If you could only buy one piece of fitness equipment, what would it be? For me as a coach, the answer is simple: gymnastic rings.
Workout rings turn almost any space into a full body gym. You can push, pull, hang, swing, and hold. They build strength, stability, and control that carry over to bar skills, parallettes, and even barbell work. Plus, their portability lets them fit in a backpack.
In this guide I will help you pick the best gymnastic rings for calisthenics without getting lost in specs and marketing claims. I have coached athletes on all three main types covered here and studied how they hold up over time.
You will get a clear top pick, plus strong options for CrossFit-style training and ABS rings for beginners and travel.
Let’s start with the quick answer.
Table of Contents
Quick answer: the best gymnastic rings for calisthenics
The GORNATION wooden rings are the best gymnastic rings for calisthenics training in general because they simply tick every box that matters for strength skills.
Size and shape
They use the Olympic standard, roughly 18 cm ring diameter and 28 mm thickness. This gives a natural hand position for false grip, strict pull ups, dips, and muscle up progressions. You do not need to fight the equipment, so you can focus on technique.
Grip and material
The rings are made from birch wood. Birch has a slightly textured, warm feel that gives you confidence when you lean into heavy support holds or planche lean work. Since wood absorbs a bit of moisture, it keeps its grip even when your hands start to sweat.
That is a big deal on longer sets of dips, rows, or front lever drills, where slipping can quickly end the set and irritate your skin.
Straps, markings, and buckles
The straps system is one of the real advantages here:
- About 4.5 m strap length means you can hang them from high beams, tree branches, or pull-up bars
- Sewn length markings make it easy to set both rings at the exact same height
- The markings are durable and do not rub off, so you can keep using them to track training progress
- Sturdy buckles let you adjust height in seconds without slipping
Those markings help with both safety and progress tracking. If you move from incline push ups to deeper angles, you can note the strap number and repeat it next time instead of guessing.
Load rating and durability
With a load rating around 300 kg per side, the rings and straps handle serious strength work, heavy dynamic moves, and even partner training. That kind of margin gives peace of mind when you are above the ground working on muscle ups or skin the cat.
The kit also includes a canvas bag that protects the wood during transport. You can throw the whole set in your gym bag and train at parks, gyms, or while traveling.
Developed with athletes
GORNATION works directly with professional athletes, and those tests show in the small details. Strap markings, proper ring thickness, and a grip that feels right during both basics and advanced skills are not accidents. This makes the set a safe, long term investment if you are serious about calisthenics progress.
If you are building a full setup around your rings, it also pairs well with a solid pull up bar. You can check Nick’s calisthenics pull-up bar buying guide for tested bar options.
How to choose the best gymnastic rings for your training
Before you buy, you need to match the gymnastic rings to how you actually train.
The main factors are:
- Ring material (wood vs ABS or other plastic)
- Ring thickness (28 mm vs 32 mm)
- Strap quality, markings, and buckle design
- Load rating and real safety
- How easy they are to set up and adjust
- Your main style of training, like strict bodyweight strength work, CrossFit conditioning, or beginner home workouts
These factors ensure safe and effective functional training on gymnastic rings. Let’s break those down in plain language.
Wood vs ABS: which ring material is better for
Wooden rings
Wooden rings are the gold standard for serious bodyweight strength work. Good birch wood:
- Has a natural grip that feels secure without tearing your hands
- Absorbs moisture, so sweat does not turn the surface into soap
- Feels warm and “alive”, which many athletes prefer in long sessions
- Gives you better fine control in slow strength skills
This makes wood ideal for control-heavy work such as:
- Strict pull ups and false grip work
- Muscle up progressions
- Front lever and back lever drills
- Dips, L-sits, and planche leans
- Handstand practice on rings
If your main goal is clean, strict bodyweight training progress, wood is usually the best choice. The choice of ring material here prioritizes grip and feedback.
ABS or plastic rings
High density ABS plastic rings, like the Zelus set, have their own strengths:
- Very durable and resistant to impact
- Often have a textured grip or threaded surface to help grip
- Do not care about rain or humidity
- Often a bit cheaper than premium wood
- Great for travel, since you can throw them around without worrying about dents
- Metal rings offer similar toughness but can feel cold and harsh on the hands during extended use
The trade off is feel. Even with texture, many people find plastic rings more slippery once they sweat, especially in hot weather. For high skill work, that can be annoying.
