No Fear Fitness Forearm Guard Pair

I don''t know what that person did to tear them up the first time they wore them. I am a certified Kettlebell Instructor. I Instruct classes at a local gym two evenings a week.

I work out with kettlebells exclusively, and am always using them, coming up with different routines for my classes, etc. Since ordering these, I use them every time I pick up a kettlebell. I have excellent form but I''m not a machine, sometimes on a snatch, maybe one rep hits wrong and there would be a bruise, as I use a 22 pound kettlebell, and being a lady, I have small wrists.

Before purchasing these, I wore the extra wide terry cloth type wrist band and they are no comparison to these. I''m ordering a second pair tonight, just to have an extra pair put away in case I loose one or they quit making them.

I cannot say enough good about them.

As a long-time user of Kettlebells I cannot say enough about these forearm guards. You might say that if I was using proper form I wouldn''t need to use them, but I primarily use kbells for strength/endurance HIIT interval training and when I get really winded, my form can sometimes tend to deteriorate. And all it takes is one bad form move with a snatch and BAM, you slam your forearm. OUCH! These forearm guards make pushing yourself in these interval sets so much easier. I totally love them.

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For the kettlebell newbie these forearm guards ROCK! No more bruises on your wrists and forearms. These forearm guards are tough, fit well and let you work out with heavier kettlebells without fear. Get these!

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I recently started using kettlebells in the last 2-3 weeks. I have had a session with a trainer and the rest I''ve been doing with home DVDs. As I''m typing this I''m looking at the "goose egg" bruises on my forearms. Needless to say my form is still horrible at this time. I received these in the mail today (super fast shipping from this seller BTW). WOW! What a difference. I realize that in theory I should not use these b/c I need to feel it when I don''t have correct form, but realistically since I''m mostly doing this on my own, these help a lot. I was doing the clean and snatch too slow b/c I was afraid the bell was going to hit my fresh bruises on my arm. When I wore these today they helped so much. I did a lot better getting the moves closer to right b/c I wasn''t holding back when trying to do them. When the bell did hit it was perfect to absorb the shock. (I''m only using 10 and 15lb kettlebells) I wish I would have had these from the beginning. I found that the size worked great for me (I''m 5''4" about 128lbs) there was definitely more room for larger wrists. I''m using standard kettlebells, so I didn''t feel like they needed to be longer. I would recommend these to anyone new to kettlebells as long as they understand ideally you don''t really need these b/c the bell shouldn''t be slamming your forearm.

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I bought these to go with Skoggs'' KEttlebell workouts, since I needed extra protection while doing the snatch move. These are lightweight and go on your forearm like Snap bracelets of old (anyone who was a child in the nineties will know what I''m talking about). I work up a sweat with kettlebells, so I had to air them out after each workoutbut I''m sure that''s par for the course. They protected my arms from any banging, so I''m happy with them!

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Women''s Reflective Cycling & Running Jacket

This jacket is beautiful, but does not breath!!! It should not be called a cycling & Running jacket, but rather a rain jacket.

I am 54 and do moderate running (3 miles) and biking (13 miles) and I am soaked at the end as well as everything under the jacket. This is with little excursion I might add, I have an old dog so I go at his pace these days. When I take the jacket off even the inside arms are drenched to the point of soaking a paper towel! That''s with having a long sleeve shirt underneath (which of coarse is also drenched)! If you plan to buy this coat to work out in DON''T BUY THIS ONE!!! Once you wear this coat it is nonreturnable also. The fellow on the phone was polite but said they absolutely can not except returns once any clothing is worn! Bad form I''d say, how do you know how well it will perform unless your able to try it out(Another reason to not purchase this item)! The fellow did say he was overstepping his boundries but would give me a little credit back on my card, which while wasn''t what I wanted (i wanted to return it for a full refund, especially since it is in no way shape or form a running or cycling jacket) it was better than the nothing he said they are authorized to do. Also the price is way too high, I paid $109. YIKES, should have been maybe a $40-$50 jacket. It''s like wearing a pretty plastic bag. I do love the color, I laughed when I first saw the reflectors because they are stamped on, but they do seem to reflect . As a matter of fact the first day I wore this jacket running, my dogs ticked off a small heard of deer that chased one of my dogs full speed right up to me! They weren''t slowing down and at first I was worried that my dog would be trampled then myself. I raised my arms while screaming no, the sun was behind the deer, so my reflectors probably did their job , because the deer came to a abrute stop only 5-6 feet infront of me!

So as much as I am disappointed in the quality, function and price. I do appreciate the color, reflectors and style. This jacket will now go into a emergency pouch on my dirt bike, because I think as a tool for work outs it could be more of a danger than a help.

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Gold''s Gym Ab Wheel

My dad recommended this product. I bought it because our work bench doesn''t have the leg grip things to help bring you up when you do crunches, so I thought this would be a good replacement. I got it at Wal-Mart for seven dollars. I have only used it twice so far doing about 3 reps of 10 (baby steps). My abs hurt. I cry like a girl at work when I have to get on the ground. I''m still not completely sure if I''m doing the work out correctly, but since my abs hurt so much, I''ve got to be doing something right. I just set up a safe distance between my starting position and the couch. When I extend at a comfortable length, the wheel will hit the couch and then I try to use my stomach muscles to being me back in. I''m only on the 2nd day, so I know it will be a while until I stop using the couch as a handicap. I''m just playing it safe though... i bet I''d tear a muscle if something wasn''t there to stop me from rollin''. I will have to update my use of this product much later, but so far, I''m impressed with the hurting.

this ab wheel is the best way to exercise abs, great product. but a have a complain with the material, its very frail

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ProSource Premium 1/2-Inch Extra Thick 71-Inch Long High Density Exercise Yoga Mat

I had the Harbinger 3/8" mat before this one, so can compare the two. This one is made of a thicker foam, and it does not slide around on wood floors (or at least only a little). Big plus when doing sit-ups. In the picture it looks like it is ribbed, but the ribs are actually very small, so not anything to consider one way or the other. I actually thought the bottom would be ribbed, and that was why it would not move around, but that is not the case. It is just that the foam is not slick like the Harbinger mat.

The ''carrying case'' is just the straps you see in the picture. They slide off/on the mat, which is nice, as you can just set them aside. With the Harbinger mat the straps are glued on, and that did me no good as I most often have the mat unrolled at home, and the straps would get in the way.

All-in-all this is a higher quality mat than the Harbinger mat. If I was to knock it, I guess I could say that the foam is almost too dense. But I actually like the fact that my hips, etc, will never make contact with the floor (I''m 170 lbs, and with all my weight on one knee I would say that I''m still at least an 1/8" off the floor).

I tend to double up on yoga mats when practicing, so this mat is perfect when doing poses involving resting on your knees. However, this mat is not suitable for postures that focus on and involve balance. With the mat being so thick and well-cushioned, I found my feet sinking deeper into the mat and leaving an impression for the remainder of yoga class. Also, during certain poses, the mat will make a "squeaking" sound when adjusting your stances and postures. I would recommend this mat for anyone specifically looking for cushion & comfort. Also, when rolled up, the mat is VERY THICK bundled up and may not fit within most yoga carrying bags or cases.

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I bought the ProSource Premium 1/2 inch Yoga Mat because my knees were hurting when I used the thinner mats the gym provided. I knew I needed to purchase my own mat and that it needed to be thicker than what I was using if I wanted to save my knees and still perform all the yoga positions. This does the trick. I am able to do everything and without pain in my knees. I strongly advise it for anyone with knee issues.

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As the title of this review declared, the first thing my two yoga instructors told me as soon as they saw my new mat was that it was not a good mat. Unfortunately, I have learned they were right. I purchased this mat a couple months ago and have not been happy with it. If you are only going to practice yoga perhaps 1x a month, then sure, buy this cheap mat and you should be fine. If, however, you intend to practice yoga regularly (at least one time a week), then this mat will not cut it.

Issues with mat:

(1) Extremely slick. There is no grip when you place the mat on the floor. In addition to this, if you intend to practice hot yoga/Bikram yoga, you will slip and slide all over this mat as you sweat.

(2) Tears/rips easily.

(3) Although it looks thick and full, it doesn''t stay that way. As you maneuver into different positions, the mat smashes down and offers even less cushion than a much thinner mat. After just one yoga class, the mat was already compressed and flatter and it never returned to its original thickness.

This is a cheap mat, but not a good one. It is better for napping on, not for practicing yoga.

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Was on sale when I purchased; wish I''d bought more before they ran out of stock as my sister and mom both want one (would have made great Xmas gifts oh well). One of the few mats I could find that is thick enough to be truly comfortable for me and also reasonably priced. I use it for both yoga and pilates, although some may prefer a thinner mat for yoga. I prefer a thick mat for everything as I need something to cushion my bones from my hard tile floor. Seems to be adequately "sticky" certainly stays in place well for me. Also easy to clean; I just wash it off in the tub once in a while, pat it as dry as I can and then let it air dry. Nice and light for travel and the yoga strap for transport and keeping it stored is simple and effective. I noticed a lot of people complained about the smell of this mat, but have to say there is no odor unless I have my nose shoved up against it, and then there is a definite (but mild) smell of foam rubber because, hello, this is made of foam rubber. I.e., perfectly normal and typical for this type of material. I have extremely sensitive skin and am prone to allergies, but have no problems with this mat (or with foam in general), however your mileage may vary. If you are sensitive to man-made materials, buy an all cotton or other all natural materials mat; for everyone else this is a decent budget buy.

