Reviews about Misc. Sports Equipment

MommaCyndy says "Urban Rebound your way to fitness 15 minutes a day!" about Urban Rebounder Fitness System

MommaCyndy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:01:34 GMT

Of course you have to talk to your own doctor before you start any exercise routine. My doctor said I needed to pursue a healthier diet and regular exercise to drop my cholesterol numbers. I told him I bought the Urban Rebounder and my doctor had no qualms about me using it. Two adult persons do need to help to stretch open the trampoline but really it is not that hard to figure out. Just line up the handle pop out screws to the holes and you have the safety feature ready. Always hold onto the bar or face the bar as you exercise. Sure the video is hokey, but you get the ideas on how to warm up, change the routine, how to use the balls of your feet, proper knee alignment quickly. Trampoline bouncing is an effective way to get the heart rate going. As with all regimens you have to do it faithfully, safely. The bar makes it safe if you use it. Kids who visit and are old enough to be above the bar have to hold the bar to jump on it.

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tallirish says "Viking cues are a well trusted brand with great products." about Viking Viking Billiard Cues

tallirish — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:52:59 GMT

I started playing pool when I was about 12 and havnt stopped since. Ive noticed that the equipment quality is key to playing well. Ive noticed that alot of places I go have beat up equipment including balls, tables, and most inportantly the cues. for my 17th birthday my folks got me a cue from a local billards hall that i played at regularly. It was a 57mm long 20 oz viking cue with leather wrap and awesome graphics. Ive had it for a number of years and it still plays as well as it did when i got it. I would reccomend viking cues to anyone buying their 1st cue. they are affordable, tough, and low maintance. the one I got came with a case and chalk. cheap single peice cues you find at most bars are made of low quality maple wood and are not cared for very well. you want a good cue that resists warping that you can get used to playing with. Viking cues have allowed me the chance to play my best.

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jilltkpc says "great product." about Intex Inflatable swimming pool above ground

jilltkpc — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:33:09 GMT

We bought an intex inflatable pool about 6 summers ago. Taking the kids to the local swimming pool was getting to be more of a hassel than anything. The other kids behavior there was less than tolerable and their suits, well I think that is what they were called. Anyways we decided we would buy our own. It has been wonderful. The ease of putting it up and putting a garden hosse in and filling is worth not listening to trash talk and seeing half naked kids. Taking it down in the fall is easy too. If my pool ever gets damaged I will buy another. If you move, just pack it up and take it with you.

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magnum17x says "great bottle for water needs" about Camelbak

magnum17x — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:38:47 GMT

Busy person that needs to stay hydrated all day

Pros: easy to clean, germ free, easy to open.

Before getting the camel I used water bottles. I used the same water bottle for 3 months, refilling it boiled water. I stopped using them and recycled the bottle because I saw at the bottle of bottle was green algae like substance. It was gross and probably not healthy.
Also water in reused water bottles often tasted stall.

So, the camel bottle interested me. it was the BPA FREE and germ reistant or something.

Water doesn't taste stall and no green algae, so far

Cons:: part of the drinking tube broke off, so I sometimes cut myself oping the drinking straw thing. So,parts of it is durable, just not the straw.

Conculsion:
So, now when I drinl water its either out of a water bottle that I use once and recycle out of my camel bottle for resue.

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KarenOR says "Good-bye BPA...Helllooooo Camelbak! " about Camelbak

KarenOR — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:34:52 GMT

About 18 months ago, we recycled all of our Nalgene water bottles and switched to Camelbak's. Of course, it was the BPA FREE that caught our attention after reading many articles about the BPAs leeching into food and drink. Who knows how much it matters, but it made us feel better to make the switch.

Our family uses Camelbak water bottles constantly. The whole top shelf of our fridge is water bottles. At least two of us like our water REALLY cold. We have a combination of plain lids, which I like, and sippy/straw lids which the rest of the family likes. There are a variety of lid options, I believe. We haven't had any trouble with any of the bottles and in fact, continue to buy them when we find them on sale at places like REI. They go in the dishwasher and have held up great. We have a variety of sizes, as well.

As a company, Camelbak is very diligent. We could a CB backpack for our daughter and the water bottle that it came with was probably older and wasn't...

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lizabethrae104 says "Looking for summer fun for a budget? Try Intex Easy Set Pools!" about Intex Easy Set Pool

lizabethrae104 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:35:47 GMT

I was looking for a pool that I could put in my backyard for the summer, but I was under a budget. The Intex Easy Set Pool was a perfect choice for me. It was relatively inexpensive, and all the parts for set up and maitenance were included which was very helpful. Set up was incredibly easy: just spread it out and fill it up.

