Ankle Weights Are the Subtle Strength Training Gear You Need

All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

Looking for new ways to fire up your lower body? The best ankle weights can add another level of difficulty to your walks, bodyweight workouts, and more. “Since you don’t need to hold onto ankle weights in the same way you would dumbbells or free weights, ankle weights expand the types of exercises and planes of motion you can add resistance to,” Ashley Iwanicki, CEO and founder of fitness studio The Collective Studios, tells SELF. Just strap them on and go—pretty simple, right?

Things get more complicated when you consider how many sets of ankle weights are out there. For every high-quality pair, there’s a dozen more with flimsy fasteners, scratchy fabric, and a poor fit. That’s why we pored over past SELF Home Fitness Award winners and expert recommendations to find comfy ankle weights that are actually worth adding to your home gym. Read on to shop our faves (and learn how to make the most of your investment).

Our top picks

Best Overall: Bala Bangles, starting at $55
Best Budget Pick: Henkelion Adjustable Ankle Weights, starting at $20
Best Adjustable Weights: Sportneer Adjustable Ankle Weights, $34
Best Bala Dupe: Gaiam Flex Wrist and Ankle Weights, $25
Best Higher-Weight Options: Synergee Adjustable Ankle Weights, $40

Shop the best ankle weights

Time to get a leg up on your workout routine.

Best Overall: Bala Bangles

Expert-recommended and SELF Home Fitness Award–winning, Bala’s cuter-than-they-have-any-right-to-be weights are perfect for the aesthetic fitness fan. Our Home Fitness Awards tester loved how seamlessly they made her “feel like I’m making my everyday movement ‘count’ a little more.” She still wears them on her neighborhood strolls (and when your ankle weights look this cool, why wouldn’t you want to show them off around town?).

Don’t get us wrong, though—they’re also designed with performance in mind: “Because of the segmented structure, they really conform around the ankle,” Meltem Sonmez Burr, a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Barreitude in New York City, tells SELF. She adds that their secure, comfortable fit makes them suitable for faster movements. “Also, because of their structure, they can easily be switched to [wrap] around the wrists.”

Available weights: 1, 2, and 3 pounds

Best Budget Pick: Henkelion Adjustable Ankle Weights

Henkelion

Adjustable Ankle Weights

I only ordered Henkelion’s ankle weights because I needed a relatively affordable way to tackle my physical therapy exercises at home. But what started as a purchase of necessity has blossomed into a full-blown love that goes beyond these weights’ price tag.

They’re impressively sturdy, with a thick Velcro closure that makes it easy to adjust their fit around my ankles. But it doesn’t feel like I’m wrapping sandbags around my legs—their outer layer is made from soft cotton that’s been treated for added durability.

Available weights: 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10 pounds

Best Adjustable Weights: Sportneer Adjustable Ankle Weights

Sportneer

Adjustable Ankle Weights (1-5 lbs)

Multiple fitness experts have recommended Sportneer’s weights to SELF for their adjustable design. They come with sandbag inserts that you can add or remove to find your preferred level of resistance between one and five pounds.

“The ability to adjust and exchange small weights to increase resistance is the best feature,” Jake Dickson, a NASM-certified personal trainer, USA Weightlifting Advanced Sport Performance Coach (USAW-L2), and contributing editor at BarBend, tells SELF. “The last thing you need is swelling joints because you were overly enthusiastic.”

Available weights: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 pounds

Best Bala Dupe: Gaiam Flex Wrist and Ankle Weights

Gaiam

Flex Wrist and Ankle Weights

Love how Balas look, but want to save a little cash? Gaiam’s weights are an excellent alternative. Burr says they aren’t quite as high-quality as the OGs, but they can come in handy during barre workouts. “The fit isn’t as snug as the Bala Bangles, but for the types of lower-body movements that these types of classes would entail, they’re great,” she explains.

We also like that these are beginner-friendly: Available in weight quantities of one or two pounds, they make a wonderful (and adorable) starter set for anyone new to ankle weights.

Available weights: 1 and 2 pounds

Best Higher-Weight Options: Synergee Adjustable Ankle Weights

Synergee

Adjustable Ankle Weights (10 lb)

Synergee’s heavy-duty adjustable weights are a top-notch option for seasoned users who are ready to level up, Keith Hodges, CPT, founder of Mind In Muscle Coaching in Los Angeles, tells SELF. The heaviest iteration of the weights clock in at 10 pounds per wrap—and they’re built to handle that additional load. These weights have double hook-and-loop straps that you can cinch individually for a super secure fit.

How precisely you can adjust the weights depends on which set you pick: The 2.5-pound weights come with 0.5-pound sandbags, while the 10-pound pair uses 2-pound sandbags. How’s that for versatility?

Available weights: 2.5, 5, and 10 pounds

Frequently asked questions about ankle weights

What are the benefits of incorporating ankle weights into your workout?

Andy Fata-Chan, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and fitness coach at Moment Physical Therapy & Performance in New York, tells SELF that ankle weights are great for resistance training during open chain lower body moves. “When you are moving the lower body in a closed chain, that means that the foot is on the ground. When you’re moving in an open chain, the leg is in the air,” he says. Some examples of open chain moves include seated leg extensions, standing hip abduction, standing marches, and hip extensions while in a plank or on all fours.

Dr. Fata-Chan explains that ankle weights are uniquely challenging during these moves because of their placement. “Ankle weights are attached farther from your core, which forces the lower body to work hard to lift the weight due to the increase in leverage,” he says.

Ankle weights can also add a degree of difficulty to your walking workouts. You’re already working your lower body muscles (hello, calves, quads, hamstrings, and glutes) and your core while you stroll. A couple additional pounds can further engage and strengthen these areas. Just keep in mind that ankle weights can affect your knee alignment if they’re too bulky. If you find that they interfere with your gait, consider wearing them as wrist weights for a little upper body strength training.

However you decide to incorporate ankle weights into your workouts, make sure you’ve built the necessary strength and feel comfortable with the unweighted versions of your moves first before strapping them on.

What should you look for when shopping for ankle weights?

Comfort: Your ankle weights should fit well and feel comfortable against your skin. Look for sets with adjustable straps that lay flat against your leg—they shouldn’t pinch or dig. Ones made of cotton or neoprene will feel nicer and more comfortable, but may lack the durability of sets made with canvas, Dr. Fata-Chan says.

Weight: They should also provide the right load for your fitness level and activity of choice. Dr. Fata-Chan likes adjustable weights for this reason—you can change up their level of resistance, while saving some space and money by only buying one pair. On the other hand, it can be easier to switch up your weights mid-workout by simply unwrapping one pair and strapping on another (instead of pausing to remove or add sandbag inserts). Both adjustable and fixed-weight options have their conveniences and drawbacks—it’s up to you which style will enhance your workout.

Diet Loss Free

Diet Loss Free

Ankle Weights Are the Subtle Strength Training Gear You Need

Our top picks

In this article

Shop the best ankle weights

Best Overall: Bala Bangles