Valeo Dual Ab Wheel Review.

 "Build that six-pack!" 2009-07-09
By J. McDonald (Wisconsin)

I've read several reviews here with people being confused or disappointed, but I think perhaps expectations were different. First off, I'm not a trained professional, but I've been exercising for years and I pay close attention to proper form for the most effective effort. I'll try to explain how this works and what to expect.



-- CORE MUSCLES WORKED WITH AN AB WHEEL:

Shoulders, arms, upper and lower back, abs (all sections)



-- WHAT TO EXPECT ON QUALITY:

The quality on these things doesn't have to be fancy - it has a simple use and just has to be functional. Two wheels are better than one, however. The wheels are solid plastic/rubber and the grips are similar. Are the grips terribly comfortable? No, but they're not bad either and you aren't using it for hours at a time -just minutes. Wrap some tennis racquet grip around them for added comfort if you want more, but it's really not needed. This is a basic tool and doesn't need to be made of expensive materials. The bar through the middle is solid metal (not sure if there is a weight limit but I'd guess at about 200lbs).



-- PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

It arrives in a box as two separate wheels, a metal bar, two rubber handles and a single sheet of instructions. Place the bar through the wheels and center them as best as you can. Then slide/wiggle/twist one handle all the way onto one end of the bar (I didn't need grease - it went on pretty easily, yet snug). Then try to line up the grip of the other handle and slide that onto the other side of the bar with the wheels in the middle. Push on the ends of the handles to make sure they're on all the way. You will be able to twist the grips a little to line them up perfectly. Putting it together took me only a couple of minutes.



-- USING IT (BASIC):

Using the Ab Wheel is simple, but really works the abs if done correctly. This simple devise helps create the line down the middle of your abs for that nice six pack!



Kneel on the floor with one hand on each handle and the wheel positioned on the floor, centered before you. Without arching your back (keep it straight and keep your head straight too - don't look up or drop your head down) slowly roll the wheel away from your knees in a straight line before you. Your body moves forward with the wheel, away from your knees - this is KEY to making this move effective! Your weight is supported via your hands on the bar and by your knees (and a straight back). The further you can stretch your arms out before you and the further you can lean away from your knees the more you will work the core muscles in your abs. When you've rolled out as far as you safely can, reverse and roll back up to the starting position (this should be hard!). Line your body up facing a wall (knees 2-3 ft from the wall) and roll out toward the wall if you want something there to help you stop rolling. Line up further and further away as you get stronger.



You may not be able roll out more than 2-3 feet at first but that's okay. (When I stop my abs/hips are about 10-12 inches from the floor. You want to aim for about a 45 degree angle from your knees to your hips and then a countering 45 degree angle from your hands on the ab wheel to your shoulders. Think of making a bridge with your body where your knees are one support on one side of the water and the wheel is the other support on the other side of the river/body of water. Again, the farther you can stretch out, the more difficult the workout, but be careful and don't push too hard too fast or you'll tear something! Use your head and be conservative at first.



Beginners should probably start with 1-2 sets of 5-10 reps and work on rolling out further as you become stronger. I'm trying 2 sets of 10 reps and my abs are SORE after 2 days of this!! :)



It's IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT and to not arch it as you roll out. You can hurt yourself if you do this move incorrectly. The wheel comes with some basic instructions that show you the proper form. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!



-- USING IT (ADVANCED):

Once you get comfortable using it as described above, add a twist and rather than just rolling straight ahead of you, keep your knees still and roll out at about a 25-30 degree angle left or right of center, twisting at the waist. This will really focus on the oblique muscles. I'd suggest alternating each direction during your reps, but that's just my opinion. ;)



This really is a GREAT ab workout and you WILL feel it if done properly. Good luck on that six pack!

 "Definitely works, be patient & do it right" 2009-05-02
By Kanishk Rastogi (Albany, NY United States)

Best exercise for tighter abs. Using it for 4 weeks now and definitely seeing the improvement in my abs.



Ease of Install: Very easy & quick. Don't know why other reviewers said it is difficult. Maybe there was some problem years ago. The instructions ask to use some oil on the steel rod before slipping on the handles.



Posture: Make sure you are using it in right posture per the instructions provided on the small paper inside the box. This is very necessary if you want to see an impact. Pay attention to the DOs & DONTs. I wish Valeo had provided these instructions on a bigger size paper & in a more readable text size & font.



Exercise: The key is to stop for a second or two in fully stretched posture in order to work the abs. It might be difficult initially, but you will surely get there in a week or two.



Mythbuster: Using ab-wheel only will not result in a 6 pack or flat abs as seen on the models on the box. You need to do cardio to burn the fat. Ab-wheel will work on the abs internally and make them tight. One health coach told me that your abs become visible when your BMI is less than 8%. I am not there yet, but working on it. Hope you get there soon.

 "great!" 2006-07-20
By T. Sharpe (Alabama)

I really love this thing, I am not a typical excercising type of person, the extent of my workouts includes stretching, walking and jumprope. the abwheel is perfect for a low impact ab workout, and it even strengthens your back!! Great for me, since after a rough pregnancy I can't even do one situp!

 "Works great IF YOU USE IT CORRECTLY" 2010-03-29
By MyPenName (Pennsylvania)

At first I thought "How can this work.. you just zip back and forth with ease???" Well, therein lies the problem.. if you are just zipping back and forth on it, you are not using it right and you will not have the results that it can actually give.



