Wobble boards can be used for anything from gentle rehabilitation to serious workouts. They’re small, light, quiet, affordable and effective. If that sounds good to you, then keep reading to find out everything you need to know about them.
What exactly is a wobble board?
A wobble board is a type of balance board. All wobble boards are balance boards but not all balance boards are wobble boards. From now on, we’ll talk about balance boards unless we actually mean wobble boards.
What exactly is a balance board?
A balance board is basically a platform with something underneath it to make it unstable. Balance boards come in four main types. These are:
- Wobble Balance Board aka Wobble Board
- Rocker Balance Board
- Rocker-Roller Balance Board
- Sphere and Ring Balance Board
They all work along much the same lines but they all have clear differences.
Wobble boards
We usually list items in alphabetical order, but wobble boards are so popular, we felt we had to put them first. They are so common, the term wobble board has literally become used to mean balance boards.
Wobble boards have a dome on the underside and a flat platform on the top. The dome works like a ball. It, therefore, allows the user to turn as well as tilt up and down or side to side. The fact that the platform is (much) wider than the ball means that it’s effectively impossible for the wobble board to tip over.
Wobble boards are great for people who mainly want to work on improving their balance and posture. For example, if you spend all day sitting at a desk, a wobble board can save your back.
Rocker Balance Board
Rocker balance boards have much the same kind of action as a see-saw but they’re designed to be used by one person. This means that the movement is side-to-side rather than up and down.
Traditionally, rocker balance boards tended to be used by people recovering from injury and/or older people wanting to maintain their balance. They were also sometimes given to children as development toys.
These days, they’re often used as standing-desk accessories as they take less effort than wobble boards. This means that some people can use them while they are working. They’re also being used by desk-based workers who aren’t yet up to wobble boards, let alone more demanding balance boards.
Rocker-Roller Balance Board
Rocker-Roller balance boards come in two pieces, namely the roller and the board. This means that they can travel across a space as well as tilt and turn. If you think this makes them a whole lot harder to use than either wobble boards or plain rocker boards then you’d be absolutely right.
These balance boards are intended for serious exercise. For example, skateboarders, surfers and stand-up paddlers all love them as a way to exercise indoors when they can’t (don’t want to) get out.
Sphere and Ring Balance Board
Genuine sphere and ring balance boards look a bit like the planet Saturn, or something you’d find in a circus. They’re balls with a ring around them rather than a platform. They are great exercise options if you can use them. The challenge is that they are extremely hard to use. We’d say harder than rocker-roller boards and that’s saying something.
Enter “yoga boards”. These are basically hybrids of wobble boards and sphere and ring balance boards. They’re essentially inflatable wobble boards with very small platforms relative to the size of the dome. This makes them much more challenging to use than regular wobble boards. They are, however, still a whole lot easier to use than proper sphere and ring balance boards.
The fact that they’re inflatable means that you can use the ball as a cushioned exercise surface. They also tend to come with resistance bands. All in all, therefore, we’d put yoga balls down as a strong contender for the world’s best piece of small-space exercise equipment. What’s more, they’re really affordable.
This is why we’d definitely recommend yoga balance boards to people wanting a balance board for all-round exercise. Rocker-roller balance boards are much more expensive. In our opinion, that extra money is only worth it if you’re seriously training for a sport. That said, they’re still much more affordable than gym memberships.
Making the most of your balance board
Really making the most of your balance board depends on what kind of balance board you have. We’ll therefore give you a quick rundown of each of the different types of balance board, how we’d expect them to be used and what benefits they’d offer.
Wobble boards
Initially, you may find just standing on a wobble board enough of a challenge. Once you’ve got to grips with this, however, you should at least try tilting the wobble board front to back and side to side. Doing this for 15 minutes a day should ensure you develop and/or maintain decent balance and posture.
If you want to push yourself a bit harder, you can try going “round the world” i.e turning 360°, preferably in each direction. You can also try balancing on one leg. Again, try to use both legs. To take it up a gear, try doing everything you did on two legs with just one leg.
