Plyometrics Equipment Guide
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I’ve always said that plyometrics are a great way to train, especially if you lack gear in your home gym. You don’t need much plyometrics gear to get a good workout in, and the results speak for themselves.
That being said, you have to know what plyometrics gear to get if you want to get durable and high-quality equipment.
For today’s article, it makes sense for me to talk all about plyometrics gear and what you should be adding to the home gym.
Before I do that, however, I briefly want to explain what exactly plyometrics is and how it is broken down into three major components.
If you understand these components, you can understand how to get the most out of your workout while also understanding why the right plyometrics gear is important.
Movement Components of Plyometric Workouts
The Eccentric Component
The eccentric component is the first component in plyometrics. It is during this time that your body loads and stores energy by pre-stretching the muscles. If we were talking about jumping, it would be the phase where you bend your knees and drop your arms to help build up energy.
The Amortization Component
This is by far the most difficult component to understand regarding plyometrics. The amortization component is when your body transitions from loading the energy to the moment just before it is released. If an amortization component is too long, you will actually lose the spring in your jump.
The Concentric Component
The final component in plyometrics, the concentric component is when you take all of that built-up energy and finally release it. All of your energy is redirected to your new motion, whether it be throwing a ball or jumping.
The Importance of Plyometrics Gear
While plyometrics focuses upon those three major components, we are forgetting one important thing to discuss.
Plyometrics is also about forcing your body to exert as much force as possible in a short period of time. Yes, a jump is a quick release of energy, but when we are talking about plyometric workouts, we are talking about repeating that motion frequently.
Having the right plyometrics gear will help reduce the risk of injuries while doing quicker workouts and will make for an overall better experience.
Let’s talk about some of the best plyometrics gear out there in my opinion and how you can use it to make your workouts better.
Best Plyometric Boxes
Rogue Foam Games Plyo Box - Best Overall Plyometric Box
When it comes to fitness, Rogue is hard to beat.
I’ve reviewed many of their products and stand by them being one of the best in the business.
When it comes to their plyometrics gear, you can expect top-notch quality from them.
The Rogue Foam Games Plyo Box is 58lbs of ultra-dense foam with softer foam on the outer edge. Why is that important?
If you’ve ever done box jumps and slipped or not landed properly on the box, you’ll notice the edge tears your legs apart and can really hurt. By having a soft foam along the edges, if you misstep, it won’t be too big of a deal thanks to that soft outer foam.
The thing I love about the Rogue Plyo Box is that it has 3-in-1 capability. The length is 30”, the width is 24”, and the height is 20”.
This means I can easily flip the box over depending on how high I want to jump. This makes it a great beginner tool for beginners who want to get started and gradually work their way up.
It is a little pricey, coming at $275, but you are going to be getting a durable foam plyo box for that money. If you are looking for a quality piece of plyometrics gear, I would recommend the Rogue Foam Games Plyo Box.
BalanceFrom 3-in-1 Foam Plyometric Box - Best Multi-Purpose Plyometric Box
The BalanceFrom 3-in-1 Foam Plyometric Box is almost identical to the Rogue Foam Games Plyo Box.
Once again, you’re getting a 3-in-1 capability with the height ranging from 20” to 24” and maxing out at 30”.
The surface of the box does have a texture that can help with traction to ensure that you stick the landing each time. Just like the Rogue Foam Box, it also has a softer foam on the outside as well to prevent any serious injuries from happening when you jump.
It’s quite beginner-friendly and supports up to 350lbs as well. It comes in with a great price tag as well at $111.This is cheaper than the Rogue Plyo Box, however it is not as durable.
You might be looking at this and wondering why I listed the Rogue Foam Games Plyo Box above this Plyometric Box.
The answer to that is simply I love Rogue and everything that they do. Both of these are fantastic boxes, however, I always go with Rogue due to their high quality and great customer service.
Rogue Wood Plyo Boxes - Best Wooden Plyometric Box
The plyometrics gear that you buy doesn’t always have to be foam. Some people love going with wood plyo boxes and personally, I think the Rogue Wood Plyo Box is the best one on the market.
Unlike foam plyo boxes, you can only use one height, however, these wooden boxes are far cheaper than their foam counterparts.
The tallest Rogue Wood Plyo Box comes in at 24” in height and retails for $95.
I’ve seen some people try to stack these wooden plyo boxes and I’m going to tell you right now not to.
They can easily topple over, and because they are wood, they are going to be doing a lot of damage to you and your body on the way down.
