Categories
Fitness

STABALLIZER exercise sphere helps with lifting, balancing and gaming

Everyone’s still talking about the core. A’core’ding to fitness professionals, a strong core helps the rest of your muscles perform at an optimal level as well as improves your posture. There are lots of workouts that target the core and most involve balance.

The STABALLIZER is a eight-in-one fitness device. All clammed up, it looks like a simple medicine ball. However, it breaks apart and can be used for destabilized push ups, as free weights, a balance device, footweights, a kettle ball, plank handles and an AB roller handle. With the STABALLIZER, fitness buffs can engage in planks, squats, lifting, pushups, crunches and more. Additional handles and straps secure the ball to your hands for added comfort.

Interestingly enough, STABALLIZER is meant to be used with your smartphone or tablet. The campaign shows a woman planking with her hands on the half ball. On the flat surface rests her tablet showing a tilting game. Using her strength and precision, she can play the game and have fun while planking at the same time, challenging herself to last the length of the game.

At a first glance this seems like just any other fitness product. However, its compatibility with tablets and smartphones make it a little bit more interesting. While the name is still in typical all caps, yelling at us to buy the product, it offers more than just beefier muscles. This is an entirely new way to integrate technology into our workouts. One goes for $220 for delivery in September 2015 with higher tiers offering more accoutrement. STABALLIZER is hoping to raise an ambitious $200,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Running

Bionic Runner blends safe running training with great outdoors

One of the best things about running is being able to enjoy the outdoors and still do something healthy for one’s body. But training outside can mean an increased chance of injury from awkward foot strides, over-extension or impact fatigue. So Bionic Runner was specifically made for runners who prefer being outdoors. This bike has an eight speed gear hub that allows runners to perform advanced training techniques such as resistance, intervals, and threshold. While it duplicates the motion of running and is a great cardiovascular workout, it significantly reduces the chance of getting injured. In addition, it’s foldable for maximum convenience and portability.

Since the high risk training techniques running usually presents are transferred to the bike, runners can spend more time focusing on their gate when they do actually run. Interested backers may also want to check out the Hamtoner, Go Kin, Spyder 360, and Most Fit campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $40,000 AUD (~$33,300 USD). For $965 AUD (~$800 USD) backers can have their very own Bionic Runner with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Fitness

BIAbox exercise device flips around as it works you out all over

Time and time again, people like a full body workout that can be had with the help of one device. Moving back and forth between machines takes up too much time and requires a costly gym membership.

BIAbox is looking to provide an all over workout. With two two-sided faces and two railings, the box stands on its own and is about the size of a walker. By turning it around, BIAbox has four sides. Each side tells the user how they can workout and which exercises that particular orientation supports. For instance, when it’s turned into a platform, step ups, push ups and squats are all made possible. BIAbox offers 40 different exercises to its users.

While not the most sleek or portable all-in-one fitness device out there, BIAbox does have an edge over similar products. It actually lists the exercises you can do using it. Others come with inconvenient manuals or nothing at all. Fitness buffs have useful instructions on how to maximize their workout right in front of them. For their very own, backers must donate £209 (~$330) for ambitious delivery in December 2014, if BIAbox reaches its £12,000 (~$18,700) goal on Kickstarter.

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Connected Objects Fitness

Loop is a pelvic exerciser that connects to your smartphone

Many women experience feeling flat out ugly when they are pregnant. It’s a relief in more than one way when that little one finally makes his or her way into the world. But what to do to get the body back in shape after all the stress that comes with pregnancy?

Not only are pelvic floor exercises beneficial before pregnancy, but also after the baby is born. But just like any other exercise, it can be hard to get moving. That’s where Loop comes in. Loop works using Bluetooth technology and an accompanying app. Using this app, exercise routines can be pre-programmed. In addition, you’ll receive visual feedback to ensure that you’re performing the exercise correctly as well as gaining the maximum benefit. Users can choose from personal training programs to more interactive routines that allow for competing with one’s own best score. The device reads muscle movements through pressure sensors, and translates those movements into helpful graphics and weekly progress reports. Loop is powered by a battery that lasts for up to a year, and the app indicates when it needs to be replaced. But alas, this product was really created for women only, functioning with her unique anatomy. Sorry guys.

This product will likely have the most appeal to exercise enthusiasts, and perhaps those who travel a lot and have to do their workouts on the road. This campaign seeks to raise $50,000 by January 8, 2015. Early bird backers get one product for $99 with an expected delivery of June 2015.

Categories
Fitness

BodyBoardX tones you by stretching and swaying

Core conditioning is the foundation of most workout regimes. With a strong core, you can improve your balance and overall strength. The Bodyboard X provides you with an easy core workout. This product is committed to improving your strength, spatial awareness and planes of motion all in a low impact way. Shaped like a curved skateboard, the Bodyboard X rocks side to side on the ground with you on top of it. Straps attached to each side come up while the rider holds them with their arms stuck straight out to the sides.

