Which balance board is best for budget-conscious buyers?
Dear Coach,
I have been researching balance/wobble boards and there are a million different kinds. Any recommendations for someone on a budget? Thanks!
M.D., San Jose, Calif.
You are so right. There are a million different kinds of boards, balls, discs and other stuff to make you INstable to challenge and train stability and, with that, your core muscles including abs.
In addition to balance or wobble boards, you’ll also hear them called rocker boards. And these days there are also various options shaped like steps, domes or small discs that are inflatable – the premise being that if you are more advanced you just blow them up firmer so it’s more tippy to use, and if you are less trained, you keep it softer so you don’t fall off immediately. New also are boards made totally of a dense foam material.
Prices for basic boards can go from as little as $10-$15, especially in sporting goods and department stores, up to $80-$90. And you could also spend several hundreds of dollars for more complex pieces that can nearly be their own little mini-gyms, serving as platforms for step training or strength exercises.
There are also sport-specific types that are shaped like skateboards or snowboards or train you for skiing (from brands like Bongo, Indo or Fitter First) and may also roll more than wobble, but we won’t address those here.
Generally speaking for basic conditioning you’ll end up with a circular platform that has a fulcrum of some sort on the bottom in the center. The higher it is, the hard the task will be. Best bet is to make sure it’s adjustable in height so you can start lower and it will grow as you become more advanced.
Click here to view the Adventure Network + Total Fitness Network Buying Guide on balance boards. In this, we also give some basic do’s and don’ts on use.
Before you buy, stand on it (please hold on to something so the wobble doesn’t send you flying!) and make sure it rocks and wobbles smoothly. As our Buying Guide notes, make sure it doesn’t flex when you use it. The more expensive boards may be larger, have more minute adjustments, may come with instruction or DVDs, and could be made of more durable materials such as wood.
The inflatable options today are good ones, albeit more expensive, such as Spri’s Step360 or the BOSU half-dome, with prices ranging from about $85-$150. Yes, it’s more money but you can do a lot more on them so they are worth a look, depending on your budget.
Unless you choose the inflatable option, then aim for a mid-range-priced board – perhaps $40-$50, assuming it meets the criteria we lay out in the Buying Guide.
And don’t forget to use tiny moments in the day even sans equipment to train balance and your core: Stand on one foot when you are waiting in line and let yourself wobble a bit, catching yourself as you go off-kilter. Rise up on your tippy toes and stay balanced while you are doing things like brushing your teeth. Use soft surfaces such as an exercise mat or cushy grass as an impromptu “balance board” – basically take all those do-nothing moments of the day and make them do something for you.
Good luck in your program!
–Therese Iknoian
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The “Coach,” Therese Iknoian, has her Master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise physiology and is an American College of Sports Medicine-certified instructor. To read more about Therese’s coaching, outdoor and fitness background, click here.
