Monday, 26 January 2009
Green Laser Pointer
This Laser Pointer functions exactly as advertised. The design is simple and elegant. One button controls the laser (if you press down on it it lights up, if you remove the pressure it turns off).
The construction is impressive; Metal body, with gold trim. It looks and feels like a very well-made tool.
It far surpasses my expectations of a $9 laser pointer. The fact that it comes with the batteries, and a small carrying box is an added plus (Note, the carrying box isn't anything fancy, purely a container to keep the laser pointer from getting damaged.)
I will be recommending this product to my friends. Red Laser Pointer
For the price it is a decent laser pointer. The batteries don't make the best connection inside though so sometimes depending on how you are holding it you will not get a laser or it will be really dim. Adjusting the angle you are holding it will often fix the problem though.
Our German Sheppard just loves to chase that red dot. Even though she knows where it is coming from, she will chase it, over and over. You don't want to be in the way when she is chasing. This has been great for us and her.
I use this primarily for playtime with my cat. There are very few things she will play with, and they have to be in concert with me. Someone gave me a plastic mouse with a laser, which she loved, but it went through 6 watch batteries within a couple of months. I found this pointer on Amazon. It's much better than the old one; my cat loves it; and it uses just one AAA battery!
I bought this laser pointer for my cat after reviewing all the other laser pointers Amazon sells. It had the best ratings for the price and I am very happy I purchased it. My cat absolutely loves it! I've had it for a few months and use it for at least an hour or two every night to play with the cat. It still works perfectly fine, even after I've dropped it a few times. My only complaint is that it doesn't tell you which way the batteries go in and sometimes the top part comes a little loose, but that's easy enough to tighten. If you want a decent laser pointer for a great price I highly recommend this one. I'm buying a second one for my sister and her cats.
this is the first time I have purchased a laser pointer. I am not disappointed. It's great for the price. I have gotten compliments on this laser pointer. It works great, and the price was great too.
It's certainly not the fanciest or most powerful you can find, but for the price it's a great pointer.
It came in a cardboard box. I'd prefer something more sturdy that would last longer, but it's not that important to me. I bought a more powerful green laser that came in a nicer box.
It feels fairly solid and has a good beam. Nothing I could really complain about, it just does what it's supposed to.'
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Trailerable Pontoon Boat Cover
HATE THE WAY THE STRAP SET UP IS, YOU MUST CRAWL UNDER THE TRAILER OR THROW AND FISH WITH A RAKE OR STICK AS STRAIN YOUR BACK AND KNEES TO SECURE ...I MUST LAMENT WHY?
THEY REALLY MISSED THE BOAT ON THIS SET UP ...IT COULD BE A SUPER COVER WITH A GREAT SYSTEM TO SECURE WITH THE LONG OVER STRAPS AND THEN SHORTER STRAPS WITH HOOKS TO SLIDE UNDER THE PONTOON EDGE BUT INSTEAD I WASTED 129.99 AND NOW NEED TO SHOP FOR A COVER THAT IS USER (OLDER PERSON) FRIENDLY
THE MATERIAL SEEMS OK AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS NICE BUT THE CRAWLING UNDER IS JUST NOT FUN OR FEASIBLE WITH BAD BACKS AND KNEE REPLACEMENTS
I AM REGRETTING THE PURCHASE BIG TIME... DuraShield Trailerable 17' to 20' Pontoon Boat Cover with Heavy Duty 600d Marine Grade Poly 2V'
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Embroidered Tunic - linen, embroidered tunic
This Denim & Co pant set is great. In a linen blend, it is cool for summer and warm for the cooler days. Long sleeves can be rolled up. The top is a button front and can be worn closed or it can be worn open with a tank underneath for the look for a jacket and top.
