In the ever-expanding world of fitness and in this case yoga gadgetry, finding the best yoga wheel can be yet another challenge. That said, here are our top seven choices featuring the best yoga wheels.
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The best yoga wheel on our list is the UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel.
- UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel – Best Overall
- Risefit Dharma Yoga Wheel – Most Durable
- SukhaMat Yoga Wheel – Unique
- Yoga Design Lab Yoga Wheel – Best For Beginners
- Yoloha Premium Cork Yoga Wheel – Most Eco-friendly
- Seigla Yoga Wheel – Best Value
- Acumobility Ultimate Back Roller – Best For Deep Tissue Massage
Check our guide to choosing the best yoga wheel below but first are the pros and cons of our pick of the 7 best yoga wheels.
UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel – Best Overall
The UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel is about 12 inches high and has a five-inch width. It weighs about 3.2 pounds and comes with an 18 Pose Yoga Wheel Guide.
Pros:
- 25x thick foam padding for spinal comfort
- Available in a multitude of colors
- Has closed cells so it’s moisture and odor-resistant
- Weight limit over 550 pounds
- Value for money
- Can relieve back pain
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with an instruction manual
- Might be a bit difficult to use for beginners
Risefit Dharma Yoga Wheel – Most Durable
The dimensions of a Risefit Dharma Yoga Wheel are 14 x 14 x 5.5 inches. It weighs about 3.4 pounds and is made from foam TPE—a non-toxic, biodegradable material.
Pros:
- Has a 1,000 pounds weight limit
- Sturdy yet comfortable enough to handle strenuous poses
- Made from an eco-friendly material
- Comes with a free online demonstrative video
- Comes with an instruction manual
Cons:
- Can be a bit rigid for some individuals
SukhaMat Yoga Wheel – Most Unique
The Sukhamat is a 12.5 inches high yoga wheel that weighs about 1.9 pounds. It’s made from an environmentally friendly and recyclable material called PC alloy.
Pros:
- Very comfortable due to the extra-thick TPE padding
- Has a weight limit of up to 500 pounds
- Offers 100% money-back guarantee
- Made from eco-friendly material
- Smart wooden interior
Cons:
- Doesn’t have an easy grip
- Some have reported that the colors aren’t as vibrant as the pictures show
Yoga Design Lab Yoga Wheel – Best for Beginners
Weighing about 2.8 pounds, the Yoga Design Lab Yoga Wheel is 12.6 inches high with a 7-8mm padding.
Pros:
- Can endure up to 550 pounds
- Made from recyclable material
- Designed to offer maximum support for the back
- The non-slip cork padding reduces the risk of losing balance
- Perfect for beginners as well as experts
- Aesthetically pleasing to look at
Cons:
- A bit expensive to start out with
- Some have reported that it leaves prints on their yoga mats
Yoloha Premium Cork Yoga Wheel – Best Eco-Friendly
The Yoloha Premium Cork Yoga Wheel is a sustainable, three-pound, 12 inches high yoga wheel. It’s made from sustainably sourced maple and poplar wood, beeswax, latex-free foam, and natural cork.
Pros:
- Made 100% from non-toxic materials
- Eco-friendly
- Sturdy and comfortable
- Antibacterial and moisture-resistant
- Non-slip padding
- 100% money-back guarantee within 30 days
Cons:
- It’s more expensive than other yoga wheels
- Can be slightly rigid for beginners
- Weight limit is lower than other wheels; 250 pounds
Seigla Yoga Wheel – Best Value
Even though it’s among the cheapest on the market, the Seigla Yoga Wheel is quite sturdy and versatile. It’s 12 inches high with a six to seven-millimeter padding.
Pros:
- More affordable than other wheels
- One of the very few yoga wheels that can hold up to 600 pounds
- Antibacterial and sweat-resistant
- Designed to be durable for life
- Quite flexible
Cons:
- Available in one color
- While uncommon, some have reported that it has a chemical smell at first
Acumobility Ultimate Back Roller – Best for Deep Tissue Massage
While it’s intended for massage, the Acumobility Ultimate Back Roller is also recommended as a yoga wheel. It’s 11.5 inches high with a 7.5 inches width.
Pros:
- Designed to improve mobility and follow the natural movement of the spine
- The four knob rows offer incredible deep tissue massage
- Withstands up to 1000 pounds
- Stretches hard-to-reach areas like the upper back and between the shoulders
Cons:
- The knobbly shape might require some time to get used to
Benefits of Using a Yoga Wheel
Using a yoga wheel in your routine can give you a boost of confidence to flex and stretch further.