My hubby is 6'4 and in great shape, exercises regularly, lifts weights, etc. He benches 200 & 300 lbs. He did not expect this little wheel to be so much work for him. He is by no means a weakling, but this Ab Wheel definitely takes some strength to use properly. He loves it though. He can "feel the burn" after just a few tries and keeps using it daily getting a few more in, each day.



When he showed me how to use it, I was like this is cake, I'm just rolling back and forth and it took no strength and I felt no difficulty. I WASN'T USING THE PROPER FORM AND MUSCLES! Once he got me to do it right, boy was there a major difference! I can see and feel how this thing works, when used properly. Doing it right is essential. If you are just rolling back and forth, then you are not doing it right and you will not see any results.



It seems sturdy enough and the grips are pretty comfortable.



This little device is definitely worth trying, but remember to make sure you are doing it the right way.

 "Gets the job done and good price" 2007-08-03
By Larry Harvey (Spartanburg,sc usa)

Works great. The dual wheels add a little extra stability. As far as other reviews griping about the difficulty in putting the handles on, its no bid deal. Just rub a small amount of vasoline inside grip and it slides right on. No problem.

Garmin GSC 10 Speed/Cadence Bike Sensor Review.

 "Excellent compact lightweight wireless cadence sensor" 2007-11-22
By Brad Jackson (Panama City, FL USA)

Another handy piece of equipment from Garmin!



This kit comes in three basic parts; a sensor unit, which is about the size of a matchbox, and two magnets about the size of your pinky nail. Several zip-ties are included for mounting purposes; the entire kit weighs at most a couple of ounces.



Installation is pretty straightforward, but do follow the directions carefully and don't snug down the zip-ties until you're sure you've got all three components just where you want them and have tested the system!



The sensor mounts to the left chain stay with a pair of zip-ties. Garmin thoughtfully added a piece of rubber padding to the bottom of the sensor unit, so it won't rough up your fancy carbon frame or your paint job :)



A single zip-tie attaches the crank magnet to the crank, although I had to use a large (3/4") shim on my FSA crank (which has a curved profile and a hollow back) to place the crank magnet in the proper position for the sensor to "see" it. The spoke magnet clamp has both a round hole and a square hole; make sure you use the right hole for your spoke profile! I mounted mine on a spoke directly opposite the tire valve, just to help keep the wheel in balance.



The sensor unit must be positioned along the chain stay such that it can "see" both the crank magnet as it passes by the cadence sensor (the round part on the side of the sensor unit), and the spoke magnet as it passes the speed sensor (the part that looks like a lever in the picture).



Testing is accomplished by pressing a small button on the sensor unit, which prompts it to flash a red LED, then a green one to indicate that testing is started. As pointed out by another reviewer, the LEDs are hard to see in bright ambient light; I'd recommend testing in a garage if possible. Hi-intensity LEDs would have solved this problem, although I suspect these LEDs were chosen for their low power consumption, so maybe it's a smart design decision after all.



Once the test button is pressed, the next 60 revolutions of the crank should cause the red LED to flash when the crank magnet passes the sensor, while the spoke magnet passing the sensor should generate a green LED flash. If you saw the red/green flash when the button was pressed, but don't see a flash as each magnet passes the sensor, chances are one or both magnets are not properly aligned with the sensor (there are alignment lines on the sensor and both magnets), or the magnets are passing too far from the sensor (this is the problem I encountered and solved with a shim).



When you're sure everything is in the right places, snug the zip-ties and cut them flush. Then set up a screen (typically the Biking screen) on your 305 to display Cadence in one of the data fields, and go ride!

 "Garmin GSC 10 Speed Cadence Sensor" 2006-11-09
By Thomas L. Wilson Jr. (Hills of Tennessee)

Easy installation of sensor and magnets. Crank magnet come loose easily.

Pairing the sensor with the receiver unit can fail without much of an indication of the problem. Once the sensor is paired, the unit works very reliably.

 "Garmin Finally Got It Right" 2007-06-07
By A. Vasquez (Riverside, CA)

I purchased this item and, based on the reviews I had read, I also purchased a battery for it because Customers had complained that the Garmins were being shipped with batteries that did not contain a charge anymore. However, to my surprise, the battery worked fin and I really enjoy having the extra cadence information when I download my workout histories. Works great with my ForeRunner 305. I highly recommend it.

 "A must have for you Edge 305" 2007-07-14
By Yvan Auger (Ontario, Canada)

I bought the Edge 305 w/o the cadence sensor thinking I don't need it but I was wrong. Once you realize what the Edge can give you for information and you start to plot everything ( I use SportTracks )you became addicted and you want cadence chart too !!!



Furthermore, the sensor allows you to get speed even when there's no GPS signal ( tunnel, cities, etc). A fact that overlooked.



Easy to install and the red/green light tells you if the unit senses the magnets which have to run pretty close to the unit. I would suggest you test the unit on your bike in a rather dark area to make it easier to look at the ligth on the unit.

 "Works extremely well." 2007-07-14
By Joanne Boone (Ohio)

Unlike the Polar speed/cadence units, the Garmin is made to work from the rear wheel (great if you ride an indoor trainer) and its creative design allows it to catch both speed and cadence from a single unit. Impressive. Just be sure to get a new battery - mine, like others, came shipped with a dead battery.

