Best Balance Ball
We all know that regular exercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. The great thing about exercise is that there are lots of different ways to do it, so there is something for everybody.
It doesn’t need to be anything too intense, either, and you can easily get a great daily workout from something as simple as running or yoga.
For many different types of exercise, you won’t need any equipment at all. However, just sticking to push-ups and sit-ups can get very repetitive very fast.
If you live in an apartment in a city, then you may not have the space for a large treadmill or exercise bike. Thankfully, good exercise equipment doesn’t have to be very large, or expensive.
Balance balls, also known as exercise, stability or Swiss balls, are one of the cheapest pieces of home gym equipment you can buy.
Since they are essentially just a large PVA rubber ball, they also don’t take up too much space and are great for working out in an environment where there is limited space.
Owning a balance ball opens up a whole world of possibilities when it comes to working out or doing yoga. Today, we will be showing you some of the best balance balls that the internet has to offer.
BalanceFrom Anti-Burst and Slip Resistant Exercise Ball
Balance balls can be used for a number of different purposes, and this model is suitable for exercise, as a chair, or for support during labor and pregnancy.
Made from thick rubber, this table is capable of supporting weights of up to 2000lbs depending on which size you buy. The texture’s surface has non-slip lines, so you will find it easy to balance on this ball without falling straight off.
This exercise ball is phthalates free and doesn’t contain any heavy metal elements, which makes it very suitable as a birthing ball.
If you do plan to use it for this purpose, it will be a good idea to buy a size larger than the one you would pick for exercising. This will make sure that you have a product that can support your full weight.
You can buy this ball in a large range of different colors including blue, black, red and green, among others.
It comes with a free foot pump that you can use to inflate, although it is quite weak, so it will be a good idea to have an alternative means of inflating it as well. This ball is very easy to clean, since all you need to do is wipe it down with a wet cloth after use.
Pros
- Anti-burst ball that can support up to 2000lbs.
- Comes in a wide variety of different colors.
- The non-slip lines and texture surface make balancing on this ball much easier.
Cons
- The complementary foot-pump isn’t strong enough to fully inflate the ball.
You can find this balance ball here
Also available at: Walmart and Sears
ProBody Pilates Ball Exercise Ball
It is normal for your exercise ball to start slowly losing air the more you use it. As such, you will often need to regularly top up the air pressure in your ball, although some models will require more frequent refills than others.
This Pilates exercise ball, made by ProBody, comes with sturdy high quality seals to minimize air leakage and ensure the ball stays fully pressurized for longer.
You can buy this ball with or without a pump, but we would always recommend buying one that comes with a pump. Even if you already have your own means of inflating the ball, models purchased with a pump come with spare plugs as well as a plug remover.
This means you will have a spare in case you lose the original plug, and won’t have to struggle to remove access to the seal when inflating your ball.
These balls come in a variety of different colors and are designed to support weights of up to 2000lbs.
As such, this product works equally well for a variety of different exercises and can also be used as a birthing ball since it is phthalates free. ProBody makes their balls from a low odor material that won’t develop a peculiar smell with repeated use.
Pros
- Can be purchased with spare plugs and a plug remover.
- Sturdy plugs minimize air leakage.
- Phthalates free and made from a low odor rubber.
Cons
- May deflate much faster if regularly used as a chair.
You can find this balance ball here
Also available at: ProbodyPilates and Walmart
GoFit ProBall Stability Ball
This ball has a great non-slip texture that makes it easy to balance on when doing certain exercises.
It also has illustrations around the diameter, detailing some of the potential exercises you can try with your ball. If you are practicing certain yoga poses that require a stable foundation, then this is a great product for you.
This ball is made from thick rubber to support weights above the usual, 2000lbs limit. The seal is also very durable and helps to prevent too much air leaking out of the ball while you are using it.
One issue is that this seal is quite hard to remove from the ball when you need to top it up with more air.
Provided you can work around the difficult seal, though, this product is very reliable and offers great value for money.
It comes with a foot pump for inflating the ball, although as is often the case you may find it much quicker to use a compressor or regular bicycle pump. You also get a DVD full of great exercises you can do with your ball, taught by a professional trainer.
Pros
- Great textured ball that is easy to balance on when performing certain exercises.
- Exercise diagrams along the diameter.
- Comes with a foot pump and training DVD full of great workout routines.
Cons
- The seal is difficult to remove when you need to refill the ball.
You can check this balance ball here
Also available at: Rei and Walmart
Sportneer Balance Ball Trainer
The idea behind a balance ball is to provide an unstable platform for various exercises. Exercising on an unstable surface will help you to work out different muscle groups that are normally ignored in other work-outs.
This product by Sportneer is a bosu ball, which is an exercise ball that has been cut in half with a flat platform on the bottom.
Bosu balls are a great tool for practicing standing exercises that may be dangerous to attempt on a full ball.
This model has 4 mm thick rubber walls, so you can stand on it without bursting the ball. As such, it is equipped to handle weights of up to 300lbs, which makes it great for a variety of different exercises.
There are elastic pulleys attached to the base which you can hold onto while balancing on the ball. The platform on the base is very durable with rubber feet to prevent the rubber making contact with the floor and bursting.
This product comes with a foot pump and a plug remover to make inflating it very simple and easy.
Pros
- Stable base that protects the bottom of the ball from punctures.
- Comes with free pump and plug remover.
- Resistance bands help you to balance on the ball and perform certain exercises.
Cons
- Smaller than a standard Bosu ball.
You can find this balance ball here
Also available at: Sportneer, and Sears
Gaiam Ultimate Balance Ball Chair
As well as being great for a variety of different exercises, many people use balance balls as an alternative to an office chair.
