If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best abs stimulator belt is, then I’d recommend The Flex Belt Abdominal Muscle Toner as the best one.
If you’re a person that spends hours in the gym trying to define your abs, you know how hard it can be.
Abdominal stimulator belts (abs stimulator belts) can help you achieve stronger abdominal muscles by either enhancing your workouts or enabling you to get an abs workout without working out.
Keep reading to find out more about these amazing devices.
Here are the top abs stimulator belts we’ll be reviewing:
- The Flex Belt Abdominal Muscle Toner
- Famidoc Abs Stimulator Belt
- Antmona Abs Stimulating Belt
- Uythng Abs Stimulator System
- Slendertone Abdominal Muscles Toner
What is an Abs Stimulator Belt?
You may know what an abs stimulator belt is, but in case you don’t, here is a description.
An abs stimulator belt is a device that, when worn on or around the midsection, applies electronic pulses to the abdominal muscles.
When used properly with diet and exercise, these devices can help to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
Think of it like you would a vitamin–you can’t use it by itself to achieve your fitness goals, but it is a great supplement that will help you achieve your fitness goals faster.
Do Abs Stimulator Belts Actually Work?
There have been plenty of positive and negative information thrown around about abs stimulator belts and it can be difficult to figure out what information is fact and what information is fiction.
We’re going to help you sort through this mess with one simple statement:
Even the best abs stimulator belt won’t give you six-pack abs on their own!
Now before you start saying that abs stimulator belts don’t work, let us reassure you that they do.
They just aren’t magic devices that are going to instantly define your midsection.
Again, like we stated before, they are supplements to your fitness routine.
According to the FDA, abs stimulator belts are scientifically proven to help strengthen your abdominal muscles.
In fact, these devices as well as devices to stimulate other muscles, are often used in the medical field to treat muscle conditions.
Over time, these devices will make you stronger.
In fact, a study that was published in The Journal of Sports Science and Medicine highlighted some amazing results from an eight week test of people using an abs stimulator belt for an average of 30 minutes a day, five days a week versus a group of people who did not use an abs stimulator belt.
The results for the people wearing the abs stimulator belt (versus the people who weren’t) were:
- A 58% increase in abdominal strength.
- A full, 100% increase in abdominal endurance.
- An average waist circumference reduction of 3.5cm (no weight loss was reported).
Based on this, you can rest assured that using the best abs stimulator belt will be beneficial to your fitness.
Are Abs Stimulator Belts Safe?
Because there have been many reports of injuries from using abs stimulator belts, the FDA heavily regulates the electrical muscle stimulator (EMS) market.
Many of these injuries are due to faulty manufacturing and/or cheap parts, so the FDA created pre-market regulations that manufacturers must meet in order to sell their devices in the United States.
While there are several abs stimulator belts that have been cleared by the FDA for medical use, there is only one that has been cleared by the FDA for more “exercise” oriented use.
This is the Slendertone Flex marketed by BMR NeuroTech, Inc. which we have included in our list of the five best abs stimulator belts on the market.
Keep in mind that just because these other abs stimulator belts aren’t cleared as exercise devices doesn’t mean that they don’t work.
They still have FDA clearance so they’re safe and they are simply being marketed as medical devices rather than exercise devices.
How to Choose the Best Abs Stimulator Belt
You now know that any abs stimulator belt you choose must be FDA-cleared, but there are some other factors you should consider.
Here is a breakdown of these factors:
Size
This is important because the belt will be useless if it’s too small or too big.
You don’t want a belt that’s cutting of your circulation, chaffing you, or making you uncomfortable because it doesn’t fit.
Warranty
I’ve always believed that a product’s warranty is a sign of how much faith a company has in its product.
If a company knows that the product is going to last, they’ll have no problem giving it a good warranty because they don’t expect to have to fix the product too often.
However, if the company knows the product is crap, they’ll probably give it a short warranty, so they won’t be on the hook for constantly fixing it.
Be sure that your abs stimulator belt has some type of warranty or at least a satisfaction guarantee.
Fabric Types
There are a few different types of fabrics that abs stimulator belts can be made from. First, you’ll want to make sure that the fabric isn’t going to irritate your skin.
Some people are allergic to certain types of fabrics.
Second, you want to get an abs stimulator belt that is made from a durable fabric, so your belt isn’t tearing up on you after a few uses.
Some of the best and most common fabrics for an abs stimulator belt are:
-
- Neoprene
- Polyester
- Polyurethane (PU)
Some belts are made with hypoallergenic materials for people with sensitive skin.
Five of the Best Abs Stimulator Belts
The Flex Belt Abdominal Muscle Toner
The Flex Belt Abdominal Muscle Toner is extremely popular and highly rated. I am usually wary of companies that use celebrities to endorse their products, but this belt is good.
One of the best things about this belt is the versatility. It has ten training programs and 150 levels of intensity. This allows you to fine tune the belt to your body’s needs.
The manufacturer suggests using the belt for five days a week but doesn’t suggest a specific amount of time. Thirty minutes would probably be a good start, then you could adjust from there.
Pros
- The belt comes with an extender for larger waist sizes up to 52 inches.
- It has a good warranty–2 years limited.
- The belt is made in the United States.
