Everlast Plastic Speed Rope Review

I’ve been a huge fan of boxing for as long as I can remember and since the moment I started trying to figure out exactly how to get myself in the best possible shape, the training style and tools of old school boxers has been a huge part of my regimen.  I make regular use of a medicine ball; do plenty of bodyweight exercise; hit heavy bags, speed bags and double ended bags and of course I use a jump rope.

A jump rope is a simple piece of equipment that you can take with you wherever you go, use just about anywhere you are and that is affordable enough for just about anyone to own without breaking their budget.  This awesome workout tool improves coordination, quickness, body awareness and it is one of the absolute best methods for improving conditioning and torching away excess body fat.

A lot of guys will tell you that if you want a rope that will hold up that you should probably go with leather and while I’m a fan of leather ropes, I’ve found a more economical version that seems to hold up just as well.  The Everlast Plastic Speed Rope has been in my regular rotation for well over a year now and has been used on a wide variety of surfaces without failing me yet.

During the spring and summer I’ve taken this rope to the great outdoors and used it on grass, dirt, concrete and asphalt and inside of my home it’s been put to the test on carpet, tile and hardwood and it still seems as though it’s in nearly the same condition it was when I took it out of the package (although a bit dirtier).  This rope has provided me with hour after hour of wickedly intense cardio and conditioning workouts for a total cost of less than ten dollars, which makes it an astoundingly good choice for fitness freaks that want to get the most out of their home gym without spending a whole lot of money.

There seem to be plenty of “world class” or “professional quality” jump ropes hitting the scene over the course of the last few years but from my personal experience you certainly don’t need to spend thirty or forty dollars on a professional quality rope in order to get a good workout.  If you want an excellent rope for a reasonable price, pick up an Everlast Plastic Speed Rope.

Stamina InMotion T900 Treadmill Review

Just like with biking, if I’m going to be doing some walking or running I very much prefer it to be in the great outdoors.  I like to see what’s going on in the world, to get the fresh air and to actually feel the breeze as I’m getting a workout in.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate at the times when we would like her to and in those instances it’s much better to bring your workout indoors than to forego it.

I’ve used a number of different treadmills with a number of different features in my day and I’ve really enjoyed the experience of some.  What I haven’t always been a big fan of on some of the treadmills that I’ve tried is the price.  Many of the top units with the best features can easily cost into the thousands of dollars and that can be well out of the price range for many people, especially for a piece of equipment that will be primarily used for free workouts that can’t be performed due only to the weather.

It’s easy to find a decent treadmill for seven or eight hundred dollars, but if you want a more affordable piece of equipment you’ll most likely have to invest in a manual model.  While there are manual treadmills out there that can provide a perfectly adequate walking workout, finding one that is built well and that will hold up to regular workouts can be a bit of a challenge.

Though I was admittedly a bit skeptical of a treadmill that cost under $150, I honestly have some good things to say about the InMotion T900 treadmill from Stamina.  Stamina produces a number of affordable pieces of equipment that are pretty useful and at least of reasonable quality, so that’s exactly what I expected from this particular unit – a middle of the road manual that wouldn’t necessarily impress me or disappoint me.  What I found was a manual that was very easy to put together, very easy to store and actually pretty sturdy.

I put the T900 through a number of workouts of different lengths and intensities and found it to have very smooth resistance and a sturdy enough feel that I would even feel comfortable recommending it for regular use.  I would caution that this unit would be best used for walking and not as the primary training tool for an avid or competitive runner.   Exceedingly tall walkers might have a bit of issue with stride length on this unit as well, but that is pretty much par for the course on manual treadmills that fold down for easy storage.

If you are looking for a very affordable piece of equipment that will allow you to participate in every single scheduled walking workout regardless of the weather outside, the T900 manual treadmill from Stamina would certainly be a viable option.  Unfortunately if you are looking for a runner’s treadmill with all the bells and whistles, you’ll probably have to be willing to spend quite a bit more than the T900 would cost you.

SandBell Review

I’m a huge fan of sand bags, medicine balls, kettlebells and functional grip training tools so it should probably seem pretty obvious that I would fall in love with a piece of equipment that combined the attributes of those individual pieces of equipment.

The highly innovative folks at HyperWear, who make an astonishingly good weighted vest by the way, have created the SandBell which is a piece (or pieces) of equipment that effectively serve the purpose of several other functional fitness tools.  I was honestly a bit skeptical prior to actually getting my hands on a few of these to try (thanks Big John!), but very surprised when I began putting them through the paces of a workout.

These highly durable neoprene disks can be filled with sand to create super versatile training tools that weigh from as little as two pounds up to as much as fifty pounds.  I used these for swings, presses, tosses, slams and more and after a few very grueling workouts they didn’t seem any worse for wear at all.

While I don’t necessarily think I’d ever trade in my kettlebells or dumbbells for a full set of SandBells I honestly did get one heck of a workout from the borrowed SandBells and would most certainly invest in a full set of my own for my gym.  Thanks to my buddy Jeff I’m a huge fan of grip specific training and found the SandBells to work exceptionally well for grabs, pinches and times holds for working crushing grip.

In addition to the fact that the SandBells are very versatile they are also super affordable.  You purchase the SandBells empty and fill them with your own sand from the home improvement center (which costs just a few dollars for a fifty pound bag) so you don’t have to pay the outrageous shipping cost you would for heavy dumbbells and kettlebells.

If you’re looking for a fun and affordable training tool that is great for building functional strength and use in intense conditioning workouts, I definitely recommend SandBells from HyperWear.

Bongo Board Review

As much as I talk about biking and am infatuated with riding, I’m also a huge fan of another wheeled conveyance – the skateboard.  Though I wouldn’t say that I ever managed anything outrageously impressive on my board, I always did love and still do love to ride.  So how could I not want to check out and review a piece of home gym equipment that looked exactly like a skateboard deck?

Balance boards have been around for quite a while but have probably been overlooked by most serious trainees due to the simple fact that they like more like a toy than a piece of equipment.  I can assure you that one brief session on a balance board of decent quality will quickly dispel that misconception though.  A good balance board is a very versatile tool that can quickly help to improve reaction time, coordination and really help to develop core strength.

I’ve tried a number of different balance boards, balls, pods and other implements and though I’ve certainly had a decent time and gotten a good workout on quite a few, the Bongo Board was far and away my favorite.  These boards are very well constructed and feel as though they would probably last a lifetime under regular use.

These boards are super easy to transport and can be used just about anywhere to provide a quick and intense workout that will most definitely improve overall health and sports performance.  Don’t feel as though you’ll be able to jump right on and master this piece of equipment simply because it is reminiscent of a toy you had as a teenager, this is one serious training tool that can give even moderately experienced trainees a bit of trouble at the outset.

If you are looking for a fun, unique and versatile training tool that will begin to improve your reflexes and coordination almost immediately or just another fun way to blast your core as you work hard to achieve those six pack abs, the Bongo Board will be a very welcome addition to your home gym.

Vision Fitness R2050 Review

Personally, I’m a much bigger fan of upright exercise bikes than I am of recumbent bikes.  It could be because I’ve been riding bikes as a mode of transportation for more than three decades and I just like that fact that I can mimic that feel while I’m working out indoors. 

That being said I know that there are a ton of folks out there that consider recumbent bikes much more comfortable than uprights, and for those folks that makes a recumbent a much better option in terms of home gym equipment.  After all, you certainly aren’t going to regularly use a piece of equipment that you don’t really enjoy being on.

Generally speaking, a good recumbent will cost you more than an upright in most cases – but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t find a great recumbent to fit your budget.  In fact, the Vision Fitness R2050 is an incredible piece of equipment that can be had for under $1000.

I’ve been on both the R2050 and R1500 semi-recumbent bikes from Vision and though I thought both were top notch I did find the R2050 a bit more comfortable for longer rides.  This bike is rock solid, even when cruising at warp speeds, and as far as indoor cardio equipment goes it is incredibly quiet.  The resistance on this bike from Vision Fitness is super smooth and the console is user friendly enough for even those that aren’t overly friendly with the latest technology.

Vision gives you the option of “building” your own bike by choosing one of three consoles.  Only the model with the most basic console comes in at under a grand, but the “simple” console as they call it should have more than enough features to satisfy most people.  You get more than a dozen different programmed workout options plus plenty of feedback including heart rate, distance travelled, calories burned and more from the least expensive version of the R2050.

