Bala Bangles Overview: Purposeful and Fashionable Weights

Ankle weights are a good way so as to add gentle resistance to body weight workouts, low-impact exercises, and inclined treadmill walks. They may help to forestall coaching plateaus and elevate your general health routine. When you’re on social media, you’ve most likely seen the stylish, pastel-colored wearable weights that may be mistaken as a style assertion—the viral Bala Bangles.

The product has piqued my curiosity for some time—Can a health accent actually be trendy and sensible? How nicely do the Bangles carry out? Are they price their excessive price ticket?—so I lastly determined to place them to the check. Over the span of two months, I integrated a pair of 2-pound Bala Bangles into my common health routine—conserving them clasped to my ankles throughout frequent lower- and upper-body power coaching exercises. I evaluated the Bangles for design, adjustability, wearability, versatility, and portability—extra on that beneath.

However don’t take my phrase for it. To additional put the Bala Bangles to the check, our consultants additionally examined 17 pairs of ankle weights in The Verywell Testing Lab, performing varied workouts and score every set based mostly on ease of setup, adjustability, ease of use, match and luxury, versatility, portability, and worth. And in keeping with our check of the perfect ankle weights, the Bala Bangles excelled in all key classes and had been an apparent alternative for our greatest general slot.

Who It’s For

When you’re trying to improve your present wearable weights or elevate your exercise routine with a brand new high-quality health accent, the Bala Bangles may be for you. The 1- or 2-pound Bangles are trendy, purposeful, snug, and versatile—hitting all of the marks and extra. They work greatest so as to add weight to low-impact exercises (like Pilates and yoga) and improve resistance throughout day by day actions, like working errands and strolling on treadmill desks throughout work breaks, however they might not add sufficient weight for extra superior weightlifters. When you’re a extra superior lifter trying to improve the issue of your power coaching exercises, it’s possible you’ll need to go for a pair of adjustable dumbbells or resistance bands as a substitute.

Design: Fashionable and Smooth, but Absolutely Purposeful

A very powerful factor about any health accent is performance—if the product isn’t secure and doesn’t work, you simply received’t use it. Bala’s wearable weights excel on this class, as they do precisely what they’re supposed to do: comfortably add resistance and weight to exercises and different actions. The sturdy weights are manufactured from metal slabs wrapped in smooth silicone for a stable however clean really feel.

An enormous plus, they’re additionally extremely trendy. Accessible in a wide range of impartial, pastel colours—from sage inexperienced to blush pink—there’s one thing for everybody. They will slot in seamlessly as a part of your common health gear, together with sneakers and exercise underwear. I examined a pair of sand-colored bangles (a beigey brown) and cherished how smooth they appeared with each leggings to the health club and sweatpants to the shop.

Adjustability: Customizable in Two Methods

I appreciated that the Bala Bangles supply nice adjustability for a totally customizable expertise. These wearable weights are adjustable in two alternative ways: in circumference and in weight.

The lengthy Velcro strap can match a wide range of physique styles and sizes. It additionally allowed me to put on the Bangles on each ankles and wrists. I used to be in a position to take away weight in 2-ounce increments by sliding the metal slabs off of the Velcro strap—this was particularly useful throughout lengthy, arm-focused exercises.

Wearability: Snug and Simple to Use

You’re not going to put on weights in the event that they slip, slide, and distract throughout your exercises—belief me, I’ve been there. However even throughout a standing break up, I barely seen that I used to be sporting my Bala Bangles (apart from the extraordinary muscle burn tingling in my inverted leg).

The Bangles are additionally extraordinarily intuitive to make use of—they do not require any cumbersome looping or latching to put on. I discovered it fast and straightforward to wrap the lengthy Velcro strap round my wrist or ankle and safe it to the load earlier than use.

Versatility: For Any Exercise, Anyplace

Considered one of my favourite elements of the Bala Bangles is their versatility—I can incorporate them into just about any exercise. The Bangles are snug sufficient to be worn on ankles and wrists and may add depth to nearly any exercise.

Whereas testing, I wore the pair on my ankles and wrists so as to add resistance throughout power coaching workouts (like tricep extensions and squats), Pilates, yoga, and inclined treadmill periods. I additionally wore them whereas strolling outdoors and working errands (even on the grocery retailer). Whatever the exercise, the Bala Bangles had been snug, safe, and trendy.

Portability: Comes With a Compact Carry Case

Supreme for on-the-go use, Bala Bangles include a handy carry case. The mesh zip-up pouch is color-matched to your Bangles for a smooth, unified look. Whereas the case is tremendous cute and handy, I do want it had a deal with or loop for a neater, extra easy carry.

How We Examined

Over the course of two months, I integrated the Bala Bangles into my typical health routine which consists of Pilates, yoga, and strolling. I additionally built-in some frequent ankle- and wrist-weight exercises to hit the higher physique, decrease physique, and abs—like facet lateral raises, single-leg bridges, and mountain climbers.

When the wearable weights arrived, I took notice of their look, design, and portability. And through every session with the weights, I paid particular consideration to how adjustable they had been, in the event that they had been snug to put on, and the alternative ways they may very well be used.

In The Verywell Testing Lab, our testing staff additionally put the wearable weights by means of a sweat check to guage their absorbency and grip. Our testers sprayed their ankles and wrists with a saltwater answer to simulate sweat after which accomplished a collection of exercises to check the Bangles’ efficiency in sweaty or humid circumstances. The Bala Bangles handed with flying colours due to their silicone make-up, which affords nice sweat resistance and restricted slipping.

Worth: Costly, however Price It

It’s no secret that the Bala Bangles are costly. And with so many budget-friendly choices in the marketplace, you may discover it arduous to justify a $55 pair of wearable weights. However no different pair of ankle or wrist weights we examined rival the design, performance, and flexibility of the viral Bangles.

Belief me, I’ve used my fair proportion of ankle weights and nothing motivates me so as to add depth to my exercises fairly just like the Bala Bangles. Cheaper merchandise are sometimes cumbersome, flimsy, and moisture-retaining—missing the flexibility, adjustability, and (after all) model that the Bala Bangles ship.

The Competitors

There are cheaper wearable weights out there which are in some ways akin to the Bala Bangles. However by means of testing, we discovered that no different pair excels in design, adjustability, wearability, and portability fairly just like the Bala Bangles do.

• P.volve 3 LB Ankle Weights: I personal a pair of P.Volve’s ankle weights and admire their consolation and sturdiness—which is analogous to that of the Bala Bangles. However whereas these are extra inexpensive than the Bangles, they do lack in adjustability because the Velcro straps are comparatively brief and the load isn’t adjustable.
• Adidas Efficiency Ankle/Wrist Weights: Additionally budget-friendly, Adidas’s Efficiency Ankle Weights are an incredible alternative if consolation is your major concern. However the weights are cumbersome and never adjustable—if customization is vital to you, we suggest wanting elsewhere.
• Sportneer Ankle & Wrist Weights: Similar to the Bala Bangles, Sportneer’s Ankle Weights are extremely adjustable—with detachable weight pockets and a protracted Velcro strap. Nevertheless, these weights could also be cumbersome and lack the smooth, trendy look that the Bala Bangles present.

Why Belief Verywell Match

As a health editor, Michelle Parente researches and exams health merchandise just like the Bala Bangles for a residing. However health can be an enormous a part of her private life. Whether or not it’s resistance coaching, low-impact exercises, or 12-3-30 treadmill walks, you could find Michelle sporting weights at house or within the health club a number of instances per week. She has years of expertise utilizing wearable weights and spent months testing the Bala Bangles to domesticate an trustworthy and dependable evaluation of the product.