If you’re really up for a challenge, then squats, in all their variations, can be made even more challenging by doing them on a wobble board. That said, if you’re ready to get to grips with this, you should probably be looking at switching to a more fitness-orientated balance board.
Rocker balance boards
Rocker balance boards are really designed for rehabilitation. This means that you should probably only buy one if your balance is really bad.
You can use one as a standing desk accessory but it’d probably be best to think hard about whether or not you could actually concentrate on your work while standing on one. Realistically, a lot of people might be better off just taking breaks and using a regular wobble board.
You can also use rocker balance boards as gym equipment. That said, even the most affordable option is about the same price as a yoga board. It’s only slightly lower-priced than an entry-level rocker-roller board. Some rocker balance boards are actually priced at the same level as premium rocker-roller boards.
In other words, if exercise is your main goal, then you’d almost certainly be better off with another type of balance board. That said, if you either have a rocker balance board already or know someone who does and can borrow it, then it could be useful. You’d typically want to use it for building arm strength e.g. by planking.
Rocker-roller balance boards
In our opinion, the best way to use a rocker-roller balance board is as a way to train indoors for certain types of sports and also for dancing. If you’re just interested in general exercise then a yoga board will almost certainly give you everything you need at a much lower cost.
Sphere and ring balance boards
Genuine sphere and ring balance boards are essentially supercharged wobble boards. So any exercise you can do on a wobble board, you can, in theory, also do on a sphere and ring balance board. That said, we were being really serious about the massive difference in the level of difficulty.
Yoga boards
As with proper sphere and ring balance boards, you can use a yoga board to do any exercise you would do on a wobble board. You can, however, also flip it over and use it as a cushioned surface for regular floor exercises. Basically anything you could do on a vibration plate, you could do on a yoga board. You can also use resistance bands to ramp up the challenge level.
In case we haven’t made this clear enough by now, we think that yoga boards may be the best all-round piece of exercise equipment you can have in a small space and on a tight budget. Add in a yoga mat, some skipping ropes (possibly cordless) and some weights and you have a pretty decent home gym at a very low cost.
Best balance boards
Here’s a quick guide to what we think are the best balance boards currently on the UK market. Please note that some of these balance boards are sometimes marketed as “wobble boards” even when they’re not.
Quick jump to the list
Best wobble board
There are a ton of wobble boards on the UK market. We’ve made our selection on a combination of quality and price, in other words, value for money.
JLL® Wooden Balance Board
There are probably very few lists of budget-friendly exercise equipment without an entry by JLL. at 40cm wide by 8cm high, this wobble board will make most beginners feel safe. Quality is perfectly acceptable and the non-slip surface is reassuring.
PROS
- Large reflective area
- Looks good
CONS
- Plenty of grip
- May be a bit high for some people
JLL® Wooden Balance Board, ANTI SLIP SURFACE, Exercise Fitness Workout Rehabilitation Training...
- 【Non-Slip Surface】 Features a rough texture, non-slip top surface designed to provide excellent grip for any workout footwear.
- 【Improves Balance and Toning】 Helps improve your balance and tone your body shape during workouts.
- 【Non-Slip Surface】 Features a rough texture, non-slip top surface designed to provide excellent grip for any workout footwear.
- 【Improves Balance and Toning】 Helps improve your balance and tone your body shape during workouts.
- 【Dimensions】 39.6cm diameter and 8cm height.
- 【Rehabilitation Use】 Ideal for use during the early to intermediate stages of rehabilitation.
- 【Max User Weight】 Supports a maximum user weight of 120kg.
Phoenix Fitness Body Balance Board
This wobble board is only 36cm wide by 6cm high. This could make it a bit more challenging to use than the JLL option. On the other hand, some people may want this. Other people may be willing to put up with it for the sake of storage/portability.
Frankly, this wobble board doesn’t look or feel of the same quality as either of the other options. That said the price reflects this. We’re also quite happy that the surface is non-slip.
