The 9 best Pilates rings for home workouts, tested by Women's Health

For a straightforward, affordable Pilates ring, Decathlon's offering is hard to fault. Its two curved foam pads make it comfortable to hold during repeated squeezes, whether you're working your inner thighs, chest, arms or glutes.

At 40cm in diameter, it's slightly larger than many of the other rings we tested, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re petite or prefer a more compact design. On the other hand, the extra room can make it easier to position around your thighs or ankles, and the light-to-medium resistance makes it approachable for beginners and anyone who prefers a gentler challenge.

It’s also satisfyingly versatile: turn it over and it can be used as a stand for a Swiss ball between workouts. At this price, it's a good option for anyone trying Pilates rings for the first time or looking for a reliable piece of kit without spending much.

The ProBody Pilates Ring Circle is an approachable option for anyone new to Pilates or resistance training. (Ehret even uses it herself for at-home workouts.) Its lightweight foam construction and padded handles make it easy to position and control, while the light-to-medium resistance provides enough pushback to keep exercises engaging without feeling too intimidating.

It comes with a carrying pouch and an exercise guide, which is useful if you're still getting to grips with the basics. The guide includes moves such as the glute bridge, an exercise that Pilates instructor Summer Hall says can help build glute and outer-thigh strength.

The 14-inch diameter should suit most users, and it's available in four frame colours. It may not challenge experienced Pilates practitioners, but it's a comfortable, versatile choice for beginners and anyone looking for a gentler ring.

Ready to really feel the burn? Unlike a traditional Pilates ring, the Bala Power Ring is solid and cannot be squeezed together. Instead, its 10lb (4.53kg) weight adds resistance to presses, holds, lunges and twists, while allowing you to use it for more conventional strength exercises such as carries, swings and tricep presses.

The stainless steel core is covered in smooth silicone, which feels comfortable and grippy in the hands, even when palms become sweaty.

At around 30.5cm across, it has a smaller circumference than the MoveActive Weighted Ring below and is slightly thicker, making it a compact option that doesn’t take up much storage space. The weight is a touch heavier than MoveActive’s 4.5kg ring, so it’s best suited to users who want to add a serious challenge to strength-focused workouts rather than recreate the feel of a traditional Pilates ring.

It also comes in a range of appealing colours and includes exercise suggestions on the box. It's worth noting the pink version we tested did pick up dirt marks – these wiped off easily, but the lighter colours may require a little more care.

Comfort is where the Core Balance Pilates Resistance Ring really stands out. Its foam-padded frame and handles feel soft against the body, making it a good choice for exercises that involve repeated squeezing or placing the ring between your inner thighs, knees or ankles.

The handles are padded on both the inside and outside, so there's no hard plastic digging into your palms or legs as the repetitions build up. We also found it comfortable to hold during longer sequences, including chest presses and the Hundred, where a less forgiving ring can quickly become uncomfortable.

Its medium resistance offers enough challenge for most users without feeling excessively stiff, although more experienced Pilates practitioners may prefer something firmer. The sprung-steel core gives it a responsive feel, while the foam surround adds the cushioning that makes this one of the easiest rings to use regularly.

Finding decent fitness equipment for under £25 isn't always easy, but Gaiam's Pilates Ring proves that a budget-friendly option can still deliver. Its non-slip foam handles make it comfortable to hold, while the medium resistance gives beginners and intermediate users enough pushback to feel the muscles working.

The ring is lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and versatile enough for everything from pelvic floor exercises to inner-thigh squeezes and chest presses. It also comes with a downloadable exercise guide, which is useful if you're new to Pilates rings and need a little inspiration.

Advanced users may want a firmer ring, but this is a solid choice if you're looking for an affordable, straightforward option for home workouts.

There's plenty of Pilates accessories beyond the ring! BetterMe's Pilates Essentials Kit delivers a little of everything in one thoughtfully curated set, giving you plenty of ways to fire and strengthen your muscles.

Alongside the ring, you get long resistance bands, Pilates loop bands, a soft Pilates ball and grip socks, giving you plenty of options for building a more varied home workout.

The ring itself has padded handles for easy grip and medium resistance, so it should suit most users. It feels light enough to manoeuvre but firm enough to add challenge to exercises targeting the arms, thighs, glutes and core.

The kit comes in nine chic colours, but the ring can also be bought separately for £52 if you don't need all the extra bits. However, at £198, it’s a significant investment, so it makes most sense if you're starting a home Pilates set-up from scratch and expect to use the additional equipment.

MoveActive's Weighted Ring is a solid alternative to a traditional Pilates ring, offering a 4.5kg load rather than a compressible resistance ring. That makes it better suited to strength-focused moves such as swings, lunges, twists, presses and weighted holds than classic Pilates squeezes.

The ribbed silicone outer provides a secure grip, and we found it easy to hold even when our hands became sweaty. It is, however, prone to picking up dust, lint and fluff – a common drawback with silicone – although it can be wiped clean with a damp towel.

At around 33cm across, it's slightly wider and narrower in profile than the Bala Power Ring. It also costs considerably less, making it the better-value choice if you want a weighted ring but don’t need the Bala’s more polished finish. Just bear in mind that 4.5kg is still a substantial load, so it's best suited to experienced exercisers or anyone already comfortable with weighted strength training.

The saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies particularly well to the original Pilates ring. And after reviewing numerous options, our US team chose the Balanced Body Pilates Ring as the best for high resistance – it closely mirrors the classic design created by Joseph Pilates himself, offering the tried-and-true feel that instructors and practitioners have relied on for decades.

This ring is made of classic tempered steel but boasts a luxurious upgrade with its rubberised coating for superior grip, plus a slender handle design. It's best suited for advanced Pilates practitioners given it has a steel build and high resistance. It's also built to last – the ring is rust-proof and corrosion-proof, so you don't have to stress about it wearing out on you fast.

At 15 inches it can handle a variety of exercises, but is most efficient for moves aimed at engaging at the waist, arms and legs, given the high resistance. It also gives you plenty of room to use it between your thighs. Testers describe it as sturdy, challenging, and high-quality.

Yes, it's more expensive than most Pilates rings, but the robust construction should appeal to anyone who wants a durable piece of kit that can withstand regular use. That said, beginners may find the resistance too intense, so we'd recommend starting with a lighter model if you're new to Pilates rings.