The 9 Best Gymnastic Rings

Editor's Notes

February 10, 2021:

Gymnastic rings are often used by adults, but getting kids interested in fitness while they're young can help them stay active and healthy for years to come. While the Zncmrr Colorful aren't meant to be used for traditional gymnastic ring exercises, we added them in this update because they can help kids improve their grip and upper body strength, giving them the muscle memory they need to graduate to a real pair of rings later on. They're also easy to set up, as you can hang them from a slackline rather than having to install a ceiling mount. We removed the Titan Fitness Wood and Iron Bull Strength due to availability concerns. Otherwise, the list saw few changes this update, as the models already selected continue to be high-quality options that stand out from others on the market.

October 02, 2019:

First, we want to note that anyone buying gymnastic rings should be aware that, while they do offer certain advantages over free weights and stationary workout machines, they also present a unique set of risks. Because gymnastic rings lack the fixed stability of, for example, a pull-up bar, they place strain on parts of the body that otherwise wouldn't be engaged to the same degree, such as various stabilizer muscles and ligaments. Those not accustomed to this strain may compensate by using bad form, placing undue tension on these ligaments and other parts of the body that could ultimately result in an injury. If you plan on using gymnastic rings and you don't have prior experience with them, it's best that you consult with a personal trainer who can teach you to use them properly and safely.

Now, our updated list includes numerous new additions. The most notable ones are the sets by Emerge Fitness, Nordic Lifting, and Garage Fit Gym. The first two of these additions stood out against the competition for the quality of their materials. The rings from the Emerge Fitness set are made of high-quality wood with one of the smoothest finishes we came across, and the kit's military-grade straps impressed us, too. The polycarbonate-plastic construction of the rings from Nordic Lifting offers a superior texture to most other rings, and they have a lifetime warranty, too, should the buckles give out or the rings become warped.

In choosing your gymnastic rings, you should know that the two most common sizes, 1.1" and 1.25", are each better suited to particular types of training. The thinner ones are sized according to the standards of the International Gymnastics Federation, while the latter are more commonly used in CrossFit gyms. You'll want to choose the thickness of your rings depending on your training priorities, as well as the size of your hands.