
Plyometrics, or “jump training,” exercises are ones in which muscles exert maximum force in short intervals of time, with the ultimate goal being an increase in speed-strength or power. Often called “plyos,” this type of athletic training focuses on learning to move from a muscle extension to a contraction in a rapid or explosive manner. Typically, athletes use plyos to improve performance, and they can often be found in the workout routines of football players, martial artists, sprinters, and high jumpers. Plyometrics are making their way into the fitness world as more trainers incorporate them into fitness routines.
Legend Fitness has three great equipment options when it comes to plyometrics: Performance Plyo Cushions (3231), Wood Plyo Box 3-in-1 (3210-3N1), and Plyo Box Sets (3206 and 3134). All three plyo training tools have different features and benefits, and depending on an athlete’s needs, you’ll want to make sure you have the correct apparatus in place to get the job done right.
Performance Plyo Cushions
One of the most popular and effective plyometric tools that Legend Fitness offers is the set of Performance Plyo Cushions (3231). This set of three varying height cushions (6, 12, and 24 inches) can be mixed and matched for seven different height options for varying exercises. Heavy duty velcro tabs ensure that they stay together when stacked – so stack away!
The Performance Plyo Cushions may be called “cushions,” but they are far from a comfortable seat. These cushions are constructed of firm, dense foam and covered in heavy duty tarp material, which means they are able to withstand repeated beatings while resisting slipping. While Legend Fitness’s Performance Plyo Cushions are firm, they’re not as firm as steel or wood boxes, which means the user has to make minor adjustments. This helps strengthen the connective tissues and requires greater participation from stabilization muscles. At the same time, the likelihood of scraping a shin is lower when using a Performance Plyo Cushion, so athletes are encouraged to dig deeper and attempt higher jumps, resulting in greater gains.
The 36” diameter round shape of our Performance Plyo Cushion is one of those thoughtful details that’s common in Legend Fitness equipment. A nice wide base provides greater stability. But why round? An athlete landing on the corner of a metal or wood box may not be a big issue, but we realized that landing on the corner of foam sometimes results in a fall, so we eliminated corners. There’s no need to worry about pulling a Humpty Dumpty when jumping to new heights on the Legend Fitness Performance Plyo Cushions.
Performance Plyo Cushions also absorb impact energy, which makes them an excellent training partner for explosive upper body movements by creating more challenging ball slams. The Performance Plyo Cushions are best for athletes who need to maintain stability as much as increase power. Lower body plyometric training exercises with added stability benefits are especially helpful for athletes who participate in basketball, football, soccer, gymnastics, hockey, baseball, tennis, and rugby.
Plyo Box Sets
Legend Fitness has two Plyo Box Sets available: the Plyo Box Set (3134) and the Advanced Plyo Box Set (3206). The standard set of Plyo Boxes includes five pieces with heights of 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 inches, and the Advanced Plyo Box Set has a sixth box measuring 42 inches. Our plyo boxes are solid and made for the toughest training, with fully-welded construction and thick rubber, non-slip tops. They can withstand virtually anything.
Our plyo boxes are available in all of the powder coat color options we offer (over 28 of them), which makes them easy to coordinate with any existing equipment or team colors. The variety in heights allows for multiple types of plyometric exercises of any kind of athlete or gym enthusiast, and the nesting feature of the box sets means the footprint is smaller when they’re not in use. They are easy to move and perfect for any gym goer or athlete, from the novice soccer mom to the professional volleyball player.
If you are looking for individual steel frame plyo boxes, Legend Fitness has you covered there, too. All of the sizes available in our sets are available individually as well, which means you can add extras or even create your own custom set of plyo boxes.
Wood Plyo Box 3-in-1
Our rugged-looking Wood Plyo Box 3-in-1 (3210-3N1) is the most robust and economical plyo box Legend Fitness has to offer. This piece is constructed from tough, one-inch-thick plywood that has been cut to shape with a computer-controlled router. Every corner is ultra-reinforced thanks to box joint construction and screws in two axes. All of the edges are sanded to make the possibility of missed jumps less intimidating, and porthole handles make it easy to move the Wood Plyo Box 3-in-1 around and take full advantage of the 20, 24, and 30 inch jump heights.
This economical and space-conscious plyo device is just as viable in a workout center as it is a home gym. The raw, rugged look might make this an intimidating piece, but it is one of the easiest to use and great for athletes who are working on more intense plyometric training. The Wood Plyo Box 3-in-1 is a great bang for your buck, but not a good option for those looking for smaller heights.
So there you have it! An in-depth look at the differences between Legend Fitness’s three plyometric training tools. If you’re looking to add jump training to your routine, or offer more options to your gym members, reach out to our sales team for a custom quote on any of our plyo cushions or boxes.