The pants are a yarn dyed tonal vertical stripe and are very slimming. Full elastic waist makes these pants very comfortable. Plus size in a great spring/summer color. DENIM & CO SHIRT JACKET & YARN DYED PANTS SET $67 ~ Hot Pink ~ Ladies Plus Size 2X - Linen - Embroidered Tunic - Linen Pants'
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Embroidered Tunic - linen, embroidered tunic embroidered tunic Embroidered Tunic - linen, embroidered tunic
Battery Charger Aa Or Aaa - battery, battery charger aa or aaa
This package (CEF14DX4N) includes four new Duracell 'Pre Charged' NiMH AA cells, plus a simple charger. The batteries are similar to the Sanyo eneloop low-self-discharge cells. In fact, based on their identical technical specifications and physical shapes of (+) and (-) terminals, I am convinced that the Duracell Pre Charged AA is actually SANYO eneloop AA underneath a different wrapper. Therefore all the good things you heard about eneloop apply to Duracell 'Pre Charged', too.
The 'value charger' (CEF14) included here, however, is not a good value because:
1. It is a timer-based dumb charger, meaning that it doesn't detect when cells are full charged. It simply charges at 360mA for 6 hours and turns off. You have to wait until your cells are fully exhausted before recharging, otherwise they will be over-charged. With a 'smart' charger, you may choose to top-off your rechargeable cells any time.
2. It can only charge either 2 or 4 AA cells in pairs. This is very inconvenient if you have appliances that require odd number of cells.
3. It can only charge two AAA cells, and you cannot charge any more AA cells at the same time.
My advice is to get the CEF23DX4N package for just a few dollars more (*). It comes with four Duracell Pre Charged cells (2xAA + 2xAAA), but the included charger (CEF23) is far superior in every aspect. It even operates from your vehicle battery, and doubles as an USB charger, too.
[Update on Dec 24, 2008]
I was only half-right when I boldly proclaimed that "Duracell Pre Charged AA are rebranded Sanyo eneloop cells" in my original review. It turns out that the first batch of Duracell AA cells I bought from Amazon are made in Japan, and those are identical to eneloop (both mechanically and electrically). But lately I bought some more Duracell AA from a warehouse club. Those are made in China, and they are identical to the Rayovac Hybrid.
[Update on Feb 15, 2010]
I have confirmed that the new Duracell 'Value Charger' has several improvements over the old model:
- Works from 100-240V AC (instead of just 120V AC)
- Able to charge 4 AAA at a time (instead of just two)
- Semi-smart charge termination (stops when BOTH cells are fully charged)
The only remaining drawback is thet it charges in pairs only.
(*) [Update on Oct 7, 2010]:
Duracell has discontinued the excellent CEF23 charger (at least in the US) last year. So prices for the remaining inventory have skyrocketed. If you need an inexpensive charger that can handle individual cell, consider the Sanyo eneloop MDR02 2-cell charger. Duracell Value Charger With 4AA Pre Charged Rechargeable Nimh Batteries, CEF14DX4
I purchased the CEF14 charger with four batteries and the charger supplied is not the same one pictured, nor is it a "dumb" charger as some have described. It can also charge four aa or aaa batteries and is not limited to two aaa's again as some have described. When I tested it, different batteries charged at different speeds and the charger switched modes to a trickle charge when a set became fully charged.
As for the batteries themselves, they do indeed seem to be comparable to Sanyo Eneloops or Rayovac Hybrids at a slightly lower price.
Not sure how Duracell did it, but they solved the one con with the Ni-mH type batteries. These pre-charged, Ni-mH batteries don't discharge when not being used, so they're perfect for digital devices. This charger with 4 batteries doesn't cost much more than just the 4 batteries alone. Here's what you do: acquire twice as many of these batteries w/ the green label as what your digital camera will take. While you're using one set in your camera keep the other set in this charger. Then, when the set in the camera go dead, just swap them out with the set that's in the charger. You've always got a set of fresh batteries and no waiting for batteries to charge, plus no buying batteries for a long time. This is more expensive initially but saves a lot of $$$ in the long run.
[Updated Dec 24, 2008]
I was only half-right when I boldly proclaimed that "Duracell Pre Charged AA are rebranded Sanyo eneloop cells" in my original review. It turns out that the first batch of Duracell AA cells I bought from Amazon are made in Japan, and those are identical to eneloop (both mechanically and electrically). But lately I bought some more Duracell AA from a warehouse club. Those are made in China, and they are identical to the Rayovac Hybrid.
