The 7 Best Ab Machines of 2020

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Our Top Picks

Best Sit Up Machine: Ab Coaster Max at Amazon

"Allows you to work your rectus abdominis muscles, as well as your obliques."

Best Roller: Ab Carver Pro at Amazon

"The spherical design allows you to carve left, right or center."

Best Rocker: Cap Barbell Unisex Adult Ab Trainer at Amazon

"If you want something sturdy, get this ab rocker."

Best Roman Chair: Powerline Roman Chair and Back Extension at Amazon

"This Roman chair is a two-in-one machine, allowing you to work both abs and lower back muscles."

Best Bar: Body Champ Fitness Multi Function Power Tower at Amazon

"A multifunctional powerhouse."

Best Exercise Ball: Black Mountain Static Strength Stability Ball at Amazon

"Exercise balls are great for targeting the abs."

Best Bench: 12 Position Ergonomic Adjustable Decline Ab Bench at Amazon

"Perfect for someone who is looking for a no-frills no-fuss ab workout."

Our Top Picks

Best Sit Up Machine: Ab Coaster Max

If you’re looking to add a valuable piece of equipment to your home gym that focuses on chiseling your abs, try the Ab Coaster Max. The curved frame design allows you to work your abs as well as your obliques.

The machine works by you kneeling on it, using the grips and your stomach muscles to pull yourself up, while the seat glides up and down the track.

Your arms and shoulders will also subsequently get a workout, as they take on part of the job. The kneepad also keeps you comfortable while allowing you to bear down to twist, which targets your obliques, maximizing your core’s flexibility, and giving stability to prevent injuries to your lower back.

The Ab Coaster Max is a high-quality machine, made from all steel—from the steel bearings to the stainless steel rails—and its gliders are made from smooth nylon for a comfortable grip.

Want to add more weight? Great! You can add up to an extra 30 pounds of resistance with the included optional weight plates. Also included is a DVD showing recommended workout programs.

Best Roller: Ab Carver Pro

The Ab Carver Pro is your best bet for a roller that's both advanced yet simple to use. For starters, it features a kinetic engine that’s coiled carbon steel, which adds resistance to your core workouts.

The super-wide wheel creates stability for when you stretch out or pull back and feel a little wobbly, so you have less of a chance tweaking your back. Meanwhile, the ergonomic rubber hand grips ensure your hands don’t slide, so you won’t be tempted to let go and interrupt your routine.

The grips are also curved, so you’ll get to activate several muscle groups simultaneously, including deep core muscles as well as obliques, shoulders, chest and arm muscles.

The spherical design allows you to carve left, right or center, allowing you to intensely target your obliques.

The Ab Carver Pro comes with a high-density foam knee pad, downloadable 21-day workout plan, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

Best Rocker: Cap Barbell Unisex Adult Ab Trainer

If you want something sturdy, get this ab rocker. The easy-to-use crunch tool will sculpt your muscles with its ergonomic design that will eliminate back and neck strain that is typical of crunches.

The rocker is made of a durable steel construction, as well as a cushioned headrest for support. And for anyone who doesn’t like the confusion and fuss of a set-up, this is the machine for you, as it can be assembled in mere minutes.

You’ll also get a 30-day manufacturer’s warranty.

Best Roman Chair: Powerline Roman Chair and Back Extension

Looking for an ab chair for your home gym? The heavy-duty Powerline Roman Chair is a great option. Coming in at a whopping 40 pounds, its weighty footrests ensure there is no wobbling.

While it may seem intimidating to put a lot of pressure on your pelvic area, the two-inch space cut out in the middle of the padded seat ensures you can work out with comfort, and put your focus on strengthening instead. The ankle mounts are also adjustable, so if you can’t seem to find the right position, there’s a chance to make a shift until you find what’s right for you.

The combination of abs and lower back muscles makes this Roman chair a two-in-one machine. You can even flip yourself over for an ab-specific exercise.

Best Bar: Body Champ VKR1010 Fitness Multi Function Power Tower

The power tower is a great machine to add to your home gym, as it is a multifunctional powerhouse that allows you to target your abs while working other muscles throughout your body simultaneously.

The vertical knee raise station targets your leg muscles, the lat/pull-up bar allows you to build strong chest and arm muscles, the dip station targets your triceps and increases upper body strength, and the d-frame base enhances stability.

There are various ways using the machine can help you target your abs and obliques, especially the hanging leg and knee raises.

While you can simply purchase a doorway or mounted pull up bar for a beneficial ab workout, towers allow you to do several other types of bodyweight exercises, which makes them superior for anyone looking to conquer it all.

Best Exercise Ball: Black Mountain Products Static Strength Stability Ball

Also called stability balls or Swiss balls, exercise balls are great for targeting the abs, like doing crunches. You will find that more muscles are activated because your core needs to work extra hard to keep your stability, balance, and posture.

The Black Mountain exercise ball is a professional-grade ball that is rated for up to an astonishing 2,000 pounds! The ball is very reasonably priced without sacrificing quality. You’ll even get a foot pump to inflate it, along with a starter guide. You have four options for a color and five size options to choose from, ranging from 45 to 85 cm. Plus, you’ll get a lifetime warranty.

Best Bench: XMark Fitness 12 Position Ergonomic Adjustable Decline Ab Bench

This is the type of machine perfect for someone who is looking for a no-frills no-fuss ab workout. The XMark Fitness bench doesn’t have a bunch of moving parts or details to consider, yet it offers optimal comfort and superior sturdiness, is fully adjustable and is extremely effective.

The bench is made from 14-gauge 2"x 3" steel and is strong enough to handle 400 pounds. Meanwhile, the oversized four-inch leg rollers are ergonomically positioned. This allows you to focus on your abs while avoiding back strain.

You have the option to change the angle of your ab workout thanks to the twelve different vertical height adjustments. If you’ve chosen an extreme 45-degree angle, take advantage of the support handle, which allows you to easily hop on and off the bench.

What to Look for in an Ab Machine

Size: How much space do you have to dedicate to your new ab machine? If you have a home gym, you may want to opt for a bigger, more versatile ab machine. However, if you’re crunched for space, you can always get a smaller, more portable option.

Versatility: Some ab machines help you work your core muscles, and that’s it. However, if you’re looking for a product that can help you work other areas as well, you may want to consider a more versatile product that can be used in several ways.

Workout guide: If you’re a fitness novice, you know how confusing it can be to use a new machine for the first time. To make the most of your new ab machine, you may want to choose one that comes with some type of workout guide. This will ensure you use it correctly and get maximum results.