Blongo Ball Complete Game Set Review.

 "Better than bocce with unexpected "action"" 2007-06-04
By C. Hugo (Seattle area, WA United States)

We created a nearly-regulation, turf bocce ball court when building a new home a year ago, but for this last Christmas I hunted for other lawn games that would fit a 10' x 60' grass area. I discovered BlongoBall on the internet but later happened to find it at Costco (they have everything some time or another). This last weekend was hot in Seattle, so we christened the new court with bocce and Blongo. Well, Blongo won the fun contest! This is a very easy game to learn and play -- and it brings unexpected surprises as the Balls hit the goal, spin around the rods, and end up who knows where. What may appear at first to be a winning throw might finally just drop to the ground. And, what might at first be a 1-pointer can spin to the 2-point rung, and then drop unto the bottom, 3-point rung. In a close game, this animation can generate great hoots and laughter. My wife, not a competitive type, really enjoyed beating me in a three game set, and she set a "home court record" with 10 points in one turn - getting the benefit of an errant toss that bounced off the ground before ending up on the bottom rung. A 5-pointer! with other balls on the 3- and 2-point rungs. The final rubber match score was 21 to 20. Blongo is about as much fun as horsehoes but without endagering property and life from chunks of heavy metal flying about.

 "BlongoBall" 2008-06-29
By D. Fox (Pennsylvania)

This is a very sturdy & well balanced set. I would recommend this brand over some of the others. Best ladderball or redneck golf set I've seen for the money.

 "Lots of fun for all ages" 2008-05-17
By Frank Tortorici (Tibbie, AL. USA)

Bought this after playing the same game by another manufacturer. The quality of this one is very superior to the other one. Our grandkids aged 4 to 6 love it, as do the the adults. I would definitely recommend it for all ages.

 "Blongo Ball Great Game..." 2009-06-29
By R. Rynkowski (Hampstead, Md.)

The Blongo Ball game I purchased was better and stronger than the original ones I purchased through WalMart and Dick's. They both fell apart as you played but the Blongo Ball version played strong even with kids who have a tendenciy to play the game a little rough. I give this version 5 STARS and would recommend it. The price was also better than the one I bought from Dick's which was equivalent to the cheaper on I got from WalMart, both being Skilcraft products.

 "Love it!" 2008-07-12
By Michelle G. Watkins (VA)

I don't normally go for yard games, but this one looked like so much fun, I had to try it. I played at a friends and immediately started searching for my own. I now have the game and everybody loves to play!

Forever Collectibles MLB New York Yankees Logo Bandz Review.

 "Terrific product" 2010-06-09
By Barbara

My kids love these things, well made and great price considering we couldn't find them anywhere!

 "Terrific!" 2010-06-23
By NYC Mom (Brooklyn, NY United States)

My son loves these Yankees Silly Bandz! We've had them 2 weeks and not a broken band yet!

 "NY Yankee silly bands" 2010-07-12
By Patti

My girls loved the NY Yankees silly bands and were happy to share with their friends, since there was so many. The silly bands arrived very quickly. Thank you for your prompt processing and mailing of my order

 "NY logo bandz" 2010-06-28
By Gina Marie Taro (CICERO, NEW YORK, US)

The bandz came very quickly, but there was one missing from the package, and three of them were kind of melted to the packaging. Packagaing for the bandz was also crumpled, but could have been from mail service, as it was very hot out. I only hold the seller responsible for the missing Statue of Liberty band, but it wasn't a tragedy. I do however feel that for over 13 bucks, with shipping, it should have been checked before it was mailed out.

 "Poorly made product." 2010-05-24
By Emma M. Hancock (Orlando, Florida)

I bought these silly bandz for my sons, at a huge mark up price of $15 a pack. Upon receiving them we opened up the packs to find 2 already broken bandz. Because the pack came with 20 bandz 4 of each shape it wasn't that big of a deal. After wearing them for a day, 4 more broke. So out of a pack of 20 bandz 6 broken bandz in a 24 hour period. I have bought many other brands of silly bandz different shapes and sizes with only a very few breaking out of hundreds. Also for this company to over charge for such a poorly made product is crazy. I recently found these same bandz in Toy R Us for $5.99 a pack. I would say save your money and spare your childs disappointment.

Power Balance Silicone Wristband Review.

 "Skeptical but not anymore" 2010-03-09
By Eldon B. Franco

Great purchase for me. Taking grief from my wife and several friends, but I believe it has helped tremendously. I noticed better balance and increased strength in the gym while wearing the band. I would spend the money again.

 "Does it actually work?" 2010-02-27
By Waiting for Mr Goodbook (Sydney, Australia)

I have owned my wristband for three months now and I honestly don't know if it works or not.



Does the hologram have magical, mystical powers? Don't know.......

Is my balance beter? Couldn't say...........

Is it all in my head? Possibly..........

Is it pretty? Sure is.......



What I know for certain is that, whenever I wear the wristband, I feel much, much better.



Works for me!

 "Works Great and Fun!!!!!!!!!!!" 2010-06-20
By C. Clark (Iraq)

My run times have improved and I feel better after I do run. It is because of the "Power Balance", or just the fact I have been running more? Who knows, but it is kind of cool to think the bracelet helps. Also it is a great conversation starter. I have met a lot of cool people who ask about it. My grandmother use to wear a small magnet around her neck because she said it made her feel better. She lived to be 105, she was healthy and had a crystal clear mind up to the week she got pneumonia. Who knows for sure? Take a chance have some fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get-ja-one

 "Really works" 2010-01-11
By Joan G. Zakrzewski (New Hartford, CT USA)

We tested this thing and you know it works. It really does balance you. Buy it.

