Bored with traditional cardio and strength training workouts? With medicine balls, you can build balance, increase coordination, and add intensity to your regular bodyweight exercises. Choosing a good one can be tricky, however, because there are many things to consider and so many options on the market. That's why you should check out our buying guide for tips on how to choose the right product for you.
But we did more of the work for you, too! We picked out 10 great products and ranked them. AmazonBasics Medicine Ball is first on our list because it fits various types of workouts, comes with an anti-slip surface, and is highly recommended by many personal trainers. If you want to see more, check out the rest of our favorites in our top 10 list!
They come in different sizes, materials, and levels of resistance. Make sure to choose what works best for you!
$46.99
Materials | Rubber |
---|---|
Filling | N/A |
Diameter | 10 in. |
Available weights | 4 to 20 lbs. |
$30.98
Materials | Synthetic leather, high-density rubber |
---|---|
Filling | N/A |
Diameter | 7.98 in. |
Available weights | 4 to 22 lbs. |
Tread
$43.87
Materials | Rubber |
---|---|
Filling | Sand |
Diameter | 11 in. |
Available weights | 10 to 50 lbs. |
Diamond Knurl Design
$12.99
Materials | PVC |
---|---|
Filling | Sand |
Diameter | 5.1 in. |
Available weights | 2 to 10 lbs. |
$32.99
Materials | Rubber |
---|---|
Filling | Air |
Diameter | N/A |
Available weights | 4 to 12 lbs. |
$51.44
Materials | Vinyl |
---|---|
Filling | N/A |
Diameter | 14 in. |
Available weights | 4 to 30 lbs. |
$15.52
Materials | Vinyl |
---|---|
Filling | Sand, iron |
Diameter | 6.7 in. |
Available weights | 6 to 10 lbs. |
$80.23
Materials | Synthetic rubber PVC |
---|---|
Filling | N/A |
Diameter | 11 in. |
Available weights | 6 to 20 lbs. |
$37.63
Materials | Rubber |
---|---|
Filling | Rubber |
Diameter | N/A |
Available weights | 2 to 12 lbs. |
$32.54
Materials | Rubber |
---|---|
Filling | N/A |
Diameter | 9 in. |
Available weights | 6 to 20 lbs. |
Image | 1 ![]() Amazon Basics | 2 ![]() Champion | 3 ![]() ProsourceFit | 4 ![]() Yes4All | 5 ![]() Dynapro | 6 ![]() j/fit | 7 ![]() Tone Fitness | 8 ![]() SPRI | 9 ![]() Cap Barbell | 10 ![]() Day 1 Fitness |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Medicine Ball | Medicine Ball | Slam Medicine Balls | Soft Weighted Medicine Ball | Medicine Ball for Strength training | Medicine Ball | Toning Ball | Xerball | Medicine Ball | Medicine Exercise Ball |
Features | A Hard Surface, All-in-One Rubber Ball | A Non-Slip Surface Ball That Comes in Various Sizes | A Heavy-Duty Medicine Ball With Ultra-Grip Surface | A Lightweight Ball for Toning and Flexibility Exercises | A Bouncing Rubber Ball Great for Beginners | A Triple-Stitched Medicine Ball With Soft Cover | A Multi-Use, Semi-Soft Weighted Ball | A Double-Handled Ball Perfect for Rotational Exercises | A Strong Ball With a Sticky Grip | A Dual-Textured Rubber Ball With a Carrying Case |
Price | $46.99 | $30.98 | $43.87 | $12.99 | $32.99 | $51.44 | $15.52 | $80.23 | $37.63 | $32.54 |
Materials | Rubber | Synthetic leather, high-density rubber | Rubber | PVC | Rubber | Vinyl | Vinyl | Synthetic rubber PVC | Rubber | Rubber |
Filling | N/A | N/A | Sand | Sand | Air | N/A | Sand, iron | N/A | Rubber | N/A |
Diameter | 10 in. | 7.98 in. | 11 in. | 5.1 in. | N/A | 14 in. | 6.7 in. | 11 in. | N/A | 9 in. |
Available weights | 4 to 20 lbs. | 4 to 22 lbs. | 10 to 50 lbs. | 2 to 10 lbs. | 4 to 12 lbs. | 4 to 30 lbs. | 6 to 10 lbs. | 6 to 20 lbs. | 2 to 12 lbs. | 6 to 20 lbs. |
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Choosing the right material is important, but there are other things to consider to get a quality medicine ball, like the weight and size, and features like handles.
