10 Best Exercise Balls [Tested and Reviewed]

Ledraplastic's "Gymnic Plus" tops our list as the best exercise ball for beginners and experienced users alike. Even if it gets punctured, it's designed to slowly release air, reducing the risk of injury.

During our testing, which involved planking and hip lifts using the ball, the testers’ elbows and feet stayed in place, which demonstrated the ball's resistance to slipping, even during workouts. Then when we placed a 165-pound weight on it to test for elasticity, the ball only sank 3.93 inches, indicating sufficient resilience. A tester sitting on the ball observed that it was easy to maintain core stability and proper posture.

In addition, this ball’s surface was rough with evenly spaced horizontal lines, which provided enough traction so that it wasn’t slippery, even when covered in sweat. Testers also found that this ball felt comfortable against bare skin, noting that: "It doesn't stick to the skin and is comfortable to use" and "The protrusions are not too pronounced, so there was no discomfort during training."

We highly recommend this exercise ball for all kinds of users. It’s easy to handle and the surface material feels good against the skin.

The "Exercise Ball Extra Thick Anti Burst Yoga Ball" from Trideer is different from other options on the market because it’s made from non-toxic PVC, and doesn’t contain chemicals like BPAs or heavy metals.

The surface of the ball is rough, with elevated and evenly spaced horizontal lines. The tester who used the exercise ball on their bare skin gave this ball high marks, noting that "it felt good on the skin" and "it felt nice and fit the skin well."

This ball also got high marks for performance. No tester encountered slippage when they performed planks with their elbows on the ball. They also reported that the ball wasn’t slippery, even when testers put their whole body weight on it. When this model was tested with a 165-pound weight, it sank 4.92 inches. It was relatively resilient, so you can still use it as a chair.

If you’re chiefly interested in working out, we recommend this exercise ball, as it’s gentle on the skin yet stays in place when you’re training your upper body with planks and other exercises.

On the hunt for a durable exercise ball? Cap Barbell's "Fitness Stability Ball" is an anti-burst product, which means it can stand up to some heavy usage. This exercise ball also comes with an air pump so that you can blow it up right out of the box.

When we tested for slip resistance by doing planks and hip lifts, just one out of five of the testers had either an elbow or a foot slip off, giving this ball good marks overall. The surface is rough, with elevated and evenly spaced horizontal lines, so users were comfortable using it against their skin.

The testers gave this ball high marks, noting that "it doesn't feel sticky and feels good against the skin" and "it was good that the surface wasn’t too rough." When we placed a 165-pound weight on the ball, it sank by 5.11 inches. That’s more than the 3.93 inches we recommend, but this ball was still reasonably elastic.

Overall, this ball is less likely to stick to your skin, so we recommend it for people who sweat a lot and often train in light clothing.

The "PRO Series SCP Exercise Ball" from THERABAND comes in a vivid green color. Its load capacity is approximately 1,000 pounds, so it’s suitable for people with larger frames.

The surface is somewhere between smooth and rough, and hasevenly spaced horizontal protrusions that won’t irritate the skin during training. Testers gave this ball high marks, noting that "it wasn't too sticky, and it did not make my skin overly slippery" and "I didn’t feel any discomfort from the surface bumps."

When we tested the resilience with the 165-pound weight, the ball sank by 5.31 inches. That’s more than 3.93 inches we recommend you look for, but it was less prone to sinking than some other models we tested. If you want to increase the intensity of your workout with a challenging balance while maintaining good posture, this exercise ball is for you.

In the slip resistance test, testers noted 0.19-inch slippage on the plank and 0.78-inch slippage during the hip lift. One participant also found their elbow and the sole of their foot slipped. While this ball generally isn’t slippery, it might slide when used with sweaty hands. So when you’re training with bare skin, it’s a good idea to keep a towel handy to wipe sweat off the ball.

The "ProElite Stability Ball" from Power Systems is made of thick PVC material that helps it keep its shape.

In the slip-resistance test, testers observed a slide of 0.39 inches during the plank and 0.78 inches on the hip lift. One tester’s elbow and sole of the foot slipped. However, since no other testers encountered the same issue with slippage, training with bare skin shouldn’t be a problem with this ball.

When we put the 165-pound weight on it, we found that it only sank 3.54 inches. Even if you bounce on it, this ball doesn't sink too much, making it easier for beginners to maintain a correct posture.

On the other hand, the ball’s surface is covered in bumps, which generated negative feedback from the tester, including, "The rough protrusions on the surface were bothersome, and I couldn't focus on the training." Our verdict? This ball’s resilience makes it perfect for those who plan to use it as a chair.