Just be careful that you follow the directions and warnings explicitly. I thought that my backyard was flat. However, the weight of the water caused my ground to sink. The problem is that my ground did not compress evenly under the pool. Now, despite our best efforts, the pool is much higher on one side than the other. We even tried emptying the pool and leveling the ground some with soil. Unfortunately our efforts failed, and the pool is still lopsided.

However, I would recommend this pool to anyone that is looking for a cheap above ground pool. Just be absolutely sure your ground is level before you fill your pool with water.

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missability says "Fun...easy....productive" about Urban Rebounder Fitness System

missability — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:34:24 GMT

I have had an urban Rebounder for 1 year. I have many health issues...all blood disorder, Lymph, and Immunicological.

The urban rebounder is amazing. I was paying $100.00 for Lymphatic massage to drain my sluggish Lymphnodes. Well no more...the urban rebounder gets everything moving, blood, lymphatic fluid, heart rate....and the best part it is fun!! I put on my MP3 Player....and just start bouning....a 1/2 hr goes by in no time.

If you go to google and just type, "health benefits of the Urban Rebounder" you will be amazed...it is being used everywhere from AirForce, to NASA.....there have been studies done on its use with mentally challenged as well as Autistic, ADHD, and learning disabled children. I could go on and on.......you really need to try this.

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MySte says "Safe, durable, and affordable" about Camelbak

MySte — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:52:27 GMT

The Camelbak water bottle is one of the best discoveries I have been introduced to in years. My Mom discovered the bottle at Dick's Sporting Goods and has gotten our entire family hooked!

The Camelbak bottle comes in a variety of sizes and colors, each holding a pretty large amount of water for a very affordable price. It also has a handy hook on the bottle, so that storage and carrying can be made simple. You also don't need to worry about harmful chemicals or plastics, the bottle is completely safe for adults and children.

One downside to the Camelbak bottle is how when pressure builds up in the bottle, it tends to cause a lot of leaking whenever you take a drink. But I've found this easily fixed by unscrewing the lid, letting air out and putting the lid back on.

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rlt007 says "A Gun Lovers Gun." about Smith & Wesson SMITH & WESSON M&P 9 PISTOL

rlt007 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:19:06 GMT

I am a retired military officer and a gun lover. over the yearts I have handled and fire many types and calibers of hand guns. I really like the Smith & Wesson 9mm Automatic. The accuracy is equal to the Barreta and better than a Glock. I added special grips to accomodate my large hands so the weapon fits my hand like an appendage. The weight and ballance is just right. I still prefer my 45 ACP M1911 for close in shooting but when I want to reach out and touch my target from a distace, there is nothing better than my Smith & wesson. I often use a 20 round mag and the only problem I have encountered is that the weapon is subject to jam at high rates of fire. I often take a hand gun with me when I dear hunt and I have found the my S&M doesn't add a lot of weight to my pack and nor does it take up a lot space.

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mayhem1605 says "The hammer anger is an absolute monster" about Hammer Raw Hammer Anger

mayhem1605 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:09:53 GMT

I recently purchased the Hammer anger which is part of the raw hammer line and have been nothing but impressed. I was looking for something that was more aggressive than the ebonite gamebreaker and brunswick copperhead, and boy did i ever. The normal line i throw is straight up the 2nd arrow and this ball holds that line wonderfully. It doesn't start to over react until about the middle of the third game for me ( i'm a lefty so i don't have as much traffic as the righties). When it does start to over react i just move a little deeper and play a line like 4th arrow swinging it to about the 4th board and it just destroys the pocket. I thought my ebonite hit hard but the anger makes it look like a plastic ball in comparison. The anger is a very controllable and forgiving ball. I can hit light and high and still get a good count and managable spare if it doesn't strike. It will even let me play a crazy deep line to begin the night ( to be fair the house that i bowl in doesnt lay down really...

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christy1430 says "Love it!" about Urban Rebounder Fitness System

christy1430 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:21:00 GMT

Absolutely love the Urban Rebounder trampoline. It is extremely stable and holds a lot of weight. I've even had 2 people on it... not big enough for both of us to jump.. but you get the idea. :) It has definately gotten me off the couch during my television shows. I would reccomend this to anyone who has joint problems and finds it difficult to walk on solid surfaces. There is a bar on it that is very handy for keeping you stable and helping you on and off the trampoline itself. Overall a great product!

