If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best gymnastics rings for bodyweight training are, then we recommend the Garage Fit Gymnastic Rings as the best one.
Gymnast rings are one of the best pieces of fitness equipment that you can purchase.
Their versatility and convenience make them a great addition to anyone’s repertoire.
You can strengthen your core, do functional, cardio, and strength workouts or just work on stability and building a super-strong core.
While you could pick up any old pair of gymnastic rings, you may want to look for certain specifications that will help you to choose the best gymnastic rings for your fitness level and goals.
So, we’ve compiled a few things to look for, tips for set-up and use, and some product options to get you started.
Here are the top gymnastics rings we’ll be reviewing:
- Nayoya Gymnastic Rings
- Reehut Gymnastic Rings with Adjustable Straps
- Garage Fit Gymnastic Rings
- Rep Fitness Wood Gymnastic Rings
- Elite Gymnastic Rings
How to Choose the Best Gymnastic Rings?
There are a few considerations when it comes to choosing the best gymnastic rings. While the products all look pretty similar, there are a variety of differences that cater to specific uses and personal preferences.
Budget
Gymnastic rings aren’t typically expensive, although you can buy them for upwards of over $100.
If you’re just starting out you can find a pair for around $15-$50 depending on what you’re looking for.
The material the rings are made of and length of straps will play a role in the total price.
Weight Capacity
The average safe weight capacity for gymnastic rings varies between about 300-600lbs. Most will hold over 200lbs safely while others can hold up to 2000lbs.
If you’ll be using them for bodyweight workouts then there’s not much reason to invest in the higher-end weight capacity styles.
The standard 300lbs weight limit should be sufficient for most people.
Rings
You can choose between wooden, plastic, or metal rings.
Wooden rings tend to be the standard for competitions, however, a set of plastic gymnastic rings will work just fine for at-home workouts and tend to be more inexpensive.
If you’re just starting out then the plastic option will work.
These tend to be textured so it makes them easier to grip than smooth wooden or metal rings.
Straps
Usually, when you purchase a set of gymnastic rings they’ll include straps.
Some companies sell the straps and rings separately so make sure that you’re purchasing both, as the rings won’t help you much without some straps to suspend from.
Straps come in about 1in-1.5in thickness. The thicker the strap, the stronger it should be.
There are also varying lengths to suit different environments such as high ceilings and different styles of training.
What Are the Benefits of Gymnastic Rings for Bodyweight Training?
Gymnastic rings have a few benefits that give you a training advantage over other styles of workouts.
Get A Chiseled Physique
They help you to create an aesthetically appealing physique.
If you’ve ever seen a gymnast, you may have noticed that they generally look pretty ripped.
The bulk of their training is based on bodyweight movements that require a lot of strength and stability, much like workouts done on gymnastic rings.
Strengthen Your Whole Body
Using gymnast rings is a great way to strengthen your core, while also improving your joint stability and fortifying your soft tissues like tendons and ligaments.
Plus, you’ll work your whole body since you’ll have to use a lot of your smaller stabilizer muscles to keep you stable and maintain proper form while supporting your body weight.
Workout Variety
Gymnastic rings are a phenomenal way to engage your whole body.
In addition to creating a ton of core strength and stability, you can get really creative while doing a bunch of different workouts that target all of your big muscle groups.
They’re fantastic for functional workouts that train the fundamental movement patterns of pushing and pulling.
Some exercises that you can do using gymnastic rings include
- pull-ups
- push-ups
- dips
- rows
- muscle-ups
- chest flies
- front levers
- skin the cats
- plank variations
Portable and Convenient
Another perk of using gymnastic rings is that they’re lightweight – which makes them easy to throw into a carry-on bag and take with you on trips so that you can workout anywhere.
Or you can keep them in your gym bag to switch up your workout while at the gym or a park.
They’re also a great piece of at-home workout equipment because they take up minimal room and can be easily stored.
Things to Look for that Differentiate the Best Gymnastic Rings
Rings
The best gymnastic rings should be easy to grip.
You can choose from wood which tends to be the smoothest option aside from metal rings that can usually be found in public parks and certain gyms.
Beginners often like to start with plastic rings as they tend to be easier to grip and a little more user-friendly.
While the material plays a part in grip, the thickness of the rings is another aspect that should be considered.
While 1.11in rings are pretty standard and should work for most people, especially those with smaller hands, you can also get 1.25in rings.
These are typically the ones you’ll find in some gymnastics gyms, CrossFit boxes, and other facilities for competition training.
Adjustment
Most gymnastic rings should come with a set of instructions for how to thread the strap through the buckles for the most secure fit.
However, having numbers on the straps can also make them easier to adjust during use.
Without numbers or lines, it can be hard to quickly adjust both straps to be equal in height.
Straps
The longer the straps the more difficult it is to stabilize.
So, if you’re a beginner, getting shorter straps or adjusting the strap height to be shorter will be helpful.
Straps are usually between about 15-30ft long, however, there are shorter and longer straps available as well.
The length of your straps will depend on where you’re hanging them from, what you’re using them for, and your level of ability.
The Best Gymnastics Rings Reviewed
Nayoya Gymnastic Rings
The Nayoya Gymnastic Rings are made with textured PC plastic.
