Top 10 Wackiest Workout Equipment

Let’s be honest: we’re gonna side-eye any machine that promises to do most of the work for us, because if it sounds too good to be true... it probably is. This is especially true for any piece of equipment that can cost upwards of a couple thousand dollars. The jury is still out on whether or not this “vibrating” workout phenomenon actually works, but one thing’s for certain: it feels kind of silly to stand on a platform that makes your entire body shake like it’s in the middle of a small earthquake.

Because why stand on a platform when you can wear a stomach-wide belt? We understand the appeal of having exercise equipment where we don’t have to, you know, exercise, but do the creators of these wondrous devices have to make them look so outlandish? There’s a history with this comically large belt, but its goal has always been the same: shake the fat away! Now there are at-home versions where you can go about your day like a wobbly penguin. Seriously, is this some kind of punishment for folks who don’t want to put in the work? They have to look as ridiculous as possible?

Ah, Suzanne Somers, the woman whose thighs started an at-home workout revolution. Putting a whole new meaning to the “lazy” workout mantra, you didn’t even have to stand up to use the Thighmaster. You could sit back, relax, maybe watch some "Three’s Company" or "Step by Step" reruns while you repeatedly squeezed it between your legs. Yeah... it wasn’t nearly as comfortable as they made it out to be, and it was promptly put in the closet after the first commercial break, but hey, there’s a vibrating one now, and with just the right placement you could have a really good workout.

It’s no secret that some people are insecure about going to the gym, worried about what others will think if they saw them huffin’ it on a treadmill. The solution, of course, is to take the treadmill out of the gym... then put it on a bike and ride it around outside. Yep, it’s time for the truly WTF pieces of exercise equipment. We’re not even sure what the benefit of this monstrous combination is. Was walking so boring that someone had to try and take it up a notch? Call us crazy, but walking on a bike to move it seems a tad bit dangerous.

We’re gonna assume that you knew this one would be on the list. This 2 and a half pound dumbbell-looking device has become rather infamous with its ludicrous premise, so infamous that plenty of celebrities -- and a certain television show -- has taken time to poke fun at it. Why? We’re not sure, actually, because all you’re doing is picking it up and shaking it, pumping the device with a hand, or two, your sweaty palms around the base and... yeah, we’re gonna need a male equivalent to this to make this less awkward...

#5: The Free Flexor

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Welp. Here’s that male equivalent we asked for. To be fair, there is a Shake Weight made for men, but there’s something gloriously phallic about this specific device and its floppy red balls. Speaking of balls, the Free Flexor uses something called “Circular Strength Technology”, which is supposed to work every angle of the muscles in your arms. Apparently lifting weights isn’t good enough, so you’re much better off grabbing the device and moving it in a constant, circular motion to really feel that burn. At this rate, they’ll come up with a pink, stretchy dildo... thanks Jimmy Kimmel.

If vibration, tread-biking, and whatever the Free Flexor is supposed to do doesn’t work... perhaps some good ol’ fashioned electric shock therapy will help. Electric ab stimulators are technically used in medical rehab situations to keep immobilized muscles active so they don’t waste away– the keyword being medical. Having a company sell an electric shock ab belt that you can wear while you, you guessed it, sit around and do nothing, doesn’t instill much confidence in us. Just how much electricity would the average person need to build muscle? Could you even lose weight with it? Hmmm, what was it we said before? If it’s too good to be true...

Despite the ridiculous name, this is not a new iDevice or even a free workout app you can download. This is a piece of equipment that simulates horseback riding, of all things. To be fair, horseback riding can be quite the exhilarating workout. That being said... this looks more like giving a sexy, cowgirl lap dance than horseback riding. At most, we can see a couple of girlfriends getting together with some wine and using one in place of a mechanical bull, then they’d get bored after a few minutes and never speak of it again.

What happens if you bring the iGallop to work, add a back to it, and replace the reigns with chair arms? We’re assuming the association with Hawaii is to install an image of rest and relaxation, though we’re not sure what’s supposed to be so relaxing about this chair, especially when you’re trying to work. We don’t know about you, but the last thing we want to experience in the office are the unpredictable jolts of a Tilt-a-Whirl. Maybe this chair represents Hawaii during a turbulent flight toward the island. Still, it may be better than an exercise ball... Before we get to our number one pick, let’s take a breather with these honorable mentions: The Ab Flyer Sauna Suits The Ab Circle

At least it has a cooler name than the iGallop, right? It also looks like it takes more work than the iGallop, but we suppose that’s where the POWER comes from. Though the idea is still the same: horseback riding in the comfort of your own home... without a reign to hold onto. Yeah, how exactly does this mimic horseback riding? It’s more like a squatting simulator where you can occasionally thrust your hips and look awkward in front of your loved ones. If you want a workout via horseback riding... just go horseback riding... or learn this dance. Do you agree with our list? What pieces of exercise equipment make you break a sweat due to laughing too much? For more top tens that make you feel the burn, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.