Bala Weights Review: Making Fitness Functional & Beautiful

Price: $50 each

The most versatile item on this list, the Bala Bangles are so light you’ll barely notice they’re there. Coming in one pound and two pound options in black and teal, the bangles can be worn on your ankles or wrists or both if you have multiple sets.

By wearing them for recreational activities outside of the gym such as running errands or doing chores, the world becomes your gym. The little weight is such a simple addition to your day that you likely won’t notice they’re there until you feel the burn. Go ahead and wear them for a day or keep them on until you’re done with your workout. Either way, the bangles will stay put due to the velcro that allows a custom fit for every body.

Price: $85 each

Looking as if it were birthed from a kettlebell or dumbbell, the Power Ring is a do-it-all piece that is more powerful than it appears. At 10 pounds, it’s the perfect weight for Russian twists, lateral raises, triceps extensions, and several other exercises. It’s made out of the same materials as the Beam, so there is no need to worry about your hands being too small or sweaty. The circle shape keeps you balanced while still providing an efficient workout. Feel free to get creative–swing, press, or go into warrior pose during yoga–the Power Ring is an easy addition to your routine.

The Power Ring comes in black, sand, punch, melon, sage, lavender, and the coveted shine colors. It doesn’t look like any other piece of workout equipment you’ve seen or owned, which is exactly what the Bala founders want.

Price: $99 each

The Bala Beam is a sleek, zigzagged bar that’s unlike any other bar you’ve curled with. It’s made out of recycled stainless steel and covered in a soft yet durable silicone that will allow you to break a sweat without fear of dropping the bar. It’s 15 pounds of versatile equipment that’s made for variations of all of your favorite workouts.

The ergonomic design is meant for slower, controlled movements such as pressing, curling, squatting, rowing, and more. It also adds an extra challenge during ab workouts, requiring optimal balance. The grooved edges tuck away neatly behind your neck, and also behind your couch or in your closet for easy storage. The beam comes in sand, black, and punch.

Bala was founded in 2016 by wife and husband team Natalie Holloway and Maximilian Kislevits. They sketched out their idea of functional fitness accessories that eventually became the Bala Bangle. Their mantra was painted onto their detached garage: “good things come to those who sweat.” For the first two years they were in business, they personally shipped each pair to their customers.

Today, Bala has an assortment of products meant for building your home gym. From sliders to Bala Bands, to the Beam, Bala has made it easy for your sets to match aesthetically. Bala is known for beautiful fitness accessories that change the way that people move.

Bala Weights Experience

The Bala Beam, Bangles, and Power Ring are beautifully designed fitness accessories that can be used individually or combined for a more challenging workout. They can be used in your bustling home gym, on a run, out running errands, or even on vacation.

The Bala Beam stabilized my core, was used for presses, rows, and curls, and for warming up on leg days. The grooves fit easily behind my neck and the silicone provided enough grip that it stayed put. For an added challenge, I added resistance bands to the end of the Beam.

The Power Ring looks and feels like a heavy steering wheel, and gave my workouts a unique twist. While the ten pounds were too light for me to feel the burn during kettlebell (ring?) swings, the Power Ring destroyed me during core workouts. It’s easy to hold and keep in place yet heavy enough to keep me sore for days.

The Bala Bangles were the easiest addition to my workouts. They were so light I hardly noticed them so I ended up keeping them on all day. They were nearly invisible even after several hours of wear and the Velcro was comfortable against my skin. While all three products provide different benefits for various goals, I found them most useful for my active recovery days.

I primarily used Bala on the days my body was too sore to do a strenuous workout but still craved something active. The Beam in particular was great for stretching my upper back and triceps. With my arms intertwined within the Beam, I sat on a yoga mat and leaned forward to relieve my aching muscles. The Bangles and Power Ring were an easy addition to my yoga session that helped me recover without adding too much strain on my body.

There are several factors that led to my experience with Bala’s products, including:
- The sturdy yet pliable silicone exterior
- The versatility of each product
- How easy it was to put each accessory away and out of sight

Functionality Of Bala Weights

The Bala Beam, Bangles, and Power Ring aren’t meant to be like a squat rack or bench press. They’re the opposite of macho, bulky equipment that takes up an entire room. All three products fit easily in my closet and under my bed, and in my gym bag.

