Advantages: Can do a variety of exercises on it
Disadvantages: Bit of an eyesore in the house

...The gym ball, swiss ball, fitness ball, stability ball or whatever other name it comes under, seems to have taken the fitness world by storm. These balls can be purchased in most sports shops, department stores, tv shopping channels, chemists and even supermarkets. They cost between £5 and £15, come with their own pump and usually an instruction leaflet or DVD. Fitness balls come in a variety of sizes, 42, 45, 55, 65 and 75cms and you should select your size depending on your height. For safety reasons, the rubber material has been designed to deflate slowly in the event of unexpected damage, so the ball should not burst suddenly, leaving the user in a heap on the floor. Pumping up the ball, with the hand pump provided does take a little time and the novice user may be unsure of how firm it should be. I'm not sure how... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Improves core stability.
Disadvantages: None really but must be used correctly.

...I keep trying this health and fitness lark at home and this is another one of my efforts, a gym ball. I have used them at the gym before. When I don`t have time to go to the gym, which is often since increasing my work hours, I like to be able to, not only exercise at home, but vary it. The gym ball is my cheapest piece of gym equipment (not that I have any more now except DVD`s). What is a Gym Ball? + + + + + + + + + + + + A gym ball is a ball as the name suggests! It is made of very tough rubber (I think). A gym ball is also known as a swiss ball or stability ball. The ball does bounce quite well, but that is not what it is for. It is to allow you to exercise effectively, but obviously you still need to put a lot of effort in. My gym ball is 26 inches but they do vary in size (I think there are only about 2 sizes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Sharp serrated blade, attractive design.
Disadvantages: None that spring to mind.

...I am a little bit sad. You see, I'm a pen knife anorak... I have four of the things, and use them for camping trips, jobs around the house and those bizarre tasks that pop up from time to time (ever got a lump of chewing gum stuck to your shoe before a meeting?!?) In short - I KNOW about penknives. Features of the Victorinox Swiss Army Century Swiss Army Knife Serrated/Straight blade - this is pulled out from the cover by gripping a little groove on the back of the blade. It is made of stainless steel, so it won't rust, and it "locks" when it is in line with the handle. The blade is 4" long and has about 60% serrated edge and 40% straight edge. It is an incredibly sharp blade that cuts just about anything - string... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: wonderfully smooth chocolate
Disadvantages: a wee bit more expensive

...There is a very famous quote comparing Italy and Switzerland. Something along the lines of the Swiss have had 500 years of democracy and peace and all they have given the world is the cuckoo clock whereas the Italians who have had 500 years of turmoil have given the world so many more useful inventions. Well good for Italy. But the Swiss have not just given the world the cuckoo clock. Far from it. You see the Swiss are responsible for much chocolate innovation which I feel has been overlooked by the world at large. Swiss chocolate ranks as among the finest in the world. So what if they haven’t managed to make any great inventions, they’ve made damn good chocolate. Over the years I have been lucky enough to sample some genuine, bona fide, bought in Switzerland Swiss Chocolate when friends have travelled to the little nation... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Delicious smell, does its job
Disadvantages: Doesn't feel good on wet hair

...Swiss Vanilla Protein Conditioner- OK, OK. So I know that this isn't in the right category but this is the closest I could get as Ciao don't give us the ability to suggest new brands, only products. OK, so its a conditioner with the usual claims covering the packaging: leaves hair beautifully soft and manageable, radiating with health, body and shine. Theres nothing there out of the ordinary, no claim that isn't made on almost every other conditioner bottle. The thing that attracted me to this conditioner was the name: Swiss Vanilla Protein Conditioner. Like almost everyone I know, I love vanilla. No, I adore it. I use vanilla room sprays, scented candles, perfume, shower gel, bath bubbles, the works. Vanilla is my absolute favourite smell. I think I've made my point anyway. This conditioner is designed for normal hair. My... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Plenty of tools, small size.
Disadvantages: Pricing could be considered steep, tweezers and toothpicks easily lost.

