Hilarious Retro Fitness Trends That Are Still Around

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A woman exercising.

Fitness fads come and go—or so we thought. 

It turns out plenty of infomercial-worthy equipment, which we assumed was banished to basements and dumpsters, is still available for purchase online. Whether these devices work or are just good for a quick laugh (we dare you not to lose it during the Hawaii Chair video) is another matter entirely.

1. ThighMaster

Nothing screams 90s exercise fad quite like the ThighMaster. The device—two metal tubes bent into teardrop shapes, connected on a hinge—is supposed to be placed between your knees to work the muscles in your thighs. 

If you watch Suzanne Somers strut around in a high-waisted leotard in her living room—as we all do—in the infomercial, you'll learn that the ThighMaster can also tone your chest and biceps (how versatile!). If that wasn't enough, the company just came out with a vibrating version to, shall we say, help stimulate your body down there.

($19.99; ThighMaster.com)

2. NordicTrack Classic Pro Skier

Want to get the feel of cross-country skiing without leaving the comfort of your living room (or whatever space you store large fitness equipment in your home)? Look no further than NordicTrack's Classic Pro Skier. 

The machine put the company on the map in the mid-1970s, and amazingly, you can still buy it today. Just slip into the foot holds and start walking, running, or skiing—minus the snow and frigid temperatures, of course.

($599; NordicTrack.com)

3. Shake Weight

The Shake Weight looks like an ordinary dumbbell, until you pick it up and realize the device pulsates in a way that is highly suggestive of an activity that usually takes place in the bedroom. So it was no surprise when Saturday Night Live parodied it. 

We could probably get past the public humiliation of using a Shake Weight if it actually delivered results, but in our experience, it didn't work.

($36.95; Amazon.com)

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