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Cathe 24 in. x 72 in. Double Thick Yoga / Pilates Mat

The mat is long, thick, and not slippery. It also doesn''t have that chemical-ly smell that a lot of new workout mats do. However, the DVD is a joke. It''s a mini-DVD, so I had to play it in my computer, and the workout was so insubstantial, that I just threw it out afterwards. Also, the DVD is taped inside of the cardboard packaging so it''s easy to miss -I almost threw out the DVD with the packaging.

Conclusion: Buy the mat because it''s a great mat, and don''t base your decision on the useless DVD.

I have owned this mat for 3 months, and have used it 2-3 times each week for an hour long yoga class. I have washed it once, with a mild degtergent and let it hang-dry as is recommended. I am giving it 3 stars because it is already getting tears in the surface. Also, my hands slip in down-dog (by the way I do not have a sweat issue with my hands.) The only reason I am giving it anything but 2 stars-because I will tell you I am a bit upset that it is already degenerating-is that it is very padded. Also I love the color. I think it may be a better pilates mat, but it certainly does not withstand the rigors of yoga. It stretches during poses too because the harder layer that should be in between the soft layers is nonexistant. Maybe it would be a good mat for gentle style yoga with mostly sit-bone exercises. I hope you can find something more sturdy for any dedication to yoga. Email or comment if you have questions.

Also, yes the DVD is horrible. And tiny.

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Love the double thickness, soft mat, comes with C.D, which makes it even better value.

Quickly shipped....love it.

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This work out mat really is super thick (1/2") as described online. I had previously purchased another mat described as double thick which I returned because it was only 1/4" thick. I found this mat to be the best quality for the best price with convenient velcro straps to roll up the mat.

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Awaesome mat. Colorful and big. Also it is thicker than normal and it has grip on the surface.

I didn''t find the DVD in my package...oh well...but it counts is that the product itselfis great

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Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper

every stair stepper you look for nowadays is really big and insanely expensive. I had one for years that folded up like this one, but one of the hydraulics was going out, so we figured we''d need to find a replacement. This does the job well for the price paid; it''s nice to be able to stash this out of the way so you don''t have exercise equipment dominating a room in your house.

I think this is a good little stepper for the money. We wanted something more substantial than those "handle-less" mini-steppers BUT with the convenience of being small and foldable. This seemed to be the perfect solution. I was able to set it up in 15 minutes by myself, though don''t count on folding this up and storing it under a bed...it''s still somewhat heavy and a bit bulky (you''d need a tall bed!) So far it seems to work well. The shock/piston adjustment on one side sticks a bit (making it difficult to adjust) but I just have to give it some jiggles. It also tends to rock from side to side when you step, but I''m hoping that will be eliminated when I have a rubber mat under it (it is on carpet.)

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I bought this product in September, thinking it would be a good buy. It was the worst purchase of my life. I was forewarned that this machine would break down sooner rather than later, but I thought for $100 it was a well calculated risk. Nobody told me this product would last only 2 months. In those 2 months, I must have used it less than 15 times in total, each workout lasting 15-20 minutes tops (I weight 160 lbs). One could make the argument that since the warranty was for 3 months, I was covered. But in a series of emails to Stamina Products, I was treated very rudely and curtly. The long and short of it is that they were only willing to provide replacement "parts". The problem with this is that the machine did not come in parts. It came readily assembled. The manual does not tell you how to assemble or dis-assemble the machine -because the machine is already assembled. So when the right step broke, yes I could order a replacement right step, but I was offered absolutely no help on how to replace the right step on my own. Moreover, if I damaged the machine while attempting to install the replacement, my warranty would become void. All this was made plain to Stamina Products. They got even ruder and more unreasonable, and after a while, they stopped replying even as I explained in great detail how their solution could not help me.

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I really like this stepper. It''s perfectly sized and compact that I can easily store it under my bed. And it''s not too heavy, so I can drag it from the bedroom to the den, where I workout while watching TV. However,

I would like the degree of difficulty to be a bit harder. But this is a perfect machine to use in between my gym workouts.

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I got this with the expectation of only having a year or so before it broke. I wish. Try only 5 uses before it''s done (at least I think).

Just FYI, I''m only 5''11 and 175 lbs so it''s not like I''m stressing the unit. Plus, I never got to the point where I was working it that hard.

