- Bill of North Carolina, USA writes:
I purchased the product after reading reviews on this site about the product's durability and the apparent lack of quality of some of the other products. This appears to be well made and uses standard 9 volt batteries. I have only used the product for several days but so far it has proven worthy of the price. The only minor issue I have encountered is the pads tend to occasionally come loose when you take the belt off. However, they are easily re-attached. Documentation is OK regarding the operation of the unit but poor regarding the placement of pads and belt positioning. I'll update in 15 days.
- Margrit of Ontario, Canada writes:
I have used the Rio Ab Belt for two weeks now, and I want to recommend it very highly. The quality is great and there are no parts to replace. I ordered the belt mainly to get my abs back into shape, but when I placed the pads on to my back, I got a totally unexpected surprise. I have suffered with lower back pain for about twenty years, but using the Rio Ab Belt on my back removes the pain like nothing else ever has, including Morphine, physiotherapy, acupuncture, etc. It gives me relief from my pain for several hours. Yes, it also tones the abs (1/2 hour twice daily on setting 2, turned all the way up); after only one week I could feel a noticeable difference. By the way, you do not have to use any gel. You can use several layers of wet paper towel, or get a flat sponge cut to the size of the pads.
- Elisa of Nebraska, USA writes:
My husband and I purchased this product 4 days and it works great. However, it does work a little better for my husband for he doesn't have as many layers of fat as I do, but if I wear it 10 minutes longer than him, I can feel it in the abs. I have also used it on my thighs & can feel the pull in them. I think the product will do great for us!
- Angela of Ontario, Canada writes:
I just received my Rio Ab Belt, and I must say I am impressed! I ordered mine from the Canadian Home Shopping Channel, intent on using it to work on my belly that developed after I had an operation a number of months ago. After fiddling with the settings a bit, I found a perfect setting that had my muscles flexing in and out so well, I felt as if I had an intense workout when I took the belt off! It's easy to set up, easy to use, and best of all, it's easy to clean up after removing the electrical parts (very simple). I would definitely recommend the Rio Ab Belt to anyone trying to get rid of the dreaded tummy flab from an operation or from childbirth. No playing around with wires, and none of the nuisance of getting replacement cell batteries (9V batteries are so much cheaper, and last just as long). The manual has some precautions, a few I think are definitely worth mentioning here. Use it for only 20 minute sessions to start, working up to a maximum of 60 minutes. Rechargeable batteries cannot be used by this unit. And most important, it is not to be used by pregnant women (or, for that matter, NONE of these kinds of Ab exercising devices should be). Thumbs up to the Rio Ab Belt!
- Stan of Massachusetts, USA writes:
WOW!!! That sums it up. After being extremely disappointed with the AB ENERGIZER, and seeing poor reviews for most other ab belts, I decided to try the RIO AB BELT because it had almost all positive reviews here... and those reviews are right! This single powered unit has MUCH more power than the Ab Energizer with 4 connected. It is an intense and comfortable workout. After 3 months of Ab Energizer, I saw minimal results...After 2 weeks of RIO AB BELT, I am seeing more definition to my ab area and can see the beginnings of a washboard stomach! I highly recommend the RIO AB BELT to anyone considering one of these ab products.
- Angie of Missouri, USA writes:
I am updating from a previous review. I am still very satisfied with the belt. I am now using it on my thighs and calves. My husband is using it on his arms. When I strap this thing around my belly I can hop on my Gazelle and go for days! I wanted to let everyone know that they can buy a plug in adapter at any Radio Shack for under 7 bucks! I did and my workout seems to be more intense! Plus the cost of batteries is no longer an issue for me.
- Bill of North Carolina, USA writes:
I have been using this product every day now for about two weeks. I am beginning to notice a difference in stomach muscle definition. The product is well made and seems to be very durable. I have recently replaced the 9 volt battery... but my wife and I used the product every day. The unit has plenty of power to crunch... creating "effortless isometrics". So far it is worth the money I paid.
