All Gornation Parallettes Review: Ultimate Comparison 2024

All Gornation Parallettes reviewed and compared in one location? I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time now and today’s the day that happened. As a big fan of Calisthenics Parallettes and of Gornation products, it just made sense that I bought all Gornation Parallettes and brought them together. Gornation products are some of the highest quality you can find. So, my expectations are naturally high. But I consider it money well spent. For this review, I’ve bought all three Gornation Premium Parallettes (MAX, ACTIVE and PRO), Gornation Metal Parallettes and the Gornation Wooden Parallettes. I’ve also secured a 10% discount code (CWW10). Time to dig in!

If you don’t want to (just) read, you can also watch my Gornation Parallettes review on YouTube here:

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Old versus New Gornation Parallettes

I’ve owned the Gornation Premium Parallettes for a couple of years now and always enjoyed exercising with them. Since then, Gornation has made some updates to their Parallettes which merit mentioning. The differences are in the construction methods while retaining the high-grade materials. These updates make the Parallettes objectively better while keeping the price the same. I have bought an additional set of each of the new premium Gornation Parallettes for this review to compare. 

Changes to the Gornation Premium Parallettes

Here is a summary of the improvements between the old and the new Gornation Parallettes:

• The feet on the PRO and ACTIVE Parallettes are now one piece welded together, rather than a T-section bolted onto the feet.

• The top sockets no longer have disks (which had to be frequently tightened), rather the wooden handle is fitted prior to the sockets being welded to the feet.

• The new screws are torx screws and not hexagonal. The new screws wear out much slower. They are also black now, which fits better with the overall aesthetic.

• The new rubber feet have a ridged bottom for additional grip and have a crisp logo on top.

• The Gornation Parallettes ACTIVE are 2.3 centimeters (0.91”) lower.

• A much smoother transition between the metal sockets and the wooden handles.

You get an extra set of rubber caps now, but Gornation removed the carry strap since it wasn’t all that popular. You can still buy the carry strap separately. I never made use of the carry strap myself so I’m quite happy that they chose to replace that with even more quality for their main product. The PRO Parallettes now come fully assembled in the package like the ACTIVE Parallettes.

Changes to the Wooden Gornation Parallettes

The Gornation Wooden Parallettes were first released in 2022 in that year’s Advent calendar. They were quite popular and so Gornation introduced a few enhancements to them and brought them out as their Small Parallettes. The Small Parallettes were extended into the version they still sell today. The previous versions are no longer sold, but of course I still have them for a comparison.

The Gornation Premium Parallettes (MAX, PRO and ACTIVE)

The Premium series of Gornation Parallettes all have a very similar construction style and use the same materials. They combine high-quality beech wood grips with black powder-coated metal frames. The grips have a 40-millimeter (1.57”) diameter for all versions and only the other dimensions like height and lengths differ. 

Gornation Premium MAX Parallettes

• Length: 50 cm / 19.7” 
• Length Wooden Handle: 38 cm / 15”
• Width: 35 cm / 13.8”
• Height: 30 cm / 11.8”
• Weight: 5.6 kg / 12.3 lb
• Capacity: 500 kg / 1100lbs
• Price: €120 / $131

The MAX Parallettes are a great beginner choice given their increased ground clearance. You can learn L-Sits on this but also transitions from L-Sits to Handstands knowing that the increased height will allow your legs to pass underneath more easily. You can also practice incline Push-Ups on these higher Parallettes, giving you just a bit less of an acute angle to make those Push-Ups a possibility. 

For the advanced practitioner, the MAX Parallettes offer an increased range of motion like for deep Handstand Push-Ups. They can also be used for simple bench dips in a pinch.

Gornation Premium PRO Parallettes

• Length: 50 cm / 19.7”
• Length Wooden Handle: 38 cm / 15”
• Width: 25 cm / 9.84”
• Height: 10 cm / 3.9”
• Weight: 3.2 kg / 7.1 lb
• Capacity: 500 kg / 1100 lbs
• Price: €100 / $110

The Gornation Premium PRO Parallettes are the lower and thus more stable brother of the MAX Parallettes. They are almost impossible to knock over unless you physically pick them up or lift them up from underneath. The PRO Parallettes are 2.5 times wider than they are high, creating the perfect triangle base. Coupled with their very low center of gravity, this added stability gives you the confidence to kick up into a handstand without worries about the Parallettes toppling. They also allow you to use a hammer grip for all your typical groundwork like Push-Ups and Push-Up variations.

You get less of an incline and the PRO Parallettes typically do not make exercises any easier. That makes these Parallettes more suitable for the advanced practitioner. The stable platform these Gornation Parallettes provide allows for more advanced exercises like the Maltese, the Planche and Wide Handstands to name a few.

Gornation Premium ACTIVE Parallettes

• Length: 24 cm / 9.45”
• Length Wooden Handle: 15 cm / 5.9”
• Width: 16 cm / 6.3”
• Height: 10 cm / 3.9”
• Weight: 2.2 kg / 4.9 lb
• Capacity: 500 kg / 1100 lbs
• Price: €70 / $76

The ACTIVE Parallettes are also very stable and despite being smaller, are just as robust as their bigger brothers the PRO and MAX Parallettes. You can take these with you more easily and they fit into any small to medium sized gym bag. The ACTIVE Parallettes are best seen as Push-Up Bars, and you can do all your basic groundwork like Push-Ups and Push-Up variations, but for L-Sits and Handstands I do recommend the longer PRO Parallettes. 