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suzyqbills says "Great, accurate heart rate monitor with some extra features" about Timex Ironman Triathlon Heart Rate Monitor

suzyqbills — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:00:39 GMT

This heart rate monitor consists of a watch and chest strap. The chest strap picks up your heart rate and displays it on the watch. The watch has several features, such as telling time of day, a stopwatch, alarm clock, heart rate, a review function telling your max, min, and average heart rate during your workout, amount of time spent in your desired heart rate zone, number of calories burned, recovery time. I'm very pleased with this watch. It's comfortable and was a good price compared to some other brands. (Don't buy at the timex store; you'll get a better deal on Amazon.) My only regret is that the calorie counter only works when you're heart rate is above 80. So, this watch isn't good for estimating your daily calorie burn, since it won't record low activity (esp. if you have a very low resting heart rate, like me).

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Jo says "Try the Pickle-Ball Swinger Paddle for a fun Pickle-Ball game" about Pickle Ball, Inc. Pickle-Ball Swinger Paddle

Jo — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:44:17 GMT

To the Point

Here we are in a campground with a tennis court. People kept talking about Pickle-Ball. Finally we went to the shed where the game was described and found two Pickle-Ball Swinger Paddles. This game is played with wood paddles or plastic paddles and there are many types. I found Pickle-Ball Swinger Paddles online from $11.00 to $23.00 - the very same ones!

It uses a whiffle ball over a tennis net but the court is smaller.

A Closer Look

Pickle-Ball Swinger Paddles are made of 5-ply hardwood and have a cushioned grip. Some have safety straps but this one does not. It measures a little over 15 inches long by a little over 7 inches in width. The paddle weights 11 ounces so it is a lot lighter than a tennis racket. It's also a lot smaller but that's the name of the game.

My Experiences

I noticed that the Pickle-Ball Swinger Paddle I used had a bit of the hardwood shaved off. It is a good thing it is 5 ply because in spite of this "erosion" the paddle was perfectly fine...

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Jo says "The Leki Basket helped my Performance on the hiking trail" about Leki Performance Basket

Jo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:02:47 GMT

We have been hiking in spite of the rain during our vacation at Acadia National Park. I used the Leki Performance Baskets while we were hiking in Glacier National Park and Crater Lake National Park because there was snow. At this time of the year there is mud on the trails so the Performance Baskets come in very handy. For around $6.00 a pair they are great to have with you.

There are two main reasons the Leki Performence Baskets are so great.

They may reduce the impact that hiking poles make when we use them on the side of the trails. It is easy for poles to go deep into the ground but the Leki Performance Baskets prevent that.
They make hiking easier. For example today the mud was so thick that my pole (I only used one today.) would have sunk into the mud pretty deeply making me then have to pull it up. The Leki Performance Baskets stopped the pole from going far into the mud so I could just continue on my way. You'll see an open area on the Basket. That allows the mud or snow...

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jessalexander says "Intex Easy Set pool is not so easy to set up." about Intex Easy Set Pool

jessalexander — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:09:48 GMT

We bought the 12' version of this pool for my oldest daughter's 5th birthday thinking it would be great for the birthday party. Our kids (5, 3, & 2 at the time) were madly excited about getting to swim at the cookout we were planning, but not so excited when the pool didn't get filled for another month. It was fairly easy to get it set up and ready for water except the fact that our yard wasn't perfectly level.

Setting up this pool became a total nightmare...a very costly one. Instead of being an inexpensive way to entertain our kids for the summer it became a huge landscaping project that ended up costing us 3 times as much. We first thought it would be easiest to build a platform for the pool, when that was going to run us an extra $250.00+, we decided to dig. This would have worked if there had been enough dirt to make up for what we needed to fill. We ended up buying landscaping ties and filling the rest of it up with sand from a local sand and gravel company. It ended up costing $65...