PROS
- Easy to store and carry
- Plenty of grip
- Very affordable price
CONS
- Small and low
- Not very attractive
Phoenix Fitness Body Balance Board - Non-Slip Round Wobble Board - 36cm...
- POST INJURY REHABILITATION - The Phoenix Fitness Body Balance Board is brilliant to help with your recovery from injury and speed up your rehabilitation.
- IMPROVES CORE STRENGTH - Centrally weighted board to help improve your core strength and help tone your leg muscles and buttocks.
- POST INJURY REHABILITATION - The Phoenix Fitness Body Balance Board is brilliant to help with your recovery from injury and speed up your rehabilitation.
- IMPROVES CORE STRENGTH - Centrally weighted board to help improve your core strength and help tone your leg muscles and buttocks.
- INON-SLIP BOARD - Non slip foot grip. Designed to improve your traction with the non-skin board for a variety of different exercises.
- HELPS BALANCE - Helps improves your balance and coordination and support recovery from sprains, twists and ankle / knee surgery.
- TILTS - The Phoenix Fitness boards tilts front to back and side to side. It also spins completely around. One size fits all, suitable for children and adults.
Sportneer Balance Board
This wobble board is 40cm wide by 6cm high. This makes it slightly easier to use than the JLL option. The build quality is very respectable and the surface has excellent grip.
PROS
- Large surface area
- Looks good
- Plenty of grip
CONS
- May be a bit low for some people
Sportneer Balance Board, Wooden Wobble Balance Board Anti Slip Surface Gym Fitness...
- High-quality wood: Sportneer Balance Board is made of durable high-quality wood. Due to its good quality, the balance board with a diameter of 40 cm (1.7 kg) is heavier than the balance board with a diameter of 42 cm (1.5 kg) on the market. Sportneer balance boards can withstand people weighing up to 300 pounds, and most balance boards on the market can only withstand people weighing up to 250 pounds.
- High-quality wood: Sportneer Balance Board is made of durable high-quality wood. Due to its good quality, the balance board with a diameter of 40 cm (1.7 kg) is heavier than the balance board with a diameter of 42 cm (1.5 kg) on the market. Sportneer balance boards can withstand people weighing up to 300 pounds, and most balance boards on the market can only withstand people weighing up to 250 pounds.
- Durable, non-slip surface: Wobble Board with non-slip surface to ensure good balance, grip and stability. Ensure safety during exercise.
- 360° rotation and 40 cm diameter: 360° rotation and 10° -20° inclination angle. Wobble Board is very suitable for left and right, front and back, calf stretching and circular training. After market research, the swing plate with a diameter of 40 cm meets the needs of most people, and it is neither too large nor too small.
- Improve core strength and posture: Improve core strength and posture, enhance coordination, balance and vision, and help strengthen target muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.
- Versatility: People of all ages can use this Wobble Board. It is very suitable for rehabilitation centers, gyms, professional athletes and individuals, people who have recovered from ankle, knee or other joint injuries, to help you restore balance.
Best rocker balance board
For clarity, there are plenty of rocker balance boards on the market. These days, however, a lot of them are being marketed as standing-desk accessories. In our opinion, they’re also being way overpriced for what they are. This is the only rocker balance board we found which, in our opinion, delivered decent value for money.
StrongTek Professional Wooden Balance Board
The platform is 44.7 x 34.54cm and it's 9.4 cm high. Build quality is good and the surface has plenty of grip. It looks good enough to leave out if storage space is tight.
This is essentially an old-school rehabilitation board. You could, however, use it as a (reasonably-priced) standing-desk accessory and/or for a home gym. It won’t be anything like as challenging as a proper rocker-roller balance board. It can, however, offer similar functionality at a more basic level (and a lower price).
PROS
- Looks good
- Solid build
- Reasonably priced
CONS
- May be of limited use to some people
StrongTek Professional Wooden Balance Board, Rocker Board, 17.5 Inch Wood Standing Desk...