Need some inspiration to work out? The "Guide Ball - Pro Grade Stability Ball" from GoFit comes with images of exercises you can do with the ball printed on its surface. Plus, it arrives with an air pump and a workout DVD, so it’s easy for beginners to get started.

In terms of its performance, during the test for slip resistance, we observed one tester slip 0.59 inches when doing a plank and two testers slip 0.78 inches during a hip lift. Other than that, though, the other testers were able to perform the exercises without slipping.

The surface has a rough texture, however. The testers didn’t like the surface texture, saying, "I felt uncomfortable when the fine unevenness touched my skin" and "I didn't like the feeling of my skin sticking to the surface." The testers also found it slippery, another drawback. And when we tested the ball with the 165-pound weight, it sank by 6.29 inches, which demonstrated that it’s not very elastic.

If you’re looking for an exercise ball for working out and like a little friction against your skin, this could be the option for you.

The "Yoga Ball" from Athletic Works features embossed illustrations on its surface, showcasing exercises using the ball. It also comes with an air pump, so you don’t have to buy one separately.

In terms of performance, during the slip-resistance check, two testers observed slippage of 0.19 to 0.39 inches in the elbow position on the plank. However, none of the other testers experienced slippage by the elbows or soles of the feet. The surface is rough, and we received positive comments from testers, including: "My skin didn't stick to the surface, making it comfortable to use."

But testers also said that "the fine protrusions on the surface made it feel unpleasant to the touch." They pointed out that the bumps were located irregularly on the surface, which felt uncomfortable against the skin. And when we checked for resilience with the 165-pound weight, this exercise ball sank 6.29 inches, indicating little bounce.

With its low elasticity, this ball isn’t suitable for people of average weight. However, if you weigh less than 165 pounds and cover your skin with clothing when you work out, this option might work for you.

The "2000 Lbs. Static Strength Stability Ball with Pump" by Black Mountain Products comes with an exercise guide. And since it has a load capacity of 2,000 pounds, it can be used by everyone from children to adults.

When we tested it for slip resistance, one tester moved 0.19 inches at the elbow during the plank, and two testers’ feet had shifted by 0.27-0.39 inches during the hip lift. However, the other testers were able to train without slipping.

This ball has a mostly smooth surface with some evenly spaced horizontal lines. But some users might find the surface smoothness a disadvantage during workouts, as the ball can get sticky with sweat. The testers provided negative feedback, noting that "the surface material sticks to the skin when sweaty" and "the sticky feel to the skin is bothersome."

In addition, when we tested this model with the 165-pound weight, it sank by 6.69 inches. Because of this low level of resilience, the ball would be challenging to use both as a chair and as fitness equipment.

At the very least, people who sweat heavily during workouts should make sure to wear clothing that covers the skin to avoid direct contact with the surface of this ball.

The "Stability Ball" from All in Motion is designed with anti-burst technology for durability. It also comes with an air pump, so you can start using it soon after you receive it.

When it came to performance, during the slip-resistance test, we noticed one tester’s elbows shifted by 0.59 inches during the plank exercise. But none of the tester’s feet slipped during the hip lift exercise, allowing them to work out seamlessly.

The ball’s surface is mostly smooth, with evenly spaced vertical protrusions. Testers gave this ball high marks, noting that "it was easy to use with a smooth feel," and "the surface was non-sticky and felt silky smooth."

That said, when we added 165 pounds of weight to this ball, it sank 7.79 inches, earning it a low score for elasticity. When users sit on this ball, it’s hard to maintain good posture because the ball sinks so easily.

So while this ball’s surface isn’t slippery and feels good against the skin, its lack of resilience is a major strike against it.

If aesthetics are important to you, Vivora's "Luno" exercise ball comes with a fabric cover. You can pick from gray, beige, and blue, making this option easy to incorporate even for those who are particular about their interior decor.

When we tested for slip resistance, this option performed well. Testers didn’t encounter any slipping of the elbows or the feet during planks and hip lifts. The surface of the ball garnered some negative comments, however, such as "the touch was rough, and my skin was uncomfortable during training" and "I was bothered by the fact that the seams of the fabric were raised."

During the resilience test with the 165-pound weight, this ball was the lowest performer on our list, sinking 8.26 inches. If you sit on this ball, it will deflate by about half, so you’ll have a hard time maintaining good posture. But this chair is more about looks than function. We recommend removing the cover during training and putting it back on when using it as a chair.