13 Best Balance Pads For Workouts, As Per An Expert – 2024
Seamus Sullivan is a Los Angeles, California-based Performance Health Coach. As a young athlete, Seamus got his start in the sport of wrestling and even competed to the collegiate level. Athletics for him was not all the glory he thought it to be as sustained injuries throughout his career.
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Aditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
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Medha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.
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rajeshwari das Rajeshwari is a dedicated fitness and lifestyle enthusiast, deeply committed to enhancing our readers’ well-being and vitality. She has a master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta.
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In This Article
The best balance pad is a piece of ideal training equipment that provides excellent support to hold an exercise in a certain pose. It helps improve the stability of the body and build your muscles by providing an unstable surface for balance training. The pads are made of thick sponge material, which acts as a comfortable cushion between you and the floor and helps with proprioception. If you work out regularly using the balance pad, it will improve the recovery speed from an injury. In this article, you will find the 13 best balance pads where you can pick the one you like the most! Keep reading to know all about the pads.
[table “2695” not found /]13 Best Balance Pads For Workouts, Reviews & Guide For 2024
1. Best Scratch-Resistant: Airex Balance Pad
The Airex Balance Pad is suitable for all types of balance training exercises, stretching, mobility, physical therapy, water therapy, stretching, Pilates, yoga, core strength training, muscle activation and rehabilitation workouts. It is made of ultra-soft and scratch-resistant foam. This waterproof and non-slip pad is lightweight, versatile, and comfortable to use and can greatly help with body awareness.
The closed-cell foam is also convenient to clean. The transverse ribbing pattern is molded into the mat for resisting holes and rips for adequate flexibility while storing and carrying it. This foam balance pad can be used in the garden, garage, kitchen, bathroom, basement, or anywhere cushioning is required. The Airex Balance Pad is one of the best ones out there. Click here for a detailed insight into a tester’s experience with the product.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 19.69 x 16.14 x 2.36 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Lava
- Latex-free
- Odorless
- Waterproof
- Non-slip surface
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Scratch-resistant
- Lightweight
- Available in different sizes and colors
- Expensive
- Dimensions: 5 x 12.5 x 2.5 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Black
- Easy to clean
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Portable
- Available in various colors
- Slip-resistant
- Sweat-proof
- Not for beginners
- Dimensions: 75 x 15.75 x 2.5 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Black
- Durable
- Waterproof
- Antibacterial coating
- Sweat-proof
- Tear-resistant
- Available in various sizes and colors
- Stiff
- Dimensions: 15.8 x 13.4 x 2 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Blue
- Water-resistant
- Sweat-resistant
- Latex-free
- Easy to clean
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Tear-proof
- Supports up to 300 pounds
- None
- Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 2.25 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: G.Blue
- Anti-sweat
- Available in two sizes
- Easy to use
- Easy to store
- Anti-slip surface
- None
- Dimensions: 16 x 13.5 x 2 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Blue
- Sturdy
- Durable
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Sweat-proof
- Tear-proof
- Waterproof
- Non-slip surface
- Ergonomic design
- None
- Dimensions: 12.2 x 8.27 x 2.36 inches
- Material: Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)
- Color: Green
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Available in various colors
- Not suitable for high-intensity workouts
- Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 2.25 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Black
- 5-year warranty
- Waterproof
- Sweat-resistant
- Eco-friendly
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Tear-resistant
- Durable
- Edges may tear
- Dimensions: 5 x 13.5 x 3.5 inches
- Material: PVC
- Color: Multi-colored
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Spiky texture
- Holds up to 400lbs
- Durable
- Not ideal for heavy exercises
- Material: PVC
- Color: Black, Blue, Turquoise, Yellow-Green, Silver
- Dimensions: 13.4 inches x 2.8 inches
- Anti-slip surface
- Expression-proof
- Load-bearing
- Easy-to-clean
- None
- Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 2 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Black
- Available in various sizes and colors
- Waterproof
- Wear-resistant
- Sturdy
- Holds up to 500lbs
- Comes with a pump
- Not ideal for heavy exercises
- Dimensions: 13.43 x 10.75 x 6.73 inches
- Material: Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
- Color: Gray
- Lightweight
- Strong stability
- Multiple colors
- Non-slip and soft surface
- Portable
- Durable
- None
- Dimensions: 19 x 15.25 x 2.25 inches
- Material: Foam
- Color: Blue
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Sweat-proof
- May compress
- Size: There are three variations of size – small, regular, and large.