If you think a thousand dollars is a bit too much to spend on a single piece of equipment, but this beautiful recumbent is backed by a lifetime frame and magnetic brake warranty.  Knowing that you’ll probably never have to buy another bike, even if you are going to use it every day, makes justifying a price tag of a thousand dollars a whole lot easier.  In all seriousness, this is a great bike and despite the fact that it is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment we’ve reviewed thus far, it is definitely a good value and would make an excellent addition to your home gym.

Kinetic by Kurt Cyclone Review

I have about a half a dozen different bikes at any given time.  I trash pick them, by them at yard sales or they get handed down from folks who know I ride and fell as though they have no use for them in their current condition.  At nights and on weekends I patch tubes, replace chains and make other minor adjustments in order to get them road ready and, generally speaking, whatever type of bike I happen to be riding is just about my favorite form of transportation.

Because I enjoy hitting the open road atop my mountain bike, cruiser, old school ten speed or BMX two wheeled ride I’m not necessarily a huge fan of the heavy rains or brutally cold winters that we go through in my neck of the woods.  I don’t, however, allow the weather to keep me from getting on my bike and taking a ride – if the weather isn’t right I just take the ride inside.

I’ve used a bunch of different indoor trainers in my day, some good and some not so good.  I was always a big fan of the feel of rollers for indoor training, but in terms of value and safety I feel that there are probably far better selections for most people looking for a good indoor ride.  I’m currently using a Kinetic by Kurt Cyclone for indoor rides since I’ve brought a portion of my gym up from the basement and I honestly don’t have a bad thing to say about it.

The Kinetic by Kurt Cyclone is a rock solid indoor trainer that seriously feels as though it could stand up to an eternity of use and abuse.  Set up is a breeze for just about any bike, and believe me I’ve tried a few, and because this is a wind trainer there are infinite levels of resistance.

Of course, due to the fact that you’re getting your resistance from a fan this trainer isn’t quite as quiet as fluid or magnetic resistance trainers, but because I really enjoy the experience of riding outside I don’t really mind the additional noise – in fact I kind of enjoy it.  I’ve never had a ride outside where I was in complete silence so I don’t really understand the necessity for complete and total silence when I’m riding inside, especially when it cost substantially more to achieve.

If you want a smooth and solid ride that will most definitely stand the test of time when it comes the catching an indoor workout, the Cyclone from Kinetic by Kurt is an absolute steal at under $200 and most definitely recommended.

Ultimate Body Press Dip Stand Review

Next to six pack abs big arms is probably the most sought after trait in just about any gym.  The problem most people have when it comes to actually achieving this goal is that they put virtually all of their focus on bicep isolation movements like concentration curls.  If you want bigger arms you’ve got to put a good deal of focus on the triceps and you’ve got to use hard hitting, compound movements – movements like dips. 

If you wanted to do dips at home back in the day you were pretty much relegated to doing bench dips or chair dips unless you wanted to spend a load of money on a gym quality dip stand.  Now there are a number of very versatile and reasonably priced dip machines specifically made for the home gym and the best of the bunch in terms of function and value in the Ultimate Body Press.

First and foremost you don’t need a ton of tools to put this stand together, in fact you don’t really need anything at all in order to get it fully assembled and ready to use.  Assembly takes all of a few minutes, even for those of us who aren’t overly mechanically inclined.  You also don’t need a ton of space to use the Ultimate Body Press.  If you’ve got enough floor space in your home or apartment for a bean bag chair, you’ve got enough room to set up and use this valuable training tool.

The Ultimate Body Press feels very solid during use as well.  Though I’m far from a giant I am a big fan of weighted dips for chest and triceps training and I’ve had my 170ish pound frame along with an extra 50+ pounds and saw no issue of stability what so ever. 

Unlike a lot of the other dip stands available today, this stand has much more of an open construction that makes it quite a bit more versatile.  Instead of just offering a one dimensional workout, you can use the Ultimate Body Press to do bodyweight rows as well.  If you don’t currently have access to a pull up bar, the Ultimate Body Press can help you get a more complete upper body workout than that of a more traditional dip stand by allowing you to work your back and biceps in addition to chest and triceps.

In short, this is a versatile and solid piece of equipment and would most definitely be an asset to any home gym.