So a simple rule:
- Choose wooden rings for main bodyweight strength training and skill work
- Choose plastic rings if you need a tough, budget friendly or travel-ready option
Ring thickness: 28 mm vs 32 mm
Ring thickness affects how your hands and forearms feel during training.
28 mm rings
- Olympic standard thickness
- Easier to grip for most hand sizes
- Better for false grip, long holds, and strict control work
- Ideal for skills like front levers, muscle ups, and planche progressions
This is why the GORNATION 28 mm wooden rings are the top choice for pure bodyweight strength work.
32 mm rings
- Thicker grip that taxes the forearms more
- Common in many CrossFit gyms
- Good for high rep, conditioning-heavy work with kipping or swinging
- Can feel harder to control for small hands or delicate joint structures
The Double Circle wooden rings use around a 32 mm ring diameter, which lines up well with CrossFit workouts that mix kipping pull ups, ring rows, and conditioning circuits.
If you mostly do strict bodyweight strength work, choose 28 mm. If you live on WODs and high rep kipping, 32 mm might feel more natural.
Straps, markings, and safety: details that matter more than you think
Straps are not as exciting as rings, but they play a huge role in safety and training quality.
Good straps should have:
- Enough length to reach from your anchor point to a usable height (4.5 m is great for most setups)
- Sufficient width so they do not cut into your hands or twist easily
- High quality buckles that lock without slipping
- Clear length markings that are sewn in, not printed on
Those markings matter for two reasons:
- Safety: Matching both rings to the same number keeps your shoulders level. Uneven rings increase strain and can cause nagging pain over time.
- Progress tracking: You can log the strap number for progressions like incline push ups or rows. Lower number next week means more range of motion or more load.
Also, always check:
- The stated load rating for rings, straps, and buckles
- The strength of your anchor point, like a pull up bar, beam, or tree branch
- That there are no cuts or heavy frays in the material
If you are training at home and want more pull-up options along with your rings, it can be handy to add a door frame setup. best doorway pull-up bar for bodyweight training covers how to pick a safe one.
Best gymnastic rings for calisthenics by category
Here are the three main picks, broken down by training style.
Best all round calisthenics rings (28 mm): GORNATION wooden rings
Who they are for:
Anyone from beginner to advanced who wants one ring set for serious calisthenics strength, skills, and home or park training.
Key points:
- 28 mm birch wood, Olympic size, with a natural, secure grip
- Roughly 18 cm diameter for classic gymnastic feel
- 4.5 m straps with durable, sewn length markings
- High load rating around 300 kg per side
- Strong buckles that adjust quickly
- Canvas transport bag for storage and travel
- Developed and tested with professional athletes
- Comes with instructions and tips to start safely
These rings feel stable on heavy dips, false grip pull ups, L-sits, and all the way up to advanced skills. The grip stays reliable even when you sweat, so chalk becomes a bonus rather than a must.
If you want one set that can grow with you for years, this is it.
Best CrossFit rings (32 mm): Double Circle wood gymnastic rings
Who they are for:
CrossFit athletes and general fitness fans who do lots of mixed workouts with kipping, ring rows, and conditioning sets.
Key points:
- 1.25 inch (about 32 mm) wooden rings for a thick, solid grip
- Strong wooden build with a smooth but grippy finish
- 9.2 ft straps with numbered hooks for precise 4 inch adjustments
- Four extra strong carabiners that lock the strap position
- Travel case, E-book, and video guide included
- Designed to be fast to set up and adjust between athletes
The numbered hook system is great in a busy gym. You can tell a partner “set yours to hole 5” and both rings match without guesswork.
That thicker grip works well for:
- Kipping pull ups and muscle ups
- High rep ring rows and dips
- Conditioning circuits where you move quickly between stations
You can still learn basic calisthenics skills on them. Just know that some advanced holds will feel harder than on 28 mm rings.
Best ABS rings for beginners and travel: Zelus adjustable Olympic rings
Who they are for:
Beginners on a budget, people who travel a lot, and anyone who wants a tough, low maintenance set that can live in a backpack or car.
Key points:
- High density ABS construction with weight limit up to around 1,760 lb
- Threaded or textured surface to support grip when sweating
- Long polycarbonate nylon straps adjustable up to about 15 ft
- Strong buckles with teeth for higher load capacity and safety
- Fast setup on almost any solid bar or beam
- Support a wide range of movements: pull ups, push ups, dips, rows, muscle ups, chest flies
ABS will not give the same warm feel as wood, but it is incredibly tough and does not mind rough handling or bad weather. That makes these rings perfect for throwing over a soccer goal or park bar for a quick session, with excellent portability.
