Bosu Balance Trainer Home Version Reviews

• Make sure you know how to use it before just inflating it!

  
  By A2GMEGR6BSODMA on 2004-07-18
  The home version of the BOSU balance trainer is just as sturdy as the PRO variety used at health clubs. However, it's important that you know how to use it correctly. The BOSU should be inflated to 10 inches, and if properly inflated and plugged, it should not lose air nor pop out of its frame.

  I have been using BOSU with clients for over 2 years, and I've never had any problems despite having inflated and deflated my BOSUs several times on several occasions. I recommend this home version to my clients and website visitors because it is far less expensive compared to the pro version and just as effective for home use.

  If you're new to BOSU training, consider taking a class with a certified BOSU instructor (or better still, a BOSU master trainer like myself) or purchase a BOSU video. It's not just a bouncy step :-)
  
  

• Flat rating for flat exercising equipment

  
  By A3LHPF3O5D1BCN on 2004-02-15
  I purchased this item in x-mas of 2003 for my wife.
  It is a very fun equipment to use, jumping up and down and learning to balance on the BOSU. But, After 2 months of use, it lost some air, and I reinflated it. Unfortunately, I guess the plug area isn't made of good material. It has leak around the plug. Now, the equipment is sitting outside after 2 months of use..., or not even 2 months. I would not recommend this item for anyone to purchase.
  
  

• Awesome fitness tool

  
  By A191ZDGDEP5PND on 2004-02-24
  The BOSU is one of the best fitness tools on the market, very versatile and challenging, and there's something for everybody. With lack of balance and core strength a factor in many injuries, this is a great way to train. I've been in the fitness industry for over 20 years and this is the best abdominal work I've ever tried!
  
  

• Very good.

  
  By A3V6050TMIHPS5 on 2005-07-13
  I really love this. My balance has improved a lot. THE Bosu makes working out fun. My only complaint is that the plug is very hard to remove. I've been unable to remove it yet. Otherwise it is nice. The base is very sturdy hard plastic and the dome is made of thick plastic. It's a bit hard to get used to when first starting out, but once you get acclimated it can be a very rewarding exercise session. Improving balance and strength will help you in all of your daily activities.
  
  

• Maybe I am not using it to the max...

  
  By AKH61S5GTDYG4 on 2007-07-13
  The reason why I bought this balance trainer is to strengthen my ankles. I hike a lot and last year alone; I sprained my ankles like 10+ times on the John Muir Trail. After using it 3X/week for almost 2 months now, I have to say my ankles are 'strengthening...'. I can't wait for my next big hike now!
  
  In addition, not only that I don't sprain my ankles anymore on uneven trail while running, my balance during golf swing has also improved. I have never been more confidence addressing the golf ball now.
  
  Try this to increase the intensity; stand on one left and bend your knee(this is tougher than the normal one leg stand on the ball). Do not perform this activity if you cannot balance yourself with a a STRAIGHT leg first.
  
  I use floor mat to do Pilate which is sufficient for a novice like me. Hence, I don't use this balance trainer for pilate.
  
  
• Excellent Workout
  By A26IPZJ4OA05RU on 2007-08-05
  I took a BOSU workout class, and found it was a great workout - definitely much more challenging then it looks.
  
  My instructor does a SCULPTING section using weights (while sitting or kneeling on bosu), lunges/squats, and push-up type moves...all of these were incredibly tough because of the bosu makes you wobble and forces you to use a lot of extra muscles to stay balanced.
  
  My instructor also does a CARDIO section using Step Aerobics type moves, and this was really difficult because of the wobble factor. (It is kind of like when you walk around in sand - the surface you step on gives -- but not exactly). I think this could be used by variety of users: beginers/interm can take smaller/more controlled steps, while advanced users can do large motions, jumps, etc.
  
  I also like doing ABS on a bosu cause it really makes you feel the burn more (including lower abs!!), and also depending on how you lay on the bosu you can get a wider range of motion than doing crunches on a flat floor.
  
