Gymnastics Bars For Home (Complete Guide and Top Picks)

Gymnastics bars for home are a fantastic training aid for aspiring gymnasts, but you need to make sure you have a set that will be suitable for your child’s age and ability and fits your budget.

Undoubtedly, the best gymnastics bar for home right now is the Tumbl Trak 5-In-1. Not only is it popular with gymnasts at home but also with professional coaches in gyms around the world (including mine).

However, a Tumbl Trak bar is expensive so if you’re looking for something to provide better value, I’d highly recommend a Shiwei Training Bar. It’s one of the most popular gymnastics bars sold on Amazon and has an impressively high weight capacity.

In this article, I will run through the best gymnastics bars for home that are currently available to buy online and highlight which features to look out for based on my 20 years of experience as a coach.

Best Gymnastics Bar for Home

When it comes to picking a gymnastics bar for home the 5-In-1 is by far and away from the best choice for sturdiness, strength and overall quality. Tumbl Trak is a reputable manufacturer, and its products are found in many professional gym facilities worldwide.

Because this option has two bars, it gives you greater choice in how it is set up and which skills can be practiced. It can be used as:

• Single High Bar
• Double Bars
• Uneven Bars
• Parallel Bars
• Or it can be used to place mats or Air Products up against it, for example, a climbing wall

It could also be used to attach Rings from the bar.

No other horizontal bar that I’ve seen offers this much choice. Because of its ample size, more than one child can use it at the same time without colliding. The advertised max weight is 125Ibs, though some reviewers claim it will comfortably hold even more than that.

More advanced skills such as Kip, Undershoot and Circle can be practiced on the Tumbl Track 5-In-1 making it suitable for advanced gymnasts putting in those extra hours of training. The adjustable knobs mean that the bar heights can be adjusted for younger children as well.

Tumbl Trak sells the 5-In-1 through Amazon as well as their own website.

Runner Up

A great alternative to the more expensive 5-In-1 system is the Kip Bar from Z Athletic. It will save you a few hundred dollars and guarantees that you have a good quality bar.

Z Athletic recommend that the bar is ideal for gymnasts up levels 3 to 4 which is usually around the 8 years old mark. This makes it well suited for younger gymnasts but not teenagers.

This is also reflected in the 120Ib maximum weight capacity which is the ‘working load’. Many bars will only list the pull down limit which is basically the hanging load. The working load however, takes into account the additional forces created by a gymnast when swinging and is much less than the pull down limit.

The pull down limit of 300Ib on this bar is about the same as most other similarly priced bars.

There’s a wider range of colors compared to many bars – pink, purple, grey and black.

Best Foldable Gymnastics Bar

If you need a bar that folds away easily then this is an excellent option. The legs fold inwards when not in use which means the bar can be stored up against a wall or in a cupboard to save space.

As you can see, the design is different to many non-folding bars as it has rails running parallel to the bar at both the front and back. This is designed to stop the bar from toppling forward or backward when in use.

The bar itself is made from steel so differs from the wooden bar found on Uneven Bars in the gym. This makes it suitable for younger gymnasts just starting to learn gymnastics but not so great for competitive gymnasts looking to replicate the feel of a traditional bar in their own homes.

At around $100 this option for a home gymnastics bar is great if you are on a smaller budget.

Tepemcuu recommends their foldable bar for children aged 3 to 8 years and under 140Ibs. The height of the bar can be adjusted between five different settings so there is a good amount of growth to be had with this bar. The folding design of the ground rails is super handy for storage and will mean you can pack them away more easily than other bars when not in use.

The reviews on Amazon are extremely positive, with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 from over 2,000 reviewers.

Best Value Gymnastics Bar

These are very popular bars for home for older and younger gymnasts alike and are another option with super high ratings on Amazon (4.7 from over 1,200 reviews). There are a few different options in terms of color and design, but all fall in the range of $170-$190 on Amazon.

The standout feature of the Shiwei Bar is the fiberglass bar itself which is stronger than many of the wooden or metal alternatives on the market.

The bar will hold a massive 330Ibs in weight which is double the weight capacity of some of its competitors!

This makes it suitable for children up to 12 years old, unlike some bars which will not hold the weight of older children.

An additional crossbar frame that runs across the floor in the center adds stability and reduces wobble. A double locking system on the knobs is similar to the Fbsport bar and provides added safety.

Best Gymnastics Bar For 10 Year Olds

Gymnasts at 10 years old have reached a point where they are often taking practice more seriously and need equipment that will be more durable.

This bar, made by Tumbl Trak, is suitable for just these types of demands which is why you’ll find it in many professional gymnastics facilities as well as at home.

