Cheap Abdominal Exercise Equipment That Works

Does abdominal exercise equipment really work? Well yes and no. I'll start out by saying that there's no doubt in my mind that millions of people are on a quest for killer abs at any given time. However, the important thing to realize is that you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on ab rollers, ab circles and other expensive pieces of equipment because you can get six pack abs for free.

With that said, there are a few pieces of equipment that are very well worth the price and you may just be surprised after learning what each of them is.

The Floor.

Gasp! Yeah, that's right - I said "the floor". Pretty fancy, eh? If you're reading this article right now, chances are that you probably have access to a floor. It's even better if you have your very own floor to use. You could use the ground too if you get really adventurous. I'd recommend the grass though. 

This is the one piece of abdominal exercise equipment that is completely free and easy to use. You can do a number of ab exercises on the floor including crunches, lying leg lifts, reverse crunches and bicycle crunches to name a few.

It's nice to know that you probably already own (or at least rent) this piece of equipment huh?

Ankle Weights.

These are fairly inexpensive depending upon the type you get. You can buy sets of them that contain different amounts of weight, one set of a specific weight or even adjustable ankle weights. You might not think of these as a type of abdominal exercise equipment but it's true. They are going to be very effective for you when you're doing things like lying leg raises and reverse crunches.

You can find them in all types of different colors and styles to suit your fancy. 

Dumbbells.

These really aren't too far from free at all. You can pick up a set of 2,3 or 5 pound dumbbells for a few dollars. You can do practically any abdominal exercise known to man with a pair of dumbbells. Dumbbells will add more resistance to the exercise which will make your abs work harder and also make them stronger. Resistance is what you need to help build up your abdominal muscles and added resistance can get you results even faster.

You can find dumbbells for cheap online or in just about any sports equipment store or even local discount department stores.

Ab Toner Belts.

Just kidding! That might be worth repeating so feel free to read that last sentence again. Do not waste your money on these pieces of crap.

Hanging Ab Straps

These are easily under $10 from places like Bodybuilding.com (where I got mine) or Amazon and they are perfect for doing ab exercises such as hanging leg raises or hanging knee raises. They allow you to prop yourself up on your elbows instead of simply hanging from a bar, making it easier to complete the repetitions because you can focus more on your core. You'll find that you can complete more reps while using these ab straps. At least that was my experience. I'm thrilled with them!

Bosu Ball (Bosu Balance Trainer)

This nifty contraption is so fun but not necessarily "cheap" - at least not in my world, but it is cheaper than many of those overpriced products you see on late-night infomercials. I honestly can't remember where I first saw the Bosu Ball but I think it was either on a Billy Blank's Boot Camp DVD or Biggest Loser. Either way, it's basically an exercise ball cut in half and stuck to a piece of rubber.

The Bosu Trainer is the perfect piece of abdominal exercise equipment because it forces you to balance your body. When you have to balance yourself, you will automatically be contracting muscles and making them work to keep you from falling. Now when you add in an ab exercise such as V-ups, leg raises or crunches, you know you're going to be getting an excellent ab workout.

Abdominal Exercise Ball.

This is another one of the greatest pieces of abdominal exercise equipment known to man. The best thing about the abdominal exercise ball is that you can also use them to work out every other muscle group in your body too. They're great to have because it's nice to be able to switch things up all the time and you can get one of these for under $20.

These balls are available in various colors and sizes. Be sure to thoroughly read the product description to make sure the ball you're viewing will fit you properly. They're usually sized in centimeters and the size you need will depend on your height.

Ab Wheel or Ab Roller.

An ab wheel or ab roller are usually okay to use as well. However, it's important that your back is strong because it's so easy to have a sagging back when you're using this piece of ab equipment. Other than that it's very effective at strengthening and toning the abdominal muscles including the upper abs, lower abs and the obliques.

See? Abdominal exercise equipment does not need to be expensive in order for it to be effective. All of these are easy to use and will provide you with real results if you use them on a regular basis. You definitely don't need each and every piece of equipment here. Just choose which one(s) you think you'd like best and actually use consistently.