Medicine balls consist of two parts: an external shell and filling. The shell can be made of leather, rubber, vinyl, polyurethane, nylon, or other types of materials. The inside of the medicine ball is usually filled with air, sand, or gel.
If you're looking for a bouncing medicine ball, we highly recommend you consider air-filled rubber balls. They're highly elastic, meaning they can quickly and easily return to their original shape after being compressed. They have a similar look and feel to a basketball. But they're much heavier and provide you a lower bounce than a basketball.
Although air-filled rubber balls bounce better than other types of materials, they're not made for slams. However, they make a perfect option for bouncing off walls. If you're looking for one to be thrown to the ground, make sure to choose slam balls.
Other types of materials like leather, nylon, vinyl, and polyurethane are great for throwing and catching. Plus, they make a great addition to common exercises like Russian twist, woodchop, crunch, and plank.
The weights of medicine balls range from two to 50 pounds, but the most common ones weigh between five and 20 pounds. If you're a beginner, it's a good idea to start with no more than 15-pound balls. Then, you can later gradually increase the weight as you progress or feel more comfortable with certain exercises.
Lighter balls also make a perfect option for cardio conditioning, agility training, high-impact workouts, and muscle toning since they allow you to move fast while adding some resistance.
Heavier medicine balls are great for muscle building and low-impact workouts. The right weight should be heavy enough to slow your motion and add extra resistance to improve your endurance performance.
Try to avoid balls that are too heavy because they'll compromise control, limit the amount of velocity, and increase the risk of injuries.
Proper size is important because it provides you a safe and comfortable workout. A medicine ball that is four to six-inch diameter is a good choice for children, petite women, and people with smaller hands and body structure.
Additionally, small sizes are suitable for workouts like push-ups and single-arm exercises since they're easier to hold and fit comfortably in the hands.
On the other hand, larger medicine balls like a 10-inch diameter are great for men, those with a large body structure, and people with big hands. They're also suitable for lower body workouts like squat jump and lunges, as well as multi-joint exercises like a backward overhead throw.
Most medicine balls are round. However, you can also find some that feature built-in handles for a better power grip and to prevent the ball from rolling. These allow you to do a more diverse range of workouts as well.
Medicine balls with ropes can add a variety of movements like swinging and chopping motions. So, they're a great option to improve your core strength, coordination, flexibility, and joint integrity. However, they can easily cause you serious injuries if you don't use them correctly. So, we don't recommend them for beginners.
When you have enough room to move around, it can reduce the risks of accidents and injuries. The workout space required varies depending on the types of workout you do. When you think of space, you'll need to consider both floor area and ceiling height.
We recommend a minimum of 20 square yards for throwing and catching exercises. Also, the ceiling should be high enough when performing overhead throwing.
If you plan to throw the ball against the wall, make sure the wall is made of concrete or reinforced. A hard surface will absorb less energy, meaning it'll bounce more and higher than a soft surface.
Check out our suggestions on other types of resistance equipment that make great additions to your home gym. These are portable, great for all experience levels, and suit different fitness goals.
If you keep our suggestions in mind, you'll definitely find a medicine ball that suits all your needs. Make sure to consider the material, filling, size, weight, and extra features to help you decide. And don't forget to consider your workout space to reduce the risk of injuries during training.
We hope our top 10 list and buying guide will help you choose the right medicine ball for you. Good luck with your search!
Author: Apinya Masuda
Whether or not yoga is part of your fitness routine, a solid yoga mat can help you work out more efficiently at home or at the gym. Here's one recommended by self-love extraordinaire Ciara Harris!
6 feet long
$19.94
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