Andy Toth
When I first got into calisthenics, I loved the simplicity of it—no need to invest in any expensive gear, no complex setups, just me, my body, and a bit of space. You really don’t need any equipment to start seeing progress in calisthenics. The beauty of bodyweight training is that you can start wherever you are, even with the basics, like push-ups, squats, and planks. If you’re just beginning your calisthenics journey, focus on learning the movements, building strength, and finding consistency in your practice. You don’t need to spend anything to get started, and that’s one of the best things about it.
As you get deeper into calisthenics, though, you might notice that having a few simple tools can open up new levels in your training. For under $100, you could add a set of gymnastics rings and a few resistance bands to your setup—two items that will give you access to a huge range of exercises and progressions. Rings, for example, are fantastic for working out your upper body and core; they make everything more challenging, from pull-ups to dips. And resistance bands are incredibly versatile for both assistance and resistance in your exercises, allowing you to work on moves like pull-ups or even mobility work in a controlled way.
If you’re lucky, there may be a calisthenics park nearby with free access to pull-up bars, dip bars, and other equipment like monkey bars or parallel bars. These parks are a goldmine for anyone into bodyweight training and are completely free to use. I’ve found that these parks provide everything you need to perform almost any calisthenics movement you’d want to try. Not only is it convenient, but training outdoors in these spaces adds a unique energy to your workout routine and often attracts a community of like-minded people.
But sometimes, life gets busy, or the weather doesn’t cooperate, and getting to a park isn’t an option. If you’re looking to build a functional calisthenics setup at home, I’ll guide you through the essentials. The great thing is that it doesn’t take much to cover all the basics. In this article, I’ll share the equipment I believe is most essential: gymnastics rings, resistance bands, parallettes (or parallel bars), a pull-up bar, and, for the advanced, a weight belt for weighted calisthenics. With these simple pieces, you can effectively work every muscle in your body and progress safely, even as you tackle more challenging exercises.
Whether you’re looking to keep your training low-cost, use nearby public spaces, or create a convenient setup at home, there’s an option that can fit your needs. Calisthenics doesn’t require a lot, but having a few well-chosen pieces of equipment can make a world of difference as you move forward in your fitness journey.
If you’re looking to surprise someone with a thoughtful, practical gift that supports their fitness journey, calisthenics equipment is a fantastic choice. Make sure to check our calisthenics gift guide to get some ideas.
Let’s dive into the details and look at what each of these tools can do for you.
The best calisthenics equipment for your home gym
The best tool is the one that you have access to, they say. An amazing thing about calisthenics is that you can do the exercises anywhere with minimal equipment.
For horizontal pushing movements and leg exercises, all you need is the floor and something you can put your hands or feet on as you adjust the difficulty of the exercises.
Pulling motion is a bit more nuanced as you will need a horizontal bar or gymnastics rings for this. Luckily most people have access to either a horizontal tree branch, calisthenics park, back of a staircase or similar surface to do pull ups on.
In case you have a bit more space and budget, below is a list of the best calisthenics equipment you can put in your home gym. Even if you decide to get all the items from the list, it will be cheaper than a few months of a gym membership. Well worth the investment as they can serve you for many years.
Gymnastics rings
If you can only choose one piece of equipment, go with a set of gymnastics rings. You can do almost any upper body exercise on the rings, they don’t take up much space, it’s easy to travel with them and they are relatively cheap. What else do you wish for?
When it comes to the setup, you can install them onto your ceiling or hang them from a tree outside. Its height can be adjusted so you can transition from horizontal to vertical pulling and pushing exercises with the same setup. I recommend a set of wooden rings with a diameter of 1.25” (32mm). Once you have them, check out how to install the gymnastics rings properly.
Premium Wooden Gymnastics Rings
*alternative buying options:
- PULLUP&DIP (DE) use code CALIS10 for 10% off
- GORNATION (UK&EU) use code CS10 for 10% off
- Made of high quality birch wood
- Olympic standard sizing
- Extra wide straps with numbered length markings for easy adjustment
- Quick release buckles for increased safety
Pull-up bar
Just like the rings a horizontal pull up bar is an essential part of any serious home gym. While the cheapest option is a doorway bar I recommend getting either a wall mounted pull up bar or a power rack (squat rack) as they offer the best stability and versatility for exercises. In terms of thickness, I’d recommend the standard 1.25” (32mm) - the same as gymnastics rings. In calisthenics, the usage of gloves is not common (except for winter outdoor training) so the grip is also an important factor - here I’d recommend a smooth metal finish, which also works well with chalk. You can also check my guide on how to pick the right pull up bar for yourself.
