For strength or recovery, these are the best exercise balls for 2024…
The exercise ball – often also called a Swiss ball or gym ball – may have had its heyday in 90s workout videos, but it shouldn’t be consigned to history just yet. That’s because it’s actually one of the most useful pieces of home gym equipment you can buy.
Used right, exercise balls are excellent tools for core training and mobility exercises, plus a variety of bodyweight or weighted workout routines either at the home or in the gym. Most are portable, lightweight and easy to inflate, so you can transform your living room into a budget gym in no time.
An exercise ball can be incorporated into a number of fitness routines including yoga, pilates, resistance and core training. You can get good results using an exercise ball, because it creates instability, forcing your core muscles to work harder.
Almost any exercise can be intensified by using an exercise ball, including lying on it for chest presses and flyes instead of a bench. Just make sure you know your exercise ball’s load capacity.
How we test the best exercise balls
Our testers used each exercise ball as part of their day-to-day fitness routine for at least a month. They tested them during bodyweight workouts, resistance weight training and mobility work and judged them on their firmness, durability and comfort – taking price, maximum load, ease of inflation and colour/size options and accessories into account when awarding a final score.
Here’s our pick of the best exercise balls
Though its price is pretty eye-watering, if you can justify shelling out over £200 / $300 for the Technogym Wellness Ball Active Sitting, you’re getting – in our opinion – the best exercise ball money can buy. It doubles as a posture-enhancing office chair too, so if you spend hours hunched over a laptop at home this will do your back and core no end of good. The fabric case enhances grip, support and durability so if you do take the plunge, rest assured it’s a ball that will out-perform the rest and last for many years.
Other exercise ball recommendations
| Best for size options: | With five colour and four size options, the Core Balance Gym Ball has an impressive 20 versions to choose from. It’s made to withstand up to 250kg / 550lb so is ideal for weights-based workouts too. |
| Best for weighted workouts: | Many exercise balls are designed to cope with a fair amount more than the average man’s bodyweight, but we’ve not come across any that can match the TRX Stability Ball. It can handle over 450kg / 1,000lb, which is an entire rugby scrum. |
| Best for travel: | Its rapid inflation time, included pump and spare valve make the Body Sculpture Gym Ball one of the best options for travelling or for regular trips to the gym. It’s a low-cost, no-frills option with included exercises to get you started. |
1. Technogym Wellness Ball Active Sitting
Men’s Fitness verdict
Exercise balls don’t get better (or more expensive) than this. Firmness, durability and comfort are all top-notch and it makes a useful core-engaging office chair too.- Burst-resistant material
- Doubles up as a chair
- Expensive
- Only one size
| Sizes: | 55cm / 21.7in |
| Pump included: | No |
| Weight limit: | 160kg / 353lb |
| Colour: | Black |
OK, so the price is eye watering – thanks to its Italian craftsmanship – but the Techogym Wellness Ball Active Sitting could be your exercise ball for life, and it doubles up as an ergonomic office chair. (There are cheaper versions with lower specs if you really can’t justify the price.)
While testing, I found that sitting on the Wellness Ball requires constant micro-movements, which improves the spine-stabilising action of your abdominal and lumbar muscles. With the lower half denser than the upper, it’s stable and won’t roll away mid-exercise. That’s helped by a removeable multi-layered fabric, which improves support, cushioning and grip and has a handle for easy transportation.
- Read our full Technogym Wellness Ball Active Sitting review
2. Core Balance Gym Ball
Men’s Fitness verdict
With sizes from 55cm to 85cm, the Core Balance Gym Ball is one of the best ways to find an exercise ball that’s optimised for your height, both for gym work and desk work.- 250kg maximum weight
- Four sizes to choose from
- Five colours
- Have to wait 24 hours before inflating fully
| Sizes: | 55cm / 21.7in, 65cm / 25.6in, 75cm / 29.5in, 85cm / 33.5in |
| Pump included: | Yes |
| Weight limit: | 250kg / 551lb |
| Colour: | Black, grey, pink, purple, teal |
The Core Balance Gym Ball has the widest choice of sizes and colours of any exercise ball I tested, with a total of 20 available combinations. It comes with useful extras, too, including a pump and tape measure to ensure correct inflation, as well as a plug remover.
Comfort, grip and stability all impressed me, as did its upper weight limit of 250kg – so it’ll easily handle you and your weights. If you want an exercise ball that fits and does all the basics well, Core Balance’s range is well worth a look.
- Read our full Core Balance Gym Ball review
3. Pure2Improve Exercise Gym Ball
Men’s Fitness verdict
Pure2Improve’s gym ball is right up there where comfort, stability and support are concerned. Those 18 exercises printed on it are useful if you’re after some workout inspiration too.- Handy exercise illustrations
- Firm and comfortable
- No colour options
- Stopper difficult to remove
| Sizes: | 65cm / 25.6in, 75cm / 29.5in |
| Pump included: | Yes |
| Weight limit: | 200kg / 440lb |
| Colour: | Black |
The Pure2Improve exercise gym ball is one of the firmest and most comfortable balls I tested. Its surface strikes the right balance between smooth and grippy so I found it useful for both static stretches and more dynamic exercises alike.
Stability is impressive, and it’ll withstand weights up to 200kg, making it a good alternative to a weights bench. It’s a good choice for new exercise ball users, too, with 18 exercises printed around its circumference to get you started.
- Read our full Pure2Improve Exercise Gym Ball review
4. Decathlon Domyos Durable Swiss Ball
Men’s Fitness verdict
It might be the cheapest on test but Decathlon’s ball comes with a two-year guarantee. It’s robust enough to withstand weight-based exercises and comes in three sizes too.- Excellent value
- Good range of sizes
- No pump included
- Bright colours
| Sizes: | 55cm / 21.7in, 65cm / 25.6in, 75cm / 29.5in |
| Pump included: | No |
| Weight limit: | 130kg / 286lb |
| Colour: | Peacock blue, damson |
The Decathlon Domyos Durable Swiss Ball is the cheapest of the exercise balls I tested, yet it’s grippy and boasts an impressive two-year guarantee. There are three sizes, too, and Decathlon provides a handy chart to help you pick the best size for you based on your weight.
It’s one of the bulkier balls when deflated but I found it super quick and easy to inflate, making this a useful travel option. And with a poster including nine exercise suggestions, you’re ready to go as soon as soon as you pump it up.
- Read our full Decathlon Domyos Durable Swiss Ball review
5. TRX Stability Ball
Men’s Fitness verdict
Exercise balls don’t come much firmer than this TRX number. It has a whopping 1,000lb weight limit, as well as access to on demand workouts and live classes. It’s not the grippiest though.- Heavy duty
- Access to TRX’s virtual classes
- Can slide on shiny floors
- No pump included
| Sizes: | 55cm / 21.7in, 65cm / 25.6in |
| Pump included: | No |
| Weight limit: | 453kg / 1,000lb |
| Colour: | Black |
The firmness of the TRX Stability Ball is second to none in my opinion. It’s an ideal option for strength-based exercises, with a whopping 453kg weight limit – though I will say, it’s not the grippiest option for those looking to perform more dynamic exercises.
Its two sizes should suit all but the tallest users and each purchase includes access to the TRX studio, including hundreds of fitness videos as well as live exercise classes to help you get the most from your Stability Ball.
- Read our full TRX Stability Ball review
6. Body Power Exercise Ball
Men’s Fitness verdict
Body Power’s ball is strong and grippy and another good choice for use with weights. It’s a good job a pump is included, as you’re going to need it.- Can cope with up to 300kg
- 12-month warranty
- Hard to get rid of creases
- Hard work to inflate
| Sizes: | 65cm / 25.6in |
| Pump included: | Yes |
| Weight limit: | 300kg / 660lb |
| Colour: | Red |
The Body Power Exercise Ball is a robust choice for weights-based exercises, as its anti-burst material can withstand up to 300kg. Its 65cm diameter is an ideal size for most users and I found the surface somewhat tacky, which helps grip most surfaces. Despite that, it still rolled well while I was performing dynamic exercises.
It’s a firm and stable ball, though I did find it quite difficult to inflate, even with the included foot pump. However, there is a 12-month guarantee, making the Body Power Exercise Ball excellent value for money.