Pros
Cons
2. Best Slip-Resistant: ProsourceFit Exercise Balance Pad
This balance pad is ideal for rehabilitation after injury and balance exercises. It helps strengthen your feet and ankles. It is sturdy, lightweight, and suitable for gym and home workouts, athlete training and balance challenges.
This balance pad is made of an eco-friendly, non-toxic, and durable TPE material. It has a slip-resistant and sweat-proof surface for optimum comfort. It can also be used as a seat cushion, knee pad, meditation pillow, or footpad for standing desks. This balance pad is suitable for strength training, such as squats, planks, and lunges. This YouTube video detailing a reviewer’s experience with the product will provide more information on the ProsourceFit Exercise Balance Pad.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
3. Best Antibacterial Coating: Clever Yoga Balance Pad
The Clever Yoga Balance Pad is suitable for balancing exercises, such as one-legged exercise, squats, and lunges. It helps strengthen your joints and muscles and improve your core strength and helps develop balance and stability.
This versatile pad can be used for sit-ups, as a footpad for work desk, soft cushion seat, rehab, injury prevention, and muscle strengthening. It has a waterproof and sweat-resistant surface that prevents stinking and is a balance board alternative. This balance pad is durable, and the closed-cell TPE construction is tear-resistant and prevents germs and dirt. Watch this video to know more about a reviewer’s experience of using the Clever Yoga Balance Pad.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
4. Best Latex-Free: Vive Balance Pad
This balance pad is suitable for improving balance, strength, and coordination. This foam pad is latex-free and provides a stable surface to enhance one’s overall balance, aids in knee strengthening and improves the core strength of the body. You can also use it for general exercise, rehabilitation, and physical therapy after a stroke, hip surgery, and knee injury.
This portable balance pad can also be used as a foot elevator or a seat cushion to correct your posture and have more postural control. The extra thick, durable foam enhances motor skills and joint stability while strengthening your knees, hips, and ankles. The non-slip base prevents sliding and slipping when in use. It is water-resistant, sweat-resistant, easy to clean, lightweight, tear-proof, and supports up to 300 pounds. Multiple reviewers on Amazon have reported that this pad is extremely supportive and lasts a long time without losing its shape.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
5. Best For Seniors: Yes4All Foam Balance Pad
The Yes4All Foam Balance Pad is suitable for seniors who receive physical therapy to boost body strength and for balance enhancement. It is constructed with a high-quality TPE foam material that provides softness and a comfortable surface for your body. The balance pad helps you in pilates, yoga, hip-strengthening exercises, and strength training. It also reduces body pain with its anti-fatigue properties. Additionally, a blend of the textured anti-slip pad and the closed-cell foam technology prevents you from slipping on sweat. It is available in two sizes such as large for handiness and extra large for wide coverage. Multiple reviewers on Amazon highly recommend this textured surface pad as it provides great comfort and pain relief to those who have undergone surgeries or are recovering from injuries.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
6. Best Ergonomic Design Safeguards: Pete’s Choice Foam Balance Pad
The Pete’s Choice Foam Balance Pad is durable, compact, portable, and lightweight for home, office, or gym use. This fitness accessory is made of sweat-proof, tear-proof, and waterproof TPE foam. This balance pad exhibits a non-slip textured surface and an anatomic design that helps intensify your workout and strengthen the muscles of your ankles, hips, knees, abs, legs, and core. Many reviews indicate that the ergonomic design safeguards your joints and prevents injuries.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
7. Most Durable: Fit Products Balance Pad
The Fit Products Balance Pad helps enhance your core stability and strength. It also helps improve body coordination and reactions. It is made from superior-quality thermoplastic elastomers that are durable. You can use it for various exercises that focus on the pelvic, elbow, shoulder, wrist, knee, hip, foot, and ankle.
