First up, before I get to the best toning belts comparisons – lets settle the big debate. After delving super-deep into the science, opinions and user feedback – here is the low-down on abs belts from Slendertone, Ab Flex and others:
Abs are the main focus of these products – though far from the only area that can benefit. Your buttocks can now enjoy a tone-up, and smaller moveable pads work just about everywhere. This page does include toning belts for other areas, you will find this below the information on abs-focused products.
Here is what you will find on this page:
First, here is a table with three of the best-toning products at the moment – these are chosen based on the total number of comments / reviews by buyers over at amazon.co.uk
Slendertone Abs8 - The Cutting Edge EMS Tech The best abs toning belt yet. The Abs8 is rechargable, has 150 levels and a custom controller. If you are serious about abs tone, this is an easy top pick. |
Check Price!Read Review | |
Ab Flex Toning Belt Huge amount of positive comments (5 Stars) for this budget belt. No replacement pads required, for this battery operated unit. Great price too. |
Check Price!Read Review | |
Slendertone Connect - App Connected Abs Belt You can control this belt via an app. Latest tech from Slendertone, a top quality item. Has a big discount (at the time of writing!). |
Check Price!Read Review | |
Slendertone Starter Belt - The Abs3 Slendertone quality, with a lower price tag. The Abs3 is a unisex belt with 99 intensity levels and the build / spec you would expect from the leading brand in ab toning. |
Check Price!Read Review |
I have started with the Slendertone belts for a very good reason – this is the original and dominant brand in the toning belt world. In most other areas there are 3 or more competitors, here Slendertone are the only ‘household name’, with rivals producing one or two products. Slendertone did not become the number one by accident, their equipment is very highly rated and their innovation / ideas are excellent too. You’ll pay a little more (though not massively so) for one of their belts. The balance here is that you get the best quality, service from a long-running company and compatibility with newer controllers and tech as things advance.
Recently, Slendertone have moved away from having separate products for women and men. Their latest releases are numbered, the higher you go in the number range, the more you get in the way of tech – and are all unisex too, with the separate women’s and men’s belts being slowly removed from the product line. What you get as you move up the number range is an increase in the flexibility of the tech, and extras like sport-mode, where you can exercise (crunches or just your normal cardio routine) and use EMS at the same time.
Below are the 4 best-selling products over the last year to 18 months:
This belt is the first step towards a system which lets you mix and match your EMS products. Key to the Abs7 is that the controller is separate. Separating this from the belt gives extra flexibility. you can use it for different areas (for example, buying a bottom or biceps toner). You can also get the benefit of personalized flexible programs. Of course, the Abs7 uses the latest tech in the belt too. I recommend that you check this one first!
Abs7 Dedicated Amazon Page (for the full impressive spec + gallery)
Update: The Abs7 has been replaced by the amazing Abs8… serious tech + comfort combined – check out the Abs8 toning belts here.
I see this as the best starter belt in the range, it is simple yet effective! With 99 intensity levels, and battery operation this model is easy to use. When they tested it, everyone saw some tightening of their abs within 8 weeks (recommended use is 5 sessions each week). Feedback for this item is good, with a lot of people surprised at the effectiveness. Since it is a unisex design, you might just be able to persuade your other-half to give it a try too! This belt can be used straight from the box.
Check out the spec and feedback on this dedicated amazon.co.uk product page.
Alternatively, you can read my detailed review of this product here.
Another unisex belt, and a big jump up in terms of the utility. What you get with this toning belt that the cheaper models miss is the ability to use it while you are exercising. It even includes ‘crunch pro’ mode in the electronic controls – giving you Electric Muscle Stimulation that ties in with your action. There are 120 intensity levels, and a more ergonomic design than the cheaper belts. This will allow you to run or do your normal cardio routines while getting that extra EMS assistance.
The extra money seems to be worth it, feedback is very much positive, with 4/5 stars (at the time of writing) among the best you can expect from this kind of gadget!
The Abs5 certainly looks more high-tech than the 3, you can see the gallery, and check for the latest amazon discount on this dedicated product page.
You’ll need a smartphone to control this belt, both Android or iPhones will work. Not only does the app control the individual session with the belt, it keeps track of your progress over the weeks too. This can be useful for keeping you going, especially if your motivation should ebb. The controller is rechargeable, and like on all the Slendertone abs toning belts, the pads which supply the electrical current are medical-grade.
At the time of writing you can get this high-tech abs toning belt with a big discount at amazon.co.uk (keep in mind that these offers do change).
Check out the spec and details of the app on this dedicated amazon.co.uk product page.
Alternatively, you will find my review of the Slendertone connect here.
Slendertone may dominate this area, though they are not the only EMS belt maker by a long way. When you look at other manufacturers, you’ll often find cheaper products. One thing to look out for which makes a huge difference is whether you need replacement pads. Depending on the setup, these can wear out after a while. Replacing them is not hugely expensive, though it can add up over time.
There are two main models to highlight here, the first one (from Ab Flex) is the single best selling item (based on the number of user feedback comments and product rank) at amazon.co.uk
I’m still amazed by the number of positive comments this belt has received. Over 1000, and counting, and a 5 star rating is almost unheard of for any type of fitness equipment… and there are plenty of people sceptical when it comes to EMS belts.
