Short answer: For most people, the best choice is wooden rings with a 28 mm grip and an 18 cm inside diameter, the size used in gymnastics competitions. Hang them on long straps (4.5–5 m) with numbered markings and metal cam buckles. Wood grips best, especially with chalk. Look for a clear recommended maximum load, and hang the rings from something solid.
Hi, I'm Jan. I'm a certified personal trainer, and at Unite Body&Mind I laser-engrave every pair of rings myself in Maribor, Slovenia. Below is exactly what I'd tell a friend who asks me which rings to buy.
One honest note first: I sell wooden rings, so I'm not neutral. That's why I'll show you the trade-offs, including when plastic is the better choice.
1. Wood or plastic?
This is the biggest decision, because it changes how the rings feel in your hands.
| Wooden rings | Plastic rings | |
|---|---|---|
| Grip | Natural, warm grip. Even better with chalk. | Smoother. Can get slippery when your hands sweat. |
| Outdoors | Fine for training outside. Take them home afterwards, and let them dry if they get wet. | Rain doesn't hurt them, so they can stay outside longer. |
| Price | Usually a bit more expensive. | Usually cheaper. |
| Best for | Most people: home, park and gym. | Rings that stay outside, even in the rain. |
You'll also see metal rings, mostly fixed in outdoor parks. For rings you buy and carry with you, choose wood or plastic.
My choice is wood. Our rings are made of unvarnished birch: there's no lacquer on them, so your hands touch the wood itself. That gives a natural grip, and with chalk it's even better.
2. Grip thickness: 28 or 32 mm?
The number on the box tells you how thick the ring is where you hold it.
- 28 mm is the competition size. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) sets rings at 28 mm thick with an 18 cm inside diameter, each with a tolerance of 1 mm. Thinner rings are easier to hold, especially with smaller hands and in longer sets.
- 32 mm rings are thicker. They're harder to hold, so your forearms and grip work more, and they feel closer to a pull-up bar.
If you're not sure, choose 28 mm: they're easier to hold, and it's the size gymnasts use. Ours are 28.5 mm thick with an 18 cm inside diameter, which is within the FIG size.
3. Straps and buckles
Good rings on bad straps are still bad rings. Check four things:
- Length: 4.5–5 m per strap. Long straps let you hang the rings from a high beam, a branch or monkey bars, and still lower them to waist height for rows. Ours are 5 m.
- Width and material: strong polyester, about 38 mm (1.5 in) wide, with neat, even stitching.
- Markings: numbers or lines stitched along the strap. Set both straps to the same number, and the rings are at the same height in seconds.
- Buckles: metal cam buckles. You pull the strap through, and the buckle locks it in place. Ours are made of zinc alloy.
Not sure where to hang them? Here's how to hang your gymnastic rings at home or in the park.
4. Load: what the numbers really mean
- Look for a recommended maximum load. A "tested to" number tells you when something broke in a test. It's not a number to train at.
- Movement adds load. Swinging, kipping and dropping into a dip load the rings and straps more than hanging still.
- The weakest part decides. Check the beam, branch or hook, the straps and the buckles, not just the rings.
- Replace worn straps. If a strap is frayed or cut, don't train on it.
For our rings and straps, we recommend a maximum load of 150 kg.
5. Buying checklist
- Wooden rings (plastic only if they'll stay outside in the rain)
- 28 mm grip and 18 cm inside diameter (FIG size)
- Straps 4.5–5 m long, about 38 mm wide, with numbered markings
- Metal cam buckles
- A clear recommended maximum load
- Somewhere solid to hang them
- Nice extras: a bag to carry them and a short training guide
How our rings measure up
Here's how our gymnastic rings compare with the checklist:
- Unvarnished birch, 28.5 mm thick, 18 cm inside (FIG size)
- 2 × 5 m polyester straps, 38 mm wide, with white stitched numbers and lines
- Cam buckles made of zinc alloy
- Recommended maximum load: 150 kg
- A black Body&Mind gift box, a cotton bag and a PDF training guide
Every pair carries our lion, laser-engraved. Would you rather have your name, a motto or your club's logo? See the custom gymnastic rings. Already have rings? Our straps are also sold separately.
FAQ
Are wooden or plastic rings better for beginners?
Wood. A secure grip matters most when you're learning, and wood grips better, especially with sweaty hands. Choose plastic only if the rings will stay outside in wet weather.
Can I leave wooden rings outside?
Not for weeks. Train outside as much as you like, then take them home. If they get wet, let them dry at room temperature.
How high should I hang gymnastic rings?
It depends on the exercise: about waist height for rows, about hip height for dips and support holds, and for pull-ups high enough that you hang with straight arms and your feet off the floor. With long straps and markings, you change the height in seconds.
Do I need chalk?
No, but it helps, especially on wood and in summer.
Which rings should I get if I can't do a pull-up yet?
Any good pair. Rings are great for beginners, because you can lower them for rows and make rows easier or harder just by moving your feet. Start with the free Hang Test, then follow How to Do Your First Pull-Up.
Written by Jan Kološa, certified personal trainer and founder of Unite Body&Mind. I engrave every ring set myself in Maribor, Slovenia. Follow me on Instagram: @unitebodymind.
Ring dimensions: FIG Apparatus Norms, as summarised on Wikipedia.