The maximum height of 58 inches will provide enough height to practice more advanced skills such as Kip, Cast and Undershoot.

The Junior Pro Bar retails at around $650 so is not cheap, but it does provide strength and quality and height not found in cheaper bars. It’s also an excellent option if you want a trusted brand like Tumbl Trak but don’t need the 5-In-1 system mentioned earlier in this article.

A Buyers Guide to Gymnastics Bars

When deciding which bars to purchase, these are the factors you should consider (obviously budget is important too).

Maximum Weight Capacity

Check the description carefully for the maximum weight capacity. This is essential if your gymnast is older or you are planning to keep the same bar for a long-term future. Exceeding the maximum load weight is dangerous and can cause injury.

Minimum and Maximum Bar Height

Most gymnastics bars for home use can be moved higher or lower when needed. Read the description carefully for the minimum and maximum heights. This will help ensure your bar can still be used as the gymnast grows taller or begins to work on more advanced skills.

Sturdiness

This can be really hard to judge on photos or descriptions alone. Hopefully, this article has helped as we have only recommended bars that we know are sturdy or have multiple reviews backing that up. Heavy bars tend to be sturdy as they are less likely to tilt or topple over.

Some are designed with additional legs that widen the base of support.

Bar Material

Female gymnasts use wooden bars whereas male gymnasts use metal bars to train and compete. Fiberglass bars can work at home as they are strong. A plastic bar can be suitable for younger and beginner gymnasts but not older, more advanced ones who want to replicate the feel of a competitive bar.

Height Adjusters

Most bars can be adjusted in height using release mechanisms on either side. Check for the quality and ease of use. Double adjusters on the height provide extra safety.

Storage

Can the bar be stored easily? If you are lucky enough to have space to leave it set up that is ideal, but if not, a foldable bar would be better.

Most bars are designed so that the outer legs connect to the main frame and bar section so even non-foldable bars are fairly straightforward to dismantle if needed.

Matting

Most gymnastics bars are sold without a mat included however, it’s essential that a mat is placed underneath a bar when being used. This will prevent injuries and help gymnasts control their landings.

Measure the width and length underneath the bar and look for a mat which will fit. For more advanced gymnasts, you will need a mat which is at least 4 inches thick. 6 to 8 inches is even better. For beginners a thinner mat will be suitable.

If you want to take the worry out of finding a suitable mat, look for a bar which is sold with a mat included like Z Athletic.

Benefits of a Gymnastics Bar at Home

A Gymnastics bar used for home practice is typically smaller than those found in gym facilities or at competitions, however, they can still provide a number of key benefits that help gymnasts improve their skills and have fun at the same time.

Develop Upper Body Strength

Gymnastics bars provide an excellent way to develop upper body strength by performing exercises such as pull-ups, chin-ups, and pullovers. These fairly basic exercises target the muscles in the gymnast’s arms, shoulders and core and can help you build muscle mass and increase overall strength.

The uneven bars are widely considered the toughest event in Women’s gymnastics because of the upper body strength needed to perform advanced skills.

Increase Flexibility

Using a gymnastics bar at home can also help improve flexibility by allowing the gymnast to perform stretches and movements that target different muscle groups. For example, a German Hang improves shoulder flexibility and is performed by the gymnast hanging and lifting the legs over the head and lowering them behind the body.

It is more effective than many other types of traditional shoulder stretching techniques.

By incorporating gymnastics bars into your flexibility routine, you can improve your range of motion and reduce the risk of injury.

Enhance Coordination

Gymnastics bars require a great deal of coordination to perform exercises effectively. By using a gymnastics bar at home, you can improve your coordination, which can be useful in other areas of your life, such as sports, dance, and even everyday activities.

Convenient and Accessible

Having gymnastics bars at home can be a convenient way to train, as you don’t need to travel to a gym or other training facility to use them. They are also accessible at any time of the day, allowing gymnasts to fit in practice sessions before school, after school at the weekends or even in the middle of the night!

Cost-effective

Investing in gymnastic bars at home can be a cost-effective way to further improve skills in the long run. Many gym facilities charge several hundred dollars for additional private coaching on top of regular sessions and whilst professional coaching will provide better results than being self-taught it’s not always affordable.

Types of Gymnastics Bar at Home

In gymnastics, there are multiple events that use bars; in Women’s Artistic Uneven Bars are used whereas Horizontal bars and Parallel Bars are used in Men’s Artistic gymnastics.

The most popular type of gymnastics bar at home is a single horizontal bar which closely replicates the height of the lower uneven bar used by female gymnasts.