That being said, this wooden plyometrics gear is built tough and will take a beating. It is durable and will match you on your most intense workouts any day of the week and is a must for anyone that is into CrossFit.
If you are looking for wooden plyometrics gear, I would recommend checking out the Rogue Wood Plyo Boxes.
Yes4All High Step Aerobic Platform - Best Budget Plyometric Box
When it comes to plyometrics gear, sometimes you don’t want to break the bank to get a reliable piece of equipment.
I found that the Yes4All High Step Aerobic Platform was a great piece of plyometrics gear that was durable and got the job done without being too expensive.
Retailing for $43, this is definitely within most people’s budgets. This isn’t your standard plyo box, however, as it is an aerobic step-up platform.
This means it comes with several platforms that you can stack underneath it to get the desired height. It is a very beginner-friendly piece of plyometrics gear, however, it doesn’t go much further than that.
It only reaches a maximum height of 12” so it leaves much to be desired. Just make sure you don’t lose the stacking pieces, as it will lower your height even further.
If you’re looking for some good plyometrics gear and are on a budget, the Yes4All High Step Aerobic Platform will be able to suit your needs.
It also pairs well with gym flooring for both traditional workout needs and even gymnastics style workouts.
Titan Fitness Adjustable Plyometric Box - Best Adjustable Plyometric Box
All you need to do is take a look at the Titan Fitness Adjustable Plyometric Box to see how different it is from the rest of the products on this list.
It looks more like a mini stand than an actual plyo box.
Don’t let the looks deceive you, however, as this piece of plyometrics gear is the best on the market when it comes to satisfying your needs.
Starting at a 12” minimum, you can move it up in 4-inch increments until you finally get to the maximum height of 24”.
It’s incredibly easy to adjust as well and can fit your workout needs. The other thing I was impressed with regarding this product was the build quality. It’s made from steel and the platform has grippy rubber on it.
The Titan Fitness Adjustable Plyometrics Box does make for a harder landing than most of the boxes on the list, but I haven’t had any complaints at all when using it.
Yes4All 3-in-1 Foam Plyometric Jump Box - Most Durable Plyometric Box
If you want to find yourself a great piece of plyometrics gear that is built to last, I’d say you should check out the Yes4All 3-in-1 Foam Plyometric Jump Box.
It’s similar to the Rogue and BalanceFrom boxes, however, this one feels just a little bit more durable, especially if you factor price into the decision.
Comin in at $108, you’re getting a piece of plyometrics gear that is built to last.
The high-quality foam alongside a durable vinyl cover will allow the surface of the box to take a beating without any ripping or other concerns.
It’s also quite easy to clean, meaning you can get all of the dirt and footprints off of the box. For the price, the durability the Yes4All 3-in-1 Foam Plyometric Jump Box provides is one of the best on the market for plyometrics gear.
JFIT Plyometric Box Set - Best for Small Spaces
If you are looking for multiple pieces of plyometrics gear but don’t want it to take up too much space, you should check out the JFIT Plyometric Box Set.
The plyo boxes are stackable, meaning they can all be stored in one location.
It is a little expensive, coming in at $269, however, it is a durable product that is going to get the job done.
Like the Titan Fitness Adjustable Plyometric Box, the JFIT is made entirely of steel with rubber padding along the top.
This does help to soften the landing, however, it is still quite hard when compared to other products on the list.
If you want to get yourself a great piece of plyometrics gear that is going to be easy to store in your home gym, the JFIT Plyometric Box Set might be the choice for you.
Ultra Fitness Gear Anti-Slip Wood 3-in-1 Plyo Box - Best Non-Slip Plyometric Box
All it takes is one slip while doing box jumps to become fearful when working out.
I’ve seen it happen to some of my gym friends and I personally can see the hesitation whenever they are about to jump.
If you are one of those people, you’ll definitely love the Ultra Fitness Gear Anti-Slip Wood 3-in-1 Plyo Box.
The surface of it is a little hard for jumping, but this piece of plyometrics gear is finished with a non-slip coating to ensure that you don’t slip off of it.
A high weight capacity as well means anyone is going to be able to work out on this Ultra Fitness box. If you are looking for durability and support, the Ultra Fitness Plyo Box is going to be great.
Final Thoughts
You honestly can’t go wrong with any of the plyometrics gear that I have listed. Take the time to determine what you want in your own home gym then go and make the purchase.
Whether you are looking for durability, comfort, or adjustability, you are going to find it here. You can thank me later after seeing the results of your workouts from plyometrics.
