We’ve all seen those seemingly endless infomercials, plugging the latest bit of expensive exercise equipment, but the best abs equipment has been around for a long time. These products can give people some results, but unfortunately not as good as some of the things we have used for years. So what do I consider the best abs equipment? This article is going to provide you with the top three.
#1 The Classic Chin-Up Bar
This is far and away the best piece of ab equipment out there. Nothing works the abs as hard as hanging leg raises. Have you ever noticed a gymnast’s abs? Hanging leg raises create a stronger contraction in your abs than any other piece of equipment. You don’t see many people perform them, because it isn’t an easy exercise. Most people do not have strong enough cores to do more than one or two lifts. It makes little difference whether you perform the raises with legs bent or straight, you will achieve those chiseled abs. This has long been a favorite move of mine; however once I read “Convict Conditioning”, a new book about working out, I am even more of a fan now. Paul Wade, who wrote this book, indicates that the people who have the best developed abs anywhere in the world are prisoners. This is because they do a lot of hanging leg raises.
#2 The Ab Wheel
An inexpensive ab wheel can be purchased for less than $15 from most stores that specialize in sports equipment. The ab wheel is also great for developing your entire torso and not just the middle section. In addition, you will also increase your abs’ ability to keep your spine safe. Between hanging leg raises using a chin up bar and doing ab roll-outs with an ab wheel, you will get extremely dense abs.
#3. A Cushioned Floor Mat
This might be the most important piece of abs equipment of all. Since most carpets are padded, you can possibly get away without one of these. Even so, if you have one, your exercises on the floor will be easier. You won’t be in as much pain doing exercises like lying leg raises if you do them on a mat. Even planks won’t ache so much. Personally, I complete all my ab exercise sessions with 1 or 2 sets of planks. If I make the attempt without a mat, it can be excruciating.
These Three Pieces of Equipment Trump Any of the Fancy Infomercial Gadgets
If you can only get one piece of abs equipment, I would suggest the chin up bar. You can go online and find several inexpensive solutions to installing this at home. The great thing is that you can use these for chin ups as well, which is one of the best upper body exercises. So, if you are looking for the best abs equipment, go low-tech.
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