Why Everyone Should Own Parallettes: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Set

When it comes to building strength, mobility, and control, few pieces of equipment offer as much versatility as Parallettes. Whether you're a beginner just starting your calisthenics journey or an advanced athlete fine-tuning handstands and planches, Parallettes deserve a place in every home gym. In this guide, we'll break down the different types of Parallettes, what they're used for, and why owning at least a set of both medium and XL Parallettes is a smart move.

What Are Parallettes?

Parallettes are essentially small, portable parallel bars designed for bodyweight training. They allow you to perform a range of exercises, including:

• Push-ups

• L-sits

• Handstands

• Dips

• Planche work

• Tuck holds

• Core movements

• Mobility drills

By elevating your hands off the floor, parallettes reduce wrist strain and provide extra clearance for deeper movement, better range of motion, and increased stability.

The Main Types of Parallettes

Not all Parallettes are created equal. The market generally breaks down into a few key styles:

1. Compact/Low Parallettes
Great for push-ups, L-sits, and basic strength work. Because of their low height, they're highly portable and easy to store. However, they offer limited clearance for more advanced movements like deep planche leans or handstand work.

2. Medium Parallettes
Often the best all-rounder. Medium parallettes give enough height for deeper push-ups, L-sits, planche progressions, and some basic handstand drills. They're ideal for building wrist-friendly strength and are the most commonly used size for general calisthenics training.

3. XL / Tall Parallettes
These offer maximum clearance for deep planche work, handstands, tuck presses, and more advanced calisthenics movements. They're also excellent for people who need extra space under their body for specific mobility drills or rehabilitation work.

Why Construction Matters

Many people make the mistake of thinking Parallettes are all the same. The truth is: construction quality dramatically affects both performance and safety.

Wood vs Metal:
Wooden handles offer a superior grip, especially when hands get sweaty. They feel warmer, more natural, and less slippery than metal. However, many cheaper all-wood parallettes suffer from weaker joinery and can flex or crack under load.

Metal vs Plastic Feet:
Solid metal bases, like those found on the Gravity Fitness Hybrid Parallettes, provide unmatched stability and durability. Plastic or hollow metal feet on cheaper models can wobble, slip, or eventually fail over time.

The Gravity Fitness Hybrid Parallettes combine the best of both worlds:

• Heavy-duty metal feet and uprights for maximum stability, load capacity, and durability.

• Precision-engineered wooden handles for a comfortable, secure grip during long training sessions.

This hybrid design offers the confidence of commercial-grade stability with the tactile comfort serious athletes prefer.

Why You Should Own Both Medium and XL Parallettes

Different Parallettes serve different training purposes:

• Medium Parallettes are perfect for daily strength work, conditioning, and most static holds.

• XL Parallettes are essential if you're serious about handstand progressions, planche training, or advanced pressing movements.

By owning both, you give yourself a complete setup that can scale with your progress. As you get stronger and more mobile, you'll naturally find yourself wanting the extra clearance that XL parallettes provide, while still using your mediums for foundational work.

Why Gravity Fitness Parallettes Stand Out

There are plenty of brands on the market, but Gravity Fitness has built our reputation around durability, versatility, and design quality. Key advantages include:

• Solid metal base for zero wobble

• Real wooden handles for optimal grip

• Higher clearance on XL models vs many competitors

• Built to handle advanced calisthenics loads

• Trusted by athletes worldwide

Whether you're training at home, in a garage gym, or outdoors, Gravity Fitness parallettes are built to last for years of daily use.

The Bottom Line

If you're serious about calisthenics, functional strength, or simply want a versatile piece of equipment that can grow with you, parallettes are non-negotiable.