 155 lb, 6 feet with a 32" inseam. Purchased the large size. BTW, compared to the Asics Men''s Myles II, these seem to have a nicer cut / pattern but does not have the internal pocket.
I bought the first pair and noticed it fit well. Just bought a 2nd pair today as of writing this review.
Will keep you posted on its durability and comfort.
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Wanted to get a pair of black men''s tights for winter wear. I''m not a runner but like to hike. These are perfect. Also since colder now, I''m finding them good for just running around for errands. These are not UA type compression pants nor are they the insulated thick winter tights. These thinner but cover well so can wear them just as is without shorts. Put them on under a pair of windpants today and I was actually too warm! Here''s what''s great too...I''m 6''3" 250 lbs and the 2XL fit just right. Plenty of room in the back and front without getting baggy. Cuff on bottom keeps them from riding up. Ok, they do have a bit of gleam in the sun from the material, but its reasonable. Not talking dance wear here. I need to look for more of these ASICs tights. Price and fit spot on.Read Best Reviews of ASICS Men''s Team Medley Tight Here
I got a little concerned when I first tried the tights (Size: L) on because I had a hard time getting them up because my thighs are wider than my waist. Once they were on, the fit was actually very good. They feel and look like a second layer of skin, which is what I prefer. The only other small issue I have with the tights is the elastic in the cuffs. It''s there to keep the tights in place, but it is a bit abrasive. I''ll probably use a little bodyglide or the like to deal with that.Want ASICS Men''s Team Medley Tight Discount?
Asics does it again. Good value and well made product. The tights are exactly that: Tight. Not uncomfortable even in the waist but when you first put them on you would think they''d be. The ankle elastics are tight which means they won''t rub.
New Balance Lightweight Jersey Pant
I have been looking around in stores for something not expensive and comfortable, and I have not found anything better than these. They are light weight and perfect for workouts at the gym. The fit seems true to size, maybe just a bit generous. I love them, they are just what I wanted.
Nike NK Free XT Everyday Fit+ Womens Cross Training Shoes
This is one shoe which is NOT overbuilt (a problem with so many athletic shoes). It is lightweight, very flexible and a low heel profile. I can actually feel the surface I am on. These qualities are very important to me especially for playing tennis, race walking and balance. Stiff, thick-soled shoes undermine the body''s ability to sense ''changes'' in surfaces, among other things and is not a good situation for maintaining one''s balance.
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ASICS Gear Bag
Great bag! Very roomy for all of my son''s wrestling gear. Wide and thick shoulder straps. Sturdy material and as big as the Nike duffle bag he was using.
the only this i can say that its bigger then i thought
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This bag is GREAT. I originally bought it to use as a travel bag for a vacation with my family. We were planning on taking a train into NYC and I figured it would be easy to carry with lots of space for a casual week in the city. And I was right. It is surprisingly roomy, and the outer compartment--with mesh--is perfect for clothes after they''ve been worn. Now that the vacation is over, I use it for my gym bag and again, it is perfect. It is easy to carry, it has an outer pocket for knick knacks (club ids, head phones, keys, etc), and the mesh is great for sweaty clothes after a workout. It is a great deal--I love it.Good size and construction to hold all my son''s wrestling gear in style.Would purchase this brand again. A good buy.
Accoutrements Mr. Tap Water Bottle
this is so cute! the lid is easy to un/screw & is secure. the graphics are very clever/cute just as pictured.the 20 oz. bottle is very good quality, practical, brings a smile to all who see it.
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This water bottle has a great 1950''s design. Not only does it make fun of those who drink expensive bottled water but also those who insist upon expensive $25.00 "sig-type" water bottles. The cap fits on tight and it''s a good size. I did have a friend who used one exhaustively and the design did start to wear off, however.Read Best Reviews of Accoutrements Mr. Tap Water Bottle Here
Very cute but the print is wore off a bit on the bottle not horrible, but enough to annoy and dissapoint me...
Interval Workout Timer TMR05-BA Black
I like this timer. It works every time, and it''s got a loud (and adjustable) beep that''s easy to hear, which makes it perfect for timing my heavy bag workouts. I even like the industrial, retro look-and-feel of the timer. But the user instructions are some of the worst I''ve ever seen. I followed the quick-reference instructions imprinted on the top of the timer as well as the longer paper instructions. They are simply wrong. I tried them multiple times, carefully following each step. They did not work. So I played around with the timer until I figured out the right sequence of buttons to push. I then wrote my own simple and short instructions -just three steps to set up a simple workout. So it turns out the timer really is simple to use -but you''d never know it from the instructions.
Once you set it up, though, everything is just one button press. For example, T1, START and the time you stored in T1 starts counting down. Once it runs out you get a beep and a flashing light. You can adjust the volume of the beep with the dial on top. At any time you can STOP which will pause the timer, or click T1 or T2, etc to reset the timer to the stored value.
Another plus of this item is that the digits are quite large. There''s also a little mount point for a screw in the back, if you want it on a wall in your home gym.
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I bought this timer to break up my heavy bag workouts into rounds. The day I received it, the timer seemed to work fine. There is a small on/off switch on the top and large easy to use buttons on the face. It was not as loud as I had hoped, but probably good enough. The next day the timer was dead. I replaced the batteries and nothing. I think I left the power switch on, but not longer than a day. Patience and troubleshooting lasted about an hour before banging it on the table and giving up. Double checked it a week later with new batteries....nothing.Read Best Reviews of Interval Workout Timer TMR05-BA Black Here
Great for the price. I should have read description better because I did not realize it does not have a stopwatch mode which is very nice to have for the type of workouts I do. My fault for not reading better but this would be a nice addition to this timer. Overall, pretty satisfied with the purchase.Want Interval Workout Timer TMR05-BA Black Discount?
The product has a solid construction. It worked as advertised. I liked the larger display screen than its competitors. I would recommend it. I have to warned the new user that the instructions are really bad but you can figure out yourself how to use it after a couple weeks of occasional use.Save 6% off
Schiek 2006 Leather Lifting Belt - 6 Inch
ive been lifting for over three years now. 315 to 355 squats and deads. used a few belts that support well but cut into my ribs and hip bones. this is made not to do that and support gut as well as back, which is real important for internal pressure control. safety first because if your hurt your not training!
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I got the wrong size and the return procedure is very cumbersome to accomplish. It is also very costly to return it.Read Best Reviews of Schiek 2006 Leather Lifting Belt - 6 Inch Here
Product is by far the best one I have ever had. Comfort, quality, size all met my expectations. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a above average quality lifting belt.Want Schiek 2006 Leather Lifting Belt - 6 Inch Discount?
I am a crossfitter and love the the days when we get to do Olympic Lifts. This belt fits the bill perfect. It gives great support and is made very sturdy. The thick leather and big buckle go together well, and does not ride up or slip down. The dual pins in the buckle help with making the belt feel secure, but sometimes I need help to get it tight enough for deadlifts and back squats. It is just now getting broken in and fits better all the time. The size runs pretty true to what you would think you need.Save 22% off
Marcy Deluxe Smith Trainer
My previous weight bench was just a smith bench due to an old shoulder injury. Now that my shoulder is better I wanted to get back into benching free weights again. So when I saw this bench I could see that it had both options (free weights and smith). The other thinks I like about it are:I like that the bench accommodates standard one inch plates.
The bench can be placed at a 90 degree angle for shoulder presses
Things I don''t like or would change:
The smith part of the bench is cheaply made. I normally squat ~200lbs. The first time I squatted with this bench I nearly gave myself a hernia! The guides that run along the smith bars are too short allowing too much play in the bar. So if by chance you do not lift the bar perfectly parallel to the floor it binds up completely! This sucks especially when you are mid squat with 200 lbs on you back!
I ordered new parts to hopefully alleviate this problem. But it''s been a month and I have still not received them yet. I called again and they say they are still on back order.
Also make sure you have space. This thing is huge. Takes up half a bedroom
Also, I would give this four stars but the bottom right floor bracket was machined improperly. The bolt holes on that side are about 1 1/2 inch too far out from the back. I called the factory and they said they would ship a replacement. After two weeks I called and asked them the status and they advised they are waiting for the part and it could be another 8 weeks. Grrrr! Because of this the safety bracket does not fit on that side, which defeats 75% of the reason I bought this piece.
Also I wish that they had designed the resting brackets to be reversible. They only face out. So, (once I have the correct sized bracket) I will be starting my squats from the lower position instead of the upper position. Not a fan. Maybe I can fabricate something.... That is why I couldn''t give this 5 stars.
edit : A few years gone by. There is no way to easily fabricate a resting bracket for this device. The internal safety brackets are completely useless. Either get a better machine with a proper internal setup or get a cheaper one which doesn''t even try. Just don''t get this one.
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The shipping & packaging was ALL jacked up. The first 2 boxes that came were smashed. Could not refuse delivery bc it was left at my front door. I opened it & a lot of screws were scattered. This made a bad situation bc the screws are taped to a piece of #''d cardboard. When the 3rd box came the delivery man had me take a look at the package. He said, "If I were you I would refuse this & call the manufacturer for a new one." Glad I listened to him. It looked like it was used as a trampoline. I called Amazon & was told they already resent a new one & it should arrive on blah blah date. That date happened to be the day I called. Confused as hell I asked, "So the company knew they sent a jacked up package & the replacement should arrive today?" The rep said yes. I told him that the replacement arrived & it was unacceptable & I wanted another. I was given a $100 gift card for the inconvenience & was told they would replace the replacement. (LOL)! I ended up receiving 3 new boxes instead of one which ended up being a blessing in disguise. A LOT of pieces and screws were missing from the original so I rummaged through the new boxes & got all the parts I needed. Imagine the nightmare I would have endured if they didn''t screw up by sending me all 3 boxes. Needless to say I have to send them the extras...or whatever is left seeing I had to use them. As for the machine itself..it''s AWESOME. As far as putting it together, not so awesome. I would take the advice of a previous post about using plastic cups & #''ing them. I''m stubborn so I didn''t. Would have saved some time. It didn''t take as long as people said it would in previous reviews. One person said 13 hrs total & another 9 hrs. I am not mechanically inclined, I fix people, not machines...anyways it took me 5-6 hrs by myself. Could have been faster if I wasn''t BSing around. Putting the pulley system together took up the most time, but even that wasn''t as hard as I thought. And one person is correct about the glide posts. It needs to be greased. Not a big deal. I do recommend this machine to whoever is interested. It''s a great price for what it does and I go to the gym every weekday and actually know what I''m doing. I work in physical therapy. As far as buying this from Amazon or whoever this ships through...HELL NO! Hope this review helps.Read Best Reviews of Marcy Deluxe Smith Trainer Here
I ordered this smith machine in October. It is now March and I STILL do not have all the pieces. The original was delivered in November, but was damaged. The company told me they would replace the damaged pieces. Each time I call, I get a different story: they will come so and so time, someone will return my call and then never does etc.Want Marcy Deluxe Smith Trainer Discount?
