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Left foot, right foot. Right foot, left foot.
If you’re looking to maximize on skips, high knees, hopscotch, and jumps you’re going to want equipment like the best plyo boxes and jump ropes, but oftentimes agility ladders are overlooked. With speed ladder drills and quick changes of direction, agility ladder training is a fantastic way to train your footwork and coordination for sports and general fitness.
For the plyometric maniac inside of us all, here are our picks for the best agility ladders to spice up your next training session. Our experienced team full of personal trainers, weightlifting coaches, and competitive athletes, have a deep understanding of the fitness industry, ready to provide you with the best information on gym equipment.
GGR head of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, and I, an Olympian and USA Weightlifting coach, tested out top brands and performed vigorous ladder exercises to determine the ladders best for footwork drills and speed training. We then rated them in multiple categories according to our fitness equipment testing methodology, such as:
- Materials
- Length
- Adjustability
- Safety features
- Storage
Looking at other aspects as well, such as the price and customer service, we’ve compiled this list of the best agility ladders. Read on to see which ladder may best suit your next training session.
The 5 Best Agility Ladders
- Best Overall Agility Ladder: Juvale Agility Ladder
- Best Premium Agility Ladder: SKLZ Quick Ladder Pro
- Best Adjustable Agility Ladder: GHB Pro Agility Ladder
- Most Durable Agility Ladder: Stroops Roll Out Agility Ladder
- Best Budget Agility Ladder: Yes4All Agility Ladder
Best Overall Agility Ladder: Juvale Agility Ladder
Good for: Anyone wanting a durable ladder with agility cones and other accessories
Best Overall
Juvale Agility Ladder
Product Highlights
- 20-ft agility ladder with 12 rungs
- Plastic materials
- Adjustable rungs
- Includes parachute, agility cones, metal stakes, and carrying bag
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extra accessories
- Carrying bag
- Easy to adjust
- Great value
Cons
- Not the most durable materials
Bottom Line
If you’re new to agility training, the Juvale Agility Ladder is a great option to dive into footwork drills. This 20-foot long ladder has 12 rungs and is easy to store back in a carrying bag when not in use. Additionally, the agility ladder comes with other training tools, such as a parachute and agility cones.
If you want to practice a variety of agility exercises, you can get it with our best overall pick, the Juvale Agility Ladder. Not only was Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, impressed with the overall make of the agility ladder, she also liked that it came with additional agility training tools—a parachute and agility cones—to get the most out of her agility workout.
“The added accessories are a nice touch,” Nicole says. “The parachute and cones both work fine, although I’m not sure how durable these pieces would be. This ladder would be my pick for someone who wants to try an agility ladder for their home gym.”
The materials are simple, but durable enough, earning them a 3.5 out of 5. They’re similar to budget-priced ladders, but the plastic rungs are thicker and the straps seem to hold better. “The straps are smoother, too, which makes adjusting the rungs easier,” Nicole adds, rating the adjustability a 5 out of 5.
If you want to take this ladder outside as well, there’s a carrying bag that the ladder can fold into, plus four metal stakes that can pin the ladder into the soil. With the added accessories, storage bag, and stakes, this 20-foot ladder comes out to $22, which is fantastic value. If you’re looking for the right bodyweight workout for agility, the Juvale Agility Ladder brings a lot to the table.
| Price | $21.99 |
| Length | 20’ |
| Number of rungs | 12 |
| Material | Plastic |
Best Premium Agility Ladder: SKLZ Quick Ladder Pro
Good for: Those looking for a durable, high-quality agility ladder with an easy setup
Best Premium
SKLZ Quick Ladder Pro
Product Highlights
- 10-ft agility ladder
- Ladder folds to avoid tangling
- Comes with 4 stakes to secure on ground
- Low profile to minimize catching or tripping
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Tangle-free fold
- Can attach more ladders to extend length
- Low profile edges to prevent catching
- Durable construction
Cons
- Expensive
- Short ladder
- No adjustability
Bottom Line
Although a premium price for an agility ladder, the SKLZ Quick Ladder Pro has a durable build. With a tangle-free fold made like a Chinese fan, this ladder is easy to lay out or put away. It comes with four stakes to pin it to the ground, as well as a carrying bag.
I’ve never thought there could be such a thing as a premium agility ladder, but after trying out the SKLZ Quick Ladder Pro myself, I am a changed man. With durable materials and an easy-to-use folding system, the Quick Ladder Pro is certainly one of the best agility ladders I’ve come across, albeit with a price to match.
