Where Can You Find the Best AB Roller Workouts?

The ab roller may look like a gimmick in infomercials, but this unassuming piece of equipment can take your core workout to the next level. From basic ab roller rollouts to advanced variations such as oblique twists, these ab roller workouts can help you tone and strengthen your core.

This ab roller has a central wheel with a thick tread that provides more stability than many cheaper, thinner options. One of our testers also found the handles to be plush and comfortable.

Best Ab Rollers for Beginners

AB Roller Workouts can be intimidating at first, but they’re a great way to add dynamism and instability to your core workout, requiring you to use your core to power through the motion. They also target multiple core muscles that can’t be reached as easily with a simple sit-up, making them essential for a rock-solid core.

One of the best ab rollers for beginners is the Vinsguir Ab Roller, which has a central wheel with a thick tread that makes it more stable and beginner-friendly than other models. It also has thick foam handle covers that slide into place over the metal bar, either side of the wheel.

A well-executed ab roller rollout will fire up the upper and lower rectus abdominis, as well as the internal and external obliques — all muscles you’ll need for good posture and core stability. It will also hit your back muscles, including the rhomboids and rotator cuff, and improve shoulder mobility.

This set of two ab rollers offers a more varied workout than single-wheel options and is suitable for anyone who wants to move beyond basic plank and push-up exercises into more challenging variations like dynamic planks and chest flyes. The plush grooved foam handles house small rubber wheels on either end and are easy to grip, while the textured plastic and polypropylene construction should last for a long time.

Best Ab Rollers for Intermediates

An ab roller is a great piece of equipment for bringing variety to your core workouts. It trains the upper and lower rectus abdominis muscles, as well as the external and internal obliques—all muscles that provide stability for your spine while preventing hyperextension during movements like squats and running. Plus, it’s a lot more effective than sit-ups for sculpting your midsection.

You can find basic models that keep it simple and affordable or you can pay more for advanced features like wider wheels for greater stability. Some of these products also include built-in springs to add resistance to your workouts, although those are typically rarer. Bundles are another popular option, as they often come with other pieces of equipment for a complete workout routine.

Whether you’re shopping for a basic or advanced ab roller, it’s important to consider your fitness level and lifestyle when selecting one. For example, beginners may want a wide-wheel design that provides more stability, while intermediate users might prefer narrower wheels that allow them to angle their body and target the obliques. You should also consider how much space you have for storage or how portable you need the device to be. For example, some ab rollers are bulky and unwieldy, while others are compact and portable, making them easy to tuck away in your gym bag or home office when not in use.

Best Ab Rollers for Advanced Athletes

Ab rollers can be challenging for even the most advanced fitness trainee. This bundled set from SKLZ should give anyone with a high level of strength training experience the challenge they need to push themselves and test their limits. This set comes with two resistance bands, knee pads, push-up bar handles, and an exercise guide for the best results possible.

The SKLZ Core Wheels offer an advanced design that can be challenging for experienced trainers, but also easy enough to work with by beginners. The textured handles provide a secure grip and the wheels are designed for stability. The rollers can be used to target the ab muscles and other core muscles, including hip flexors, obliques, back, shoulders, and chest.

The central wheel on this ab roller offers multiple planes of motion, which is great for targeting all the key muscle groups. The thick tread on the central wheel helps with stability and traction, especially when rolling side to side. The rounded shape of the central wheel can help with core engagement and control, and helps to eliminate the erratic movements you might see in some cheaper models. This ab roller is easy to assemble and is small enough to easily fit in gym bags or luggage for travel. This model is also available in black or purple to match your workout gear.

Best Ab Rollers for Fat Loss

Having a strong core can help you look, feel, and perform better. It can also reduce your risk of injury and help you train harder in other areas. Adding an ab roller to your workouts can make them more effective, but it’s important to choose the right one for you.

As you progress, you may want to switch from the basic plastic ab rollers to one with a metal shaft and wider wheels. These will give you more stability and allow you to execute advanced moves like ab roller twists, oblique tucks, and more.

Another option is to choose a model with an internal spring that provides resistance as you roll out and assistance as you return. This is great for anyone who has a back issue and needs extra support while they train. Our top pick for this category features ergonomic-friendly handles and a wide wheel that covers more ground as you roll, providing more stability. It also comes with a knee pad and downloadable 21-day workout plan for added convenience.

Conclusion

Some models come with extra accessories that you can use for other resistance training, such as push-up bars or leg extensions. This is great for people who like to mix up their workouts and hit different muscle groups. Our pick for this category, the EnterSports Ab Roller Wheel with Knee and Arm Pads, is perfect for this purpose.