 "Really works!" 2010-04-12
By K. Kahale (FV, CA)

A friend did all three test on me for strength, balance, and flexibility! Bought it the next day. It really does work!

Polar Insulated Water Bottle Review.

 "The only real problem is fit. They almost work too well." 2008-07-15
By John P. Thiel (Astoria, Queens, New York City)

Normally, thermal bottles are too hard to squeeze to get fluid out of them, and they don't insulate very well at all. These are the first I've tried that actually worked, and they're just as squeezable as regular water bottles.



PROS and TESTIMONIAL: First time using these I froze them both, put them on the bike, went riding out in the heat of summer, and couldn't get a drop out of them because they remained frozen hard as bowling balls the more than two hours of that particular ride out on the open road. I finally had to open one and drink at least the one sip's worth of fluid that had melted. This was an absolute first. I've used other thermal water bottles over the years, but I tossed them all pretty quickly. None of them worked until these.



Second ride I refrigerated them and put ice cubes in before heading out. The ice melted but the contents remained fairly cool for hours or riding, again in the heat of summer.



Third time I came up with a brilliant idea. I filled them halfway and stuck them in the freezer, then filled them the rest of the way with refrigerated fluid just before heading out. This worked the best of the options I've tried so far.



One rider in my riding club had a great idea--freeze one bottle and fill the other one with fluid and ice. He says by the time he's ready for that second bottle it's melted enough that he can drink out of it. I go through two bottles in under three hours in the summertime, so I'm not sure this will work for me, but I plan to try it out on the next long ride.



In any case, they are absolutely freezer safe. Go ahead, fill them and freeze them, then see how long it takes before you can drink out of them.



FLAVOR: I've had absolutely no problem with the bottle affecting the flavor of the fluids I put in my bottles. Some have complained about this, but it seems more likely that they didn't thoroughly wash the bottles before use. There maybe some shipping wax in there, or just some residue from the manufacturing process. Just two drops of dish soap; any more will have your fluids tasting soapy for several rides; wash out those bottles good even before the first use, and you wont have a problem.



CON--the 24 oz bottle might be too big for your bike frame: I measured the 24 oz bottle height at 10.5 inches with the cap closed and 10.75 with it open, the caviat being that before you order two of these bottles, make sure they will actually fit on your bike. One on the downtube definitely will, but you might have to go with the smaller ones if it wont fit under your top tube when inserted in the upright cage mounted on your seat tube. Mine just barely clears the top tube when inserted in the upright cage on my 54cm Trek road frame; if my frame were only 2cm smaller, I imagine it might not fit. I've included a couple of pictures of my 24 oz bottles in the cages of both my road and mountain bikes for reference.



I've seen several riders with a 24oz on the downtube and a smaller one on the upright, but the only problem there is grabbing and reinserting the bottle in the upright cage while riding. Personally, I used up the one on the downtube and then switch them, but many recreational rider never have gotten into the habit of taking a drink from their water bottle while riding anyway.



In any case, if you have even the slightest doubt about that second bottle fitting, buy one, see if it fits, and if it does then order a second one.



BOTTOM LINE: If they were normal water bottles I would buy them just for the size. Having 48oz of water on you without having to wear a Camelbak is nice.



The fact that the thermal technology works in this make and model is just miraculous, as I've tried several thermal bottles before and none of them seemed to do a damn thing to keep cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot--in the winter.



And lastly, every other thermal bottle I've tried was difficult to impossible to squeeze one handed while riding, so they were too inconvenient to be useful on a bike ride. Especially on a road ride near a major city, it's tough to get those precious seconds for a quick drink, so it really needs to work--and these do.

 "Please read this if you are concerned with leaching chemicals!" 2008-02-29
By mtbiker

These bottles are all my family uses. To the other reviewers who have posted that this bottle leaches chemicals, I would ask that they do a little research before posting. First, you should wash the bottles in your dishwasher or hot water before using, this is just common sense and will remove any plastic odor (though I have never noticed any). These bottles are made from LDPE#4, which according to multiple studies, does NOT leach toxic chemicals into your water. On the other hand, Lexan, ie Polycarbonate ie Nalgene bottles have been shown to leach Bisphenol-A or BPA into water. You can feel safe buying and drinking from these bottles made of FDA approved LDPE#4.

 "Excellent insulation" 2007-01-03
By S. C. Fisher

We have found these water bottles extremely useful. They keep beverages cold for several hours and avoid the "sweating" that is often a problem on humid days.

 "Good Stuff!" 2007-01-09
By Caboose (California, USA)

It fits well in any of the bottle holders I've used. It really does keep things cold longer. Plus, the parts that make up the lid can be easily removed for a thorough cleaning. What more can you ask for!

 "Excellent Product!" 2007-09-14
By Avonlea Belle

I ordered a Red, Polar, 24 ounce, Insulated Water Bottle for my young son to use during school, as it is not air conditioned and we have been having a major heatwave for a long time now. This product does EXACTLY what it advertises. After a six-hour day in stellar heat, the water is still cold and fresh. We have already washed it many times by hand and in the dishwasher and there is still no sign of wear and tear at all. My husband and I are going to order two for ourselves!

