ThighMaster: Where to Buy

What Is the ThighMaster?

The ThighMaster is a compact resistance exerciser shaped like a butterfly hinge, with dense foam handles on each end. You place it between your knees, squeeze inward, and release. That simple motion targets the inner thighs, and with repositioning it also works the arms, chest, and hips. The product launched in 1991 and became one of the best selling fitness gadgets in television history, moving over 10 million units in its first few years.

A woman exercising with a ThighMaster toning device on her living room floor

Despite looking like a late-night joke, the ThighMaster is built on a real principle: progressive tension applied to an underworked area. The spring-loaded metal hinge delivers roughly 10 to 15 pounds of resistance depending on the model, enough to fatigue the smaller stabilizer muscles that squats and lunges tend to skip. Some listings still spell it as two words, Thigh Master, but it is the same tool.

Suzanne Somers and the Infomercial That Changed Fitness Marketing

Suzanne Somers, the actress best known for “Three’s Company,” became the face of the ThighMaster in 1991. Her infomercial ran thousands of times on late-night TV and turned the product into a cultural phenomenon. Somers didn’t just endorse it. She squeezed it on camera, mid-sentence, while explaining how easy it was to use at home in front of the television.

The ad worked because Somers spoke directly to her audience: women over 30 who wanted to tone up without a gym. No complicated routines, no membership fees, just a $19.95 product and a few minutes a day. That pitch, plus Somers’ celebrity star power, generated over $100 million in sales within two years and made this one of the most replayed 90s infomercials ever aired.

The template, direct-to-consumer, celebrity-fronted, problem then solution, shaped how as-seen-on-TV products would be marketed for three decades. The New York Times later credited Somers with pioneering the celebrity fitness endorsement model that brands still copy.

How to Use a ThighMaster

The basic exercise is simple. Sit in a chair or on the edge of a bed, place the ThighMaster between your knees with the hinge pointing down, and press your legs together. Hold two to three seconds, then release slowly. Aim for 15 to 20 repetitions per set, three sets total.

Beyond the classic leg press, the device works for several other moves:

  • Chest press: Hold it between your palms at chest height and squeeze. This targets the pectoral area and front deltoids.
  • Arm toner: Brace one handle against your bicep and the other in your hand, then compress. This isolates the upper arm without dumbbells.
  • Side lift: Lie on your side, place the exerciser between your ankles, and press upward. This hits the outer hips and gluteus the seated version misses.

The foam padding keeps the metal frame from digging into skin. Cheaper knockoffs skip this and turn uncomfortable fast, so check that the foam is dense enough to hold its shape after repeated use.

What Muscles Does the ThighMaster Target?

The primary target is the inner thigh, the adductor group that pulls the legs toward the body’s midline. That inward pull is a form of adduction, a movement most desk-bound people rarely train. Strengthening these fibers helps with balance, stability of the hips, and lower back support.

Secondary targets depend on positioning. The chest press variation works the pectoralis major, the big chest muscle, and the arm version hits the biceps and forearms. Physical therapy clinics sometimes use similar exercise equipment for patients recovering from hip or knee procedures, because the low-impact motion builds strength without stressing joints.

One thing the ThighMaster does not do: burn fat from a single spot. Spot training, the idea that working one body part melts fat directly above it, has been debunked by every major exercise science body. The tool tones the tissue underneath, but visible slimming of the thigh only follows when overall body fat drops through diet and activity.

Does the ThighMaster Actually Work?

For what it claims, yes. Consistent use builds measurable strength in the adductors and can produce visible tone in the inner thigh over four to six weeks. User reviews on Amazon report that daily 10 to 15 minute sessions create noticeable firmness, especially for people new to resistance training.

Where it falls short is as a standalone program. You can’t build a balanced workout around one motion at one fixed tension. A complete plan needs progressive overload, where the load climbs over time, and the standard model doesn’t offer that unless you buy the “Gold” version with adjustable settings for more performance.

In our testing, it works best as a supplement, not a replacement. Pair it with walking, bodyweight squats, and stretching and it fills a genuine gap; lean on it alone and you’ll plateau within a month. Like the George Foreman Grill, which won by doing one thing well instead of replacing the kitchen, the ThighMaster rewards you for accepting its narrow purpose. It is not a full home gym like the Total Gym, and never tried to be.

What Most Fitness Reviews Miss

The most overlooked benefit is pelvic floor activation. The squeezing motion, done with upright posture and controlled breathing, engages the same area as a Kegel exercise. Physical medicine practitioners note that a trainer tool like this can supplement pelvic floor rehab, especially postpartum. It is not a medical device, but the crossover is real and rarely mentioned in reviews.

Another underrated angle: the ThighMaster suits older adults who can’t get down on the floor for mat work. It works seated, needs no setup, and carries almost no injury risk. For someone in their 70s keeping leg strength and mobility, it beats a Pilates reformer or elastic bands that need anchoring.

The ThighMaster outlasted the Shake Weight, the Ab Roller, and dozens of other 1990s fads, and it still sells on Amazon and through Suzanne Somers’ own site at SuzanneSomers.com. Products that don’t deliver rarely sell for 30 years, and this one has.

Where to Buy the ThighMaster

The ThighMaster is sold on Amazon and through major retailers. Compare current prices on the most popular options below. As an Amazon Associate, allfromtv.com earns from qualifying purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the ThighMaster really tone inner legs?

Yes. The pressing motion directly targets the inner thigh. Consistent use, 15 to 20 reps for three sets daily, can produce visible toning in four to six weeks. It won’t reduce fat in that area on its own, but it builds the underlying tone that creates a firmer look.

How many ThighMasters were sold?

Over 10 million units sold in the first few years after the 1991 launch. Lifetime sales across all versions are estimated above 20 million, making it one of the most commercially successful exercise products ever advertised on television.

Who invented the ThighMaster?

Swedish orthopedic surgeon Anne-Marie Bennstrom developed the original concept as a rehabilitation tool. Fitness marketer Joshua Reynolds refined it for consumer sales, and Suzanne Somers became the spokesperson who turned it into a household name through her iconic TV commercial campaign.

Can you use the ThighMaster for arms?

Yes. Hold one handle in your hand and brace the other against your upper arm, then compress. This isolates the biceps. You can also press it between your palms to work the chest and shoulders.