Instead of the usual plastic rungs on nylon straps, the SKLZ Quick Ladder Pro uses hinged plastic bars that fold in together, like an accordion or Chinese fan. It makes for a quick and easy layout and storage, earning it a 5 out of 5 for storage along with its zippered carrying pouch.
The uniquely designed ladder is only 10 feet long, with a total of seven rungs. The rungs aren’t adjustable either, but the space between rungs seemed pretty good to me. My big size-14 feet had no trouble hopping and performing drills in or around the agility ladder rungs and squares.
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Plus, you can attach another Quick Ladder Pro to the ends of the ladder to extend it farther. If you’re outside, the ladder has metal stakes to pin into the soil to help secure it, too.
The biggest drawback is that this ladder is more expensive than most other agility ladders—about triple the price at $60. Still, with quality materials and a simple folding mechanism, breaking out this ladder is simple, and it appears to be very long-lasting.
| Price | $59.99 |
| Length | 10’ |
| Number of rungs | 7 |
| Material | 75% polypropylene, 14% nylon, 11% steel |
Best Adjustable Agility Ladder: GHB Pro Agility Ladder
Good for: Athletes who want to adjust the space between rungs for different training drills
Best Adjustable
GHB Pro Agility Ladder
Product Highlights
- 20-ft agility ladder with 12 rungs
- Plastic rungs with nylon straps
- Adjustable rungs
- Includes a carrying bag
- Available in four colors
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Adjustable rungs
- Durable materials
- 20-ft length
- Easy to store and carry
Cons
- Buckles are flimsy
- Doesn’t include anchors
Bottom Line
The GHB Pro Agility Ladder is a durable ladder that’s 20 feet long, great for length footwork drills. WIth adjustable rungs, you can customize the length and difficulty of your agility drills. The ladder also comes with a carrying bag, making storage and transport simple.
As a larger athlete, I feel like I have two left feet sometimes when I do agility work. Some days I might need a bit more space between squares; other days (and sometimes for different drills) I might need less space between the rungs. For easy adjustments on an agility ladder, I recommend the GHB Pro Agility Ladder.
The GHB Pro Agility Ladder has 12 rungs over 20 feet of ladder, with each rung spaced to a maximum of 15 inches apart. The 17-inch-long ladder rungs can slide along the nylon straps easily within that space, earning it a 5 out of 5 for adjustability.
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The rungs are a durable and flexible plastic, able to withstand some bending and stepping on—which I accidentally did a few times. The straps are nylon as well, making almost everything on the ladder feel very durable…except for the buckles. There are plastic buckles on either end of the ladder, both to connect to and extend with other ladders, but also to help store the ladder away in its bag more easily.
However, compared to the rest of the agility ladder, the buckles are flimsy, as evidenced by my first agility session with this ladder. At the end of a 10-minute session, I rolled the ladder back up, and found that I had stepped on a buckle, and it had snapped. Although the ladder is durable enough, the weak buckles made me rate the materials and durability a 3 out of 5.
Still, at $16.99, this is a long ladder that you’ll be able to get a ton of use from. Aside from the carrying bag, though, the agility ladder doesn’t come with any other accessories or anchors.
| Price | $16.99 |
| Length | 20’ |
| Number of rungs | 12 |
| Material | Nylon |
Most Durable Agility Ladder: Stroops Roll Out Agility Ladder
Good for: Those needing a durable, non-skid surface to perform their ladder workouts
Most Durable
Stroops Roll Out Agility Ladder
Product Highlights
- 15’ roll out agility ladder
- 11 squares or “rungs”
- Constructed of heavy-duty rubber
- Anti-slip design
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Durable and heavy-duty
- Anti-slip design
- 15-ft length
Cons
- Expensive
- Can only be used on flat, level surfaces
Bottom Line
The Stroops Roll Out Agility Ladder is a unique roll out ladder made entirely of rubber. This durable ladder is non-skis and non-slip while in use, making it great for footwork drills. While it can only be used on flat surfaces like concrete, the agility ladder makes for a solid tool for agility training.
For an agility ladder that’ll last, we suggest the Stroops Roll Out Agility Ladder. This agility ladder is constructed of heavy-duty rubber, making a sturdy non-skid surface for your footwork drills. GGR head of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, was impressed with the materials, rating them a 5 out of 5.
“It feels really durable and doesn’t slip or slide once placed on the ground—I’ve tried it on cement and epoxy flooring,” Nicole says. She warns that the versatility of this ladder is limited, since the ladder can only be placed on flat, level surfaces like concrete or home gym flooring. However, if durability is your priority, this rubber ladder will last.