[Original review follows]
This package (CEF14X2) includes two new Duracell 'Pre Charged' NiMH AA cells, plus a simple charger. The batteries are similar to the Sanyo eneloop low-self-discharge cells. In fact, based on their identical technical specifications and physical shapes of (+) and (-) terminals, I am convinced that the Duracell Pre Charged AA is actually SANYO eneloop AA underneath a different wrapper. Therefore all the good things you heard about eneloop apply to Duracell 'Pre Charged', too.
The 'value charger' (CEF14) included here, however, is not a good value because:
1. It is a timer-based dumb charger, meaning that it doesn't detect when cells are full charged. It simply charges at 360mA for 6 hours and turns off. You have to wait until your cells are fully exhausted before recharging, otherwise they will be over-charged. With a 'smart' charger, you may choose to top-off your rechargeable cells any time.
2. It can only charge either 2 or 4 AA cells in pairs. This is very inconvenient if you have appliances that require odd number of cells.
3. It can only charge two AAA cells, and you cannot charge any more AA cells at the same time.
My advice is to get the CEF23DX2 package for just a few dollars more (*). It also comes with two Duracell Pre Charged AA cells, but the included smart charger (CEF23) is far superior in every aspect. It even doubles as an USB charger, too.
[Updated Feb 15, 2010]
I have confirmed that the new Duracell 'Value Charger' has several improvements over the old model:
- Works from 100-240V AC (instead of just 120V AC)
- Able to charge 4 AAA at a time (instead of just two)
- Semi-smart charge termination (stops when BOTH cells are fully charged)
The only remaining drawback is thet it charges in pairs only.
(*) [Update on Oct 7, 2010]:
Duracell has discontinued the excellent CEF23 charger (at least in the US) last year. So prices for the remaining inventory have skyrocketed. If you need an inexpensive charger that can handle individual cell, consider the Sanyo eneloop MDR02 2-cell charger. - Battery Charger Aa Or Aaa - Battery - Duracell - Battery Charger'
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Limited Activations
There are many different Sims players out there buying this game from years of playing The Sims 2, and I think some of them will be impressed with The Sims 3, while others disappointed.
Note: This review is for the base game only, and does not include any of the expansion packs.
Create-A-Sim Players: 4/5
If you have an juiced up computer, the graphics are amazing. The customization you can give a sim is also very rewarding; you can now color customize the different parts of a sim's outfit with virtually any color, and the pattern system they've created only increases the amount of customization you can give a sim's clothing. A sim's hair coloration is now broken up into four parts, all of which can be set to any color you wish. The only disadvantage I found is that there doesn't seem to be as many ways to customize the face as there had been in Sims 2; there are some new, different ways though.
House Building Players: 5/5
Because of the new pattern system in the game, building houses now has a new level of customization, making it easier to customize a house's color and texture to your liking. Another nice thing is that furniture can now be placed at angles, so you no longer have to worry about awkward placement of objects near angled walls. Just keep in mind that since this is the first game, with no expansions made yet, there is a limited amount of furniture you can use. Also, if you're only interested in building houses, its not as easy as simply clicking on the lot you wish to build, once the game starts; you actually need to be playing your saved household and then exit your household for "Edit Town," where you can then select a lot to build on.
Neighborhood Building Players: 1/5
If you were big on building neighborhoods in Sims 2, you're going to very, very disappointed. You can no longer make your own neighborhoods; you are stuck with customizing Sunset Valley (the only neighborhood that comes with the game) or downloading another neighborhood from The Sims 3 website. There are no pre-made empty neighborhoods you can create and then customize and populate. Needless to say, there is no compatibility with SimCity 4 neighborhoods either. You're stuck with Sunset Valley, and that's that.
Note: There is now a "Create a World Tool" (in beta form and only for PCs) on the official website, but it's a very difficult to use if you don't know what you're doing.
Movie/Story Players: 5/5
If you're into making movies or stories there doesn't seem to be big difference between Sims 2. Photo capture now seems to be similar to what the "Print Screen" button does on your keyboard. The quality is exactly what you see on the screen, and the size of the image is as big as your resolution for the game. Video capture options seem almost identical to Sims 2. And like Sims 2, the controls are still difficult to deal with if you're trying to make smooth transitions. Also, there is no in-game Storytelling option anymore, storytelling is mostly focused online at The Sims 3 website, where there are some neat tools you can use for editing.
Single Family Players: 4/5
If you liked only playing one household in Sims 2 (like if you were into the Legacy Challenge) Sims 3 makes it even more interesting and more realistic with the fact that the entire neighborhood ages around your sim; no more childhood friends always being children, even when your sims have become adults; no more grandchildren out-aging their grandparents because they happen to be on different lots. And not only that, but you can now explore the rest of the world, expanding the possibilities for your sims.
Multi-Family/God Players: 2/5
If you liked jumping between many different houses and creating a complex story between many different households, you may be in for a big disappointment with Sims 3. You've ultimately been demoted from being god. You can no longer save individual households for later. Once you leave a household the sims there become NPCs (characters for the computer to control) and continue on their own lives and own story without your help. This may sound odd but Sims 3 is more of a game, and less of a device to tell a huge complex story.
The Sims 2 Console Players: 5/5
For people who loved The Sims 2 for PlayStation 2, X-Box, and GameCube, The Sims 3 plays very similar to those. In fact, The Sims 3 seems like a souped up version of the console Sims 2. For people who hated The Sims 2 console games, well . . . you may not like how The Sims 3 plays.
You're liking of The Sims 3 is really going to depend on what you did and enjoyed in The Sims 2. And sadly, I have to say this game isn't for everyone who loved The Sims 2.
New Players: 3/5 - 5/5
For players who haven't played the Sims games before, from my experience, Sims has either been a hit or miss deal. You either like it or you don't. And it's hard to say whether or not you'll like it until you give it a try. Sims can be a very repetitive game, yet a very addicting game. It all depends on what entertains you. As I've said above, Sims is a very creative game, and that alone can be entertaining for hours. The customization in the game is probably one of the game's greatest assets. As far as game-play is concerned, part of the game is about making your own story, but there are also objectives ("opportunities" and "wishes") that help make the game challenging and entertaining if you're more goal-oriented. But keep in mind, if you're looking for a game with a solid plot and an ending, this isn't the game for you. Sims is a game that never ends. It's a simulation game of life, and The Sims is never short on life; even if you kill off everyone in your neighborhood, you can simply create more.
[This part wasn't originally in the review, but I figured since I was focusing on people who were familiar with The Sims 2, I decided to add this.] The Sims 3'
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Cordless Drills - lithium, compact
As a long time Milwaukee fan, it was worrying a few years ago when ownership of Milwaukee changed. With that change, there was a concern that the longstanding quality of their tools would diminish. With this 2410-20 drill, there seems to be little to worry about!
The straight and true: the tool is SOLID, fit/finish is excellent, there is no flex in the handle (other than the comfortable, soft coating). The battery has zero slop in the handle, works for longer than expected and charges quickly. Given the compact size, torque is also better than I hoped for with high speed being a great choice for driving screws (took the tool to work for moving audio equipment in a bunch of sound racks).
The wobble: there is only one part that I've found to deserve criticism - the chuck. It seems great and very similar to the excellent chucks on the V18 drills (minus the carbide grip inserts). While there is very little run-out in mine, the chuck auto-loosens. Driving screws in results in the momentum (on high speed) loosening the grip a little bit each time a screw hits bottom (or the brake of the drill is used when letting go of the trigger). Really cranking the chuck tight helps in delaying the loosening but does not seem to eliminate the problem with the screwdriver bit dropping out after 15 to 20 screws. Although this is a huge problem, the tool is good enough otherwise that it is still a keeper.
After experiencing the positive qualities of this Milwaukee tool, I'm very curious to try out more of the M12 line (especially the impact driver for use with screws). Luckily, the new Milwaukee seems to have done a lot to increase the engineering and design speed of tools and seems to have not lost the high quality that makes older Milwaukee tools legendary.
Edited 9-6-2009 to add: Turns out mine is not the only sample that self-loosens the chuck. This is something to be very aware/wary of and it probably would help if each of us with faulty chuck operation went to [...] and communicated to them through their system. It does not take much imagination to see a decent size, sharp spade bit drop from the chuck and poke a hole in a leg of someone working while wearing shorts.
