Created by Tom Messina using images from StrongTek
Your Amazon cart is probably full of workout equipment you haven't gotten around to ordering for your home gym. Chances are, you're stocked on dumbbells, but did you remember to add a core stabilizing balance board?
Balance boards — also referred to in some circles as wobble boards — are a great multipurpose tool that can help improve core strength, balance, and overall fitness. Originally designed as surf and skate simulators and trainers, they've come a long way from helping people master those kickflips. Studies have shown that core stabilization exercises (like a balance board) can also help lower back pain. Another recent study even showed that participants who stood on a balance board while working helped increase the number of calories they burned — making them great to use while you work at your at-home standing desk.
Because these devices are designed to challenge your balance, injury is a possibility if you're not careful. Make sure to use them on a flat, smooth surface. (Using one on a carpet will actually slow down movement — which can be a good thing for beginners or when using boards that allow for a large range of motion.) If the board's surface is slick, opt for bare feet or wear shoes that can maintain their grip on the device.
Before investing in a balance board, make sure you take note of how much load the board can handle, so that you get the best one for your weight. Using the board near a wall or desk that you can grab onto for balance can also be a safer option as you get used to that rocking sensation underfoot.
Whether you're looking to feel more sure-footed in your daily routine, are recuperating from an injury, or trying to intensify your existing workout by engaging more muscles during basic exercises, a balance board will deliver results. Some balance board models are even made specifically for surfers, wakeboarders, skaters, and snowboarders looking to develop their skills, as well as practice correct fall protocols during the off-season. Overall, they're a highly efficient and effective way to strengthen your core, engage your muscles, and improve your stability.
This solid-wood balance board features an anti-skid surface so you can keep it steady even while you're working up a sweat and getting that dynamic training session in.
Perfect for controlled arm exercises, strengthening your lower back muscles, and balance challenges, this board comes with a bonus workout guide to help you ace strong, steady footing.
If you're a balance newbie, here's a good pick for you. The wide diameter (almost 16 inches) of the board makes it a bit easier to stay on. You can also adjust the height to 4.5, 5.75, or 6.5 inches, depending on the challenge level you want.
Up your WFH game with this balance board designed to keep you on your toes at your standing desk. It only tips at an 8.5-degree angle, so you won't be tipping over. However, you can still improve your balance and posture while you work.
Also, it has pressure points to keep your feet from getting sore as you stand (and you can even use it barefoot).
Whether you’re working or working out, this wooden rocker board will challenge your balance and strengthen your muscles.
Made from sustainable, plantation-grown timbers, it will outlast boards made from birch or pine. It can hold up to 350 pounds. But it’s small enough to fit under a desk, and the slip-resistant surface will prevent any slip-ups during Zoom calls.
This balance board training system is a solid option for beginner or intermediate tricksters. The board comes with a roller to balance on with or without shoes.
Plus, the set includes an exercise guide to make sure your moves are spot-on. After practicing tricks with this board, your body control will be completely on point. Since this device is shaped like a skateboard, you'll nail conditioning for your ollies, kickflips, and beyond.
Flip it over so that the flat, hard surface is on the top, and you can stand on it just as you would stand on a balance board. You can also flip it back over so that the rubbery part is facing up, and you can hop on and condition some of your favorite yoga poses. You could even get down on the ground and practice some pushups for added resistance and muscle stabilization.
This super popular fitness product has more than 7,000 Amazon reviews.
You'll love the nonslip surface on top of this round balance board, as you can get plenty of grip wearing just socks. It's a great way to strengthen the small muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your legs to either recover from or prevent injuries. The cheaper price tag is a no-brainer, too.
Improve balance and stability with this wider board, which is ideal for anyone who's more advanced in balance training or looking to rehab a more recurrent ankle or ACL injury.
It can be easily adjusted at 10, 12, or 15 degrees based on your balance and skill level, making it great for beginners to improve their range of motion.
Dimensions: 25.98 x 10.98 x 4.02 inches, 4.85 pounds
Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
This balance board will transform your standard exercises into fun, total-body workouts! To stabilize on this board, you're forced to engage your abs, legs, and many more muscles, so it's an easy way to do more with less.
It also comes with resistance bands, so you can add some bicep curls to your balancing squats.
Dimensions: 29.92 x 17.7 2x 1.18 inches, 14 pounds
Weight Capacity: 275 pounds
The Indo Board was originally designed in 1975 as a surf simulator for when surfers were out of water. It's now become one of the most trusted and recognizable balance and fitness boards on the market — so much so that it's a go-to for Olympic athletes, celebrities, and models alike. In fact, it has even spawned a namesake workout class. Trust us: It's worth the splurge!
Ashley MateoAshley Mateo is a writer, editor, and UESCA- and RRCA-certified running coach who has contributed to Runner’s World, Bicycling, Women's Health, Health, Shape, Self, and more.
Mara SantilliMara is a freelance writer and editor specializing in culture, politics, wellness, and the intersection between them, whose print and digital work has appeared in Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Airbnb Mag, Prevention, and more.
Eunice Lucero-LeeSenior EditorEunice Lucero-Lee is the Senior Editor for Best Products, and is a beauty, astrology, and pop culture obsessive whose work has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, and woman&home, among many others.
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