OPTIONS FOR GYMNASTIC RINGS

While it’s beyond the scope of this book to break down the entire gymnastic rings market, we do want to give you an idea of the attributes to look for in gymnastic rings, as well as give you a couple suggestions.

What to look for in a set of gymnastic rings:

• Heavy duty straps and handles
• Wood handles (plastic and metal gets slippery when your hands become sweaty) I would suggest getting a pair of plastic handles only if you plan to permanently leave them up outside, as wood will rot when exposed to the elements long-term.
• Heavy duty and easy-to-adjust cam buckles
• Double anchor points that are easy to attach to
• Foot cradles (optional)
• Proven track record in the marketplace

WOOD VS. PLASTIC

When selecting a pair of gymnastic rings, the first thing you’ll want to consider is which material you prefer. Gymnastic rings come in wooden, plastic and metal varieties, with each having their own advantages and disadvantages.

Wood handles offer a better grip overall, and are my personal preference. (I’m also a former college baseball player, so the feeling of wood from years of holding baseball bats is second nature to me.) Plastic and metal gets slippery when your hands become sweaty; though this issue can easily resolved with chalk, the fact is that wood rings accept chalk better and actually further improves your grip.

I would only suggest using a pair of plastic handles if you plan to permanently leave them set up outside, as wood will obviously rot when exposed to the elements long-term. In these cases, I would recommend wrapping the rings in athletic tape to improve your grip.

But if you’re still undecided, wood is the best way to go—and is the preferred choice of Olympians!

RING SIZE

Your choice of gym ring will also be affected by your hand size, which naturally tends to differ between men and women. The 1.11-inch diameter ring is great for those with smaller hands, for example, or for anyone who wants rings compliant with Olympic Federation specs. 1.11-inch diameter rings are also easier to grip and use with a false grip (which we’ll discuss in a moment).

The 1.25-inch rings are ideal for those with larger hands, and are commonly used in Cross Training gyms and affiliates. The 1.25-inch ring is slightly larger and thus more challenging.

STRAPS, BUCKLES AND WEIGHT RATINGS

Even more important than ring size or material is the strength and quality of the equipment’s straps and buckles. Regardless of anything else, you’ll want to make sure you’re investing in a set of rings that have strong, heavy-duty straps and buckles from known and respected companies. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for—so don’t take chances on hanging upside down or from the ceiling from a set of $22 rings with thin nylon straps and weak metal buckles.

Three options are provided below that include heavy duty strap and buckles from companies you can trust. Be sure the weight capacity and strap size listed in the product description fits your needs.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

When looking for a commercial grade set of gymnastic rings, the long and short of it is that you are looking for two heavy-duty straps with cam buckles and two wooden rings. In an effort to keep things simple, anything made by Rogue Fitness is going to be of high quality and good construction. In order to broaden your choices, here are my favorites. I have personally used each of these sets of rings.

A few examples include:

Rogue Gymnastic Wood Rings

• Easy to adjust super heavy-duty straps
• Dual anchor points
• Best option for upper body base work
• No designated foot cradles but can still be used for most lower body exercises

TRX Dual Trainer

• Modeled after traditional gymnastics rings
• Includes 8–12-foot-long straps
• Dual anchor points
• Not as simple to adjust in length as the Rogue Gymnastic Wood Rings

While it may not be a traditional set of rings, this dual anchor trainer is a great choice for the home or garage gym.

The Jungle Gym XT

• Max load per strap of 300 lbs. (with a total max load of 600 lbs.)
• Dual anchor points
• Comfortable handles
• Super easy-to-use foot cradles for lower body exercises

SINGLE VS. DOUBLE ANCHORS

A word on anchor point systems, as they’re most critical to the construction and choice of a set of gymnastic rings (and other various suspension trainers). Single-anchor systems are a single strap connected to one anchor point with an upside down “V,” while dual-anchor systems are two individual straps attached to separate anchor points. I have found single anchor suspension trainers rub uncomfortably during most upper body exercises, while the double anchor suspension trainers (traditional gymnastic rings) provide the ability to space the rings at a comfortable width.