Best ab rollers 2022: these are our top picks for a crushing core workout

Break up the monotony of planks and sit-up-centric ab workouts by investing in one of the best ab rollers.

These petite bits of kit not only work your abs without subjecting your spine to unforgiving floors, they also engage muscles in your shoulders, back, chest and arms. So, an ab roller workout (opens in new tab) will do more for your upper-body than a standard crunch.  

If you fancy taking an ab roller for a spin, you can easily pick one up for a decent price – one of our top picks from Gymshark costs just $20. But be warned, not all ab rollers are going to deliver the same killer core workout. To help you find a quality model that suits your goals (and budget) our fitness writers have tested some of the best options on the market and given an honest review of each. 

The best ab rollers you can buy right now

The GoFit Super Ab Wheel is super lightweight (0.97lb) yet sturdy and durable, constructed from two thick rubber tread wheels sandwiched on an axle and secured with non-slip grippy rubber handles. The big sell is the 11-inch dual extra-wide tread wheels and ergonomic handles that maximize stability and traction and encourage a better range of motion from your shoulders. This ab wheel is perfect for beginners or anyone navigating wobbly shoulder joints or weaker cores. 

It’s compact and easy to use, ideal for slipping into your gym bag for on-the-move exercise enthusiasts. If you’re advanced with ab rollouts, the wheel glides left and right to target your obliques for an injection of versatility. It’s a great all-rounder sitting at a mid-range price point which we consider a steal.  

Our only complaint about this bit of kit is that we found it picked up quite a few scuff marks during our testing, but these marks were all superficial and didn't affect the functionality of the wheel.

This ab roller is a budget-friendly, entry-level addition to the market, but if you’re looking for a model that simply gets the job done – you can’t go wrong. 

It might look basic and understated, but during testing we actually found the GymShark ab wheel to be one of the most challenging to use because of the lack of assistance – you won’t find any curved ergonomic handles, wide wheels, or coiled springs to help with the movement. 

The wheel itself yields plenty of instability to test the core control of any pro, and the narrow handle grips demand ample shoulder stability and technique to stay in control. It’s a pretty wobbly model and perhaps best suited for advanced users (or those at least semi-well-versed in ab rollouts). For under $20 though, it feels durable, and we would bet it can take a fair whack of ab attacks. We also liked the strip-back look and all-black design. 

Two rollers are better than one, right? The SKLZ Core Wheels model isn’t cheap, but we reckon it’s a steal if you consider you’re getting two for the price of one. The plush grooved foam handles house small rubber wheels on either end and although perfecting the art of two rollers would signal expertise, it really provides a wealth of options to suit all abilities. 

Ab rollers take on many ingenious forms, but this unique design packs variety into your training and transforms a standalone core exercise into a full-on upper body workout, allowing you to get creative and experiment with dynamic planks, chest flyes, and more. 

The subtly sticky rubber treads track well along surfaces (although we found during testing that they couldn't handle outdoor terrain very well) and the ergonomic handles support wrists, too. Two rollers mean you can also play with your hand placement to find a style that fits. While they feel durable and hardy, SKLZ has kept these rollers lightweight to suit on-the-go workouts. We love any brand prepared to buck the trend, and these ab rollers dare to be different. 

The Vinsguir Ab Roller adopts a traditional ab wheel design and elevates it using premium quality materials and a sleek all-black look. The stainless steel handle and grippy EVA rubber cotton handle covers feed into a chunky central wheel coated in TPR rubber, giving off the vibe that this ab wheel means business. 

The extra-wide tread measures 3.2 inches and increases stability to prevent deviating off course – ideal for unsure beginners who might appreciate the extra support. We found that the rubber coating also assists the wheel in gliding across most surfaces, and the thoughtful addition of a small foam mat (included in your purchase) helps protect against sore knees. 

Not only is this ab wheel durable (it holds up to 440lb in body weight), but it’s still lightweight enough to travel well in gym bags, and is the ideal travel companion for mobile exercisers. The handles are narrow though, which places more pressure on the shoulders, so we recommend only buying this model if you know your shoulder strength is up to the task.

