The Bala Bangles Are a Must-Have Workout Accessory
There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
On Trial: The Bala Bangles wearable weights
Tester: Melanie Yates, at-home yogi and barre-goer
The Brief: Do I miss taking in-person workout classes? Yes. I miss having a standing studio date each week to carve out an hour that is all my own, where I think about nothing except my breathing and alignment. It's not as easy to find that hour of calm and focus when my gym is also my workspace and my bedroom, but I've managed to work with what I have. Taking live classes from my favorite studios on Zoom has been a bright spot in my days.
Before sheltering in place, I never needed to stock up on any special workout equipment, since the studios conveniently provide everything I need. I haven't owned dumbbells before, so at home, I've been known to reach for cans of chickpeas in order to have something to bicep-curl during barre — but more often than not, I'm weights-less. That was, until I got a long-overdue set of Bala Bangles.
The Bala Bangles are a set of weighted wristbands that comprise recycled stainless steel wrapped in silicone. They’re strung onto a wide, breathable elastic band that’s lined with Velcro — thankfully, it’s not the messy, pointy kind of Velcro that sticks to your clothes. They come in ½-, 1-, and 2-pound weight increments in a full rainbow spectrum of color choices, and I tested out the 1-pound set in a dark lilac color.
It took me a few tries to put these weighted wristbands on the first few times. Its individual bars can shift from side to side on the elastic, so I made sure to leave a little gap so that they weren't rubbing against my wrist knuckle. Also, in terms of fit, I err on the side of snug but not tight. The weights should stay exactly in place for the duration of your workout without feeling like they're cutting off your circulation. Because you unstrap them after every use, there is a method to perfect here, but it's easy to get the hang of.
I love being able to wear the Bala Bangles throughout my remote barre classes, and not just during the arms section. Their 1-pound weight adds the slightest bit of resistance and heat to a cardio section, but they never feel like too much. They're light for hand weights, but knowing that heavy wearable weights do more harm than good, I felt it was better to go light and a little more careful. I strongly advise against swinging your arms or jogging with them on for the sake of your joints.
While I liked wearing them on my wrists, I loved wearing them on my ankles during both barre and yoga. They add a considerable difference to leg exercises, particularly during plank leg lifts, where the glutes feel that tiny bit of added weight so intensely.
The Bala Bangles are aesthetically pleasing and well-designed (they're clearly social media catnip). But at $49, they are a bit more expensive than other wearable weights, which run anywhere from $15 to $40 for a pair in varying sizes. I think that the advantages that the Balas have over other models are their looks and the breathability of their construction. I never felt uncomfortably hot while wearing them because the elastic band has a breathable mesh build, and I spray them down with the same solution as my yoga mat cleaner to clean the sweat away after use.
Closing Argument: I manage to get enough of a workout without holding weights, so wearing the 1-pound Bala Bangles safely on my wrists and ankles helps to amp up the intensity just a little bit. They're the simple but genius workout accessories that I love having on hand, now that my workout routine has gone 100% remote.
Read More:
Tempo Fitness Brings the Gym Experience Home
Tone Up Anytime With the Wayza Weighted Jump Rope
Stay Active During the Day With These Treadmill Desks
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
You Might Also Like