Edited 7-26-2010 to add: Between my experience with 3 of these drills and reading the comments to this review, it seems clear that Milwaukee has a product where they have failed in both design and testing. Given the time they have had to fix the problem but have not, I suggest passing over the M12 tools until Milwaukee demonstrates production of tools that work 100% properly.
New Rating - One Star - what good is a drill that can't hold a bit?? Milwaukee 2410-22 M12 12-Volt 3/8-Inch Drill/Driver
just purchased the 2410 Milwaukee drill as a kit with two batteries 2 months or so ago from Amazon . first impression good . recent experience quite disappointing.
i have used the drill moderately but often during this time. the major problem it he batteries. first charge good. followup battery performance renders the drill only good for small short duration jobs. charges quickly,so far, but no staying power. now i learn that to overcome this problem Milwaukee has brought out a "heavy duty" battery to be bought separately.
i noticed the problem a few days after the amazon full replacement policy.
i had read several reviews before purchasing- most were good. after my problem i read reviews just on the battery and discovered that many people have had the same experience.
Be careful with this one. It is not an inexpensive mistake.
And I thought my chuck problems were isolated! Reading other reviews here shows me it's common!
I've been using cordless Milwaukee 18 volt tools for about 8 years on a daily basis, and am lucky enough to have a service center fairly close by - I've burnt out the switch on a 18v sawzall, brushes in the 1/2" 18v drillmotor ( and yesterday the swtich!) and the parts are readly available - they've given REALLY good service (though the sawzall is probably on it's last legs - it makes a LOT more noise than it used too!).
But I'm re-thinking - it's about time to replace these guys, and my experience with this little drill motor makes me wary about buying all Milwaukee. How hard is it to spec a chuck that holds it's grip? Who the hell wants to climb off a ladder to fetch the bit that you thought was secure in the chuck, only for it to dropout after one use????????? Not only do I not have time for that, I'm getting creaky and it really ticks me off to get up & down for something so stupid - I've NEVER had a chuck with this poor performance in all my 58 years!
And I won't start on the styling business - it does look cool but the little non-functional rubber piping on the side became halfway detached by day 2 and now just flaps around - I should cut it off!
Hope folks from Milwaukee read this & actually pay attention to business - how many customers can you afford to have defect to another brand?
Most the other reviews are covering the extensive pro's on this tool, so I will skip the gushing (mostly). I love this tool. It won't replace your 18v for everything, but for 80% of jobs it'll cover. I've driven a 4" torx screw through a 2x4 into a joist, and then into another 2x4. I picked this up for finish work, but have ended up using it on plenty of rough construction. My only complaints are minor. First, I wish it came with at least one of the extended batteries. Second, can I get a bit holder please?
As far as the chuck that many seem to be complaining about; I've had basically no problems with mine. My guess, is that not everyone is tightening them correctly. On this drill, you are supposed to finish tightening the chuck by hand with the drill off. (Yes I read the directions, its in there) It takes two seconds, and honestly seems more secure and sturdy than my old Makita, or my current Dewalt 18v. When the drill is off, the chuck actually locks in place so when you tighten it you generate more pressure. Not sure why they designed it this way, probably to save wear and tear on the motor. Regardless, I find it easy, quick and secure.
Update: After using my Milwaukee, my father purchased one as well. He is a master carpenter and cabinet maker. An authority on woodworking and tools. He has two of the top of the line Dewalt Li-ion drills (DeWalt DCD960Kl 1/2-Inch 18-Volt Cordless XRP Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver Kit) and said he reaches for this more often. When I asked him about his chuck, he said he hasn't had any issues either. He tightens it the way I do, which is how the instructions suggest... - Compact - Driver - Lithium - Drill'
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Accounting Software - accounting software, bookkeeping
I switched from QuickBooks to Peachtree back in 2002 and I have never regretted my decision. I find the screens very intuitive and all the information I need to run my business on a daily basis is right in front of me.
In this case, I upgraded from the 2004 version. I was up and running again in about 20 minutes. I found the transition to be smooth and painless, all my 2004 version data was exported automatically and in the proper format.