Repel HG-406T Lemon Eucalyptus 4-Ounce Insect Repellent Pump Spray Review.

 "Fantastic & registered as effective (6 hrs) by Centers for Disease Control" 2010-01-25
By Biology Professor (MA)

As a biochemist, I don't leave my repellents to chance. I insist on reading some of the peer-reviewed scientific studies before switching away from DEET repellents. Some papers on Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, aka OLE or PMD (the synthesized version) caught my attention which made me read further. I looked for information through the Center for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Both sites indicate that OLE is indeed tested and effective, albeit not equivalent (hourly) to >30% DEET. I found that the EPA also evaluates repellent data for safety and hourly effectiveness for brand name products including 30/40% Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus; this can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/mosquito-tick-product.html . Armed with this information, I decided to take OLE on a trip to an island (with swamps) in Belize. We *loved* this product. Although 30% DEET was more powerful as a repellent when we were walking directly next to the swamps, the Repel Lemon Eucalyptus product was plenty effective and so much more pleasant when we were in more usual mosquito (and sand flea) territory back at our base camp. We particularly preferred using it at bedtime in our cabins, since we were not sleeping in a tight, air conditioned room. Lemon Eucalyptus is also a more pleasant product to use on the face, neck, and scalp (avoid the eyes) than DEET. Before the end of our trip, we had finished the Repel Lemon Eucalyptus oil and wished we had brought more. I will take *many* bottles of REPEL 30/40% Lemon Eucalyptus oil and also some DEET on my trip to Madagascar next month. If you decide to purchase OLE, make sure you are NOT buying lemongrass oil or essential oils of lemon eucalyptus, as these are mixtures of oils as they come straight from the plant, and the percentage of OLE (PMD) may not be high enough to be effective. I highly recommend the REPEL product.

 "Yes, you can be Deet free and bite free" 2007-07-22
By Mare Astra (United States)

I am allergic to Deet. I've been the one at the back of the camping/hiking/fishing trips silently feeding millions of mosquitoes and other biting insects in misery for years- until now. I've tried everything on the market and was always disappointed, since all the deet free products I tried either triggered my allergies or just plain didn't work. This year, my doctor recommended I try the deet-free Repel, and I am sold. The difference is like night and day. We took it on a trip photographing butterflies and dragonflies in swamps in the Rio Grande Valley, TX, and came away bite free. Didn't work on chiggers, but I don't think it's supposed to. I'm not sure it lasts as long as the deet-containing products- my husband started using it exclusively as well, and he has to apply it more often than the Off or Cutter products he used to use. But I'm talking a drop from six hours of effectiveness to four, hardly a problem if you have room in your pack to carry the stuff. Also, it smells like Eucalyptus, which some people don't like, and you will smell of it for HOURS, even after it has lost it's effectiveness or until you take a shower.

 "Amazing Product, works great" 2007-07-16
By Stephen Kalman (Hawley, Pa USA)

Ya know the guy in the crowd who always has the army of bugs flying around his head? That guy is me. I've tried everything, sometimes at the same time (not safe, by the way).



Yesterday I went on a 5 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail in Northern NJ. Great walk, but there were a million bugs, all of whom told their friends about me. The guy I was walking with told me to try this "deet free" stuff. I kept saying no, until I shared the can of OFF I brought with the crowd at the Rutherford Shelter. They used it up so I figured I'd try the Repel.



This stuff is great. It worked for two solid hours. Probably more, but we were back at the car by then. I've just ordered a bunch. Go for it! As a plus, it smells a lot better than the typical stuff, too.

 "An effective, environmentally responsible, and safer alternative to DEET sprays" 2009-06-26
By buru buru piggu (New York, NY USA)

I'm one of the unfortunate people that mosquitoes love. No matter where I go, I am always the first to get bitten. My bites can swell up to the size of a quarter, and particularly bad ones can itch for a week, so it is with great relief that I discovered Repel last summer.



I am happy to report that this is very effective for a mosquito lightning rod like me and against such a vicious enemy as the Asian tiger mosquitoes in my area. They've out-competed the brown mosquitoes we used to have, which only bite during the morning and dusk/evening and are quite docile by comparison. Asian tigers are active all day and night and very efficient at finding their prey. They're quicker, meaner, and more prolific. Stepping into the garden without my Repel means 6-8 bites within minutes. Unlike browns, the bites of Asian tigers also hurt.



Ease of use:

------------



The pump is very easy to use. It creates a fine mist that can be rubbed in to distribute. The mist gives your skin a bit of a sheen, since it contains oils. The smell is pleasant, though you may wish to hold your breath while spraying, in order to prevent accidental inhalation. You may need to apply generously, depending on your level of mosquito attraction.





Environmental and Safety Considerations:

----------------------------------------



The active ingredient p-Menthane-3,8-diol is made from eucalyptus leaves, so you can feel easier about using it. I also bought OFF! Deep Woods Long Lasting Insect Repellents along with this product, but was concerned about DEET getting absorbed into my skin. Repel, on the other hand, is plant-based and much safer to use as well as environmentally more responsible. p-Menthane-3,8-diol poses no risk to humans or animals, according to the EPA, so you don't have to worry about poisoning if you have children or pets.

