4 Best Medicine Balls – 2017 Reviews and Top Picks
Fitness has been a top concern of people over the past few years. There has been an increasing interest with regard to fitness and body wellness in general.
Hence, we have the rise of gym buffs and gym rats, who spend six to eight hours a day in the gym. However, not everyone have the resources and the time to visit the gym every day – and that’s where portable gym equipment comes in.
Instead of going to the gym, why not have your very own gym at home? A good gym equipment to invest in is the medicine ball.
According to Merriam Webster dictionary, a medicine ball is a weighted ball used for exercises. Also known as exercise ball and fitness ball, it is usually covered with durable materials such as leather and nylon.
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Product Summary
- AmazonBasics Medicine Ball comes in four weight classes. It is made from sturdy rubber and provides superior grip. This is perfect for core, arm and leg workouts. But because it is made from rubber, it has an unpleasant smell upon opening.
- The SPRI Dual Grip Xerball has a dual grip function which makes it work much like a dumb bell and a kettle bell. It comes in seven different weight classes and is made from synthetic rubber and PVC construction.
- Valeo Medicine Ball comes in five weight classes with increasing diameter. It is made from sturdy rubber hence it provides superior grip and also bounces off of hard surfaces. It also comes in different colors. Just like the AmazonBasics ball, it also has an unpleasant smell upon unboxing.
- Champion Sports Leather Ball is made from thick leather. It was designed for weight and dynamic muscle training. However, the ball is pretty smooth making it a bit hard to grasp.
Reviews Of The Best Medicine Balls
AmazonBasics Medicine Ball is an exercise ball made from sturdy rubber. It is available in varying weights – 4 pounds, 6 pounds, 8 pounds, 10 pounds and 12 pounds.
Because of its material, it bounces off walls and other hard surfaces which are good for exercises like bouncing it off against the wall or throwing it down the floor. Aside from being bouncy, it is also easy to grip because of its surface which is much like a basketball.
The ball is ideal for workouts that develop the core, the arms and the legs. It also helps in developing coordination, strength and endurance.
The AmazonBasics Medicine Ball is a mid-range gym equipment. When compared to those more expensive ones, you will find this ball worth the money than those more expensive ones. Its size is just right and previous buyers have found it to be pretty solid.
We find the ball to be just the right size even for nimble hands. It is also filed pretty solid. The material of the outer covering is also good as it is very durable. Our favorite feature is the superior grip that it provides. We also love the color.
However, its smell when we unboxed it was more unpleasant than we thought it should be. However, we wiped it with a damp cloth and the smell went away. But overall, this is a five-star medicine ball for us.
Things we like:
- The superior grip the outer covering provides.
- It bounces off walls and other hard surfaces very well.
- It has a really nice color.
Things we don’t like:
- The smell when we unboxed it.
This medicine ball is designed and manufactured by SPRI. It has two holes in it for easy grip. It is made from synthetic rubber and PVC construction. It also has a minimal bounce.
Hence it is great for non- release moves and supported weight exercises. This product is available in seven weight classes namely; six pounds, eight-pounds, 10-pounds, 12-pounds, 14-pounds, 16-pounds, 18-pounds and 20-pounds.
We found that the Dual Grip Xerball is perfect for workouts on the bench press. There is no need to worry that it’ll fall off the body because of the dual grip feature.
We used it while doing core exercises on the bench press and the grip totally did the magic. With other medicine balls, we had a fear that it’ll slip from our hands, but with this one, we didn’t have that worry.
Aside from that, the ball was well-balanced. We found it to be the perfect ball to use during push-ups. Each ball comes with a free instruction sheet and exercise guide. We give the SPRI Dual Grip Xerball Medicine Ball four stars out of five.
Things we like:
- The dual grip feature of the ball.
- The weight is equally distributed throughout the ball.
- It is very sturdy.
Things we don’t like:
- The smell it gives off when we first opened it.
This fitness ball is available in five weight classes namely, four pounds, six pounds, eight pounds, 10 pounds, and 12 pounds. The four-pounder ball is around 7.5” in diameter. While the six-pound and eight-pound balls are around 8.5” in diameter. Finally the 10 and 12 pound balls are both 9.5” in diameter.
The Valeo Medicine Ball is made from sturdy rubber which provides the user with good grip. It is also great for bouncing off on hard surfaces. This ball is great for simple exercises that trigger the core, arms, legs and buttocks.
This product is a steal. The grip this ball provides is phenomenal. We had no problem holding it even if we were sweaty from all the exercise we did with it. You can throw the ball off on hard surfaces and it’ll bounce much like a basketball. The weight is equally distributed throughout the ball and it is filled pretty solid.
However, the color of the ball was a bit off. We ordered a pink and black ball but what was delivered was a red and black ball. Also there was a bit of a smell when we opened the ball. However, it went away a few days after. What makes this product one of the best medicine balls out there is that it comes with an exercise wall chart.
Overall, we give this ball four stars out of five.
Things we like:
- The grip the ball provides.
- The weight of the ball was equally distributed.
- The ball is filled pretty solid.
Things we don’t like:
- The color of the ball was different from what we ordered.
- The smell of the ball when we opened it from the box.
The Champion Sports Leather Medicine Ball is made from thick leather designed to withstand the wear-and-tear of everyday workout. The four to five pounds ball is around 7” across. On the other hand, the 11-12 pounds ball is 9”, about the same size as a basketball. While the 14-15 pounds ball is around a foot long.
This ball is best for weight training and dynamic muscle training. This fitness ball is available in various colors like blue and white, orange and white, green and white and yellow and white.
We bought all the sizes of the Champion Sports Leather Medicine Ball. Of all five, we liked the 11-12 pound ball because of its size. It is much like a basketball. People with small hands would pretty much like this than the bigger ones.
Those who do not like bouncy and hard exercise balls will like this. This one is not bouncy. Its surface is also smooth and a bit slippery. We give this ball three and a half out of five stars.
Things we like:
- The size of the 11-12 pound ball.
- The color of the ball is also very nice.
- It is durable.
Things we don’t like:
- It was pretty hard to grip.
- It does not feel solid unlike other balls.
- It also does not bounce off hard surfaces.
Three Things To Consider When Buying A Medicine Ball
There are only three things to consider when looking for the best medicine ball. You have to keep in mind the size, weight and the type of exercise you want to use it for.
- The size is mainly dependent on the hand span of the person. Obviously, men would prefer medicine balls with a bigger diameter while women would most likely incline to balls with a smaller diameter given their smaller hands.
- On the other hand, you also have to take into consideration the weight of the fitness balls. Each brand comes in several weight classes. Individuals who wish to develop more muscle definition would more likely be inclined towards the heavier ones. While those who just want to stay fit could just stick with the lighter to mid-weight class balls.
- You also have to take into consideration the type of exercise you want to use it for. Fitness balls can come in different styles such as dead weight slam balls, single handle, dual-grip balls, hard rubber balls and soft balls. The dead weight slam balls are great for cross-fit work-outs. The single handle is great for arm and leg exercises. Dual-grip balls are the best for core workouts. There are also medicine balls that bounce. This type of fitness balls are made of rubber material.
Conclusion
The winner in this showdown of medicine balls is AmazonBasics Medicine Ball. Taking into account the price of product and its features, this is the best medicine ball out there in the market.
A medicine ball is a great addition to your home gym and will greatly help in achieving the body you desire all year round.
