Ankle weights have been a staple fitness accessory for a while now. This is especially true for women. Whether it is Pilates or a typical bodyweight routine, ladies have used ankle weights to tone up different muscle groups for years now. If you’re wondering which ankle weight to get, you’re in the right place. Today we will show you our picks for the top 5 best ankle weights for women in 2019.
We went on a mission to find ankle weights that offer good performance at a reasonable price, all while being comfortable for prolonged use. The models we’ve reviewed certainly fit that description. After we go over our picks, we’ll delve into the specifics of ankle weights.
Just like with any other weights, you have to know how to use them.
There’s a misconception that ankle weights are harmless because they’re light. That line of reasoning will get you injured. In order to prevent that from happening, you need to spend some time getting to know ankle weights before you start actively using them in your fitness routine. Let’s get started with our top pick!
Best Ankle Weights for Women At a Glance
  Best Ankle Weights for Women Overall Healthy Model Life Ankle Weights SetOne of the more popular models on the market, Healthy Model Life ankle weights offer great durability and design. This is the type of weight that defines the bang for the buck value. It comes in different weight variants, which gives the entire model series plenty of range. |
  Best Value Ankle Weights for Women Empower Ankle & Wrist Weights for WomenEmpower is a brand that understands the importance of a comfortable fit and how it reflects on your performance. Their ankle weights are ergonomic while also featuring removable metal weights. This is a great choice for advanced users. |
  Best Budget Ankle Weights for Women BalanceFrom GoFit Fully Adjustable Ankle WeightsGetting fit on a budget is becoming easier thanks to brands such as BalanceFrom. Their GoFit ankle weights represent a budget solution that works rather well. These fixed weight wraps feature decent comfort and build quality for the price. These are a great choice for beginners. |
Best Ankle Weights for Women Overall
Healthy Model Life Ankle Weights Set
One of the more popular models on the market, Healthy Model Life ankle weights offer great durability and design. This is the type of weight that defines the bang for the buck value. It comes in different weight variants, which gives the entire model series plenty of range.
Best Value Ankle Weights for Women
Empower Ankle & Wrist Weights for Women
Comfort is oftentimes overlooked with fitness equipment. Empower is one of the brands that understand the importance of a comfortable fit and how it reflects on your performance. Their ankle weights are ergonomic while they also feature adjustable metal weights. This is a great choice for advanced users.
Best Budget Ankle Weights for Women
BalanceFrom GoFit Fully Adjustable Ankle Weights
Getting fit on a budget is becoming easier thanks to brands such as BalanceFrom. Their GoFit ankle weights represent a budget solution that works rather well. These fixed weight wraps feature decent comfort and build quality for the price. These are a great choice for beginners.
The Best Ankle Weights for Women
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Healthy Model Life Ankle Weights Set |
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Empower Ankle & Wrist Weights for Women |
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BalanceFrom GoFit Fully Adjustable Ankle Weights |
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Gaiam Ankle Weights |
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Fit Viva Ankle Weights Set |
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| Healthy Model Life Ankle Weights Set | |
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| Empower Ankle & Wrist Weights for Women | |
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| BalanceFrom GoFit Fully Adjustable Ankle Weights | |
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| Gaiam Ankle Weights | |
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| Fit Viva Ankle Weights Set | |
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1. Healthy Model Life Ankle Weights Set
At the very top of our list is a set of ankle weights that offer what is probably the best bang for your buck. Healthy Model Life is a company with a weird name, but a good product. This particular model was seen on a few Victoria Secret models. The reason why we chose this one as our top pick is the overall quality. You’re getting a nicely padded wrap that is malleable enough to be comfortable, but not loose.
This is thanks to the way these are secured in place. There are no hook and loop straps. Instead, the entire wrap serves as a hook and loop piece. As far as weights go, you can order these in 1lb, 2lb, 5lb, and 8lb variants. Overall, the build quality you get is well worth the money you’re asked to invest. This is especially true if you plan on using these actively.
The Good
- You’re getting a great bang for your buck
- Very comfortable for active use over longer periods
- Available in a variety of different weight options
The Not So Good
- Higher weight models tend to be bulky if you have smaller ankles
2. Empower Ankle & Wrist Weights for Women
Next up we have a set of weights that you can adjust. Empower Ankle & Wrist Weights are a great piece of kit for anyone looking to introduce progressive weights to their current routine. There are numerous adjustable models out there, so what makes these so special? It all comes down to the fit they offer as well as the use of solid iron rods instead of sand.