 "I LOVE IT !! IT WORKS !!!" 2008-09-19
By Paul B. (USA)

I LOVE THIS STUFF !!!

Its got a great lemon smell and it spreads easily, like baby oil. It's not greasy like "skin so soft" and it's natural. I never did like the smell of DEET and I always wondered what the unnatural chemicals were doing to my skin.



The most important thing is IT WORKS !!! Even after 100s of ticks are crawling and biting, one squirt and they die. I use one squirt per ear and mosquitoes stay away from my head. I oil up my arms and legs then I head off in to the bush without fear of bug bites. I spray it on any scratches because I have found that it makes a great disinfectant and wound dressing with very little sting. It's a must for any med kit.



Warning: if you get it in your eyes it will sting for a few seconds until your tears dilutes the oils. It's flavor is NOT lemony.



I'm 38 and I love being, and working, in the woods and brush. This is the best repellent I have found. I'm glad Amazon has it.

Intex Raised Downy Queen Airbed with Built-in Electric Pump Review.

 "Very comfortable, but doesn't last forever" 2006-01-12
By Staring At.... (Ohio)

I originally bought this bed as a "quick fix" as I was moving into a new apartment. After the first few nights of using it, I was impressed enough to delay my plans to purchase a real bed. Unfortunately, I noticed that it had started to develop small leaks after using it continuously for three years. Patching it up worked at first, but six months later, another small leak developed and I knew it was time to replace it.



Having struck gold once, I bought a similar air bed at from a different company. It was okay but after one night on it, I decided that I need to patch up the old bed one last time until I order a replacement for it. The soft mattress top on my Rising Comfort really makes a difference, the other one was just an air bed. I'm ordering another ASAP, but I'm deciding on which model to purchase.



I don't expect that very many people would be looking to purchase this as their main bed. But I would recommend it for whatever purpose it is needed for. Speaking for myself, I experienced very little air loss for the first few years without ever taking it down. Before I had a leak, I recall only using the pump a few times to make it more firm. I'm wondering if those who had trouble received defective units or had problems with the cap when periodically deflating and sorting it.

 "Great Air Bed!" 2008-03-19
By M. Davis (Raleigh, OH USA)

We love this air bed! It is tall enough you don't have to struggle to get in and out of bed. Our last air bed was too low to the ground, it was so hard to get up and down. The built on air pump is great too, it is so easy to add more air or release air and the cord fits into a nice little compartment. We had no problem using a fitted sheet on it either :) It is really comfortable and so easy to use. Inflating and deflating is fast and simple. And the best part is that it fits into the drawstring bag (included) making it very portable and easy to store away. Only recommendation is to buy a foam pad, because if its cold then the air in the bed is cold and then its impossible to stay warm.

 "Deluxe comfort, versatile, durable, reliable!" 2008-10-16
By Ms. Deborah S. Eidson (Austin, Tx)

As a Vacation Rental owner I need additional beds to accommodate large groups. Having a leaky air mattress deflate on a guest would be a nightmare for me. Having all ages of guests it is important that the mattresses be double high or 22" or about. Who wants to be inches off the floor? My requirements are; comfort, durability, ease of inflating and deflating, ease for user to control firmness and support, and storage. I have tried all of the air mattresses on the market, from inexpensive to high dollar, with and without built in pumps, low to high profiles. Before double high mattresses where on the market I would stack two mattresses on top of each other, well it was comfortable it had a tendency to walk off each other. Mattresses without built-in pumps would somehow need the adaptor that wasn't put back in my pump bag. If the pump was exposed my over zealous tenants would inevitably take it off to deflate the mattress and parts would often get lost or broken. I have enough different brands of mattresses that I can stack to the ceiling.



When I discovered Intex air mattresses my fears were put to rest. They have proven to be the most comfortable, inexpensive solution that outlasts the competition in durability and reliability. I have 10 twins and 2 Queens and every one of them is leak free and they are about 2 years old and I feel they are still reliable. They hold up to the ware and tare of extended use and various users. The pumps are encased so they can't be taken out or leak air, many external pumps I found would be the source for slow air leaks. I can inflate/deflate, and fold them easily to go back in their supplied tote bag. Many of my guests have been so impressed with their comfort, comparing them to a sleep number mattress; they have asked were they could buy one. The twins are large enough to accommodate tall and heavy guests, much to their surprise. I have one twin that has been inflated for over a year, with an occasional inflation maybe once a month. Our two labs and cat have claimed it for their own personal use, and guess what it has held up remarkably. We have taken it camping, all you need is a converter gadget that will allow you to plug into a 12v and you can use your car lighter to inflate it.



I highly recommend Intex air mattresses, for durability, versatility, reliability and most important they are inexpensive compared to other brands on the market.

 "Great Bed , and Comfort" 2005-10-07
By Gabbar Singh (Rampur)

I bought this bed a week ago, and have been using it for regular night sleeping purposes and not just for un-timely occasions when guest come over.



Over all, i find my purchase to be worth all the research I had been doing to find an air bed. One thing I was looking more for was the feature of elevation, ie ; Hieght from ground level, and this one is over 22 inches tall, high enuf for what i wanted. also I read some where in the reviews here that some people find it to be less in size what has been described but for me, size is all fine and matches description.



I have a bad backache problem becoz of which i have trouble sleeping in night, but this one is much of a comfort to me. I feel less pain, may be 10% of what i used to when sleeping on my previous one. The firmness of the bed can be re-adjusted, and it DOES NOT LOOSE AIR FREQUENTLY. Since I have been sleeping on it for a week now, I have just tried to fill in air once for meager 15-20 sec, (it comes with a electric pump, fills it all in 3 mins), but that is when i had earlier taken some air out to make it less firm. So, Air leak is no prob and a fear.



Overall, I am very satisfied with this purchase.

 "Who needs a mattress!" 2006-02-20
By Leomar Grullon (Bronx,NY)

Got the bed as a temp but keeping it as a main bed until it dies on me, it's just that good.

Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar Review.

 "Watch my experience with the Iron Gym Workout Bar" 2008-12-20
By SimpleFitness1st

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R39ZOKQPVWE4JB Watch assembly & workouts for the Iron Gym including pull ups, push ups, dips, knee raises, and body weight rows. The Iron Gym is a very good product. Just don't expect to do many dips from this machine.

 "Great chin-up bar" 2008-09-29
By Helper Monkey (SoCal, USA)

The Iron Gym is a great chin-up bar; it works exactly as advertised. It is very easy to assemble, use, and attach and remove from a doorway. It seems extremely stable, and I have no problem believing it could support the claimed 300 lbs.

Some things to keep in mind:



As other reviewers have mentioned, it sits a little too low to be effective for dips, but putting your feet on a low stool helps with that problem.



Apparently (according to the ad copy) the ab straps are now included in the box--they were not included when I ordered mine from Amazon, and shipping is an additional eight dollars for the straps. Bummer.



Assembly is pretty straightforward, but you want to make sure everything is tightened down, or the bar will feel unsteady, especially when used for push-ups and dips. But be careful not to over-tighten the bolts that go through the plastic brace--it looks like it would be fairly easy to 'strip' the unreinforced square bolt holes in the plastic brace.



When assembled, the total cross bar length is just a hair under 37" wide. In addition, a plainly visible metal safety clip has to be installed (by hand, no screws required) between the top of the door frame and the wall. Just a couple of things to consider before choosing location.



Finally, at the time of this review, the Iron Gym is available for the same price at Linens-n-Things. If you have one locally, you could save yourself shipping since Super Saver shipping is not offered for this product.

 "Does what it claims" 2008-09-12
By B. Roberts

Assembly was a breeze and took about 10 minutes. The piece that mounts to the back of the door jam is plastic so I was a little weary of whether it would hold up well or not. I did a couple slow pullups using the various positions to make sure it wouldn't fall apart on me and then did some reps and it feels pretty solid. I'm 180 lbs and it held fine, and supposedly can hold up to 300 lbs. It has grips and handles for the different various of pullups and chinups, which is what drew me to it over the other types I looked at. It can also be used for pushups, dips (although not very effective as you can't get very low), and situps using the doorway.



Overall, it does was it claims and feels like a pretty good piece of equipment. After a week of regular use it remains solid and hasn't done any damage to the door or wall. I would recommend this product for those who don't want to, or can't, mount a bar.

 "For the money -- FANTASTIC!!!" 2008-10-02
By Harry Kruz (Gainesville, Florida)

I am not sure why there are reviews of the Iron Gym that are below a four. The IRON GYM is a great buy for the money. It does what it advertises and supports my 235lb. weight with no difficulties. Unlike others, I knew what I was paying for.



So, the one caveat I have with the Iron Gym is that it really does not offer a "wide" grip for taller/wider grip individuals like myself. The "wide" grip will be as wide as your door frame's opening width. But, this fact was obvious to me before I bought the product (just look at the photos). Nonetheless, the three variable grips offered (wide, inner and arched bar) are perfect and allow for a fantastic workout.



The quality is quite good and NO parts were missing. It is true that the AB Straps are "FREE" for $7.99 s/h with an included mail-in card. But, I did not buy this for the ab straps ... I can get more effective ab exercises with core and yoga mat routines.



PURCHASE TIP: Your local BED BATH & BEYOND and/or LINENS N' THINGS has the iron Gym in stock. They charge $29.95 + tax but NO SHIPPING (obviously, because it is in stock). They also offer an unconditional 60 Day no-questions asked return policy if you are disappointed by the product. You can frequently find 20% OFF or even $10 OFF any $30 purchase coupons on your local paper or mailings for each store. They each accept expired coupons and each others coupons (at least my local stores do). So, I purchased mine for $21.35, with no shipping charges or worries of return charges). Sometimes Amazon has the best deal. But, with this item, it pays to shop around!

 "AWESOME" 2008-10-01
By S. Fernandez (ca United States)

I saw this product on TV. Since I did not have to make holes in the wall I thought I would give it a try. When I put it up I was unsure it would be able to support my weight even though I only weigh 170lbs. so I hammered 4 finishing nails on the top trim of my door. The first time I tried it I was only able to do 3 pull ups. It has been about 3 weeks and I can do max about 10 pull ups. I do them about 3 to 5 times per day. I feel stronger and I have been told that I look a bit more shaped.



The best thing about this product is that the pain in my lower back has gone away. I don't know if it has to do with my body hanging and streching while I do the pull ups or if it has to do with my muslces getting stronger on my arms, shoulders, and upper back but I am very happy.



I just ordered another one for my brother.

Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel 12 Ounce Water Bottle with Loop Cap, Indicator Red Review.

