Training a player’s overall agility is one of the key things to concentrate on in soccer.
Agility training requires markers on the ground, so that they learn to land their feet with precision at all times.
And if you were playing hopscotch, that would be so much easier, you could just do chalk drawings on the ground.
But if you’re carrying out your soccer training on grass or AstroTurf, this is simply impossible.
The solution to this problem is to invest in an agility ladder for the team. You get markers with all the precision of a round of hopscotch, but on the actual soccer pitch itself.
It’s way better than a hopscotch grid, in fact. They’re longer, more brightly colored, and they often come with some handy accessories, too.
We’ve been checking out some of the best agility ladders out on the market today, and have come up with a shortlist of our top favorites.
But we get that choosing one can be tricky, so we’ve also put together a buying guide, that will walk you through the key things to think about before you buy.
Then we’re going to top that off with another handy section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
Mantra Sports Agility Ladder & Speed Cones Set
No products found.Here we have a great agility ladder that’s been selling in great numbers. And, moreover, it’s had some great customer ratings, with more than 80% of those who bought through Amazon rating it at a full 5 stars out of 5.
The Mantra Sports Agility ladder is 19.6 feet long, with 12 individual rungs, and that means it’s plenty big enough for several people to use at the same time.
The ladder is of excellent quality, with heavy-duty nylon straps for the rails, and the rungs are made with anti-snap technology, which is good to know. And these rungs are fully adjustable along the nylon straps, so you can set them as close together or as far apart as you like.
But that’s not all, you also get a set of matching speed cones as part of the set as well, so you can really add more moves to your training regime.
Plus, there’s also a large, fully illustrated wall chart too. And this is a double wall chart that explains how to carry out 8 different types of exercises just for the agility ladder alone, not to mention the speed cones.
But what really stood out to us in this set was how there are 4 rust resistant pegs included, so that you can properly secure the ladder into the ground below.
The kit packs away very compactly, and comes with its own carry bag, which can be carried on your shoulder for ultimate convenience.
It’s available in two different color options, namely orange and yellow, and both of which are very high visibility and easy to see.
One of the things that really impressed us with this set is that rather than having a mere 1-year warranty, they are backed by a lifetime warranty. How reassuring is that!
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular agility ladder, simply click on “Check Price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- Top quality, best selling agility ladder
- Includes matching speed cones
- Includes fully illustrated wall chart
- Includes pegs and a carry bag
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- If you don’t ensure that the pegs are sufficiently close to the ground, it could become a tripping hazard
No products found.
SKLZ Speed and Agility Ladder
No products found.Please note, this review is for the Quick Ladder Pro, and not the Quick Ladder or the Elevation Ladder, which are on the same product page.
Now, this ladder is a little different to your more usual agility ladders. Instead of featuring nylon straps as the rails of the ladder that are easily pushed around the players’ feet, you instead get rigid hinged side rails.
And the added benefit of this is that you get completely tangle free unfolding, so rather than struggle with knots and ties, you can simply fling the ladder open and get everyone training ASAP. And it makes for quicker packing away too.
A further key feature of this particular agility ladder is its low-profile soft edges. This serves to prevent any cleats in soccer boots from catching on the ladder, which could cause hold-ups or trips.
We would prefer if the ladder were a little longer, seeing as it’s just 15 feet. However, if you have the budget to do so, you can buy two ladders (or more) and attach them together, and increase the length of the drills.
There’s only one color option, unfortunately, but fortunately that option is yellow, which makes it very easy for the players to see the rungs as they train.
It also comes with its own carry bag, and customers say this is very spacious and that they are able to get more in it than just the ladder.
And again, it’s a best-selling sports agility ladder, and has received some excellent customer ratings and reviews.
If you’re ever looking for something a little more adventurous than your generic agility ladder, you should go ahead and check out the other types of ladder that SKLZ make. For a quick look at each one, simply head over to the product page and scroll down until you see them. To get to the product page, simply click on “Check Price”.
Pros:
- Bestseller with excellent ratings
- Features rigid hinged side rails
- A breeze to open up & put away
- Low-profile edges prevent catching
- Comes with a spacious carry bag
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price
- Not as long as some of the other agility ladders out there
No products found.
Alphaworx All-in-one Agility Ladder Speed Training Equipment
No products found.Now, this is an agility ladder with a difference!
You can use it as a regular agility ladder, sure, but you can also use it for hurdles, and as a wall, thanks to all the multiple configurations you can set up.
And this can really add more challenge to the training and introduce far more types of drills and workouts.
And when you’re ready to change things up a little, you can make adjustments on the fly. You can set up a new configuration in virtually no time at all.
Like a regular agility ladder it’s easily foldable, and folds up quite compactly for storage, but unlike a regular agility ladder you don’t have to worry about twisted straps that can take time to untangle.
It’s made of high quality, durable materials, with semi-rigid rails and rungs made with durable polypropylene fabric, that retain the structure’s shape.
This makes them both convenient to use and very safe to use, too. If you were to step on a hurdle, it will simply gently bounce back. And the ladder was rigorously tested before it was open to sale.
The carry bag that it comes with features two straps, so you can carry it on your back and have both hands free. Super handy.
The ladder is available in a choice of 4 different sizes, namely 4 rung, 8 rung, 8+4rung, and 12 rung. We would recommend that you go for either the 8+4rung, or the 12 rung if you have the budget.
The Alphaworx All-in-one Agility Ladder comes backed by a 3-month free return and exchange service, so if you’re unhappy with it, you can request a new one to be sent out to you.
