No matter where you are in your fitness journey, it pays to have a great ab wheel to take your fitness to the next level.
What Are Ab Wheels?
Ab Wheels are a versatile piece of fitness equipment that make a great addition to any workout routine and offer several benefits for the trainee. Most Ab wheels are light weight and compact, which makes them easy to take with you on the go. They are also an effective tool when it comes to building a strong foundation that will carry over into most compound lifts and movements of daily life. You’ve likely seen this equipment dozens of times online or at your local gym and may be wondering which type of Ab Wheel would best fit your training needs.
To get the most benefit from using your new ab wheel, important aspects to consider before purchasing include your current level of fitness, your budget, and the amount of wrist and elbow support preferred. Choosing the right ab wheel will allow you to customize your workouts and will bring you one step closer to reaching your current goals.
Ab wheels stand out for their effectiveness for engaging core muscles to a staggering degree of efficiency while also working other parts of your body such as the upper back, shoulders, and glutes. Since Ab Wheels work as an important full body exercise, they offer major benefits for improving static balance, core endurance, running performance, and performance with all compound lifts.
6 Best Ab Wheels For Your Core
Best Ab Wheel Overall: Vinsguir Ab Roller Wheel
Best Ab Wheel On a Budget: Bssay Ab Roller Wheel
Best High End Ab Wheel: DMoose Ab Roller Wheel
Best Beginner Friendly Ab Wheel: Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro
Best Foot Engaging Ab Wheel: Lifeline Power Wheel
Best Unique Ab Wheel: Wonder Core Ab Roller
When Choosing An Ab Wheel
When it comes to choosing an Ab wheel, it is important to know your current fitness level. The central wheel plays a crucial role in the stability and functionality of ab wheels, making it particularly important for beginners to choose a design that supports their engagement.
If you are a beginner, a wider wheel with more traction is the way to go. For example, the Ab Carver Pro has one of the widest wheel bases on the market at almost 8in wide, which increases stability and support for newcomers just learning the movement. On the flip side, if you are an advanced lifter you likely already have a strong core foundation and would be able to use a standard size ab wheel, such as the Vinsguir Ab Wheel.
Selecting the best ab roller involves considering stability, progression, and affordability, ensuring it caters to different fitness goals and preferences, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced athlete.
Types of Ab Wheels
Wide vs. Narrow Wheels
Wide wheels provide stability and comfort, making them ideal for beginners or those who prefer a more gentle workout that engages the entire core. Narrow wheels offer more versatility and challenge, making them suitable for advanced users or those who want to target specific muscle groups. Consider your fitness goals and preferences when choosing between wide and narrow wheels.
Single vs. Double Wheels
Single wheels require more core engagement and are ideal for those who want to target their abs and obliques. Double wheels provide stability and comfort, making them suitable for beginners or those who prefer a more gentle workout.
How We Help
In the preceding sections below, the team at Imbued Strength will provide a credible and practical analysis to help you make your most informed decision when choosing an Ab wheel. We’ve tested a variety of ab rollers to provide insight regarding the hands on experience we have accumulated, allowing for a more accurate and personal examination for each product.
Best Ab Wheel Overall Vinsguir Ab Roller Wheel
The Vinsguir Ab Roller is a basic and portable ab wheel roller that provides a simple, versatile addition to your ab workouts. As a standout equipment, it fits seamlessly into the broader category of tools designed to enhance your core strength and stability. With an item weight of 1.41lbs, it is easy to include in your gym bag, ensuring you can take your ab workouts anywhere you go. Carrying it around is hassle-free, making it a convenient option for those who travel.
Compared to other ab wheels on the market, the Vinsguir Ab Roller boasts several superior features, one being the stainless steel handles wrapped in a rubber cotton EVA material for a softer and comfortable grip. This wheel also has a 3.2in wide wheel base that is great for reducing potentially unwanted sideways shifts during a rollout.
Another important feature is the heavy-duty weight resistant design that has a capacity to support up to 440lbs, accommodating most users with ease. The wheel is crafted with TPU material to enhance floor grip, reducing the risk of slips and injuries.
