Tag: Equipment
Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0 Review
Many home gym owners opt for the versatility of a multi-purpose barbell, but dedicated powerlifters might be better off targeting a powerlifting-specific bar. While you’ll find a variety of different power bars on the market, … Read more
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REP Fitness BlackWing Weight Bench Review
An adjustable weight bench is a no-brainer for home gyms, as it allows for an array of exercises like dumbbell shoulder presses, chest-supported lateral raises, and incline bench presses. FID benches (flat, incline, decline) like the REP Fitness BlackWing open … Read more
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The 8 Best Full Body Workout Machines for Home Gyms, Portability, and More (2023)
If building out your garage gym is at the top of your home improvement project list, you’ll want to consider buying a full-body workout machine. These all-in-one machines let you hit all your … Read more
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REP Fitness Colorado Bar Review
A high-caliber barbell is a staple of any home gym, and the REP Fitness Colorado Bar could be the only one you need. Since it’s a multi-use bar, the Colorado has traits you’ll find … Read more
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Best Labor Day Fitness Sales of 2023
Now that summer’s coming to an end, it’s almost Labor Day — a time to honor workers, fire up the grill…and load up your garage gym with some of the best Labor Day … Read more
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The Best Labor Day Fitness Deals of 2023
Now that summer’s coming to an end, it’s almost Labor Day — a time to honor workers, fire up the grill…and load up your garage gym with some of the best Labor Day … Read more
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The 8 Best Treadmills with Screens of 2023
For nearly any home purchase these days, connectivity is the name of the game. This is especially true for treadmills — gone are the days of craning your neck up at a screen … Read more
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Redwood Outdoors Extra-Wide Thermowood Barrel Sauna Review
Hopping into a sauna for 15 to 20 minutes a few times a week offers many potential benefits, such as stress relief, reducing inflammation, flushing toxins, and improving your circulation. While it can be expensive, … Read more
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The No Weight Equipment Arm Workout for Bigger Guns
Showing up at the gym at five o’clock is futile; crowded dumbbell areas, every squat and power rack occupied, and a sense of claustrophobia take place. You look around and scratch your head wondering where to start and how in the world you will get an effective workout in this zoo you call a gym.
The answer may seem simple, but one that many have scoffed at time and again: adopt a minimal equipment workout that enables you to train arms from anywhere. As foregoing traditional equipment such as dumbbells and barbells, not to mention weight machines and utilizing your body weight, isn’t anything new; the concern lies in the effectiveness of said workouts.
Many see bodyweight training as easy or only used for maintenance. However, you can build appreciable muscle mass if you do bodyweight training correctly. A recent study by the leading researcher in muscular hypertrophy, Brad Schoenfeld, reported that sets performed in the lower rep range and heavier loads (3 sets of 7 reps) and lighter weight with higher reps (25 to 35 reps) yielded similar hypertrophy results. [1]
Advantages of No Equipment Training
Let’s look at some advantages of no-equipment training and see if it’s a good fit for your next arm workout:
The Solution to a Crowded Gym
Nothing is more frustrating than entering the gym ready to put your perfect plan for bigger arms into action when you look around and find no place to go. So when every rack, dumbbell, barbell, and machine is occupied, creativity is paramount. Fortunately, there are plenty of options to fall back on. Chin-up bars, suspension trainers, and even the floor become highly effective tools for building larger, sleeve-busting arms.
Builds muscle mass
By now, you know all too well the infamous definition of insanity: doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. A no-equipment arm workout will surely spur more than enough diverse stimulation and shock your arms into growing. It’s not just a minor modification of a dumbbell arm curl or a slight shift in elbow angle during a triceps pushdown. It’s an entirely new challenge.
Using Little to No Equipment Will Put Excitement Back Into Your Training
The sheer novelty of doing something new will boost motivation and skyrocket your progress to new heights. Science Daily looked at a study concluding that people learn from new experiences without even trying [2]. This trigger can be advantageous when trying new exercises, especially ones you’ve never tried before.
Now let’s look at some specific, highly effective arm exercises when the gym is crowded, and you’re unable to use the traditional means to build your arms, or you just want something new.