It’s supposed to have more durability and be stronger than ABS plastic rings.
Plus, it’s easy to grip because the texture helps to reduce slipping from sweaty hands.
This product comes with 2 gymnastic rings, 2 straps and adjustable buckles for each.
Nayoya gymnastic rings also have the highest safe weight capacity compared to other items on this list. They should safely support up to about 2,000lbs.
Set-up takes about 5 minutes, and the rings come with instructions to make it easy and simple.
They explain how to install the rings, including how to insert the straps into the buckle for the most secure adjustments. If you’ve installed the straps correctly, then they shouldn’t slip during use.
For ease of setup, the adjustment buckles also feature arrows that point in the direction the strap should be inserted.
Pros
- feel very sturdy
- the texture is great for gripping
- simple and easy setup
Cons
- rings may snap during use
- metal clasps aren’t the most durable
- hard to adjust the rings equally because there’s no metric and/or markings
Reehut Gymnastic Rings with Adjustable Straps
The Reehut Gymnastic Rings come with 2 rings, adjustment buckles for each strap, and a pair of straps.
Each strap is 1in wide and 15ft long, and they’re made from polycarbonate nylon, which won’t buckle or bend and is easy to adjust.
You have the option of choosing a different ring color if you don’t want black gymnastic rings.
The other options are blue or green. Each ring is 7in thick in diameter, with a 7in inner diameter and an outer diameter of 9in.
The non-slip rings are made from ABS plastic, which is textured to keep your hands from slipping as your grip may get sweaty.
With a 300lbs weight capacity, these rings are at the lower end of the safe weight capacity for gymnastic rings but they should be suitable for most people nonetheless.
This product comes with a 16-page Ebook with instructions and tutorials for use. Reehut also offers a 30-day replacement or refund, and a 2-year warranty.
Pros
- solid and thick rings
- the straps feel like they’re made well
- buckles have an engraved arrow to help you figure out which way to thread straps through for security
Cons
- grip is slippery when sweaty
- stitching that holds metal bracket may not be secure, frays easily
- rings aren’t that durable and may snap
Garage Fit Gymnastic Rings
Garage Fit Gymnastic Rings are made from ABS plastic, and feature premium-quality buckles, and numbered straps.
The straps are 15ft long and about 1.5in thick.
There are a few different colors of straps to choose from, with options like pink, red, light blue, and neon green.
Each ring has an outer diameter of 9.05in and an inner diameter of 6.85in.
They’re about 1.11in in diameter as far as their thickness.
The straps are marked with numbers which makes them easier to adjust.
These gymnastic rings should be able to support over 550lbs.
Pros
- number markings make them easy to set up and adjust so they’re equal length
- heavy duty and durable
- straps are nice and wide for extra security while hanging
Cons
- markings for alignment may not be equal on all straps
- color of the actual product may not be the same as what’s shown in the picture
Rep Fitness Wood Gymnastic Rings
Rep Fitness Wood Gymnastic Rings come with 14ft long straps, either numbered for ease of adjustment or unnumbered. You also have the option of 7.5ft straps. Each strap is 1.5in wide.
These are durable wooden rings that are manufactured with natural Baltic birch wood.
The Rep Fitness rings are Olympic Federation compliant so they have similar specifications as the ones that are used in professional competitions.
Each ring is 1.11in thick, so they’re a fantastic option for people who may have small hands.
The adjustable cam buckles that attach the rings to the straps are heavy-duty, and easy-to-feed which makes them less likely to slip while under tension.
This product should support up to around 600lbs of weight.
Another great feature is the velcro retention loops attached to the straps that help to keep them neat.
You can fold or roll the end of each strap up and tuck it into the loop to keep it out of your way while using the rings.
Rep Fitness is a US-based company with its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. They offer a 1-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects.
Pros
- well-built and very solid
- numbered straps make it really easy to match lengths of both straps quickly
- rings are very smooth and comfortable to grip
Cons
- straps may slip a little during use
- straps may be a little too wide for the buckles on the unnumbered model
Elite Gymnastic Rings
Elite Gymnastic Rings are specifically made for outdoor use so they’re textured to make them more effective in the elements.
They are non-slip and include quality buckles and straps that won’t slip during use.
Each strap is 15ft long. The rings are about 9.25in in outer diameter, with an inner diameter of about 7in.
This product has a safe weight capacity of over 250lbs.
These are great gymnastic rings for CrossFit and are easy and quick to set up.
They also come with access to a URL with video tutorials and training instructions to help you learn how to use the rings safely and effectively.
Pros
- inexpensive and seem more durable than TRX straps
- rough surface texture makes them easy to grip well
- dark color is great for hiding dirt
Cons
- weak buckles snap quickly
- straps slip easily
Conclusion
The Garage Fit Gymnastic Rings are our top pick.
They have numbers that mark the adjustment straps and make them easy to set-up, plus they’re wide and give you a feeling of extra security while supporting your body weight on them.
The straps are 15ft long, which should be suitable for most people, whether you’re using them at home, the gym or on a tree at an outside location.
Each ring is 1.11in thick, which is the standard thickness and tends to be the most comfortable for the general population.
Plus, they’re affordable, easy to set up and adjust, and can support over 550lbs.