If you're looking for an alternative to QuickBooks at a great price, go with Peachtree. Peachtree Complete Accounting 2010
I purchased this to learn it so that I can up-skill myself. I had never heard of it until I went looking for some of the more common accounting packages in use today. (I'm originally from the southern hemisphere which explains my ignorance.)I have used various accounting products (many tailor-made to a company) and this is so easy to follow and makes many other complicated packages look like a waste of time. It comes with a great instruction booklet that is easy to follow, I wonder why I bought the Dummy's Guide as I don't think I would have needed it.
I have only had it a few days, but already I can see that this is going to be easy to learn. My husband who has no experience with accounting found it pretty straight-forward too.
For businesses, whether start-up or existing, I would recommend it. They even offer a $50 cash-back if you're switching over from Quickbooks. To be honest, I don't know why more companies aren't using this software. It would take the headache out of teaching new staff the program.
This package covers your accounts receivable, payable, payrole and much more (I could just about write a book). It doesn't include the tax package, but that is something you can purchase to add to this.
Regarding the license: Appears to be single user, but they do have multi-user software in this series.
I have limited accounting experience, but I am learning. I have used Peachtree Accounting for more than 8 years and find it the best accounting software on this planet. Unlike any other accounting software that I have tested, using Peachtree Accounting, you cannot create a frustrating and cumbersome out of balance condition. The program will just not allow you to mess up your records. No matter what type of transaction you create or delete, this accounting software will adjust all files accordingly and automatically leaving no out of balance condition, ever. In other words, it does all the adjustment work and thinking for you. I have tried quick books and the rest to compare the quality and ease of use and nothing compares to peachtree accounting. I tried creating and deleting transactions in quick books and it was a nightmare and ended up in out of balance accounting that trickled down to dozens of other accounting problems and issues. I need an accounting program that is smart enough to do all the posting correctly for me, and that has been peachtree complete accounting. Each year staples and few other stores offer the prior year version for under $100 or free, but there is no amount of money that could get me to change to a different program. If needed, I could use this same version for my lifetime. Go get it!
I am a new small business owner with a high school level understanding of accounting. Peachtree Complete is very easy to use and is a very powerful program. I can keep track of all of my finances, use pre-set or custom accounts, create budget reports, invoices, quid pro quo proposals, and different rates for the same job (allowing discounts/special rates). I am very pleased with this product.
I like the interface. Setting up your company is user friendly. I think it is a powerful tool if you need to handle complex topics like depreciation, payroll, multiple accounts, etc,.. However, if it is something as simple as say stock trading, or handling just 1 rental unit, excel should be sufficient.
My conclusions, use excel if you can (simple and flexible); however if you feel you need a software package, go peachtree and get an accountant to set up the ledgers for you.
I have used both Quickbooks and Peachtree, and while a lot of the features are somewhat similar, I really like this program. I heard a lot of negatives but I decided to give it a try. It was very easy to use and set up along with having a lot of standard features and reports. You also cannot beat it for the price. I look forward to learning a lot more with this program and I am excited to use it.
I have used Quickbooks for years, but think it is getting overpriced, so thought I would try Peachtree Complete accounting. I feel like I have stepped back in time. It's like going from Windows back to DOS. Peachtree has a lot of predefined fields in forms such as invoices that are not customizable. Reporting in quickbooks is really easy and the format is easy to read and understand. I am still trying to figure out what report I need and how to customize it to understand what I am reading. Setting up chart of accounts has been challenging as well. I won't be upgrading with Peachtree. It makes me have to think too much! - Peachtree - Financial Software - Accounting Software - Bookkeeping'
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Exercize Bands - exercise bands, resistance bands
I wanted to write this review to help others know more about this product because when I was looking around I was kind of in the dark. I ordered 3: the purple extra heavy, blue heavy, and red medium. I've worked out a lot off and on in the past with actual weights, and I'm always moving around, so this was just what I was looking for. Of course, how tall you are will make a difference, as taller people will have more tension in the bands when they are being stretched (if you're standing, of course, which is a lot of exercises). I'm 5'10", and unfortuantely my purpose in working out is to build muscle, as I'm kind of on the skinny side. The purple band isn't for "extremely fit" people, but it does offer a good amount of resistance. Here's a general guideline of what I found, based on my previous experience with weights:
If I double the purple band (grab both handles at once) and do one arm rows on a chair, depending on where you step on it, you can get a good 40-50 lbs resistance.