Bodyweight Biceps Exercises
Add the following bodyweight biceps exercises to your exercise arsenal:
Suspension trainer biceps curl
Generally speaking, muscle activation is greater during suspension training versus comparable traditional movements. A study from the Sports Biomechanics Journal looked at many criteria regarding muscle activation, including electromyographic signals, and found that suspension training was superior to the more traditional moves. [3]
For the suspension biceps curl, affix a suspension trainer rig high on a sturdy bar or station. Grasp the handles and place your feet close to the anchor point. Lean back and extend your arms so they are perpendicular to your torso. With your palms facing the ceiling, bend only at your elbows to bring your forehead toward your hands. Your body should remain in a plank position and move toward the anchor point. Once your biceps are contracted and beside your head, reverse the motion and straighten your arms.
Variations: A simple modification to either progress or regress the difficulty is to adjust your stance. The closer your feet are to the anchor point, the more challenging the exercise. The more your feet are placed below your hips, the easier it is. Whichever variation you choose, keep your elbows high and stationary while performing the move slowly and under control.
Biceps chin-up
Another non-traditional biceps builder is the reverse grip chin-up. Normally performed to develop the back, a few tweaks can make this into one effective biceps builder. To place the most stress on your biceps, grasp the overhead bar with an underhand grip about shoulder-width apart. Contract your midsection and round your back slightly. This will take the stress off of your back. Curl your body up with your biceps, bringing your shoulders toward your hands. Flex hard at the top and then return under control.
Variations: If you’re not the best at the chin-up and need to make the exercise a bit easier, you can loop a band around the bar overhead and step into the other end to lessen the body weight lifted. Or you can place your toes on a bench or box to assist you. Either way, work your way to lifting your body weight over time. Another regression is performing the same exercise on a lower rack with your feet on the floor and legs extended out in front of you as if you were going to perform a reverse rack row.
To progress the exercise, pause at the top of the movement for a count of two before slowly lowering to the start position.
Inverted rack curl
Think of this as a combination of the suspension curl and chin-up. Assume a sitting position under a stable bar in a rack or Smith machine. Take an underhand grip above your head and straighten your body from shoulders to feet. Curl your body up and your forehead toward the bar, then return to the bottom extended position.
Variations: Raising the bar will make the exercise a bit easier since more body weight will be supported by your feet. Lowering the bar raises the difficulty since your arms will be under more total body load.
Suspension trainer lateral curl
Stand with your right shoulder closest to the suspension trainer. Grasp the handle with your palm facing the ceiling and extend straight to your side. Your entire arm should be nearly level with your head. Begin by curling your arm and raising your body toward your hand. Extend back down by straightening your arm. This biceps exercise is considered a bit advanced, so be careful not to loosen up your form at risk for injury.
Variations: As with other suspension trainer exercises, the closer you move your feet toward the anchor point of the trainer, the more challenging it becomes. The less angle to the anchor point, the easier it becomes.
Best Triceps Exercises
Here are some of the most effective bodyweight triceps exercises:
Suspension trainer triceps extension
The triceps extension is a demanding but adjustable exercise that can be done pretty much anywhere with a suspension trainer. Affix a suspension trainer overhead on a pull-up bar or some other stable foundation. Grasp the handles facing away from where the suspension trainer is anchored. Back your feet up and extend your entire body with your hands overhead. Maintaining a planked body position, bend only at the elbows as your body lowers toward the ground. Your hands should move past your ears. Reverse direction and straighten your arms out once again.
Variations: As with suspension trainer biceps curls, adjusting your stance can make the exercise more or less challenging, depending on your strength and ability. Moving your feet back toward the anchor point will impose more body weight into the movement, and moving them out will make it easier. Adjust as necessary.
Triceps push-up
As an old favorite but often forgotten exercise for triceps is the push-up with hands placed close together. Also called diamond push-ups, a study from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse looked at the triceps activity with electromyography comparing traditional triceps exercises such as pushdowns, close-grip bench presses, and skull crushers with triceps push-ups. The study found that triceps push-ups had the most significant muscle activation. [4]
Start by assuming a plank position with your hands about six inches apart. Lower your body toward the floor while keeping your elbows by your sides. Stop just a few inches from the floor before returning to the top position.
Variations: There are many ways to make triceps push-ups more challenging. First, you can simply place your feet on an elevated surface or a bench to transfer more stress to your upper body. Additionally, you can add instability, such as your feet looped into a suspension trainer or placing your hands on a small medicine ball. You can also slow the exercise’s cadence and pause at the bottom for a count or two.
