I Get a Better At-Home Workout With These Pilates Weights and Props

Available in two, three, or five pounds, these ergonomic weights from the Sculpt Society are supercomfortable to hold during an upper-body circuit. I’m a fan of the smooth neoprene exterior, and the compact nature of these weights makes them ideal for targeted pulses designed to burn out my muscles.

“These are one-pound weights, which are really commonly used in classical Pilates,” saysKelly Korn, the founder and lead teacher atBombshell Pilates. Korn adds that they’re also a nice neutral color — instead of an excessive hot pink — which can be difficult to find when it comes to hand weights.

Korn also loves the look of the WeGym weights. “A colleague has a stack in her studio, and they’re just good and functional,” she told me.

I’ve been using these Stakt weights, which can be adjusted to create two-, four-, or six-pound hand weights. Each set comes with two bases and four “boosts” that are two pounds each. These are my current go-to for high-repetition movements because the grip feels really nice in the hand, and the long capsule shape helps activate my entire arm.

I use these dumbbell bars at mylocal Pilates studio. They’re made from silicone and have a sturdy cast-iron core. I’ll opt for the 15-pound beam for biceps curls and the 25-pound beam for squats or overhead presses.

I’ve owned my Bala Bangles for over five years, and they are the same ones we use at my Pilates studio. They have a Velcro strap for a customizable fit on your ankles or wrists and are available in one- or two-pound options. I love to wear them during controlled movements, like slow-paced lunges or standing calf raises, or to engage my glutes during circuits of donkey kicks, fire hydrants, and bridges.

Similar to the Bala Bangles above, the Your Reformer weighted bands feature silicone blocks and an internal Velcro strap. At 0.45 kilograms (approximately one pound) per band, these ankle weights are on the lighter side, which I found helps them stay in place during mat Pilates exercises while still adding a bit of resistance.

The Uwraps from female-founded brand Equipt feature a fancy vegan leather exterior and are available in 1.5 or three pounds. I own the three-pound Uwraps and use them over my one-pound Bala Bangles when I want more of a burn. Instead of being made with leaky sand, these use metal balls, which mold to the wrist or ankle for better weight distribution and a non-bulky feel.

If you want to avoid Velcro ankle or wrist weights altogether, the Sculpt Society’s metal buckle straps are extremely sturdy. During my testing, I found them to be just as easy to take on and off as their Velcro counterparts, and I love that the magnetic ends make them feel a tad more secure when I’m doing faster pulses. The weighted blocks can also be removed to accommodate your preferred weight.

We use a similar Pilates ring to the BetterMe in my group reformer classes. It has nicely padded handles, which are curved for exercises where I’m rhythmically pressing the ring in (squeezing it between the inner thighs or hands) or pushing it apart (usually at the ankles).

If you’re looking for a less-expensive option, Gaiam also makes a magic circle that’s under $20.

This non-weighted Pilates ball has a slightly textured surface for solid grip and requires no pump to inflate. It’s also meant to easily inflate or deflate to your preferred squishiness level.

Here’s a thicker ball that’s still somewhat squishy. It’s great for exercises where the ball is being placed under your heel, which creates instability to intensify your muscle engagement in the glutes, hamstrings, and core.

While normal resistance bands will work fine for banded squats or leg pull-aparts, I’ve been testing Lekfit’s resistance cuff and I must say, unlike the bands which often roll up your leg, this one actually stays put through an entire circuit.