The TDS Forearm Blaster is a specialized tool for training the forearms. I find that doing wrist curls on it induces a greater pump than I normally get via a dumbbell. The thicker grip (2" diameter) and the longer moment arm makes the movement challenging even at the top, whereas it would be easy with a dumbbell. As such, it alters the strength curve of a wrist curl in a similar way that a lever curl bar does for a barbell curl. I don't find it as useful for wrist extensions, however. (I treat this as a companion piece to Golden Grip's Forearm Finisher, which is specifically designed to train the forearm extensors.) I like to use disadvantaged leverage via a longer moment arm to help reduce the amount of weight I use while doing the exercise. Since the loading sleeve will be pointing straight down at the start of the movement, using less weight in the aforementioned way reduces the chance that the weights will slide down (or off) while doing the exercise. Given this, it is a shame that the default collar they provide is a cheap spring type that we've all grown to hate. Also, although there is a hex bolt at the end of the sleeve, I haven't had any issues with it coming loose during use.

This is a review for the type of cheap twist lock olympic collars shown on the right, not the left. (I don't recommend the one on the left - with just the screw - unless you don't care about protecting the sleeves of the barbell or dumbbell you'll be using it on.) The one on the right has an inner "pressure ring" that's familiar from the more expensive Ivanko collars. I like to think of this as a cheaper rendition of that style of collar. The pressure ring will get between the tightening screw and the barbell sleeve, and will help to keep the sleeve protected - just like with Ivanko's collar. But since the pressure ring of this collar is more flimsy (e.g. narrower, thinner, less thick), it can get loose over time. Also, the twist locking pin is thinner than Ivanko's, and can dig into your skin, making tightening/loosening uncomfortable. But judged on its own merits, it provides good value and performance for the price. Once locked in, it holds the plates in place as well as many collars three times its price. It'll also work on specialty bars with a narrower sleeve diameter. It's a good option for someone on a budget. (For myself, after seeing the difference that the pressure ring made in terms of performance and sleeve protection, I went and bought the more robust collar with the same design from Ivanko, and do not regret it at all.)

What can I say but that it's a bucket and holds chalk. It used to be mobile, but I gave it a permanent home at the far end of my gym by drilling it into the wall. No need to overthink one's chalk bowl set up!

I pretty much echo other reviewers' sentiment about this product. They're literally built to withstand 1000 lb horses trampling on them all day. Horse stall mats are my default recommendation for gym flooring unless you (1) can't stand their smell (which I think is exaggerated), or (2) the sight of Gorilla tape holding them together (or other aspects of their aesthetics) really bothers you. (An application unforeseen by Dr. Hors Staal, its mythic inventor, is that they make for great grip trainers, smelling salts, and coasters.)

This is a unique tool for training your forearm extensors. Of course, you can do reverse curls, and wrist extensions with a barbell or dumbbell. But the "problem" with those traditional methods is that your forearm flexors are still engaged (e.g. in gripping the barbell or dumbbell). The Forearm Finisher allows you to isolate the extensors better by taking the grip element out of wrist extensions. Your hands are "locked in" the device, and this allows you to go further with wrist extensions (e.g. beyond the point where your grip would have given out with traditional set ups). I like to create a longer moment arm, and thus make the movement even more challenging, by adding a collar that starts the loading of the weights farther out in the pin (see pic). You CAN do wrist curls with this equipment, but it is not ideal. Whether this is worth it for you depends on how much you value forearm extensor training, and whether you think the traditional methods of training that muscle are adequate for your purposes.

It ain't the fanciest DIY lifting platform, but it gets the job done. It's 3' x 8' and consists of a sheet of plywood sandwiched by two horse stall mats cut to form, and held by numerous wood screws. Carpentry ain't in my lineage, but even I was able to construct it. I tried to make it "flush" with the original lifting platform that my rack is bolted on. I went with the top being all stall mat because I wanted to be able to drop weights anywhere on the platform.

So, yeah...I've owned (the past tense is key here) one of these before. I think it was featured on one of those late night infomercials, and the fitness model demonstrating its use was a hot female. She had an excellent technique of shaking it up. And great eye contact. In any case, I was sold. When it arrived, I gave it an honest try. It took me but a minute to achieve something akin to "post nut clarity." The scales fell off and I realized that I was duped. I kept it around for a bit and just used it as a dumbbell. But when it became harder and harder to convince people that I "don't jerk it," I threw it away. I thought about selling it, but that would have meant letting someone know that I fell for the marketing hype. If you are stubborn and still insist on using it, observe these two rules. First, don't admit that you have one, and, two, don't make eye contact.

I know that this is made by Rogue and that it holds nine barbells, but when you search "Rogue 9 barbell holder," you'd be hard-pressed to find this model anywhere. True to its "Rogue" name, it is built like a tank, and is heavy. No bolting option is provided and none is needed. When you dig deeper into its design, it is understandable why Rogue upgraded the design of its 9 barbell holder. For one, this early model has no plastic inserts, etc. to protect the sleeves of the barbells. (It's like people back in the day expected their barbells to get scuffed during use.) Also, as one might be able to tell from the pic, it is narrower widthwise than lengthwise, which is not a problem when storing straight bars (e.g. olympic and powerlifting bars), but can be an issue when storing specialty bars. I store all of my most used bars in it, and they include specialty bars (e.g. trap, safety squat, swiss) - and they can, and do, bump into each other every now and then. Again, that is not a problem for me, but for someone who wants to keep any type of metal-on-metal contact of their barbells to a minimum, it might be a deal-breaker. (Looking at the design of the newer Rogue 9 barbell holder, it seems better suited to hold specialty bars in addition to olympic bars.)