- Jonathan of Quebec, Canada writes:
Yes this product does work. I've been using it for 2 months now and I see a little difference. I thought it would work better than this on me because I don't have any fat to loose. Anyway, I'm a bit disappointed because I tried the abtronic at my friend's and I think the abtronic works better than the Rio ab belt I bought after reading all these reviews. I think I'll buy the abtronic because you can get a higher intensity muscle stimulation and also it is more versatile.
- Karen of Alberta, Canada writes:
I had read all the reviews and went with the Rio Ab Belt. Very well constructed and easy to clean. Gel is a little messy to use but needed. I am working on my baby belly from 2 children and hope it helps. Have been using for 4 days now. Day 3, I could really feel it. Isn't made for going around thighs but today I put extra velcro on the belt so I could make it a smaller size. Little worried about putting it on lower back. Is it safe for having the pad right on your spine? Will update with progress. So far I really like it especially while walking around the house during the day with 2 little kids.
- Sheila of California, USA writes:
I am a relatively slender person looking for extra help for the ab area. I figured the ab belt is better than no ab workout at all. I just received my Rio Ab Belt last week. I have tried it once and for the next 2 days my ab muscles were sore as if I had done those dreaded crunches for hours. It seems to work for me. I'm assuming if I continue the workout everyday for the next 2 weeks, I will gain more ab definition. In addition to muscle definition, my boyfriend uses this daily to effectively get some temporary relief for his back pain.
- Eric of Georgia, USA writes:
I have recently purchased the Rio Ab Belt. I must say that I am very happy with the quality of construction. It is easy to use and I can already feel the affect on my abs. I highly recommend this product.
- Rico of Ontario, Canada writes:
I've been an owner of a professional style EMS machine (one that comes in a briefcase) for over ten years now so I know what a true EMS machine feels like. After seeing ab gimmick after ab gimmick on infomercials, I was skeptical when the wave of ab belts arrived on our televisions. However, I already knew the capabilities EMS machines and wanted to try one that might free me from the wires of my archaic machine. I ordered two belts from a shopping channel for comparison sake: the Ab Energizer, which I was eagerly anticipating because it came with two units, and the Rio Ab Belt, of which I've never even seen an infomercial. The Ab Energizer came in a flashy, six-cornered box with an overly-muscular man's mid-section printed on the front sporting the product. Needless to say, I was disappointed with the whole package: the foil conductor was very flimsy, the carrying case may as well have been a shower cap, and the belt itself was as big as a WWF championship belt. Even worse, the novice setting was more painful (even unbearable) than the advanced setting; like having hot pokers stabbing your stomach. I tried the unit once and immediately packed it up for a refund. I just received the Rio Ab Belt today and the difference is night and day. When it arrived in a small, plain brown box, I asked myself, "where's the rest of it?" But upon opening the plain little box, the only packaging I found were clear plastic bags and a little instruction book, not with a hulking man sporting a 64-pack, but instead, a pretty and fit woman (can't even see her abs). The Ab Belt was a smaller, good quality neoprene belt, three conductive rubber pads (similar to the pads provided with my professional-style EMS machine), conductive gel, and a 9 volt battery. Upon wearing the belt, I experienced a better contact than I did with the Ab Energizer. When I turned it on, it was a similar, if not identical, sensation as my more expensive briefcase unit. I've only had this product for a couple of hours and it already looks like a keeper. The only negative complaints I have are these: 1) it's a bit messy to clean excess gel off the belt, 2) I have no idea as to how close I am to reaching maximum power, and 3) the green light indicator is very bright and was visible even through my under shirt and wool sweater, my friend caught me. On the plus side: 1) it's a much smaller and more flexible unit than the Ab Energizer, 2) nine-volt battery, 'nuff said, 3) the rubber pads are easy to clean, 4) it feels more like a true EMS, 4) and best of all, I'm no longer anchored to a wall socket. I hate sit-ups and wrecked my back attempting some a few months ago, so I look forward to trying out the Rio Ab Belt not only on my abs, but on my back as well. The Rio proved to me that a good quality product needn't be too expensive, over-packaged, nor be marketed on a cheesy infomercial, at least not on one that I've seen.
