12 Obsolete Workout Accessories from the ’80s
These once-popular ’80s workout tools are now collecting dust and confusion in basements across the country.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Back in the ’80s, fitness culture exploded with gadgets, gear, and flashy accessories that promised toned bodies and fast results. Today, most of them feel more like relics than necessities. This list rounds up some of the most outdated workout accessories that only make sense in leg warmers and a neon headband.
1. ThighMaster Knockoffs
ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons
Suzanne Somers made the ThighMaster a hit, but its off-brand imitators flooded the market fast. These squeaky contraptions promised toned thighs from your couch, but most just pinched or broke. They were more frustrating than firming.
2. Sauna Suits
amgis on Wikimedia Commons
These plastic sweat suits looked like garbage bags and felt even worse. They claimed to help you “sweat off the pounds,” but really just left you overheated and dizzy. Wearing one felt more like punishment than progress.
3. Weighted Wristbands
Richard from Vancouver, Canada on Wikimedia Commons
Everyone strapped on wrist weights thinking it would supercharge their cardio. Instead, it just led to sore joints and awkward flailing. They were a quick way to feel strong and look silly.
4. Slide Boards
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
The idea was to mimic skating for a cardio burn, but most people ended up slipping and falling. You had to wear slick booties and shuffle side to side like you were on ice. It sounded fun, but felt like a twisted game of floor hockey.
5. Vibration Belts
Internet Archive Book Images on Wikimedia Commons
These wrap-around belts shook your midsection like a blender. They claimed to tone your stomach without effort, which should have been the first red flag. They did nothing for abs and everything for laughs.
6. Neon Ankle Weights
Kseniia Lopyreva on Wikimedia Commons
They looked bold and colorful, but those puffy ankle weights did more harm than good. People wore them during step aerobics and on walks, hoping for resistance training. Most just ended up with knee pain and regrets.
7. Ab Rollers with Headrests
Aleksander Durkiewicz on Wikimedia Commons
These oversized plastic ab rollers promised perfect crunches without neck strain. They took up space and made your living room look like a rehab center. Most people ditched them after one sore session.
8. Foam Twist Boards
Karen Bullaro on Wikimedia Commons
These spinning disks claimed to tone your core just by twisting back and forth. They felt like toys and rarely stayed stable on carpet or hard floors. After a few spins, you were dizzy, not defined.
9. Bullworker Strength Trainers
Bullworker4u on Wikimedia Commons
This spring-loaded metal tube was supposed to build muscle through isometric tension. It felt more like wrestling a broken bike pump. Only the truly dedicated kept one past the first week.
10. Toning Shoes
Mauritz.dahl on Wikimedia Commons
They had curved soles that claimed to tone legs while walking. Instead, they threw off your balance and made you walk like you were on a tightrope. Even mall walkers gave up on these quickly.
11. Buns of Steel VHS Tapes
Carnaval.com Studios from The Inner Mission San Francisco, Earth on Wikimedia Commons
The VHS era brought dozens of exercise videos, and “Buns of Steel” ruled them all. Its intense focus on glutes left people sore for days, but the fashion and music were even more memorable. These tapes now sit untouched in thrift store bins.
12. Finger Grip Strengtheners
Finger Grip Strengtheners on Wikimedia Commons
They looked like little resistance gadgets for hand workouts, often used during TV time. Fitness buffs thought stronger grips would help with lifting, but most never made it past the first week. They eventually ended up in junk drawers and garage sales.