  
• Just what I was looking for & the pump worked fine for me.
  By A18AZU25XB39FB on 2006-10-28
  I was a little shy about buying the lower priced BOSU ($100) rather than the $200 one but I've been happy with this home version. So far, I cannot tell the difference between this one and the one at the gym (which I assume is the $200 ball). My pump worked great, albeit rather loud. Compared to my extremely frustrating experience trying to inflate the "Body Dome" this was a piece of cake!
  
  If you've used a BOSU and you like them I see no reason not to buy this version.
  
  
• Love the BOSU but the pump is no good
  By A38S98IZH1G2SD on 2006-06-15
  I love my BOSU but the pump broke the first time I used it. No idea how to get another one. It was of extremely cheap and flimsy construction. You'd be better off buying a BOSU from another manufacturer with a real pump (such as a bicycle type pump).
  
  
• I own 2 bosu's
  By ARACFER5IVXIP on 2007-02-24
  What a terrific core work-out. Once you get used to balancing using your core the work-out is ideal. An instruction dvd came with the bosu and I use it on days when I don't have much time as it is 30 minutes, also I own 2 longer bosu work-out dvd's (1 hr +) that I exercise to on the weekends. I actually own 2 bosu balls.
  
  
• Wonders of Bosu
  By A24S3SW1HM7K1V on 2007-06-08
  The Bosu is fun!. It offers new fitness challenges - standing, bouncing, lunging, or squatting off of it requires stabilization and balance in addition to the muscle work these moves require on flat ground. It's great for cardio, toning, flexibility, and, of course, balance. This versatile tool is easy to inflate and care for. I love my new toy!
  
  
• Buyer Beware!!!
  By A1DMN0K7DHL54Q on 2008-10-26
  I purchased the Bosu Balance Trainer Home Version from amazon.com on October 14, 2008. It arrived about a week later and I was eager to get started. I carefully followed the inflation instructions and used my owner's manual as a guide to determine the proper height of the dome. I read the entire manual, watched the DVD and then used the Bosu for 1 half hour workout. I stored it in a corner of my work out area (away from direct sunlight as instructed) in my air conditioned apartment.
  This morning, two days after my last workout (my first and only workout) I retrieved my Bosu only to find that it had come unstuck from the base. The bottom is no longer flat and there is no way I can get the edges back into the space along the rim of the base. It looks like the glue that was used very sparingly to adhere the dome to the base didn't hold for very long after I inflated it. As indicated by some other users the pump is very cheaply constructed and is less effective at deflating the Bosu than inflating it.
  The idea behind Bosu is fantastic and I have used one repeatedly in the Gym so this problem makes me think that the manufacturers made an inferior product for home use because they believed it wouldn't be used as much. However, after paying almost $100 or a product I should be able to get more than ONE use out of it.
  
  Like I said, "Buyer Beware". If I had read a review like this one I might have paid extra for the commercial version. I hope this review saves someone else from the needless expense and frustration that I have experienced with this product.
  
  
• you will get stronger & have better balance if you use this.....
  By A1I34N9LFOSCX7 on 2008-01-22
  I have found that using the bosu instead of a regular step is making me work so much harder & drastically improving my results. The bosu works your abs the whole time you are on it, and who doesn't want that? I would definitely it to anyone, but especially those who want to improve their balance or those who have plateaued/gotten bored using a regular step.
  
  I've had this for a few months. After several months of use i can honestly say it has held up great, no problems at all. It seems very sturdy & i'm sure it will last a long long time. so the quality seems to be very good. The pump seems fine, i only really used it once. (the bosu hasn't deflated at all in all these months.)
  
  The video is mostly useless to me. I use my bosu as a step which is much more intense & interesting than the video. But the video might come in handy for some, especially beginners or people rehabilitating.
  
