Consumer Reports article on infomercial fitness items

[EileenS]

This month's Consumer Reports has an article on various informercial fitness items. Overall, the article stated that the more expensive items were generally much better quality than the less expensive items, and that consumers should be aware of shipping costs, both when buying and returning. Each category had some low-cost alternatives listed in a side bar.

Fitness gear was broken into aerobic, strength, abdominals, and bun & thigh devices. In aerobics. the Nautilus Treadclimber ($2000) was rated reasonably well; a sidebar also mentions basic treadmills, eliptical machines, aerobic videos (!!!!) and a step (!!!!) as good options.

In the strength category, Bowflex ($1759), CrossBow ($695), and Total Gym ($1598) rated pretty well. Each had some caveats attached. The sidebar also listed a weight-stack home gym (Body Solid Multi-Station -- $700), as well as elastic resistance bands and small dumbbells (!!!), as good options.

For the abdominals, none of the informercial equipment rated well. The sidebar suggested doing crunches or using an exercise ball.

For bun and thighs, no informercial equipment was rated well. The sidebar suggested standing squats or lunges, with weight if you want.

If you are thinking of purchasing, the article is an interesting, though short, read. I can't post a web link, as the site is a pay one, but most public libraries carry Consumer Reports.

[ardnas]

Another good place to get reviews for infomercial items is www.infomercialscams.com
Personally I like this site because you can find out if there is terrible customer service, poor shipping times, cheap/faulty products, or even read the positive reviews-every item has a section for positive reviews/good aspects! This site covers fitness related infomercials (The Firm, Leslie Sansone, Richard Simmons, Power 90, etc) as well as non-fitness related.

[clarimon]

also check out

http://www.fitnessinfomercialreview.com/