And again, it’s a bestseller with the leading online retailers and has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.
Pros:
- Bestseller with excellent ratings
- It can also be used for hurdles
- Features semi-rigid rails & rungs
- A breeze to open up & put away
- Available in a choice of sizes
- Comes with a 2-strap carry bag
Cons:
- You can’t choose what color you get
- Can be expensive depending on what size ladder you get
No products found.
Yes4All Ultimate Agility Ladder
No products found.Talk about flying off the shelves!
There have been well over 8,000 individual customer ratings for this ladder on Amazon alone. Better yet, even after so many ratings, the average rating still works out at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5.
It’s available in a range of bright colors, including yellow, orange, blue, or rainbow. All of which are highly visible, but perhaps the yellow one more so. If applicable, you could buy the team’s colors.
It’s also available in different lengths, with a different number of rungs available depending on the ladder’s full length. The 11-foot option has 8 rungs, the 15-foot one 12 rungs, and the 25-foot one has 20 rungs. Each option folds away neatly and comes with its own carry bag.
Of course, the length you choose does affect the overall cost, but even the longest one is very reasonably priced.
But if you wanted to make the agility ladder the focus of the team’s training, it is possible to join more than one of these ladders together to make an even longer ladder.
The ladder is composed of two heavy-duty nylon straps either side of the rungs. The rungs that join these straps are made of durable plastic. This means that they won’t break easily, and they won’t cause much injury in the event of a fall.
The Yes4All Ultimate Agility Ladder comes backed by both a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a full years’ warranty. So, if you’re unhappy with it for any reason, you can get your money back in full within the first month of purchase.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular agility ladder, simply click on “Check Price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- A bestseller, flying off the shelves
- Available in a range of bright colors
- Available in three different lengths
- Rungs are plastic rather than metal
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- The rungs don’t lay flat to the floor, and they are about ¼ inch thick
No products found.
GHB Pro Agility Ladder
No products found.Now, this agility ladder has been awarded the title of Amazon’s Choice in the category of agility ladders. Such a title is only given to products that are both of excellent quality, and are also available at a good and reasonable price.
This agility ladder is a full 20 feet long and features 12 rungs, so it’s definitely long enough to have more than one person using the agility ladder at a time. And the rails are 16.5 inches apart, so it’s a comfortable size for adults to use.
One of the things we love about this agility ladder is how you can adjust the spacing of the rungs along its straps up to 15 inches. That way, you turn up the precision of movement required as you wish.
The GHB Pro Agility Ladder is of excellent quality, with strong, heavy-duty nylon straps for the rails. While the rungs are made with a durable plastic that has plenty of flex, which is very handy if a player were to get their foot caught – they won’t risk breaking the plastic rung.
If you don’t want to use the whole of the ladder, you can simply tie up the area that you are not using with the organizing straps, which also help to keep the ladder well stored when not in use.
This agility ladder also comes with it’s very own carry bag, which can be carried by hand or over the shoulder, and is super compact and convenient.
There are two color options available to choose from, namely blue and yellow. We think the yellow one is more easily visible, but that’s up to you.
Pros:
- Winner of Amazon’s Choice title
- Very long at 20 feet, with 12 rungs
- Made with very high quality materials
- Adjustable spacing between the rungs
- Comes with it’s very own carry bag
Cons:
- Because the rungs are designed to be flexible, this makes them less sturdy
No products found.
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. It should cover everything you need to think about before you buy.
Length
We would argue that the longer your agility ladder is, the better. If you get one that’s sufficiently long enough, say 20 feet or more, you could even get two or three people training on it at the same time, which would make for better value for money.
Color
While the rails of an agility ladder are traditionally black, the rungs on the other hand can be very brightly colored, which makes them considerably easier to see on the grass, which makes the agility ladder easier to work with.
We would argue that yellow is perhaps the brightest color to spot against green grass or AstroTurf. But on the other hand, your team may appreciate an agility ladder that matches the team colors.
Made of Quality Materials
The rails of agility ladders are typically made of heavy-duty nylon, and this makes them very tough and able to withstand the kind of foot catching etc. that can often occur when using such ladders.
Foldable
Having to carry an agility ladder like you would a regular ladder would be an accident waiting to happen. That’s why we don’t recommend that you use a regular ladder for this purpose, and instead use one that folds away neatly when not in use. And preferably one that comes with its own carry bag, for added convenience.
Adjustability
We’re in favor of agility ladders that allow you to adjust the distance between the rungs. That way, players can start out nice and easy, with the rungs quite far apart, and then turn the heat up in the training by spacing the rungs closer together.
Accessories
If you don’t already have a set of cones for your team, you can always invest in a training set that comes with both an agility ladder and some cones, such as in our number one pick, the Mantra Sports Agility Ladder & Speed Cones Set.
Value for Money
Agility ladders can vary in price, with some costing under $10, and others costing more than double that at $30. Or even more if you’re buying one with extra training accessories, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best agility ladder?
You know what? That’s quite a tricky one to answer, because, as we’ve shown, there are some really great ones out there. But if we had to pick just one, it would be the Mantra Sports Agility Ladder & Speed Cones Set.
There are several reasons we prefer this set, and it’s not just because of the additional cones accessories. It also comes with rust resistant pegs to properly secure the ladder to the ground.
The ladder is made from top quality materials, is adjustable, and it comes backed by no less than a lifetime warranty.