Make Your Own Parallettes to Get Hard Shoulders and Ripped Abs

If you are a fighter or advanced athlete you may have already heard about parallettes. Parallettes are exercise equipment often confused with dip or push up bars. Although to low to the ground for dips, they can be used for push ups, v-sits, l-sits, handstands, elbow levers, planks and plank presses. Parallettes are small and lightweight while enabling the athlete to get a full shoulder, chest and abdominal workout. Parallettes bought through a retail store can cost you $100 or more. Here you can learn how to make your own parallettes from PVC pipe you can buy at your local hardware store.

First you will need the materials for your parallettes. Head out to your local hardware store and pick up these items.

Tape measure (if you don't already have one)
Pipe cutter
9 feet of 2 inch PVC pipe
4 - 2 inch PVC 'T' joints
4 - 2 inch PVC elbow joints
8 - 2 inch PVC caps

Once you have your materials you will need to cut the pipe up into these pieces.

2 - 1.5 foot pieces
12 - 6 inch pieces

To assemble one side attach an elbow to each side of the 1.5 foot piece. Then attach a 6 inch piece to the other end of each elbow. Next attach a 'T' joint to the other end of the 6 inch pieces perpendicular to the 1.5 foot length of pipe. After that attach 2 - 6 inch pieces to each of the 'T' joints and cap off the other end of the 6 inch pieces. Repeat the same method to complete the other side of your parallettes.

Once you have your parallettes assembled you can go back through with PVC glue to permanently fasten all of the pieces or you can leave them the way they are so you can quickly and easily disassemble the parallettes for storage or travel.

PVC is the cheapest material but you can use ABS if you are a heavier person or would just feel safer with a higher density pipe for your parallettes. You can also choose your own grip width. When you go to the hardware store grab some different pipe and see what feels best to you. You are making it yourself so it can be custom to what you like. Smaller hands may want a 1.5 inch pipe instead of 2 inches. You should be able to put together the PVC parallettes with less that $15 or the ABS version with less than $25 in pipe and about 20 minutes.