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The most frustrating aspect of exercising is when you fall into a routine and plateau. You need to shake things up and switch around your workout to break free from those constraints if you want to continue to improve. Adding gymnastic rings to your exercise regimen is one of the best ways to do that.
Because you have to keep them steady while working out, gymnastic rings require not only strength but also concentration, balance, and flexibility. Adding just a few basic exercises (such as push-ups and pull-ups) that incorporate gymnastic rings will have a dynamic impact on your progress.
Although there are many types of gymnastic rings available, there are only three basic parts, so it's not hard to quickly determine which set of rings is the best for you. If you'd like to learn how to do that, keep reading for a quick tutorial as well as our favorite recommendations.
As noted, gymnastic rings only have three features that you need to consider: the straps (webbing), the buckles, and the rings. This makes it easy to focus on what is important to make sure you’re getting the best set.
The straps suspend the gymnastic rings in the air. These must be heavy-duty, thick straps that are rated to support well beyond your weight. Additionally, the straps need to be manufactured to be firm, which means absolutely no stretch or elasticity. The best straps are much longer than you might think necessary, which allows them to be used in a variety of situations. Look for a length that is at the very least double your height.
Since the straps are adjustable, all gymnastic rings need a sturdy set of nonslip buckles.
Cam: Most feature a cam buckle, which is the same type of buckle used to fasten and secure loads for transportation. These devices are durable, they do not slip, and they will support your weight. The downside to cam buckles is adjusting them. Unless your straps are marked, it can be time-consuming to raise and lower your gymnastic rings (you want them to be even).
Carabiner: An alternative to the cam system is a carabiner system. This is similar to the system found on climbing harnessess. The distances are all preset, so it makes setup and adjustments quick and easy. In most cases, this is the preferred option, but these sets of gymnastic rings are more expensive.
There are three materials used for manufacturing the rings: plastic, metal, and wood.
Plastic: This is the most affordable option, but it has two drawbacks: the rings can feel too light and they may be slippery in sweaty hands. The lightweight feel is just a side effect of the materials used and doesn’t make your gymnastic rings less durable. It only feels that way. Slipping, however, can be a safety issue, so you want to be sure your plastic rings are textured for a comfortable, nonslip grip.
Metal: These rings can be hard to find, and even the textured ones can be tough on your hands. You might want to consider wrapping metal rings in tape or purchasing a pair of gymnastic hand grips to protect your palms. The benefits of metal rings are that they’re manufactured using stainless steel, they feel very solid, and if used properly, they should be pretty much indestructible.
Wood: This is the preferred material for a set of gymnastic rings and is the required material for Olympic competitions. It’s durable, and the natural texture of the wood ensures a good grip, plus it can easily be adjusted to your preference by using sandpaper. The downside to wooden gymnastic rings is that they’re more expensive than plastic and they won’t hold up in outdoor environments.
For something that only has three basic features, there is a surprisingly wide range in the cost of gymnastic rings.
Be careful when looking at budget sets that cost less than $20. You may be able to find a gem in that price range, but you must be certain the rings are durable and rated to handle your weight.
In the $20 to $30 range, you can find rings that are mostly made of plastic and come with a set of adjustable straps. The best of these rings feature a textured grip and are rated to hold well over the weight of the average body.
The $30 to $40 price range is where most of the wooden gymnastic rings can be found. Wooden rings are preferred by most users, but they typically cost a little more. Additionally, these sets have heavy-duty straps with nonslip buckles to provide a safe workout. You can find gymnastic rings that exceed $40, but make sure they include some notable features, such as carabiners instead of cam buckles, to make the extra expenditure worth it.
A. No. Don’t let the name of the equipment scare you away from incorporating them into your exercise regimen. When used for strength training, gymnastic rings don’t require the level of balance, agility, or flexibility that is associated with competing. The rings are just another tool, such as pull-up bars, dumbbells, or jump rope, that you use for exercising. Gymnastic rings offer a more effective way to do push-ups, pull-ups, dips, muscle-ups, and more. However, if you'd like to level up to more advanced moves, you don’t need to limit yourself to those traditional exercises.
A. Instability. Gymnastic rings don’t stay in place while you exercise; you must stabilize them yourself. If you've never tried something as seemingly basic as a push-up while using gymnastic rings, you may find the experience humbling. The multiple benefits exceed nearly every other form of weight or resistance training. Additionally, you get more bang for your buck because just a few ring exercises are the equivalent of several sets of other types of weight training.
A. The answer to this question depends on what type of exercises you’ll be doing with your gymnastic rings. For the sake of this article, we’re going to assume that yours will be used for strength training and not a gymnastics routine. For this, you want at least a foot or two over one and a half times your height, so you aren’t banging your head on the ceiling when doing dips. For the average person, this means a nine or ten-foot-high ceiling with the rings roughly six feet above the ground. This isn’t ideal, but it’s definitely workable. Higher is better, but if you don't have a ten-foot ceiling, it’s possible to modify some exercises to work in a smaller space.