- Michael of California, USA writes:
I got this belt exactly a week ago, and I've been doing the muscle building setting at the highest setting for an hour everyday. Sometimes 2 hours a day on 2 locations. I do it in 3 locations: Lower, mid, and upper (rotating each day). And I have good layer of fat, and had almost no ab muscles to begin with. And I gotta say, if I didn't really have the fat on my stomach, I'd have some muscle definition there for sure. Even at the first day, where I had almost no muscles there before, I now had good sized muscles I can feel with my hands.
- Vanessa of Washington, USA writes:
I purchased the rio belt a week ago and I am impressed. I have a lot of fat layers on my stomach and I have already started to see a beginning of a six pack (well there's 2 beers so far). Anyway, I started to get worried cause yesterday I noticed that either I was getting immune or the belt wasn't as strong anymore. Guess what? Replace the battery...duh. Now I'm happy again in my quest for lazy achieved abs. Also, I ran out of the gel, aloe vera works perfectly.
- Jah of Hawaii, USA writes:
I just received the Rio Ab Belt yesterday, and it is definitely an odd sensation to see your abs contracting about on its own. The primary reason I picked the Rio Ab Belt is because of the other reviews posted on it's quality materials and design. I shall update on this. I plan to use the Rio Ab Belt not only to tone my abs, but as an energy waster. I've tried strapping it to my leg (by far the biggest muscle in the body), and it seems to work well. What I hope to do is burn an extra 100-200 calories a day just having it continuously going on either my legs, calves, or abs. Those extra calories will certainly add up. I will resubmit whether it works (and if the Rio Ab Belt holds up through the use). It is also nice to be able to use an adapter instead of buying tons of batteries, which is important for what I plan to use it for.
- Lisa of California, USA writes:
I have been using the Rio Ab Belt for 6 weeks now and have seen ZERO change in my abs. I am thin, exercise 5 days a week, but I HATE doing crunches so I bought this ab thing on the off chance it might work. It doesn't. It certainly won't work for overweight people as electric muscle stimulation doesn't burn fat. I will say that the belt is well made and will work for a long period of time if you want to use it as a fashion statement (knowing that you are not toning your muscles).
- Michael of California, USA writes:
I'm updating from my last review. I've been using this belt for a month now, and I truly love it. The instant I take it off, you notice the difference immediately. Just make sure you use it at reasonably high settings. I get the best workouts using the highest settings. Here are 2 great tips for people currently using it. The conductive gel is basically almost the exact thing as some hair gels out there. I bought a 40 oz Vital Care hair gel for $4, and it works just as good. Much better than buying 3 oz bottles for 2 or 3 times the price. Hair gel is non-irritating to the skin, and it'll stay wet and conduct just as good as long as you have the belt on. Another thing is you should buy a "9v battery eliminator." This will ensure you the best workouts every time, without the purchase of any additional batteries.
- Mike of Ontario, Canada writes:
I haven't tried any of the other ab belts on the market. In fact, I wasn't even planning on trying the Rio Ab Belt, but my cousin convinced me to. I've always had a weight problem and tightening my stomach muscles resulted in nothing. After using the belt for 5 days (1/2 hour, twice daily), I noticed that when I tightened my stomach muscles, they were really taut. I am so impressed with the results that I go around asking my friends to punch me in the stomach, just to see the look on their face when they discover I actually have abs!
- Melissa of Texas, USA writes:
I have had this belt for 3 days now and have used it everyday for about 20 min. I bought it after reading the reviews on here and it is great. I am already feeling soreness in my stomach (like if I had done sit ups) and it is easy to use. It is very well made and uses a 9-volt battery. The only thing I do not like about it is I cannot use it on my arms, calves, or thighs. The belt does not go small enough, but I am still glad I got this one. From what I have heard of the others it seems a lot better made.
- Lisa of California, USA writes:
I just received my Rio Ab Belt today and started using it once I got the package opened. I must admit I didn't think that it would work, however now that I've been using and have felt my muscles contracting on there own. It's been great, so I thought I would post once a week to keep everyone up to date on how well the belt works.