The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro is our premium pick and carries a premium price tag. It’s a beast, comprising mostly plastic, and weighs 4.5lb while carrying up to 300lb of body weight. It’s an unlikely candidate for lugging to your local gym, but if home workouts are more your style, this high-tech ab roller could be a perfect pairing. 

It might look intimidating, but this model offers the most assistance of all the ab rollers we tested. The extra-wide and thick wheel secures with two curved ergonomic handles – Perfect Fitness says this increases arm engagement and improves grip. The star of the show is the internal carbon steel spring coil wound into the wheel; it packs a punch by adding subtle resistance on the rollout, then softly assists the rollback – a highly desirable feature for those still honing their technique. 

The multidirectional wheel effortlessly slices in all directions (including laterally) to deliver an efficient and effective core-crushing workout for all abilities, but tall users, and those hoping to take it for a spin outdoors, might be let down with this model. The coil limits how far you can roll out, and the chunky aesthetic is unlikely to travel well. 

The Lifeline Power Wheel Ultimate Core Trainer reinvents the (ab) wheel – literally. Wide, slightly padded handles slot into a large central wheel, and foot stirrups on either side increase versatility tenfold, allowing users to perform various exercises like pikes, crawls, leg curls, and more.

It’s not the most portable model on the market – we carried it to a park for some outdoor testing, which was a bit of a challenge – but there’s plenty to keep you entertained from the comfort of your home gym. The comfy wide handles promote better spinal alignment and take some of the heat off of the shoulders, and the stirrups pump up versatility levels to allow you to explore a diverse range of exercise options.

The oversized grooved tread is more effective across uneven terrain than its more compact counterparts and encourages a greater range of motion than standard wheels. The model sits within a premium price bracket, but you’re effectively doubling the fun, and the innovative design encourages equally innovative ab work. It’s a sound investment for advanced exercisers and those with cash to splash.  

How we tested the best ab rollers

We got to work using a range of ab rollers to see which ones fit the bill for the best ab roller currently on the market. Our testers used each model to carve out three sets of 10 ab rollouts, noting each one's durability, design, and functionality throughout. We also tested for any stand-out features and each product’s overall value for money. A final score out of five stars was then determined by combining scores across all criteria.  

Choose the best ab roller for you

To get the most from your ab roller, there are a couple of basic factors to consider: 

Ability 

Perhaps the biggest factor to consider is your ability. Beginners and pros will look for different things from an ab wheel. Advanced buyers may favor a thinner tread wheel and narrower handles which require more strength and control from the core and shoulders to stay balanced. Extra features – like stirrups – will inject some further versatility to fuel your ab roller workout (opens in new tab). 

Beginners may prefer a wider wheel or features like assistance coils. These can be handy until you’ve nailed your technique and feel ready to progress. Wide wheels tend to maximize stability and traction and minimize injury risk.

Price 

Prices can vary dramatically from around $10 to $70, so you should consider how you plan to use your roller. Pricier ab wheels might have you paying extra for features you don’t need, but they tend to be more durable. Basic ab wheels are perfect for feisty finishers and traveling around with, but might not last as long. 

How to use an ab roller (opens in new tab)

There are a variety of different moves you can do with an ab roller to sculpt and strengthen your core, but most people’s go-to is the ab wheel rollout:  

• Start on all fours, with your feet and knees on the ground and your hands on the handles of your ab roller, either side of the wheel.  
• Keeping your arms straight, roll the wheel out in front of you so your torso moves closer to the floor. Make sure your core stays tight throughout. 
• Just before your chest touches the floor, use your core to return the wheel to its starting position (again, keeping your arms straight throughout).  
• That’s one rep. Aim for 8 - 10. 

Do ab rollers work?

Ab rollers primarily target the core muscles, but a study commissioned by the American Council on Exercise (opens in new tab) found that equivalent movements, such as a bicycle crunch, were slightly more effective at engaging the rectus abdominis and the obliques.

However, unlike other core exercises, ab rollers also call on muscles in your back, arms, chest and shoulders, providing a more thorough upper-body exercise session. 

Having put top models to the test, we can personally vouch for this fact, with our writers finding their abs and stabilizing muscles felt well and truly worked out after each session.