Learn About parallettes

What are paralletes?

  • Parallettes are small, parallel bars designed for calisthenics, gymnastics and general bodyweight training.

    Usually made from wood or metal, they raise your hands off the ground, allowing you to perform exercises with a greater range of motion while keeping your wrists in a more comfortable position.

    From push ups and L seats, to handstands and planche progressions, parallettes are a versatile piece of training equipment suitable for beginners and advanced athletes alike.

    Their compact design makes them ideal for home workouts, park workouts and developing the strength and control needed for more advanced calisthenics skills.

  • Parallettes can be used for a wide range of calisthenics exercises, helping you build strength, balance and control.

    They’re particularly useful for push ups, abs workouts and handstands.

    Whether you’re just starting out or working towards more challenging movements, parallettes offer plenty of ways to develop your training. They can be used for individual exercises, entire workouts or targeted strength sessions, making them a versatile addition to any home gym or training space.

  • DESPITE HAVING A SIMILAR NAME, PARALLETTES AND PARALLEL BARS ARE TWO DIFFERENT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.

    PARALLETTES ARE SMALLER, LOWER TO THE GROUND AND DESIGNED TO BE PORTABLE. THEY’RE SUITED TO HOME TRAINING OR TAKING THEM TO YOUR PLACE OF TRAINING.

    PARALLEL BARS, OFTEN CALLED DIP BARS, ARE MUCH HIGHER AND CAN BE USED TO PERFORM DIPS. THEY’RE GENERALLY MUCH BIGGER THAN PARALLETTES AND ARE NOT PORTABLE.

  • Parallettes and push up bars/push up grips are similar pieces of equipment, both raising your hands off the floor to make push ups and other bodyweight exercises more comfortable. The main differences are their size, construction and versatility.

    Push up bars are typically small and lightweight, designed solely for push ups. Parallettes are generally larger and more robust, with longer and/or higher bars that provide a stable grip for a wider range of movements, including push ups, abs exercises and straight arm skills.

    If your main goal is to perform basic push ups, either option may suit you. However, if you want equipment that can support a broader range of calisthenics exercises and help you progress towards more advanced skills, parallettes are usually the more versatile choice.

types of parallettes

  • Parallettes come in different heights, materials and finishes to suit different exercises and training environments. The main options parallettes made from wood or steel, and either low or high.

    Low parallettes are often primarily used for hand balancing and straight arm skills. HIgh parallettes can also be used for the same things, but the extra ground clearance make them useful for many push variations and abs exercises.

    Some parallettes are made with portability in mind and these are often very low and made with short bars. although they’re really good for travel, the small size can restrict what you can do on them.

  • Wooden and steel parallettes both provide a stable platform for calisthenics, but they differ in grip feel and maintenance requirements.
    Wooden parallettes offer a natural feel and are generally best suited to indoor training. Steel parallettes provide a solid metal construction and are available with different finishes to suit your preferences.

    The right choice depends on your training environment and personal preference. Wooden parallettes are a good option if you primarily train indoors, while steel parallettes offer versatility for indoor training and, depending on the finish, outdoor use. Raw steel must be kept dry and stored indoors to reduce the risk of rust, while painted steel is generally better suited to equipment that will be used and stored outdoors.

    i personally have two sets of parallettes: a wooden set for when i train in my house and a steel set that i keep in my garage gym.

  • The main difference between low and high parallettes is the amount of clearance they provide beneath the bars.

    Low parallettes sit close to the floor, which is ideal for straight skills, like handstands and planches.

    High parallettes provide more space beneath your body, which can be useful for deeper push ups and exercises that require your legs or body to pass below the bars.

    my recommendations are: use low, long parallettes if your main goal is learning straight arm, static skills. for everything else, high parallettes can be used for a wider variety of exercises.

  • Raw and painted steel parallettes offer different finishes, each with its own advantages.

    Raw steel has a simple, industrial appearance and provides direct contact with the metal surface. However, because it has no protective paint coating, it can rust when exposed to moisture and should be stored indoors and kept dry. cleaning them regularly with white spirit, or similar, will stop them from rusting and keep them in good condition.

    Painted steel parallettes have a protective coating that helps reduce the risk of rust and allows for different colour options. They're generally the better choice if you want to use and store your parallettes outdoors. Sprayed parallettes can easily be touched up (pause) if they get damaged. powder coated parallettes are much more resilient.

    i have a set of mini parallettes, spray painted, that are nearly 15 years old and still going strong.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ON parallettes?

  • Parallettes can be used for a wide range of calisthenics and bodyweight exercises, from basic strength movements to advanced skills. Popular use cases include push ups, abs workouts, handstands and planche training.

    By raising your hands off the floor, parallettes allow you to perform exercises with a greater range of motion in certain movements, such as deeper push ups. They can also provide a more comfortable wrist position than placing your hands flat on the ground, although comfort will depend on the exercise and your technique.

    Whether you're training at home or in the gym, parallettes offer plenty of options for developing upper body strength, core control, hand balance and coordination. You can use them for individual exercises, structured workouts or progressions towards more advanced calisthenics skills.

    Check our exercises section to see some exercises that you can perform on parallettes.

  • Yes, parallettes are suitable for beginners as well as experienced calisthenics athletes. Their versatility makes them useful for learning basic bodyweight exercises before progressing towards more challenging movements.

    Beginners can start with exercises such as incline push ups, knee push ups and basic core exercises. As strength and confidence improve, they can progress to standard push ups and other more demanding movements. Using parallettes can also help beginners practise keeping their wrists in a more comfortable position during certain exercises.

    It’s important to choose exercises that match your current ability and focus on controlled movement and good technique. You don't need to master advanced skills to benefit from parallettes; even a simple routine can help develop strength, stability and body control over time.

  • Yes, parallettes can help you build muscle through bodyweight training.
    The exercises that you can perform on parallettes challenge different muscle groups, particularly the chest, shoulders, triceps and core.

    One of the advantages of calisthenics is that you can adjust the difficulty of exercises as you become stronger. You might begin with easier push up variations before progressing to deeper push ups, or more advanced variations. Increasing repetitions, improving control and choosing progressively harder exercises can help keep your training challenging.

    Building muscle also depends on factors beyond your equipment, including training consistency, nutrition, recovery and gradually increasing the demands placed on your muscles. Parallettes provide a versatile way to train at home or in the gym, although you'll need additional exercises or equipment if you want to train every muscle group comprehensively.

  • Parallettes are the best piece of equipment for practising handstands and L seats. the hand positioning feels nicer than having your hands on the floor and the extra height from the floor gives you more space to learn them movements.

    Not only are parallettes great for handstands, they help with all hand balancing. you can train moves from bent arm handstands to planches using them.

  • You can target all of your pushing muscles and your core. for pulling muscles - like your back and biceps - equipment like a pull up bar would be recommended.