Ab Machines

Ab machines let you put a measured load on your trunk muscles and raise it in small steps, which gets hard to do on the floor once bodyweight crunches feel easy. This collection runs from Body-Solid ab boards and decline benches to Muscle D Fitness plate-loaded and pin-selectorized ab crunch machines, rotary torso machines, ab/back combos and vertical knee raise stations. Home buyers can start with a bench or board, while facilities can build out a full core area.

How to choose ab machines for your space

• Ab boards and benches. These are the simplest, lightest pieces. The Body-Solid Pro-Style Adjustable Ab Board (GAB60B) telescopes to 12 positions on a 2-by-2-inch steel beam and rolls on transport wheels. The Body-Solid Pro ClubLine Ab Bench (SAB500B) adjusts from 0 to 35 degrees with gas assistance and sits on a four-point base.
• Assisted or weighted crunch. The Body-Solid GAB100B horizontal ab crunch machine has one post to add weight and a counterbalance post to reduce resistance, so beginners and stronger lifters can share it.
• Plate-loaded ab crunch machine. The Muscle D Excel Abdominal/Oblique Crunch combines an adjustable seat with plate loading for straight and oblique crunches, and the Power Leverage V2 Abdominal Crunch uses an 11-gauge frame with integrated plate storage.
• Selectorized crunch and rotation. The Muscle D Vogue Ab Crunch pairs a 200 lb steel stack and magnetic pin with arm and elbow pads and foot rollers. For rotation, the Muscle D Elite Plus Rotary Torso uses a mid-thigh roller and contoured seat to hold the hips in place, with several start positions.
• Knee raise stations. The Muscle D vertical knee raise with pull-up station adds dip and pull-up bars to the knee raise frame.

Trainer's take: load the trunk like any other muscle

As a certified personal trainer, I program ab work the same way I program a curl or a press: a set load, a set rep range and a plan to progress. Choose a weight you can move slowly for 10 to 15 reps, exhale as you curl down, and pause briefly at the bottom of each rep before returning.

Give rotary torso machines a lighter start than crunch machines; turn through a range you can control and match reps on both sides. Before you buy a knee raise station, measure your ceiling, since the Muscle D VKR with pull-up station stands 98 inches tall. When I compare ab machines for a home gym, an adjustable board or bench is the place to start, and a plate-loaded crunch is the next step once you want to add load.

Ab machines FAQ

Is the ab crunch machine effective?

It does one job well: it lets you load the crunch with a set weight and raise it gradually, which floor crunches cannot do. What you get from it depends on consistent training and the rest of your program.

What does the ab crunch machine work?

It mainly works the rectus abdominis, the long muscle down the front of the trunk. Oblique-capable models such as the Excel Abdominal/Oblique Crunch also train the sides of the waist.

What benches are ideal for ab and core work?

Adjustable ab boards and decline benches are the usual picks, since the angle sets how hard each rep feels. The GAB60B adjusts to 12 positions, while the Powerline PAB139X holds a fixed 18-degree decline with 8-inch foam rollers.

Is a plate-loaded ab machine better than a selectorized one?

Neither wins outright. Plate-loaded units use plates you may already own, while a selectorized stack lets you change load by moving a pin, handy when several people share one machine.

Pair core work with the rest of your setup: our back machines include back extension benches and lat/row stations, and workout benches add flat and adjustable options for dumbbell and barbell work. If you are mapping out a full room, the strength equipment buying guide is worth reading first.