Top 10 Exercise Ball Chairs Reviewed and Rated
James
Doctors have linked a sedentary lifestyle to several health problems, including anxiety and depression, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and lower back pain. If you have a sitting job, you can counteract many of these effects by getting exercise every day. It can be hard, though, to get in enough movement when you spend so much time at your desk. That’s why we are providing you with a guide to finding an exercise ball chair. These are the simple exercise balls attached to a chair frame so you can easily sit on them all day. You can combat the health consequences of sitting and make yourself stronger at the same time for more productive workouts when you are off work.
This is the best product on our list that is currently in stock:
No back support means you work harder
Comes with an exercise guide
Comes in a lot of different colors
Easy to assemble
10 Best Exercise Ball Chairs
1. PharMedoc Balance Ball Chair
Solid PC Construction
Latex-Free Exercise Ball
Lockable Casters
Rated to 300 pounds
Some customers said the pump was ineffective
The PharMeDoc Balance Ball Chair is made of sturdy PVC for long-lasting support and better spine alignment.
Read moreThe exercise ball chair and frame come with a pump so you can blow the ball up during assembly. The exercise ball chair is latex-free, and there is an adjustable support bar to keep the ball in place all day. Casters make the chair easy to move once assembled and have a locking mechanism to keep the chair from rolling once it's in place. A taller piece on the back of the frame provides back support, but you can take the back piece off for transport if you need to.
The chair is rated for 300 pounds of weight.
And if you decide to, you can remove the exercise ball chair to use it separately from the chair. Pharmedoc offers an impressive lifetime warranty and guarantees its product.
2. LuxFit Ball Chair
Ergonomic back support
Locking casters
Can use the ball by itself
Two-year warranty
Wheels are installed in spots that may get in the way of your feet
The LuxFit ball chair comes with an unheard of a two-year warranty, so LuxFit must have a lot of confidence in its product.
Read moreIt is specifically designed to help with spinal disorders, although anyone can use and benefit from it. It is rated to 300 pounds. The exercise ball chair offers adjustable height and has four legs with 2 locking casters so the chair will stay put.
LuxFit put a lot of focus into making their chair ergonomic, and it shows. Sitting in this chair will help keep your upper and lower back aligned, helping you avoid back pain. The rear back support piece is removable, so the exercise ball chair can be used just for exercise on the ball. LuxFit wanted to provide a product that would be useful in almost any situation.
Leaning against the backrest during the workday lets you give your core a break. A durable lining and stronger than average wheels round out the great features of the LuxFit. The weight capacity is 300 pounds.
3. Isokinetics Adjustable Balance Ball Chair
Ergonomic back-saving design
Large heavy-duty casters
Adjustable to four positions
Design is minimalist
Encourages more neutral sitting
The pump is a hand pump rather than electric
This chair is adjustable according to the user's height, so it truly offers something for everyone.
Read moreThe adjustment features include four leg height positions and four more for back support. You can easily take the air out of the ball, adjusting the inflation to change the height as well. The wheels are large, but not too large, so getting the exercise ball chair around the office or out to your car will be easy. The 55cm ball is latex-free.
You can even kind of customize the look of this chair, with a choice between a black frame or a black frame with silver flakes. The back frame is padded for extra comfort. You have a choice of a metal or plastic frame.
The Isokinetics Fitness exercise ball chair has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. The ball is 52 centimeters. The exercise ball chair weighs 16 pounds, so moving it around or picking it up should be a snap.
4. Isokinetics Brand Balance Ball Chair
Wheels are bigger
Choice of different colors
Frame is metal
The ball is an anti-burst style
The ball takes a long time to inflate if instructions followed
Isokinetics offers four different fitness chairs, each with a difference in its design that makes it special.
Read moreThis one has a rolled back support instead of the standard squarish piece. The rolled rubber is comfortable and effective for leaning against periodically during your workday. In addition, the frame is metal instead of plastic.
The Isokinetics Adjustable Chair, of course, has adjustable height as the other models do. The wheels are 2.5 inches, a bit larger than the standard 2-inch ones on other chairs. This makes the unit more stable and easier to move around. The metal frame is quite durable and will give a long life of service without weakening
The weight capacity is 300 pounds. You get a variety of choices for color. Overall, this exercise ball chair is a dependable workhorse that you can use for many years.
5. Gaiam Backless Ball Chair
No back support means you work harder
Comes with an exercise guide
Comes in a lot of different colors
Easy to assemble
Only users within a small height range can use
This exercise ball chair is not for the faint of heart since the lack of back support means you must keep your core engaged all day while sitting.
Read moreStandard lockable casters keep the exercise ball chair stationary until you decide to move it. Its use is limited to people between 5’5” and 5’11”, which will discourage some users. The weight rating is 300 pounds. When you purchase the chair, it comes with a pump as well as a desk-friendly exercise guide. This is handy for getting some actual workout time, energizing yourself for the rest of your workday. We imagine this could come in handy after one of those work lunches with colleagues.
Two metal holders keep the latex-free, burst-resistant ball firmly in place. Gaiam says that their chair will even improve your breathing, by keeping your spine straight and your airway wide open. Gaiam lets you download the exercise guide, too, even if you haven’t bought the exercise ball chair.
6. Sierra Comfort Chair SC-0131
Portable and also durable
Chair frame and backrest are sturdy
Height adjustment is easy
Larger wheels for transport
Does not come with instructions
This exercise ball chair is exceptionally durable and also accommodates users up to 6'2".
Read moreAlthough the exercise ball chair is not really a budget option, it is still a good value, over some of the other full-featured chairs, and will be worth the investment since the chair will last so long.
A backrest adds to the comfort level, and you can easily remove the ball to use it by itself. The unit assembles quickly and easily, and will not come apart once assembled. The casters are of high quality and will make transportation easier. The Sierra Comfort C-1030 is also lightweight, which certainly makes things easier.
Height adjustments depend on ball inflation or deflation. The ball is smaller than some of the others we reviewed at 20 inches. If you want to take the ball out for independent use or take the backrest off to engage your core more, you can.
7. Isokinetic Tall Boy Chair
Good for taller users
The base is a solid construction
The ball will stay inflated
The back piece is strong
Height may be too much for some desks
The Isokinetic Tall Boy Chair features a sturdy PVC high back to provide you with lots of spinal support.
Read moreThere are four lockable wheels on the solid, long-lasting base. A black metal retaining bar keeps the ball in place. A solid base helps make this one of the few chairs we found that are suitable and accommodating for taller users.
The Isokinetic Tall Boy Chair comes with a latex-free, anti-burst ball that includes ridges for a better grip. The ball is guaranteed not to lose air over time, so it should not need pumping often. Although the retaining bar is strong, keeping the ball steady even during long use, you can take the ball out easily for use as a standalone exercise device. All in all, we think the Isokinetic Tall Boy will stand up to all your activity, keep your spine straight and your core engaged, and provide years of trouble-free service.
8. Sivan Arm Rest Chair
Armrests
Back support
Lockable wheels
Armrests not adjustable
The Sivan Arm Rest exercise ball chair looks like an ordinary office chair, so you get the best of both worlds with aesthetics and exercise.
Read moreThe exercise ball chair features armrests and adjustable backrest. You can adjust yourself into the sitting position that works best for you. Instead of four wheels, the Sivan Arm Rest chair has five. Two of them are lockable so your chair won’t move around.
Just in case you thought we were reviewing a regular desk chair, the chair has a latex-free, burst-resistant ball with a thick outer layer. The ball locks in place, but can be removed quickly for other exercises. The instructions do a good job of explaining how to assemble your exercise ball chair.
Unfortunately, the ball is not big enough to accommodate users of all heights. One possible option is to put a bigger ball in the exercise ball chair. If you are the right height to fit into this chair, and you are wanting something that looks and feels like any other desk chair, we think the Sivan Arm Rest ball is for you.
9. Bobbi Spandex Office Ball Chair
Spandex fabric
Latex-free, anti-burst resistant
Great for kids
Simple assembly
No arm or back rest
The Bobbi Spandex Office Ball chair is like nothing else we reviewed, so it may be a good choice if you have a love for the unconventional.
Read moreThe exercise ball chair does not look like any other chair you have seen. Instead, it consists of a pink spandex fabric that stretches over your balance ball. Sturdy black iron legs support the unit. You can sit securely in place, without worrying about the ball rolling away. The unit is easy to assemble and comes with a hex key tool and wrench.
The Bobbi Spandex Office Ball chair comes with its own quality ball, which is latex-free and burst resistant. The fabric of the exercise ball chair is very stretchy, allowing you to fit it snugly to the balance ball. This ball is great to use with kids - many schools are putting them in the classroom!
10. Gaiam Kids Balance Ball Chair
35cm balance ball
Back support
Lockable wheels
Ball drags on the ground
It’s important for adults to start correcting their lower back pain, soreness, and other effects of a sedentary life, but how about helping children not to develop those problems in the first place?
Read moreThe Gaiam Kids Balance Ball chair is specifically designed to help children develop a healthy seating posture. It is intended to be used by children aged 5-7. It comes with a very sturdy 35cm balance ball, a fully adjustable support bar to lock the ball in place and easy-glide wheels (two of which are lockable). The weight limit of this device is 175 pounds.
The Gaiam Stability Ball exercise ball chair for kids comes with a solid PVC back support which protects the lumbar spine while your child is in a seated position. This is a useful, kid-friendly product that is being used right now in schools and kindergartens around the world to produce better postures and healthier children.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Capacity
Is higher capacity always what we want?
To know if an exercise ball chair is a good choice for you, you first have to know if it is suitable for your body.
This is why capacity is such a key factor in these reviews. Capacity means how much weight the chair can handle, but that is not all it means. An exercise ball chair with a low capacity, revealed in our research, would not be suitable for our reviews because it would not stand up under the user sitting in it for eight or ten hours every day. It would not have much capacity for extended use.
Height capacity is important, too. We have included this information for some of the chairs, and where we have not, this information is readily available from the manufacturer’s website. Some chairs are adjustable, usually by deflating the ball, and this is good. But sometimes, a person over a certain height will just not be able to use the exercise ball chair and their desk at the same time. Part of our job as reviewers are to provide information to our readers will not have to go through this.
Weight
Weight means portability.
Weight here refers to how heavy the chair is because that makes a difference in how easily a chair can be transported.
When considering how and where to use your chair, its weight becomes important. If it is too heavy, it may be difficult to carry around very often. That may be fine if you plan on leaving the exercise ball chair in your office. But if you travel often and have to work in places like hotel rooms, you may want a lighter chair that won’t be such a struggle to lug around.
There is also a matter of personal preference. Do you like to feel that you are sitting on a solid piece of wood? Although there is no wood in any of the chairs we looked at, you can still replicate that secure feeling if you get a heavier exercise ball chair that has locking wheels.
Adjustability
It may be a popular piece of equipment, but does it fit you?
Adjustability is a huge consideration for us, because something that is fixed in place may not be able to grow with you as you make progress on your fitness goals. Also, if you have an exercise chair with no height adjustments, you won’t be able to loan it to your tall friend or give it to your child when you decide to get a new one.
A chair with adjustable height, the ability to hold different sizes of exercise balls, or a customizable backrest will help you settle in and feel more at home, more yourself, as you go through your workday sitting in the chair. You won’t constantly be getting up to stretch your legs, and you won’t feel like you have to stretch your neck over the desk to see the keyboard. Most office workers have had these or similar experiences. We think the best exercise ball chairs are the ones that can prevent those experiences from repeating.
Stability
There are very few pieces of gym gear, that we can think of, that would not have stability as a key design feature.
This is because everything you can put in your gym involves movement, whether it is jumping, running, lifting, pulling, or something else. During all those movements, you can be injured if you fall or lose your balance. The gear you use, from your shoes, on up, has to at least help support your body weight, if not your bodyweight plus more.
Exercise ball chairs may not get your blood flowing like bench presses, but they still have to support your body weight. They don’t do all the work, of course, because then you wouldn’t get a workout or health benefits from them.
We wanted to make sure that the chairs and the balls built into them could reasonably be expected to support you and aid in balance. Sometimes a ball will have to be deflated, partially, for a shorter person to sit. The manufacturers on our list have all made sure that a deflated ball will still be a stable sitting surface.
Comfort
Comfort is just as important with exercise ball chairs as it is with other fitness equipment.
It may be even more important because you sit on these chairs all day if you decide to use them as your work chair. Their purpose is to make you feel better, aligning your spine, helping you breathe, giving you a stronger core so you can get through your day’s tasks with plenty of energy. It wouldn’t do much good if your chair made you uncomfortable.
