21 Cheap Fitness Products People Actually Swear By

These oughta work out for you. The products in this post were updated in November 2017.

Jeff Barron / BuzzFeed

We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

1. These no-show running socks with a heel tab to stop them from slipping down into your shoes.

amazon.com

Promising review: "The socks are not too thin nor too thick. Just perfect. I played basketball with them, as well as train for a 10k run with them. My feet always felt cool while just having enough protection from blisters." —AaronJ

Get a pair from Amazon for $10.36+ (available in 12 colors and sizes S–XL).

2. This agility ladder drill set for increasing your foot speed and coordination.

Promising review: "Have used this mainly for my 13U soccer team. They have shown immense improvement in their balance and agility since the beginning of the season. It has startled me it has been that effective. The product is sturdy to the wear and tear 14–17 boys put on it two to three nights a week. The ladder bars can also be moved to change the pattern of the agility training. Though when the players are being lazy and hitting the bars, the bars can and will move during the drills. But other than that, I am very glad I invested in this and am now using it for my 13U baseball team as well." —Kenneth Srode

Get it from Amazon for $24.50.

3. These no-slip bands that'll keep your ponytail from falling when you're running a 5K.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I have long, straight hair that is very fine and my hair slips out of EVERYTHING. I recently ran a 5K and a few hours later taught a Zumba fitness class — I didn't have to readjust this hair tie even ONE TIME. Completely serious. These are, in a word, amazing." —Sophie Austen

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $5.67+ (available in two-, three-, and four-packs).

4. A simple foam roller to work out your muscle kinks and get your blood flowing.

amazon.com

Promising review: "The amount of four-letter words I shouted while rolling my IT band after getting this bad boy CANNOT be understated. Mother of Christmas, this thing should be used to extract information from terrorists or cheating spouses. However, it does the job at hand, works out kinks in the muscles, and helps you break down all the bad stuff, for a really good price. I recommend it, but you may also want to gag yourself while you do it if you have small kids, as you WILL swear and then they will repeat it at daycare the next day while you put your hands up the air and give the look to the teacher like, 'How have they ever heard that word? I don't say those words, they must have heard that from Tommy over there,' and then you go home and have a glass of wine to make yourself feel better. But hey, your muscles will not be as sore, so win-win." —Katie H

Get it from Amazon for $8.75+ (available in three lengths).

5. These shoe insoles for taking some of the strain of running off your feet.

instagram.com

Promising review: "I'm a bartender at a high-volume waterfront restaurant. I'm on my feet for 8 to 10 hours a day on average. I previously used Dr. Scholl's gel work insoles until I bought these Superfeet Greens. There is no comparison. For someone with high arches, the support level of the Greens is unmatched, even after hours of standing. I highly recommend these to all my fellow service industry workers." —Fabio

Get a pair from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in 10 sizes).

6. These kettlebells that are versatile enough to cover most functional strength exercises.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Great. I don't know what else you can say about 53 pounds of iron. The coating is very nice, not too slippery. I have a few different types of kettlebells, but this is the best quality by far. I held off buying this for a while, I am glad I finally bought it. For people just starting out with kettlebells, I would suggest moving up in stages. If you don't master the movements with a lighter weight, these things can really do some damage if you don't know what you are doing. As far as equipment costs go, you are buying just a few kettlebells, which will be much cheaper than an expensive treadmill that will probably end up not being used. You can use this anywhere: bedroom, garage, backyard. This is a great workout program. It will provide you with a functional strength and surprise you." —One Man's Opinion

Get it from Amazon for $35.05+ (available in eight weights and seven colors).

7. This gym bag with a compartment to keep your shoes separate from everything else.

amazon.com

Promising review: "The shoe compartment is big enough for most people — I wear a men's 11.5 and my shoes fit into the compartment just fine. It keeps your shoes away from your clean clothes. The bag is durable enough and I have not had any problems yet with jammed zippers or tears. As you should expect, if you put shoes into the shoe compartment, this will intrude some on the interior space of the bag, but there is still more than enough room for enough clothing for a day or two and lots of room to spare if you are only taking a set workout clothes. The handles and straps on this bag are durable and I have had no issues with them. Outside pockets are ample for keys, wallet, or any number of things." —Jay

Get it from Amazon for $21.49+ (available in five colors).

8. An extra-thick yoga mat to help stop your joints from aching.

Promising review: "I have tried previous traditional yoga mats and hated how they were essentially useless with my hard floors. This mat is amazing, thicker than even traditional thick mats. It's easy on my hands, knees, and back when I exercise, helping me to power through my workouts easier." —Read. Write. Ripley.

Get it from Amazon for $15.39 (available in seven colors).

9. A durable water bottle that'll last you a lifetime of banging around in your gym bag.

instagram.com

Promising review: "I purchased two Klean Kanteens, one for my boyfriend and another for myself. As an avid water drinker, I naturally drifted towards acquiring the 64-ounce bottle for my eight-hour workdays. Despite the large size, it is very easy to drink out of the bottle, even when filled to the brim. It is also relatively light and the loop-shaped top makes for easy bottle-opening and -carrying. My main motivation for purchasing Klean Kanteens is that 1) there aren't any BPA-related concerns, and 2) the bottles can last you a lifetime. I've owned Klean Kanteens in smaller sizes in the past. After six years, they are still functional and there are no funky smells (but I only put water in my bottles)." —Marvin

Get a pair from Amazon for $13.75+ (available in four sizes and in 10 colors).