The wrap itself features a design that revolves around providing you with the highest levels of comfort. That’s a fairly complex task when you’re dealing with iron weights. However, Empower managed to put together a wrap that can fit up to 12lb of weights per pair and still be comfortable. They’ve used high-end materials, especially for the weight pockets. We’re talking quality neoprene everywhere. Still, the best thing about these is their price. Empower’s ankle weights are another solid bang for the buck option on our list.
The Good
- Comfortable design that neutralizes the sharp edges of iron weight bars
- Great value for the money
- Fully adjustable weights you can tune to your needs
The Not So Good
- Although adjustable for fit, there’s just not enough range in that hook and loop patch
3. BalanceFrom GoFit Fully Adjustable Ankle Weights
BalanceFrom GoFit is the comfy option. This is the set you get if you are looking for a slight increase in resistance over time and something that you just won’t feel during use. They went all out on neoprene padding all along the wrap. The weights are of the sand variety, but they are surrounded with so much padding that you can barely see them, let alone feel them.
As far as actual weights go, these are non-adjustable. However, BalanceFrom offers GoFit weights in a variety of variants. You can choose anything from 1lbx2 set, up to 10lbx2 set. Considering how affordable these are, it’s not too hard to budget for an upgrade every few weeks. They are relatively durable but not something you’d want to use heavily for longer periods of time. The sand seems to be packed in tightly and that’s something you need to be careful with.
The Good
- An affordable set that is perfect for budget users
- One of the most comfortable designs in this segment
- Fairly decent built quality that sustains lighter use
The Not So Good
- Adjustment strap can be short, especially on lightweight models
- Too much compression can rupture the sand pocket inside
4. Gaiam Ankle Weights
When it comes to properly securing the weights, there’s rarely a better solution than to have an overlapping wrap. Straps are fine, but often times they tend to be uncomfortable. What Gaiam offers with their ankle weights seems to be the best solution. Gaiam went with a comfort-oriented design that implements mesh surfaces along with the standard neoprene padding.
As a result, you have an ankle weight that feels comfortable even after long periods of use. Those mesh surfaces keep the areas surrounding the sand pockets fairly dry, so you don’t have to worry about moisture issues too much. These feature 2.5lb of nonadjustable sand packs per each wrap. Also, Gaiam went with a design that reduces unwanted movement during use. The only real downside is the limited amount of adjustment you can make for fit. Even so, these are hard to beat at this price.
The Good
- Comfortable set that features an overlapping wrap design
- Comes with mesh surfaces which help keep the weights dry
- Features 2.5lb of weight on each wrap
The Not So Good
- Limited size adjustment options
- Velcro they’ve used could have been just a little stronger
5. Fit Viva Ankle Weights Set
The last and final model on our list comes from Fit Viva and features a fairly neutral design with an overlapping velcro flap. What makes this setup attractive is the fact that it combines good comfort with a good fit. In other words, you can tighten these down snug without anything poking your otherwise causing discomfort. The overlapping flap system they’ve used is very effective. Not only that but it allows for much more adjustment than our previous pick. If you are having trouble finding ankle weights that actually fit, this might be the one for you.
In terms of weights, Fit Viva offers these in three different options. You can get 2x1lb, 2x2lb, and 2x3lb variants, depending on what you’re doing. The overall build quality is great. These hold up nicely over time, especially if you’re into more aggressive routines. One downside we were able to find is below average ventilation.
The Good
- One of the best bang for the buck options
- Features a great overlapping flap system
- Comes in a variety of different weights
The Not So Good
- Soaks sweat way too easy and requires longer drying periods.
- A rather bland design but that’s us nitpicking
Should Women Use Ankle Weights?
Absolutely! Everyone should use ankle weights if they’re looking to achieve higher levels of fitness. The reason ankle weights are typically associated with women is simple. Women traditionally want to tone their muscles while men are looking to bulk up.
Granted that this is slowly changing in recent times, but it’s still a trend. Ankle weights like the ones we are talking about today allow the user to do a variety of workouts and engage core muscle groups in the legs and core without building too much muscle mass. While most exercises put you well within that hypertrophy range, you aren’t working with heavy enough weights to build massive muscles.