Rack triceps press
Stand in front of a stable bar in a rack or Smith machine bar that is about hip height. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip a little wider than shoulder width. Step back with your feet until your body is straight and your arms arm extended out in front of your torso. Bending your elbows, slowly lower your body toward the bar as your head moves closer to the bar. Allow your head to dip below the bar as your elbows are fully bent. Reverse the direction until your arms are extended once again.
Variations: Raising the bar higher will allow you to perform more reps and is apt for beginners. As you move the bar lower to the floor, more stress is placed on your triceps for a more advanced version.
Suspension trainer triceps press-down
Getting that powerful triceps contraction can easily be achieved without a cable machine. Utilizing a suspension trainer stand facing the anchor point of the trainer. Hold the handles by your sides with your palms facing behind you. Slowly raise the handles by bending at the elbows as your body leans back slightly. Once your hands are parallel with your elbows, press and straighten them back down and back as you contract your triceps.
Variations: Standing closer to the anchor point will increase the amount of stress on your triceps, calling for more intensity and strength. Advance to more difficult variations only after you’ve mastered the basics first.
Whichever variation you choose, be sure to master the basic movement before progressing to more challenging versions.
Sample No Weight Equipment Arm Workout Program
Here’s a quick sample program you can plug into any workout any day of the week. Use as a shock to replace your normal arm program or adopt it for several weeks, progressing with each exercise. Shoot for performing the following routine at least twice per week.
Biceps
Suspension trainer biceps curl: 3 x 10-15 reps
Biceps chin-up: 3 x as many as possible
Inverted rack curl: 3 x 10-15
Suspension trainer lateral curl: 3 x 10-15
Triceps
Suspension trainer triceps extension: 3 x 10-15 reps
Triceps push-up: 3 x as many as possible
Rack triceps press: 3 x 10-15
Suspension trainer triceps press down: 3 x 10-15
Wrapping Up
If you’re still skeptical about building appreciable amounts of muscle without dumbbells, barbells, and other more traditional means, then maybe it’s time you try the above program. Perfect the exercises, progress like you would any other program, and be sure to challenge yourself with more difficult versions. You have nothing to lose and only more muscle to gain to fill out those sleeves just in time for summer.
References
Schoenfeld B., Wilson, J, & Lowery, R. (2016). Muscular adaptations in low- versus high-load resistance training: a meta-analysis. Eur J Sport Sci., 16, 1–10.
VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology). (2020, February 5). Novelty speeds up learning thanks to dopamine activation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205132255.htm
Aguilera-Castells, Joan & Buscà, Bernat & Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, Azahara & Montalvo, Alicia & Peña, Javier. (2020). Muscle activation in suspension training: a systematic review. Sports Biomechanics. 19. 55-75. 10.1080/14763141.2018.1472293.
Boehler, B. (2011). Electromyographic analysis of the triceps brachii muscle during a variety of triceps exercises. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The Best Ab Rollers For Beginners, Non-Slip, And More
Ab rollers can be key in targeting ab muscles, as well as lesser-used core muscles. At the most basic level, the ab roller motion requires you to roll out on the roller from a quadruped position into a knee plank, and then roll back using your core to power through it all. Some athletes love ab rollers because they provide an awesome workout and target multiple muscles all at once. But since they require practice and stability to use properly, many people shy away from them and opt for more basic sit-ups or planks instead. Once you overcome the intimidation factor though, these devices can help you work deep muscles you may not be able to reach with just your bodyweight.
The core is a lot more complex than what many give it credit for. For example, a lot of beginners think the core is just the rectus abdominis (abs), but it’s actually the whole musculature of the torso. Ab rollers force you to move through a range of motion that requires multiple core muscles to engage, promoting a strong, neutral torso. They may appear simple in design, but not every ab roller is created equal. We’ve tested and reviewed some of the best ab rollers on the market for multiple purposes, and put them right here on this list for you to use on your own personal hunt.
Best Ab Rollers
Best Ab Roller Overall
Sometimes all you need to make a solid ab roller is quality manufacturing. Simple but effective, this pick’s durability goes beyond what you would typically find in a basic sporting goods store ab roller.
Rogue Ab Wheel
The Rogue Ab Wheel has a nickel-plated steel shaft and durable rubber tire tread that aid with stability and grip on most surfaces. The wheel’s edges are slightly rounded, which challenges you to hold steady on rollouts and avoid turns to better engage your core. While more durable than basic plastic rollers, this pick is still compact, lightweight, and portable.
