Let me start out by stating that I am not a fitness nut. I do not run for pleasure or lift to get big or enjoy time in a gym. I started doing yoga and working out about 5 years ago because I’m getting older, and my body is starting to fall apart after years of neglect. So now, it’s diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle. I know, it’s a bit like starting to take care of your car AFTER it gets high mileage and starts to break down and have problems. My advice is to start taking care of yourself when you’re young, kiddies. As I said, I’m not much of a gym rat, so when I started exercising, I had not encountered the balance trainer before. Bosu is the big name brand of these things, and apparently, they are pretty popular. I bought a balance cushion on sale a couple of years ago (I think it was around $10), and found the Bosu balls and balance trainers when I was looking on YouTube for workouts. (I am not much for exercising to a bunch of pictures, I seem to need to watch and follow along with someone actually doing the exercises). I’ve included a picture to compare the balance cushion to the balance trainer. The balance trainer is bigger, sturdier, and has a base. It is, I think, much better suited for workouts. Now for the big question: Do you actually need one of these? I believe the answer is yes, regardless of your age or fitness level. Everyone needs balance and flexibility, so I’d say that a yoga mat and balance trainer would be essential home fitness equipment for everyone. Standing on this thing is like standing on a half deflated gym ball – it forces your muscles to work harder and forces your core muscles to engage to maintain your balance. Oh, and if you want to work out your arms, you just hold it like a steering wheel, flip it over ball side down, and do push ups, There are all sorts of torturous exercises you can do with one of these – all of them guaranteed to make you sweat and your heart rate go up. The SPRI balance trainer is about half the price of the name brand Bosu ball. I haven’t tried the Bosu, so I can’t give you a head to head comparison, but I can tell you that is durable, well- made, and can give you a heck of a workout. I can also give you the pros and cons of this particular brand. Pros: – Small size. A lot smaller than an exercise bike or home gym. It will fit under a bed or in a closet. This blue one is their smaller unit measuring 50 centimeters, which is about 20 inches or a foot and a half (yes, I had to Google it). I’m a 175 male, and my wife is 95 pounds. It accommodates both of us just fine. – Simple but effective. I’ve found that the best exercise equipment is usually the simplest. – Easy to assemble. The air pump is included. You inflate it, wait 24 hours, half deflate it, then inflate it again. Done. – Easy to find workouts for it. Just look for Bosu ball workout. There are plenty of them out there, easy, hard, long and short. – The price is right. About half the price of the name brand. – Easy to clean. – Durable. Should last for years of workouts. I haven’t had to add air to mine. Cons: – It is not the name brand, if that sort of thing is important to you. – I’ve seen some complaints about the size of this model being smaller than the Bosu. They have a larger model. – You have to do the work. As my grandpa used to say “There is no such thing as a self-cleaning oven”. All in all, I would definitely recommend this balance trainer to just about anyone. If you’re on the fence about getting one, I’d say it is worth a shot.