If you have one foot on the blue heavy band standing up, and doing curls, it's about 15-20 lbs each hand.
If you step on the red medium tube about 6-8 inches from the handle and do one arm extensions over your head, it's about 15 lbs
Again, these bands are very variable. You can increase the amount of tension by stepping closer to the handles, and by holding two bands at once, holding both handles at once, etc.
I would even recommend the green I think or the smaller ones for exercises such as lateral raises and for the rotator cuff, as stepping with one foot on the red tube while standing up, and raising both shoulders outwards provides a good 10-15 lbs.
Chest exercises are kind of awkward with this, my door frame is super weak so I don't use the door attachment but I tried what was in the instruction manual and am sticking to pushups.
Also it is great for developing stability, it's a lot harder to keep a stable motion with a cord than with an actual weight.
All in all, I would highly, highly recommend this, but if you're already benching 150+, this is probably just going to keep you toned, but you could probably build the smaller muscles. Also depends on how many handles you can grab at once or how good your grip is if you grab the actual cord. SPRI ES503R Xertube Resistance Band with Door Attachment and Exercise Charts (Purple, Very Heavy)
This band is perfect for those of you who do some recreational resistance or weight training and also travel regularly. If you do a significant amount of muscle training at high weight or resistance, this will not offer much challenge to you. You should be aware before buying this, it is NOT a replacement for going to the gym. I wish it offered more resistance, but it doesn't. You're not going to open the package and find a magical rubber band that somehow gives you 200 pounds of resistance without you tearing your door off it's hinges. No, I'm afraid that fantasy product doesn't exist. This is a fine item for keeping you active if you get bored while watching TV. If you need something to use in a hotel room this is ideal for it's small luggage footprint as well as it's ease of use.
There are a large assortment of exercises that can be done with this band with or without using a door. You can curl it by standing on it and pulling upward, shrug it, do lunges with it, do rows with it (door needed for that one) and simulate pull ups (also needing a door for this one) to a reasonable degree. You can also adjust your own resistance on some exercises that require you to stand on the band by widening your stance. It's a very logical and simple product to use.
I don't recommend the purple band to those new to resistance training. There are other colors representing other weight simulations that you should probably consider, although the pricing is so cheap you can probably get a couple and work your way through them if you really wanted to do that.
A WARNING: Read the directions before you use this. For example, you may be tempted to close the strap for door use into the top part of the door, this is incorrect and could damage your door. You close the strap into the door near a hinge (definitely not near the knob). While this band does not offer much resistance, I strongly suggest wearing shoes when using your feet to provide tension as having it snap back into your face would probably not be a pleasant experience.
To revisit: It's not a gym replacement so don't pretend it is and then be disappointed when you buy it, that's just illogical. It's highly portable. It's highly diverse. It offers decent resistance for recreational or travel use when unable to use a gym or home exercise equipment. It could snap back dangerously if used in ways contrary to those spelled out plainly in the instructions.
This is a good medium band at best, but not even close to being a heavy band. I'm a man, and I use it for several tricep kick back reps. For the average woman, this is a heavy band. My wife uses it for most of her 10 minute trainer exercises, but I only use it for a couple. I found a much heavier black band on amazon, that I highly recommend. To give you an idea about this band; with the biggest loop doing bicep curls, this band equates to MAYBE 20 lbs dumbells. With that other much heavier black band I found; with the same size loop I can barely do 8 reps. I'm guessing its more like 35 lbs and that is a huge difference.
I bought this product around a month ago. I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea since I'm unable to go to the gym more than 4 times a week, and that I would probably use this for some heavy resistance, but the very heavy turned out to be much lighter than I thought, and I doubt the Ultra heavy is much of an increase. To be honest I don't really benchpress that much compared to others, around 90 pound dumbells, and I could easily do around 18 reps on the Xertube. Don't get me wrong it's not a bad product except their resistance isn't so resistant. Women and a casual lifters might enjoy this product, and this product can give a great deal of toning, but if you're a heavy lifter, don't count on it for anything other than some light toning. It just doesn't have enough resistance. - Excercise Equipment - Resistance Bands - Exercise Bands - P90x'
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