  As for results, i am definitely seeing them. My balance is WAY WAY better than it was before. Which is exciting for me because it was pretty awful before. even though i thought i was otherwise in pretty good shape, I was so clutzy it made me feel kind of pathetic & weak. I would often stumble walking outside and if i hit an uneven pavement spot or stepped on a rock it would throw me off track bad. usually i ended up hurting my ankle a little. I am so happy that i can say that NEVER happens to me now. I walk outside a lot still & now i notice that if i hit an uneven spot or step on a rock or something it doesn't affect me. I don't get pain in my ankle, & i recover so smoothly i'm sure anyone looking probably can't even tell i just stumbled on something. I am thrilled that before i looked & felt goofy but now i look & feel STRONG.
  
  In the past I have used the bosu in place of a step while doing step cardio videos. Actually since I can't find any step videos i like enough to keep doing, i have sometimes just spontaneously made up my own routine while i watch t.v. Thankfully I've done enough step videos in my day that i can just throw some moves together. Anyway, It gets my heart rate up good. It sure feels more intense than a regular step. So for those who like step workouts, using the bosu in place of a step is a great alternative. your muscles get worked much harder trying to stay balanced on it. You really end up working a lot of different muscle groups at once. it's an awesome workout.
  
  For those that don't do step videos but are into weight training, you can benefit too. Even if i don't use the bosu for my cardio very much anymore i still use it when i do my weight lifting videos. I use the bosu in the parts of the videos that call for a step. (I use Jari Love's videos. she is my favorite instructor. Jari's "get ripped to the core" video uses a step for several of the compound exercizes. what a workout!) I use the bosu to do chest press exercizes, to do squats & lunges off of, and to make pushups more challenging. You can also use it for ab/back workouts.
  
  So anyway, that's about once or twice a week that i use my bosu in some capacity & i have definitely seen an overall improvement in my balance & strength. Between the 3 jari love videos i own, a pair of walking shoes, and my bosu i have everything i need to stay fit. (okay, okay. the protein shakes help too.)
  
  
  
• Bosu Trainer
  By A2RD8FAZNMZ5Q0 on 2006-02-24
  Excellent for home cardo/balance workout. Knew how good it would be b/c used it at the gym.
  
  
• Lot's of fun at parties!
  By A26Z9Q1HP88V6P on 2007-12-30
  Used this to invent the first Bosu Drinking Game. If you think it's hard to balance on a Bosu when you're sober, try it blindfolded and after 3 shots of tequila!
  
  The game goes like this:
  Select a random person to get on the Bosu, and pour a shot for the remaining players.
  
  If the person on the Bosu falls off before the other players have finished their shots, that player drinks the remaining liquor, plus 2 more shots.
  
  The last player to finish their shot is the next Bosu "victim", and then you begin from the top.
  
  Improvise as necessary for maximum fun.
  
  
• Good workout and useful for balancing
  By A258HJZ2KKARDT on 2006-05-06
  The day after buying the Bosu and using once, it lost a lot of air. Re-inflated but still lost about an inch of height a day.
  
  The replacement unit retains air much better. Upgraded my initial evaluation of 1 star to 4.
  
  It's interesting that the Bosu manual says it's not for commercial use.
  
  
• Excellent For Workouts!
  By A1JRMF8GTIGAXC on 2007-09-28
  I use the Bosu Ball for everything...from doing curls and arm exercises on it, jumping on it, balancing, abs, everything! I love it!!!
  
  
• A great tool to strengthen legs and improve balance
  By ASA9XKH1DJNLS on 2007-09-26
  The Bosu trainer is a great tool to strengthen legs and improve balance. I have found using the Bosu at work has helped improve my much abused knees. It is also great at improving balance which has helped me in my martial arts.
  
  
• Challenging workout
  By A37CDON8E7QXH0 on 2008-01-06
  I am a distance runner and basketball enthusiast.
  
  I was first introduced to the Bosu in physical therapy as I was recently recovering from a torn calf muscle (from basketball) on the same leg of which I fully ruptured my achilles tendon (from basketball) 5 years ago. There were a few exercises I did with the Bosu in physical therapy. Each time I used it I would think of how just practicing good controlled balance could improve so many aspects of physical performance. So I got one for home and have only been using the included DVD and have to say it's a great workout to mix in to your weekly regiment. The included workout opens your eyes to many different applications of this training tool including step-type aerobic activity as well as core training.
  
