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214 of 226 found the following review helpful:
 Buyer Beware!!!Oct 26, 2008
By Fitness Enthusiast
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.
179 of 189 found the following review helpful:
 Make sure you know how to use it before just inflating it!Jul 18, 2004
By Linda Ross, PhD
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 :-)
34 of 35 found the following review helpful:
Just what I was looking for & the pump worked fine for me.Oct 28, 2006
By Kennon A. Mccaa
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.
19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Definitely: Buyer Beware!!!!Nov 19, 2008
By Ginger Dog
I just purchased the Bosu home version and carefully followed instructions and started the workout. After about an hour, the inflated half ball came out of the plastic rim, and as another reviewer stated there is no way this is going to go back in securely - even if the ball was deflated and the rim was taken apart. There is a horrible smelly chemical residue on the rim and it seems that it wasn't glued correctly or perhaps the inflatable plastic part isn't made correctly. It looks uneven and lopsided around the edges which explains why it popped from the rim. What an expensive disappointment!!!! That said, the workout was really enjoyable and I could definitely see how it would be fun + beneficial. The quality of the product, however, is horrendous.
18 of 18 found the following review helpful:
you will get stronger & have better balance if you use this.....Jan 22, 2008
By Smeggy
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.)
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