The ladder doesn’t have rungs in the traditional sense; instead, the lines are painted onto the rubber. Because of the structure of the ladder, there’s no way to adjust these “rungs,” earning it a measly 1 out of 5 for adjustability. If you’re looking for the added versatility of rung adjustments, this isn’t the ideal agility ladder for you.
At nearly $90, the Stroops was the most expensive ladder we tested out—but it also felt the most substantial. Because of the incredible durability, Nicole rates the value a 4 out of 5, saying, “I think it’s great value as long as you plan to use it on cement, gym flooring, or something of the like.” Just be forewarned that shipping can be expensive on this rollout ladder; it cost Nicole $28 to ship her ladder.
| Price | $89.95 |
| Length | 15’ |
| Number of rungs | 11 |
| Material | Rubber |
Best Budget Agility Ladder: Yes4All Agility Ladder
Good for: Those wanting a training tool for cardio warm-ups, but not looking to break the bank
Best Budget
Yes4All Agility Ladder
Product Highlights
- Available in 11’, 15’, or 25’ lengths
- Plastic rungs and straps
- Comes in orange, yellow, blue or rainbow
- Weight of 0.34 kg
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Comes in different sizes
- Various colors
Cons
- Not as durable as other options
- No additional accessories
Bottom Line
The Yes4All Agility Ladder is a budget-priced agility training tool, available in three different sizes. Starting under $10, the ladder is made of plastic and is very inexpensive. Although it doesn’t come with accessories, this is priced well if you’re looking for a beginning piece for agility workouts.
Need to practice your footwork for the football field, but want to save money as well? If you can’t drop thousands of dollars on the best treadmills, your best bet might be the Yes4All Agility Ladder. For under $10, you can get an 11-foot ladder with eight rungs. You can also choose from 15-foot or 25-foot options, with the longest ladder still costing under $20.
You do get what you pay for, however. This won’t be the most durable ladder, as GGR head of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, rates the materials a 2 out of 5. “This is pretty flimsy,” Nicole says. “The rungs are a thin plastic, and the straps get tangled easily.”
Additionally, the ladder comes with little else…as in, nothing else. There are no accessories, no anchors—not even a carrying bag, which is interesting since the product page on Amazon shows the ladder with a carrying bag.
For such a low price, the agility ladder has great value, earning it a 5 out of 5 in this category. However, because the longevity of the ladder is in question, I might suggest saving up a few dollars more for a ladder constructed with better materials that’ll last if you want something a bit more durable. If you’re in a pinch, though, the Yes4All Agility Ladder will get the job done.
| Price | Starts at $8.99 |
| Length | 11’, 15’, or 25’ |
| Number of rungs | 8, 12, or 20 |
| Material | Plastic |
How We Picked and Tested the Best Agility Ladders
In building this list of the best agility ladders on the market, we looked at top brands and popular products to narrow our search. We then purchased the top five products and ran them through the gamut-literally. With runs, shuffles, hops, lateral jumps, and high knees, we put each ladder you see on this list through multiple workouts and drills. Along with that, we tried the agility ladders on different surfaces: turf, grass, cement, and other hard flooring.
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As we tested each agility ladder, we scored them on the following criteria:
- Materials: Rungs and straps should be durable enough to withstand being stepped on as users learn new agility ladder drills. How durable are the materials used?
- Length: A longer ladder means more time agility training and less time changing directions.
- Adjustability: Can you adjust the distance between rungs? How easy is making adjustments?
- Safety features: Does the ladder come with stakes or anchors to affix the ladder while in use?
- Storage: Agility ladders can be bulky while rolling out or putting away. How easily does the ladder store?
- Value: Prices can vary from under $10 to close to $90. Does the price make sense for the quality of the materials and the performance of the agility ladder?
- Customer service: Here we rated the experience of customers into a score. What warranties and return policies did the company have in place? How easy is it to contact the company, and how easy are they to work with?
We also looked at what other customers had to say about using these products, and rated each category a score between 1 and 5 to determine a final score. The culmination of that process is the final list you see above.
Benefits of Agility Ladders
If I’m honest (which I am), there isn’t a lot of quality research on agility ladders—as found in a 2020 systematic review1. Regardless, agility ladders get athletes and fitness lovers alike moving, which has quite a few of its own benefits. Additionally, agility ladders train athletes in change of direction, which can help in other ways. Let’s look at the major benefits of agility ladders.
Can Improve Agility
Even though the name implies it, I didn’t want to leave this benefit out. However, many of the footwork drills done with agility ladders work on both the change of direction in foot speed, as well as an athlete’s overall agility.
Agility is defined as the ability to move quickly and easily—basically being able to stop and start on a dime. In a February 2022 study2, soccer athletes with better reactive agility were shown to have less risk of injury during the span of a half-season. This shows that training for bursts of speed and fancy footwork can help improve your athletic ability and decrease your chance of injury.
