7 Best Ab Rollers in 2023 (Top Ab Wheels Reviewed)

It’s constructed with stainless steel inserts, sturdy PVC, and anti-slip TPR. It ensures comfort and safety. You need not worry about destroying your wooden floor or carpet. EVA rubber cotton is used to cover the handles, preventing burns and hand fatigue, while also wicking away moisture. Both sides have less than a 5" grip surface, which might be a problem for big hands.

Since seeing your desired abs pop requires a long-term commitment, this combination of materials boasts an extended lifespan to witness your prized journey. However, experienced athletes use a narrower profile at different angles, targeting the sides of the abdomen and obliques. The distinctive slight curve of this wheel tries to accommodate that.

This ab roller is a great fit for beginner to intermediate levels. Knee protectors are really useful in preventing knee damage and allowing unfettered mobility during intensive training.

The Ab Carver Pro is a broad, spherical wheel that allows straight rolls and slight pivots to the right and left. The deep core muscles that support the pelvis and spine are toned as a result. This design comes with pros and cons. For example, the wheel sits stable and secure on the ground. But it isn't very portable.

photo by perfectfitness_jp

In contrast to conventional ab wheels, it employs a unique carbon steel spring system that offers resistance as users roll out and assistance as they reset to the starting position. It activates more muscles and rules out every chance of slipping.

Its padded, slanted, and ergonomic hand grips also maximize arm muscle activation while remaining cozy and sturdy. Knee pads, a 21-day downloadable fitness plan, and a 1-year manufacturer's warranty are all included with the roller.

Fitnessery's abs roller acts as your personalized trainer by helping you develop larger and stronger six-pack abs along with increasing fat burn, muscle mass, and overall endurance. It has a lifetime money-back guarantee and additional items like a knee pad and e-books relating to the optimal diet and workout plan.

This ab wheel is among the best home gym equipment if you want to squeeze in a quick workout or save money on a gym membership! Although its diameter falls on the thin side, you'll love the performance if you have prior experience with stability training. Its non-slip rubber tire will securely grip any floor. And the handles have soft cushioning for maximum comfort.

This ab roller wheel is made of durable materials to withstand even the most strenuous workout sessions. Sturdy PVC, non-slip rubber, soft EVA, and stainless steel are the major contributors.

Using a core roller wheel indirectly nourishes joints and ligaments. The strength of your bones and joints is connected to the integrity of muscles. Maintaining a correct form and firm core will boost their stability.

Strength exercises are rarely touted as cardio. But the abs roller involves constant forward and backward movements. Heart rate and blood flow spike up! They don't only burn fat, but calories too.

San Diego University commissioned a study with the American Council on Exercise, finding out the top 13 exercises for your abs. And abs rollers were there before traditional crunches, as you'd expect. Most above-ranking exercises, such as Captain's Chair and Bicycle Maneuver, need hefty investment and space.

In short, you can achieve faster results with an ab roller wheel than doing sit-ups, planks, and crunches. You don’t have to splurge or set up a large establishment. You can also pack this petite pilate instrument to take wherever you want.

There are two types of decision criteria: product and personal. Look for the build quality and texture of the wheel. Then, toss your requirements to find the best ab roller for your fitness arsenal at a reasonable price.

As you might’ve noticed in ab wheel reviews, manufacturers have a different approach when it comes to the roller’s size and shape. The primary consideration should be stability, so the wheel doesn't shake or wobble when you drag it across the floor.

Some models attach a pair of wheels or a single extra-wide wheel with over 3” of diameter and flat edges to help you learn the movement. A rubber lining ensures better traction on tiles and hardwood floors. The Rogue Ab Wheel includes bushings for seamless spinning. However, going for a broader coverage has a trade-off. Such wheels are hard to operate sideways, restricting the roller's versatility.

An ergo grip sets apart the best ab roller from the one you won’t pick up after the first trial. Look for the outer texture, thickness, and padding of the grip. When you push it against the body weight, a lot of stress acts upon your wrists. Cushions can alleviate it to a great extent. But don't go overboard to bring squishy handles home.

The shaft (crossbar that slides in the wheel and connects handles) should be of metal – steel or aluminum. Then, the wheel itself determines the lifespan. Cheaper plastic breaks and bends, which leads us to the last factor: max weight capacity. Check out the weight rating before falling for looks or the price tag. If it breaks amid the workout, you can get injured.

Everyone will find the best ab wheel in a different product. It depends on your personal needs and fitness level. If you aren’t going to crush your core workout frequently, you don’t have to buy the most expensive and the most robust option out there. The same is true for smooth surfaces. A basic design with round edges and 300 lb of capacity will work just fine.

On the other hand, advanced athletes might want to add more resistance to the rollouts. They'll prefer thorough kits. Knee pads are the norm. But resistance bands can make a significant difference in cost. Thankfully, Enter Sports Ab Roller Kit is a cost-efficient choice that star professionals and complete beginners can rely on alike.