Assembly is straightforward, requiring less than a minute to connect the two handles ensuring they are securely fastened. Priced at $25, the Vinsguir Ab Roller is a valuable investment for your fitness routine, offering benefits that justify the cost when compared to other ab wheels, which may not match the simplicity the Vinsguir Ab Roller provides.
Best Ab Wheel On a Budget: Bssay Ab Roller Wheel
Taking a glance at the Bssay Ab roller wheel, you will notice the slightly curved 3.7″ wheel base which provides a different dynamic when compared to conventional ab rollers. Your obliques and lower abdominals will especially get a kick out of using this wheel, since the curvature changes the base of the wheel by providing enhanced maneuverability when performing ab rollout variations that deviate laterally.
The ridges on the wheels are aligned horizontally and are made of a none slip rubber, so on most surfaces you wont have to worry about damaging any floors, which also make it a very quite option if you have a baby at home. With a weight capacity of 600lbs, mostly everyone can use a wheel without worrying about compromising the integrity.
Priced at $20, this wheel is very budget friendly compared to other options, making the Bssay Ab roller a low cost investment that doesn’t break the bank.
One issue that we found while testing this Ab Wheel is the tendency of the stainless steel handle cover to slide out of place. If this becomes an issue, Bssay offers a lifetime warranty where you can call the Bssay and speak with a representative. If money is tight, but do not want to miss out on the benefits of an ab wheel, then considering the Bssay Ab roller might be the option for you.
Best High End Ab Wheel: DMoose Ab Roller Wheel
If you’re looking for a unique twist on the traditional ab wheel, try The DMoose Ab Roller Wheel with Padded Elbow Supports. Tested and approved by physiotherapists and trainers alike, the DMoose ab roller is highly regarded for its injury prevention design.
Do not be fooled by the cushioned padded elbow supports. This padding ensures that your upper body is stabilized for an increased mind muscle connection providing a greater degree of stimulus for your core. The handle bar connected to the elbow supports give your hands a resting spot and provides even more stability to help keep the upper body stable while keeping the core engaged.
This wheel comes pre assembled so you can just unbox and start rolling at your discretion. The anti slip rubber treaded wheel is 4in wide making it an excellent options on many surfaces, decreasing the risk of damage to the floor while rolling. You can pack this wheel and take it on the go, but remember since you cant disassemble the handles, this makes it slightly awkward to travel with.
Priced at $90, this ab wheel is definitely one you want to consider as a long-term investment. The quality, ease of use, and padded elbow supports are all unique features that make this Ab Wheel worth the extra money. Built for longevity and backed by a team that consistently produces on all fronts, you surely wont be disappointed with your decision
Best Beginner Friendly Ab Wheel: Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro
At a glance it is easy to notice the large wheel size and spherical shape of the Ab Carver Pro by Perfect Fitness. The wheel is a width of 7.5 inches, making this the ultimate beginner friendly tool for building functional core strength.
The patented carbon steel spring mechanism provides trainee’s with added resistance and feedback, which is useful for people new to ab rolling. Beginners will greatly benefit from this feature, and even more advanced lifters who have never used an ab roller before. This wheel weighs just under 5lbs, and due to the size and weight, could create potential problems with portability.
The handles are easy to assemble right out of the box, the unique ergonomic design are angled to help optimize engagement in the core by slightly being curved to mold better with your hands. The handles are non-slip and removable so you can easily store or transport whenever you need. This wheel has a decent weight rating of 300lbs, making it ideal for most fitness trainee’s.
The Ab Carver Pro costs approximately $40, a middle of the road price compared to others wheels on the market. It has a solid design and premium build, increasing the quality and value of your future investment. As a true novice to ab wheels, this wheel is one of the absolute best options when it comes to comfortability and safety. Perfect fitness did a great job with this product
Best Foot Engaging Ab Wheel: Lifeline Power Wheel
The Lifeline Power Wheel blends the traditional use of a standard ab roller with foot pads to reshape your workout to hit your core training from new angles. At 2.49lbs., this ab roller is light and has larger than life dimensions of 17.01 x 16.54 x 3.7 inches, making it by far one of the tallest wheels on the market.