This belt is battery operated and has plenty of options (both programs and intensity levels) to get you started. My opinion is that this belt looks good too. The most common comment theme was one of ‘beaten expectations’ – almost as if half of the buyers were not expecting results, and then happy when they saw them.
There is a discount on this belt (*at the time of writing) too. Check out the dedicated product page on amazon for yourself now!
Alternatively, you can find my detailed review, which you will find here.
While not quite in the same star-rating league as the Ab Flex model above, the HomeFront Slim Pro XV1000 Ab Toning Belt gets a respectable 4 out of 5 stars. With more than 1000 comments already, it is clear that this is a popular product. The price point (which includes a substantial amazon.co.uk discount at the time of writing) makes this an ideal belt for those looking to give EMS a try. My thinking is that once you see results, you can always upgrade to a Slendertone model for a little more intensity and variation in the programs.
The Homefront belt is a battery operated unit, with 40 different intensity levels. It is hand washable too – ideal if you would like to share. This might not be in the best toning belts of all time category – though for the price, it is difficult to complain!
You can see the latest discount and check out those comments and the full spec on this dedicated amazon.co.uk product page.
Alternatively, you will find the full run-down in my detailed review here.
For many of us, the key question is whether the big brand name (Slendertone) is worth the extra money compared to the less well known rivals.
At the end of the day, this comes down to what works for you – and how much a £10 to £30 difference in the price point makes…
The ‘copies’ are mostly exactly that. They have used the development work of medical as well as commercial Electric Muscle Stimulation devices to create products. These are then mass produced, and sell at a lower price point. These items can be decent quality (not too much can go wrong after all). Whether they are as good? I’m not so sure.
With Slendertone you get the innovation. This company is pushing forward with R&D, and coming up with new products all the time. The app connected belts are the latest example of this, as are the belts which tie-in with crunches and other workouts. You get a quality item, though you may need to spend a little more replacing the pads (not too frequently, though this does need to be factored in).
My opinion: If you are not on a tight budget and determined to tighten those abs, then Slendertone belts are worth it. If you are on a smaller budget, or just wanting to give EMS a try and see if it works, then Ab Flex or another relatively unknown brand should work out just fine.
These days it is not just your abs that can benefit from an abs belt. One big innovation is that you can now get shorts which tone your behind. Keep in mind that you’ll need to lose any excess fat yourself, otherwise the electric current can’t reach the muscles to tighten them up! You can also get EMS for your pecs, arms and – well- just about anywhere else you can think of putting an electrode-filled pad.
Here are two products which caught my eye, if you look at this page at amazon.co.uk, you’ll find several other models which fulfil similar roles.
6 weeks is all that it takes to get a firmer and better ‘lifted’ bottom according to Slendertone’s description of this product. The feedback from previous buyers is very good, and the technical spec is also impressive.
You’ll get a pair of specially designed shorts, with full EMS capability behind. This comes with a control unit that includes 4 separate bum toning programs and 99 different intensity levels. You’ll even go through build-up and cool-down phases each workout. This sure beats the thought of doing leg-lifts for most people!
See the impressive picture gallery and read feedback from previous buyers on the dedicated amazon.co.uk product page here.
Alternatively, you can read my detailed review of the Slendertone Bottom Toner here.
The name of this product is a bit of a mouthful, though the belt itself is fairly straightforward. This is a small and adjustable EMS pad, that you can use all over. Examples from the product page for this show it in use on arms and thighs, though I am sure there are even more options.
This is cheap enough for those who are in the ‘give it a try’ category, and if you have enjoyed the results on your abs belt and want to try it on those thighs… then this could be exactly the right product.
Some decent feedback for this one. Check the dedicated amazon.co.uk product page for some more details.
Update: Unavailable – will be back with a replacement soon!
I’ll finish off the same way I started… by setting your expectations to a realistic level. Electrical Muscle Stimulation works, that is no longer a debate. What it can’t do is get rid of any layers of fat you have stored between your muscles and skin… for that you’ll need cardio exercise and usually a change in your eating (and / or drinking) habits too.
If you want faster results, a combination of an abs belt and lifestyle changes can show dramatic results. Alone a belt will tighten your muscles, though it is up to you to figure out how to make that show!
Here is the table from the top of the page again, this shows 2 of the best Slendertone abs belts, and one from Ab Flex, which is a budget model with excellent buyer feedback.
Slendertone Abs8 - The Cutting Edge EMS Tech The best abs toning belt yet. The Abs8 is rechargable, has 150 levels and a custom controller. If you are serious about abs tone, this is an easy top pick. |
Check Price!Read Review | |
Ab Flex Toning Belt Huge amount of positive comments (5 Stars) for this budget belt. No replacement pads required, for this battery operated unit. Great price too. |
Check Price!Read Review | |
Slendertone Connect - App Connected Abs Belt You can control this belt via an app. Latest tech from Slendertone, a top quality item. Has a big discount (at the time of writing!). |
Check Price!Read Review | |
Slendertone Starter Belt - The Abs3 Slendertone quality, with a lower price tag. The Abs3 is a unisex belt with 99 intensity levels and the build / spec you would expect from the leading brand in ab toning. |
Check Price!Read Review |
Looking for more traditional ways of toning your abs and core? Check out my main Abs Training Equipment page for many more options.
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