It’s no secret that young children would often rather play with a cardboard box than the gift that came in it. A cardboard box might seem unexciting to an adult, but a young child sees infinite imaginative potential. A plyometrics box is the fitness world’s equivalent. If you’re not into fitness, you’ll probably just see a regular, unfunctional box. But fitness enthusiasts know that a plyo box offers the potential for intense, whole-body workouts. It’s just a matter of knowing what to do with one.
Plyo boxes come in various forms. It’s not uncommon for them to actually be wood boxes, but many of them are made out of other materials. Some are padded, for example. Others don’t even look like boxes, and more closely resemble a workbench or table.
Plyo boxes offer various exercises that you can do at home. The most common plyo box exercise is a box jump. Box jumps are performed by jumping off the ground with both feet and landing on the box with both feet. You then fully stand up and jump backward off the box onto the ground, landing on both feet again. If box jumps were the only thing a plyo box was good for, they’d be a dubious investment for your home gym. That’s why it’s a good thing they can be used for so much more.
You can do pushups with your feet elevated on the box for a more intense workout. Plyo boxes are also great for split squats, step-ups, and burpees. By introducing varied elevations, you can maximize the potential of a lot of common workouts. If you’re ready to take a step up in your workout, these are the plyo boxes to get.
1. REP FITNESS 3-in-1 Wood Plyometric Box
This plyometric box comes in four different sizes, so you can find the one that works best for you. The price shown below is for the smallest box. The great thing about this box is that its dimensions vary by height, width, and length. That means that you “adjust” the height by simply turning the box on its other sides. It’s made from durable plywood and comes unassembled.
Pros: Varied dimensions of the box allow the user to set it on different sides, opening up the potential to using it in different ways.
Cons: Can take some time to assemble.
2. Garage Fit Wood Plyo Box
This black plyo box might look slick, but its textured surface is designed to be grippy, not slippery. This reduces the risk of slipping and falling when landing a jump. Like some of the other options, it’s made out of wood, and it comes unassembled. The dimensions on each side of the box are different, meaning that the height is adjustable to your needs and the exercise you’re doing.
Pros: Varied dimensions (20″, 18″, and 16″) means that you can vary the height to suit the activity you’re doing.
Cons: Some design flaws in the pre-drilled holes may make it more time-consuming to assemble. Included screws are lacking.
3. BalanceFrom 3-in-1 Foam Plyometric Box
The best thing about foam plyo boxes is that if you miss your jump, you won’t hurt your shins landing on the sides of the box like you would with wood or other hard surfaces. These foam boxes come in two sizes — 16 pounds or a heavy-duty 60-pound option. The price shown below is for the 16-pound box. The dimensions vary by each side, and each length is clearly labeled with bright markings.
Pros: Variable dimensions allow for a customized workout. Each side is clearly labeled. Made from soft foam, meaning that if you land poorly, you won’t injure yourself. Easy to move around.
Cons: More wobbly than a wooden box.
4. Stamina | X Adjustable Height Plyo Box
This plyo box might look more like a work-bench than a plyo box to some. But the benefit of this style of plyo box is that, since it’s more compact, it’ll be easier to store when not in use. Plus, the height is more widely variable than standard boxes. This one can be set to four different heights rather than the standard three. The lowest setting is 12″ and the tallest is 24.” It’s more compact, but not more lightweight — it weighs over 50 pounds, so you won’t have to worry about it tipping when you jump on it.
Pros: Compact, space-saving design. Easily adjusts to four different heights, between 12″ and 24″.
Cons: Its heaviness makes it sturdy, but severely limits its portability.