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The first thing that probably pops into your mind when you think of a balance board is, what is it and do I need it? Well to answer this, a balance board as the name suggests is a board (for lack of a better word) usually made of wood or plastic that is used to enhance your balance.
It can be used for workouts to increase the intensity, by professional athletes such as surfers for practice or even general balancing exercises. Other than advanced balancing capabilities, a balance board can result in many more benefits than meets the eye.
Balance boards come in many shapes and sizes hence can be easily categorized into four types which I am going to expound on in this guide. To add to this, I will help steer you in the right direction by giving you the secret to acquiring the right board and a list of the best balance boards.
So, before you dismiss the idea of a balance board, read through this guide for everything you need to know about them. You never know, it may be just the boost you need for your workout!
Top 5 Best Balance Boards Reviews
1. Revolution 101 Balance Board Trainer
This balance board from Revolution Balance is quite sturdy and durable as it is crafted from 11-ply hardwood material. This will enable it to withstand your weight and friction from rolling as well as give it longevity.
It also comes with quality and smooth finishing that allows you to use it even without shoes. With a weight of 6.8 pounds, this board is quite light allowing you to easily carry it throughout your endeavors. It is long enough to allow access for beginners and intermediate users.
The Revolution 101 balance board is versatile as it can be used for multiple activities such as yoga, snowboarding, general balancing and sports training.
Pros
- It is lightweight hence easy to transport.
- Durable and strong due to the material used.
- Can be used for a multiple of activities.
- Long hence easy to use and master.
Cons
- Not challenging enough for advanced users.
- Offers fewer motion options compared to a wobble board.
2. Yes4All Wooden Wobble Balance Board
With a weight of 3.4 pounds, this board is incredibly light making it easy to carry around. It features a unique non-slip surface technology that makes the surface rough to ensure you do not fall out while in use.
The material used is hardwood making it quite sturdy and long lasting hence it is able to support a generous maximum weight of 300 pounds. It is wide enough to allow both feet to fit comfortably and can be used for a couple of tricks such as full rotations, general balancing, side to side motions, back and forth rocking, as well as stretches.
This balancing board can improve your core strength and posture, help in strengthening target muscles and ligaments and enhances your balance and coordination. It can be used for all sorts of activities such as yoga, pushups, balancing exercises and rehabilitation purposes.
Pros
- It is strong and durable.
- Can support up to 300 pounds.
- Very light hence easy to carry and use.
- The bottom is made of high quality, durable material hence wear and tear is difficult.
- Wide enough surface for both feet.
- Offers multiple uses and for different results.
- It offers more motion options than rocker boards.
Cons
- The roller at the bottom is not round enough to provide a high level of difficulty.
3. ProFitness Wooden Balance Board
If you are keen on detail, you will be pleased to hear that this board comes with three color options hence providing you with some choices. It also comes with a 16inch radius that makes it wide enough for both your feet to comfortably stand on the board.
Being a wobble board, it offers multiple turning options such as spinning, rocking and stretches among others. It has an aggregate weight of only 3 pounds making it very light hence easy to carry and store.
The lightness of this balance board should not fool you into doubting its quality as it is made of a high-quality wooden material that makes it durable and strong.
With the purchase of this board, you can expect to see a great improvement in your core stability and balance.
It can also be used by rehabilitation individuals who are trying to work through any form of injury.
Pros
- It is incredibly light offering easy storage and transportation.
- Wide enough to allow comfortable use.
- Great for beginners and intermediate users.
- Durable and strong.
- It comes with multiple uses.
- Considered great for recovering patients.
Cons
- Not the best option for advanced trainers.
- A little hard to maintain I terms of cleaning.
4. Indo Board Balance Board Original with Roller
The first thing you notice about this board is the beautiful color patterns it comes with making it quite appealing. Well, on top of this, you are provided with 8 different color options allowing you to choose a combination of colors that are appealing to you.
It has a 13.8 pound weight and is made of a wooden board and an indestructible molded plastic roller. It goes without saying that these features make it sturdy and quite durable. The board is small hence involving a lot of risks while in use making it ideal for experts at using balance boards and professional athletes.
It can be used for a whole lot of activities ranging from sports training to general balancing exercises.
The Indo Board will promote a healthy body by improving your agility, balance, stability and posture. You are provided a free instructional video with the purchase of this board to give you an easy time while using it.
Pros
- Multiple color options are provided.
- It is quite sturdy and durable.
- Allows access to professionals and experts as opposed to most board usually meant for beginners.
- Comes with an instruction video.
Can be for multiple benefits.
Cons
- It is not the best option for beginners and intermediate users.
