Customer Reviews

Power Balance Silicone Wristband Black with Black - LARGE

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(39)

 

 

Allow me to relay an experience I had with a sales rep at the local fair recently, which may be illuminating.

I was wandering through the sales tent with my girlfriend, and paused in front of a booth with stacks of these wristbands, official PB sales material, and photos of star athletes with PB bling on their wrists.

"Have you heard of the PB wristband?" Salesman (as of then) asked.

"No, what is it?"

"It's embedded with a positively charged hologram that reacts with certain frequencies in the Earth to improve balance, strength and flexibility".

My GF rolled her eyes and wandered on. "So it has a battery?", I asked.

"No, no battery, it's built in, and lasts forever. A lot of pro athletes are wearing them [drops some names]. We demonstrate how it works through some simple kinesthetic tests".

[Knowing something how electricity works, I was skeptical to say the least. Charged ions do not stay put when touched by a person, this is why we get static shocks, lightning, and functional household appliances, but I humored the man].

"Stand on one foot and hold your arms out, and resist and hold your balance when I push down on your arm."

I did so, attempting not to jab any passersby. He pushed, and I fell over. [No, not all the way]. One more time (to make sure it's not muscle memory, he says), and same result. Then I put on a PB band, and wouldn't you know it, he's practically hanging off my arm and I'm still standing!

"Well, that's pretty nifty, I'll go read up on them and might be back."

So we walked the fair that night, and a day or two later I read up on PB. I read amazing testimonials, saw the same test being performed on astounded people on YT vids. Then I watched the YT video put out by the Australian Skeptic organization and also saw the early Board Riders Review of PB, where you can clearly see that yes, those skeptical Australians are in fact on to something. I also learned that to receive the electro-magnetic frequency PB claims it does, because of the wavelengths involved the bracelet would need to be 12,000 miles long or so. But -

Here's how the "tests" work, try it and amaze your friends with any prop! I have... [But don't stop now, the story continues below]! Without bracelet, the salesman errr conman rather, pushes down, and while maintaining pressure pulls off balance ever so slightly. With band on, he pushes straight down and can even push in slightly if the target starts to tip. With correct downward pressure, it's very difficult to notice being pulled, esp when you're focusing on balancing. Next test is similar, your hands on one side, he pulls down and out first time, and straight down next time. And lastly, when the target is completely amazed (and thus also utilizing the basic sales principle of "commitment and consistency", where a person will go to great lengths to uphold a previously conceived notion, even fooling themselves subconsciously) comes the flexibilty "test" where you point, twist, and hold (thus also stretching), put on the band and point, and lo! You point further!

So I practiced up, amazed friends and family and sold them all worthless pieces of gravel for $50 [Only kidding about the last part! Had to clarify since I know there are probably a few gullible people reading this...] Then I went back to the fair days later, intending only to go on the rides which we missed before. Well, just maybe looking for a confrontation as a bonus...

We happened to walk by the conman in action, joined by an accomplice this time. Fearing a scene, my lady moved along. I stood off to the side, a naive observer who he didn't recognize, and made small talk with his brother-in-scammetry while Conman One finished with his target. This guy was sold, and as he was picking out what color he wanted I stepped up.

"Excuse me, don't you think an independent observer should do the pushing down, you know, since he IS the salesman?"

Well sure, the guy agreed, and the conman, well what choice did he really have? Besides with Commitment and Consistency on his side, the target would probably make it work on his own. So he thought. Heheh!

Well wouldn't you know it, I was completely unable to topple the man when he didn't have the bracelet on, using two fingers.

"Two fingers!" said the conman. "What does that prove!?"

"Yeah yeah, now give him the gizmo" I requested, and under protest he turned it over.

Same two fingers, and boy. The positive charge must have grounded out, because the target toppled over quicker than a drunk on the midway rides, bracelet and all!

"You're pulling him over! You pulled him over!" yells the conman.

"And you're not?"

Not even a denial, just "Well, OK, how do explain the flexibility tests then! I wasn't even touching him!"

I did, we exchanged a few more unpleasantries, and I turned to the target, suggesting that whatever he decided to do, he look up PB and applied kinesiology when he got home. Then I turned to leave.

As I walked by Conman One, he snarled under his breath, "Don't try to ruin our sale!" And I smiled.

Oh Conman, I will. And happy ending, the would be target ran up behind us moments later, sans bracelet with words of appreciation.