Rolling in and out is an anti-extension exercise, which requires good core strength to do properly. If you're a novice, slog through planks and crunches to hit that foundation first. Then, you can move onto the wheel. And here are a few tips to remember.  

Tighten your stabilizers to feel the stress on the abdominal muscles. Think of an imaginary plank on your back, keeping you flat from head to hips. Make sure not to hyperextend. Don’t let elbows curl or knees bounce in the same pattern. Also, control your breathing. Inhale when rolling out and exhale on contracting to the starting position. 

The farther you extend, the more activity your abs record. But don't get overhyped, as a weaker core can pass that pressure onto the lower back. Another mistake newcomers can make is speeding up mid-exercise with huffs and puffs. You can try rolling into a wall or some other heavy obstacle for a controlled movement. 

It’s essential to get the technique right. So, start slow. Do one round of three to five reps. Keep the distance short early on. Once it gets easier, extend the range of motion. Move away from the wall until you don’t need one. Lastly, increase repetitions or double the sets' quantity. Aim for at least two days of weekly abs training.  

No matter how much you diet and bike, lift and run – results take time. So stay committed. Each exercise has multiple iterations, alternating knees, adding resistance bands, or using one arm.

Following are a few exercises, ranked according to their difficulty level.

Ab Wheel Planks – It's the introductory movement with an abs roller, where you practically perform planks but with the wheel. It works your entire core and teaches you how to grip the handles. Try to balance your weight in a straight position for 60 seconds, wheel and toes touching the ground.

Ab Wheel Pikes – If you have an abs roller with straps, do pikes to train your lower back muscles before jumping to the signature rollouts. They're simple. Start with a tabletop plank with shoulders, elbows, and wrists in a straight line. Pull the roller in as the hips create a V-shaped arch.

Kneeling Rollouts – Level up the core game. It requires comfortable knee pads or a mat. Take it as a transition exercise from beginner to advanced level. Start on your knees with a tight core. Extend your arms as you slowly roll away. Challenge yourself to the optimal distance. Pause and return!

Oblique Rollouts – Once you can easily do 25-30 kneeling rollouts, it's time to spice up. You'll roll out sideways instead of straight to engage your obliques. Push the wheel away to your left. Return! Do this again towards the right. It'll create a 'V' pattern. Start with the half or quarter range.

Standing Roll-outs – The ultimate challenge! This variation shouldn’t be done early in the career. Here, you won’t roll out on your knees. Rather, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend downward in a controlled fall until suspended by the wheel touching the ground. Roll forward and backward.

In a 2006 research, scientists gathered to find the best abdominal exercises. Twenty-one adults participated. And at the end, power wheels were named the winner. Rollouts work up a range of muscles. It's a compound exercise that's more effective than traditional planks and crunches. 

Spot reduction is controversial. Our body doesn't cut down on fat from specific parts. It's more of a general conditioning. Saying goodbye to your love handles before doing rollers is crazy. But if you’re consistent with them and have a calorie-deficit diet, your core will get powerful with abs shining through on a flat belly.  

Being impatient is natural. But rollouts are like any other strength exercise. Your body needs recovery time after an exhaustive core workout. Instead of repeating the practice every day, scale through the routine. Add more reps and challenges to the exercise. But do it two to four times a week.

We’ve scoured a dozen options to do the best ab roller reviews. According to our testing parameter, Enter Sports Kit is the most viable option for a range of abs exercises of multiple intensity levels.

Ab rollers can help you get definition in all four layers of abdominal muscles. You have to stay deliberate and dedicated. The results will be surprising for your core and overall functional health. Tell us about your experience in the comment section. Have you attempted ab wheel exercises?

References:

• Is It Possible to Target Fat Loss to Specific Body Parts? // Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/targeted-weight-loss#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3

• Electromyographic analysis of traditional and nontraditional abdominal exercises: implications for rehabilitation and training // PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16649890/
• American Council on Exercise (ACE)-sponsored Study Reveals Best and Worst Abdominal Exercises // Acefitness:
  https://www.acefitness.org/about-ace/press-room/press-releases/246/american-council-on-exercise-ace-sponsored-study-reveals-best-and-worst-abdominal-exercises/
• The Ab Roller Benefits Your Core, Upper Body and Glutes (if You Follow This Guide) // Livestrong: https://www.livestrong.com/article/22361-ab-roller-benefits/
• Ab Rollouts vs Pikes // Progressive Performance Personal Training: https://progressiveperformancep2.com/blogs/p2-training-club/ab-rollouts-vs-pikes
• Why the Ab Wheel Is Such a Challenging and Effective Workout Tool // Self: https://www.self.com/story/ab-wheel-challenging-effective-workout-tool