Let me start by saying I've tried countless ab gadgets over the years, and the Fitvids Ab Trainer is... interesting. The first thing that struck me was how lightweight it is - I can literally move it around my apartment with one hand. That's great for small spaces, but also made me question its durability at first glance.

The assembly was straightforward, though I'll admit those tiny screws had me squinting like I needed reading glasses. One stubborn screw refused to cooperate completely, so my unit has a slightly rebellious loose end (literally). Not a dealbreaker, but annoying when you're paying for a complete product.

Where this machine shines is in actual use. That first crunch surprised me - the movement feels completely different from floor exercises. The guided motion forces proper form in a way that free crunches never did for me. I particularly like how you can adjust hand positions to target different abdominal areas - close grip murders my upper abs while wide grip makes my obliques scream.

The headrest? Meh. It does the job but feels like an afterthought in design. After about 15 minutes of use, I found myself wishing for more padding. That said, it's miles better than craning your neck during traditional sit-ups.

Two weeks in, I'm noticing more definition in my core than from months of yoga and planks alone. The small, controlled movements really isolate those stubborn lower abs. Just don't expect full sit-up range - this is about quality contractions over quantity.

Would I buy again? For $22, absolutely - if mine broke tomorrow, I'd reorder despite the flaws. It's not perfect, but it delivers where it counts: actual results with minimal space and setup time.