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The Best Calisthenics Equipment for At Home Workouts!

Discover our top picks for the best calisthenics equipment every home gym needs for an amazing, and super effective workout! 

One of the most convenient things about calisthenics is that it’s all bodyweight, which means you can squeeze in a good workout just about anywhere! Whether you’re at the gym, in your local park or at home, a bodyweight workout can prove to be challenging and rewarding. 

However, just because you don’t need weights, it doesn’t mean you don’t need the occasional bit of calisthenics equipment to take your training to the next level. 

What’s more, if you have a home gym, the right calisthenics equipment can be super handy to have around. From parallettes that give your press ups a wider range of movement, to rings that can help you tackle more of those all important gymnastic exercises, there’s a whole host of new possibilities available to you with the right calisthenics equipment. 

To help you, we’ve picked out our top seven pieces of calisthenics equipment, and the reasons why you should include them in your home gym too! 

8 Best Calisthenics Equipment for Home Workouts 

  1. Gymnastic rings
  2. Parallettes 
  3. Ab rollers
  4. Resistance bands
  5. Pull up bar
  6. Massage ball
  7. Foam Roller
  8. Massage Gun

1. Gymnastic Rings

Using gymnastic rings for a calisthenics workout offers several benefits, including:

  1. Increased muscle activation: Rings require more stabilization and engagement from various muscles, resulting in greater overall muscle activation compared to traditional bodyweight exercises.
  2. Greater range of motion: Rings allow for a greater range of motion, which can help improve flexibility and mobility.
  3. Versatility: Rings can be used for a variety of exercises, including push-ups, dips, pull-ups, and rows, allowing for a full-body workout.
  4. Portability: Rings are lightweight and portable, making them an ideal option for a home workout or for those who like to exercise outdoors.
  5. Scalability: Rings can be adjusted to make exercises easier or more challenging, making them suitable for beginners and advanced athletes alike.
  6. Improved grip strength: Using rings requires a strong grip, which can help improve grip strength and forearm muscles.

Gymnastic Rings - Calisthenics Equipment

These are a reasonably priced set of rings that offer a rubber grip for additional security. We’d recommend them as a good choice for your first set.

Find out more on Amazon.com

2. Parallettes

Using parallettes for a calisthenics workout offers several benefits, including:

  1. Increased range of motion: Parallettes can be used to increase the range of motion for various exercises, such as push-ups and dips, which can help improve mobility and flexibility.
  2. Improved balance and stability: Parallettes require more balance and stability than traditional bodyweight exercises, which can help improve overall coordination and body control.
  3. Greater muscle activation: Using parallettes can activate muscles in the upper body, core, and lower body, resulting in a more comprehensive full-body workout.
  4. Joint-friendly: Parallettes can reduce the strain on the wrists and shoulders during exercises such as push-ups, making them a joint-friendly option for those with pre-existing injuries or joint pain.
  5. Versatility: Parallettes can be used for a variety of exercises, including L-sits, handstands, and planches, allowing for a diverse and challenging workout.
  6. Portability: Parallettes are lightweight and portable, making them an ideal option for a home workout or for those who like to exercise outdoors.

Parallettes for calisthenics beginner workout

These are some of our favorite paralettes. They’re affordable, easy to use and sturdy too. Plus they can be delivered quickly via Amazon.

Find out more on Amazon.com

3. Ab Rollers 

Using ab rollers for a calisthenics workout offers several benefits, including:

  1. Improved core strength: Ab rollers primarily target the abdominal muscles, including the rectus abdominis, obliques, and transverse abdominis, helping to improve core strength and stability.
  2. Increased upper body activation: Ab rollers also activate muscles in the upper body, such as the chest, shoulders, and triceps, resulting in a more comprehensive full-body workout.
  3. Improved balance and stability: Using an ab roller requires balance and stability, helping to improve overall coordination and body control.
  4. Joint-friendly: Ab rollers can reduce the strain on the lower back and hips during exercises such as planks and crunches, making them a joint-friendly option for those with pre-existing injuries or joint pain.
  5. Versatility: Ab rollers can be used for a variety of exercises, including planks, rollouts, and knee tucks, allowing for a diverse and challenging workout.
  6. Portability: Ab rollers are small and portable, making them an ideal option for a home workout or for those who like to exercise outdoors.

4. Resistance bands

Using resistance bands as calisthenics equipment offers several benefits, including:

  1. Increased resistance: Resistance bands provide external resistance to bodyweight exercises, making them more challenging and helping to improve muscle strength and endurance.
  2. Improved muscle activation: Resistance bands can help activate muscles that are difficult to target with bodyweight exercises alone, resulting in greater overall muscle activation and development.
  3. Versatility: Resistance bands can be used for a wide variety of exercises, allowing for a full-body workout and enabling the targeting of specific muscle groups.
  4. Joint-friendly: Resistance bands can reduce the strain on joints during exercises, making them a joint-friendly option for those with pre-existing injuries or joint pain.
  5. Portability: Resistance bands are lightweight and portable, making them an ideal option for a home workout or for those who like to exercise outdoors.
  6. Scalability: Resistance bands can be adjusted to make exercises easier or more challenging, making them suitable for beginners and advanced athletes alike.

