The 7 Best Ab Rollers on the Market for a Toned Midsection

I love a good ab workout and do my fair share of planks, leg lifts, and crunches. 

Honestly, I was even starting to get a little bit smug about my core strength.

Then I got an ab roller and was instantly humbled!

This simple training tool takes your ab workouts To. The. Next. Level.

Not only that, ab rollers are convenient because they’re small and portable, making them the perfect addition to any home gym or workout space. 

But not all wheels are created equal! That’s why I wanted to run through the different kinds you can get and help you find the best ab roller for your needs.

**I was not paid to write this review. However, this post does contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission on purchases you make after clicking on those links. (At no extra cost to you!) These are my own opinions and honest thoughts after using the app. Full disclosure here. **

Related: The Best Exercise Mats for Hardwood Floors

Overview of the Best Ab Wheels

 

Best Overall Ab Roller – Core-X Ab Roller

 

 

Best Roller Set Odoland – Odoland 6-in-1 Ab Roller Set

 

 

Best Ab Roller for Stability – Kansoon Ab Roller

 

 

Best Pair of Ab Rollers – SKLZ Core Wheels (Set of 2)

 

 

Best Ab Wheel with Resistance Bands – EnterSports Ab Roller

 

 

Best Budget Ab Roller – Day 1 Fitness Ab Roller

 

 

Best Ab Wheel with Foot Pedals – Lifeline Power Wheel

 

 

 

Best Overall Ab Roller – Core-X Ab Roller

This ab roller is one of the higher end models and at 5 lbs is quite sturdy and can accommodate up to 330 lbs.

It’s curved, slip-resistant hand grips make for a more ergonomic exercise session and comes with a foam mat to place under your knees.

What sets this roller apart from most is the smart brake and automatic rebound mechanisms. Using a steel spring, the roller is designed to provide muscle-building resistance on the way out and assistance on the way back in. 

The extra-wide wheel also provides the extra stability needed to roll out in different directions, allowing you to target different parts of your ab muscles. 

Lastly, it comes with a one year warranty for that added peace of mind.

Pros

• Sturdy
• Ergonomic, non-slip handles
• Extras: a knee pad and 21-day workout sheet
• 1 year warranty

Cons

• A little pricier than other ab rollers on the market

Best Ab Roller Set Odoland – Odoland 6-in-1 Ab Roller Set

This ab roller set by Odoland is perfect if you are looking for a few extras tools to enhance your workouts. In addition to a large ab roller, the set also comes with a jump rope, two pushup bars, two gliding discs, two grip trainers, and a small knee pad.

The ab roller is decent quality, (as are the other items) though not quite as wide and stable as the Core-X roller, nor does it have a rebound mechanism. 

However, it still has foam grips for comfort and a wide enough wheel to allow for a solid ab rolling workout. 

One minor issue on this roller is the bar that goes through the wheel is not secured by anything in the middle, which means the wheel may shift a little during your workout.

And with all the other items thrown in, you get a lot of value for the price of admission.

Pros

• Quality ab roller at a reasonable price
• Comes with several other exercise tools to enhance your workouts

Cons

• Roller is not secured to the handle bar which may result in the wheel shifting slightly

Best Ab Roller for Stability – Kansoon Ab Roller

If you need some extra stability in your roller, look no further than the Kansoon ab roller. This roller has not one, but three wheels for extra balance. 

The roller was designed with safety in mind and comes with anti-slip texture on the wheels and a standalone break you can use to customize range.

However, because it has so many wheels, some users find there isn’t as much turn capability as with standard ab rollers, which means targeting your obliques by rolling left or right might be more difficult to do with this one.

Pros

• Extra wheels and standalone break offer extra balance, stability, and safety

Cons

• The “tricycle” design might make it harder to roll out in different directions

Best Pair of Ab Rollers – SKLZ Core Wheels (Set of 2)

These rollers come in a set of two, one for each hand. This opens up a whole new world of possible exercises since you are no longer limited to rolling both hands in the same direction at once. 

For example, you can roll out to the side or roll one arm forward and one arm back. This design is ideal for those who are interested in working out both their shoulders and arms in addition to their abs.

And hey, you could even use these as a light pair of dumbbells. 

However, this style of ab roller is not ideal for beginners, especially if you intend on using them for arm exercises. If you don’t already possess a strong core and balancing abilities, you might hurt yourself. 

Pros

• Wheels for each hand offer a wider range of workouts you can use them for

Cons

• Not an ideal style of ab roller for beginners

Best Roller with Resistance Bands – EnterSports Ab Roller

The ab roller set by EnterSports comes with pushup handles and resistance bands. The resistance bands can be used with the pushup bar and the ab rollers, looping them around your shoulders or your feet to increase resistance during your workouts.

The bands are reported to be quite sturdy and take your ab rolling workouts to the next level. Some people prefer the resistance bands because although it ads more resistance rolling out, it makes it easier to roll back in. 

Many people report the set runs a little on the small side which means it may not be suitable for taller or larger people.