Now you know, and since you do, the next time YOU see one of these sleazies in action, do what I did and spoil just one sale. What are they really going to do? It kills me that these shiny pieces of rubber are #4 in "sports and fitness" right now! They are completely unrelated to either! You want fitness, you gotta work for it, you want self help, buy some Tony Robbins. Don't enrich a scam company [who incidentally don't make any claims of increased power or balance on their website, thus passing the threat of a lawsuit, and an a-- whooping, on to their MLM minions, while they make bank from the safety of their offices]. We all want a magic bullet for every area of our life that needs improvement, but improvement is hard work. That's what makes it worthwhile and satisfying.

If you found this "helpful", vote it, let's stop this madness!

This company is using simple physics to knowingly rip people off. As a Mechanical Engineering it's quite easy to see how they are fooling people. For the balance test without the wristband they are pushing straight down on the arm, this creates a net torque at your one point of support, the foot. However the foot has no capabilities to counteract this torque, so you can't help but fall over. However with the band on they do not push straight down, they push straight towards your foot, this changes the line of action of of the force to pass straight through your foot creating no torque at your foot, and therefore its much easier to stand straight. The sales people are obviously trained to deceive people, as they have to knowingly push at an angle to achieve their results. This, in my opinion, is fraud. I believe they should be sued, and refunds given to all the unfortunate people who have been conned. It's not right to run a business based solely on purposely deceiving people.

It's unfortunate that a product this stupid doesn't make it's owners sterile. That would mean that it would do something though...

[...]

In a move that has been welcomed by skeptical groups all over the world, an Australian consumer watchdog group, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has instructed Power Balance to cease making misleading claims about their silicone bracelets.


I look forward to getting my money back!

The bracelet looks very cool and I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. However, it does nothing whatsoever for your balance, strength, or flexibility. I wasn't exactly expecting it to work after doing a little bit of research online, but was still hopeful that I would be proven wrong and would notice a difference. However, after two weeks of wearing it, it hasn't affected me in any of the ways that it claims it would. It still looks very good, and for just $10 I don't regret my purchase. If you are looking for a performance advantage I wouldn't recommend these bracelets, but if your just looking for something that looks cool, it is very nice.

*Update*
After a little over a month of wearing it, the "holograms" are starting to develop holes in the middle. It appears as if the silicone is eating through the reflective material. I contacted power balance and they told me that the bracelet would still "work" but i could get a replacement if i mailed them the faulty one. Now seeing as the hologram is the part that is supposed to create the boost in flexibility, strength, and balance, I would really like to know how on earth it is supposed to still "work" if they are both damaged. Power Balance is just a hoax and you should save your money!

After a watercooler conversation in which my coworkers swore up & down that this thing worked despite their skepticism, I picked one up. As an engineer, I should've known better. If there's no scientifically sound reason for *how* it works, then it's mental. Not only did this not have any positive effect on me, I swear I was somehow less balanced when putting it on (probably from the muscle fatigue of trying the same test before, without it).

As an athlete, I probably already mentally push myself to the wall without any tricks, so this has zero effect on me. I wish!

i workout everyday no improvement in flexability or strength or balance. those who do its in there head they want to believe so they do.

Totally love your review, it is appreciated that people like you take the time (and it did take some to not only do your research, but to write your lengthy review) to warn the rest of us. I only noticed this because it came as a pop-up, so I thought, "what the heck is this?" and of course clicked on it. Immediately I scrolled and saw your review. I only wish your girl would have stayed for your impressive "show." Being the opposite type, I would have savored watching. My husband would be the one walking away while I, the outspoken one, would do the confronting. Loves it!! Thank you!

L

i first saw these as recommended by a popular women's fitness magazine (SHAPE). my husband wanted them because his favorite professional athletes wear them. i bought some for both him and i. we are in the military and we work out daily. neither of us noticed a difference in our performance, but both of us eventually had what looked to be black mold growing in the hologram part. if you get one, don't wear it in the shower, because your hologram will start to turn black as well. my husband still likes to wear his (a new one, not the moldy one) because he likes how it looks and not for it's performance. i think it's a placebo bracelet. the equivalent of a good luck charm, nothing more. don't buy it thinking you will see a difference in your work outs. you will be disappointed.

I bought one of these for my wife because she likes to work out. Well the companies reports on enhancement to balance and flexibility are sorely understated. Within 10 min of wearing the bracelet my wife becomes double jointed and is capable of benching 350. She only weights 160. The only problem is that she also becomes pure evil with the bracelet. Worse than roid rages man. I usually have to wrestle the Power wristband off her. I think its cursed or improperly manufactured, either way I'm never putting it on.