Whether you're looking to get into shape or practice your gymnastic skills, acquiring a home balance beam might be on your agenda. This is often a great addition to any home gym since both beginners and advanced exercisers can use it, but there are a few details to consider before you shop. The details you should think about mainly involve the size of the equipment, which should vary depending on what you want to get out of the beam.
If you are an experienced gymnast who wants to practice skills at home, your home balance beam should be the same size as the ones you will encounter during competitions. The typical beam size is four inches (about 10 cm) across, which is about the width of a human hand. Practicing on a beam that is wider than this is not advised if you expect to keep up your competition skills since you will likely not be using a beam wider than four inches during a meet. On the other hand, using a home balance beam that is narrower than this size can be dangerous and unnecessary. Of course, if you are using the beam just to get in shape or practice your balance, a wider surface area should be just fine.
The same rule of thumb goes for the height of the home balance beam. If you will be competing on a high beam, it is often best to buy one that is raised off the ground. If you are using the home balance beam just for fun during an exercise routine, one that sits on the ground might be appropriate for you. Though its safety is not guaranteed, falling off a lower beam usually has fewer consequences than falling off a high beam that is several feet in the air.
You will need to also consider the space you have in your gym before you purchase home gym equipment. For example, if you have a ceiling fan in the area where you plan to put the home balance beam, you will likely be better off with one that sits low on the ground. If you have a generally small space for it, you can consider getting a shorter beam, especially if you mainly plan to use it to practice balance rather than complex tricks. You will also need plenty of space around the beam if you are to use it for gymnastic skills as opposed to just walking on it, so be sure to take this aspect into consideration.