An exercise ball is a versatile piece of equipment that can be used to engage your core, tone your tummy, improve your balance, stability and can even help alleviate back pain. They’re brilliant for completing easy at-home exercises, including yoga and pilates, and are a must-have in our books!
With low-intensity movements that can aid in cool-down exercises and recovery too, ball exercises are a wonderful alternative to more intense exercises that put stress on your joints.
If you're looking for an effective workout, with equipment that's super low-cost and can be neatly packed away when not in use, look no further. We've shared the best exercise balls available to buy including some fun workouts to try with your new toy.
Black Friday 2022 is officially Friday, 25 November, but deals are running throughout November and across the weekend. We'll be updating this page with all of the best deals, so make sure to keep checking back. We've got the best Black Friday deals on exercise balls here at Yours:
Best exercise balls
Yours Recommends: Best all-round exercise ball
Our top pick for the best exercise ball has to go to the Trideer Exercise Ball. This fitness essential ticks all the boxes when it comes to exercise balls: it's incredible value for money, made from eco-friendly, hypo-allergenic material, non-slip, anti-burst, and it comes with a warranty. What more could you want?
Key features
• Includes inflation foot pump and tape
• Size available: M (48-55cm) and L (58-65cm)
• Weight limit 2200lbs
• 30-day no hassle returns and 12 months replacement warranty
Review: "Love this gym ball. I injured my back a few months back and my physio advised me to purchase a gym ball to help with my rehabilitation exercises. It's robust and very easy to inflate with the supplied pump. Just make sure that you inflate it to exactly the right size by using a measuring tape."
Best exercise ball with workout guide
This exercise ball is not just a versatile piece of kit that you can use for yoga, Pilates, ab workouts, and more, it comes with an e-book packed with functional training exercises so you can feel inspired if you ever lack the motivation.
Key features
• Includes air pump, measuring tape, stability ring and e-book with exercises
• Size available: 55cm, 65cm and 75cm
Review: "I am seriously impressed with the quality of the product and customer service of this company. The ball itself is made of a high quality, durable material and not only feels like it will give proper support without needing to be constantly pumped up, but also like it will last through frequent use as both an exercise ball and as a chair to help with sciatica. The colour is a lovely aqua blue. Incidentally, there was next to no rubbery/chemical odor when I opened the packaging, which is a bonus. I have also been completely impressed with how excellent the customer service was. I highly recommend to anyone suffering from sciatica, tailbone/pelvis pain or looking for a pregnancy ball for exercise or labour."
Best exercise ball for warm-ups
Crunches, bridges, dumbbell exercises - this exercise ball is great for helping you warm-up, and work up a sweat. And don't worry, you won't slip off that to the anti-slip lines. We love that this includes a pump and tape for easy inflation to help get it to the perfect size.
Key features
• Includes pump and tape
• Size available: 55cm, 65cm, 75cm, and 85cm
• Weight limit: up to 250kg
Review: "Purchased for inner thigh stretches and leg strengthening. Excellent so far."
Best exercise ball for variation
As well as being extra thick and supportive, the TRESKO® Exercise Ball comes with 11 colours available to choose from, so you can make sure your exercise ball matches your favourite workout outfit. The air pump is suited for both hands or feet, but reviewers did find it took a little work to fully inflate. What a warm-up!
Key features
• Includes air pump
• Size available: 55cm, 65cm, 75cm, and 85cm
• Weight limit: up to 300kg
Review: "Super happy with this. Bought for my daughter who as special needs. It has taken a lot of punishment from her and not burst."
Best exercise ball for quality
The Mode33 Exercise Ball, available in six colours and four sizes, is made from professional-grade, high-quality, anti-burst PVC, featuring anti-slip rings for added grip and to help with balance.
Key features
• Includes hand pump
• Size available: 55cm, 65cm, 75cm, and 85cm
• 100 per cent money back guarantee
Review: "I am a bigger woman with spine problems. This holds me very well. A lot bigger than I was expecting but I had not seen one before. Feels thick. Comes with pump and repair kit."
Best budget exercise ball
www.argos.co.uk
At just £7.99 for an exercise ball, this is an absolute steal, and a firm favourite with reviewers who found it helped with balance, core strength, physio, and pregnancy support. Although it's only available in one size (65cm), it'll get the job done.
Key features
• Includes pump
• Size available: 65cm
• Weight limit: Up to 125kg
Review: "GP recommended to get one of these to help with pains and physio exercises. I wasn’t expecting this item to be so cheap! Thick material, easy to inflate, and comes with a pump too! Great product!"
How do I know what size exercise ball to get?
When choosing your exercise ball, you'll want the ball size to be proportional to your height so when you sit on your ball, your legs will be at a 90-degree angle.
You can use the below as a general guide:
Height 5' and under: 45cm exercise ball diameter
Height 5'1" to 5'8": 55cm exercise ball diameter
Height 5'9" to 6'2": 65cm exercise ball diameter
Height 6'3" to 6'7": 75cm exercise ball diameter
Best workouts using a fitness ball
If you're looking for some of the best ball exercises to get your body moving, here are some that'll engage your core and help stabilise your movements:
Wall squat: Take your squats to the next level and increase your core performance by using your new ball between you and the wall to stabilise your squat and maintain your position through the movement.
Sit-up: This home workout staple will help to strengthen your abs and core. Sit on the ball with your feet firmly planted on the floor, put your arms across your chest, and lean back, using your core muscles to help you sit up.
Hip-lifts: Great for working on balance and activating your glutes and hamstrings, lie on the floor with your heels on the ball. Raise your hips off the floor, keeping your abs tight and squeezing your glutes.
Lauren at SeniorShape Fitness has some great workouts for beginners or for anyone who has reduced mobility.
We love these seated exercise ball exercises that will work out your entire body, especially your hips and lower back, without any floor work:
Or if you're still a beginner but want to start toning your whole body, this video has some fun exercises that'll keep you comfortable and your heart rate elevated: