Don’t underestimate the value of your body weight when you’re training at home. You don’t need a squat rack and bumpers to build strength and challenge yourself. All you need is a little know-how and some calisthenics equipment.
Calisthenics requires you to move your body weight through exercises like pull-ups, push-ups, dips, or static holds. But even a lunge workout can be calisthenics if you’re training with your body weight.
So if you’re ready to see the functional strength benefits of calisthenics, here are some accessories that’ll help you get started.
1. Relife Dip Station
Since these stands are separate instead of joined as a unit, you can adjust how far apart they are to fit your body comfortably. They’re perfect for dips, push-ups, L-sits, and inverted rows. The base of each stand comes with adjustable foot covers to prevent shaking on most surfaces.
Get it on Amazon.
2. Body Power Paralettes
These parallettes are perfect for practicing handstands, V-sits, static holds, and planche progressions. They’re easy to place where you need them depending on how your body feels comfortable during certain movements, and you can tuck them away in a closet when you’re not training.
Get it on Amazon.
3. Sportmediq Pro Grade Liquid Chalk
If your grip is your limiting factor, there are ways you can improve your grip strength over time — but you may need something to help in the interim. That’s where this liquid chalk comes in, allowing you to hold the rings or bar tighter without slipping.
Get it on Amazon.
4. Pacearth Gymnastics Rings
There are seemingly countless ways to use gymnastics rings to work out using your body weight. If you can’t quite do pull-ups, this piece of equipment can help develop the lat and back strength necessary to conquer that exercise.
But you can also use them to make specific movements, like bodyweight dips, more challenging by requiring extra stability.
Get it on Amazon.
5. DMoose Weight Belt With Chain
If you want to take your progress even further with weighted calisthenics, weight belts like this let you add extra resistance to exercises like dips and pull-ups. Just be sure to secure the weights to the chain properly for your safety.
Get it on Amazon.
6. Synergee Resistance Loop Bands
Ideally, you’re just using your body weight during calisthenics, but you might need help working up to that point in moves such as the pull-up and chin-up. These resistance bands can help, lightening your load so you can build the strength you need to perform these challenging bodyweight exercises with perfect form.
Get it on Amazon.
7. Sportsroyals Power Tower
If you’re serious about training with your body weight, look no further than this one-stop-shop piece of calisthenics equipment. It’s outfitted to support pull-ups, dips, incline push-ups, isometric holds, and even ab exercises.
Get it on Amazon.
8. CAP Barbell 20-150 LB Adjustable Weighted Vest
There is always a way to progress a bodyweight exercise to make it harder. Another option: Throw on a weight vest. This one from CAP Barbell allows you to adjust the load from 20 to 150 pounds by adding or removing weight packets filled with iron ore fines, making it perfect for increasing the challenge in exercises ranging from squats to dips.
Get it on Amazon.
9. Prosource Fit Pull-Up Bars
You don’t need space for an extensive setup to work on your pull-ups during home workouts. This pull-up bar hooks securely into your door frame so you can get in a set at any time. You can also use it on the ground for elevated push-ups and dips.
Get it on Amazon.
10. Foldable Free Standing Pull-Up Bar Stand
A basic pull-up bar won’t cut it if you’d like to try the calisthenics movements that are also gymnastic exercises. This pull-up stand sets up in a triangle, so you have room to perform movements around the bar. It also doubles as a mount for your gymnastic rings.
Get it on Amazon.