The Best Water Aerobics Equipment (2024): 7 Accessories for a Great Pool Workout

If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy a great workout, training in a pool can provide a fun, challenging, low-impact workout for fitness enthusiasts of all levels. While you can always hop in and start swimming or grab some resistance bands or ankle weights and bring them in the pool, better options exist, as plenty of equipment is specifically designed to be used in a pool.

However, if you’re new to pool exercise equipment or aquatic exercise in general, choosing one that will help you reach your training goals can be difficult, and it can be difficult to find a pool with this equipment for you to test yourself. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with our guide to the best water aerobics equipment.

We’ll be sharing our top seven picks for the best equipment based on our extensive hands-on testing. We spent plenty of time with each product and rated it using our equipment testing methodology, which rates specific aspects of a product like durability, ease of use, workout challenge, and more.

Best Water Aerobics Equipment 

• Best Overall Water Aerobics Equipment: Sportneer Water Weights
• Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Beginners: Speedo Kickboard
• Best Budget Water Aerobics Equipment: Floating Pool Noodles
• Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Seniors: AquaJogger Belt
• Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Weight Loss: TYR Aquatic Resistance Belt
• Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Strength Training: Theraband Swim Bar
• Best Water Aerobic Equipment for Legs: Sportneer Foam Aquatic Cuffs

Best Overall Water Aerobics Equipment: Sportneer Water Weights

Good for: Those who want versatile dumbbells for the pool

Best Overall

Sportneer Water Weights

GGR Score: 4.33

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Product Highlights

• Easy to assemble
• Available in three colors
• Durable foam material
• PVC handle can wear down over time

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Made of high-density EVA foam
• Easy to assemble/disassemble
• Can be used for a variety of water exercises

Cons

• Handles wear down over time
• Only available in one size

Bottom Line

The Sportneer water weights are lightweight dumbbells that are easy to assemble and disassemble for transportation. They're only available in one size, but provide a great, low-impact workout in any pool.

For the best overall product, we chose the Sportneer Water Weights, a versatile pair of foam dumbbells with built-in straps to help provide extra grip. They won’t provide the most challenging workout, but this is a good thing. Many people trying water aerobics, including beginners or those rehabbing an injury, are looking for a low-impact workout. 

Aqua dumbbells can be used for various underwater exercises involving the arms, including strength and aerobics training in the pool. They can’t be attached to your legs, but they’ll help provide additional resistance for any upper-body movements. 

Our tester, Lindsay Scheele, CPT, commented that while she didn’t find the workouts super challenging, she had a lot of fun doing the movements in the water. She said, “I wouldn’t say I felt sore or challenged. However, I think for the right person who is looking to move and have fun while working out, these are a great option.”

For durability, she gave them a 3 out of 5, noting that the foam would be easy to tear apart if a dog or child got ahold of it. She also left them outdoors and said that the sun fades them a bit over time. 

The Sportneer Water Weights are affordable, easy to use, and versatile enough for a variety of movements and fitness levels, which earned them the title of best overall water aerobics equipment. 

Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Beginners: Speedo Kickboard

Good for: Beginners who want assistance while swimming

Best for Beginners

Speedo Kickboard

GGR Score: 4.7

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Product Highlights

• Available in blue or black
• Textured surface for extra grip
• Durable material
• Excellent swimming aid for all levels

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Durable design
• Grippy, non-slip surface
• Easy to use for all levels

Cons

• Only one size available
• May be too small for some individuals

Bottom Line

The Speedo kickboard is a great tool for anyone learning to swim, or those who want to swim longer than normal with a bit of help. The textured surface provides plenty of traction, keeping the board from sliding away during use.

For those new to water aerobics, the Speedo Kickboard is our top choice for beginners. This is the same style of kickboard you may have used when learning how to swim, and at any age, it can help provide a great aerobics workout. 

While swimming laps in a pool is a great cardio workout that causes less wear and tear on the body than other forms of cardio, it can be challenging for those who aren’t regular swimmers. 

