Whatever Happened To The ThighMaster?
If you were around in the '90s, you were likely exposed to the head-scratching device called the ThighMaster. It seemed like every household had one. Albeit, some of them ended up as the dog's chew toy, while others got lost in a sea of toys in the toy chest. But before it became an easily discarded item, it defined fitness in the '90s and is an iconic product that shows just how powerful infomercial sales were at the time. The promoter and owner of this product, the lovely actor Suzanne Somers, told Entrepreneur, "It was the right product, the right place, the right timing, the right spokesperson — the right everything. It was a perfect storm."
It sure was. The queen of infomercials went on to reveal she "sold 10 million ThighMasters right out of the gate." The Week confirmed its success, claiming the butterfly-shaped contraption has now led to $100 million in sales.
Has the ThighMaster been discontinued?
These days, you don't hear too much chatter about this wonder device of the '90s. And you're likely not tripping over one when you walk into your neighbor's house. So, have they been discontinued? As it turns out, they haven't gone too far — and they definitely haven't been discontinued. In fact, the product is still for sale on major shopping sites, including Suzanne Somers' own website.
The ThighMaster may have lost its initial popularity as infomercials became a less trendy way to advertise. Even without those iconic infomercials and traditional advertising campaigns, though, the ThighMaster continues to have a following, albeit a smaller one. "It still sells to this day even though we don't advertise," Somers told Entrepreneur in 2020.
Unlike many other dated fitness products from the decade of grunge, the ThighMaster actually does target and tone the thighs and chest, certified trainer and fitness professional Nicole Palacios confirmed to Shape. Though she did warn, "If you're using this device with the idea in mind that you will work your thighs and they're going to get tighter/smaller by doing just one exercise, you are mistaken. Spot reduction is a myth."