The first 2 or 3 uses were okay. Even when operational, the stepping action is not very smooth. Then comes the jolt. The shocks get very hot and lose tension suddenly. You are riding along and suddenly your foot drops to the floor. It actually hurt my knee with the jolt.

It usually lasts about 15 mins before you can''t get the tension back at all. But, at least for a few uses, you could "pump" the stepper a little and get it to work.

Now, after 5 or 6 uses, the tension is completely gone in the right leg. It''s completely useless. Seriously, why can''t I rate this zero stars? If ever a product deserves it, this does.

On the plus side, it''s easy to setup and I suppose to throw away, as I''ll soon find out.

One more thing. Even when it did work, I didn''t like the pedal incline. If you are used to gym style steppers, you know the pedals are pretty level. That way, you can lean a little forward or back to change up the workout. This unit, however, has a STEEP incline (in towards the handle bars). It doesn''t make for a comfortable stepping motion. I chalked this up to ''you get what you pay for though'' at first.

Of course, even at a real cheap price, it should last longer than a couple of weeks...

Stay away!!

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TrekDesk Treadmill Desk

I have been waiting for months for the Trekdesk to be released. I ordered mine minutes after receiving the email that it was available to order (I was on the waitlist). I had lofty expectations for this product. Now that I have been using it for a few days I can safely report that Trekdesk has met all my expecations. I am thrilled with my new office routine!

Let me start with the bad to get it out of the way. I am nit-picking here. These are fairly minor complaints.

THE BAD:

Assembly instructions could be more helpful. It took me 45 minutes to assemble the desk, although I admitedly am not much of a handyman. Others could probably assemble it in half that time. The instructions were detailed, but do not have drawings/pictures which would have been very helful to me. The video helped some, but I wish it also was more detailed in showing assembly steps. I was surprised at the number of parts to assemble...and the number of screws. It would be helpful to have the different size screws in separate bags instead of all in one bag.

Difficulty accessing the treadmill control panel under the Trekdesk. I believe Trekdesk recommends a treadmill with a side panel instead of the panel in front. However, my treadmill has the front panel, which sits under the Trekdesk. I can''t see the treadmill display without performing gymnastic contortions. Also, must reach under the Trekdesk to press the start/stop buttons on the treadmill. However, after a few hours I was used to the routine. I haven''t changed the speed or incline on the treadmill since the first day anyway, so no need to have easy access to the control panel.

cord control. They should add features for tying down cords somewhere. Between the computer, monitor, phone, printer, etc....lots of cords running from the desk.

Not a full-time desk. I found that I like to alternate between a chair and the treadmill during the day. I work/walk for a couple hours and then spend a half hour sitting at the desk. However, I have only been using the treadmill for 2 days and noticed that today I spent a lot more time on the treadmill than I did the first day. Ok, you have probably guessed I am not the picture of fitness (yet).

Now for all the good stuff...

THE GOOD:

solid construction. When I ordered I was a little worried this would be a cheap product because the price was a fraction of other treadmill workstations. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the desk when unpacking the box.

packaging. Speaking of unpacking..no way this desk will be damaged during shipping. All parts are fit into layers of custom-molded styrofoam.

video tutorial for assembling.

adjustable height. I am 6'' 3, and the Trekdesk fits me perfectly when I am on the treadmill. I could still raise it a couple more inches if I wanted to.

customer service. I emailed customer service with a question and received a response and helpful instructions within an hour.

large desk. Plenty or room for a work area, even with a laptop docked and a monitor/keyboard/mouse.

the best news of all is that it works! I feel great during and after work. I have been working from home for quite some time now, and have been feeling more and more lethargic sitting in my chair all day long. What a difference the Trekdesk makes! I had more energy today at work than I have had in a long time. It only took minutes to get used to walking while typing away at the keyboard or using the mouse. The setup feels quite natural now. I use all the accessories that came with the desk, especially the cup holders. Those are a nice touch. Overall, I have no reservations about recommending the Trekdesk. It has been well worth the purchase price to me.

I''ve been looking at workspace / desk options for a couple of years. I first saw the concept of "Walk / Work" with a product made be SteelCase. Theirs is a nice looking unit with a built-in treadmill, but two major problems: 1) Extremely expensive, and 2) The built-in treadmill is essentially featureless. So I kept looking and came across TrekDesk. I dropped some hints with my wife about the TrekDesk for Christmas and sure-enough, there was a huge box under the tree on Christmas morning. I put the TrekDesk together in about 25 minutes with only minor tools, and not-so-handy handyman skills. I found the TrekDesk simple and easy to put together... some reviews here suggest that it is difficult to assemble. Personally, I''m all thumbs and found it very simple, with good pictures and diagrams in the assembly directions.