Doing this is much healthier than sitting in a regular chair, since balancing on the ball will naturally encourage an ergonomic posture. This product includes a high quality exercise ball, as well as an office chair base for mounting it in.
The ball itself has thick rubber walls that make it very resistant to punctures or tears. It comes with an air pump, and since it isn’t a plastic foot pump, you can actually use it to effectively inflate the ball.
When you do inflate it for the first time, you will need to do so twice, deflating it to 50% capacity in between in order to get the right size and air pressure.
The chair base is a great addition, and comes with five casters that glide smoothly over most surfaces. There is a support bar at the back to prevent the ball falling out, and to give you a little back support when you need it.
This product is a great way to get a high quality exercise ball as well as a good replacement for your office chair.
Pros
- Provides an ergonomic alternative to a regular office chair.
- Comes with a high quality pump to help with inflating the ball.
- The ball is made from an anti-burst rubber that is highly durable.
Cons
- The ball is difficult to inflate to full capacity.
You can see this balance ball here
Also available at: Gaiam and OfficeDepot
Power Systems ProElite Stability Ball
This ball has a great textured surface that is unlike any other we have seen on this list. As such, it offers a lot of stability for performing certain exercises and the friction will help to prevent you sliding off.
It is made from high quality rubber that is built to handle weights of up to 600lbs, and is burst resistant up to 1130lbs.
You have a choice between two different sizes, including 55 and 65 cm balls. Like the last product we looked at, inflating this ball can take a bit more effort than is required for other brands.
After inflating the ball for the first time, you should wait 24 hours before partially deflating it and then inflating it to full size.
To help with the inflation process, you get a tape measure with this ball to easily know when it is at the right size.
The dimpled surface does make cleaning the ball a little more difficult than it is with a smooth model. However, wiping it down with a damp cloth should be more than enough to get it perfectly clean.
Pros
- A textured surface offers more friction for better stability.
- Comes with a tape measure, so you know when it is fully inflated.
- Durable design that is burst proof up to 1130lbs.
Cons
- Expensive.
You can find this balance ball here
Also available at: Power-Systems
URBNFit Exercise Ball
If you’re working on a budget, then this exercise ball comes at an affordable price and offers great value for money.
It is made from high quality PVC that is burst resistant and suitable for holding up to 600lbs of weight. There are non-slip lines around the perimeter of the ball which help to provide friction for better stability.
This ball is available in 5 different sizes, making it suitable for people of all heights. It works equally well for workout routines, as an office chair and as a birthing ball.
You can also get this product in up to 10 different colors including blue, green, pink, yellow and many more.
One of the great features of this ball is that it can be set up in a matter of minutes. The company gives you a dual action pump that allows you to inflate the ball by hand very quickly.
If you use the special discount code, you can get a set of three resistance bands along with your ball, which will help with exercises that aim to tone your muscles.
Pros
- Suitable for use as a workout tool, office chair or birthing ball.
- Non-slip rings around the perimeter of the ball.
- Comes with a dual action pump that makes inflating the ball very easy.
Cons
- This ball doesn’t have the best weight capacity.
You can check this balance ball here
Also available at: Walmart and Kmart
Buyers Guide
You may think that there isn’t much difference between the various brands of exercise balls. However, there are some important things to consider if you want to buy a product that will work for you.
Size And Thickness
Ideally, you want to buy a ball that allows you to sit on it with your knees at a right angle. For instance, if you are between 5’1” and 5’7” in height, then you will want to buy a ball with a circumference of 55 cm (22in).
If you want to use your ball as an office chair, then you will want to buy a model that allows you to sit comfortably at your desk. As such, you will need to measure the height of your desk and buy a ball that will fit comfortably underneath it.
You also want your exercise ball to be durable and made from suitably thick rubber. If you plan to use your product as a birthing ball, then it will be even more important that you buy a durable model.
One issue with balls made from thicker rubber, is that they may be harder to inflate. In many cases, you will have to inflate these balls and leave them for 24 hours before partially deflating them to roughly 50% capacity.
This will help to stretch out the rubber so that when you inflate the ball for the second time, it will be able to reach its intended size.
Seals
The seals on your ball are one of the most important components, as they are responsible for keeping the air inside. If you are a heavier individual, then you will want to buy a ball with very good seals to minimize the amount of air that leaks out when you sit on it.
Sometimes high quality seals can be difficult to remove when you need to reinflate your ball. As such, it can help to buy a product that comes with a seal remover to make this process much easier.
Having a spare seal is also very useful, as it means if you lose the original one, you will still be able to keep your ball inflated.
Texture
Most exercise balls will have some kind of texture on the surface, such as ridges or dimples. Textured surfaces provide better friction to help you balance on the ball. If you are looking for a ball to use explicitly for exercise, you should choose one that has a good non-slip surface.
Extras
Lots of balls will come with pumps to help inflate them, but often they are not very high quality. The small foot pumps that come with multiple models are very ineffective and will not properly inflate your ball.
If you can find a ball that comes with a dual action hand pump, then this will be a much more worthwhile means of inflating your ball. Other useful features include resistance bands to help with muscle toning and other similar exercises.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Exercise Balls Made From?
Most exercise balls are made from non-toxic phthalate free PVC rubber. This material is strong enough to withstand heavy weights without bursting and doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals.
What Are The Benefits Of Using An Exercise Ball?
Exercise balls provide an unstable surface for performing simple exercises such as push-ups, squats and many more. Working out on an unstable surface helps to train different muscle groups that aren’t targeted by regular exercise.
As such, they can help you to make your workout a lot more comprehensive, as well as a lot more fun.
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