Since 1973, Lifeline has been an industry leader for developing outstanding training tools that many trainee’s, beginners and fitness professionals alike, have used for functional fitness and athletic training. The Lifeline Power Wheel is another example of their innovative equipment.
When using the Power Wheel you will need to place your hands or feet about shoulder width apart to participate with different exercise options. With this combination, the number of exercises you can do are vast and can be combined with other forms of resistance training and aerobics. When assembling the Power Wheel, it is recommended to read the instructions for proper assembly, as there are a few parts you do not want to miss when putting it together.
With a higher price point of $60, you want to be sure your purchase justifies your needs. If your goals are to ultimately work your core and other assisting muscle groups in ranges of motion you wont get from using traditional ab wheels, then the Power Wheel from Life Line should definitely be considered.
Best Unique Ab Roller: Wonder Core Ab Roller
The Wonder Core Ab Roller is a platform based ab wheel uniquely designed to offer trainees the option to use its wide surface for a multitude of core training movements that would not be accessible with a traditional ab roller. The Slide Fit by Wonder Core offers three different workout modes that target your hips, back, shoulders, and of course the core, all at the same time, making this wheel suitable for all types of trainees.
You can adjust the three level resistance devices on both sides for maximum rebound power by adjusting the bottom axel of the dual motion resistance system. You can turn either side for greater or lesser rebound power depending on your level of fitness.
The Slide Fit offers an app that includes fitness guides, training modes, and unique fitness games for free, so you can stay disciplined with your routine and track your progress. weighing in at 8.38lbs, this wheel is heavier than most ab rollers you may be used to. The dimensions of this ab wheel are 17.2″L x 11.02″W x 4.72″H, and are certainly catered to for home gym and commercial gym setting that do not require on the go travel, as you would not want to lug this equipment too often.
The handles on the Slide Fit are collapsible and are made with an ABS material, a strong non-toxic finish used for its durability and flexibility. The TPR rubber used to create the wheel works great for rolling on uneven terrain for its impact resistance attributes, so you don’t have worry about unnecessary shock on the joints.
At $99, this is considered to be another premium ab wheel that is definitely an investment to consider when compared to other more affordable options. However, unlike the other options listed above, you will not find too many companies that provide a solid multipurpose wheel that can handle more than ab based exercises, making the Slide Pro an unique and versatile asset.
What To Look For When Picking An Ab Wheel
Check The Weight Capacity
The weight capacity can be a vital piece of information to pay attention to before purchasing your ab wheel since it can be a potential safety hazard. In addition, make sure to pay attention to the material used to make the piece of equipment itself, as cheap plastics will not last as long as some of the higher quality, and often slightly more expensive wheels
How Big Is The Wheel?
The size, and width are another important attribute to pay attention to when choosing your future ab wheel. As mentioned previously, wider wheels offer more stability and support, which is ideal for beginners to advance their ab rolling skills. A narrow wheel is better suited to those who are more experienced with ab wheels or who are more experienced with strength training, as a narrow wheel provides less support. Therefore expect to feel fatigue faster with a narrower wheel than if you were to use a wider wheel since they requires more skill and stability from the trainee.
Is The Wheel Comfortable To Use?
Ab wheels are meant to be challenging, but comfort with use of the equipment to some degree is important. For example, having padded elbow supports which you can find from the DMoose Ab Roller, or having a wider wheel base from the Ab Carver Pro for more stability initially can both be good options to improve the overall experience. Feeling sore after your workout can be normal, but soreness that lasts more than a few days or that reduces your ability to perform everyday tasks can be a sign that you did too much. More is not always better.
How Much Does It Cost?
It is important to consider your budget whenever you are buying a new gym equipment, or anything for that matter. For the price your paying, does the end justify the means? In other words, will the cost of this investment pay out over the long run and benefit your future by helping you reach your current goals. Ask yourself this when making a final decision. Budget and Price
Consider your budget and the price of the ab roller, as well as any additional features or accessories. Look for ab rollers that offer good value for the price, including durable construction and effective design. A budget ab roller can still provide a great workout, but may lack some features or quality.
