Weights You Can Wear Under Clothes
To find the best ankle weights on the market, we started by speaking with experts—a Pilates and yoga instructor and two certified personal trainers—for advice on key features to look for. We then tested 17 expert-approved ankle weights from top brands in the Verywell Testing Lab. We used each pair for exercises like donkey kicks, bicycle crunches, single-leg bridges, and more.
We prioritized options made of quality materials, like neoprene or silicone, that don’t hold onto sweat or moisture. We examined each pair’s closure type, ensuring it held the ankle weights in place throughout exercises and appeared durable. Our top options received high marks for setup, adjustability, ease of use, fit, comfort, versatility, portability, and value. A certified yoga and Pilates instructor from our Review Board also assessed this article for accuracy.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Overall Runner-Up:
The Sculpt Society 2 LB Weight at Thesculptsociety.com
Best Budget:
P Volve 3 LB Ankle Weights at Amazon
Most Comfortable:
Adidas Performance Ankle/Wrist Weights at Amazon
Best Adjustable:
Sportneer Ankle Weights at Amazon
Best Wrist Weights:
The DB Method The Dreamlets at Amazon
Best Heavier Weight:
In This Article
- Our Picks
- Where We Stand
- What to Look For
- How We Tested
- Our Experts
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Trust Verywell Fit
Best Overall
Bala Bangles
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Amazon
View On AmazonView On BloomingdalesView On Gap.com
Our Ratings
- Unboxing 5/5
- Ease of Use 4.9/5
- Fit/Comfort 5/5
- Versatility 4.5/5
- Value 4.5/5
Bala Bangles Review: Functional and Stylish Wearable Weights
Pros
- Grippy silicone material
- Water-resistant
- Adjustable weight and strap
- Six color options
Cons
- Pricier than other options
- Too light for advanced lifters
Key Specs:
Weight per Ankle: 0.5-2 lbs | Material: Recycled steel, silicone | Closure: Velcro | Dimensions: 13 x 3 inches inches | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5
Why We Love Them
The Bala Bangles blew us away with their high-quality silicone material, sleek look, and versatility. Thanks to their sturdy velcro closure, which never budged during exercises, we found them easy to fasten to our ankles or wrists before beginning a workout.
We like that the ankle straps are adjustable so that you can find a customized fit, no matter your body shape. Perfect for beginner to intermediate exercisers, they come in three weight options—0.5 to 2 pounds per ankle. You can also adjust the weight of each pair in 2-ounce increments.
Made of silicone, this set is more water-resistant than the neoprene options we tested and never held on to sweat or moisture. This material also makes them easy to clean—spray them with a natural cleaning agent and wipe any grime off with a cloth.
The Bangles are made with recycled steel filling, which won’t leak onto your floors and create a mess like their sand-filled competitors might. They’re very grippy and never budge, whether we wear them on our wrists for upper body exercises or on our ankles for a lower body workout. We like that they’re sleek enough to wear on short walks or to run errands. Plus, you can choose between six eye-catching colors.
Potential Flaws
- They’re not the heaviest ankle weights we tested, but beginners will feel a noticeable resistance change when adding them to bodyweight exercises.
- They’re pricier than other options, but the material feels durable and built to last.
Who They’re For
Best for beginner to intermediate exercisers.
Price at time of publication: $55
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Verywell Fit / Nick Kova
Best Overall Runner-Up
The Sculpt Society 2 LB Weight
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Source: The Sculpt Society
Our Ratings
- Unboxing 5/5
- Ease of Use 4.5/5
- Fit/Comfort 4.5/5
- Versatility 5/5
- Value 4/5
Pros
- Durable silicone material
- Easy to fasten
- Adjusts in small weight increments
Cons
- Closure may catch on body hair
- Slight weight imbalance in a pair
Key Specs:
Weight per Ankle: 1-2 lbs | Material: Silicone | Closure: Magnetized belt buckle | Dimensions: 14.1 x 3.7 inches | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Why We Love Them
The Sculpt Society’s ankle weights closely resemble the Bala Bangles with similar durable silicone material and a similar design. They’re a solid substitute on the chance that you’re able to snag them when they’re on sale (which seems to happen more often than for the Bala Bangles). Like the Bala Bangles, these also come in two weight options—1 or 2 pounds per ankle, meaning 2 to 4 pounds per set.
Each ankle weight also adjusts in 4-ounce increments. To add or remove weight, you simply need to slide off one or more of the eight included blocks on each ankle weight. We particularly like this weight adjustment mechanism, which we find more seamless than other options that require you to remove or re-insert weighted pockets into the ankle weights, which can be tricky.
We like the pretty pink and baby blue color options that make these weights sleek enough to wear out in public.
Potential Flaws
- Our male tester found that the ankle weights occasionally pulled on his body hair, so you may want to wear these with full-length leggings.
- We occasionally notice a slight imbalance between the weight of one ankle weight and the other in a pair. It’s only noticeable during certain exercises, and the resistance of each weight feels otherwise accurate.
Who They’re For
Best for beginner to intermediate exercisers and people who don’t like a Velcro closure.
Price at time of publication: $65
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Verywell Fit / Nick Kova
Best Budget
P Volve 3 LB Ankle Weights
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P Volve
View On AmazonView On Pvolve.com
Our Ratings
- Unboxing 5/5
- Ease of Use 5/5
- Fit/Comfort 5/5
- Versatility 4.5/5
- Value 5/5
Pros
- Soft and comfortable material
- Two weight options
- Good quality for the price
Cons
- Velcro closure strap could be longer
- The weight isn’t adjustable
Key Specs:
Weight per Ankle: 1.5-3 lbs | Material: Neoprene | Closure: Velcro | Dimensions: 11 x 4.3 inches | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Why We Love Them
An affordable product sometimes sacrifices quality for the price, but that isn’t the case with P. Volve’s 3 LB Ankle Weights. Available at about half the price of our most expensive picks, these ankle weights are part of Jennifer Aniston’s favorite line of workout products. They integrate seamlessly with the rest of P.Volve’s exercise system, but they can also be used alone in any workout where you want to add a little resistance. The ankle weights are made of soft neoprene material that doesn’t slip when affixed to your ankles during exercises.
Featuring a traditional design with a Velcro closure, we love how comfortable they feel against our skin. We never have to worry about the smooth material catching on our body hair or pinching our skin. Exercisers can choose between a lighter set of 1.5-pound ankle weights or a heavier set of 3 pounds per ankle.
We like that this pair of ankle weights is compact and resembles stylish leg warmers.
Potential Flaws
- We wish the Velcro strap were longer for a more adjustable fit to accommodate different calf and wrist sizes.
- You can’t adjust the weight, but you can choose between the two resistance options that P.Volve offers.
Who They’re For
Best for beginner to intermediate exercisers, for people with sensitivity to silicone, and for exercisers who already use the P.volve exercise system.
Price at time of publication: $35
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Nick Kova / Verywell Fit
Body togs for legs are anatomically designed to fit snugly around your calves. The low-profile design means you can wear them under your clothes throughout the day to help you burn more calories through Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT). In other words, the everyday activities you do when you’re not exercising. body togs are ideal for those who are looking to enhance their weight loss efforts or improve their overall fitness.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
- Patent pending design
- Made of a Lycra®/spandex blend for flexible comfort
- Stainless steel weights are evenly distributed around the leg for balance
- Provides up to 5 lbs. total weight (varies by product size)
- For best results, use with body togs Diet, body togs Appetite Control dietary supplement and body togs Essentials vitamin & mineral supplement
- View product fact sheet
- View sizing chart
| Size | Choose an optionSmallMediumLargeX-Large |
Wearable weights for legs quantityADD TO CART
$72.00 $22.00
