6 Best Parallettes For 2024: Calisthenics Bars For Beginners

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Parallettes have their roots in gymnastics as they were initially designed to recreate the feel of the parallel bars. Today, parallettes are commonly used by strength and advanced calisthenics athletes as it supports an array of dynamic bodyweight exercises.

Exercises range from basic pushups and dips to more advanced movements like planches, swing-throughs, and handstands. In addition to suiting several exercises, parallettes are also environmentally versatile.

It can be used outdoors at your local park or indoors in your home gym. Regardless of where you set up, you’re sure to get in a solid training session.

While parallettes allow for effective workouts, finding a good set can be challenging as they come in different shapes and sizes and serve varying functions.

To ensure you find the right pair for your training needs, here is a guide on parallettes. This includes what to look out for, what to buy, how to use them, and more.

Benefits of Training With Parallette Bars

Training with parallettes involves a lot of upper body and core strength. By using your arms to suspend your body in the air, you’ll need to hold various positions and sometimes transition between them as well.

For the most part, parallettes may seem like a straightforward piece of calisthenics equipment. However, there are many advantages to using these when training.

Below are the top five ways you can benefit from using parallettes:

• Improve body control: Parallette training requires a tremendous amount of control over your body weight to maintain various positions and perform different movements. Holding your body up in the air between two bars requires high levels of fitness, as well as coordination and upper body strength.
• Increase strength and build muscle: As you work to improve your body control, you will, in turn, increase your upper body strength and build more muscle. Parallette training is great for building your chest, shoulders, triceps, and core. Some even find them useful for working on your back, biceps, and legs.
• Build core strength and balance: You don’t need to be doing exercises that focus only on core stability and balance. Any movement performed on a set of parallettes involves your core to some degree. This is because your core is responsible for keeping your body stable while performing various exercises.
• Improve your grip strength: When performing any movement using parallettes, you need to maintain a strong, neutral grip to keep your body suspended. Over time, this will help you develop your gripping strength. It will also help condition your hands and wrists.
• Work out anywhere you want: As parallettes are relatively small, they are more portable than most pieces of exercise equipment. You can take them with you wherever you go, be it a business trip or vacation. Simply find solid, flat ground to set up your parallettes, and you’re good to go.

Best Parallettes Buying Guide

There are several factors to consider when looking for a quality set of parallettes. From size and shape to the materials used, here is everything you need to know.

Size

An important factor to consider when looking for a suitable parallette set is size. Parallette sets vary in length, height, and overall shape. What size is best will depend on your training needs.

Smaller parallettes are more portable. These are ideal for anyone who moves around often and is looking for parallettes to take with them wherever they go. Smaller options are also better suited to exercises like dips, providing greater depth when performing the movement.

High parallettes cater to a wider range of exercises, including more advanced movements such as calisthenics dips and planche variations. Height is important here as your whole body needs to be off the floor to do these exercises.

Note: You will find that smaller parallettes are sometimes called pushup bars, and taller options are often called dipping bars.

Material

When purchasing any piece of workout equipment, it is essential to look for something that is built to last. The same goes for parallettes. These should be sturdy as they need to support your entire body weight.

Parallettes come in a range of materials, the most common being steel and wood. Though, you can find PVC parallettes too.

Wooden parallettes are a popular choice as they have been used for decades to make functional and sturdy gymnastics equipment. Many athletes prefer it as it offers a more comfortable feel.

With parallettes, wood is used mainly for smaller options or pushup bars. This is because a larger set made from wood is more likely to snap under the pressure of a person’s body weight.

Metal parallettes are stronger and durable, so they can withstand heavier loads. The equipment is also heavier, so it is less likely to wobble or slip during use. The metal type is suited to you if you want to perform weighted calisthenics.

Portability

Portability is often overlooked when searching for a quality set of parallettes. Having a more portable set is useful, especially if you travel a lot.

Even gymnasts traveling to a competition can benefit from a portable parallette set as it allows you to get in a workout wherever you are.

There are a number of factors that will influence the portability of your parallettes. The most obvious is the size and weight of the equipment. Some sets are designed specifically for travel and can be dismantled and stored more easily.

6 Best Parallette Bars

Now that you know what makes a good set of parallettes, it’s time to find the perfect one for your training needs. To get you started on your search, here are six of the best parallette bars on the market.

Rogue’s newly redesigned Bolt Together parallette set is one of the most durable options on the market. The name stems from the updated design, which features a bolt-together construction that can support any body weight.

The added rubber feet protect your floor and ensure that the bars do not shift under pressure, no matter how hard you train. The parallette set has a sturdy base made from 11-gauge steel, and 1.5-inch diameter handles made from 14-gauge steel.

Each handle measures 14 inches in height and features Rogue’s renowned rough-textured black powder coat finish. This is also used on the Rogue Rings and allows for optimal grip. You can view a range of calisthenics rings here. 