For strict calisthenics purists, wood is still the gold standard. For most beginners and travelers, these ABS rings are a very practical and safe choice.
If you are just putting your first kit together, you might also like Nick’s overview of starter calisthenics gear to see what pairs well with a ring setup.
How to use your new gymnastic rings for safe calisthenics gains
Once you have your rings, smart setup and progression matter more than fancy exercises.
Training on unstable rings builds strength, stability, and balance, but it also challenges your joints. Slow, controlled reps are your best friend for long term progress.
Safe setup: anchor points, strap length, and even ring height
Good setup habits pay off every session when using your gymnastic rings:
- Pick a strong anchor point
Use a solid pull up bar, door anchor, ceiling beam, or outdoor structure. Avoid thin branches or weak metal. If you are unsure, do not hang on it. - Thread the straps correctly
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for looping the straps through the buckles. Make sure the buckle teeth fully bite into the strap. - Face the buckles away from your body
This keeps sharp edges away from your arms and shoulders when you swing or dip. - Match ring height with markings
Use the sewn length markings to set both sides to the same number. This keeps your shoulders level and reduces strain. - Test with a dead hang first
Before you try dips or muscle ups, hang with straight arms and gently bounce. If anything slips or creaks in a strange way, fix it first. - Store wood dry
If your wooden rings get wet outside, wipe them off and let them dry before putting them in the bag.
For extra joint comfort, especially when you start doing heavier dips and muscle ups, you may want wrist support. The best wrist wraps for calisthenics, can help you find the ones that fit you best.
Beginner friendly ring exercises for full body strength
You do not need crazy skills to get value from rings. Start with these simple exercises that train your whole body:
- Ring rows: Feet on the ground, body at a slight angle. Pull your chest to the rings. Walk your feet forward to make it harder.
- Assisted ring push ups: Hands in the rings, feet on the floor. Set the rings higher to make it easier, lower to make it tougher.
- Incline push ups: Rings at hip or chest height. Great for building pressing strength without frying the shoulders.
- Support holds with feet down: Stand tall, hold the rings close to your body, and “lock in” straight arms. Focus on shoulder stability.
- Easy ring dips: Start with feet on the floor or a box, then slowly take more weight on your arms.
- Tucked L-sit progressions: Sit on the floor between the rings, press down, and lift your hips while keeping the knees tucked.
You will probably shake a lot at first. That is normal. The instability forces your core and shoulder stabilizers to wake up, enhancing overall stability.
Move slowly, focus on form, and stop each set before technique falls apart.
Progressing to advanced calisthenics skills on rings
The beauty of rings is that you can use the same set from beginner to advanced level. Adjust the strap height, body angle, and leverage, and the exercise becomes a new challenge.
Common progressions include:
- From incline ring push ups to deep, feet elevated push ups
- From assisted dips to full bodyweight dips, then deeper range of motion
- From ring rows to full pull ups, then harder grip or false grip
- Muscle up progressions, starting with resistance bands or low rings
- Skin the cat and gentle German hang work, to open the shoulders
- Front lever drills, starting with tuck holds and bodyweight rows to the hip
- Harder L-sit holds, then L-sit to tuck planche transitions
Use the strap markings to track progress. For example, each week lower your rows or push ups by one mark or move your feet a little farther away.
Over time, ring training will build stabilizer strength that carries over to bars, parallettes, and floor work. That is a big reason so many advanced athletes keep rings in their regular rotation.
Conclusion
If you want serious bodyweight strength and control in calisthenics, gymnastic rings are one of the smartest buys you can make. In most cases, 28 mm wooden rings with strong straps and clear markings are the best for calisthenics, which is why the GORNATION workout rings are the top pick.
For CrossFit-style training or thick grip work, the Double Circle 32 mm wood rings are a great match. For a tough, budget-friendly, travel-ready option, the Zelus ABS rings cover all the basics with a high load rating and quick setup.
Pick the set that matches your training style, hang them safely, and work through solid progressions. With consistent practice you will build full body strength, stability, and skill in bodyweight training and functional training at home, in the gym, or outdoors, all from a simple pair of rings.