This is why so many of our review chairs have removable or permanent back support. You may not want to keep your core engaged all the time. And using a bit of support will not weaken your spine or counteract all the strength you’ve gained in your back.
Of course, not everyone is the same, so we also included some options that do not come with back support. Using one of these chairs means you will have to engage your ab muscles all the time in order to sit up straight. That may sound uncomfortable to some, but others just see it as a challenge.
Every chair we reviewed has the capability for you to remove the ball and use it by itself. You have probably used a Swiss ball or exercise ball before, but you may not know about all the different exercises you can do with them.
Just as a basic intro, you can do
Wall squat. This is exactly the same as any wall squat, but with the ball between you and the wall. The ball creates an unstable surface that will help you use extra muscles to stay stabilized.
Chest press. Lay on the ball as if it were a bench, grasp two lightweight adjustable dumbbells, and pres like you normally would. Don't use a barbell or any weight that may be more than you can handle.
The decline pushup is just a pushup with your feet and ankles resting on the ball. The pushup is as effective an all-body exercise as always, but the ball will activate some more muscles and create more of a challenge.
A balance ball chair may help you with getting your spine back in alignment, and may also make you stronger. But healthy posture does not end when you get out of the chair. We can practice it at all times to help prevent excess strain on our muscles, ligaments, and bones. This strain can cause a restricted range of motion and pain later in life.
So when you leave the office, remember to get plenty of exercise, check your posture throughout the day, correct as needed, and keep on moving. Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain posture.
Other Factors to Consider
Effectiveness
Every piece of fitness equipment, in order to be useful, must be effective. If you purchase an exercise ball chair and it does not strengthen your core muscles, then there is not much point in having it.
When you go to buy a ball chair, consider our ball chairs reviews and also read the reviews of others. Find out whether the chair you are considering has a reputation for results over time.
Flexibility
We considered the features of the best balance ball chair options in our reviews, even though it may seem, at first glance that these chairs do not have many features.
After all, they are plastic or metal frames with a removable ball mounted in them. None of them have cupholders, or LCD screens, or the ability to tell you how many calories you have burned.
But as you look at more of these chairs, you realize that some of them have removable backrests, while others have no backrest. There are different bar mechanisms for holding the ball in place. Some balls are bigger than others.
All in all, there are plenty of features to choose from when it comes to exercise ball chairs. Make sure you know which features are most important to you, so you can make an informed decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: What are the benefits of an exercise ball chair?
Using one of these may help strengthen your core muscles, the ones in your trunk and the abdomen. This is because you are sitting on a shifting surface and so those muscles must stay engaged to keep you sitting upright.
q: Can’t I get the same benefits just using the ball at the gym?
You can, but the potential advantage of the exercise ball chair is that you are sitting on it all day and not just using it for exercises during a gym session. This keeps your core muscles engaged over a longer period of time, and also helps you maintain a neutral spine because of the improved posture. This improved posture helps reduce lower back pain.
q: How will the chair help me in my actual workouts?
The strength you gain in your core will help you in virtually every workout when you go to the gym. There are plenty of exercises that target your core, abs, or obliques, but actually, you end up using them for squats, bench presses, walking, running, back exercises and pull-ups because of the way the muscles in your body work together. Most movements require your ab muscles to engage. So the exercise ball chair can potentially help you with your overall fitness goals.
q: What does neutral spine mean?
You have three curves in your spine, as most of us do: neck, middle, and lumber. The more technical names for these are cervical, thoracic, and lumber. When all three of these line-ups, you are in a neutral spine. This is the position that humans were designed to sit in, stand up, and walk-in. But modern life has gotten us away from maintaining a neutral spine, especially since computers, television, and other devices encourage us to be sedentary so much. Using an exercise ball chair can help you find your neutral spine sweet spot, improving your posture and quality of life.
q: Are there other ways to help stop the effects of being too sedentary?
Yes. The exercise ball chair is one tool that is part of an overall strategy, not the answer to all of our problems. The best way to find your neutral spine, get stronger, and avoid cardiovascular disease is to stay active. Walking, especially, is one of the best things we can do for our health and will go a long way towards giving us more energy.
Sources
- , Truth vs. Myth: Is Using an Exercise Ball to Replace Your Office Chair a Good Idea?, Article
- , 10 Fun Moves to Reshape Your Body With an Exercise Ball Workout, Health/medical publication
- , About Exercise Balls, Article