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holton27596 says "Oustanding hunting rifle!!!!!" about savage 116 weather warrior

holton27596 — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:24:52 GMT

My wife gave me a savage 116 weather warrior .338 winchester magnum for a present for a moose hunting trip in Newfoundland. This is the synthetic stocked stainless steel version with the accutrigger. Very smooth action and far more accurate than I am. To date it has hunted moose, bear, and numerous deer. All have dropped with one shot, and all but 2 deer have collapsed without taking a step and nothing has gone more than 50 foot. the shots taken have ranged from 25 yards to 225 yards. Three shot groups at 100 yards have been less than an Inch with all loads tried. Recoil is very manageable and i have never noticed the recoil while I was out hunting. I can highly recommend this rifle to anyone hunting in a wet. harsh enviroment, or anywhere else for that matter. The rifle is very cost effective and will shoot rings around most rifles costing several hunderd dollars more. It might not be as pretty, but this is a hunting rifle first and foremost.

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smountney says "Makes a nice chair" about Ab Lounge

smountney — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:58:17 GMT

So I borrowed my ab lounger from my mom because hers was being utilized as a clothes hanger. I thought maybe i could give it try. The ab lounger as a sturdy design and is built well as long as you are below say 250 lbs (which I am). The lounger is actually quite comfortable and we use it often as an extra seat when company is over. The lounger comes with a training DVD, example menus, and work out plan which I found usefull if you actually follow them. I tried the lounger for 3 months with little results. I followed the work out plan and DVD but it still didn't seem to make my post-baby belly any smaller. The lounge makes it possible to "cheat" when doing the crushes by using your arms to pull up to a crunch vs actually using your stomach muscles. Maybe if I hadn't cheated so much I would have had better results. Overall, i feel it is like most other home exercise equipment available......They all become dust collectors at some point.

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smccarth says "Easy to use, sleek and compact - a great set of dumbbells!" about Bowflex Selecttech Dumbbells

smccarth — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:42:33 GMT

When I first saw these dumbbells in the store I thought "wow, what a cool concept" - all of the weights I need in one set. There's no need to buy a rack to hold different sets of dumbbells (which only makes sense if you're in a health club). Granted, I'm a "girl", so I don't need 50lb+ dumbbells, but even if you need smaller weights for a variety of different small-muscle exercises, this is a great set.

- Goes up to 55 lbs. and starts out as little as 5 lbs.
- Easy "dial in" features means you always select the right weight
- Extra stand is a great way to keep the set at an accessible height
- Slick design

My husband and I both use this set, so it gets a lot of use. The rubber around the weights means there's not a lot of "clicking" noises when you're using them, and they're easy on the floor.

This is a great weight set - especially if you have a limited amount of space. Having all of your weights up to 50 lbs in one set certainly leaves you a lot of extra room for other pieces of exercise...

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Jo says "NordicTrack Exercise Floor Mat for under your Equipment" about NordicTrack Exercise Equipment Floor Mat

Jo — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:19:46 GMT

When we ordered our elliptical machine we knew we wanted to put it on a mat rather than right on the rug. We saw one at Sears (http://tinyurl.com/d25bcq) and bought it. This is the NordicTrack Exercise Equipment Floor Mat.

We chose this one because it felt thick and durable and so far so good. The dimensions are 3 feet by 6 feet by 4mm (thick).

The NordicTrack Exercise Equipment Floor Mat can be used under an type of machine or equipment. Unlike additional floor equipment we bought our machine doesn't make any holes in the mat.

In addition it keeps the downstairs cleaner because it does limit - not eliminate totally- the dust from the machine. It is a lot easier to clean the NordicTrack Exercise Equipment Floor Mat than it is the rug. We clean it with a lightly damp mop with a little mild soap and water.

I have one gripe about the mat and that is its size. Granted the elliptical we bought is longer than others on the market; however, I think NordicTrack should realize (especially...

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Jo says "Why I will probably return the Sportline ThinQ Pocket Pedometer " about Sportline ThinQ Pocket Pedometer

Jo — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:04:41 GMT

I lost the Omron HJ112 Pedometer that I really liked. I walked all over Paris with it clipped to my waist and get home and lose it!
I was in a hurry and wanted a new one. I should have ordered the Omron I had but instead I got Sportline ThinQ Pocket Pedometer. So they say that one pro is that I don't have to clip the pedometer to my waist belt but it has to be put straight up or straight across in a pocket. I have two problems with this.

I have to have a pocket.
If it goes in an angle in my pocket it won't register correctly.

It is very small - really the size of a credit card and not too much thicker. I guess that is a pro but since I may not have a pocket it doesn't matter.

The Sportline ThinQ Pocket Pedometer comes in a few colors. I got the blue one for no particular reason. We are told that we'll get "accurate feedback about your steps, distance and calories burned." The button cell battery is included and there is a one year warranty.

Why am I thinking of returning the Sportline......