- Improve Strength & Conditioning: This wooden rocker board physical therapy is designed to stimulate your core and improve your agility, reaction time, and stamina, this low-impact exercise board is great for all
- Improve Strength & Conditioning: This wooden rocker board physical therapy is designed to stimulate your core and improve your agility, reaction time, and stamina, this low-impact exercise board is great for all
- Compact, Portable Trainer: At 17.5” x 13.5” x 3” in size, our lightweight balance exerciser / fit tilt board can be used at therapy or training at home, the gym, or while traveling. A perfect standing desk accessory
- Slip-resistant Surface: The top of each rocker balance board features an easy-grip surface that’s gentle on bare feet but helps keep you in place safely and securely
- Strong, Stable Base: Made of high-quality Lauan hardwood plywood from sustainable, plantation-grown timbers , stronger and last longer than others made of birch and pine plywood. This heavy-duty balancing board can hold kids and adults up to 350 lbs
Best Rocker-Roller Balance Board
Revolution Balance Boards 101 Balance Board Trainer
We’re guessing that this is called the 101 Balance Board trainer because it has removable roller stops on the base. The idea is that you keep these on while you’re learning to limit the range of movement. Once you’ve gained confidence (and balance), you can take them off and really work on your skills.
The platform is 75 x 28 cm and the surface is very comfortable even without shoes. This means that you can put your hands on it if you want e.g. for planking.
PROS
- Great for indoor training for certain sports
- Removable roller stops make this board much more accessible
- Lots of advice on how to use it
CONS
- Very expensive for what it is
Revolution Balance Boards 101 Balance Board Trainer (Blue)
- Highest Rated Balance Roller Board On Amazon.com ★★★★★ See Reviews Below!
- Smooth Rolling Lightweight And Ultra Tough Roller Reduces Vibration And Sound.
- Full Freedom Of Movement, No Tracks Or Grooves. Roller Stops On The Base Keep You In Control.
- Highest Rated Balance Roller Board On Amazon.com ★★★★★ See Reviews Below!
- Smooth Rolling Lightweight And Ultra Tough Roller Reduces Vibration And Sound.
- Full Freedom Of Movement, No Tracks Or Grooves. Roller Stops On The Base Keep You In Control.
- Great Balance Board For Beginner And Intermediate Users: Fitness, Yoga, Training, Or Board Sports Like Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Wakeboarding, And Surfing
- Bombproof 11-Ply Hardwood Construction With High Quality Finish And Clean Design. Soft-Trak Gripped Top Deck Is Comfortable With Or Without Shoes.
URBNFit Balance Board Trainer
This balance board is very similar to the Revolution balance board. The big difference is that the roller stops are fixed. The board is 65 x 27.5cm and the surface is acceptable. It’s described as “emery paper”. Honestly, it feels a bit weird at first, not unpleasant, just different. You soon get used to it.
The URBNFit option is marketed as being for general exercise. We assume that’s why the roller stops are fixed. We also assume that’s why it’s priced much more affordably than the Revolution balance board. In fact, it’s only slightly more expensive than the yoga balls.
PROS
- Very reasonable price for a rocker-roller balance board
- Lots of advice on how to use it
CONS
- Roller stops are fixed
- Still more expensive than yoga balance boards
URBNFit Balance Board Trainer - Roller Board For Exercise, Athletic Training and...
- Help improve your balance, strength, agility, and body control with our versatile balance boards.
- Our wooden balance board is made from premium pine & poplar, with emery tape & a smooth foam roller.
- Get ripped with our wobble board - whether training for surf, skiing, football, or just killer abs!
- Help improve your balance, strength, agility, and body control with our versatile balance boards.
- Our wooden balance board is made from premium pine & poplar, with emery tape & a smooth foam roller.
- Get ripped with our wobble board - whether training for surf, skiing, football, or just killer abs!
- Our fit board comes with a bonus workout guide to give you a rock-solid footing come game time.
- Train your neuromuscular responses with our fit balance board - ideal for both beginners & athletes!
Best Sphere and Ring Balance Board
We didn’t find a single, genuine sphere and ring balance board available at mainstream retailers. It looks like they’ve been pushed out by yoga boards. Honestly, we can see why.