 "Klean Kanteen compared to Sigg" 2008-10-31
By Lee Abraham (Cheyenne, WY)

Last month I bought a 40oz Klean Kanteen bottle and a 33oz Sigg bottle. In the end I prefer the Klean Kanteen.



Both bottles are very light and look good. The Sigg is lighter, but not so much to really matter. Sigg wins easily in the looks department with different artwork to choose from and the bottle I have has a nice textured powder coat finish compared to the KK basic look and smooth surface.



Sigg uses an epoxy to protect your water from the aluminum and tells you not to use the bottle for long term storage. Could be a bit worrisome not knowing what's in the epoxy and the possibility of aluminum contamination. I have not noticed a metallic taste from either bottle drinking straight unfiltered tap water. I prefer the stainless steel of the KK just because it's probably on the safer side.



The bottles are both lightweight and made of thin metal. I haven't dented either but I have been very careful with them. Both feel like they would dent quite easily. I have not scratched either bottle and the paint on both looks like new after daily use from work to the gym.



The KK bottle has the cap threading formed into the neck of the bottle while the Sigg uses a metal ring insert in the top of the bottle to thread the cap onto. Some people have complained that the Sigg's threaded insert is sharp, but I have not had this problem. The KK is more comfortable to drink from though. Also the wide mouth of the bottle makes it easy to put ice cubes in, which you can't do with the Sigg unless you have very small ice cubes.



I have the loop cap on both bottles. The Sigg I really have to twist the cap on tight so it doesn't leak. The KK cap seals quite easily and has never leaked. The KK also uses a thicker thread size and is easier to screw the cap onto because of this.



Some people are complaining about sweating. On a hot day with the bottles filled with ice cubes both will sweat, but plastic bottles will also.



If I was going to spend that much money on a water bottle again, I would go with Klean Kanteen without a second thought. The only advantage of the Siggs is the exterior design.



Update Dec 09: Over a year of use now and I have stopped using the Sigg due to their older bottles do in fact have BPA. Something they said it didn't have, so I won't buy another bottle from them again since it appears they were lying before. They will replace the older bottles, but you have to pay shipping.



I have 2 Klean Kanteens and both have held up well. Some minor scratches and dents, but still look quite good.

 "Good bye polycarbonate!" 2008-01-17
By GF baker (Englewood, CO United States)

I purchased one of these for myself after researching the problems with polycarbonate bottles. At the same time I bought SIGG bottles for my kids because they had cool designs on them. Both brands of bottles are great and much safer than the polycarbonates. I like the Klean Kanteen much better than the SIGG for the simple reason that I can put standard ice cubes in it. I have yet to find an ice cube tray that is easy to use that will fit the smaller mouth of the SIGG.



With the Klean Kanteen I get clean water and no taste of metal or plastic or anything other than water. I fill this 27 ounce bottle 3 times during the day to make sure I get enough water. I like the sports cap, because I don't have to take off a cap and lay it down somewhere. I originally bought the bottle with a poly loop cap, but when I am teaching there is never a germ-free spot to set that lid down. So I bought a sport cap, and it is very easy to drink from.



If you buy the 27 ounce Klean Kanteen and like your water cold, I recommend a Built NY 20 oz bottle tote to use with it. The metal becomes VERY cold with ice in the water and with the bottle tote, it stays cold and your hands don't!

 "excellent SS water bottle" 2008-07-31
By M. ANNE (california)

This is an excellent stainless steel bottle which both my husband and I use daily. I bought the orange one; he uses the regular stainless steel. We used to buy tons of the plastic water bottles, drinking several a day, but wanted to cut down on our use of plastics. These water bottles work well in conjunction with my water filter system and the taste is clean and fresh tasting. Highly recommend them and this is a very usable size.

 "Great water bottle" 2008-03-23
By PDJ (Charlottesville, Virginia United States)

After going through about 1 standard water bottle a day I decided I needed to follow the 1st and most importaint R of the 3, Reduce.



After extensiveley searching for a nice glass water bottle with no avail I decided to try reusing glass beverage bottles, only to find the cap started rusting after about a week of use. Having quite a delemma I decided to look into metal water bottles, trying to avoid any sort of plastic. Many friends have told me I'm crazy, but I can most definitely taste the plastic leeched into the water from plastic bottlees.



After doing a bit of research and finding that stainless steel is the best material to go with I found the Klean Kanteen here on Amazon, and decided to go with it. I'm very glad I did, the Klean Kanteen is a superb product.



The Klean Kanteen is very durable, "Klean" i.e. leeches no particles into the water (I have very keen taste), comfortable to hold, packs away well into bookbags and the such, and it looks sharp. A great bottle all around.



While I do agree with the other reviewer that it would be much better if the bottle came with the stainless steel cap. It's still a great bottle, and the plastic cap works just fine. Worrying about plastic on the 1" diameter cap at the top of the bottle is just a bit silly in my opinion.



One thing I was wondering when I was buying was what are the exact dimensions? Amazon doesn't include them so here they are: 10.5" tall with cap, 2.75" diameter base.

 "Great Waterbottles" 2008-08-18
By Kimberly Wilkes (Madison, AL United States)

We have 8 of these bottles. Two for Mom and Dad...two for our kids ages 2 and 4. They are indestructable, you can scrub the insides and not worry of scratching and they do not leach anything into your beverage.