Customer Reviews

Bosu Balance Trainer Home Version

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

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.

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 :-)

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.

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.

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.)

I bought one on the recommendation of a personal trainer I know. The BOSU is helpful for balance training in conjunction with strength and flexibility training. Unfortunately, my BOSU developed a leak at the site where the pump is attached to inflate the BOSU. This occured just after a year of careful use (no direct sunlight, no tossing or dropping the BOSU, etc). As it stands, I either must inflate the BOSU each time I wish to use it, or buy a new one.

The pump is lightweight, flimsy, inexpensive plastic, and you may wish to find a better pump that is more efficient to use.

I think that the BOSU is very useful in physical fitness but it really should last longer than its one-year warranty.

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.

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.

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.

Core workouts have always felt boring to me. I've never much enjoyed sit-ups or crunches or doing endless minutes of Planks. Last year I discovered the Bosu ball and have been liking my core exercises a lot more since. The concept is simple: balancing on the ball while doing other exercises like curls or dead lifts forces you to constantly adjust and simultaneously works your legs, back, and stomach even when doing an arm or shoulder workout. That is just one of the applications of the Bosu ball.

Another great technique is to use the flat surface as a platform for push ups, or as a modified roving plank exercise where you roll in the ball in a circle while keeping your lower body and abs stationary. This is a great way to tone the stomach and is far more engaging than sit-ups or generic stationary plank.

The third excellent use is as a balance/stability trainer. You can either balance on the flat side or do lunges unto the ball surface to train your feet and ankles. Since you can only lift what you can stabilize, these routines are a wonderful addition to a traditional weight training routine and will see your lifts increase rapidly as your ancillary muscles catch up to your primary movers.

The home version of the ball seems just as good as the professional versions we have at my health club. Both my wife and I use it regularly and we've never had a problem with it deflating or even losing air. This is a seriously great piece of fitness equipment as versatile as it is well made. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to mix up their routine or for those wanting better stability and core strength.