The Beam is the bulkiest of the bunch and understandably so. It’s three feet of curvy silicone and stainless steel, built for sculpting you from head to toe. It’s not quite as long as a traditional curl bar or EZ bar, making it easier to tuck away. The beam is also thicker than a traditional bar at nearly two inches. The silicone keeps it in place even for small hands, while not being so thick or heavy that it’ll drop.

The Power Ring fits neatly inside a gym bag or backpack but will noticeably make it heavier. Similar to a steering wheel controller, it surprised me how many different exercises I could do with one simple product. If you’re a yogi and the poses have become less challenging, adding the Power Ring will knock you off your toes for a bit.

The most functional of the trio is the Bala Bangles. So light you forget they’re strapped onto your wrists or ankles, they can be worn all day for as a simple addition to your daily routine. No time for the gym or a quick workout because you have so much to do? No problem–the Bangles can stay strapped to you And since they are perfectly painted in several shades of pastel, they can almost pass as bracelets.

I’m a frequent at the gym and don’t like to waste time when I’m in there, so my workouts tend to be quick. Because of this I tend to drop my weights or stub my toe on a bench for trying to get into my next set. I dropped the Beam and Power Ring several times, scuffed them, and dusted them off with a wipe of some water and my shirt. Dirt and debris do stick to the silicone because it’s rubbery, but it’s not necessarily an issue because of how easily it wipes off.

The Bangles were Bala’s first product, formed by the idea of versatile, travel-friendly equipment that wasn’t too heavy or spacious. After several designs, the final result was a product that is both attractive and comfortable: a cast-iron core with medical-grade silicone coating, and elastic to keep the bangles in place. This is the same silicone that coats the Beam, Power Ring, and Bars. It’s unclear where Bala sources their materials or where their products are made, but the company is based out of Los Angeles.

Generally, workout equipment should last between seven to twelve years with frequent usage. At roughly $100 and under for each product, Bala is reasonably priced. Even with regular use, many reviewers have stated that their Bala products hold up well, making them well worth the investment.

Bala has seamlessly merged beauty, function, and fitness together to create their minimalistic yet powerful products. The stainless steel interior is sturdy and the silicone is soft to the touch but still strong enough to withstand the toughest of workouts.

Bala’s range of products are exclusive to the brand and stand out amongst the sea of monotonous workout accessories that look virtually the same from brand to brand. The beautiful colors and simple designs are a trademark of Bala, and adds the fun in functionality to your fitness routine.

Along with their signature Bangles, Bala offers several products for your home gym collection. According to their website, their line is as follows:
- The Power Ring Set
- The Starter Kit
- The Weight Kit
- The Floor Kit
- The On The Go Kit
- The Heavy Kit
- The Play Mat
- Bala Bars
- Bala Balance Blocks

The standout feature from Bala is the Workout section of their website. In the day and age of Peloton, WHOOP, and other equipment that can’t be completely utilized unless you buy into their subscription services, it’s refreshing to see an entire category of the brand devoted to keeping you healthy.

While Bala’s Instagram is devoted to their muted, pastel retro aesthetic, Bala’s workout section of their site has dozens upon dozens of workouts to choose from that can be narrowed down by instructor, length of the workout, and equipment used. This is an amazing feature that is rarely offered for free, let alone with this many options.

Pressed for time? Try the Citysweat Bala x Citysweat 14 minute leg workout. Sore from yesterday? No problem, Alex Scolari’s ten minute yoga sculpt will help you out. No matter the time of day, type of workout or your goals, Bala’s instructors have got you covered in easy to follow videos using the very equipment you already have.

Because the workouts are tailored for Bala’s fitness accessories, incorporating them into your routine is simple. And with so many options to choose from, it’s difficult to get bored. Whether you like to stick to a workout plan or jump into a new routine daily, Bala’s workouts will keep you on your toes and ready for more.

With the help of the Shark Tank feature, Bala has exploded in popularity. From celebrities to supermodels to the everyday woman, Bala has a cult following of their beautiful accessories that could almost double as decorations. Because they’re compact and light, they’re perfect for traveling and working out on vacation.

If you like to be active and healthy but don’t necessarily love working out, Bala’s products are perfect for you. They’re lightweight yet powerful, versatile, and functional. Working out from the comfort of your home has never been easier, thanks to Bala.