Handles and Grip
Look for ab rollers with thick, ergonomically designed handles that provide comfort and support during workouts. Consider the material and texture of the handles, as well as any additional features like grip tape or padding. A good grip is essential for maintaining control and stability during ab roller exercises.
Brand and Quality
Research the brand and read reviews to ensure you’re getting a high-quality ab roller. Consider the reputation of the brand and any certifications or endorsements they may have. A good brand will provide a safe and effective workout, as well as durable construction and customer support.
The Benefits of Using an Ab Wheel
Effective Muscle Engagement
Ab rollers are an effective way to engage the abdominal muscles and improve core strength. Using an ab roller can also help improve posture, balance, and overall athletic performance that come as by products from the benefits ab rollers can provide.
Reduces Risk Of Injury
Ab wheel are one piece of the injury prevention puzzle. Having a strong and stable core can carry into your daily movements and functional lifting patterns. You’ll start noticing how much easier and natural other movements begin to feel when you regularly include ab rollers in your workouts. Similar lifts that require a strong stable core, like farmer carries and barbell back squats will start to feel more natural as you progress with load and volume.
Improves Posture
Building a stronger core relieves a lot of pressure form your lower back. This is a common area that people feel pain when performing every day activities, let alone working out. An ab wheel trained with intention and longevity in mind will improve your bodies ability to receive and disperse.
Versatile
You can utilize ab wheel workouts while standing, on your knees and with two wheels. Get creative when modifying you workouts, this will help your progress long term when incorporating new movements and is a great way to stay engaged with your workouts.
Portable
In most cases, you can throw your ab roller in your gym bag wherever you go so you never miss an ab workout again. When you have an ab roller wherever you travel, excuses are limited and you can hold yourself accountable to dishing out a few exercises without spending hours at the gym.
Ab Wheel Rollout Progression Tips
It’s an important mistake that most people make during the ab wheel rollout: They try to roll as quickly as they can when they begin or perform movements they are not ready to do. This can cause lower back discomfort, joint pain and unnecessary stress on the muscles.
When first doing ab wheel rollouts, focus on flexing the core as if bracing for a punch. You need to feel your abs more than your lower back, without sagging forward before you can fully roll them out to the position you desire.
Finding the Best Ab Wheel for Your Needs
Consider your fitness goals, budget, and preferences when choosing an ab roller. Look for a durable and effective ab roller that provides a comfortable and challenging workout. With the right ab roller and proper technique, you can achieve a stronger, leaner core and improve your overall fitness.
FAQ’s
What Is The Best Ab Wheel?
The best ab wheel comes down to your own personal preference. Take the time to ask yourself questions such as if you will use the device long enough to improve your results, and if your chosen ab roller will provide the aid and stimulus you’re looking for.
Are AB Wheels Any Good?
Yes! Ab wheels have been proven many times as a great way to sculpt your abs and work the crucial stabilizing muscle groups that assist with engagement. Adding these devices will elicit a greater stimulus in your core especially when joined with other like movements.
Is A Wider Ab Wheel Better?
The wider ab wheels benefit newer users who haven’t had much experience working out their core muscles or using ab wheels. More than experienced athletes would benefit more from a narrower single wheel, however it isn’t uncommon for experienced lifters to use wider wheels.
Is It Good To Do The Ab Wheel Everyday?
Begin using ab wheels a few times a weeks at a time (1-2 days out of the week) so that your abs will have time to recover and improve from the stress you placed on them. Always remember, to much of anything isn’t good, so go easy on the rolling at first and then increase your frequency once you’ve adapted properly.
References
Escamilla, R. F., Babb, E., DeWitt, R., Jew, P., Kelleher, P., Burnham, T., Busch, J., D’Anna, K., Mowbray, R., & Imamura, R. T. (2006, May 1). Electromyographic analysis of traditional and nontraditional abdominal exercises: Implications for rehabilitation and training. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/86/5/656/2857416#190902869