Gornation Wooden Parallettes

• Length: 30 cm / 11.8”
• Length Wooden Handle: 24 cm / 9.45”
• Width: 16 cm bottom – 8 cm top / 6.3” – 3.15”
• Height: 11.5 cm / 4.53”
• Weight: 1.5 kg / 3.3 lb
• Capacity: 150 kg / 330 lbs
• Price: €60 / $65

The new Gornation Wooden Parallettes are longer versions of the previous “Small Parallettes”. In terms of size and stability, you can compare them to the Gornation Premium PRO Parallettes and you use them for similar exercises like Handstands and Planches. The PRO Parallettes are superior in every way to the Wooden Parallettes, except in weight and price. 

The Wooden Parallettes cost a little more than half the price of the PRO Parallettes but they also weigh next to nothing. The added Velcro strap holds them together nicely during transport. These qualities make the Wooden Parallettes a good alternative for those on a tighter budget but who would still like a low and stable platform for their advanced Calisthenics.

Gornation Metal Parallettes

• Length: 65 cm / 25.5”
• Width: 40.5 cm / 15.95”
• Height: 40 cm / 15.75”
• Weight: 7.7 kg / 17 lb
• Capacity: 250 kg / 550 lbs
• Price: €100 / $110

The Gornation Metal Parallettes are of an all-steel construction and are completely powder coated. A large, crisp sticker displays the Gornation brand and logo on the sides. The stickers are frail and come loose quickly but the Parallettes themselves are very strong and durable. 

They come closest to the Gornation Premium MAX Parallettes. The Metal Parallettes are larger in all dimensions than the MAX Parallettes, giving you a slightly deeper Range of Motion while also being slightly more stable.  The Metal Parallettes are also slightly cheaper.

Which of the two you prefer comes down to your preference and whether you like the feel of a wooden grip or that of a metal grip better. I like using both the MAX Parallettes and Metal Parallettes for my exercises, but I do prefer the wooden handles of the MAX.

Gornation Premium Dip Bars

As a small side-tangent, you could also consider getting the Gornation Premium Dip Bars instead of the Metal Parallettes. Their designs are almost identical, with everything upscaled for the Premium Dip Bars. If you already own the Gornation Premium Dip Bars, and you should own a pair of good Dip Bars, then you already have a good idea what the Metal Parallettes will feel like.

They would make a good combination to further complete your Calisthenics Home Gym Equipment.

Additional Gornation Products

Two other products by Gornation I used in conjunction with the Gornation Parallettes are the Gornation Liquid Chalk and their Soft Grip Tape. The Grip Tape included with the Parallettes is a little firmer. The separately sold Soft Grip Tape works very well in combination with the Wooden Parallettes.

Overview of All Gornation Parallettes

The Gornation Parallettes are all high quality and durable, featuring quality materials and excellent fit and finish (besides the Metal Parallettes’ stickers). When you need a set of Parallettes, I can always recommend getting the Gornation Parallettes. Which specific Gornation Parallettes you should get depends on 4 criteria: exercise variety, range of motion, stability and portability.

For exercise variety and range of motion, the MAX Parallettes and/or the Metal Parallettes are the best pick. You can make deeper motions with their increased height as well as incorporate more variety to your exercises like L-Sits, transitions, Handstand Push-Ups as well as all the regular Parallettes exercises and even some basic chair Dips and Incline Push-Ups. The decision between the MAX and Metal Parallettes comes down to personal preference for a wooden or metal grip. I always like a good, satin finish wooden grip myself.

For advanced exercises that require maximum stability, the PRO Parallettes are the best option. They stand up to diverse exercises like the Maltese, Handstands and Planches. They are also the ideal tool to learn the Planche on. The Wooden Parallettes would also be a good choice for these exercises. They are cheaper though less durable and with a significantly lower weight capacity.

The ACTIVE Parallettes are great for a pair of lightweight but very sturdy Parallettes to take with you on a trip. Their size makes them suitable for basic groundwork like Push-Ups and maybe Planches if you’re careful. You should compare them to Push-Up Bars. Again, the Wooden Parallettes make a good alternative here for being lighter albeit larger.

Conclusions About the Gornation Parallettes

I really like the Gornation Parallettes and the improvements Gornation made to the Premium Parallettes line. They really added value to their products without increasing the price, which says a lot about their commitment to Calisthenics and their customers.

Gornation does an excellent job combining the high weight capacity possible with a steel frame and the added comfort that wooden handles bring. Personally, I prefer wooden handles over solid metal ones. A high-quality beech wooden handle has the right texture to grip, absorbs some of your sweat and often eliminates the need for grip enhancers like chalk or gloves. 

You do not need all Gornation Parallettes for a well-stocked home gym. I recommend getting a low and a high pair of Parallettes and that should serve you well enough. A solid combination would be the Gornation Premium PRO Parallettes (alternatively, the Wooden Parallettes) with the Gornation Premium MAX Parallettes (alternatively, the Metal Parallettes). Those two combined will give you a lot of exercise variety on a very stable platform.

Gornation Discount Code

When you decide to get any product from Gornation, use my 10% discount code CWW10 at checkout now and in the future. This code works on their whole catalogue indefinitely, not just the Gornation Parallettes.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gornation Parallettes 

Looking for additional information about the Gornation Parallettes? Here are some more questions I found regarding Gornation and their line of Parallettes.