...*Product* Small, smart, safe - three words out of many that could be used to describe how useful the Swiss Army Huntsman Knife is. With a size being slightly smaller than an average male middle-finger, and yet still thinner than a thumbs width, it is no wonder that it is more commonly known as a the more popular 'Pocketknife' - a place where it is perfectly safe to hold, might I add. As with most items, the size has no impact on the innards of the instrument, although it is definitely helpful that it can slide neatly in and out of the palm of your hand, but, have no qualms about it; the durable plastic outer-shell (usually in a firetruck red, but comes in a range of colours) a slight grip of the hand will keep it in place. As with all Swiss Army Knives, this comes with strong stainless steel and some dangerously sharp edges (Warning... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: so many different varieties, for whatever purpose
Disadvantages: may need oiling if not kept properly

...The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is an essential tool for anyone going on any sort of a camping trip or hike. These knives can be found anywhere in the world with a huge assormtment of functionalities. They can be as small as your pinky or as long as your middle finger and as fat as a hot dog bun. If you are really out in the woods or somewhere else in the middle of nowhere, a knife will always come in handy as might a saw and scissors and the whole lot of things that come on those knives. Some of them even have compasses (extremely useful tool). You can get addons to your knives as well. If you wear glasses you can get a special little screw device that screws into the cork puller-outer, which has such a small screwing nozzle that it is perfect for tightening your lenses. The hook is great for tightening those hard to tighten... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: sensory play
Disadvantages: Get everywhere take a lot of tidying up .

...Balls lots of balls, I bought 4 of these bags of playbills each bag contains 100 balls. I have for several; weeks thought I would like to buy a pool and some balls for my grandchildren to play in either at their hose or mine; daughter refused the offer so I bought some for my house. The balls I bought are CHAD VALLEY ones from Woolworths they come in zippered plastic PVC carry bag containing 100 of balls. I bought 4 bags each bag cost me £4.99 each normal price £6.99 they are on sale at the mo. I noticed in the early learning shop nearby 100 balls cost £10 no doubt they may be better quality but for my use I think the woollies balls will be fine... I also bought a Chad valley junior blow up pool to put them in. Let me describe the balls. These are PVC balls, each measuring 65mm diameter. It says they are brightly coloured well... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: good for developing early baby skills
Disadvantages: none

...First years jingle ball. This ball is an early years jingle ball. It is a soft squishy ball brightly coloured that when rolled of thrown makes a jingling sound inside is a bell. This ball is made of fabric 6 coloured segments like an orange 2 red two yellow and two black and white. Spotty ones I have noticed it on ebay starting price £1. www.babyyears.co.uk have new for£2.99p This ball is designed to help a baby develop fine motor skills holding, grasping (it is indeed easy to hold). Helps to develop throwing and catching skills This soft ball has added interest it jingles when thrown (on the floor) helps baby by relate cause to effect (if I move this ball it jingles) The bell jingling inside the ball adds an interest to baby all babies respond to sounds quicker than just sight. The ball is made of bright colours... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Extra distance with the driver. Excellent control and spin. Well priced high performance golf ball for the average golfer.
Disadvantages: Meaningless advertising.

...~ ~ Srixon is probably not the first name that springs to a person's mind when they think of golf equipment manufacturers. Names like Slazenger, John Letters and Dunlop, and more recently Taylor Made, Callaway, and Nike are the manufacturers of clubs, balls and equipment that most modern-day golfers would readily associate with being market leaders in the golf world. ~ ~ So who are Srixon, and why are they now quickly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the golf equipment market? Well, they're a Japanese rubber company called Sumitomo Rubber Industries who have been manufacturing golf balls since way back in 1930, when they began producing Dunlop golf balls under licence in Japan. Thirty three years later, in 1963, they actually bought out Dunlop in the UK, and entered the golf ball market worldwide. So why... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful