Which Balance Board Is Best?
Balance boards come in all shapes, sizes, and difficulty levels. There are balance boards that are great for the office, and there are ones that are better for the gym. There are hundreds of articles out there ranking balance boards with arbitrary criteria. But what makes a good balance board?
Balance boards must help you improve your balance, right? To be considered a decent balance board, it needs to be more than a piece of wood on top of a foam roller. That classic balance board design is fun, but it only allows you to move in one plane of motion as opposed to a round bottom which challenges multiple planes of motion.
The ones for the office have to look nice and not take up too much space, while the ones for the gym can be more versatile. There are so many balance boards on the market, and they aren't for everyone. You might try working with one for a day or two and decide never to use it again. Many people prefer sitting on an exercise ball to standing on a balance board at their desk.
Although there are plenty of reasons to get into balancing while working!
Why purchase a balance board?
Burns calories
Great for people with ADHD or who have trouble focusing
Getting your body moving reduces the risk of injury to your lower body
Ankle injury prevention and rehabilitation
Improved balance and coordination
THE BEST BALANCE BOARDS FOR THE OFFICE
Whirly Board
I have tried all of these balance boards, and I use the whirly board.
The whirly board was initially designed for board sports enthusiasts to practice spinning in board sports like snowboarding and wakeboarding during the off-season.
It turned out to be my favorite thing in my office. It is a great thing to mess around with at my standing desk.
Advantages:
You could practice board sports on this thing
The round bottom allows you 360 degrees of motion
It is quite the workout
Disadvantages:
The standard size board is a little too small for someone with size 10 feet to fit their big toes on the board. The company offers a larger size.
Not good on hardwood
It is quite the workout. You'll have to build up to longer sessions with it.
Fluidstance
The Fluidstance is designed for the office, it has a subtle, professional look, and it doesn't make a lot of noise, even on hardwood.
To be fair, most of the boards don't make any noise as long as you aren't on hardwood, but if your flooring is hard or slippery, this is the board I would go with. All the other boards still work, but I would recommend a mat.
Advantages:
Relatively Easy
Suitable for all floor types
Great size
Disadvantages:
Harder on your feet than you'd expect
Yes4All Balance Board
This board is the budget option for the office. It is an inexpensive version of a classic balance board design. This style balance board is available from many different providers made from a hundred different materials but doesn't break the bank. Although it still allows you to move in 360, it simply isn't wide enough to stand on for extended periods.
It is still great for a couple of minutes here and there, but our previous options can be comfortably used hours by being wide enough to change stances. Again, movement in a variety of positions is the best way to prevent injuries.
Advantages:
Inexpensive
The round bottom allows you 360 degrees of motion
Small and lightweight
Disadvantages:
Not wide enough
Not suitable for extended periods of time
Not as nice looking as the other options
WHICH BALANCE BOARD IS BEST FOR THE GYM?
Bosu Ball
If you've ever been to a gym, you've seen people do a countless number of things with this classic half-ball thing. The Bosu ball is a phenomenal tool for rehab and beginner strength training and balance training.
However, not by using it in the way you are probably thinking. I don't suggest using the Bosu ball as a balance board because it is a long way down. Safety first, then teamwork.
You can use the Bosu ball in a million different ways, though. It is excellent for training shoulder stability, core exercises, knee rehab, and ankle rehab. And yes, it is still a functioning balance board—just a dangerous one.
Advantages:
A dynamic piece of fitness equipment
An excellent tool for rehabilitation exercises
A great tool for strength training
Disadvantages:
It is unnecessarily dangerous for a balance board
If using it as a balance board, the distance to the floor can impact your ankles
It is more valuable as a piece of fitness equipment than a balance board
Gibbon GiBoard
The Gibbon GiBoard is a brand new style of balance board that imitates a slackline. It is essentially a miniature slackline attached to a board to allow for a playful experience. I’ve written a full review on the Gibbon GiBoard, which goes in-depth on this board, but the bullet points are below.
Advantages:
Relatively Safe
Suitable for all floor types
Challenging but accessible
Disadvantages:
Large for a balance board
Requires minor maintenance (tightening line periodically)
Skill Board
The Skill board takes balancing to new heights. The skill board is not a rehab tool or your first balance board. The skill board is essentially a flat board on a ball. You can adjust the difficulty based on how much air you put in the ball but using this thing to its full potential takes space.
This is a challenging balance board when there is sufficient air in the ball. Starting out with balance training or board sports, you could always use this product with a foam roller before transitioning to the ball.
Advantages:
The round bottom allows you 360 degrees of motion
You can do tricks and practice board sports
Challenging and fun
Easy to store
Disadvantages:
It takes a bit of space to use comfortably
Not great for beginners
Revolution Fit 3-in-1
The Revolution Fit makes this list because of the “3-in-1”. This balance board is incredibly versatile and can be incorporated into hundreds of exercises.
This product is your classic balance board, but it comes with three different bottoms. Allowing you to change the difficulty of the balance board. This is great for balancing, but it is even better for ab exercises. Holding a plank on a balance board or doing push-ups on a balance board is a great way to increase the demand on your core and work on shoulder stability.
Advantages:
Has a variety of ways to use it
Great for beginners
Disadvantages:
Doesn't come with a truly round bottom option
These seven boards are the best out there, and no matter which balance board you pick, spending any time on a balance board is a big win!
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:
Gibbon GiBoard Balance Board Review
How Many Push-Ups Should A Beginner Do To See Results?