Finding The Best Ab Machine: The Buying Guide

Do you want to build that six-pack abs? If you answer, yes, then you need a good ab machine that can train your whole core. With much fitness equipment promising to give you fast results, finding the best ab machine can be difficult.

To streamline your choice, we review five of the best machines for abs as recommended by fitness experts and loved by many users. We try to determine the pros and cons of each ab machine so you can set the right expectations for each product.

If you’re curious to know, check our reviews and buyer’s guideline below.

Types Of Ab Machines

1. Ab Wheels

An ab wheel targets your abdominal muscles, back, shoulders, and arms. This may be a little difficult to maneuver at first, but you can get the hang of it after several uses. As compared to other ab machines, ab wheels are quite affordable and portable.

2. Ab Benches

The most traditional fitness equipment is an ab bench which allows you to do various ab exercises, like leg raising, crunches, and twists. The safest ab benches are long and wide. They should have adjustable levels so you can modify the resistance according to your needs.

3. Roman Chairs

The most challenging ab machine that you can use is the Roman chair. This fitness equipment aims to strengthen your lower and give you a slim waist. Doing the hyperextension might be difficult to achieve, but they give several benefits, like good posture and less back pain.

4. Bars

If you want to do various body weight exercises, then pull up bars are your best bet. They can work your abs by knee raises and hanging leg exercises. The simplest and most affordable way to set up a chin up bar is to get it installed in a doorway.

What To Look For

1. Versatile Functions

The best ab machine should not only exercise your abs but can also train your entire core. Besides the basic sit-ups, it would be nice if the ab machine can also allow you to do crunches, twists, and leg raising, just like an ab bench.

The ab wheel is also a versatile fitness equipment as it can work your shoulders, back, and arms while training your abs. The more muscles your ab machine can work, the better. Some machines even offer a cardio workout for more versatility.

2. Durable Construction

Regardless of the price, you should look for a durable product so it can withstand constant use. To determine the durability of an ab machine, check the joints, frame, base, and padding.

The joints should be firmly fixed and the padding should be attached well to the machine.The frame and base are usually made of metal.

To make sure that they don’t corrode over time, look for a durable powder finish. Some of the most durable fitness equipment are made of heavy-gauge steel mainframe.

3. Comfort And Safety Features

Some of the most comfortable ab machines are made of extra thick cushions. The cushions are mostly designed on parts where your body gets in contact often, like the seat and back.

If you want maximum comfort, look for an ergonomically designed machine as it usually conforms to your body posture.

Safety is also another important factor to consider when buying a fitness equipment. To avoid straining your whole body, look for a level adjustment feature so you can increase or decrease the resistance whenever you want.

The grips should be made of non-slip materials so your sweaty hands don’t slip while exercising, which may cause potential injuries.

4. Convenient Setup And Storage

To begin your ab workout immediately, look for a fitness machine that’s easy to set up. You don’t want to spend most of your workout time in assembling the parts do you?

Some fitness machines, like workout bars, need to be installed above the ground, so make sure to take note of that prerequisite.

If the space in your room is limited, look for a portable machine that can be stored in easily. Ab rollers are small enough to be stored under your bed.

However, if you have a large room, you can choose a large equipment, like a decline ab bench or a Roman chair.

Our Top 5 Recommendations

1. Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar

If you like to do a lot of body weight exercises, then you can try the Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar which can train your oblique, abs, and builds power on you upper body.

This workout bar is perfect for chin-ups, crunches, and pull-ups. You can even choose from its multiple grip positions, such as neutral, wide, and narrow.

To prevent damage to your door, use a leverage to secure against the doorway. It install in seconds plus it uses no screws for easy setup. The sturdy steel construction of the bar can hold a maximum weight of 300 pounds.