While the reasoning behind this product is certainly sound, the execution is a little funky. The campaign shows a gif of a woman on the Bodyboard X rocking side to side with her arms out and she looks a little, well, awkward. Or perhaps like she’s posing for a Vitruvian Man-inspired painting. Still, for $75, backers can enjoy theirs by March 2015. Bodyboard X hopes to raise $80,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Games Health and Wellness

FitBricks is the Jenga game that gets you moving

For those who don’t like to exercise but like the results that come with working out, here is a product that may make working out a little easier to tolerate. FitBricks was invented by a puzzle enthusiast and who probably likes to think. It offers the user the opportunity to exercise in between considering what their next move will be so that the blocks don’t all come tumbling down – which could still provide some opportunity for a workout because then they all have to be picked up and restacked. The user just wouldn’t get to choose which exercise they will be doing if that happens. If an exercise buddy can be persuaded to get a set of FitBricks, the fun will be doubled without having to workout alone. Just make sure those water breaks don’t go on for too long and prevent the workout from taking place at all. This campaign seeks to raise $19,000 CAD (~$16,700 USD). For $34 CAD (~$30 USD), early bird backers get one set of FitBricks with an expected delivery of February 2015.

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Fitness

C-Action is a fitness mat that can take that

Those who enjoy working out usually have several activities they like to engage in. Whether it’s boxing, yoga, Pilates or strength conditioning, there are lots of ways to stay in shape, but not always one place where you can easily work out in so many different ways. C-ACTION hopes to bring the possibility of tons of activities to you in one simple package. Featuring a mat and a boxing bag-like bump, you can use this product for yoga, boxing, Pilates, mixed martial arts and more. C-ACTION comes in two sizes, each able to be carried on your back. While this product is versatile, it has the limitation of ground-only use. In the campaign, everyone using this seems to be stuck on the ground or in need of the assistance of another. Still, for those who like working out on the floor, the C-ACTION does have many interesting uses. Backers can donate $220 for the smaller version with an estimated delivery of February 2015. This fitness mat-of-all-trades is hoping to raise $40,000 on Kickstarter.

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Fitness

Put the moves on Cradle Coach to strengthen your core

Usually to get a well-rounded workout, you’ll need to visit lots of different machines at the gym. These machines promote strength, good form and have adjustable weights and grips. Now, you don’t need a machine. The Cradle Coach is a relatively small device that lets you workout in a number of different ways. Shaped, well, like a cradle, one can use it for body weight, core, strength and functional training. The core of Cradle Coach is hollow and allows for different sized weights to be inserted. However, the opening isn’t huge, so there’s a limit to how much weight you can add. Cradle Coach joins scores of other fitness devices claiming to let you have it all like the Battle Flex, but it lacks the portability that others offer because it’s bulky and doesn’t fold up. Backers can enjoy one Cradle Coach for a high donation of $300 for estimated delivery in February 2015. This product hopes to raise $25,000 on Kickstarter.

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Fitness

Xpodz hemispheres help your grip on mat exercises

Many athletes have suffered one injury or another during their active lives. As such, they can still be active, but must take care of their weak spots to avoid pain or further injury. Xpodz is designed for those with weak wrists. Push ups, yoga, Pilates and other activities are difficult for those who have wrist pain. Xpodz features round surfaces for athletes to rest their hands on with a flat base so that they remain stable on the ground. The ergonomic shape makes any wrist activity much easier for those with aching joints. Xpodz’s design originally started out by cutting a softball in half. For foot comfort, this product also comes with foot grips so that your feet don’t slip around.

This fitness tool comes in many different colors and will cost backers a donation of $36 for delivery in December 2014. On Kickstarter, this product hopes to raise $25,000. Many fitness classes feature wrist-free options for those with pain. Clearly, this is a problem among athletes, so Xpodz is a great way to avoid further injury. It’s also versatile in that it can be used in a solo workout or brought to a class to keep up with the rest of the folks.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Da Vinci bodyboard makes you Mona Leaner

Having the ability to workout at home or take workout gear on the road is nice, if one is self-disciplined enough to stick with a workout routine. Da Vinci Bodyboard is designed as an opposing tension system. The high intensity workout combines muscle groups, which is supposed to get more oxygen pumping through the body than with a typical workout. Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects is that it is touted as only taking 20 minutes to get enough of a workout for a noticeable difference. The materials to make this product come from organic natural plant fibers and resin, as opposed to oil. While this seems like a great workout idea, most people need the extra support of fellow exercise enthusiasts or even a fitness coach that they meet with regularly. But for those rare individuals who seem to have the self-discipline to push themselves, this seems like a great idea for getting in shape and staying that way. This campaign seeks to raise $30,000 by November 19, 2014. Early bird backers get one product for $225, which is about $110 off of anticipated retail. Expected delivery is January 2015.