Kensui YinYang Parallettes Bars Review and Experience in 2024

Kensui YinYang Parallettes

The Kensui YinYang bars are yet another innovative product by Kensui Fitness, and they fit right in with their traditional yet modern design. These Parallettes are sleek and functional and have design features that minimize their carry size. We have bought all three Kensui YinYang bars in both rounded and ergonomic grip versions to test them and show you the results. I’ll thoroughly review the Kensui YinYang Max, Pro, Max XL and Kensui Pro XL bars. I’ve also secured a discount code (CWW10) to save you 10% off the checkout price.

You can also watch my Kensui YinYang bars review on YouTube:

Kensui Fitness YinYang Bars Review | Wooden Interlocking Parallettes

About Kensui Fitness

Kensui Fitness is a Japanese brand known for its innovative but straightforward designs. Kensui also produces high-quality products with great attention to detail and quality control. Other popular, innovative products by Kensui are the Kensui EZ Vest and the Kensui DUO Rings. Both are excellent products that bring something new and valuable to the table for Calisthenics. 

A First Look At the Kensui YinYang Bars

The Kensui YinYang bars are exceptionally easy on the eyes. They look sleek and well-made and have crisp logos on the sides. The wood seems perfectly sanded, and the minimalist design with soft, rounded edges is very appealing (at least to me).

I immediately noted the anti-slip pads under the feet and the potential stability of these Parallettes. The anti-slip pads look glued on. The long, sleek design might look appealing but might have stability issues. The Kensui YinYang bars come with internal magnets, which keep a pair bonded very neatly. These same magnets appear not to hold the largest Max XL versions together very well.

These are all things I intend to find out.

YinYang Bars

The Kensui YinYang Bars are made of premium beech wood, an excellent material for bars and handles. This type of wood can be sanded to the perfect satin finish, giving it the best feel in your hands. It also absorbs sweat and maintains its traction throughout the whole workout session. The anti-slip pads are a type of hard rubber. The larger-sized Kensui Parallettes have larger pads to support them. 

All sizes have the same two grip diameter options:

  • Rounded Grip: 38mm
  • Ergonomic Grip: 50mm top to 40mm bottom (reverse teardrop)

They also all use the same magnet system. This allows you to place the Parallettes neatly against each other, the bar fitting inside the hollow between the feet. For the YinYang Max and YinYang Pro, these magnets work just fine. However, the Max XL magnets are too weak to keep them reliably together. 

Here are the rest of the measurements and prices for each Kensui YinYang Bar:

Kensui YinYang MaxLength: 23cm (15cm grip)Width: 10cmHeight: 10cmPrice: €64.95 / $69.99Kensui YinYang ProLength: 20cm (12cm grip)Width: 7.5cmHeight: 8cmPrice: €37.95 / $39.99
Kensui YinYang Max XLLength: 50cm (42cm grip)Width: 10cmHeight: 10cmPrice: €119.95 / $129.99Kensui YinYang Pro XLLength: 51cm (43cm grip)Width: 6.5cmHeight: 7.5cmPrice: €74.95 / $79.99

Exercising with the Kensui YinYang Bars

The Kensui YinYang bars perform very well with all the standard exercises. Push-ups, L-sits, and V-sits are no problem using any of these bars. I also transitioned from L-sits to Handstands, and that worked as well. I recommend these as your Parallettes, even for your basic Planches.

There is a but, however. These are almost all front-to-back motion exercises with little to no perpendicular motion. These Parallettes are pretty narrow, and the Pro XL and Max XL versions can quickly flip to the side. Their length keeps them stable front-to-back, but there is that stability issue for more dynamic exercises or when you’re using a wider grip.

I still find them very serviceable, especially the smaller ones. The larger (or rather just longer ones) could be a bit more stable by going for a wider floor surface area. I understand the wish to maintain a consistent style between all the YinYang bars, but a slightly more stable product would justify a slight change in the overall aesthetic. 

Ergonomic Grips or Rounded Grips

Your choice between rounded or ergonomic grips is entirely preferential. I am used to rounded grips, and that is what I prefer. The ergonomic grips, though, still felt just fine, and these measurements are also used by many in Calisthenics and Gymnastics. Your safest pick is the type of grip that you are already used to most. As a side note, the ergonomic grips are more expensive than the rounded grips.

Carrying Strap

You can buy an additional carrying strap (sold separately for $9.95), which makes transportation even easier. These are not needed for the smaller versions (Max and Pro). The Max XL and Pro XL are easier to keep together this way, especially considering that their magnets alone will not keep them attached when you jostle them.

Conclusions About the Kensui YinYang Bars

Would I recommend these Parallettes? The Kensui design always has something going for it. It’s in their nature to innovate in the right direction. 

The Kensui YinYang Pro are the smallest Parallettes I’ve seen. They’re not the most stable Parallettes, but almost no “mini” Parallettes are super stable anyway. They do the job just fine for all your Parallettes Exercises. They are also very cheap for the high quality and excellent materials you get. So, the Pros get my official seal of approval.

The Kensui YinYang Max bars are the real value for money. They are a little bigger but not too much and cost a little more. But the YinYang Max Parallettes are so much more stable than the Pros. It is definitely the better choice if you’re looking for an all-round set of wooden Parallettes. You can do anything you could do on the Pros but with better stability on the YinYang Max bars. These YinYang Max bars are also stable enough to do your Handstands, Planches and transitions confidently.

The longer YinYang Max XL and Pro XL miss the mark as far as I’m concerned. They’re not that much more portable than other long and low designs but they do sacrifice a lot of stability to retain that sleek design. 

As always, Kensui thinks ahead of the competition with innovative designs and features. Of these Kensui Parallette bars, the YinYang Max is the best option. These are stable bars with an excellent design and pleasant look, and they feel great to the touch. 

If you’d like your own set of Kensui YinYang bars, use our discount code CWW10 at checkout to receive 10% off the final price.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kensui YinYang Bars

A few more questions about Kensui and the YinYang Parallettes, answered.

Are Kensui YinYang Bars Suitable for Transportation?

The YinYang Bars are ideal for transportation and travel. They slot into each other lengthwise and are held together by magnets. Their design is also very sleek, and they will easily fit into even a small duffel bag.

How Much Weight Can The Kensui YinYang Bars Take?

Kensui does not provide a specific maximum rated weight capacity. These Parallettes are made of premium beech wood, which is known for its strength and good surface qualities. You can expect to do all your Calisthenics on them without issue.

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