Looking for new ways to fire up your lower body? The best ankle weights can add another level of difficulty to your walks, bodyweight workouts, and more. “Since you don't need to hold onto ankle weights in the same way you would dumbbells or free weights, ankle weights expand the types of exercises and planes of motion you can add resistance to,” Ashley Iwanicki, CEO and founder of fitness studio The Collective Studios, tells SELF. Just strap them on and go—pretty simple, right?

Things get more complicated when you consider how many sets of ankle weights are out there. For every high-quality pair, there’s a dozen more with flimsy fasteners, scratchy fabric, and a poor fit. That’s why we pored over past SELF Home Fitness Award winners and expert recommendations to find comfy ankle weights that are actually worth adding to your home gym. Read on to shop our faves (and learn how to make the most of your investment).

1. Best Overall: Bala Bangles, starting at $55
2. Best Budget Pick: Henkelion Adjustable Ankle Weights, starting at $20
3. Best Adjustable Weights: Sportneer Adjustable Ankle Weights, $34
4. Best Bala Dupe: Gaiam Flex Wrist and Ankle Weights, $25
5. Best Higher-Weight Options: Synergee Adjustable Ankle Weights, $40

• Shop the best ankle weights
• What are the benefits of incorporating ankle weights into your workout?
• What should you look for when shopping for ankle weights?

Time to get a leg up on your workout routine.

Bala

Bangles

$55

Amazon

$65

Target

$55

Bala

Expert-recommended and SELF Home Fitness Award–winning, Bala’s cuter-than-they-have-any-right-to-be weights are perfect for the aesthetic fitness fan. Our Home Fitness Awards tester loved how seamlessly they made her “feel like I’m making my everyday movement ‘count’ a little more.” She still wears them on her neighborhood strolls (and when your ankle weights look this cool, why wouldn’t you want to show them off around town?).

Henkelion

Adjustable Ankle Weights

$20

Amazon

I only ordered Henkelion’s ankle weights because I needed a relatively affordable way to tackle my physical therapy exercises at home. But what started as a purchase of necessity has blossomed into a full-blown love that goes beyond these weights’ price tag.

They’re impressively sturdy, with a thick Velcro closure that makes it easy to adjust their fit around my ankles. But it doesn’t feel like I’m wrapping sandbags around my legs—their outer layer is made from soft cotton that’s been treated for added durability.

Sportneer

Adjustable Ankle Weights (1-5 lbs)

$36 $32 (11% off)

Amazon

Multiple fitness experts have recommended Sportneer’s weights to SELF for their adjustable design. They come with sandbag inserts that you can add or remove to find your preferred level of resistance between one and five pounds.

“The ability to adjust and exchange small weights to increase resistance is the best feature,” Jake Dickson, a NASM-certified personal trainer, USA Weightlifting Advanced Sport Performance Coach (USAW-L2), and contributing editor at BarBend, tells SELF. “The last thing you need is swelling joints because you were overly enthusiastic.”

Gaiam

Flex Wrist and Ankle Weights

$25

Amazon

Love how Balas look, but want to save a little cash? Gaiam’s weights are an excellent alternative. Burr says they aren’t quite as high-quality as the OGs, but they can come in handy during barre workouts. “The fit isn’t as snug as the Bala Bangles, but for the types of lower-body movements that these types of classes would entail, they’re great,” she explains.

Synergee

Adjustable Ankle Weights (10 lb)

$40

Amazon

Synergee’s heavy-duty adjustable weights are a top-notch option for seasoned users who are ready to level up, Keith Hodges, CPT, founder of Mind In Muscle Coaching in Los Angeles, tells SELF. The heaviest iteration of the weights clock in at 10 pounds per wrap—and they’re built to handle that additional load. These weights have double hook-and-loop straps that you can cinch individually for a super secure fit.