Pros

• Resistance bands adds more resistance to roll outs and assistance on the way back up

Cons

• A little smaller and less stable than other models

Best Budget Ab Roller – Day 1 Fitness Ab Roller

Fortunately, ab rollers are not overly expensive compared to some heftier pieces of home gym equipment, like exercise bikes or rowers. However, there is still a significant difference in price across ab rollers and if you’re on a budget you may want to look for a more inexpensive one.

Day 1 Fitness offers such a roller. This is a no-frills roller that comes on its own – no knee mat or fancy mechanism. It’s also one of the thinner wheels out there which means it doesn’t offer the stability and balance of more expensive wheels.

However, it still comes with foam handles for a comfortable grip and heavy treads on the plastic wheel to help avoid slippage.  

Users report it is easy to assemble and gets the job done. And you’ll be hard pressed to find one at a lower price! 

Pros

• Very low cost

Cons

• Bare bones ab wheel
• Thin wheel means less stability and balance

Best Ab Wheel with Foot Pedals Lifeline Power Wheel

This ab wheel by Lifeline is unique from the others because it comes with foot pedals, which increases the function of the wheel.

You can use it with the hand grips for traditional use, or you can slip your feet into the pedals and work your core with your legs from plank position. 

Once again, it is a thinner wheel which can make stability a challenge, however it comes with tire treads that help with traction.

There appears to be a little bit more assembly required with this model than with other ab rollers, and some users find it handles could use a little more padding. It’s also a little pricier than the average ab roller. 

Pros

• Foot pedals facilitates more functionality than other ab rollers
• Tire treads for traction

Cons

• A little pricey
• More assembly required than the average roller

How do I choose an Ab Roller?

As you can see, there is quite a wide range of roller styles to choose from. Which one you should get depends on several factors:

Budget

Fortunately, ab rollers are one of the more inexpensive items you can get for your home gym. And there is truth to the adage that you get what you pay for. 

While the budget option this list will get the job done, it is worth the little extra investment to spring for one of the more higher-end rollers with more features and addons. 

Current Fitness Level

Not all of these ab rollers are suitable for beginners! If you’re new to ab exercises, you’ll want to choose a wide roller that will help you keep your balance. 

The Core-X or Kansoon rollers are a good choice for beginners as they both offer lots of stability and safety features, with either a stand-alone break or rebound mechanism. 

However, if you’re already pretty fit and looking for more of a challenge, the set of SKLZ rollers would be an ideal choice for stepping up your core workouts.

Intended Use / Fitness Goals

If you are looking for something straightforward to use for 10 minutes a day, then the style of ab roller isn’t as important. But if you’re looking for more functionality you will want one that offers a wider range of movements.

For example, the SKLZ rollers are great not just for standard ab rollers, but for arm and shoulder exercises as well. 

Similarly, the pedaled roller by Lifeline can help you exercise multiple muscle groups based on whether you use it with your hands or your feet. 

Workout Environment

Give some thought as to where you intend to use your ab roller as that could be an influencing factor.

For example, if you don’t already have a home workout space with an exercise mat, you will want to make sure you get one that comes with a knee pad.

Or if you’re using it on hardwood you’ll want to make sure it has a soft tread and not made of hard plastic so that it doesn’t damage the floors. 

How to Use an Ab Roller

Watching someone use an ab roller makes it look easy, but doing it yourself can be quite another matter. If you want to make sure you’re using your new ab roller properly, here are a few tips on proper form!

Start off in tabletop position on your hands and knees, making sure you have a long, flat empty space in front of you. It’s a good idea to keep a mat under your knees to protect the joint and prevent bruising! 

Grab your roller with both hands by the handles. Keeping your core tight, slowly roll forward, moving your arms and torso as far out in front of you as you can, but before you reach the point where you feel you would have trouble pulling yourself back up.

You might find your range of motion limited in the beginning and that’s normal. Just go out as far as you can manage and you can work your way up to rolling farther out as you build strength. 

Make sure that as you roll out that you’re keeping your arms and back straight!  Keep your head down and your neck in a neutral position.

Once you’re at your full extension, you can hold for a few moments to increase intensity or start using your abs to pull yourself back to the starting position. 

Avoiding Injury

Remember this is a challenging move so take precautions not to hurt yourself. If you feel any pressure or pinching in your back, either decrease your range of motion or work on other core exercises that can help you build up the strength needed for ab rolling. (Think plank exercises like mountain climbers and bird dog.)

It’s also not a bad idea to set up a “blockade” of sorts to prevent you from accidentally rolling out too far. For example, the Kansoon roller comes with a break, but you could just as easily use a wall. 

Summary

Hopefully this guide helps you narrow down what kind of ab roller you should get and how to incorporate ab rolling into your fitness regime. 

You will likely find it to be a very challenging workout but that’s how you know it’s going to be effective! Be patient with yourself and do a little each day, and you will be carving your way to fitness in no time.

Happy rolling! 

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