  
• Top quality balance ball/trainer
  By A3FUFA0F677MB4 on 2008-01-07
  Use for crunches or balance. This is identical to those at the gyn and is really good quality ... apart from the hand pump. Forget it and buy a useful one.
  
  
• I Love It!
  By A31L75W4F09YUT on 2008-03-10
  I first used the Bosu at a fitness center. I loved it so much I bought one for my "home gym". Assembly is easy. Just use the pump (included with purchase) to inflate. It comes with a DVD containing three short workouts. In the workouts, the Bosu is used much like a step in step areobics. The workouts are fun and challenging. I use my Bosu for doing squats and lunges. I also stand/balance on it while using hand weights to do bicep curls, shoulder presses, tricep kickbacks, etc. The added challenge of keeping your balance while strength training really works your core. I noticed a difference in my abs within weeks.
  
  
• Bosu ball
  By A3ODAZQBQBN5RZ on 2008-08-23
  Nice product for the home gym or living room.
  
  Very effective in improving balance and improving core stability. Being able to use both sides for various exercises offers a wide range of exercises for little floor space. It can be stored on its edge or hung on the wall to conserve space.
  
  I personally set it up in front of the TV and challenge myselt to balance on one foot during an entire commercial break then go to the other foot during the next commercial break.
  
  
  
  
• BOSU Ball Blast
  By A1DAT0UOYKRNTH on 2008-01-18
  This is a great product and not only builds core balance, but builds real core strength and this is outstanding.
  
  
• Bosu Ball
  By AYSTORE700LWK on 2008-03-11
  This ball is awesome! It's one of the most challenging workouts I ever had! Totally worth every penny! I'm a runner and cyclist and this ball made me feel OUT OF SHAPE! I've seen many improvements already and look forward to using it to its maximum potential in the future. It did take over a week and a half to deliver but was easy to track.
  
  
• Excellent workout
  By A1U6YEW4UGOX6Q on 2008-03-16
  This is a great workout, I run and workout regularly and felt very out of shape and uncoordinated after doing this workout. I really like the DVD that comes with this and will probably purchase a different DVD once I get a little better at this.
  
  
• excellent exercise tool
  By A3CFGKL8HWHBVL on 2008-07-07
  The BOSU is a great tool for increasing your balance and agility,especially for older people who tend to lose more and more of the muscle tone as they age.
  
  
• Execellent product that is extremely versatile
  By A3NKD1G2KMC9QC on 2008-07-27
  I keep finding more and more exercises that I can do on my new BOSU. It is incredible and I could not be more satisfied.
  
  
• Doesn't hold air for very long
  By A3B30YH5CKY32S on 2008-08-12
  This is a great exercise tool, unfortunately, it won't hold the air for more than one session. I have to re-inflate it every time I use it. And the cheap plastic pump falls apart. I'm using a electric pump now since I have to fill it up every time I use it. For the money it's not worth the effort. The quality of the product is very poor.
  
  
• Good purchase
  By AVOJW1NAXUTWI on 2008-08-13
  This product helps train your stabilizer muscles and helps with balance. I would buy this product again.
  
  
• It works
  By A13PAOMBJLCP9V on 2008-08-14
  I was very skeptical at first that this ball would perform all that it said, but because of the wonderful reviews I got the ball anyway. I got the ball for aerobic and abs work and it does a wonderful job on both. With this one item you can benifit at least two ways, you can get a good workout and raise your heart rate and also work your abs with this one product so I would certainly recomend this product.
  
  
• Every home gym should have one
  By APDY9AJZDOGDX on 2008-08-18
  I consider the Bosu to be an essential piece of equipment for any gym, including a home gym. Maintaining proper balance is important for any sport, as well as general health and fitness. I do mostly crossfit training at the gym, and the Bosu gets incorporated in as many of my exercises as possible.
  
  Also, Amazon had by far the best price online. Shipping was fast.
  
  

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