You can get a solid burn from doing Pilates, barre, and yoga with just your body weight. But sometimes you want to add something more to the mix without giving up your practice.
As a lifelong distance runner and competitive athlete, I’m always in search of ways to make all of my workouts feel as challenging as when I go for a hard run. While yoga and Pilates feel tough to me from a flexibility standpoint, sometimes I wish I was getting a little more resistance training from them. I’ve tried resistance bands, which have been fine. But I also gave traditional dumbbells a go during one yoga session when I was feeling particularly adventurous—I ended up banging myself on the hip and haven’t tried them again since.
That led me to Bala Bars. These sleek bars are specially designed to be seamlessly incorporated into Pilates, barre, and yoga thanks to their smooth shape and soft silicone exterior. You can easily grab and use them through your full range of motion without worrying about taking out a body part.
The bars don’t offer a massive amount of weight—they top out at 3 pounds—but they can make a difference in how challenging your exercise routine feels if you use them properly. Bala Bars aren’t cheap, making it fair to wonder if they’re worth the higher price tag. Here’s what I discovered.
My Experience: These Make Me Want to Work Out
For all of the potential problems Bala Bars solves, there’s one thing that’s clear from the start: These dumbbells are gorgeous. They come in a range of stylish and fun shades, making them something you’ll naturally gravitate toward. Because I apparently like nice-looking things, I found myself wanting to use these during workouts, simply because they’re pretty.
I do yoga the most for low-impact cross-training, and I used Bala Bars across a range of series and postures. The Bala Bars added quick resistance to things like Warrior I, Warrior II, and even upward salutes. Their thick silicone coating meant I felt comfortable quickly tossing them onto my mat before going into poses where I wasn’t planning to use the bars, like plank.
I also toted the Bala Bars along to a barre class. While they weren’t very helpful for things like clamshells and actual work on the barre, they were an upgrade from the studio’s weights for upper body work. (I even had one classmate compliment me on the bars and ask me where I got them.)
I don’t do Pilates as often as the other two, but I did a home Pilates workout, just to see how the Bala Bars held up. I ended up using them more than I thought I would: They were a great accessory for ramping up the intensity in my arms and core on things like the boat pose.
Feel: They’re Soft and Sleek
While the looks of Bala Bars draw you in, there’s so much more to these than that. It’s clear they were designed by people who know what they’re doing. The bars are compact, both in their length and width, making them a good fit for most hands.
The silicone exterior is soft but not squishy, making them comfortable to grip, even when your hands are sweaty. I never had any issues with the Bala Bars slipping, even though they’re one smooth tube shape that could, in theory, turn slick.
One more thing to point out: Most dumbbells have weight that’s unevenly distributed. While that’s no biggie when you’re doing things like squats or bicep curls, it can be a problem when you’re trying to do the slower, smoother motions required in practices like yoga, Pilates, and barre. Bala Bars avoids the issue altogether with its tube shape. I wasn’t worried about banging a hip or any other body part while using these.
Use: They’re Great for a Huge Range of Workouts—but Not All.
I have a lot of thoughts on how these bars can be used. I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical at first at how much strength training I could get from weights that top out at three pounds (Bala Bars also come in one- and two-pound weights). But that was because I was thinking about Bala Bars as a traditional strength training tool vs. a performance accessory for bodyweight exercises—much like a weighted vest.
Yeah, you’re not going to get much out of these if you try to use them for bicep curls. But you’ll definitely feel the burn if you incorporate Bala Bars into standard yoga, barre, or Pilates movements, or if you do things like arm raises or boxing. It’s less about what the Bala Bars can do for you on their own and more about what they can add to what you’re already doing.
If you want to bring your Bala Bars to the gym or studio, there’s a coordinated carrying case you can slip them into. Because they’re petite, they won’t hog space in your bag.
Alternatives: There Are a Few Different Styles to Choose From
Bala isn’t the only company that makes weight like this. Stakt has a similar option that can be unscrewed to adjust the weight. HomeGym also makes silicone weight bars that are a fraction of the cost of Bala Bars—that’s something to consider if you’re on a budget.
If you know you’re going to need more weight than 3 pounds, consider the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells. They’re a traditional dumbbell shape, but the adjustability means you can move the weight between 5 and 50 pounds seamlessly.
The Verdict: Bala Bars Are Worth a Look
Bala Bars range in price from $40 to $59, depending on which weight you choose. While that’s not cheap, it’s not terrible for a pair of dumbbells. Bala Bars are clearly well-made and durable, making them an investment you’ll use plenty of times in the future.
My Bala Bars have taken up permanent residence in my gym bag. Their light weight means I can take them around with me everywhere without getting bogged down, but I also know they’ll help me get in a harder-than-usual workout when I need it.
Bala Bar Alternatives
Adjustable Hand Weights Stakt Weights
HomeGym Silicone Weight Bars with Metal Core
Bowflex BowFlex Results Series 552 SelectTech Single Dumbbell
Now 10% Off
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.