The *OFFICIAL* stupid workout gear thread!

**Ex-Terminator** · 09-24-2007, 06:31 AM

In this thread, we pay homage to the most idiotic pieces of exercise equipment throughout history! Those hoaxes, bad designs, and just plain snake oil items that we've all grown to love!

I'll start:

The "Chest Pull" .....

Not only did (does) the "chest pull" work mainly the back and rear delts, it'll also pinch the everloving crap out of your chest hairs if you aren't careful. The fact that these wretched things are still sold is proof that certain myths and misinformation will never die.

I hereby nominate it for the Idiotic Workout Gear Hall of Fame.

Next....

**maverickbu** · 09-24-2007, 06:33 AM

Don't have a pic, but those shocking ab belts have got to be near the top of the list.

**Labrador** · 09-24-2007, 06:49 AM

Wrist weights

**Labrador** · 09-24-2007, 06:52 AM

The something

No painful movement or stretching. Simply rock gently on this gym for just five minutes a day, and you?ll be on your way to a stronger, more toned body. A bonus: the foam pads massage your back as you work out!

**Labrador** · 09-24-2007, 06:53 AM

The excercise ball

**Labrador** · 09-24-2007, 06:54 AM

The droop defeater

**Labrador** · 09-24-2007, 06:56 AM

The plastic p*nis

**gogz** · 09-24-2007, 06:58 AM

**59kg_weakling** · 09-24-2007, 07:12 AM

**HRK (herb)** · 09-24-2007, 07:50 AM

one word....

Bowflex.

**Ex-Terminator** · 09-24-2007, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by HRK (herb)

one word....

Bowflex.

I'm amazed that no one has mentioned the Smith Machine. What I'm mainly after here is the weird gimmicky stuff. Bowflex is gimmicky, but it's also (sadly) mainstream.

**Skidmarx** · 09-24-2007, 08:13 AM

The GAYzelle.

**Labrador** · 09-24-2007, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Skidmarx

The GAYzelle.

lol

**USER876** · 09-24-2007, 10:08 AM

The Ab Isolator...

**Labrador** · 09-24-2007, 10:26 AM

The four minute cross trainer

Can you believe this thing costs $14,615

**Ex-Terminator** · 09-24-2007, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Labrador

The four minute cross trainer

Can you believe this thing costs $14,615

**spottedowl** · 09-24-2007, 01:44 PM

Remember back in the 80s when all the 'deluxe' home weight bench sets came with those stupid horizontal butterfly attachments that used free weights and gravity to produce resistance?

Looks like you can still get a "pro" grade one, too..
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/95040.html

But at least the Marcy, Gold's, Sear's, Walmart deluxe sets don't include them anymore.

**Ex-Terminator** · 09-24-2007, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by spottedowl

Remember back in the 80s when all the 'deluxe' home weight bench sets came with those stupid horizontal butterfly attachments that used free weights and gravity to produce resistance?

Looks like you can still get a "pro" grade one, too..
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/95040.html

But at least the Marcy, Gold's, Sear's, Walmart deluxe sets don't include them anymore.

My old Weider bench had the butterfly attachment. I actually like the concept, but I hated the design on the Weider one. In the starting position (laying down with arms outstretched), the pads were about halfway between my inner elbows and wrists. At the top, they were right in the inner elbow.

I just bought a new one and it's consistent; the pads remain exactly in the inner elbow like they should.

**Blue Blazer** · 09-24-2007, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by HRK (herb)

one word....

Bowflex.

You beat me too it..lol

Bowflex
Leg extension attachments on benches lol...
What bout those old school ab rollers that all of our moms owned atleast once...
Ab king pro

I would say a smith machine but the thing is so many gyms have them and alot of guys use them to add variety to their programs...so I cannot call it a complete waste..

The Jones by Bodycraft however...lol, kind of gimmicky IMO of course..

Pec dec machines...lol

**helicopterkid** · 09-24-2007, 08:11 PM

as long as we're throwing out equipment how bout supp's

CYBERGENICS ANYONE???!

**Skidmarx** · 09-25-2007, 02:40 AM

Here's a real winner, not many people have even heard of this. Saw it on craigslist.

Pair of pushup bars, couple rubber bands, and a big plastic bag you can zip yourself up in until you run out of oxygen.

**-ALX-** · 09-25-2007, 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by Ex-Terminator

In this thread, we pay homage to the most idiotic pieces of exercise equipment throughout history! Those hoaxes, bad designs, and just plain snake oil items that we've all grown to love!

I'll start:

The "Chest Pull" .....

Not only did (does) the "chest pull" work mainly the back and rear delts, it'll also pinch the everloving crap out of your chest hairs if you aren't careful. The fact that these wretched things are still sold is proof that certain myths and misinformation will never die.

I hereby nominate it for the Idiotic Workout Gear Hall of Fame.

Next....

I actually know people who built incredible strength with that piece of equipment

**Ex-Terminator** · 09-25-2007, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by -ALX-

I actually know people who built incredible strength with that piece of equipment

1. But why did they call it a "chest pull" when it doesn't work the chest at all?

2. Wouldn't barbell and dumbbell rows have been much more effective?

**QUALITYGUY1** · 09-25-2007, 05:14 AM

**Blue Blazer** · 09-25-2007, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Skidmarx

Here's a real winner, not many people have even heard of this. Saw it on craigslist.

Pair of pushup bars, couple rubber bands, and a big plastic bag you can zip yourself up in until you run out of oxygen.

Your laughing right now, but Hogan went from 140lbs to 300lbs back in the 70's with this lol...

Well that, an excellent gym to train in, all the supplements he needed and STEROIDS! lol

JM

**Goalie_Girl** · 09-25-2007, 05:19 PM

Perfect pushup?

The ab swing

**itsallgood** · 09-25-2007, 05:48 PM

Surprised no one has mentioned this yet....

Look how good it worked for Suzanne....

Although I have to admit she looks pretty damn hot in that pic!

**Granrey** · 09-25-2007, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Ex-Terminator

My old Weider bench had the butterfly attachment. I actually like the concept, but I hated the design on the Weider one. In the starting position (laying down with arms outstretched), the pads were about halfway between my inner elbows and wrists. At the top, they were right in the inner elbow.

I just bought a new one and it's consistent; the pads remain exactly in the inner elbow like they should.

I've never had the chance to use this butterfly attachment but I think this attachement with minor modifications could actually be the best for butterfly.

-I you use a home gym with butterfly feature, you'll see that the resistance is the same all the way on the exercise. Which is not that bad but not optimal for the muscles, because it actually mirrors the capabilities of your muscles.

-If you use dumbbels the resistance changes from maximum to cero at the end of the exercise. Which I think is not that good.

-However, on this bench the resistance is building up from bigger than cero to maximum at the end of the exercise. Which means that this attachment is probably the best way of doing this exercise.

**Dem_Gnomes** · 09-25-2007, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Labrador

The four minute cross trainer

Can you believe this thing costs $14,615

I'd believe it burned gasoline and was street legal in asia. WTF is that thing?

**helicopterkid** · 09-25-2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dem_Gnomes

I'd believe it burned gasoline and was street legal in asia. WTF is that thing?

That thing looks like some horrible drawing on microsoft paint?

Thread: The OFFICIAL stupid workout gear thread!

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