10. These pushup disks to ensure you're engaging more muscle with every rep.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Pushups are a great exercise that works the arms, chest, and shoulders all at once – a wonderfully efficient exercise for busy people who prefer not to spend a lot of time exercising. However, old-fashioned pushups can be painful for the wrists and do not provide complete extension of the chest muscles. This product has comfortable handles that rotate smoothly as you extend your arms, allowing your shoulders and wrists to move in a natural manner, increasing comfort and reducing the likelihood of injury. In addition, because the handles are a few inches off the floor, you can fully extend your chest muscles, which is unlikely if your hands are on the floor." —The Thinker

Get a pair from Amazon for $29.99.

11. This ab roller (an easy way to engage your core).

amazon.com

Promising review: "This little wheel really gives your core a workout. My advice for first-timers would be to watch a video online on how to do it properly. There are many ways you can do it wrong and get little to no benefit. The wheel itself is strong and moves freely and smoothly. The handles are nice and give a good grip. This is one of the best things you can use to really get your core into shape if you do it correctly." —Mr Urban Tactical

Get one from Amazon for $34.95+.

12. A sweatband for keeping hair where it's supposed be.

Rachel Martin / Amazon / Via amzn.to, amazon.com

Promising review: "I wear these headbands ALL the time! I have one in pink and one in black! They keep sweat out of my eyes when I run and they hide my roots so I don't have to wash my hair as much. I am a stay-at-home mom of two babies so washing my hair is a luxury! It is the perfect width. Not too thick, not too thin! It has a rubber strip on the inside that prevents it from moving on my head and it's so comfy! It also hides my large five-head haha!" —Rachel Martin

Get a pair from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in 30 colors).

13. These resistance bands that'll help you stay in the right formation and come in different strength levels.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I love these bands. I can do 10+ pushups without the band, but I have chicken wings (elbows). These bands help me keep my elbows locked in against my sides and I can keep working on them to better my form. Love these." —AKbordrgurl

Get a set from Amazon for $12.

14. This pull-up bar that can be put in virtually any doorway.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I'm very happy with this. It fits my frame perfectly. I have done approximately 600 pull-ups on it in two weeks. It has not weakened or degraded, and has left no marks as of yet on my doorframe. Assembly was super easy. I am 170 pounds and it holds me well. For what I paid, I couldn't ask for more." —bill

Get it from Amazon for $33.82.

15. A super-solid stability ball you can work out on without fear of it bursting.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I have owned different brands of exercise balls but the black mountain is heavier and holds its air pressure longer. I use mine daily as a seat in front of the computer at home. I find it keeps me toned without thinking about it. Great ball for workouts, too." —Jane Canfora

Get it from Amazon for $13.36+ (available in four colors and five sizes).

16. This water-resistant phone arm band that won't slip down your arm when you're out for a jog.

Annie Rose / Amazon / Via amzn.to, amazon.com

Promising review: "I got it yesterday in the mail and went out for a walk. It's made out of good, sturdy material. There is a top flap made out of what feels like a neoprene material that holds the phone in securely with a couple cutouts for headphone jacks. You can use the screen of the phone through the plastic. The band is about an inch and the buckle part is about two inches. I used it on the outside buckle and attached it to my left arm. I used to be over 300 pounds and then lost 100 pounds so my arms are pretty floppy and big. This fit securely and didn't cut into my arm. Honestly — it fit." —Amazon Customer princes

Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in eight hours).

17. A medicine ball that'll target your core and is durable enough for bounce exercises.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This is a great, basic 8-pound medicine ball. I'm not sure what it is filled with, but it is pretty solid, and has a seemingly sturdy skin. The skin is the same material as a basketball, so it is very easy to grip and hold. Add to that, I love the color of the ball, which is honestly the reason I got the 8 pounds instead of the 10 pounds. I've only had this ball for a couple of weeks and I do not use it for slam exercises, but so far, it's holding up very well and seems to be well-made." —Steven H.

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in four weights).

18. A container of anti-chafe balm for stopping the trouble before it starts.

Promising review: "Started getting into longer-distance running with hot, humid weather and quickly realized that chaffing can be a problem in areas you didn't realize! I've been using this all over, from heels to short's leg hole area and it has worked fantastic for 6+ mile runs. Even in lighter rain. But it's very light and not distracting, and you easily forget that it's there. Not greasy or slimy. I also use it under bug spray for trail runs, and it still works great with other sprays like that applied after." —Jess

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes).

19. This sweat-resistant waist pouch to hold your bare necessities close to your body when jogging.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This is perfect for running with my iPhone 6s Plus! It fits perfectly with my OtterBox Commuter case with room to spare and is so comfortable that I forget I am wearing it. This is so much better than running with an armband, I will never switch back! The profile is very slim and it is super lightweight. I did wear it out in light rain with no issues. If you plan on using earbuds with wires, you will have to leave it slightly unzipped to run the cord out of it, otherwise you can hear the iPhone speaker through the pouch just fine and wireless earbuds work great, too. This would be perfect for travel, as well." —Book Mama

Get it from Amazon for $25+ (available in black, orange, and pink).

20. These cheap-but-good Bluetooth earbuds that'll free up a lot of body motion so you can move without wire restrictions.

amazon.com, Chris E. / Amazon / Via amzn.to

Promising review: "I didn't expect much from these little earbuds, but they are honestly the best earbuds I have ever used. Now, you can't expect them to sound like high-quality over-ears, but they are definitely as good as any other earbuds on the market. I have one complaint though — the cover that goes over the charge port needs some pressure to click in and doesn't really like to stay in. And I don't believe it was in the description but the earbuds come with a soft-sided case to hold them and a charging cable." —Charles Roberts

Get a pair from Amazon for $25.99+.

21. This suspension training kit to get in a workout when you're not near a gym.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I use the TRX bands in my gym. These allow me to keep up with my workout while on the road. I found no functional difference between these and the heavy-duty gym straps. You have to be a little careful folding/rolling them up to get them to fit back in the bag, but it's a nice, compact travel package." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $99.95.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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