Page 1 of 2
Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:04 pm
by Shafpocalypse Now
Coach Chris Sommer, of "Building An Olympic Body Through Bodyweight Conditioning" article (Google it!) and
http://Gymnasticbodies.com has come out with his version of gymnastics rings for strength and conditioning.
His own blurb about the rings (in comparison to ringtraining.com's Elite rings):
The primary differences between the Xtreme and elite, in no particular order, are:
1) The Xtreme Rings have a heavier texture that matches that of the competitive rings that my athletes compete on. This is not an inherent design flaw of the elite rings. It is a little bit like which is better; chocolate or strawberry? In actuality neither; my personal preference is simply for the heavier texture in the training of my athletes and clients. Your personal preference may vary.
2) The Xtreme Rings have no slots on the sides of the rings, nor will they in the future. This is not a design element that I find useful. Competitive gymnasts tape their rings to stabilize them for swinging skills, not for strength work. There is no need to stabilize them for strength work. My athletes have always conditioned on rings that move freely. Not having slots on the Xtreme Rings also greatly accelerates the speed with which Gymnastic Bodies attachments can be both placed on and removed from the straps. More on the Gymnastic Bodies attachments later this year.
3) The Xtreme Rings are a solid single piece manufacture, not two halves glued together.
4) The strapping is extra long (18') to accomodate handstand work.
5) There are velcro stays provided to control unused length of strapping.
In conclusion, you don't need the Xtreme Rings and only the Xtreme Rings to enjoy the benefits of the Gymnastic Bodies program; the elite rings are more than adequate for general fitness training. The Xtreme Rings are simply more convenient for some aspects of the Gymnastic Bodies training and follow the personal preferences I have developed after thirty years of training high-level athletes. The most important point is that you have rings of some sort to train on.
Yours in Fitness,
Coach Sommer
I recently received a pair of these rings. I have wanted a pair for a while, and Coach Sommer is currently running an introduction special on them, so I ponied up the money and ordered them through Ebay using PayPal.
Shipping: Reasonably priced at ~$9 for US Postal Delivery via Priority Mail. They were mailed on Wednesday, and at my door on Friday. I ordered on Monday, and Coach Sommer emailed me saying he was out of town, and would ship them first thing when he returned on Wednesday. The heads-up note was very courteous and professional.
1. The rings are one piece of solid textured plastic. I looked closely and there were no sprue or oversplash from the molding process. Having worked extensively with plastics previously, I was pretty impressed. The rings are a finished product, professionally made, and sturdy.
2. The straps are thick and approximately 1" wide and 18' long. The buckles are easy to use, making adjustments ridiculously easy.
3. The velcro pieces are a nice touch to keep the excess strap out of the way.
Coach Sommer wrote a bit about the Xtreme Ring's capacities:
Xtreme Rings Weight Limit
You will have to be doing weighted dips with over 2000lbs to exceed the strength of the Xtreme Rings as the rings, straps and cam buckles are rated at over 1,100lbs each. If you do manage it though, please post a video. Just kidding about the video, but seriously the rings are more than strong enough for any and all gymnastics conditioning work that you could ever manage to undertake. Remember though, that they are designed for conditioning work, not for swinging work.
Yours in Fitness,
Coach Sommer
I am very pleased with purchase. So far I've done push ups, body rows, pull ups, L-sit, and low ROM dips on them, and they've been very solid and a pleasure to work with.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticsbodies.com
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:42 pm
by Sofa King
Glad to hear that. I ordered rings last year from Tyler Hass and never got them.
Something went wrong with his production or something and they never materialized. I waited 3 months, no rings.
I'll have to look up Sommer's rings.
Do you get a free copy of his book with every purchase? :-"
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:05 pm
by Dave
Tyler had his rings on sale for $50 as well and they just came in. They are the Elite, black. I have a pair of his original rings as well. They've held up pretty well. On one the stitching that held the webbing together came apart & Tyler send me a replacement strap free.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:08 pm
by Shafpocalypse Now
Tyler's done a good business and seems to take care of the customer as well.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:26 pm
by Sofa King
He did stay in touch while I was waiting. I just ran out of time to buy.
I was buying for my school and our budget closed in April of that year. Couldn't finalize in time.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:59 pm
by Sofa King
Did anyone have problems trying to order? My order kept cycling back to the same spot and never asked for payment info.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:03 am
by Shafpocalypse Now
You have to locate the ebay link. Just go to ebay and do a search on "Xtreme Rings" or something, he hasn't got the store part of his site set up yet.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:54 am
by Dave
Banned wrote:Did anyone have problems trying to order? My order kept cycling back to the same spot and never asked for payment info.
Same here. I sent him an email about it but haven't heard back
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:03 am
by Shafpocalypse Now
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:44 am
by Dave
Thanks for the links. I ordered 2 pair
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:30 pm
by powerlifter54
Got 'em. They are very solid and easily attach to just about anything due to quick release buckle.