- The number of intensity levels and programs give you hundreds, if not thousands, of customized options.
- It’s manufactured very well and will last a long time.
- It’s made from a high-quality neoprene fabric that is suitable for most skin types.
Cons
- It’s one of the more expensive abs stimulator belts on the market.
- It’s a little on the heavy side compared to the other belts in the list. It weighs 1.23 pounds.
- Many people complain about problems with the controller after only a few months.
Famidoc Abs Stimulator Belt
The Famidoc Abs Stimulator Belt is in a much more affordable price range than the Flex Belt. It’s a gel-free belt that fits waist sizes from 26 inches to 45 inches.
The controller is attached to the belt itself, so you don’t have to keep up with an extra part.
The Famidoc belt has 20 intensity levels.
This isn’t as many as the Flex Belt, but it’s plenty enough to give your abs a good workout. It also has ten programs, so you still have a great amount of variety with this belt.
We don’t like the fact that the manufacturer doesn’t list the material that the belt is made from, but it seems to be polyester.
Some people are allergic to polyester, so you’ll want to test your skin before getting this belt.
Pros:
- The belt has a 90-day warranty.
- You don’t need gel with this belt.
- It’s very affordable compared to the Flex Belt.
- It comes with clear, concise instructions.
Cons:
- Since the controller is on the front, the belt won’t be flat under your clothes.
- The velcro loses some strength after a while.
- If you don’t keep your skin wet, it may burn you.
Antmona Abs Stimulating Belt
The Antmona Abs Stimulating Belt is more of a system than a belt. It comes with three stimulators–two for your arms and one for your abdomen.
You could even use the arm bands for your legs if you want to mix it up a bit.
The manufacturer suggests using the stimulator belt for 15 minutes, twice a day for great results.
This timing is great for people who have tight schedules or for beginners to exercise.
Pros
- The system is very affordable.
- Using a system rather than just an abs belt helps prevent a muscle imbalance.
- It has a cool look to it that makes you feel strong.
Cons
- It uses up battery power really fast.
- The gel pads don’t stick to your skin very well.
Uythng Abs Stimulator System
The Uythng Abs Stimulator is another amazing system that we had to include in the list.
This system looks very similar to the Antmona, but there are some major, less obvious differences that sets it apart.
For one, the batteries are rechargeable. It comes with a universal USB charger cord.
This means you can charge it from an outlet, from your laptop, or anywhere you can plug in a USB charger cord.
Another difference is that the Uythng belt has an automatic shut-off feature. After 20 minutes of inactivity, the belt turns off so you can preserve the battery life.
This is a great system for people who are constantly traveling or on-the-go.
Pros
- It’s very affordable.
- The belt uses rechargeable batteries, so you don’t have to constantly keep buying them.
- The system comes with extra pads.
- The instructions are clear and easy to follow.
Cons
- It only comes with a one-month warranty.
- It’s not strong enough to get through a thick layer of fat, so it’s only suitable for slender people.
Slendertone Abdominal Muscles Toner
The Slendertone Abdominal Muscles Toner is the only abs stimulator belt that the FDA approves for sale in the United States as an actual exercise tool rather than a medical-grade device.
What does this mean?
It means that this abs stimulator belt is good. It does what it says with no gimmicks and the FDA agrees.
The price tag reflects this, but surprisingly, it’s not the most expensive abs stimulator belt in the list.
Here is another surprise: if you take a close look, you’ll see the Slendertone belt and the Flex Belt look the same.
That’s because they are both manufactured by the same company–Bio Medical Research Ltd.
If you’re wondering which is the best abs stimulator belt out of the two, the belts are the same in quality of materials, but not the same in performance.
The Slendertone has less programs and intensity levels which is why the price range is lower (but still higher than the average belt).
This doesn’t make it worse than the Flex Belt–just a bit limited.
However, it still comes with 7 programs and 99 intensity levels. It fits waist sizes from 24 inches to 46 inches and it has a rechargeable controller.
We recommend this to anyone who wants a premium abs stimulator belt but doesn’t want to completely splurge on the Flex Belt.
Pros
- It has a two-year limited warranty.
- You can use the same gel pads for both the Slendertone and Flex Belt, so if one is on sale and the other isn’t, you can save money.
- It’s made from the same high-quality neoprene that the Flex Belt is made of.
- It’s manufactured in the United States.
Cons
- The belt uses a lot of battery power so you may have to recharge it daily.
- Unlike the Flex Belt, it doesn’t have an extender so it can’t be used on larger-sized waists.
- It is difficult to read the digital display.
Conclusion
In the age of modern convenience, it’s no surprise that abs stimulator belts are so popular.
You simply stick one to your skin and, viola!, stronger abs. It’s almost like getting in better shape without trying (hard).
Okay, so maybe it’s not an instant fix, but it’s nice to have help along the way of achieving your fitness goals.
Our personal favorite is The Flex Belt Abdominal Muscle Toner, because of its versatility.
The belts are so popular that abs stimulator belts are popping up all over the place, but our list contains five of the best abs stimulator belt on the market.
We’ve done the research for you so you can trust that one of these five belts are a great choice.
Whether you choose one from our list or not, we hope you’ve found this guide to be helpful and informative, and that you’re better prepared to make a great decision.