Productopia | Fitness & Sports

Trying to slim down? Stride over to Sears this Black Friday. A recently leaked circular reveals the store will be offering three solid treadmills.

The first: The ProForm XP Crosswalk 580, normally $900, will be on sale for $570. Overall, we found this product gets decent reviews. It has a 2.8-horsepower motor, a 20-by-55-inch walking belt and 12 personal trainer workouts. However, parts and labor are only covered under warranty for 90 days. About 80 percent of owners at Sears.com say they would recommend this treadmill to a friend, but several reviewers say the 580 shakes or buzzes loudly when jogging or walking fast.

Just what we needed to hear before the holiday binge-eating begins (and after plowing through the 'leftover' Halloween candy): Now it looks like exercise really doesn't help you lose weight. Studies have been quietly pointing this way for a while now, and an article in The New York Times makes for a nice summary of the recent thinking: Exercise -- without changing your eating habits -- just doesn't lead to significant weight loss.

Elliptical trainers combine the features of a stair-stepper and a ski machine; you stand on pedals that move on an elliptical track; the motion is in between walking and climbing. Some models have only stationary or preprogrammed incline options, while others allow the user to adjust the incline throughout the workout. Elliptical trainers provide good workout variety without lots of impact on joints. But we found significant differences between models in our elliptical trainer report.

Touted as a "gym-free" way to trim down, sales for Skechers Shape-Ups continue to soar. In fact, earlier this year, the company even launched a men's and more conservative work-shoe line. So what's the real scoop on these shoes?

Skechers claims that its Shape Up shoe line, which features rocking, slanted soles, naturally activate more muscle fibers to quickly and better tone a walker's thighs, buttocks and core. Some enthusiastic striders even say the shoes improved their posture and decreased cellulite. Reviews we found said the shoes "took a little getting used to" but were generally comfortable to wear. Sound appealing? Sure. Is the science solid? Skechers says yes.

Even as your TV explodes with ads for the latest exercise "miracle" gadget, fitness experts continue to say that a decent treadmill is the best way to spend your money if you're shopping for a piece of home-fitness gear. That's because treadmills are less likely to end up shoved into a corner of your garage or making a desperate appearance at your next garage sale. If you plan mainly on walking, you can find a good treadmill for about $500. Our treadmill report covers models for walking, running and everything in between.

If you haven't shopped for a tricycle in a while, kids now have some pretty cool options that simply outclass the Big Wheels of yesteryear. The Razor Rip Rider 360 is a particular hit. Since it's got rear casters instead of wheels, you can do 360-degree spins and donuts without tipping over. The Schwinn Roadster Trike is also a good pick, with a wide wheelbase and an "Easy Rider" look. Talk about a sweet ride. Learn more about these nifty trikes, as well as the best-reviewed two-wheelers, in our newly-updated report on kids bikes.

Camping stoves vary in size from big three-burner propane stoves, useful for car camping, to pocket-sized backpacking stoves that weigh 3 ounces or less. Backpacking stoves are recommended for hiking trips and whenever you need to carry your stove with you. The bigger stoves are obviously limited to the campground, since you won't want to add 20 pounds to your pack load.

Heart-rate monitors are available as basic $30 models or $500 total training tools, but reviews say the sweet spot is in the middle. The Polar FT60 (*Est. $215) strikes the best balance between functionality and value. But if you're just looking for an easy way to track your heart rate and don't care about long term tracking and fitness optimization, the $35 Omron HR-100C gets the best reviews among basic HR monitors.

We've all been offered extended warranties on electronics products whether it be cell phones, HDTVs or digital cameras, but what about sneakers?

On a recent trip to Sports Authority, as I was trying on a pair of walking sneakers, the salesperson offered me their so-called footwear plan. He explained that for a small fee, I could purchase an extended coverage plan for my sneaks that would cover scuffs and other wear or tear for one year. Within that time frame, I could simply return my less than perfect footwear to the store and trade them in for a new pair. If the new pair is the same price, there's no additional cost; if they're more expensive, I'd have to pay the difference. I didn't end up making a purchase that day, but my interest piqued, I decided to dig deeper and see what this sneaker warranty was all about.

According to the brochure, the warranty covers "defects in materials and workmanship" including "normal wear and tear" such as "sole separation, seam rips and separation, fabric discoloration or color bleeding and broken fasteners (eyelet)." Prices range from $4.99 to $15.99, depending on the price of the sneakers, for a year of coverage, which starts at the end of Sports Authority's 30-day return policy.