If you cannot swim more than a lap or two without needing a break, a kickboard provides assistance, supporting your upper body so you can keep moving with your legs and continue with your swim training for longer periods of time.

RELATED: Pool Exercises

Brittany Combs, GGR’s Social Media Manager, tested this kickboard and was very impressed with its construction and durability, rating both categories 5 out of 5. 

She said, “It was left outside for a while, and there was hardly any wear and tear on it. It feels solid and put together well.”

Brittany was also impressed with the grip and ease of use, saying, “It has ridges on the sides that help you grip onto it, and it feels nice. It’s not slippery to where it feels like it’s going to jet out from under you.”

If you’re looking to give yourself a boost as you work on your aerobic endurance while swimming laps in the pool, or you’re a beginner who’s just learning to swim, the Speedo Kickboard is an excellent choice. 

Best Budget Water Aerobics Equipment: The Dreidel Company Floating Pool Noodles

Good for: Those looking for a fun, affordable piece of pool equipment

Best Budget

The Dreidel Company Floating Pool Noodles

GGR Score: 3.13

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Product Highlights

• 52″ pool noodles
• Available in a variety of colors
• Sold in packs of two
• May offer free Amazon Prime shipping

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Costs $24 for two noodles
• Available in a variety of colors
• Lightweight pool equipment

Cons

• Low resistance for workouts
• Best for smaller individuals

Bottom Line

The Dreidel Company Floating Pool Noodles are lightweight, affordable, and come in packs of two, with a variety of color combinations available. They're relatively light, similar to other pool noodles, but easy to order from Amazon if pool toys are out of season in your area.

While many people think of swimming pool noodles as lightweight flotation devices (or pool toys to swing at your friends), they work equally well as aerobics equipment. They’re not going to provide the maximum amount of challenge and resistance, but for a lightweight workout or anyone looking to rehab injured muscles, they’re a great option. 

You can use them for pushing and pulling, additional support if you’re treading water or running in a pool, and plenty of other exercises that would benefit from additional resistance.

In addition to their versatility, the floating pool noodles from The Dreidel Company are very affordable, costing $24.99 for a pack of two. As our tester, Brittany Combs, pointed out, this is more than you’d probably pay at your local retail store, but depending on the season and where you live, it may be difficult to find pool noodles nearby. 

For durability and workout experience, she gave them a 3-out-of-5-star rating. Brittany said, “They worked as intended, but they’re flimsy and don’t hold a lot of weight up. It held up my kids fine, but because it’s skinny, it doesn’t add a ton of resistance to your workout.”

Pool noodles aren’t a groundbreaking pool innovation, but if you don’t already have some available, they offer an affordable way to get started with water aerobics.

RELATED: Pool Exercises for Weight Loss

Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Seniors: AquaJogger Classic Belt

Good for: Anyone looking for extra core support

Best for Seniors

AquaJogger Classic Belt

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Only available in one adjustable size
• It can be difficult to secure properly
• Offers support and resistance for water aerobics
• May slide around if the size isn’t a good fit

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides core stability
• Adjustable sizing
• Great for low-impact exercise

Cons

• Only one size available
• Expensive

Bottom Line

The AquaJogger is a great water aerobics tool for those looking for extra support in their pool. It securely fastens around the waist, providing core support and extra flotation.

If you’re a senior, or anyone who requires additional core support while training, we recommend the AquaJogger Classic Belt. This floatation belt wraps around the core with a secure, adjustable fastener to keep the belt safely in place. 

When you wear the belt, it’ll provide core support to help keep you upright, as well as buoyancy if you’re treading water, all without restricting the movement of your arms and legs. If you find yourself fatiguing earlier than you’d like when training in the water, this belt can help you stay afloat for longer periods of time.

Brittany Combs tested this, and while she’d never trained with this type of equipment, she had a great time and rated the overall experience and functionality a 4 out of 5. 

She said, “This was honestly fun to use for walking in deep water. Prior to using this, I didn’t have much experience with doing that, but I love treading water and walking in the shallow end, so this was a fun switch-up. It also adds resistance to your workout, which felt good.”