This balance pad is suitable for sports training and movement rehabilitation activities to recover from an injury and reduce back pain. It is also useful for Pilates, yoga, spine balance, sit-ups, yoga poses, planks, and martial arts. Check out some online reviews to learn more about the product before making a purchase.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
8. Best Eco-Friendly: A2ZCARE Balance Pad
This tear-resistant and non-toxic balance pad is made from TPE material that is durable and resilient. It comes with a non-slip surface for additional grip. This balance pad is suitable for outdoor, indoor, and underwater stabilizing movement.
This foam balance pad acts as a support for seniors during their physiotherapy sessions. It helps resist pressure on joints and is suitable for back balance, push-ups, squats, warm-up activities, and lunges. This balance pad is lightweight, waterproof, and easy to clean. It is ideal for both beginners and veterans in fitness and sports. However, for beginners, it is recommended that they consult a certified personal trainer for guidance to avoid injuries.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
9. Best For Strength Training: StrongTek Hedgehog Balance Pad
This balance exercise kit comes as a set of four balance pods and a balance pad. The balance pad restores natural body energy and enhances blood circulation and coordination in the body. The balance dome ensures better stability and traction. It is suitable for massaging the feet and improving blood flow in the body. The balance pad is ideal for body conditioning and strength training. According to reviews on online forums, this set successfully stimulates the core and enhances reaction time, agility, and stamina.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
10. Best Expression-Proof: Gonex Wobble Cushion Balance Disc
Gonex Wobble Cushion Balance Disc is designed to improve your fitness by massaging your back, feet, and hips. The disc is ideal to use in yoga, rehabilitation, workouts, and pilates to strengthen the core muscles, balance, and improve coordination. The front-side massage points provide low-strength massage and rear-side massage points provide high-strength massage. These massage points relieve muscles and reduce fatigue. The balance disc is designed to bear a weight of up to 450 pounds.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
"This balance pad helps improve my posture and reduce my muscle fatigue. The front side has small points that enhance blood circulation and relieve muscle stress, while the large point on the rear side improves my body’s balance. It is sturdy and durable."
Quick Tip11. Best For Injuries: Day 1 Fitness Balance Pad
The Day 1 Fitness Balance Pad strengthens your core stability, improves your body balance, and increases your flexibility. This stability pad helps stretch and warm up your back and reduces pain and stiffness in your shoulders, neck, legs, shoulders, and back. This balance pad also acts as a therapeutic accessory to help children and students sit and concentrate better in their classes.
The heavy-duty construction is ideal for a speedy recovery from leg injuries. This balance pad comes with massage spikes for additional comfort and grip. The smooth surface area is ideal for balance control, core strengthening, weight loss exercises, chiropractic applications, physical therapy, and isokinetics. This product is safe for patients with sciatic, slipped discs, and lumbar pain. According to multiple Amazon reviews, this pad is multi-purpose and made using good quality materials that last a long time.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
Pro Tip12. Best Easy Maintenance: Gaiam Essentials Yoga Block
Get sufficient height and support with the Gaiam Essentials Yoga Block during your yoga session. It is lightweight and provides strong stability with an easy gripping system, making it ideal for various types of exercises. You can ensure proper alignment and stretches by keeping this block in your hand or under your feet. It comes in multiple colors and is made of durable foam with a non-slip surface. The blocks are easy to clean and maintain. Multiple reviewers on Amazon highly recommend these blocks as they are sturdy, durable, and stable.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
"I use these blocks during my yoga sessions. They are lightweight but offer intensive support to my body. They have slip-resistant surfaces that prevent accidents. I use them as a seat when I meditate, and they help to improve my posture."
13. Best For Elbow And Knee Support: OPTP Pro Balance Pad
This balance pad has the ideal surface for stability training, balance training, rehabilitation, and physical therapy. It is suitable for elbow and knee cushion support during the general exercise routine. This balance pad is made of durable, high-quality material, and closed-cell foam technology. It is durable, sweat-proof, and easy to clean. The best thing about this balance pad is that it has been trusted by physical therapists and athletic trainers for years.
