Vintage Exercise Machines That Look Like Torture Devices

The Human Hamster Wheel

This towering monstrosity was exactly what it sounds like—a giant wooden wheel users walked inside, just like a hamster. Found in early 20th-century fitness spas, it was meant to improve endurance, balance, and leg strength. As you walked or jogged inside, the wheel spun beneath you in a dizzying loop.

Unfortunately, one misstep meant being flung like laundry in a dryer. Users frequently fell or stumbled and were slammed into the wheel’s interior. It was noisy, clunky, and about as stable as a rolling boulder. The human hamster wheel became more of a freak-show attraction than a viable workout tool—and mercifully didn’t survive past the 1920s.

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