However, she said that it can be tricky to get the belt adjusted initially. If it’s not tightened enough, it can slide around your waist while training, so you may need to spend some time getting it properly fitted.  

At $59.95, this flotation belt isn’t cheap, but it’s durable, works well, and provides a great workout for anyone who wants some extra core support and flotation assistance for pool workouts. 

RELATED: Best Treadmill for Seniors

Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Weight Loss: TYR Aquatic Resistance Belt

Good for: Those looking to work on endurance training in the pool

Best for Weight Loss

TYR Aquatic Resistance Belt

GGR Score: 4.59

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Product Highlights

• Lightweight
• Adjustable size
• Fast-drying material
• Affordable
• Only available in one adjustable size

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Adjustable belt size
• 6-foot elastic cord for pool training
• Accomodates 27-40" waist sizes
• Affordable

Cons

• Needs to be attached to something
• Limited waist sizes
• May not last more than 1-2 years

Bottom Line

The TYR Aquatic Belt is a versatile tool for those looking to enjoy a challenging workout in nearly any pool. It's adjustable and easy to use, though you need something sturdy to attach it to, and it's only meant for a waist size that's 27-40".

While you need to focus on both proper nutrition and exercise for long-term weight loss, regular cardiovascular exercise is a great tool to burn calories and build cardiovascular fitness, and the TYR Aquatic Resistance Belt helps you get it done in the water. 

Swimming is an excellent form of low-impact cardio exercise, and using the TYR Resistance Belt adds an extra challenge.

This swim belt fastens around your waist and is attached to a six-foot elastic cord. The cord can be looped around any secure, stationary object in your pool, like a ladder or handrail, and provides resistance when you try to move away.

This allows you to perform exercises like water jogging, swimming, or lunges. As you move further away from your anchor point, the belt tugs on your waist, so you need to move against the resistance. 

Brittany Combs noted that this is great for those who want to swim but don’t have access to a pool meant for swimming laps. She said,  “ If you’re someone who is interested in perfecting their swim form or wants to swim laps but doesn’t really have a good pool to swim laps in, this is a great tool to help you do that.”

If swimming and water jogging are too easy, the TYR Aquatic Resistance Belt is a great tool to add some extra challenge and get a more challenging cardio workout in the pool. 

Best Water Aerobics Equipment for Strength Training: Theraband Swim Bar

Good for: Anyone looking to build strength and muscle

Best for Strength Training

THERABAND Swim Bar

GGR Score: 3.7

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Product Highlights

• Made of high-density foam with padded handles
• Versatile design for strength training, stretching, and more
• Helps provide a low-impact pool workout
• Not the cheapest piece of water equipment
• Some users say it’s not wide enough for all body types

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Versatile equipment for water workouts
• Made of high-density buoyant foam
• Uses a padded bar for comfort

Cons

• A little expensive
• Some users report that it's not wide enough

Bottom Line

The THERABAND swim bar is a multi-purpose training tool designed to be used in water-based workouts. It's lightweight, comfortable to use, and versatile enough to use for a variety of movements.

The Theraband Swim Bar is a good choice for those who want to focus primarily on strength training in the pool and simulate barbell training underwater. This can be a fun way to build variety into your strength workouts when you need a break from traditional lifting. 

It looks and functions similar to a foam barbell, which means you can use it for flotation if you’d like, but if you pull it underwater, the resistance and drag from the water allows you to perform a variety of barbell movements against resistance. 

Our tester, GGR Social Media Manager Brittany Combs, said that while she liked the concept, she prefers the feel of dumbbell-style water weights to the barbell. She also gave the durability a rating of 3 out of 5, noting that she was disappointed with the quality. 

“Where it falls short is the pad on the bar,” said Brittany. “Ours ripped after one month of use from my kids playing with it.”

However, for the functionality, she gave it a higher score of 4 out of 5. Brittany said it allows you to do a variety of push and pull movements, and her favorite exercise to use the barbell for is planks, where you’re pushing the bar down with your arms.

If you’re interested in trying a foam barbell for some underwater strength training, the Theraband Swim Bar is worth a try. 