It’ll also give you the support your body needs to master certain moves, such as backbends and inversions.
When attempting to do challenging poses, the right yoga wheels can also reduce the chances of injury. They provide the support that’s otherwise not present when doing some traditional yoga poses.
What’s more, doing a backbend on a yoga wheel extends and supports the spine.
This preserves and promotes a healthier spine. You may notice your back getting stronger and your posture improving after doing some of these moves.
Yoga wheels can be used to massage the back and loosen any tight knots. As a result, a lot of the tension and pressure melts away and the tissue regenerates and becomes stronger.
Guide to Choosing the Best Yoga Wheel
These seemingly simple, hollow, ring-like yoga props have quite a vast variation. On the market, yoga wheels have different materials such as plastic and wood. They have different sizes, weight limits, and sustainability.
With all of these options, the yoga wheel market can appear daunting. Here’s what you should consider before you purchase a yoga wheel.
Features to Look for in a Yoga Wheel
We have covered that similar softer cousin of the wheel, the yoga bolster in another article. But getting back to the subject in hand…
…the three features to look for in a yoga wheel are:
Weight Limit
Most yoga wheels are designed to bear a weight limit of about 400-500 lbs. This weight limit will most likely manage any pose or routine you intend to use the yoga wheel for.
That being said, there are yoga wheels that are incredibly sturdy. They can carry your entire weight—whether you’re standing or sitting on the wheel. Such wheels can endure intensive yoga routines as well as routines for building better balance.
Some yoga wheels, on the other hand, are not as accommodating. They might strain or break under enormous weight. These are more suitable for stretching and relieving muscle tension.
That’s why, when you’re looking at yoga wheels, you should choose the weight limit that’s better suited for what you plan to use the yoga wheel for.
Material
The materials used to make yoga wheels contribute to their durability, prices, and sustainability.
Plastic
Yoga wheels are mostly made from either PVC or ABS. Both are types of plastic that give yoga wheels their rigidity and durability. Still, these two types of plastic aren’t one and the same; they have different characteristics.
While PVC is the more flexible type of plastic, ABS is more shock-resistant and can handle a greater weight limit.
In addition, because PVC and ABS are quite cheap, yoga wheels—or any other product—made from these types of plastic are much more affordable than other materials.
If you’re thinking about sustainability, yoga wheels made from PVC or ABS plastic may not be suitable. Even many of the yoga wheels that are marketed as eco-friendly have plastic frames covered with natural cork.
Wood
Using real wood to make yoga wheels isn’t as popular as plastic. Because wood is much more expensive, wooden yoga wheels can be quite uncommon.
In addition, while they’re sustainable and biodegradable, wooden yoga wheels have a lower weight limit in comparison to ones made from plastic. They’re well-suited for basic stretching but might not handle demanding postures.
Size
In most cases, the sizes of yoga wheels vary in diameter: large, medium, and small.
Each size can serve different purposes, but the standard size, large, which is about 12 to 13 inches, is ideal for most body shapes and heights.
Large yoga wheels are great for those looking to learn backbends or improve their flexibility. Once you’ve got the hang of things and wish to increase difficulty, medium-size yoga wheels provide deeper stretch and pressure. These are about 10 inches in diameter.
Small-size yoga wheels offer the deepest level of stretch and pressure out of all sizes. They can be used by both beginners and experts alike for a variety of poses. People shorter than five feet may find this size quite comfortable.
Another thing to consider is the yoga wheel’s width. Generally, most wheels have a five-inch width, which is an optimal width to fit between the shoulder blades for most people.
That said, if you’re looking for a wider width, you can find yoga wheels that are six inches or more.
A Word On The Chirp Wheel
The Chirp or Plexus wheel as it was previously called is a similar product in design and appearance to a yoga wheel. However, with its patented groove to accommodate the spinal column, it is marketed as a tool more specifically for massaging the back and other difficult places to get to.
We think it could easily be used for moves in yoga. We haven’t included it in our comparison list as it wouldn’t quite be apples v. apples but I haven’t written a review of the Chirp Wheel.
Final Word on Yoga Wheels
While each yoga wheel has its own characteristics, the one that takes the first place is the UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel.
Yes, it was my particular favorite. While it might be a bit rigid to use at first, this yoga wheel can relieve your back pain, make you more flexible, and allow you to do simple exercises as well as intensive ones.
In addition, it has dense padding, and its weight limit enables you to use it for as long as you want, without the risk of wearing it out or bending.
