15 Best Balance Boards and Wobble Boards (Reviewed)

Everyone who stands on a paddle board, surf or skateboard for the first time knows from their own experience that the first hurdle on the way to becoming a pro is keeping your balance.

With an indoor surfboard or a paddle balance board, you have the opportunity to improve your skills and train your whole body and core muscles at the same time at any time, even in bad weather and in the icy season…and the best part is that working out with these compact “wobble boards” is even really fun!

All you need to turn your living room into a surf or paddle board spot is a balance board, a matching roller, and maybe a non-slip mat…you’re good to go!

With this effective balance training you are optimally prepared for the next season and can improve your skills at any time in your own 4 walls. Your important deep muscles are optimally strengthened by the balance exercises.

These muscle groups work exclusively reactively (e.g. when keeping your balance) and can only be activated with difficulty with conventional exercises.

Best Balance Boards

Best Wobble Boards

How to Choose a Balance Board / Wobble Board

Balance Boards are becoming more and more popular. In the rehabilitation field (physiotherapy), the small training devices, due to their many positive effects on the musculoskeletal system and balance have been used for years.

As always, the various offers are becoming increasingly confusing as demand increases. In this guide, I would therefore like to give you an overview of the topic, so that you can find the right one for you even as a beginner!

What Is a Balance Board?

A balance board or “wobble board” or “balance trainer” is always similar in principle. A platform (standing surface) is supported on a ball, an air cushion or on a roller and must be balanced. Depending on the design, different shapes and materials are used:

What Shapes (Shapes) Of the Standing Surface Are There?

• Round: These balance boards usually have a hemisphere or half an inflatable ball firmly attached to the base (“therapy spinning top”).
• Square or rectangular: These models are available with an integrated hemisphere or with a roller. In the therapy area, there are also versions that are mounted on springs.
• Balance seesaw: There are also models with a curved base. This makes it possible to do without a movable bearing on a roller, etc.

These 3 forms are most widely used in the field of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, as they are suitable for almost any age group and the requirements are not quite so high.

• Board-Shape: This design is especially popular with board athletes, as the shape of the standing surface is based on the contour of surf, wake, skate, snow or paddle boards. Such balance boards are usually freely supported on a roller, a ball or an air cushion and are thus very mobile. For beginners, there are models with (removable) stoppers, so that the board can not slide down completely.

The balance boards with board shape are very popular among hobby and professional athletes, on these models the freedom of movement is the greatest and allows spectacular tricks.

What Materials Are Balance Boards Made Of?

Boards

For the standing surface of the boards, various plastics and glued wood are primarily used. The most rigid and durable boards are those made of many layers of solid wood, but they are usually more expensive. Boards made of plastic, in turn, are more resistant to moisture and therefore more suitable for outdoor use.

The standing surfaces of some models are additionally coated with anti-slip materials. Here, mainly EVA (sponge rubber) and sandpaper are used. The surface of some models is simply roughened or has a surface structure (grooves, knobs, etc.).

Rollers, air cushions and balls

The rollers and balls are either made of resistant plastic or hard foam, wood (with rubber rings or grip coating) or cork. Plastic, hard foam and cork are somewhat softer and therefore more gentle on the floor covering.

A mixture of rubber or rubber (latex) is usually used in the manufacture of the mostly inflatable balance cushions.

Which Size Suits Me?

First of all, you should have enough space for your feet on the standing surface. The narrower or smaller the board, the more difficult it is to keep your balance. If you want your training to simulate your favorite board sport, it’s best to choose a model with a corresponding contour.

For this reason, the larger models with an allround board shape, such as the INDOBoard Clear, are more suitable as paddle balance boards. For advanced surfers, the indoor surfboards are also a sensible solution.

Smaller models are basically a bit more agile and faster in movement and therefore more difficult to control. Large balance boards are also suitable for exercises in a seated position, allow a larger leg distance and are therefore much easier to balance!

What Is the Load Capacity?

It is of course very important that your balance board fits your body weight. Therefore, please pay attention to and adhere to the manufacturer’s specifications. The vast majority of balance boards can be loaded up to 100 kg (220 lbs), models made of glued solid wood even up to 140 kg (310 lbs) and more.

Individual representatives, such as the Revolution Balance Boards 101 Trainer even have a maximum load of up to 181 kg (400 lbs). Thus, it should be possible to find a suitable balance board for every weight class.

Is a Roller, a Ball or an Air Cushion Better Suited for My Workout?

That depends on your needs and abilities. Generally, the difficulty also increases with the diameter. The different shapes have different characteristics which I would like to explain to you briefly:

Roller

A roller made of cork, wood or plastic is included with most balance boards. Due to its shape, it can only move in 2 directions. Forward and backward or from left to right, depending on how you place the board. In addition, these cork rollers can also be used as a fascia roller.

The larger the roller and thus the distance to the floor, the greater the freedom of movement of the balance board. This increases the difficulty level and gives you enough space for tricks. Of course, you can also get several rollers to keep all your options open.

Sphere

When you use the board on a free ball, the standing surface can move in any direction, even sideways. That’s why balancing on the ball is the most difficult, but in return the freedom of movement is maximized.

Air cushion

The most stable is the use on an air cushion. Although you can tilt the balance board in any direction, the air cushion cannot roll away unexpectedly. For beginners, this variant is especially recommended, so you can slowly get used to the balance board.

There are also models with integrated fixed or inflatable hemisphere. These are also called therapy spinning tops and are often used in physiotherapy.

On What Surface Can I Use the Balance Board?

Basically, the surface should be level. If you are training indoors, it is best to place a suitable mat underneath so that the floor is not damaged. The only exception is a carpeted floor, which, however, slows down the mobility of the roller or ball somewhat.

A soft mat (yoga or fitness mat) also lets the roller or ball sink in a bit and slows down the movements. A hard cork mat, on the other hand, makes the balance board more agile and can also be used as a yoga mat. By choosing the right surface, you can additionally influence the level of difficulty.

Do I Have to Wear Shoes While Exercising?

That depends on your model. Of course, you should always have a good grip on the standing surface. But with boards with anti-slip coating you can even train barefoot!

How Do I Get On a Balance Board?

Climbing onto a balance board for the first time takes a bit of courage, after all, it looks pretty wobbly…. and it is! For safety reasons, you should make sure there is enough space around the indoor surfboard, because especially in the beginning you might have to get off a few times.

It’s also best to find someone or something like a wall or chair to hold onto for a bit of safety at first. Then you can finally get started: First, place the board about centered on the roller and put one foot on the side that is resting on the mat.

Next, place the second foot on the other side of the board without shifting your weight onto it.

Then shift your weight to both feet with a little bit of momentum and now you can focus on finding your balance.

Are There Wall Mounts for Balance Boards?

In addition to wall mounts for paddle boards, there are also mounts for balance boards. This allows the board to be stored conveniently and also becomes an eye-catcher. There are wall mounts where the board is clamped and lies completely against the wall, like here:

But there are also the typical wall mounts for skateboards, where the board protrudes from the wall at an angle.

FAQ

Finally, I’ll answer a few more frequently asked questions for you: