Parallettes Buyer’s Guide: Which Gravity Parallettes Should You Get?
Parallettes are where Gravity Fitness began. Our founder Rich couldn’t find any that were well-built and stable, so he made his own. They became our flagship product, and we’ve since over 100,000 pairs. But our range of parallettes doesn’t stop there. Over the years, we’ve redesigned the range based on athlete feedback and now offer FOUR different sizes. Which is which, what do they do, and why should you choose them? Here’s the low-down.
What size parallettes does Gravity Fitness sell?
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Travellettes (Small)
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Medium Pro Hybrid Parallettes
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Long Hybrid Parallettes
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XL Adjustable Parallettes
This buyer’s guide breaks down the differences, what each size is best for, and how to choose based on your training goals.
What are parallettes and what are they used for?
Parallettes are low parallel bars used in calisthenics and gymnastics. They elevate your hands off the floor, giving you more range of motion, better wrist positioning, and putting you in a better position for advanced cali movements.
Parallettes are commonly used for:
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Push-ups (with deeper range)
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L-sits and core work
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Handstands and handstand variations
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Planche progressions
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Dips (on taller models)
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Front and back lever work (on specific sizes)
What’s the difference between the Gravity Parallettes?
We currently offer four different sizes of parallettes, the main differences being height, length, how portable they are, and what exercises they are best used for. Let’s look at each type of parallettes:
Travellettes (Small Parallettes)
Dimensions: 24cm x 22cm x 12.5cm
Weight: 2.9kg
Small and compact enough to fit in your gym bag. These hybrid steel and wood parallettes have 40mm wooden handles for wrist comfort and welded steel feet for stability. They’re ideal if you want something portable and lightweight without sacrificing stability.
Best for:
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Push-ups
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L-sits
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Tuck planche work
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Handstand holds
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Travel training
Medium Pro Hybrid Parallettes
Dimensions: 50cm x 40cm x 30cm
Weight: 5.7kg
If you’re only buying one pair of Gravity Parallettes, this is our most versatile option. Our Medium Pro Hybrid Parallettes have welded steel feet and uprights, with 40mm wooden handles for comfort and grip. They’re stable, long enough for advanced work, but still easy to carry around.
Best for:
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Handstands
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Planche progressions
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L-sits and V-sits
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Push-ups
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Front and back levers
BUY MEDIUM PRO PARALLETTES HERE
Long Hybrid Parallettes
Dimensions: 70cm x 22cm x 12.5cm
Weight: 4kg
Inspired by gymnastics parallettes, these are long, low bars designed for handstand and lever work. They’re not found everywhere and are more of a rare find. The extended 70cm length gives you more room for balance corrections and wider hand placements, making them hard to beat for handstand training.
Best for:
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Handstand variations
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Planche work
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Front and back levers
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Advanced core progressions
XL Adjustable Parallettes (Dip Bars)
Adjustable height: 74cm–94cm
Weight: 9kg
These are effectively tall parallel bars. Built to be wobble-proof, with powder-coated steel, 60mm widened feet and fully adjustable height, they allow full range of motion on something close to a compact parallel bar setup.
Best for:
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Dips
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L-sits at height
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Planche lean progressions
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Assisted front levers
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Deep push-ups
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Advanced strength training
BUY XL ADJUSTABLE PARALLETTES HERE
Which parallettes are best for your training?
Good question. If your focus is the basics (and you like your parallettes portable), our Travellettes are ideal.
If you want one pair of parallettes that covers almost everything, our Medium Pro Hybrid Parallettes are the most versatile.
If your main goal is handstands and advanced static holds, the Long Hybrid Parallettes offer more space and balance control.
If you want dip depth, strength overload, and adjustable height, the XL Adjustable Parallettes are your best option.
Best exercises for each type of parallettes
Travellettes small parallettes are great for floor-based work like push-ups, tuck planche holds, and L-sits.
Medium Pro Hybrid Parallettes are the OG that support almost every calisthenics movement from handstands, planche progressions, levers, and push-ups to core work.
Long Hybrid Parallettes are great for handstand variations, wider balance drills, and lever progressions.
XL Adjustable Parallettes allow full-depth dips, advanced strength progressions, and elevated core work.
How to choose: what are you training for?
Here are some useful questions to help you choose:
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Do I prioritise portability or max stability?
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Am I training handstands seriously?
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Do I need height for dips?
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Am I short on space?
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Do I want one pair to cover everything?
If you’re still not sure, the Medium Pro Hybrid Parallettes are usually the safest all-round investment.
The Gravity Fitness 60-day returns promise
Don’t forget, anything you buy from Gravity Fitness comes with a 60-day extended return (and 5-year warranty) so if you think you’ve bought the wrong type of parallettes, you can send them back.
Is it worth owning more than one pair of parallettes?
Parallettes were our first product for a reason. They’re one of the most effective tools for building classic calisthenics strength. For many athletes, one pair is enough. But owning more than one makes sense if you want small parallettes for travel and larger ones for home, you want tall bars for dips and lower bars for statics, or if you’re training specific skills like handstands.
And if you own a gym or coach other athletes, it makes sense to have a selection.
Parallettes FAQs
Are wooden handles better than steel?
We think so, and our customers agree. Wooden handles absorb sweat, stay temperature-stable, and are more comfortable for the wrists and hands.
Are parallettes better than training on the floor?
They’re different. Parallettes allow deeper range of motion, reduce wrist extension strain, and open up advanced movements that aren’t possible on the floor.
Are parallettes suitable for beginners?
Absolutely, they’re a core piece of cali kit that everyone can use. You don’t need advanced skills to benefit from them.
