Six-pack abs are good for far more than summer swimsuit photographs. Abdominal muscles form an integral part of the core, and a strong core has numerous wellness benefits. Strengthening your core muscles can improve your posture, enhance athletic performance, reduce injuries by supporting the spine and improving balance, and increase functional fitness.
Achieving six-pack abs typically requires building muscle and losing fat. To make your muscle definition more visible without a gym membership, you'll want to eat well and invest in cardio equipment and strength equipment. Strength equipment helps you get stronger, while cardiovascular exercise can help you maintain a calorie deficit so that the definition you achieve through strength training is visible.
If you're ready to see the difference proper equipment can make to your fitness journey, explore these equipment recommendations for six-packs.
1. Functional Trainers
Some of the most effective ab machines are functional trainers with cables. They provide constant tension throughout movement and are extremely versatile. While free weights can be cumbersome and restrictive, functional trainers encourage controlled, varied movement and create constant tension until the motion is complete. Some of the following exercises will directly target your rectus abdominals — the six-pack abs — while others will increase core strength and boost your health:
- Cable crunches
- Cable twists
- Pallof presses
- Wood chops
- Cable reverse crunches
2. Vertical Knee Raise Stand
Vertical knee raise (VKR) stands, also known as captain's chairs, allow you to perform vertical knee raises, pushups and dips. Exercises like vertical knee raises and hanging pikes benefit your whole upper body and can help define your six-pack.
3. Ab Crunch Machines
Ab crunch machines and equipment take crunches up a level. Ab crunch machines, for example, add resistance to regular crunches and help you remain in good alignment throughout the movement, reducing strain on your lower back. Ab crunch boards increase the incline during situps and crunches, isolating your abdominal muscles and making the movements more challenging. A slight incline will work your muscles harder than doing situps or crunches on a flat surface, and the greater the incline, the more difficult the movement becomes.
4. Multifunctional Ab Equipment
While dedicated ab machines are extremely effective, it's also useful to invest in multipurpose equipment that can help you improve your overall strength and fitness. Here are some tools to sculpt your abs and more:
- Training towers: Are you a pullup fan? Training towers have pullup stations that will allow you to practice. You can also use the pullup bars for hanging leg raises, an essential exercise for targeting the lower abs. Try doing leg raises in the VKR station and while hanging from the pullup bars. Both types of leg raises are effective for strengthening and toning the lower rectus abdominis muscle.
- Medicine balls: With a medicine ball, you can do Russian twists, mountain climbers, situps, reverse planks, toe touches and more ab exercises.
- Resistance bands: You can use resistance bands to target your six-pack muscles and other core muscles. One way to do this is with flutter kicks. Lay on the ground, and wrap a small resistance band around your ankles. Lift both feet slightly off the ground and kick them up and down.
5. Cardio Machines
While targeting the abs using specialized machines is key for building muscle, cardio machines burn calories. They can help you stay in a calorie deficit, which can help reduce your overall body fat percentage and make your abdominal muscles more visible. Here are some home cardio machines that can support you in achieving a visible six-pack:
- Treadmills: Walking and running on treadmills can burn a significant number of calories, especially if you train at a higher incline and intensity. These adjustable machines are versatile and suited to any fitness level. Investing in a treadmill means you can work out whenever it suits you, regardless of the time or weather.
- Ellipticals: If you're searching for low-impact cardio machine options, ellipticals may be the key to your six-pack success. Elipticals allow you to burn calories with low impact on your joints. These machines have moving handles that allow you to work your upper and lower body together, engaging the core and creating a full-body workout. Using an elliptical will burn calories and help you maintain your calorie deficit to reveal your ab muscles.
- Exercise bikes: Another low-impact cardio machine option is exercise bikes. Both upright bikes and recumbent bikes can contribute to reducing body fat and revealing abdominal muscles. Upright bikes are designed so you sit in a similar position to traditional bicycles. Recumbent bikes create a reclined position with a full seat and backrest. They are suitable for low-intensity cardio and for those with joint or back pain.
- Indoor cycles: Also known as spin bikes, indoor cycles are some of the most popular cardio machines available. They're relatively quiet, easy on the joints and suitable for low-intensity, steady-state and high-intensity cardiovascular exercise. Indoor cycles are highly effective for burning calories, and they can be adjusted to mimic the road bike experience of sprints and hills, creating an engaging exercise session.
- Rowers: Rowing machines engage a large number of muscles throughout your body, including your core. The combination of strengthening and calorie burning makes rowing machines a great way to build core stability and reduce body fat. While you'll still need to work on targeted ab exercises, having a rower at home can effectively support your journey toward building visible, defined abdominal muscles.
- Mirrors: You might be wondering what mirrors are doing on this list, but these aren't ordinary mirrors. Smart mirrors are innovative workout machines that provide access to guided cardio workouts and can provide feedback on your form. Depending on your mirror, you can gain access to cardio classes like dance, HIIT, kickboxing and more to keep your exercise routine varied and interesting. You'll have 24/7 access to gym-quality classes that can help build strength and reduce fat to reveal the abs.
Explore Home Workout Equipment From The Treadmill Factory
Now that you know more about the best equipment for six-pack abs at home, you can begin to invest in core-strengthening gear. Using equipment expertly designed to enhance muscle definition and fitness will help you sculpt your abdominal muscles, improve overall fitness and burn fat for increased ab visibility.
The Treadmill Factory is your single source for high-quality gym equipment for your home. Our impressive equipment selection includes everything you could want for your dream gym. We have one of the most extensive collections in Canada, and our highly trained salespeople can match you with the right equipment for your needs.
Browse our collection or contact us with any questions. We're here to help you achieve your fitness goals.
