Abs, Arms, Inner Thighs—The One Ring That Promises To Conquer Them All

If you've spent the past several months mastering bodyweight exercises, by now, you might be craving a new way to keep challenging your muscles. Sound about right? Well, thankfully, there are a few simple pieces of equipment that’ll easily help you amp up your workouts for an affordable price—and the Pilates ring is definitely one of 'em.

“I love the Pilates ring because it truly allows you to make sure you’re using your muscles properly, and you can get a great core workout in,” says Meg Broome, certified Pilates instructor and cofounder of Good Time Pilates.

“Since the ring is resistance based, the feedback it gives you allows your body to have a deeper understanding of what is and what isn't working," explains Broome. "So if you have the ring between your legs and you were trying to squeeze, you notice that one leg burns more than the other. That's a very clear understanding that you're working harder with one side of your body than you are the other."

That type of intel can help you home in on whether, say, one side of your body is stronger than the other (and overcompensating for the imbalance), so that you can address such issues and avoid injuries. It'll also help you strengthen and sculpt areas like your abs, arms, and inner thighs more—compared to equipment-free exercises alone—since that added resistance is a new obstacle for your muscles to fight against.

When picking a ring, Broome suggests you buy one with sturdy pads attached to the ring itself in order to allow for a stronger grip, and ideally a steel or plastic inner core so that it doesn’t lose its shape. Depending on how tall you are, she suggests between 12 and 16 inches in width, with 14 working for most people.

Below, check out the top-rated Pilates rings at all price points, so you can find the option that works best for you.