Horizontal Bars

Horizontal bars, also known as high bars, are typically used in men’s gymnastics and are the most common type of gymnastics bar used for home use. They are often adjustable in height, making them suitable for users of all ages and abilities.

In Men’s competitive gymnastics, the horizontal bar is shiny and metal but the version used by male and female gymnasts at home is often wooden or fiberglass.

Parallel Bars

Parallel bars are used in men’s gymnastics and are a great way to develop upper body strength and enhance coordination and balance. They consist of two parallel bars that are adjustable in height and are suitable for users of all ages and abilities.

It is unusual to find parallel bars being used at home because gymnasts will start to need a lot of space and matting and parallel bar skills become tricky very early. Some people will also point out that gymnastics is practiced by girls more than boys and because the Parallel bars is a Men’s event, there is less demand for home versions to be sold.

Uneven Bars

Uneven bars are used exclusively in women’s gymnastics and consist of two bars that are not level. Originally, the Uneven Bars were a set of Parallel bars with the two bars set at different heights but as gymnastics has evolved, Uneven bars have become larger and capable of withstanding larger forces.

They require a great deal of skill and strength to use effectively and are typically not recommended for home use unless you are an experienced gymnast.

Because Uneven bars are also large they are difficult to practice safely at home. Skills that require a gymnast to release between bars need a full-size version to be performed properly.

By using a single horizontal bar at home gymnasts can practice the same basic skills that would then be used on a full-size bar in the gym.

Setting Up Gymnastics Bars at Home

Gymnastics on bars carries a level of risk even at the best of times. Setting up your bars correctly will help your gymnast make the most of them and stay as safe as possible.

Location and Environment

When setting up gymnastics bars at home, it’s important to choose a suitable location and environment. The area should be spacious and well-ventilated, with plenty of clearance around the bars to prevent injuries. It’s also essential to choose a location with a suitable flooring surface, such as a gymnastics mat or padded flooring, to prevent injuries from falls.

Installation and Maintenance

Proper installation and maintenance are crucial for ensuring the safety and longevity of your gymnastics bars. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and regularly inspect the bars for any signs of wear and tear. It’s also essential to keep the bars clean and free of debris to prevent slipping or accidents.

Wooden bars in particular can chip or splint after multiple uses. If this happens, it’s a good idea to sand them down in order to prevent injuries.

Fiberglass or metal bars tend to be easier to maintain than wooden bars.

Alternatives to Gymnastics Bars for Home Use

Although I recommend that gymnastics bars for home are a good investment, a set of bars may not be possible for you at this time. Don’t worry as there are still alternatives for gymnasts looking to improve their strength at home.

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are a versatile and affordable alternative to gymnastics bars for home use. They can be used for a variety of exercises that target the upper body and can help improve strength, flexibility, and balance.

Suspension Trainers

Suspension trainers, such as TRX, are another alternative to gymnastics bars that can be used for a variety of exercises. They use your body weight as resistance and are great for developing upper body strength, enhancing coordination and balance, and improving flexibility.

Body Weight Exercises

Body weight exercises, such as push-ups, dips, and planks, can also be effective for developing upper body strength and enhancing coordination and balance. They require no equipment and can be done anywhere, making them a convenient and accessible option for home workouts.

Final Thoughts

A Gymnastics bar for home will keep your children active and motivated to practice when they’re not at the gym. Be sure to check the area and ceiling height where your bar will be set up and check if your bar comes with a landing mat. Many won’t and you will need to purchase one separately.

I would recommend a mat that is at least 20cm thick to protect your child from injury if they fall from the bar. My recommendations for home gymnastics mats can be found here. It will also help protect their joints when landing. Also, check out our article on the best beams for home practice.

FAQs

Can you put a gymnastics bar outside?

Check with the manufacturer’s instructions carefully as most home gymnastics bars are designed for indoor use only. The metal parts will rust if left outside, especially in poor weather.

If you are setting your bar up in the yard for one day only that would be fine. Ensure that the floor is level and stable before setting the bar up.

Do girl gymnasts do parallel bars?

No, parallel bars are competed by male gymnasts only. Girls compete on Uneven Bars which compromise two bars at different heights.

How do I make my gymnastics bar not slippery?

Bars get slippery because of sweat from gymnasts’ hands. To make the bars not slippery many gymnasts will use chalk but if you don’t have chalk at home use a dry towel to remove any moisture.

What are level 1 bars?

When people ask about level 1 they are usually referring to the USAG Development levels for Women’s Artistic (formerly called the Junior Olympic Program).

Level 1 is the first level and is optional. Girls are expected to master:

• Pullover
• Cast
• Back Hip Circle
• Sole-Circle Dismount OR Underswing Dismount

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