While rings are more versatile, pull up bars are better than gymnastics rings in a few areas:
- Bars are more stable
- Bars are easier to use for beginners
- The installation of bars is easier, especially if you go with a freestanding or doorway pull up bar
- Bars can hold larger weight and thus better for weighted calisthenics
High Doorway Pull-Up Bar
*alternative buying options:
- PULLUP&DIP (EU) use code CALIS10 for 10% off
- Elevated design to give more legroom
- Very stable design
- Easy to put it on-and-off
- Multigrip options with padded handles
- Attachment hook for resistance bands
Parallel bars (alternative: Parellettes)
If somebody forced me to rank calisthenics equipment based on importance, I’d put the parallel bars as number three. They are an excellent tool to work on your pushing strength, chest and triceps muscles.
Sometimes they come together with the pull up bar as a two-in-one option. In other cases, you can install them separately or buy them as an add-on accessory to a power rack (squat rack).
For a home gym, I’d recommend a two-in-one option to save space. Make sure they are sturdy enough so they can handle weighted calisthenics. It’s important because as you get stronger you will want to increase the resistance by putting weights on you.
As an alternative get a set of paralettes. If you have no option to set up parallel bars then this is your second best option. You can always increase the elevation of the paralettes and imitate the function of the parallel bars. You have to be more careful though, as they won’t be as stable.
Wooden Parallettes
*alternative buying options:
- PULLUP&DIP (DE) use code CALIS10 for 10% off
- GORNATION (UK&EU) use code CS10 for 10% off
- Made of high quality beech wood and powder coated steel
- Saves wrists from pain and injury
- Doubles as a dip bar if placed on stable elevated surface
- Perfect grip and stable design for push-ups, dips, handstands etc.
Resistance bands
Resistance bands are a great companion for both beginners and advanced athletes. We compared bands with weights and listed all the pros and cons we could find.
For beginners, resistance bands provide great assistance to make exercises easier. They can put one end of the band over the bar and step into the other end this way they are able to get their body used to the full range of motion of a pull up. Resistance bands can be used in a similar way to perform dips, muscle ups, or isometric exercises like the front lever. Just to name a few.
Resistance bands are also an amazing warm up tool. For instance “pull aparts” and “face pulls” are great exercises for preparing the lats and shoulders for an intense pull session.
They can also make exercises harder for example by “stepping into” them the bodyweight squats can be made more challenging or by leading them over your back and squeezing the two ends with your hands to the parallel bar the dips will get immediately harder.
Resistance Bands
*alternative buying options:
- PULLUP&DIP (DE) use code CALIS10 for 10% off
- GORNATION (UK&EU) use code CS10 for 10% off
- High quality natural latex
- Multiple sizes: great for beginners and advanced
- Inlcudes a door anchor for standalone exercises
Weight belt (alternative: Weight vest)
As you advance with your calisthenics training the bodyweight exercises will become too easy. Once you run out of ways to increase the difficulty of your exercises like adjusting your body position or using only a single arm and leg - the most productive way to progress further will be to add weights to your training.
In my opinion, the best way to do weighted calisthenics is to use a weight belt. They come with a chain and carabiner and you can hook weight plates or kettlebells on it. By hanging the belt around your hip you can make pull-ups, dips, push ups, and muscle ups infinitely more challenging.
As an alternative, you can use a weight vest. They are very easy to use, especially for squats and running. Vests are however less ideal than a weight belts for a few reasons:
- Vests will be too warm and you will sweat underneath too much, especially in the summer
- Vests usually come with a set weight - once you want to progress to a heavier weight you will need to buy a heavier vest.
- Vests can get in the way and limit the range of motion
Weight belt / Dip belt
*alternative buying options:
- PULLUP&DIP (DE) use code CALIS10 for 10% off
- GORNATION (UK&EU) use code CS10 for 10% off
- Essential for weighted pull-ups and dips
- High quality durable fabric with padded design
- Includes 3 carabiners and a unique flap for better fit
- Stainless steel chain with high load bearing
Conclusion
This is by far not an exhaustive list and is only focused on the top 5 pieces of equipment that I think would make a fully functional home gym and enable anyone to become an advanced calisthenics athlete.
Chances are I will come back to this article regularly to expand it. If you have any recommendations on what could be added to the list please shoot them in the comments.