- A weight of 13.8 pounds is quite large compared to balance boards of its kind.
5. Revolution FIT 3-in-1 Balance Board
This is yet another magnificent product by Revolution Balance since it is meant for all fitness levels. This is attributed to the fact that it has more than one balance boards hence advancing in difficulty level will not be an issue.
It comes with an aggregate weight of 10.4 pounds making it quite light considering it has four separate parts. The parts include an inflatable wobble cushion that is ideal for balancing practices, an extra grip roller, durable FIT board and a rocker.
You are provided three color options and a real chance at enhancing your balance and core strength.
Pros
- It allows use by individuals in all levels ranging from beginner to experts.
- Strong and durable.
- It is quite light in terms of weight.
Cons
- A wooden wobble board is better preferred to an inflatable one.
- It contains many parts hence may be a bit of a problem when carrying it.
Type Of Balance Boards
Rocker Board
This is probably the most common type of balance boards available. It comes with half a cylinder and a board placed on top that allows you to balance. At times it comes with a concave board hence a roller is not included. It is simpler to use compared to other types of balance boards making it ideal for beginners.
When going for this kind of board, you need to look out for the length. The shorter the board the harder it is to balance and vice versa. Meaning that, if you do not have enough confidence in yourself, it is better to start with a bigger board. The upside of having this board is that it can be used for multiple activities such as rehabilitation, sports and general balance exercises.
Wobble Board
These types of boards are usually circular with a sphere at the bottom for rotating. They are pretty much like rocker boards save for the circular design that allows you to rotate in any direction and work on your spins as well as turns.
They are the second best option for a beginner as they too are quite easy to master. The benefit of having a wobble board is that it allows you to perform a wide variety of moves thanks to the circular shape it comes with.
Cylinder Roller Board
In this case, this balance board comes with a cylindrical roller and is usually short, lengthwise. It is quite challenging to balance on this board since for starters, the roller is a full cylinder which might easily roll over while in use.
Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, the board is usually small hence quite hard to balance on. If you are a beginner, I would advise you to steer clear off this board until you advance some more. Being able to balance on this kind of board will truly enhance your mind and body coordination and take your workouts to another level.
Sphere Roller Balance Board
If you manage to balance on this kind of board, you are truly a guru at this sport. It features a board with a sphere as the roller. Needless to say, a sphere is very unstable such that the tiniest mistake might cost you your teeth. I cannot emphasize enough the need for experience before attempting anything on this board.
Otherwise, it can be a great tool for pro athletes as well as professional surfers to work on their moves.
Getting A Balance Board That Suits Your Needs
When purchasing a balance board whether it’s your first or you have been I the game for a while, you need to be sure it is right for you. For your board to be the right one, you have to consider these three simple things.
Durability
Balance boards are usually subjected to a lot of pressure and friction, it would be a big shame to break or wear out your board weeks after you have bought it. So, when choosing a balance board, go for one made of hardwood material or plastic. Be careful not to pick a board that is too rigid as it might snap in the middle while you are on it.
Grip
Although you want a little challenge in your balancing exercise, the last thing you want is to fall off the board. This is where grip comes in. It provides added friction to the floor surface allowing you to balance with reduced chances of slipping.
However, not all board come with grip as advanced users prefer non-grip boards for added difficulty. In this case, you can consider adding your own grip such as using adhesive tape which you will remove when you are ready to advance.
Bottom line is, a good grip is an excellent feature and will be quite useful for beginners but if you are ready for a little bit of a challenge, try a board with less or no grip.
Difficulty Level
As seen from the section above, balancing boards come in all shapes, sizes and thus different levels of difficulty. Selecting a board based on your experience requires total honesty with yourself. It would be a shame to buy a board that you will never get to use because it’s too hard to balance on.
If possible, try out the board before settling on it or optimize on return policies. This way, you can be sure you are buying a product that will sure you.
Conclusion
There are so many excellent balance board in the market that I did not get a chance to touch on but you best believe that the five above are at the top of the list.
If I had to go with just one balance board, it would be the Revolution FIT 3 IN 1 Balance board. This is mainly because this board comes with both a rocker and a wobble board in one package. This will allow individuals in all stages of training to comfortably use it. It is also quite durable and strong hence will serve you for a while before experiencing any trouble with it.
That said, balance boards have multiple uses ranging from sports training tools to intensity increasing equipment during your ordinary workout. This makes them ideal for use by all individuals regardless of age and level of training.
That said, I do not see what’s stopping you from getting your own balance board and start reaping its benefits!
As usual, all comments and questions are highly encouraged so leave me some. Otherwise, happy training and remember to be careful while on these bad boys!