Like 'em.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:33 pm
by Sofa King
Shaf wrote:You have to locate the ebay link. Just go to ebay and do a search on "Xtreme Rings" or something, he hasn't got the store part of his site set up yet.
Thanks.
edit: Just ordered. Been wanting rings for 2 years. Now I have no excuses.
Hope they're better than those perfect pushup handles I bought.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:36 am
by grey
How are the buckles compared to the original rings Tyler offered? I like the rings themselves but the buckles are kind of a pain in the ass to use.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:11 am
by Shafpocalypse Now
The buckles = pinch open, thread strap through, adjust to desired length, let go.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:22 pm
by Sofa King
Banned wrote:Shaf wrote:You have to locate the ebay link. Just go to ebay and do a search on "Xtreme Rings" or something, he hasn't got the store part of his site set up yet.
Thanks.
edit: Just ordered. Been wanting rings for 2 years. Now I have no excuses.
Hope they're better than those perfect pushup handles I bought.
Ordred Thursday; received today.
Awesome shipping. Will play with these on Monday.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:12 am
by Herv100
Banned wrote:Banned wrote:Shaf wrote:You have to locate the ebay link. Just go to ebay and do a search on "Xtreme Rings" or something, he hasn't got the store part of his site set up yet.
Thanks.
edit: Just ordered. Been wanting rings for 2 years. Now I have no excuses.
Hope they're better than those perfect pushup handles I bought.
Ordred Thursday; received today.
Awesome shipping. Will play with these on Monday.
Jesus, how much random fitness bullshit do you have? Aren't you some middle aged guy? I bet you used to be in Crossfit too.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:11 pm
by Shafpocalypse Now
I like 'em.
Check out EliteFTS exercise index for "Blast Strap" exercises for a list of basic movements you can do with them. Also this:
http://www.elitefts.com/documents/blaststrapreport.pdf
Because a ring doesn't have a revolving handle, some exercises are a bit harder to do because of the way you have to hold it.
I have done.
Push ups
Fall outs (abs)
Inverted rows
Rear delt stuff (this is where the grip doesn't work as well as blast straps)
Prehab stuff (Kelso shruggery in several different planes of motion)
Dip holds
Hanging ab stuff
Really a nice piece that adds additional capabilities to my home gym as a very reasonable price.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:20 pm
by Shafpocalypse Now
Yes.
Kelso's Shrug book is an excellent resource to have on hand. Practicing some of the shrug variations he lines out are extremely effective for shoulder prehab, and that's just one reason. And it's cheap.
Kelso's a quality guy.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:04 pm
by GoDogGo!
Jack wrote:Thanks Shaf,
BTW, do you recommend the Kelso shrug book?
Ditto to what Shaf said. I found that ending a set of any arm exercise with the "shrug version" (you do the pullup, dip, bench, row, whatever, but your elbow stays locked) greatly increased my shoulder stability. I noticed that bent pressing in particular got easier.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:48 pm
by Sofa King
Jack wrote:See Banned, I was thinking that, BUT I DIDN'T SAY IT! Why you ax, well cause I like you, you're cool and stuff.
Still, you give me no credit for my kindness.
Anyway, I'd like to ask if anyone here who is using these rings can please state what benefits and such have come from using them. I'm curious about them too.
Huh?
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:54 pm
by Sofa King
Herv100 wrote:
Jesus, how much random fitness bullshit do you have? Aren't you some middle aged guy? I bet you used to be in Crossfit too.
Aren't you quite the fucking genius. Say hi to the gang at CF Whereeverthefuck for me.
Waste of sperm.
Wait a minute. . .Jack?
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:59 am
by Herv100
Take it easy there, sensitive Sally. And please don't insult me by insinuating I'm a Crossfitter. Now go back to playing with your slosh pipe, Sally.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:09 am
by Sofa King
You certainly seem to have me well researched, having read my old posts.
If only I was unemployed and had nothing but time, I could keep up your awesome.
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:35 pm
by Dave
Finally was able to go to post office to get my rings. I now have 2 pair of Sommers', 2 pair of Haas' Elite rings & 1 pair of Haas' original rings.
I like Haas' original rings the best. They feel sturdier and are made out of steel. His Elite rings are nice, they have the slot for the webbing to go through but the handle is plastic and is narrower than the original rings.
Sommer's rings are the same diameter as the Elite but don't have the slot so the rings are free to rotate in the loop of the webbing. Sommer's rings have a rough finish and therefore better gripping. Of korse wrapping Haas' Elite rings is doable but then you have to buy the tennis wrap.
The webbing on Sommer's feel a bit sturdier and the buckle is heavier. In addition the buckle is easier to thread because the tab is shorter and the end of the webbing is cut at an angle. Haas' original webbing also had the angled cut.
At $50 you can't go wrong with The Elites or the ones from Sommers both last most people quite a while
Re: Xtreme Rings by Gymnasticbodies.com
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:24 pm
by Shafpocalypse Now
Torque Athletic sells the original metal rings.