- Read our full Body Power Exercise Ball review
7. Body Sculpture Gym Ball
Men’s Fitness verdict
If you want a gym ball to take on your travels or to the gym, this Body Sculpture one should fit the bill. It’s lightweight and quick and easy to inflate, but unlikely to stand up to weights work.- Smooth and comfortable
- Pump is inlcuded
- Low upper weight limit
- Only one size
| Sizes: | 65cm / 25.6in |
| Pump included: | Yes |
| Weight limit: | 100kg / 220lb |
| Colour: | Blue |
Better for occasional use and for travel, the Body Sculpture Gym Ball inflates and deflates easily and comes with two valves that eliminate air leakage. It has a smooth and soft PVC finish and doesn’t smell as plasticky as some exercise balls, though I did find it could get a little slippery when sweaty.
With a solitary 65cm diameter version Body Sculpture’s exercise ball is suitable for most people but might feel a bit big for some shorter users. It’s not one I would recommend for using weights on, either, as it’s only rated to 100kg, but overall it’s a firm and comfortable option at a good price.
- Read our full Body Sculpture Gym Ball review
8. Pro 11 Wellbeing Yoga Ball
Men’s Fitness verdict
Robust and grippy, the diminutive Pro 11 Wellbeing Yoga Ball is an excellent travel option at an affordable price. It might be too small for larger users though.- Great value
- Grippy surface
- Needs guesswork to get firmness right
- Only available in 55cm
| Size: | 55cm |
| Pump included: | No |
| Colour: | Black |
Pro 11 Wellbeing is better known for making specialist insoles and supports but its yoga ball is a handy piece of gym kit too, especially for exercising on the go.
With only a 55cm version, it could be too small for some, but I found its slip-resistant material gripped the floor nicely, making it well-suited to dynamic exercises.
It may look uninspiring but the Pro 11 Wellbeing Yoga Ball is a firm and supportive option that would make a cheap alternative to a weights bench.
- Read our full Pro 11 Wellbeing Yoga Ball review
What to look for when buying exercise balls
Size options
Exercise balls tend to come in fairly standard sizes – all the products on test are either 55cm, 65cm, 75cm or 85cm in diameter. Some makes will offer just a single size (the Technogym Wellness Ball is only available in 55cm and the Body Power Gym Ball just 65cm). Others, like the Decathlon Domyos Durable Swiss Ball, are available in all four sizes.
Most manufacturers will offer guidance on the best size to get, depending on your height and often weight as well. But a general rule of thumb is:
- Small, 55cm – under 5ft 4in (1.62m) (also the best size for using as a seat)
- Medium, 65cm – 5ft 4in to 5ft 8in (1.62m to 1.73m)
- Large, 75cm – 5ft 8in to 6ft (1.73m to 1.83m)
- XL, 85cm – over 6ft (1.83m)
Grip
Most exercise balls are made from PVC but the level of grip between them can vary dramatically. Most balls feature raise or textured grip rings while some, like the Technogym Wellness Ball, have a removeable cover that enhances grip. Ideally you want a ball that will grip most surfaces when applying downward pressure, so it won’t slip out from under you. Yet it should be smooth enough to roll without too much friction – particularly if you tend to do more dynamic exercises.
Strength and stability
Most manufacturers will publish details of how much weight an exercise ball can withstand. The Body Sculpture Gym Ball is limited to 220lb (100kg) and shouldn’t be used with weights while the TRX Stability Ball can handle almost five times as much weight – 1,000lb (453kg) and can be used as alternative to a bench. Firmness and stability varies greatly between exercise balls, too. It can be altered to a degree by how much they’re inflated but thickness of material plays a part here too. The Technogym Wellness ball even has halves of different densities to increase its stability.
Ease of inflation / deflation
How easy an exercise ball is to inflate and deflate will determine whether it’s suitable as a travel option or occasion ball, rather than having it permanently inflated. Some can be inflated in a couple of minutes, while others can take up to ten minutes to inflate fully. Make sure you check whether a ball comes with its own pump, too – not all of them do. Also, do they have spare plugs (as these can easily be lost)? Or do they have plug removers, to help with countersunk valves?
Is it suitable for sitting?
The benefits of substituting your office chair for an exercise ball are well known. The constant readjustments required to stay comfortable on a moveable chair switch on muscles that would otherwise stay dormant when seated. But not all manufacturers recommend their exercise balls be used as seats. The main obstacle is size – 75cm and 85cm balls in particular are just too high to be used as seats for most people. Given that desks tend to be around 70cm high, the optimal size for an exercise ball used as a seat is 55cm.