Bought for $630 eligible for Amazon Prime.Let''s be honest, complete home gyms with Smith Machines and Crossover Cables don''t come cheap. They range from $600 (this one) up to $2500. If you''re looking at this one, you''re scraping the bottom of the barrel, you''re extremely price sensitive, and wondering if a Marcy is as good quality as a Body Solid.
Shipping:
I see a lot of other reviews complaining about shipping. It comes in 3 boxes. One of them was handled perfectly, delivery guy came in with a hand truck and put it in the house where I wanted it. The other two boxes were in very rough shape. One of them had burst open and the side of the box was flapping as I dragged it into the house. The contents were jostling about inside, and I wasn''t sure if I had all the pieces. Generally a less-than-ideal experience. I started to file a claim online, but they asked if any pieces were missing and I couldn''t inventory without opening them all up, so I went ahead and unboxed all of it. It turns out that I did have all the pieces, but some of the hardware were scattered in the boxes instead of cellophane wrapped (and numbered) to the cardboard.
Assembly:
Definitely definitely do the cups idea! I put all my hardware in solo cups and sharpied the number on them. It would have been a nightmare without doing that. Some people here have said 8 hours, others 13. I took my time and it was probably 12 hours all total including unboxing, separating, parts, laying them out, throwing away plastic and cardboard, labeling cups, etc. Directions are a bit skiddish and hard to read sometimes. After a few hours you get to understanding their philosophy behind bolted joints and it becomes easier.
A few issues came up. On one of the supports, a beam was supposed to fit inside another. The hole was warped, so I had to use a dremel grinding bit to modify the shape of the hole for it to fit. Not a big deal, took 10 minutes to fix, but just be aware. Another hole had metal sticking up from where the hole was drilled and the metal prevented a beam from inserting into another. I had to dremel that as well. Other than that, assembly went well. In some parts it says Two People Recommended. It''s possible to do with one person with a little care and dexterity, and I''m 5''0" 100 lbs, but I''m sure two people would be safer.
Performance/Features:
Smith Machine definitely grease the guide rods with WD40. After that I don''t see any reason why anyone would need linear bearings. The action is very smooth and I experience no binding when using it for squats or presses.
Crossover Cables there''s a little more friction in the system than what I imagined. I would have liked to have a stack of plates with a pin in the back for convenience but for $630 all total, I can''t complain at all.
It lacks a lat pull down, and the bench doesn''t have an attachment for a preacher curl. The pegs for the weights are plastic and a bit cheap feeling/looking. With everything else being pretty good quality (metal), these are the only things I have to gripe about and it''s a little petty.
Value:
Compare this to the Marcy Diamond Elite with Linear Bearings ($1050). Linear bearings sound nice, but once the guide rods are greased, you won''t know the difference. Most power racks by themselves are $400-$500. With this, you get a bench w/ leg station, crossover cables, a fly station, and a seated row station.
If this system came with a Lat Pulldown and a Preacher Curl attachment and was $100 more, I''d get it. If it were $200 more and also included a stack of plates for the cables, I''d get that, too. The Gold''s Gym System is actually close, but it isn''t Amazon Prime eligible... so good luck with that shipping. ;)
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CrossFit Ab Mat Back Pad by Rubberbanditz For Total Core Workout
Trainer had this in his gym. Works great I would recommend people to get it. The one I got, got to me real quick
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This isn''t a real Abmat. The title is misleading with putting "Ab Mat". The space played a little trickery on my eyes. Anyways, that''s my fault, but I think it''s pretty shady. While removing it from the plastic, I was stabbed in the finger by one the of the staples used the back of it. Not the greatest quality and it sits a little higher than a real Abmat. Not as comfortable but it get''s the job done. Won''t be recommending this product to anyone else.Read Best Reviews of CrossFit Ab Mat Back Pad by Rubberbanditz For Total Core Workout Here
Does what it is supposed to and stands up to the elements of my garage and dogs. I would certainly recommend the product to friends!Want CrossFit Ab Mat Back Pad by Rubberbanditz For Total Core Workout Discount?
