Best Ab Workout Devices

Abs tend to get overlooked, and for good reason. Ab workouts are notoriously difficult and often not much fun to do. Speaking of his own ab workout program Ab Ripper X, renowned exercise expert Tony Horton said, “I hate it! But I love it.”

That tends to be the feeling for most people when it comes to giving the abs some attention. We love the feeling afterwards and the fantasy of a six-pack, but everything before that really sucks. Thankfully, you don’t have to just kill yourself with crunches and other body workouts. We have technology!

And today we’re going to review some of that technology to help you decide which ab machine can help you get the results you’re looking for.

 

 

Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller
13,698 ratings (4.6 stars) on Amazon
$39.99

CAP Barbell Ab Trainer
7,733 reviews (4.1 stars) on Amazon
$35.95

Core Max Ab Machine
4,894 reviews (4.4 stars) on Amazon
$98.99

 

Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller

This neat-looking device is basically a wheel with padded handles to assist you in doing crunches. While holding the device, you learn forward into a horizontal position, while engaging your core, and then roll back up to your starting position. There are many devices like this, and most of them are fairly simple and look sleek.

Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • Wide wheel increases stability and makes movement easier
  • Works upper body as well
  • Ergonomic handles
  • Interior carbon steel spring provides resistance
  • Handles are removable for storage and transport
  • Comes with pads for knees
  • Can be used right out of the box
  • Can use different angles to train
  • Weighs only 4 pounds

Cons:

  • Requires some fitness level before using and may not be ideal for beginners
  • Not advisable for those with knee problems

 

CAP Barbell Ab Trainer

This is the quintessential ab workout device. The one that makes you think, “It’s so simple it just might work!” The device sits on the floor and provides neck support while you push through your crunches. That’s pretty much it.

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Sturdy
  • Easy to assemble
  • Easy to use
  • Great support for the neck and back
  • Steel construction
  • Weighs only 5 pounds
  • Weight capacity of 250 pounds

Cons:

  • Only good for crunches
  • No back support
  • Not exactly the most fun ab device to use
  • Some find it bulky

 

Core Max Ab Machine

This nifty little device looks simple but actually can be used for a variety of customized workouts. It can be used for eight different kinds of exercises, and it has three intensity levels. Will it get you sexy abs? Only time will tell.

Pros:

  • Folds for easy storage
  • Eight kinds of exercises
  • Back support
  • Maximum weight capacity of 220 pounds
  • Power-assisted rebound system allows for resistance and support
  • Comes with a nutritional guide and a workout DVD

Cons:

  • No neck support
  • Weighs 13 pounds

 

 

These are all extremely different machines, and deciding which one (if any) to buy really comes down to what kind of exercises are most comfortable for you and how much space you have for a machine.

Regardless of what sort of ab workout device you use, they are all ultimately designed to not only make the workout easier but also to make it more fun. So don’t buy something that you’re going to hate!

Lastly, remember that despite what some companies may claim, you’re not going to get washboard abs with 5 minutes of exercise each day. Toning the body takes a lot of effort and a lot of time, and abs arguably take the most time to shape. So be patient! Don’t expect results right away, and don’t get discouraged if you feel that results are taking a long time to see. It’s also important to improve your diet and increase your overall muscle mass.

Ab workouts—we hate them! But we love them.