Despite the advice at TrekDesk, I thought it would be a good idea to put the speed up on the Treadmill to 2-3mph (seemed slow compared to Gym workout), however i found within a few minutes that was much too fast. After 6 weeks of near-constant use, I find that anywhere from .8-1 mph is perfect for me. That is the speed (for me) that I can carry on a very normal conversation, type comfortably, file, sort, etc. At that rate, I get more energy than I give... overall a very comfortable pace. By the way I bought the NordicTrak Elite 9500 pro for about $850 and find it to be a great match with the TrekDesk. The tread portion of the 9500 is long enough that I can actually run on the treadmill for my workouts without needing to move or adjust my desk.

Six weeks in:

1.) Very Even Energy -no afternoon lows, or mid-morning blahs... I have consistent energy during the day (averaging about 5-6 miles / day)

2.) Low Back Pain Gone -I''ve had chronic lower back pain for years. I''m now convinced that pain was from tight hip flexors caused by sitting in conventional chair all day. My back pain isn''t better, it is completely gone.

3.) Weight Loss -I wasn''t expecting or wanting to lose weight, so not a big surprise there for me. If I ate the same amount of food and made the same choices I used to make... I''d probably be losing at least 1 lb / week. I view this more as a "eat-whatever-you-want-and-not-gain-weight" proposition!

I thought that I''d want to keep my old sitting desk and have the TrekDesk for a couple of hours each day, but I''m 100% on the TD now (averaging 25-30 miles / week), and no longer have a sit desk at the office. The office staff thinks I''m a bit wierd, but I''ve never felt better and had more fun at the office.

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Length:: 1:27 Mins

I am writing this review while walking on a treadmill but the desk is no longer a Trek Desk.

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I love the concept of this desk. I bought a True Fitness PS300 treadmill and setup my TrekDesk. After a careful assembly process that took about 20 minutes (plus 20 minutes cleaning up the styrofoam bits that fly everywhere), I put the desk in place over my treadmill. I immediately noticed the side-to-side wobble that the previous video review revealed. It is really quite bad. Even moving your mouse left to right will cause the unit to wobble slightly. The other design flaw is that the desk surface is split in two pieces which you permanantly bind together using steel brackets. Why? The ugly 1/8 inch seam down the middle of your desk is unecessary. I guess they were trying to reduce the packaging size.

Both the wobble and the seam are ALMOST deal breakers for me, but there is no alternative on the market yet. I could make my own table top that sits directly on the flat and very sturdy arms of the PS300, but that would take many hours to do properly. Ideally, a triangle bracket in each corner designed for the unit would eliminate the wobble. Hopefully someday they will supply a part like that to existing customers. For now, I am going to go to Home Depot to buy large L brackets to secure to the two top corners. The concept is so great, that it is worth the effort to fix it. it is just a shame that the designers did not address such a basic issue as stablility.

I hope this helps.

UPDATE: I fixed the stablity issue completely using a generic 12x72 wood shelf cut to 49" inches as a cross brace. For just a few dollars my TrekDesk is now rock solid. The manufactor should add this simple and inexpensice cross brace to this unit and make it avaiable to existing customers if they do, then it is truly a 5 star product. To see the brace and INSTRUCTIONS, view the customer uploaded image from daviddc.

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I bought a TrekDesk, have been using it for over two weeks and love it! I have had lower back pain for over 20 years and feel it gets worse by sitting all day. My company has a corporate wellness program and has been promoting "walking meetings", so when I learned about TrekDesk, I figured why not walk at my desk?

I work for a commercial real estate company and in our environment, we are all in cubicles. When my TrekDesk arrived I bought a treadmill at Costco, went in on a Saturday with a buddy, removed my workstation desktop, wheeled the treadmill into my cube and then assembled my TrekDesk. The whole process, installing the treadmill and assembling the TrekDesk took just over an hour. The instructions were easy to follow and desk adjusted so that the ergonomics recommended were optimized for my computer setup on my new worksurface.

There are 16 cubicles in my work area, so come Monday morning I was curious as to how my cubemates would react to my new setup. After everyone got over the novelty of it, we all settled back to our normal routines. The treadmill is quiet and has not disturbed anyone in my area. Have also found that walking at approx 1.5 mph is not a problem at all. Have settled into a program where I walk all morning and generally 2 3 hours in the afternoon. No problems wearing my comfortable (rubber soled) dress shoes.

My back feels better, energy level is higher and my productivity is up. Only complaint I have is that I wish I had one 20 years ago!

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