The Best Abs Equipment is Cheap and “Old School”
These days, a lot of costly equipment is being hawked on late night television that promise to get you those ripped abs; however the best abs equipment is not one of these products. While these modern contraptions might help you out a little bit, these oldies but goodies will get you better results every time. You might be asking what I think is the best abs equipment. There are three that I think are the best, and I’ll tell you why in this article.
#1 The Classic Chin-Up Bar
The best abs equipment available by far is the chin up bar. Nothing works the abs as hard as hanging leg raises. Ever see the abs of a gymnast? Hanging from the bar and lifting your legs makes your abs contract more than any other abs equipment. This is a very difficult move, which is why a lot of people do not do them. And if you try to do several sets – well, only a small number of people have the core strength for that. 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, the author of “Convict Conditioning”, points out that some of the best abs are found on those who are serving time in a penitentiary, and they rely heavily on the hanging leg raise.
#2 The Ab Wheel
Poke around in any sporting good store and you can find an older ab wheel model for less than $15. Doing ab wheel roll-out develops the entire torso and not just your abs. This also strengthens the ability of your abs to protect your spine. 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
I was almost tempted to list this as number one. 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. Things like lying leg raises feel much better when done on a floor mat. Even planks won’t ache so much. In fact, I always finish off every ab workout with 1-2 sets of planks. Doing these without a floor mat is brutal.
These Three Pieces of Equipment Trump Any of the Fancy Infomercial Gadgets
Honestly, just having a chin up bar goes a long way. With a quick Google search, you’ll be able to find several low cost models that can be easily installed in your home. In addition to your hanging leg raises, you can also use the bar to pull some chin-ups and shape your upper body as well. So, if you are looking for the best abs equipment, go low-tech.