Ankle weights add cheap, simple resistance to walks, Pilates, glute and leg work - and worn on the wrists they load arm and shoulder moves too. The right pair depends on how you train. A fixed-weight neoprene cuff is the cheap, grab-and-go classic, an adjustable sandbag pair lets you add or remove weight as you get stronger, and a low-bulk silicone bangle is the stylish, barely-there option for yoga and daily wear. We weighed weight range, adjustability, comfort and what they are made of. These six run from a 16 dollar Yes4All cuff up to the iconic 95 dollar Bala Bangles.
How to choose ankle weights in Australia
Ankle weights do a simple job well - they add cheap, constant resistance to walks, Pilates, and glute and leg work, and worn on the wrists they load arm and shoulder moves too - but the right pair depends entirely on how you train. There are three distinct types here. Fixed-weight neoprene cuffs are the cheap, grab-and-go classic - the Yes4All and the fixed PROIRON sit here, with one set weight and nothing to load. Adjustable sandbag pairs like the Sportneer and the adjustable PROIRON let you add or remove weight as you get stronger, so one purchase grows with you. And low-bulk silicone bangles like the Gaiam and the iconic Bala are the slim, stylish, barely-there option built for yoga and daily wear rather than heavy loading. After settling the type, it comes down to weight range, comfort and fit, and what they are made of. This guide covers six options from around 16 to 95 dollars, each suited to a different way of training.
The single most important rule with ankle weights is to start light and let your technique lead. A load of around 0.5 to 1 kg per ankle is plenty for most people beginning out, and the point is to add a little resistance without breaking your form or stressing the joint. This is exactly where the adjustable pairs earn their keep - the Sportneer holds five removable one-pound sandbags per cuff, so you can run each ankle from one to five pounds, or the pair from two to ten, and start at the bottom of that range before adding a sandbag at a time as you get stronger. A fixed pair like the Yes4All or the fixed PROIRON gives you one set weight, which is simpler but means you need to pick a light load you will not outgrow too quickly. Whatever you buy, resist the urge to go heavy early - good form with a light weight beats sloppy reps with a heavy one every time.
Fixed versus adjustable
This is the central choice. Fixed-weight cuffs like the Yes4All (around 16 dollars) and the PROIRON fixed pair (around 26 dollars) are cheap and simple - one set weight, nothing to load or unload, just grab them and go. The trade-off is that they cannot grow with you, so once you are stronger than the load they offer, you need a heavier pair. Adjustable sandbag pairs solve that. The Sportneer (around 40 dollars) carries five removable one-pound sandbags in each cuff, letting you tune the load from one to five pounds per ankle as your strength changes, and the adjustable PROIRON (around 46 dollars) does the same with a slimmer, lower-volume system. If you know the light load you want and just want the cheapest way to it, fixed is fine. If you plan to progress over months, adjustable is the pair that lasts.
Silicone bangles - low-bulk and stylish
The third type trades adjustability for comfort and looks. Low-bulk silicone bangles like the Gaiam (around 72 dollars) and the iconic Bala (around 95 dollars) wrap the ankle or wrist in a slim, secure band with none of the loose flap or shifting a bulky neoprene cuff can have. That makes them ideal for yoga, walking and daily wear, where you want a little constant resistance without anything getting in the way of the movement, and the Bala in particular has turned the ankle weight into something people are happy to leave on display. The honest caveat is that these are fixed-weight pieces chosen for feel and style, not progression - they will not load up like the adjustable Sportneer - so pick a bangle for how it feels in gentle, frequent use rather than for building serious strength.
Ankle or wrist - matching the weight to the move
Where you wear them decides what they train. On the ankles, weights load the lower body - they suit walking, glute and leg work, and Pilates, where the added resistance makes hip and leg movements work harder. On the wrists, the same weights load the upper body, adding resistance to arm raises, shoulder moves and the arm-focused parts of a workout. Most of the pairs here, including the Sportneer, both PROIRONs and the Yes4All, can be worn either way, and the silicone bangles from Gaiam and Bala are designed to suit ankle and wrist alike. The practical takeaway is to think about which muscles you want to work before you buy - ankle weights for legs and glutes, wrist weights for arms - and to keep the load light on the wrists in particular, since arm movements feel the weight quickly.
Comfort, fit and material
A pair you find comfortable is a pair you will actually use, so fit and material matter. Neoprene cuffs like the Yes4All use adjustable velcro and a D-ring to wrap snugly and stay put through reps, and reinforced stitching helps them take repeated strain. The fill changes the feel too - the PROIRON fixed pair uses premium iron-sand that sits evenly distributed around the cuff rather than bunching to one side, which keeps the load balanced. The adjustable PROIRON steps up the material to PU-leather and Lycra for a slimmer, smarter feel, and the silicone bangles from Gaiam and Bala are the lowest-bulk of all. If you walk early or late, the reflective night-safe trim on both PROIRON pairs adds a useful bit of visibility. Match the build to how and where you train, and the weights stop being something you have to put up with.
A safety note - do not run in ankle weights
This is the one firm warning in the guide. Ankle weights are not recommended for running. Strapping weight to your ankles changes the natural mechanics of your stride - it alters your gait and adds load to the knees, ankles and hips at exactly the moment they are absorbing impact, which raises the risk of joint strain and injury over time. They are built for controlled, lower-impact movement - walking, glute and leg work, Pilates and daily activity - where the resistance helps rather than fights your body. Keep the load light, prioritise your form, and save the running for proper footwear without weights. Used the way they are designed, every pair here is a safe, cheap way to add resistance; used for running, even the best of them works against you.
