My daughters stopped wanting to watch and started wanting to lift, and every bar in my garage weighs 45 lb before you load it. A 22 lb steel junior bar closes that gap. Here is what showed up, what it costs, and the one spec claim I don't buy.

Your daughter asks if she can try, and the answer is no, because the only bar in the garage weighs 45 lb before you load it. That gap between a toy and a real barbell is exactly what an 11 lb technique bar is supposed to fill. Here is what showed up, what it costs, and the one spec claim I do not buy.

Most adjustable benches aren't built for big guys — short backrests, wobbly frames, capacity ratings that get nervous when you do. I spent a month testing the Flybird adjustable bench at 6'5" and 270 pounds to find out if a budget bench can actually hold up.

Most home treadmills can't handle a bigger guy — and Midwest winters don't care about your running routine. After a month of daily family use on the NordicTrack Commercial 2450, here's the no-BS verdict on whether it's worth the money.