Rogue Ab Wheel
The Rogue Ab Wheel is compact, lightweight and portable, and has a nickel-plated steel shaft and rubber tire tread that provides solid stability and grip.
Its 1.25” diameter and rubber handles provide texture for a steady grip, allowing you to focus on working your core, hip flexors, back, shoulders, thighs, and more.
Who Should Buy The Rogue Ab Wheel
Athletes looking to level up from a more basic plastic ab roller.
Users who want a sturdy nickel-plated steel shaft and rubber wheel.
Anyone who wants a durable ab roller that can stand the test of time.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Rogue Ab Wheel
Customers looking for a cost-effective ab roller — this one is more expensive than most.
Anyone looking for a large ab wheel may want to check out other options on this list.
While a little pricier than your average ab roller, the Rogue Ab Wheel is made of high-quality steel and rubber that is built to challenge your core and last throughout years of usage.
Best Ab Roller for Beginners
When you’re just starting out, you’re going to want a roller that’s simple, stable, and easy to use — and it wouldn’t hurt if it came with an instruction manual. This pick nails it with all of these aspects and also dishes out durability that doesn’t usually come with rollers in this price range.
Fitnessery Ab Roller
The Fitnessery Ab Roller is not only a high-quality roller at a low price point, but it also comes with an e-book of workouts you can do with your ab roller, so newbies aren’t left wondering how to use the device.
Fitnessery Ab Roller
This is a high-quality roller at a low price point, and also comes with an e-book of workouts you can do with your ab roller. It’s made of durable stainless steel and non-slip rubber and PVC, and comes with a lifetime money back guarantee.
It’s also space efficient with a maximal width of 11 inches, which is small in comparison to the average 15-inch rollers on the market — but its wheel is thicker than most, which is great for first-time users. It’s made of a durable stainless steel and non-slip rubber and PVC, and comes with a lifetime money back guarantee, which is a great fallback perk for those just starting out.
Who Should Buy The Fitnessery Ab Roller
Beginners who prefer an ab roller that comes with an exercise guide e-book.
Anyone who wants a roller with a steel shaft and textured wheel for stability and grip.
Those who want a compact wheel they can store easily when it’s not in use.
Folks who are looking for a reasonably priced ab roller.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Fitnessery Ab Roller
Anyone looking for a seamless rollout — the rollout does not feel as smooth on this roller as it does on some other rollers.
Those who want more of a challenge will want to look for a thinner wheel for more side-to-side difficulty.
The Fitnessery Ab Roller is a solid choice for novices who need the extra guidance of an e-book, as well as anyone who just wants a solid roller at a low price point.
Best Ab Roller Pair
The benefit of using a pair of ab rollers is that having a roller in each hand allows your arms to be spread wider, which in turn, activates more of your core. This lightweight pick can help advance your core exercise routine.
Amazon Basics Exercise Fitness Ab Rollers
Though straightforward, this pair of Amazon Basic Exercise Fitness Ab Rollers can challenge your stability even more than a single ab roller can. Simply roll your arms wider as you roll out for more of a challenge, and once your strength improves even more, you can advance your rollouts further to just using one arm at a time.
Amazon Basics Exercise Fitness Ab Rollers
Amazon Basic Exercise Fitness Ab Rollers will challenge your stability more than a single ab roller — just roll your arms wider as you roll out for more of a boost.
Each roller measures 7.9” x 15.8” x 5.7” inches and weighs 2.6 pounds, so you can bring them with you in a gym bag or just throw them in an equipment closet in your home gym when your workout ends. This pair is fairly inexpensive, and its black and blue polypropylene and nitrile butadiene rubber build will look great and last for a long time to come.
Who Should Buy The Amazon Basics Exercise Fitness Ab Rollers
Athletes who want to progress their ab roller workouts to a more challenging level.
Anyone who wants to try working one arm at a time.
Users who are looking for a cost-effective roller option.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Amazon Basics Exercise Fitness Ab Rollers
Beginners who just want to try their hand at using one ab roller without advancing to two just yet.
Anyone who wants an ab roller with treaded grip on the wheel will want to look at other options on this list.
While an ab roller pair may not be for everyone, it’s a great option for users who want to advance their routine or try using one arm at a time — plus, this particular pair looks sleek, too, with its bright blue and transparent rubber wheels.
Best Ab Roller Kit
While ab rollers are great for core work, they can also be used for other resistance training if you have the right tools. This particular ab roller pick comes with six different tools you can use with or without your ab roller.
EnterSports Ab Roller Wheel
The EnterSports Ab Roller Wheel is a great standalone tool you can use to work your core, but pair it with resistance bands or push-ups and you can get a full-body workout, as well. Luckily, this ab roller comes with two resistance bands, two push-up handlebars, and a knee pad to elevate your session.
EnterSports Ab Roller Wheel
This ab roller comes with two resistance bands, two push-up handlebars, and a knee pad that you can use with or without your ab roller to elevate any workout session.
While all of these tools can be used to advance the core work you are already doing with your roller, if you hook the resistance band under your feet and around the ab roller, and hold the roller by the handles, you can also work your upper body with curls or lower body with resistance band squats. This all comes at an extremely reasonable price for all six products — if you’re looking to build out your home gym with a bunch of equipment in one go, this is a great pick for you.
Who Should Buy The EnterSports Ab Roller Wheel
Anyone who is looking for more than just an ab roller to build out their home gym.
Athletes who want to advance their ab roller workouts with resistance bands or push-up handlebars.
Customers looking for a good bit of equipment at a reasonable price.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The EnterSports Ab Roller Wheel
Users who just want to buy a straightforward ab roller without any extra frills.
Anyone who already have resistance bands may not need the ones that come with this wheel
For a reasonable cost, you can get an ab roller, two resistance bands, push-up handlebars, and a knee pad all in one — if you’re working toward having a full set of gym equipment at home, this is a great way to check multiple boxes at once.
Best Non-Slip Ab Roller
If you’re the type who’s concerned about catching the tile the wrong way and slipping mid-rollout while you’re using your ab roller, this pick is for you. With a wider wheel and additional resistance and assistance during movement, this roller provides optimal stability while in motion.
Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller
Unlike normal ab rollers, the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller has a couple of unique construction traits that help with stability. There’s an internal spring that provides additional resistance as you roll out, and assistance as you roll back, making slipping virtually impossible.
Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller
This ab roller has an internal spring that provides additional resistance as you roll out, and assistance as you roll back, and it comes with a wide wheel for extra stability.
Additionally, the wheel is designed with ergonomic friendly handles and a wide wheel so you have more coverage on the ground as you roll, increasing stability. Plus, this pick comes with a knee pad and a downloadable 21-day workout plan for guidance.
Who Should Buy The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller
Anyone who wants a wider wheel for more stability on the ground.
Athletes who want an internal spring that provides more resistance and assistance during motion.
Those who want a roller that comes with a knee pad and/or workout plan.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller
Customers looking for a cost effective ab roller option.
Folks who want a compact roller they can bring on the go with them.
Though larger than some other ab rollers, the wide wheel on this roller allows for more stability, and the internal spring adds resistance on the rollout and assistance on the roll back for a thorough and safe workout.
Benefits of Ab Rollers
These deceptively simple but brutally effective pieces of equipment have fairly straightforward benefits. They’re used to enhance the strength and stability of abdominal muscles which is their main focus, but ab rollers may also help develop the upper body muscles of the chest, shoulder, triceps, and even back from stabilizing yourself throughout the range of motion.
Image via Shutterstock / Olena Yakobchuk
Improving your abdominal stability can possibly aid in athletic performance, heavy lifting, and everyday life making these very useful yet affordable pieces of equipment. Progressing the difficulty is rather easy with just a weight plate or weighted vest. You can also make the movement easier by using bands for assistance or rolling on your knees instead of planked.
How We Chose the Best Ab Rollers
Though there are many similar ab rollers on the market, there are small nuances that help differentiate between rollers. For this reason, we carefully curate our top picks by assessing two characteristics: construction and performance.
Construction
The first characteristic we assess with ab rollers is their overall construction. More specifically, we look at three components that all need to be high quality to ensure durability and functionality in a roller: the wheel, the handles, and the shaft.
The summation of these three construction components can separate a great ab roller from one that will break down quickly. For example, you want a shaft that is made of steel, and designed to withstand continual stress to ensure there’s no bending. Also, wheels should have a sturdy construction and outer texture for grip. All of these details factor into our construction assessment, and therefore, no roller on this list comes poorly constructed.
Performance
The performance assessment of the ab roller helps us decide which groups of athletes would benefit most from each pick. From a macro view, all ab rollers will perform similarly, but tiny details make them better for certain types of athletes. For example, resistance wheels are ideal for advanced fitness enthusiasts who need a little extra resistance to work their core. These athletes can also benefit from kits that come with more equipment to incorporate into their workouts.
Image via Shutterstock / George Rudy
Larger wheels are best for beginners who are learning the movement, and easing into the full range of motion. But textured wheels are great for pretty much anyone because there is less slippage, and you can use them on virtually any surface. These are only a few ways we assess the performance of every ab roller, but you’ll find a variety of these characteristics on this list to ensure we have something for each type of athlete.
How Much Do Ab Rollers Cost?
Ab rollers are rather inexpensive pieces of equipment that provide a great benefit for anyone looking to improve their abdominal stability and strength. Compared to ab machines and other larger or more expensive ab devices, ab rollers may seem simple. That helps to keep the price down compared to other ab training tools.
Best Ab Roller Overall
Rogue Ab Wheel
$75.00
Best Ab Roller for Beginners
Fitnessery Ab Roller
$30.99
Best Ab Roller Pair
Amazon Basics Exercise Fitness Ab Rollers
$29.99
Best Ab Roller Kit
Entersports Ab Roller Wheel
$39.99
Best Non-Slip Ab Roller
Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller
$39.99
You can snag ab rollers for pretty cheap — as little as about $30 though they do go on sale sometimes so you may be able to pick one up for even less. Some other more expensive ab rollers have upgraded features like textured wheels for better grip, padded handles for comfort, and bearings for smoother rolling. They can cost up to around $75 though most are in the range of $40 to $50.
What to Consider Before Buying Ab Rollers
While ab rollers may seem fairly straightforward, you’ll still want to consider things like your personal workout routine and fitness level before deciding which ab roller to get. To understand what we mean, read on.
Workout Styles
Everyone’s fitness routine varies to some degree. Whether you love pilates and low impact work, or you are sprinting on the treadmill and hitting those heavier weights, incorporating an ab roller into your routine can be beneficial. However, if you’re using your roller daily or on rough surfaces, you’ll obviously want one that is more durable. On the other hand, if you are using your ab roller only on occasion and on smooth surfaces, you can get away with a less expensive option that’s a little less durable.
Image via Shutterstock / Beauty Stock
You should also consider if you want accessories to come with your ab roller or not. Many ab rollers come with a knee pad at the very least, and some even come with resistance training equipment. If your workout style will benefit from a kit, you’ll want to opt for that instead, as you will most definitely get more bang for your buck in that case.
Level
If you’re a beginner, you are going to want to hunt down a different ab roller than someone with more advanced technique. Beginners will want a larger wheel with good grip that helps with stabilization, while more advanced athletes may want something more narrow that challenges their core significantly. Before you just grab the best looking roller or the cheapest option, toss your fitness level into consideration and grab the roller that will help you progress the most.
Final Word
Ab rollers can be a great tool for building a strong and resilient core. From ab rollers that come in full kits, to ab roller pairs, there are plenty of functionalities to choose from on today’s market. What’s great about ab rollers is that truly every level athlete can find one that will work for them.
Like every piece of equipment though, it’s always wise to assess what you want and need most in your roller and compare from there. And overall, let this list be your guide as you get rolling.
FAQs
I’m a beginner, what type of ab roller should I buy?We’d advise looking for a roller with cushioned handles, a wheel with rubber tread, a wheel that is slightly larger, and maybe even an option that comes with an exercise guide to help learn the movements. All of these components can be useful to help ease you into using ab rollers more fluidly.
How much do ab rollers cost?Ab rollers are fairly inexpensive, especially for how effective and difficult they can be. You can pick a cost-effective roller up for around $30 though sometimes they’re even less than that. On the high end, ones with bearings, padded handles, or treaded wheels can cost anywhere from about $50 to $75.
Is an ab roller bad for the back?Every exercise when done incorrectly can come with inherent risk, and the ab roller is no different. We suggest performing rolls at your own pace, judging your range of motion on your personal strength abilities. If you cannot achieve a full roll out right away, then start small and work toward it.
Can an ab roller get me a six-pack?An ab roller, a balanced diet, and a consistent workout plan can all help you achieve more definition. Instead of thinking about one piece of equipment, think about the bigger picture and how a roller can be a tool to help you get there.