The best ab rollers can get you a six-pack, yet it takes up very little space in your home. The process of getting a six-pack might not be as simple as buying the best ab roller, and BOOM, you have washboard abs, but this small yet effective home gym equipment can certainly help you roll your way to a slender midriff faster.
Ab rollers don't look like a serious piece of fitness equipment, yet they are one of the most powerful tools you can utilise to build a killer six-pack and a bullet-proof core. The best ab rollers are a 'core' part of the best core exercises – another reason to get one soon.
Mastering this deceptively simple-looking home gym equipment can take quite some time, and although it might feel challenging at first, the power of ab rollers can indeed be harnessed for good. Roll out and roll back in 1,000 times, and you shall, too, have a six-pack and a strong lower back.
When setting up a home gym, you will probably want to invest in some dumbbells or kettlebells, potentially a weight bench and maybe – if you are serious about weight training – a barbell. But you should also get an ab roller because not only does it not cost much to buy one, but ab rollouts are probably the best core exercise ever.
Best ab rollers to buy right now
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The carbon steel spring mechanism of the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro provides some resistance when rolling out and some assistance as you roll back in. The wide wheels have a spherical property to them, so you can move slightly sideways with them. This works your oblique muscles as well as your lower back and abs.
The handles not only look funky but are also ergonomic and padded for extra comfort. You will be pretty preoccupied trying to engage your core; you don't want to worry about blisters on your palm, do you? The Ab Carver Pro includes a knee pad and a downloadable 21-day workout plan so you can start working on your core muscles straight away when the parcel arrives. 👌🏾
If you thought ab rollers are only good for working your abs, you could not be further away from the truth. With the SKLZ Core Wheels, you can train your shoulders, hips and torso too. Since the system includes two individual wheels, you can move them separately and take your core exercise to the next level. The Core Wheels are lightweight and sport ergonomic handles.
Wouldn't it be great if someone compared the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro and the SKLZ Core Wheels? We did! Check out the results in the aptly-named Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro vs SKLZ Core Wheels article here.
The PULLUP & DIP Ab Wheel is a good alternative to the no1 product in this guide. It's slightly cheaper, has a similarly comfortable grip and rubberised wheel surface that grips into any surface you might do your ab workouts on. The wheel is slightly wider and rounded that allows for some steering – great for working the obliques. Although the PULLUP & DIP Ab Wheel is far from being a large piece of home gym equipment, the handles can be detached for even easier storage.
The price might be a bit steeper than your average ab roller but the PULLUP & DIP Ab Wheel is far from being expensive. Better still, the knee pads are included in the price so you don't have to buy them separately.
Mirafit products are the perfect representation of the term value for money (VFM). Not like ab rollers are expensive anyway, but the Mirafit Ab Roller comes in closer to the bottom of the price range rather than the top. For that money, though, it offers outstanding quality construction and twin wheels for extra comfort, making this ab carving device easier to steer. On top of this, it also comes bundled up with a knee pad, all included in the price. You really haven't got any excuses not to spend five minutes a day doing ab rollouts.
Probably the most straightforward ab roller on the list, the Gallant Ab Roller does what it says on the box. Consisting of a stainless steel core, a durable PVC wheel and two foam grip handle, you really can't go wrong with it. A 15 mm knee pad is also included in the price.
The SuperV Ab Roller is basically a more conveniently-priced smaller sibling of the Ab Carver Pro without the resistance coil. It has a high load-bearing core, foam handles, and a natural rubber outer ring that is quiet and wearable, so your downstairs neighbours don't have to listen to the constant whirring when you work on your abs. Thanks to the wide and steerable wheels, you can work your obliques, too, with the SuperV.
How to buy the best ab roller for you
You might think you can buy any old ab roller off Amazon, and it will do just fine, right? Wrong.
Surprisingly, there are a lot of different versions of ab rollers you can choose from. Some are straightforward, like the Gallant Ab Roller; others, like the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro or the SuperV Ab Roller, lets you steer them sideways so you can train your obliques, too. And there is the SKLZ Core Wheels which look like little dumbbells with wheels, and you can use them for lateral movements.
You want to pick a robust ab roller with a high tensile strength core. Also, the handles need to be ergonomic and padded, ideally, so your palm won't ache after each session. Some ab rollers come with foam knee pads, so your knees won't get too abused during the exercise.
FAQ
Are ab rollers better than crunches?
Crunches have fallen out of grace in recent years, and many PTs won't recommend doing them as when performed incorrectly, they can do more harm than good, not to mention, there are better ways to get a six-pack fast.
Using an ab roller instead of doing crunches have a range of benefits. First of all, unlike crunches, ab rollers work the entire core area, including the lower back, which can help you achieve a better posture and not just a six-pack. Ab rollers also work other body parts, including the shoulder and back, so the ab rollout movement burns more calories than crunches.
It's also less likely you'll pull your neck doing ab rollouts than it is when you try to pull yourself up, holding on to your neck during crunches. That said, the ab rollout is a challenging exercise and requires some practice to master: those who carry a lot of excess fat around their torso might want to lose some of the flab first before giving ab rollers a go.
Try brisk walking or elliptical trainers first and start working on the six-pack after your body is used to exercising a bit more.
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