Best Ankle and Wrist Weights – A Buyer’s Guide
Great for floor exercises like leg lifts or windmills, the best ankle and wrist weights help put a little bit extra umph into the workout. Weighted between one and five pounds, ankle and wrist weights have been shown to increase heart rate by five to 10 beats per minute and oxygen intake by 5-15%. A key piece amongst any home gym’s strength training equipment, the big question of course is which set to choose.
Key factors to consider are first and foremost price, poundage offered, and of course style. Unlike a treadmill like the NordicTrack 1750 with lots of moving parts, the best ankle and wrist weights are pretty simple but certainly heighten the intensity. A great match with any the fitness apps we’ve reviewed here, these little gadgets also make great gifts.
The good news is, we have a thorough review here chock full of specs to help you make the right decision when shopping for ankle and wrist weights. Read below to make your choice.
Our Top Five Best Recommended Ankle and Wrist Weights
Model
Rating
Weight
Weight Material
Closure System
Pricing
Reviews
Bala Bangles Ankle and Wrist Weights
1-2 Lbs
Stainless Steel And Silicone
Velcro
Fragraim Adjustable Ankle and Wrist Weights
1.5 - 10 Lbs Per Side
Individual Sandbags
Hook-and-loop Backstrap
Lots of Uses
What couldn’t one use wrist and ankle weights for? The fact is they go with just about any kind of exercise. Made famous for their use in aerobics classes, the low-weight wraps can be added to treadmill work, outside walking, or even calisthenics. Adding a pair of these to the wrists while performing pull-ups or push-ups can help one earn the burn as much as leg lifts or glute raises. Relatively low in cost, they’re easy to keep around the house. For those rehabilitating an injury, they make an interesting add-on to drills designed to strengthen weak areas.
Proper Usage
According to an article published by Harvard University, the use of wrist and ankle weights is like anything else and can be overdone. Keep in mind that repeated stress on small body parts like ankles and wrists can place undo stress on ligaments and tendons, which in turn can cause tendonitis or other inflammation-related injuries. That said, the straps are a great substitute for a dumbbell and do increase the load carried when exercising. Adding them to body-weight drills is a great way to get more bang for the buck.
Potential Bodyweight Drills Using Ankle/Wrist Weights
- Push-ups
- Pull-ups
- Burpees
- Dips
- Leg raises
- Leg lifts
- Sit-ups
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Kewltax Ankle and Wrist Weights
Priced right with a great range of weights, the Kewltax Ankle and Wrist Weights are constructed from neoprene and adjust up to 5.5 pounds each. This offers a total of 11 pounds of added resistance to the activity, whether walking, yoga, or other floor work.
Equipped with a hook-and-loop backstrap closure system, you can forget about buckles and fasteners. These units, like many weight vests, allow users to fit 0.55-pound metal rods into individual slots. Designed with 10 slots per ankle, users can mix match the weight to suit their needs. Individuals participating in physical therapy could have 5.5 pounds on one band and just 0.55 pounds on another for instance.
Pros
Cons
2. Bala Bangles Ankle and Wrist Weights
Light-weight and athletic, the 1- and 2-pound Bala Bangles are made using stainless steel wrapped in baby-soft silicone. Very light-weight, the Bala Bangles are highly reviewed for their comfortable elastic band and strong velcro closure.
A little lighter than some alternatives, the big value to Bala Bangles are the price and comfortable wrapping style. Unlike a model which requires placement of metal rods into slots, these are easy to grab and go.
Pros
Cons
3. Fragraim Adjustable Ankle and Wrist Weights
Offering a tremendous range of both weights and colors, the Fragraim Adjustable Ankle and Wrist Weights are well reviewed and quite comfortable with a cotton strap.
With a range of 1.5 to 10 pounds per side and the option of single- or double-buckle, the units come in colors purple, green, red, black, blue, grey, and orange. Constructed with a hook-and-loop backstrap, weights are added using removable 1-pound sandbags.
Made with durable mercerized cotton, the units are secured with velcro strap, these come with a 60-day free return policy and 18-month warranty.
Pros
Cons
4. Sportneer Adjustable Ankle and Wrist Weights
Among the lower-priced units available, the Sportneer Adjustable Ankle and Wrist Weights feature five removable sand pockets for each side, with each weighing 0.6-pounds. Users can adjust the units from 0.5 to 3.5 lbs for a maximum of 7 pounds.
The wraps themselves extend in length from 11.8″ to 12.6″ by way of velcro straps. Made with a neoprene exterior and reinforced stitching, the product is built to last.
Pros
Cons
5. RitFit Ankle and Wrist Weights
With a low price and color-coded weight system, the RitFit Ankle and Wrist Weights offer users a soft-padded neoprene material and reinforced stitching. The individual units come in: Red, 1-pound; Purple, 1.5-pound; Green, 2-pound; Blue, 3-pound; Gray, 4-pound; Black, 5-pound.
The RitFit Ankle and Wrist Weights feature a hook-and-loop band to ensure comfortable fit as well as a 100% money-back guarantee.