Specifications
Pros
Cons
"This balance pad cushions my muscles and helps stabilize them. It has a sturdy construction, so it remains firm no matter how long I exercise on it. What I like most about it is that it is easy to clean. I love how soft the pad feels against my muscles."
Consider the following points while buying a balance pad to make the ideal purchase.
Things To Consider Before Buying Balance Pads
- Small: The small balance pads measure 16×9 inches and accommodate only one foot at a time. These pads come in oval and rectangular shapes.
- Regular: The regular balance pads accommodate two feet. They measure 20×16 inches and are suitable for squats.
- Large: The large balance pads measure 38×16 inches. These balance pads can be used for exercises where hand and foot are involved together.
- Quantity: Quantity of the balance pads depends upon the kind of exercises you are performing.
- Single Workout: Most of the balance pads can accommodate only a single person. You can put a single foot or both feet as per the size.
- Partner Workout: If you are carrying out exercises with your partner, you will need a balance pad for both of you. The quantity of balance pads depends upon the number of people exercising together. The more people, the more pads are required.
- Wet Balance Pads: Many people are not aware that balance pads can also be used as a floating device. The regular size balance pads are used as kickboards, and large pads are used as full-body floating boards for kids and infants. A balance beam pad can be used for resting the neck, head, and shoulders in the swimming pool.
Let’s now look at the benefits of a balance pad.
The Benefits Of A Balance Pad
- Strengthens the muscles and joints and enhances their mobility.
- Can be used for physical rehabilitation for people who need extra support to improve their muscle stability after surgery or injuries for improvement in range of motion.
- Improves agility and makes you quick against defensive reactions.
- Improves posture and develops the core muscles.
- Helps develop mind-muscle connection.
Infographic: Tips To Clean And Store A Balance Pad
Exercising on a balance pad helps improve your body’s stability, balance, core strength, and coordination. However, poor maintenance and improper storage can impact the longevity of the pad. The infographic below lists some tips for cleaning and storing a balance pad the right way. Check it out.
Illustration: The Bridal Box Design Team
The Bottom Line
Balancing or balance training helps you keep upright, improve body stability, and prevent falls. The best balance pads engage your muscles and boost strength. In addition, regularly working on balance pads boosts the efficiency of your regular workouts or yoga. So consider investing in durable balance pads that strengthen your muscles and joints. The Airex Balance Pad has a textured surface that enhances grip, and the Vive Balance Pad offers stability and cushioning with its high-density foam design. The Yes4All Foam Balance Pad stands out due to its affordable yet optimal functionality. Slip-resistant, sweat-proof, scratch-resistance balance pads are of great advantage as they prevent accidental falls. But steer clear of the balance pads that tear or can’t withstand your weight. If you have complex motor function issues and seek professional advice, you can reach out to a certified personal trainer or coach to help you pick the best balance pads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any safety precautions that I need to take with a balance pad?
Yes. Always follow precautionary measures while using balance pads to decrease the risks of injury. If you are a beginner, use helmets, elbow caps, and knee caps to turn down the level of injury as these portions are more exposed.
Do I need to clean my balance pad?
Yes. Wash your balance pad with water. Shake to drain out the excess water and dry in air. This keeps it hygienic.
Are balance pads worth it?
Yes, balance pads support your elbows and knees during your stretches and exercises. They help in engaging your muscles without hurting them or stressing them out.
Are balance pads just for beginners?
No, balance pads can be used by beginners and professionals. They are mostly used by seniors who prefer doing simple exercises to stay fit.
Can you use a balance board during pregnancy?
Yes, you can use a balance board during pregnancy. But consult your doctor before using one to be on the safer side.
How long should I stand on a balance pad?
There are many exercises that demand standing on a balance pad for 20 seconds, while many other exercises demand standing on a balance pad for two minutes or more.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author of this article, Aditi Naskar, has a diploma in health and wellness and is a fitness enthusiast. She knows the importance of doing exercises and loves trying out new exercise equipment. She went through many brand websites to understand the products in detail and checked many user reviews online to compile this list of the best balance pads for workouts. These products help build muscles and improve stability.
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