The 10 Best Ab Machines
Updated by · How we research
Gliders, rollers, crunch frames and a knee-raise tower compared on fit, weight limits and muscle research. The MERACH MR-2509 leads on value and folds away. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
In a study for the American Council on Exercise, no ab gadget beat a plain floor crunch for working the front of the stomach, though a few worked the side muscles harder. So the right machine is the one you will keep using. This list is for people adding core work to a home routine, from a spare corner to a garage gym.
At a Glance
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1
MERACH MR-2509
$69
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2
Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro
$44
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3
Fitlaya Curved-Track Trainer
$98
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4
Wonder Core Slide Fit
$119
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5
Sportsroyals Power Tower
$127
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6
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-A023047
$42
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7
Vinsguir Dual-Wheel Roller
$19
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8
Tristar AbCoaster Max
$349
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9
Perfect Fitness Crunch
$45
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10
Body-Solid GCAB360
$725
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The MERACH MR-2509 takes over at the top. It's a folding kneel-and-slide trainer that costs a fraction of the Tristar AbCoaster Max and holds slightly heavier riders. The AbCoaster Max stays as a guided option, along with the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro, the Perfect Fitness Crunch and the Body-Solid GCAB360.
The Ab Circle Pro, the Wonder Core Smart, the Valor Fitness DE-5 and the Fitness Reality X-Class 2860 have all left the market. The Wonder Core Slide Fit, the brand's current model, takes the Smart's place. We also cut the Gymax Twister Trainer, which works the arms and chest more than the stomach, and the Stamina 3-in-1 Core Training System, which has too few owner reports to judge.
The most useful evidence here is a muscle-activity study done for the American Council on Exercise, which wired volunteers up and compared eight ab gadgets with a plain crunch. It's why the Sportsroyals Power Tower is new: its knee-raise station is the home version of the captain's chair from that study.
Earlier notes
August 10, 2020, by Brett Dvoretz:
While it is important to workout all your muscle groups, few are as vital for injury prevention as those responsible for core stability, which are the glutes, abdominals, and lower back muscles. Because of that, we highly recommend you get yourself one of these ab machines that allow you to strengthen those muscles any time you want, and in the comfort of your own home. Not only will your body thank you, but your wallet just might too, since, if you pair one of these with some other home gym equipment, you can stop paying for that costly fitness facility membership every month.
On our most recent update, we decided to replace the Ab Coaster CS1500 with the Tristar AbCoaster Max. Both of these machines offer very similar benefits, as the exercise motion is essentially the same, but the latter is significantly more affordable than the former. If you are buying something for home use, there really is no reason to spend so much more on the CS1500 when the AbCoaster Max will provide you with the same workout. The Stamina 3-in-1 Core Training System is another new addition to the list. While it is slightly less sturdy than the Tristar AbCoaster Max, it has an incorporated bench that allows for more workout versatility.
If you don't have a lot of room to spare in your home for a large machine and would rather get something you can store in a closet when not in use, the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro, Perfect Fitness Crunch, and Wonder Core Smart all make suitable options. Of these, our favorite is the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro since it is the most compact, affordable, and allows you to easily target the obliques without having to adjust your starting position. The Wonder Core Smart might offer the most versatility in regards to which muscle groups you can hit, but many of the workouts it allows for aren't super challenging, so it probably wouldn't be suitable for somebody who is already in good shape.
Of all the options on our list, the Ab Circle Pro is the only one that combines cardio and resistance training, which can be very effective for toning.
June 6, 2019, by Brett Dvoretz:
Ab machine is a rather loose term. Because of this, you'll find a wide variety of models on our list, which includes everything from small rollers to large, plate-load units. For people who have a home gym with room to spare, the Ab Coaster CS1500 is the best option. It hits the upper and lower abs, and the seat can be pivoted to hit the obliques. Unfortunately, the cost may put this model out of reach for many consumers, which is why it didn't snag our top spot. That honor went to the Body Solid Cam Series GCAB360, which is high-quality unit that can withstand constant use and allows you to achieve a total core workout. For those who have no floor space to spare, we have included the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro, which is essentially just a wheel with two handles attached, but offers an impressive ab workout. Also, its handles can be removed for compact storage. Be warned though, beginners may find it very hard to use until they build up some core strength.
The Perfect Fitness Crunch works on the same concept as the crunch benches found in commercial gyms, but offers a little more versatility than them, as it can be flipped over for push ups and dips. For those who want to combine cardio into their ab routine, we have included the Ab Circle Pro Home. This innovative option hits the obliques hard, but some may find it not challenging enough for their upper abs. The Stamina Pro Hyper Bench is worth mentioning because it can serve multiple purposes in your gym. In addition to allowing for ab and back hyperextensions, it can be used as traditional weight bench to perform a variety of other exercises.
