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Something as simple as a well-made agility ladder can prove to be quite a handy tool for anyone looking to hone their footwork and get a good burn going. Agility ladders — also referred to as speed ladders, sprint ladders, or workout ladders — are rudimentary pieces of equipment, typically constructed of nylon, plastic, or rubber. Paired with a proper agility ladder workout, they can help athletes build leg skills and muscle memory while improving their endurance, while also helping the formerly injured regain their motor functions and improve their balance. It’s a pretty stellar piece of equipment, but how do you know which one is right for you?
Allow me to lend a hand with our buyer’s guide to the best agility ladders around. From long ladders to compact models for tight living spaces, we’ve got everything in between, including individual ladders and multi-piece ladder sets. Regardless of your need, we invite you to scroll through and take a gander at the best agility ladders the market has to offer.
- Best Overall: GHB Speed Ladder
- Best Value: Yes4All Ultimate Agility Ladder
- Honorable Mention: SPRI Roll-Out Agility Ladder
- Best Set: MLCINI Agility Training Equipment
- Best Compact: ALPHAWORX Agility Ladder
Best Overall
GHB Speed Ladder
Best Value
Yes4All Ultimate Agility Ladder
Honorable Mention
SPRI Roll-Out Agility Ladder
Best Set
MLCINI Agility Training Equipment
Best Compact
Alphaworx Agility Ladder
Things to consider before buying an agility ladder
Sets, kits, and bundles
Who doesn’t love a good bundle, right? Thankfully, nearly half the agility ladders online sell as multi-piece sets, which can include an entire gift basket of gym-bro goodies to amplify your routine. Just about all agility ladder drills can be done with the ladder itself, but having these sets will allow you to mix it up for a more significant challenge. Most agility ladder sets come with plastic cones for creating your legwork course and a resistance parachute for further building strength and endurance. Some well-sorted bundles will also throw in a jump rope, mini hurdles, and carrying bags to lug it all around. They’re often inexpensive, but can start climbing for 10s of dollars as the kits get stuffed with more equipment.
Size and portability
How long are the agility ladders, and how easy are they to store? Nearly all designs measure a foot or two wide but can significantly vary in length; some can be as short as five feet while others can stretch five times that length. Portability will obviously see gradual downturns as larger items equal more weight and material to wrap up for storage, but many agility ladder sets thankfully include carrying bags to help with that.
Generally speaking, most agility ladders are quite portable, even the largest and heaviest, and can fold into incredibly tight wads of plastic and nylon. This enables them to live practically anywhere, from the corner of your home gym to under the bed.
FAQs about agility ladders
Q. How much do agility ladders cost?
A: Relative to many pieces of workout equipment, agility ladders are reasonably inexpensive, save for a few unique designs. Many agility ladder sets sticker between $25 and $60 depending on their content, while individual ladders can sticker for $20 or less. Our Best Value winner in its shortest length rings in at $10, while the rubber SPRI mat tips the scale at $69. Our Best Overall, GHB Speed Ladder, splits the difference at $30.
Q. What are agility ladders used for?
A: Agility ladders can serve multiple purposes based on the user. They’re generally used as part of a trick cardio routine to hone a person’s motor functions, speed, and balance as they navigate their way through the rungs. They’re commonplace in helping football or soccer players practice footwork via the many agility ladder drills available.
Q. How effective are agility ladders?
A: Paired with effective agility ladder drills, they’re arguably highly effective in training an athlete’s muscle memory and skill or repairing a physical therapy patient’s movement. There’s been a study among youth athletes that suggest otherwise, but most sources can attest to their usefulness. Side benefits also include the strengthening of joints and ligaments.
Final thoughts
The GHB Speed Ladder takes the cake for delivering a well-rounded, content-rich agility ladder set at a highly-agreeable price. Those interested in the quality and functionality of a single item should eyeball the SPRI Roll-Out Agility Ladder, especially if fitness is an indoor affair for them. Consumers offended at the thought of paying dozens for rubber or plastic will love the cheap and cheerful Yes4All Ultimate Agility Ladder. Buyers living in tight spaces without much room to run their agility ladder workouts will find our Best Compact-winning Alphaworx Agility Ladder to be a high-quality pick that doesn’t compromise. And rounding out our guide is the MLCINI Agility Training Equipment bundle deal, hands down, the most complete and featureful set on the market.
Methodology
Our buyer’s guide on the best agility ladders has been primarily curated through lengthy, in-depth research complete with thorough peeks into manufacturer specs and the all-valuable consumer ownership experiences. The best agility ladders were resilient, usable products that were effective in their mission without proving cumbersome or a hindrance. In a field of near-identical products mirroring each other in specs and performance, being a strong value helped significantly unless their design proved unique and highly beneficial.
Amazon continued to serve as our primary hub or manufacturer and consumer information for this guide. However, some products on this list, including their variants and rivals, could also be found from other major retailers, including REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Walmart. As always, readers are always encouraged to learn more about how we at Task & Purpose generally curate our buyer’s guides.