RELATED: Pool Exercises for Abs

Best Water Aerobic Equipment for Legs: Sportneer Foam Aquatic Cuffs

Good for: People looking to focus on training their leg muscles

Best for Legs

Sportneer Foam Aquatic Cuffs

GGR Score: 4.67

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Product Highlights

• Adjustable size
• Velcro fastener
• Comfortable to wear
• Challenging lower body workout tool

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Can be used on both hands and feet
• Adjustable sizing
• Provides a great leg workout

Cons

• May be too loose for smaller individuals
• Velcro strap may fray over time

Bottom Line

The Sportneer Foam Aquatic Cuffs are adjustable cuffs designed to be worn on either the arms or legs, providing resistance for a pool workout. They provide a challenging leg workout, but individuals with smaller frames may find they slide around too much.

While most of the products we’ve mentioned so far are hand-held pieces of equipment, we haven’t forgotten about those who don’t skip leg day, and the Sportneer Foam Aquatic Cuffs are our top choice for strengthening the lower body. 

These cuffs use secure Velcro fasteners and can be worn on your wrists or ankles, allowing you to train nearly any body part with one piece of equipment. Similar to ankle or wrist weights, these cuffs provide hands-free resistance that makes every movement a bit more difficult if you’re submerged in the water.

Brittany Combs, our tester for these cuffs, gave them a 4.5 out of 5 for comfort and adjustability. She said they’re very comfortable but docked half a point due to the sizing. 

“These are plenty comfortable, but my only deduction is that they slide around a bit on your body,” she said. “This is to be expected since it’s in the water, but if you are a skinny person, you can only get these so tight, even with the velcro.”

That said, she still recommended them to anyone who wants added resistance for water exercises, specifically noting that they’re great for training the legs.

For those who want the versatility to train both upper and lower body movements, with a particular focus on leg training in the water, these cuffs are a great choice. 

Other Water Aerobics Equipment We Researched

We narrowed our list down to the top seven, but here are a few other products we considered. 

• Inflatable Aquatic Cuffs: While inflatable aquatic exercise equipment is a nice idea, we weren’t convinced of its durability, and we know it can be a pain to inflate equipment every time you want to use it. 
• Hydro Tone Pool Dumbbells: The shape and design of the Hydro Tone dumbbells is very interesting, but the price is significantly higher than any other product in our guide, which is always a factor in how we rate the products we test.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Water Aerobics Equipment

When assembling our list, we spent plenty of time testing each piece of fitness equipment in various conditions. 

We had two testers for this guide: GGR Social Media Manager Brittany Combs and Lindsay Scheele, CPT, the lead reviewer at Garage Gym Reviews Everything. 

Brittany and Lindsay spent over a month using these pieces of equipment in their pools. They tried workouts, had their kids use them, and even left a few outside to see if the weather caused any significant damage. 

In addition to the durability and longevity, they also tried several workouts using the pieces of equipment as intended to rate the impact, challenge, and overall effectiveness. 

Finally, as with our exercise equipment reviews, we used our equipment testing methodology to assign each product a final review score based on our tested criteria, including durability, ease of use, comfort, and more.

Benefits of Water Aerobics Equipment

You may not realize what you miss out on if you’ve never tried working out in a pool. While water aerobics may seem easy, they can provide quite a challenging workout and a fun way to mix things up if you’re tired of working out on land. 

Aqua fitness continues to be a growing trend, and using these tools to improve your water aerobics training is worth a try for anyone with access to a pool.

Here are some of the most important benefits of water aerobics that may convince you to try some of this equipment.

Low Impact Exercise

Perhaps the most significant benefit of using water aerobics equipment is the low-impact yet challenging workout it can provide.

While traditional forms of exercise, like running, jumping, and lifting weights, are great for your health, they come with some wear and tear. This may not bother you if you’re currently pain-free, but years of running and jumping on hard surfaces can cause aches and pains at times due to the impact on your joints. 