Additionally, the new construction allows you to customize the width between each handle without the need for a connecting cross member. This makes the parallette set far more versatile and easy to set up. So if you’re looking for a piece of workout equipment that you can use on the go, this set is a great option.

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Another good, versatile set is these medium-sized, 12-inch-high stainless steel parallettes by Lebert Fitness. Boasting a modern and durable design, this piece of workout equipment is an excellent addition to just about any home gym.

With a wide base-to-height ratio, this set by Lebert Fitness is designed to provide athletes with good stability. Each base features rubber end caps to ensure that the parallettes will not slip and allow for safer training. This is true for most surfaces, including wooden floors, carpet, tiles, and even the outdoors.

The parallettes can be dismantled and packed flat, allowing for easy storage. This way, you can take it with you whenever you’re on the move. The set is also well-suited to various training methods, such as calisthenics, gymnastics, and strength training.

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PULLUP & DIP is an internationally renowned brand that produces premium, high-quality calisthenics equipment. A great product included in their range is the brand’s portable parallette set.

These are constructed from heavy-duty steel tubes and support up to 440 pounds. The product is extremely durable, ensuring optimal stability and overall safer training.

Another excellent feature is the extra-wide handles. This ensures optimal power transmission and wrist protection by keeping your hands in a more neutral position.

The anti-slip rubber coverings are also great as it allows for a perfect grip. This way, you can concentrate fully on your training.

The PULLUP & DIP parallettes are designed for bodyweight athletes and can be used anywhere. So even when you’re traveling, you’ll be able to get in a good workout.

Included with each set is a detailed eBook highlighting over 37 calisthenics parallette exercises to train your upper body, core muscles, and more.

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Featuring a more simple design is Rogue’s cost-effective Formed Parallettes set. Each piece has a light frame made from 14-gauge, 1.5-diameter tubing.

It also has no welds or hardware, and no assembly is required. As such, these minimalist parallettes are an ideal option for home gyms.

While the Formed Parallette features a lighter frame, it has a stable and dependable platform. The two parallel bars sit 13.5 inches above the ground and can be used to perform various exercises.

Some common parallel bar exercises include dips, planches, and V-sits. And to ensure you do not slip while performing these movements, the parallette set features a textured, black powder finish. This also provides a fresh, clean look.

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If you’re looking for the best wooden parallettes, check out this sturdy and compact set by PULLUP & DIP. While these are smaller than most parallettes, they are robust and can support up to 440 pounds.

They are also tall enough to allow for a greater range of motion and deep stretch when performing push-ups. In addition to strength training exercises, these parallettes can also be used to train your balance, coordination, and agility.

Another unique feature is the wooden handles. These boast an ergonomic design that perfectly fits the shape of your hands and helps you maintain a more neutral grip. This will protect your wrists while you train by ensuring optimal power distribution and transmission.

And to provide a safe and firm footing, each parallette has a heavy-duty steel base with durable, non-slip padding. This will prevent any wobbling while you train and will also keep your floors scratch-free if you use the product indoors.

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If you’re looking for a tall parallette set to add to your home gym, check out these dipping bars by Sportsroyals. Each bar boasts a minimalist design and is made from heavy-duty steel. As such, the bars are able to support up to 400 pounds.

The Sportsroyals bars are made from two oval pipes. These are superior to round pipes as they have a wider contact area with the ground, providing more loading points. This prevents wobbling or slipping, providing you with a stable base to safely perform all your workouts. The parallette bars also feature padded handles, helping you to maintain a comfortable and powerful grip.

The dipping bar is versatile as it has a three-level adjustable height. This way, you can perform a wider range of exercises. This includes everything from decline pushups to planches, and plenty more.

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Calisthenics Parallettes Exercise Options

Parallettes are great for training your upper body and core muscles. This is because the two parallel bars create space between your body and the floor, allowing for a full range of motion.

By getting a deeper stretch, your body will recruit more muscle fibers. This includes your core muscles, which work hard to maintain your stability.

With parallettes, you can perform a highly effective full-body workout at home. There are many different exercises you can perform, ranging from pushups to handstands. Below is a list of bodyweight staples and other exercises to include in your parallettes workout routine.

Tip: Try these in a circuit – 40 seconds on, 20 seconds off. Repeat four rounds with a minute’s rest between each round.

Best Parallette Bar Summary

Parallettes are sure to be a great addition to your home gym. Not only can they be used at home, but these parallel bars are also ideal for outdoor training.

Many are extremely portable, allowing you to get in a good workout wherever you go. With an easy and simple set-up, you can begin training your upper body, core muscles, body control, stability, and more.

With so many benefits to using parallettes, having a good-quality pair is a worthwhile investment for any fitness enthusiast – be it a beginner or experienced athlete.

In this post, we highlighted the best parallettes on the market. Which one of the items mentioned above will you be trying?