Special Honors
Hoist ROC-IT RS-1601 Hoist's ROC-IT RS-1601 is a commercial ab crunch machine built for gyms and clubs. Its seat can lock in place or pivot as you crunch, which adds a balance challenge for the trunk, and it's sold through fitness dealers. At several hundred pounds, it belongs in a facility rather than a spare room. hoistfitness.com
Technogym Selection 700 Abdominal Crunch Technogym's Selection 700 Abdominal Crunch is the kind of weight-stack ab machine many health clubs use. The seat holds the pelvis steady so the stomach does the work. It's sold to gyms through Technogym, and refurbished units turn up through fitness resellers for home gyms with the space and budget. technogym.com
What The Research Says About Ab Machines
Nothing beat the crunch for the upper or lower part of the main stomach muscle.
The best data on ab gadgets comes from a muscle-activity study that University of Wisconsin-La Crosse researchers ran for the American Council on Exercise. They measured 14 volunteers on eight devices and seven exercises and compared each with a traditional floor crunch.
Nothing beat the crunch for the upper or lower part of the main stomach muscle. The Ab Circle Pro and the ab wheel scored lower for the upper part. Six moves worked the side muscles, the obliques, harder than a crunch: the decline bench curl-up, the Ab Lounge, the ab wheel, the captain's chair, ab straps and the Ab Coaster. The researchers put that down to balance and trunk control, since freer-moving equipment makes you steady yourself.
Their advice was practical. A floor crunch done slowly and with good form is enough for most people, though not for everyone with low-back pain, and a machine is worth buying if it gets you to do more ab work. No machine burns the fat over your stomach faster than any other exercise; that comes from overall activity and diet.
Five Kinds Of Ab Machine, And Who Each Suits
Kneeling gliders, such as the MERACH and Fitlaya trainers, have you kneel on pads and slide down a rail. They're gentle on the neck, fold for storage and suit beginners, but cheap frames can wobble. The AbCoaster is a pricier, seated-track take on the same idea.
Rollers are a wheel or board you push out from your knees. They're cheap and tiny, and they work the obliques well, but they load the lower back. A spring, as on the Ab Carver Pro, or a four-wheel board, as on the Wonder Core Slide Fit, makes them more forgiving.
Crunch frames and cradles hold your head so you don't pull on your neck. They make a crunch more comfortable, not harder. Knee-raise towers copy the gym's captain's chair and add pull-ups and dips. Plate-loaded stations such as the Body-Solid GCAB360 are the closest thing to a gym ab machine at home, and they train the lower back too. Active.com sorts the market into much the same groups.
Weight Limits, Space And Safety
Check the user-weight rating before you buy. On this list it runs from about 220 pounds for the Ab Carver Pro to 440 pounds for the Fitlaya trainer. Most of these ratings come from the sellers, so leave some margin.
Think about where it will live. Rollers and crunch frames slide under a bed, and most gliders fold to lean on a wall. A power tower needs ceiling room above the pull-up bar, and the Body-Solid spec sheet (PDF) shows a machine that takes a real corner of a garage.
Tighten bolts and pop pins after the first few sessions and now and then after that. Put gliders and towers on a mat, not a loose rug, and roll boards on a smooth, hard floor. With any roller, stop when your lower back starts to sag. If you have back, neck or shoulder problems, ask a doctor or physical therapist which moves are safe. We found no recalls for any machine on this list in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission database.
How we researched this
We compared 20 ab machines, rollers and stations, read the makers' and sellers' specs and Body-Solid's spec sheet, used a muscle-activity study done for the American Council on Exercise, analyzed owner feedback patterns, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records.
Sources (8)
- American Council on Exercise: Abs, abs, abs (UW-La Crosse muscle-activity study)
- Body-Solid: Cam Series Ab and Back Machine
- Body-Solid: GCAB360B product data sheet (PDF)
- Implus: Ab Carver Pro
- Live Science: Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro review
- Red Dot: Wonder Core Slide Fit
- Active.com: The best core-strengthening ab machines
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls
Frequently asked questions
Do ab machines work?
They work the stomach muscles, but in a study for the American Council on Exercise none beat a plain floor crunch for the main stomach muscle. Several worked the side muscles harder. A machine helps most if it makes you exercise more often.
Which ab machine is best for the obliques?
In that study, the Ab Coaster, the ab wheel and the captain's chair all worked the obliques harder than a crunch. A knee-raise tower, a roller you carve side to side, or a glider you angle toward each side covers it at home.
Are ab rollers bad for your back?
They load the lower back, especially when the hips sag or you roll out too far. Start from your knees with short rolls, use a spring-assisted or four-wheel roller if you're new, and stop if your back hurts.
What are the ab machines at the gym called?
The common ones are the ab crunch machine (a seat with a weight stack), the captain's chair or knee-raise station, the decline bench and the ab and back machine. A power tower and a plate-loaded station like the Body-Solid GCAB360 bring the last kinds home.
Can an ab machine burn belly fat?
Not on its own. Ab work strengthens the muscles under the fat, but losing the fat over them depends on overall activity and diet, not on which muscle you train.
Is the Ab Circle Pro still sold?
Not new. It's no longer available, and it scored lowest for the main stomach muscle in the American Council on Exercise study. A kneeling glider does a similar job with more support.
