Routines: Made to be broken
Bored with biking? Sick of swimming? Unenthused by the elliptical? Running out of patience with running? If your normal fitness routine doesn’t give you the jolt it used to, it’s time to mix it up with something new -- very new, like the quartet of innovative products below. They put fresh spins on old sports activities -- and introduce some new ones sure to shake you out of the summertime workout blues.
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Make it a leap year
Vurtego Pogo Stick: High-performance pogo stick that has an unusually smooth motion and eye-popping jumping ability.
Likes: Exhilarating; makes you feel like a kid. Unusually quiet, powerful bounce due to pogo-ing’s first-ever use of sophisticated compressed-air springs. Easy to get into a rhythm. Very lightweight (11 pounds) compared with other high-performance pogos. It gets stunning height on bounces (I watched in awe as the inventor, 61-year-old aerospace engineer Bruce Spencer of Lake Forest, repeatedly got 5 feet of air; he claims his 40-year-old son Brian can jump over cars). A great toning and aerobic workout once you get coordinated. Rebound pressure can be custom stiffened/softened to the user’s weight and preference; the air spring has a built-in pressure gauge and can be inflated by a regular bike pump. Regular pogo-ing is thought to strengthen bones and help volleyball and basketball players improve their vertical leaping ability.
Dislikes: May take new pogo-ers a while to get the hang of it.
Price: $349. (949) 273-5630; www.vurtego.com.
It’ll really keep you on your toes
3G Hammer (for men)/Work-It (for women) Stepper bike: Two-wheeled, seat-less bike propelled by stepper-like foot platforms instead of pedals.
Likes: Easy to use. Great all-body workout. Rocking side-to-side as your feet push the wood platforms works arms, chest, back and midsection as well as legs. The eight-speed drivetrain, controlled by a handlebar-mounted twist shifter, helps the bike cruise at 15 mph. Handlebars adjust for height and angle. The standing position is arguably better for your posture than a normal-seated bike. Can easily ride it for an hour straight or more, making it a viable replacement for other workout activities.
Dislikes: None.
Price: $649 ($399 for kids’ models). (562) 436-2993; www.3gbikes.com.
A match for pounding rapids
RIVERx Rescue Board: One-person flotation device for the new sport of river-boarding -- body-boarding down whitewater rivers.
Likes: A thrill ride for adventure junkies. Invented and refined in France and New Zealand, the sport considerably ratchets up the excitement of multi-person river rafting. The RIVERx board’s polyethylene foam provides good flotation; the thick, hard plastic bottom and sides help glide over jagged rocks. Six nylon handles allow good grip.
Dislikes: L.A. has no untamed rivers, and river-boarding can be dangerous. The risk of hitting rocks on rough rapids necessitates use of life preserver, helmet, and elbow and leg guards.
Price: $475. (971) 570-9006; www.facelevel.com.
Pump it up and head for the surf
Uli Inflatable Longboard: World’s first surfboard that you can roll up and carry home in a bag.
Likes: Makes surfing, a superb fitness activity, far easier and less expensive for travelers and beginners. The breakthrough design, introduced three years ago by San Diego inventor Jim Weir, uses a dedicated hand pump and pressure gauge to inflate the double-thick polyester raft like a bike tire; after five minutes, the result is a rigid-but-soft, 3-inch thick, 8-foot-6-inch board that weighs 15.5 pounds (just a pound over a regular fiberglass surfboard). Safer for beginners, who can get jabbed by normal boards’ sharp, hard edges and tri-fins during first-day wipeouts. Easier for pros and novices alike to catch waves, as the extra buoyancy speeds paddling. No need for a car rack; rolls up like a sleeping bag and fits into a carry bag ($28.95). Flies free as regular airline baggage (saving normal round-trip surfboard fees of $200). Costs hundreds less than a standard board. Includes wax and a repair kit.
Dislikes: Doesn’t turn quite as well as a regular longboard.
Price: $448.95 for the 8-foot-6 inch model. (858) 270-1342; www.uliboards.com.
- Roy M. Wallack