RELATED: The Best Cardiovascular Exercises

When that happens, getting your aerobic exercise done in a pool can provide a smooth, enjoyable way to get a great workout without straining your joints. Some of the specific products, like the aquatic dumbbells and barbells, also allow you to perform your favorite strength training movements using the water as resistance.

Lindsay Scheele, CPT, said, “Water aerobics equipment provides a low-impact workout and a fun new way to move my body. If you’re looking for something new or an entryway into fitness, I say give it a go!”

May Improve Strength and Coordination

You may feel lighter in the pool, but that doesn’t mean it can’t help you provide enough resistance to grow muscle and strength. Thanks to the resistance and drag provided by the water with every movement, you’ll exert extra force when working out in a pool, especially when using some of the equipment from our list.

If you’ve only seen water fitness classes at your local gym or aquatic center and thought they looked too easy, you’d probably be surprised by just how beneficial aquatic fitness training can be for building strength and muscle.

Don’t believe me? A 2009 study¹ published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that following a three-month water-based resistance training program increased strength and muscle mass in healthy young men, showing this training benefits people of all ages and skill levels.

RELATED: 12 Benefits of Strength Training

Appropriate for Beginners

For those new to working out, water aerobics equipment can provide an easy way to dip your toe in the water of strength and aerobics training. 

You don’t need to worry about learning how to perform technical exercises with good form, and there’s no need to join a gym or purchase expensive equipment. If you have access to a pool, you can get a great workout, especially if you use some of the beginner-friendly water aerobics equipment, like the Speedo Kickboard, which can help you swim for extended periods of time. 

Even walking in a pool can provide a full-body workout if you’re not used to the drag and resistance of being submerged in water.

Stay Cool in the Summer

Finally, if you love training outdoors, hopping in the pool for a workout can be a great way to beat the heat. We love training in garage gyms, and we know they can become unbearably hot during the peak summer months. 

Mixing things up with a pool workout can help you enjoy the outdoors without overheating—though don’t forget to stay hydrated, even if you don’t notice any excessive sweating in the pool. 

Water Aerobics Equipment Buying Guide

If you’re still having trouble deciding which piece of equipment to pick up and try for your next water workout, here are the most important factors to keep in mind as you’re deciding. 

Fitness Goals

The first thing to consider is what you want to get out of your water aerobics training. If your primary goal is to build strength and muscle, you’ll probably want to choose water dumbbells or barbells, which can provide the most resistance. 

Due to the foam design and flotation required with most pieces of water aerobics equipment, many don’t have adjustable resistance levels. Before buying, consider how much challenge you want and how much each piece of equipment provides.

On the other hand, if you want a challenging cardiovascular workout, you may want to choose something that offers a bit less resistance so you can use it for longer periods. 

RELATED: Cardio vs Strength Training

Pool Access

Anyone with a pool at their house can use any equipment on our list. However, if you share a community pool, you’ll want to consider how busy it is and what sort of setup they have. 

For example, while the TYR Resistance Belt is great if you can attach it to a ladder or handrail, a busy neighborhood pool may not be too happy if you use one of the public ladders to do your workouts. 

Or, if you’re like me and have access to a fairly private but small neighborhood pool, buying a kickboard for swimming laps may not make sense when those laps are quite short. 

Durability

We look for durability in everything we test, but some things will always last longer than others, especially when it comes to foam training equipment. 

If you’re the only user and trust yourself to be relatively gentle with your equipment, you can use any equipment on our list. However, if you have kids playing with the equipment who may not be as careful, you may want to avoid things with 100% foam construction, which tends to wear down fast.

Best Water Aerobics Equipment: FAQs

References

1. Colado, J. C., Tella, V., Triplett, N. T., & González, L. M. (2009). Effects of a short-term aquatic resistance program on strength and body composition in fit young men. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 23(2), 549–559. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31818eff5d

Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC

Matt is a writer and fitness coach who's been working in the fitness industry for 11 years. Before joining the GGR team, Matt was a freelance health and fitness writer for 11 years, writing for dozens of fitness websites, influencers, and wellness brands. He's also the author of three nutrition books published through Simon & Schuster. He currently lives in Las Vegas, NV.

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