Stop Wasting Money on These 12 Useless Fitness Products

The global fitness market is worth billions. It sells one big promise: an easy, fast way to get in shape. But what if the most popular products are also the least effective?

You’ve seen the ads on social media. You’ve watched the late-night infomercials. Maybe you even bought a few gadgets, but you are not seeing results.

You start to wonder if you are the problem, or if the product is a lie. It’s not you. It’s the product.

In this guide, we list the 12 most useless fitness products you should stop buying in 2025. We will use expert opinions and real studies to show you why they are fitness products to avoid.

Best of all, we will show you how to save money on fitness with free, effective alternatives for every single item.

1. EMS Ab Stimulators

The most common useless fitness product you see on social media is the EMS ab stimulator. These are the sticky pads that promise to “melt fat” and build a six-pack while you sit on the couch.

The truth is, they don’t work that way. They create a weak, passive muscle twitch, which is not the same as the deep, active muscle recruitment needed to build strength.

You are not building muscle; you are just making it jiggle. They are popular because they feel like they are doing something, but this sensation is just a gimmick.

• This device does not burn the layer of fat over your abs, so you will never see them.
• Experts agree that fat loss comes from a caloric deficit, not a battery pack.
• Even the manufacturers’ marketing admits that real benefits only come when you move while using it.
• It is a gimmick to sell a shortcut that does not exist.
• Alternative: Do bicycle crunches. They are free and rated #1 for effectiveness.

2. The Ab Rocker

If you watched infomercials in the 90s, you remember the Ab Rocker. This plastic gadget was designed to “support” your head and neck while you did a crunch.

The problem is that this support is the last thing you need. It encourages you to pull on the bars with your arms and neck, taking all the work away from your abs.

It also shortens your range of motion, turning a good exercise into a lazy, useless one. It teaches you to “cheat” the movement without you even knowing it.

• The American Council on Exercise (ACE) tested this product directly.
• Their study found the Ab Rocker is 80% less effective than a basic, traditional crunch.
• It teaches you the wrong way to do a crunch, which can lead to bad habits.
• It is a large piece of plastic that does nothing but take up space.
• Alternative: Do a proper crunch on the floor for free.

3. The Ab Roller / Coaster

It is the “Ab Coaster” machine you see in gyms or the cheap “Ab Roller” wheels sold online. The expensive “coaster” versions (where you sit and pull your knees up) are a total waste.

They are designed to let you use momentum. You are just swinging your legs, not engaging your core. This action puts a massive amount of strain on your lower back.

The cheaper “ab wheel” can be effective for advanced users, but for 99% of people, it is an injury waiting to happen.

• Most people use the ab wheel with bad form, letting their back sag, which is dangerous for the spine.
• The ACE study found these rollers were no more effective than a traditional crunch, yet cost far more.
• The “coaster” machine is a high-cost, high-risk item for a problem that has a free solution.
• You are more likely to hurt your back than build a six-pack.
• Alternative: Try plank variations. They build real core strength and protect your back.

4. Waist Trainers

It is perhaps the most dangerous fitness gear waste of money on the list. A waist trainer is not a fitness product; it is a 19th-century corset. It does not burn fat.

It does not “train” your waist to be smaller. It is a compression garment that just squeezes you.

Any weight loss is just temporary water from sweat, and any “shape” is just your organs being squished.

The moment you take it off and drink water, your body returns to normal.

• Medical experts warn they can restrict breathing, bruise ribs, and harm digestion.
• Dr. Grayson Wickham, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, confirms they can cause acid reflux by compressing your stomach.
• Long-term use can actually weaken your core muscles, as the trainer does the work of holding you up.
• It is a shortcut that leads to a dead end, not real results.
• Alternative: Build your core with planks, squats, and proper nutrition. A strong core is the real waist trainer.

5. Sauna Suits

You may have seen boxers or wrestlers wearing a “sauna suit” (which is just a plastic-bag-like sweatsuit) to make weight. This is not a fat-loss tool.

It is a dangerous, short-term dehydration tool. The suit just traps your body heat, making you sweat an extreme amount. You are losing vital water, not fat.

The weight comes right back the second you drink. This is one of the worst fitness products to avoid because it is actively harmful.

• This is not a sustainable way to lose weight.
• It puts you at high risk for dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and heatstroke.
• Losing water does nothing to improve your body composition or health.
• It is a dangerous practice, not a fat-loss hack.
• Alternative: Do a 20-minute HIIT session. You’ll sweat, but you’ll also actually burn fat.

6. “Fat-Burning” Creams

These “toning gels” or “fat-burning creams” promise to melt fat on contact. This is physiologically impossible. Your skin is a barrier.

You cannot rub a lotion on your stomach and have it penetrate deep enough to “burn” subcutaneous fat cells.

It simply cannot happen. Any “tingling” or “hot” sensation you feel is just a skin irritant, usually from ingredients like caffeine or capsaicin (from chili peppers), which just increases blood flow to the skin.

• Dermatologists confirm these creams cannot reach fat cells.
• They do not “melt,” “dissolve,” or “burn” fat.
• You are paying for a “hot” feeling, not for a real result.
• These creams are a scam that preys on people’s hopes.
• Alternative: A proper diet. A caloric deficit is the only thing that “burns” fat.