Best Yoga Balance Board
Sportneer Balance Ball Balance Board with Resistance Bands
This yoga board has a 60cm radius and a maximum height of 20cm. The included resistance bands are 80cm long without stretching.
This is an inflatable balance board and comes with a foot pump. The plastic is really strong and there’s an anti-leak plug. We’re happy that there’s plenty of grip on the platform’s surface and there’s also 8 anti-slip pads for when the platform is on the ground.
PROS
- Lots of versatility
- Strong enough to be reliable
- Easy to store and carry
CONS
- May not wear as well as the rocker-roller boards.
Sportneer Balance Ball Balance Board with Resistance Bands, Balance Trainer Bonus Pump...
- BURST-RESISTANT: Forget about the burst. Designed with 4mm thick PVC, this balance ball can work under the maximum pressure of 300 lbs
- Extreme Anti-skid Performance: Abrasion-resistant ABS platform with 8 anti-slide floor pads and non-slip durable standing surface for maximum stability and added strength, you'll feel stable while exercising even when you're sweaty
- BURST-RESISTANT: Forget about the burst. Designed with 4mm thick PVC, this balance ball can work under the maximum pressure of 300 lbs
- Extreme Anti-skid Performance: Abrasion-resistant ABS platform with 8 anti-slide floor pads and non-slip durable standing surface for maximum stability and added strength, you'll feel stable while exercising even when you're sweaty
- ONE KIT GYM: Built with a non-slip base of 23.4 inches in diameter, and comes with two resistance bands, this exercise ball help tone your core muscles, improve balance and stability, rehabilitate muscles after injury, and relax from noisy surroundings
- ADJUSTABLE RESISTANCE: Pump up with the included pump to increase or decrease board stability as desired
- FULL BODY FITNESS: Strengthen your muscles as well as practice your mental focus with push-ups, squats, crunches, climbers, lunges, planks and many more workouts with this half ball and exercise bands.
ZELUS Balance Ball Trainer
This yoga board has a 57.5cm radius and a maximum height of 24.5cm. The included resistance bands are 75cm long without stretching. It has 6 anti-slip pads on the platform. Other than that (and the colour), it’s basically identical to the Sportneer balance board.
CONS
- Lots of versatility.
- Strong enough to be reliable.
- Easy to store and carry.
CONS
- May not wear as well as the rocker-roller boards.
Z ZELUS Balance Ball Trainer Half Yoga Exercise Ball with Resistance Bands...
- RESISTANCE BANDS & AMPLE SPACE Two detachable 30 in. resistance bands with soft foam handle to build up your arm strength; 23 in. ball diameter provides ample standing space for better using experience and makes it fits a variety of sizes
- RESISTANCE BANDS & AMPLE SPACE Two detachable 30 in. resistance bands with soft foam handle to build up your arm strength; 23 in. ball diameter provides ample standing space for better using experience and makes it fits a variety of sizes
- IMPROVE BODY AWARENESS With this balance ball, you can complete hamstring curl, squat and reach, ball lunge, reverse extension, or balance push-up at home or anywhere you like, effectively building up balance, stability and pillar strength
- PORTABILITY Easy to deflate and inflate, lightweight, super easy to take it with you to the gym, park, or beach to enjoy workout; high quality air valve prevents air leakage and extends service life
- A COMPLETE COMBO Comes with a complimentary foot pump, ready to get fully inflated to 9.8" in up to 5 minutes
- International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions.
In short
Balance is one of those skills you sometimes only appreciate when you lose it. If you’re struggling with basic coordination, then a wobble board or rocker board could be just what you need to get it back. If, however, you’re looking for a serious workout, then a rocker-roller board or a yoga board would be an affordable way to challenge yourself in a small space.
Katie is our resident Editor and extremely is a well-respected voice in the world of fitness. Katie has a first-class Hons degree in Journalism and is proud to say that she has written leading entries featured in the biggest media outlets including Vogue, Women Health Magazine and CoachMag. Great outdoors and animal lover and always on the go
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