Our verdict
For most people the Sportneer Adjustable Ankle Weights at around 40 dollars are the smart buy - they are the best-selling pair here by an enormous margin, an adjustable system with five removable one-pound sandbags per cuff that runs each ankle from one to five pounds and grows with you instead of being outgrown, which is why they are our pick. If you only want to spend a little, the Yes4All Neoprene Ankle Weights at 16 dollars are a simple fixed cuff with adjustable velcro and a D-ring. For a tidy fixed pair, the PROIRON Fixed Ankle Weights at 26 dollars are the category number one with iron-sand fill and reflective trim. The adjustable PROIRON at 46 dollars is the premium, low-bulk progressable option in PU-leather. And for a slim, stylish bangle the Gaiam at 72 dollars suits yoga and daily wear, while the iconic Bala Bangles at 95 dollars are the aspirational design pick. Whichever you choose, start light, prioritise form, and never run in them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How heavy should ankle weights be to start with?
Start light and let your form lead. Around 0.5 to 1 kg per ankle is plenty for most people beginning out, because the point is to add a little resistance without breaking your technique or stressing the joint. This is where an adjustable pair helps - the Sportneer (around 40 dollars) holds five removable one-pound sandbags per cuff, so you can start at the bottom of its one-to-five-pound range and add a sandbag at a time as you get stronger. A fixed pair like the Yes4All (around 16 dollars) gives one set weight, so pick a light load you will not outgrow too quickly. Good form with a light weight beats sloppy reps with a heavy one every time.
What is the difference between fixed and adjustable ankle weights?
Fixed-weight cuffs like the Yes4All (around 16 dollars) and the PROIRON fixed pair (around 26 dollars) have one set weight - nothing to load or unload, just grab them and go - which is cheap and simple but cannot grow with you. Adjustable sandbag pairs let you change the load: the Sportneer (around 40 dollars) carries five removable one-pound sandbags in each cuff, so each ankle runs from one to five pounds, and the adjustable PROIRON (around 46 dollars) does the same with a slimmer, lower-volume system. If you know the light load you want, fixed is fine; if you plan to progress over months, adjustable is the pair that lasts.
What are ankle weights good for?
Worn on the ankles, they load the lower body - they suit walking, glute and leg work, and Pilates, where the added resistance makes hip and leg movements work harder. Worn on the wrists, the same weights load the upper body, adding resistance to arm raises and shoulder moves. Most pairs here, including the Sportneer (around 40 dollars), both PROIRONs and the Yes4All (around 16 dollars), can be worn either way. Think about which muscles you want to work before you buy - ankle weights for legs and glutes, wrist weights for arms - and keep the load light on the wrists, since arm movements feel the weight quickly.
Can you run with ankle weights on?
No - ankle weights are not recommended for running. Strapping weight to your ankles alters your natural gait and adds load to the knees, ankles and hips at exactly the moment they are absorbing impact, which raises the risk of joint strain and injury over time. They are built for controlled, lower-impact movement - walking, glute and leg work, Pilates and daily activity - where the resistance helps rather than fights your body. Keep the load light, prioritise your form, and save the running for proper footwear without weights. Used the way they are designed, they are a safe, cheap way to add resistance.
Are silicone bangle weights like Bala worth it?
They are if you value comfort and looks over progression. Low-bulk silicone bangles like the Gaiam (around 72 dollars) and the iconic Bala Bangles (around 95 dollars) wrap the ankle or wrist in a slim, secure band with none of the loose flap a bulky neoprene cuff can have, which suits yoga, walking and daily wear. The Bala in particular has turned the ankle weight into something people leave on display. The honest caveat is that these are fixed-weight pieces chosen for feel and style, not progression - they will not load up like the adjustable Sportneer (around 40 dollars) - so pick a bangle for how it feels in gentle, frequent use.
Can you wear ankle weights on your wrists?
Yes - most of the pairs here are designed to work on either the ankles or the wrists. On the ankles they load the legs and glutes for walking and Pilates; on the wrists they add resistance to arm and shoulder moves. The Sportneer (around 40 dollars), both PROIRON pairs and the Yes4All (around 16 dollars) all wrap securely either way, and the silicone bangles from Gaiam (around 72 dollars) and Bala (around 95 dollars) are built to suit ankle and wrist alike. Keep the load lighter on the wrists than the ankles, since arm movements feel the added weight quickly and form is easy to lose.
What should ankle weights be made of?
Match the build to how you train. Neoprene cuffs like the Yes4All (around 16 dollars) use adjustable velcro and a D-ring to wrap snugly, with reinforced stitching to take repeated strain. The fill matters too - the PROIRON fixed pair (around 26 dollars) uses premium iron-sand that sits evenly distributed rather than bunching to one side. The adjustable PROIRON (around 46 dollars) steps up to PU-leather and Lycra for a slimmer feel, and the silicone bangles from Gaiam (around 72 dollars) and Bala (around 95 dollars) are the lowest-bulk of all. If you walk early or late, the reflective trim on both PROIRON pairs adds a useful bit of visibility.
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