7. Detox Teas & “Cleanses”

You do not need to “detox” your body. You have a world-class, billion-dollar detox system already installed: your liver and your kidneys.

These organs work 24/7 to filter your system for free. So-called “detox teas” are almost always just an expensive, unregulated mix of herbs with a strong laxative effect.

The most common ingredient is senna, which is a laxative. You are not “cleansing”; you are just paying to give yourself diarrhea.

• Registered Dietitians warn that these teas are a fitness gear waste of money.
• The “weight” you lose is just water and digested food from the laxative effect.
• This is not fat loss, and it is incredibly unhealthy.
• They can lead to dehydration, cramps, and nutrient imbalances.
• Alternative: Drink plain water (it’s free) and eat high-fiber foods to help your natural detox system.

8. The Thigh Master

This 90s infomercial star is the ultimate symbol of “spot reduction.” The Thigh Master (a simple spring you squeeze between your knees) promised to tone your inner thighs.

It is a myth. You cannot “spot reduce” fat. You can’t squeeze a spring and melt fat from only your thighs. Your body loses fat from all over, not from the one part you are working.

This device was popular because it seemed easy, but it was also worthless for fat loss.

• This device only works one tiny, isolated muscle group.
• It burns almost no calories, which is the key to fat loss.
• Certified trainers agree that big, compound movements are the key to “toning.”
• You are ignoring the real leg muscles that burn fat (glutes, quads).
• Alternative: Do squats and lunges. They are free and work your entire lower body.

9. Shake Weights (Vibrating Dumbbells)

The Shake Weight was a pop-culture joke, but millions were sold. It was a 5-pound dumbbell with a spring that you shook.

The promise was that “dynamic inertia” would tone your arms faster than regular weights. This was pure marketing hype.

The small, spastic movements do not provide the same muscle activation as a standard, controlled lift.

A Consumer Reports study even found its exercises were inferior to conventional dumbbell exercises.

• Reputable trainers have debunked the physics of this product.
• A regular 5-lb dumbbell is cheaper and far more versatile.
• You can do bicep curls, tricep extensions, and shoulder presses with a real dumbbell.
• The Shake Weight is a one-trick gimmick that doesn’t even do that one trick well.
• Alternative: A simple set of resistance bands. They cost less and offer a full-body workout.

10. Ankle/Wrist Weights (for Cardio)

This one is worse than useless; it can be actively harmful. People strap on ankle or wrist weights for walks or runs, thinking it will “boost” their cardio.

All it really does is throw off your natural mechanics. Adding weight to the end of your limbs (your feet and hands) puts a huge amount of new stress on your joints.

Physical therapists warn that this is a fast track to joint strain in your knees, hips, and shoulders.

• It changes your natural gait, which can cause injury.
• The extra calorie burn is tiny.
• If you want to work harder, it is much safer to just walk or run faster, or find a hill.
• These are only useful for stationary leg-lift exercises, not for walking or running.
• Alternative: Walk faster or carry a light weight in your hands (not strapped on).

11. Whole-Body Vibration Plates

These are the expensive plates you stand on that vibrate your whole body. The infomercials promise you can just stand there and the vibrations will shake the fat off.

It is a complete lie. There is zero evidence that standing on a vibrating plate will cause weight loss. It is another “passive” promise that fails to deliver.

Any minor benefits (like for bone density) only come if you actively exercise (like doing a squat) while on the plate.

• CNET and Medical News Today reviews confirm they are “not a magic bullet” for weight loss.
• The vibration itself is not burning fat.
• For the price of one plate, you could buy a full set of dumbbells and a bench.
• This is a classic example of a high-tech gimmick.
• Alternative: A $15 jump rope. It provides one of the best cardio workouts on earth.

12. “Toning” Shoes

Remember Skechers “Shape-Ups”? These were the shoes with the giant, curved, unstable sole. The company claimed that just walking in them would “tone” your legs and glutes more than regular shoes.

It was such a provable lie that it led to a massive lawsuit. They were literally advertised as “a personal trainer in your shoe.”

The only thing they “toned” was the company’s bank account.

• Skechers was forced to pay $40 million in a 2012 FTC lawsuit for deceptive advertising.
• The court found there was no proof the shoes provided any extra toning benefit.
• The unstable sole also created a risk of falling for many users.
• This is the ultimate, court-proven useless fitness product.
• Alternative: A good pair of regular walking or running shoes from a specialty store.

What Fitness Gear Is Actually Worth It?

Now that you’ve saved hundreds of dollars by avoiding junk, let’s talk about what you should spend your money on. The best fitness tools are almost always the simplest.

They are versatile, proven, and last a lifetime. They are designed to assist your effort, not replace it.

If you want to save money on fitness and still get great results, this is all you need to build a powerful home gym for under $100.

• A High-Quality Exercise Mat: Protects your knees and back for floor work, yoga, and core exercises.
• A Set of Resistance Bands: The most versatile, cheap, and portable gym you can own.
• A Good Pair of Shoes: Get fitted at a running store. The right shoes prevent injury.
• A Jump Rope: A $15 tool that provides one of the most effective cardio workouts possible.
• Your Smartphone: Use it for free workout apps, YouTube trainer videos, and timers.