Pros

• Works your upper body muscles, abs, and oblique
• Easy to install and fits conveniently to any doorway frame
• Very affordable
• Made of durable steel construction
• Versatile grip positions

Cons

• If not installed properly, the hand grips move back and forth
• The instruction manual is a bit vague

2. Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro

via amazon.com

The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro is a great fitness equipment to train your shoulders, arms, back, and most especially your abdominal muscles.

As you move in the ab roller, your lower and upper abs are trained efficiently. The ultra-wide wheel prevents your movement to wave as you move to different directions.

For stability control and comfort, the performance grips are made of non-slip ergonomic grips and rubber. To speed up your workouts, the kinetic engine make use of a carbon steel spring. It offers resistance as you move to any direction.

Pros

• Comes with foam kneepads to provide maximum comfort
• Has comfortable and non-slip performance grips
• Helps you achieve toned arms and ripped abs
• Perfect in training lower and upper abs
• Portable and easy to store
• Easy to assemble

Cons

• The inner springs fail easily
• May create some noise due to the springs
• May need some time to get used to the awkward position

3. Marcy Roman Chair

If you want to train your lower back, then the Marcy Roman Chair might be perfect for you.

With the help of the Roman chair, you can do a hyperextension move and a few core workouts. The vinyl upholstery is well cushioned for comfort and helps keep your body firm while working out.

The handles are padded to give a nice grip to do workouts. You can adjust the ankle pads to suit various forms of core exercises. The frame is designed with a durable powder coat finish to resist rust.

Pros

• Comes with a 2-year limited warranty
• Well-constructed of heavy-gauge steel-tubing frame
• Can do versatile exercises thanks its adjustable height ankle pads
• The box upholstery and handles are padded for comfort
• Can hyper-extend the abdominal muscles
• Gives strength to lower back muscles

Cons

• Not ideal for beginners and men
• The padding is too thin for comfort
• May contain cancer-causing chemicals

4. Wonder Core Smart Fitness Equipment

If you want a total body muscle toning and cardio fitness equipment, then the Wonder Core Smart Fitness Equipment might be a great option.

More specifically, this fitness equipment targets various muscle groups, such as abs, thighs, and calves. The upper, lower, and middle abs are also worked, as well as forearms and triceps.

Get an idea of how a Wonder Core Smart works in this video here.

You can this equipment right out from the box because it comes fully assembled. To reduce the strain of your muscles, you can adjust its resistance. With this equipment, you can do a variety of exercises, such as sit up, push up, and bridge.

Pros

• Works your entire core
• Targets your middle, upper, and lower abs
• Portable and easy to store
• Can also work as a cardio equipment
• Adjustable dual resistance for less muscle strain
• Comfortable and easy to use
• Solid construction

Cons

• May hurt your back at first use
• It would have been perfect if the sitting area is larger
• Lacks resistance for the triceps

5. XMark 12 Position Ergonomic Adjustable Decline Ab Bench

Another fitness equipment that works the entire core is the XMark 12 Position Ergonomic Decline Ab Bench.

It has 12 vertical height adjustments to allow you to adjust angle of the board and resistance. The leg rollers are ergonomically designed to minimize back strain.

The support handle allows you to get out and get into the equipment easily. The mainframe is made of 14-gauge steel and fortified with a scratch-resistant powder coat finish.

While you rest on the bench, you can be comforted with its high-density cushion and contoured roller pads.

Pros

• Provides 12 vertical height adjustments for various angles and resistance
• Works on the entire core
• Has a great support handle
• Comfortable roller pads and cushion
• Adjustable dual resistance for less muscle strain
• Made with solid construction

Cons

• A bit expensive
• Too large to be kept in the house
• Not stable and durable as expected

Verdict

Based on our ratings, the best ab machine is the Wonder Core Smart Fitness Equipment because it has most of the features that we’re searching for. Among the five products reviewed, Wonder Core has the most versatile function as it can work your entire core and serve as a cardio equipment. It’s portable, easy to store, and comes fully assembled.

Have you tried buying or using an ab machine? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Don’t hesitate to share this article if you find this informative.