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Elevate your workouts with this cost-effective piece of kit Rehabilitation Training
Exercise sliders (a.k.a. gliders or gliding discs) are the preferred piece of kit for a lot of PTs, including the woman who has worked with both Miranda Kerr and Karlie Kloss, Megan Roup. She swears by slider exercises for helping her clients perfect their form, engage their muscles and kick bodyweight exercises up a notch, and she's not the only one. WH Fitness Editor Bridie Wilkins also loves a slider workout so, whether you're familiar or not, here's everything you need to know.
No, we’re not talking poolside footwear. ‘Exercise sliders are sliding, plate-sized discs for your hands or feet that turn your gym or home floor into an unstable surface,’ says Ashley Verma, barre fitness expert and founder of Define London.
Sold in pairs, usually one side is grippy while the other is slippy, or may feature small wheels. They’re usually circular, but you can find other shapes like hexagons or ovals, and some can glide across both soft and hard floors.
Not sure what they could do for you? Read up on the benefits of exercise sliders in our guide to the best slider exercises.
In a hurry? No stress. These are the best exercise sliders at a glance. Keep scrolling for the full list, plus everything you need to know about exercise sliders, including how to use them.
You can incorporate sliders into pretty much any bodyweight exercise. Verma suggests starting out with lunges and lateral lunges, with your feet on gliders, then graduating to mountain climbers, or push-ups with your hands on gliders. You can also add ankle weights or a pair of dumbbells into the equation to amp up the intensity.
‘Don’t be afraid to move slowly,’ says Verma. ‘As with any training, it takes time to build confidence and correct form with something new. Breathe into it and take your time, as form is key to gain the best results.’
For such a simple piece of kit, exercise sliders come in a surprising number of varieties. Here’s what to consider when shopping:
We’ve handpicked the best exercise sliders on the market for every exercise need, available to shop now.
Dual sided? Check. Sleek, sophisticated colourway? Double check. Not only will these versatile sliders, ahem, slide seamlessly into any living space, they also work on hard surfaces, carpets and sweaty gym floors thanks to the two different sides.
Hard plastic skates across even your most worn carpet, while the foam side glides smoothly across wood, laminate and lino — and it makes for a handy grip when you’re on softer surfaces.
Makers of our favourite bangles, (soz, actual jewellery), LA fitness brand Bala has also got in on the gliding action with these pretty pastel exercise sliders.
The hallmark millennial aesthetic makes way for a pair of light and effective dual-sided sliders — use the plastic side on carpet, then flip over to the dense foam side when you’re on harder surfaces.
We tested them on wood flooring and were impressed with how smoothly they moved — but noted they wouldn’t survive rough surfaces or outdoors. They also come with a handy mesh case, so they’re easy to keep together.
If you’re looking to keep costs down — and who isn’t right now — this simple set of gliding discs is a great option. They’re double-sided and can be used on hardwood, tiles, gym floors and carpet, but as they’re pretty thin, you’d only want to use them on truly smooth surfaces — best not tested on dodgy grouting.
Easily the best thing about these hexagon-shaped sliders is that they snap together to form one large slider, so you can mix up your training. They’re thicker than a lot of other sliders so super comfortable, with large studded grips to stop you being thwarted by your sweat — and trust us, you’ll get a sweat on.
The hexagonal shape supposedly aids movement, but we’re more impressed with their durability — they’re suitable for use on tiles, courts, polished concrete, hardwood and ceramic floors, carpets and turf, and some reviewers have even used them outdoors.
These oval sliders have a longer surface area than their circular counterparts, so you can plant hands and feet more securely — and they’re great for long-fingered folk.
The thick foam padding on top increases the instability while offering good grip, plus they come with a handy carry bag and exercise sheet. They're only one-sided, so best used on carpet or turf, but can also be used on lino and tiles — just not hardwood flooring.
Keep your muscles guessing with these gliders from functional fitness brand P.volve. They're perfectly sized to keep you on the balls of your feet as you lunge and move incredibly smoothly — they didn't snag once during our 20 minute workout.
These exercise sliders from Beast Gear are crafted from hard-wearing ABS plastic to see you through years of core-punishing workouts (yay!), and they come with a lifetime guarantee and handy training guide.
The fabric side glides effortlessly across hard floors, while the tough plastic slides across carpets like nobody's business. A great staple from a brand you can trust.
These reversible discs (suitable for both carpet and hard floors) are a great staple option. Available in black, blue, red, hot pink and rose, they slide easily without snagging and are sure to get your muscles firing.
They're very smooth on the plastic side, so if you prefer to work out in socks, you might need grippy yoga/Pilates socks — or just stick to some gym trainers or bare feet.
Here at WH we're big fans of Decathlon's own brand ranges of quality fitness gear at affordable prices, and these exercise sliders are no exception.
They're double sided, with the foam side suited to wood or tile floors, and the hard plastic designed for use on carpets and rugs. The textured foam side offers extra traction for feet (or hands) as you exercise — ideal for when things get sweaty — and they come with a useful mesh travel bag.
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