| Field Test |
Ignore the unfortunate names. These seven essentials can be the foundation for a home-gym workout that builds core muscle strength and balance. Now go make Bela Karoli proud. |
| BALANCE TOOLS |
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| GEAR |
MODUS OPERANDI |
PROS / CONS |
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1 Pro Fitter ($499)
Versafitter ($399)
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Behold the gizmo that begat the functional-training revolution: The Pro Fitter features a rocking base and sliding footrests that mimic the downhiller's flexible stance. Use it to boost proprioception and build core strength, which will help keep your upper body quiet in bumps, crud, steeps, and
waist-deep powder. The brand-new Versafitter is a simplified, more portable version (just eight pounds compared to the Pro Fitter's unwieldy 22). |
PRO: Tailor-made for skiing, but provides a unified cardio and balance workout for all dynamic sports.
CON: Costs about as much as weekend lift tickets at Vail for a family of four.
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| 2 Swiss ball ($15$90) |
Sit on it, do push-ups with it, or, for the frighteningly coordinated, stand on it while holding dumbbells. The Swiss ball's core-strengthening applications are limited only by your creativity and tolerance for ridicule. |
PRO: Best bang for the buck in a home gym (or office).
CON: If you're using weights and your Swiss ball isn't a "burst resistant" model, you could end up flat on your ass.
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| 3 Rocker boards ($59$69) |
Simply apply these Zenlike instructions: Stand on board with unstable base, try to avoid landing on face. Entry-level, rectangular rocker boards only tip from side to side; move up a notch with round wobble boards resting on half-spheres; or take on the challenging weebles, miniature wobble boards for
each foot. |
PRO: Promotes ankle stability and agility—a plus for many sports, from trail running to tennis. Next step: stilts!
CON: Balancing on weebles can feel like walking a longliner deck in The Perfect Storm.
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| 4 Bongo Board/ Indo Board ($99) |
The modern Bongo consists of a skateboard deck secured by a bungee to a rolling base and requires lateral balance to stay up and core stability for fancier moves, like switching to fakey. The Indo Board, developed by shorebound surfers in the 1960s, lacks the bungee, allowing pro-level flip tricks. |
PRO: Nearly a sport unto itself. Ultra-practical for snowboarders, surfers, and skateboarders.
CON: Embrace the pain of falling—or retreat to a shag carpet.
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| 5 Stretch tubing/ resistance cables ($5 $20) |
Handles attached to surgical tubing that comes in various degrees of resistance. Pull on them. Repeat. Build stabilizer muscles by combining with balance boards or Swiss balls for a full-body workout. |
PRO: No-frills simplicity. A recommended home-gym cheapie.
CON: Poorly secured cords could leave you with medicine ballsize welts.
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| 6 Medicine ball ($13$90) |
Throw it. Catch it. Voilà! No more 98-pound weakling. Combine with balance boards for a more complex workout. |
PRO: Injects a retro yet manly vibe into your workout.
CON: Miss catching the 25-pounder and you'll learn why one company calls them "Ooof! balls."
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| 7 Rock'n Rody ($69) |
Sit on the polka-dotted saddle, grab Rody's ears, and hang on. Nurtures rodeo-specific proprioception for budding bouncy-horse cowboys. |
PRO: Great conversation starter for shy athletes.
CON: Appropriate for toddlers to teens.
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