Can Improve Cardiovascular Health
Consistent agility workouts can help increase your heart rate, which can help improve your cardiovascular performance and heart health. Cardio exercises performed at moderate intensities have been shown to lower your chances of heart disease, which could in turn increase your lifespan—according to a study from The Internal Journal of Physical Medicine3. So hopping around on a ladder can prove a solid way to improve your heart’s health.
RELATED: Cardio Exercises for Beginners
Can Potentially Improve Tendon Strength
According to a December 2022 systematic review4, plyometric training—hops, jumps, and leaps—have been shown to improve tendon thickness and fascicle length in leg muscles, producing improved jump and strength performances amongst athletes. Getting some hops and leaps in with agility ladders can be a great tool for building up strong and powerful legs for athletes.
Experts Who Contributed To This Article
What to Look for in Agility Ladders
So you’re looking for an agility that fits your needs and budget? Here are a few things to consider while buying a ladder.
Materials
Most agility ladders have plastic rungs and nylon straps, but the quality of the materials can vary from product to product. One thing that helps a ladder rung remain more durable is the thickness of the rung. Thin rungs and straps will feel flimsy, while thicker rungs that still keep a low profile will last if you accidentally step on them once or twice (or, in my case, every other hop).
Length
How long do you want your agility ladder to be? Most range between 10 and 20 feet. Some are as short as 8 feet, while others stretch to 25 feet. Some ladders will also have attachments or buckles to connect a second agility ladder, thus doubling the length of your agility drill…but also doubling the price in some cases.
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Adjustability
I have size 14 shoes, so sometimes hopping through agility ladders can be tough. For less—or more—of a challenge, you can adjust the distance between rungs on some agility ladders to allow for different spaces for different agility drills.
Features and Storage
Does the agility ladder come with any extra accessories, such as agility cones, parachutes, or hurdles? There can also be safety features available, such as anchors or stakes to pin the ladder to the ground.
Additionally, many agility ladders come with some form of carrying bag to make storage of the ladder easy. With the right storage, agility ladders can be an excellent choice for compact exercise equipment.
Price
Agility ladders are typically not expensive, with most falling between $10 and $25. However, more durable ladders and rubber roll-out ladders can cost over $50 and approach $90. Determining which agility ladder best suits your needs will heavily depend on the type of budget you have to work from as well.
FAQs
Are agility ladders worth it?
There’s little research on the effectiveness of agility ladders currently1, but these agility tools can be great for building sport-specific coordination and agility, as well as proving to be a good cardio workout. An agility ladder can help add some variety to your cardio and plyometric exercises.
Are agility ladders good for seniors?
According to a 2023 study5, agility training can help improve physical performance among older adults. In this study, two groups were observed. Both groups performed agility training, while one group performed additional cognitive tasks. While the one group performed better in cognitive functions, both groups showed improved physical performance, muscle power, and dynamic balance from the agility training.
How often should you use an agility ladder?
How often you should use an agility ladder or train agility will depend on your fitness goals in and out of the gym. Most fitness enthusiasts can get decent benefits from one or two training sessions that are 10 to 20 minutes long. However, athletes training for team sports may need three or four sessions a week to optimize their performance.
References
- Afonso, J., da Costa, I. T., Camões, M., Silva, A., Lima, R. F., Milheiro, A., Martins, A., Laporta, L., Nakamura, F. Y., & Clemente, F. M. (2020). The Effects of Agility Ladders on Performance: A Systematic Review. International journal of sports medicine, 41(11), 720–728. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1157-9078
- Mijatovic, D., Krivokapic, D., Versic, S., Dimitric, G., & Zenic, N. (2022). Change of Direction Speed and Reactive Agility in Prediction of Injury in Football; Prospective Analysis over One Half-Season. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 10(3), 440. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10030440
- Agarwal S. Cardiovascular benefits of exercise. Int J Gen Med. 2012;5:541-5. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S30113
- Ramírez-delaCruz, M., Bravo-Sánchez, A., Esteban-García, P., Jiménez, F., & Abián-Vicén, J. (2022). Effects of Plyometric Training on Lower Body Muscle Architecture, Tendon Structure, Stiffness and Physical Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports medicine – open, 8(1), 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00431-0
- Castillo de Lima, V., Castaño, L. A. A., Sampaio, R. A. C., Sampaio, P. Y. S., Teixeira, C. V. L., & Uchida, M. C. (2023). Effect of agility ladder training with a cognitive task (dual task) on physical and cognitive functions: a randomized study. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1159343. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1159343
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