Aside from common weighted bodyweight exercises, ankle weights can greatly improve your performance in Pilates and similar systems. The key is finding what works for you and adding the weights when you feel that your own body weight is no longer cutting it.
One very important thing to remember when using ankle weights is to never run or excessively walk with them on. We’ll go into more details on that one later, but this is something that can’t be emphasized enough.
Choosing the Right Ankle Weights for Women
Finding the right ankle weights for your needs and intended applications is essential. There are basically two routes you can take, both of which are perfectly acceptable. You can choose an adjustable set or a fixed weight set.
Adjustable Weights
Adjustable ankle weights are almost always the optimal choice. That is unless you are limited by your budget. Anything adjustable in the world of fitness is often times more expensive. Fortunately for us, this type of ankle weights is coming down in price. With more brands competing in an already saturated market, we are bound to see more models at more competitive prices.
The biggest thing about adjustable weights is their ability to adapt to your specific needs. These are tools you can build a whole routine with. One more benefit of adjustable weights is the fact that you can get metal sticks instead of sand packs. Although less comfortable on average, metal sticks can’t be punctured, they can’t leak or anything similar. Again, it’s all comes down to how much money you’re willing to put down.
Fixed Weight Models
With fixed weights comes a lower price, on average. However, that isn’t the only benefit of this type of ankle weights offer. You also get a higher diversity of design, often times better ergonomics and more. The reason for all of these is that fixed weights are built with no constraints such as removable weights.
Instead, the manufacturer can position the fixed weights however they want and achieve high levels of comfort easily. Fixed weight models are a great way to get into ankle weights without committing too much. They can also help you figure out what you want or don’t want in your weights, which you can later apply on a fine set of adjustable ones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ankle Weights
Before start looking at different models and making decisions, you might want to give this next section a quick read. We went on to find the most frequently asked questions regarding ankle weights and answered them as straightforward as possible. Some of this will probably help you even more in your search for the perfect set of ankle weights.
What is the benefit of wearing ankle weights?
Weights have been used to build stronger bodies since the dawn of time. Granted, back in the day we didn’t have dumbbells or similar equipment, but we did carry food, livestock, weapons, and other heavy items. Weights overload muscles, which stimulates them to grow stronger. It’s a simple process once you cancel out all of the noise. That same principle applies to ankle weights. They will tone help you develop a stronger lower body with the accent on your leg muscles. Ankle weights should be seen as a natural progression from bodyweight fitness. In short, there are many benefits to wearing ankle weights, if you do so properly.
Do ankle weights help build and tone your legs?
They absolutely do. When used correctly, ankle weights can and will build your leg muscles and tone your legs in general. The key part of that sentence is ‘when used correctly’. There is this misconception that your legs will turn into Michelangelo’s next masterpiece just because you’ve put on a set of weights.
That’s not how it works. If you want a toned, developed lower body, you need to put in the work. With that said, there are dozens of exercises you can do. Figuring out which one is the best for you is a matter of trial and error in most cases. There are also exercises you should never do with ankle weights.
Are ankle weights good for walking and / or running?
No. They are definitely not a good choice for walking or running. There are numerous risks associated with running or even walking with ankle weights on. You’re putting excessive stress on your joints and tendons, which they are not built to handle. Damage can be sudden and come in the form of a serious tendon or ligament strain. However, it can often be cumulative, which is the case when walking for extended periods of time with ankle weights on. As it turns out, the potential benefits of weighted runs or walks are limited, and are nowhere near worth the risk. Beware of any advice that suggests that this is a good use for ankle weights.
If you’re aiming to push the limits of your cardiorespiratory fitness, or increase the effectiveness of your training, then you’re much better off doing high intensity interval training (HIIT) or other high intensity aerobic activities. It’s best not to poke the bear on this one, no matter what anyone tells you. Do your own research, of course, but chances are you’ll come to the same conclusion.
Well, there you have it: The Best Ankle Weights for Women
Ankle weights can be a great tool in your arsenal if you take your time to learn how to use them correctly. All you have to do is put in the work and you will see the results sooner rather than later. Any of the models on our list will get you where you need to go. The key is to find what works for you in terms of features, weights, and design.