Check out our review of the best resistance bands for at home workouts to discover our top-rated bands. 

5. Pull-up Bar

Using a pull-up bar is great for a calisthenics workout. Plus you can buy relatively cheap ones you can fit in doorways at home, making it a favourite piece of calisthenics equipment for many hardcore fans. What’s more it offers a range of benefits, including:

  1. Improved upper body strength: Pull-ups are a highly effective exercise for building upper body strength, specifically in the back, shoulders, and arms.
  2. Increased muscle activation: Pull-ups require a lot of muscle activation, resulting in a more comprehensive full-body workout.
  3. Versatility: This piece of calisthenics equipment can be used for a variety of exercises, including pull-ups, chin-ups, leg raises, and hanging crunches, allowing for a full-body workout.
  4. Joint-friendly: Pull-up bars can reduce the strain on the wrists and shoulders during exercises such as push-ups, making them a joint-friendly option for those with pre-existing injuries or joint pain.
  5. Scalability: Pull-up bars can be adjusted to make exercises easier or more challenging, making them suitable for beginners and advanced athletes alike.
  6. Portability: At home pull-up bars can be installed in a doorway or easily transported, making them an ideal option for a home workout or for those who like to exercise outdoors.

Doorway pull up bar for calisthenics

This piece of calisthenics equipment is sturdy and can easily be attached to your doorframe. We found it to be strong and reliable.

Find out more on Amazon.com

6. Therapy Balls

Using a therapy ball for recovery after a workout offers several benefits, including:

  1. Improved circulation: Rolling on a therapy ball can help improve circulation and promote blood flow to the muscles, which can aid in recovery by delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the muscle tissues.
  2. Increased mobility: Rolling on a therapy ball can help improve joint mobility and range of motion, which can help reduce the risk of injury and promote overall flexibility.
  3. Improved muscle recovery: Rolling on a therapy ball can help break up knots and adhesions in the muscles, helping to reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery.
  4. Improved muscle activation: Using a therapy ball for gentle exercises or stretches can help activate and engage muscles that may not have been effectively targeted during the workout.
  5. Relaxation: Rolling on a therapy ball can help promote relaxation and reduce stress, which can aid in recovery by lowering the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol.
  6. Versatility: Therapy balls can be used for a variety of exercises and stretches, allowing for a full-body recovery routine.

calisthenics equipment therapy balls

We like these therapy balls as they’ll give you a strong massage, without being uncomfortably hard. Plus, the tote allows you to utilise the peanut shape for back massages.

Find out more on Amazon.com

7. Foam Rollers

Using a foam roller after a workout offers several benefits, including:

  1. Improved muscle recovery: Foam rolling can help reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery by breaking up knots and adhesions in the muscles.
  2. Increased flexibility and mobility: Foam rolling can help improve joint mobility and range of motion, which can help reduce the risk of injury and promote overall flexibility.
  3. Improved circulation: Foam rolling can help improve circulation and promote blood flow to the muscles, which can aid in recovery by delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the muscle tissues.
  4. Improved performance: Foam rolling can help increase muscle activation, which can result in better performance during the next workout.
  5. Cost-effective: Foam rollers are an affordable recovery tool that can be used at home, reducing the need for expensive massage or physical therapy sessions.
  6. Versatility: Foam rollers can be used for a variety of exercises and stretches, allowing for a full-body recovery routine.

calisthenics equipment foam roller

We like this foam roller as the different nodules on the surface will give you a range of deep tissue intensities as you use it.

Find out more on Amazon.com

8. Massage Gun

Using a massage gun after a workout offers several benefits, including:

  1. Improved muscle recovery: A massage gun can help reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery by improving circulation, breaking up knots and adhesions in the muscles, and flushing out metabolic waste.
  2. Increased flexibility and mobility: A massage gun can help improve joint mobility and range of motion, which can help reduce the risk of injury and promote overall flexibility.
  3. Increased muscle activation: A massage gun can help activate muscles that may not have been effectively targeted during the workout, resulting in better overall performance during the next workout.
  4. Pain relief: A massage gun can help alleviate pain and discomfort in sore muscles and trigger points.
  5. Time-efficient: A massage gun can provide a quick and effective recovery option, reducing the need for lengthy stretching or massage sessions.
  6. Versatility: A massage gun can be used for a variety of muscles and body parts, allowing for a full-body recovery routine.

Overall, incorporating a massage gun into a post-workout recovery routine can help improve muscle recovery, flexibility, mobility, muscle activation, pain relief, and overall physical wellbeing. However, it is important to use a massage gun properly to avoid causing injury, and to consult with a healthcare provider before using a massage gun if you have any pre-existing health conditions.

If you’re not sure which massage gun might be for you, why not check out our comprehensive review of the best massage guns on the market today.

gymgirlfit

gymgirlfit was created by health and fitness enthusiasts, with backgrounds in powerlifting and writing. We've written for a number of well-known fitness publishing companies.

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