Wobble your way to fitness with this $16 balance board. (Amazon)
The beginning of the new year is a great time to wake up old muscles. For me, that means hopping back onto my Yes4All Wooden Wobble Balance Board. It never fails to whip my glutes, thighs and core back into shape. My upper body loves it too. This year, I plan to make it a daily habit — the stronger I get, the more intensity I can add. If you're looking for a quick, easy, compact workout tool, I wholeheartedly recommend it — especially since it's just $16.
The sturdy wooden wobble board has an antislip, 15.75-inch surface pad and supports up to 300 pounds.
This sturdy wooden balance board has an antislip, 15.75-inch surface and supports up to 300 pounds.
Pump up your workout routine with these vinyl-coated cast iron kettlebells. They feature flat, no-roll bottom and smooth handles, and the weight range is perfect for beginners.
"Great home gym circuit option!" raved a fan. "This set is just right for our strength training circuit workouts. We alternate how we use these, but typically combine lunges or squats with a single kettlebell within our circuit of 10."
I used to clock in and out of surgery and physical therapy like it was my day job. I loved dancing and performing but not exercising — my hips were unstable and hypermobile. I had at least one injury at any given time. Eventually, a no-nonsense therapist left me stranded on a wobbly balance board with a list of exercises. My glutes and core were forced into action. In these sessions, I began to build strength and stability, alleviating my hip and back pain and improving my balance.
Later on, I was reunited with the board after a shoulder injury. Again it helped me, and again the sessions came to an end as I got stronger. I wasn't about to let it slip away this time. I needed to build a mini home exercise arsenal, and this would be essential.
I finally snapped up my own Yes4All Wooden Wobble Balance Board. Every time I pull it out, I have to battle my husband and child for a turn. It's simple to use for all fitness levels and can challenge a host of muscle groups. Use it for balance work, deep lunges, planks, Pilates and more — some even use it for burpees!
To start, simply set it atop a nonslip surface, like a mat. If you're new to balance trainers or have balance issues, position it near a wall, a chair or any stable object you can grab onto before stepping onto it. Then wobble away. It's so compact that you can use it and stash it pretty much anywhere.
Related: The best exercise balls for 2025 (and why you need one)
This little dynamo has racked up over 7,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. As I read the reviews, I was surprised to see how many fans use this as a passive strengthener — they use it while working at a standing desk, chatting, watching TV, even cooking. Others use it for rehabilitation. And some folks take it a step further and use it for a full-body workout.
"Oh my goodness, this is fun!" wrote one five-star fan. "I'm 68 and want to improve my overall balance/core, so I ordered it. It was user-friendly as soon as I took it out of the box. I use it in my kitchen with the counter nearby. It is a nice workout and fun. My 20-something kids like it too. We're all working on our planks with it as well. It's a challenge!"
Another shared: "I use this to assist my mobility when standing and working my desk job. I have weak ankles, so I love how this helps me work on my flexibility, balance and strength. Funny enough, we had a party and our friends all had a blast taking turns playing on it. It is very durable and well built."
A third fan wrote: "I am surprised at the workout you get on this thing! It works your core, your glutes and your legs. I use it while I'm waiting for things to cook making dinner." This reviewer is feeling it too: "Very sturdy — I'm 255 pounds and [it] feels solid. Try doing planks on this if you want to feel a real core burn!"
"At a local health fair, I had my balance tested and rated about the same as the average 90-year-old woman! That is 30 years older than I actually am, and I knew it was time to improve in that area," this pragmatic shopper wrote. "This is sturdy and challenging and is an excellent addition to my daily exercise routine. I have found that it not only improves my balance, it also tones my core."
As one buyer rightly notes, be careful, especially if you're new to balance boards. "Make sure to be near a fully stable wall or bar until you are totally get how it moves with you," they cautioned. "Especially because it is 360 degrees and in a split second you can fall and hit your head or break a bone if you don’t make sure to clear space around you and take proper precautions."
"I do recommend that if you have wood floors to also purchase a nonslip yoga mat," said another helpful shopper. "Because it will slide a lot on a wood floor and that could be dangerous. But with the yoga mat it has worked very well."
To really round out your mini home studio, consider adding a kettlebell set:
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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It'll include connected bikes, rowers and treadmills.
Fitness
