Gymnastics bar for home?

[mefordis]

Can anyone recommend a gymnastics bar for home. My 8 year old is asking for one for Christmas. She isn't a serious gymnast - just likes to play on it and try out tricks. I want to encourage her to be active since she does take tumbling. Wondering if it is a mistake to get her this though as it might just sit in our basement after a few days.

Thanks!

 

[poohbear15]

My daughter has the jr kip bar from tumbl trak. She uses it all of the time when not in the gym. We did buy the extentions for it as well. She is on a gymnastics team though so it's more for learning her routines.

 

[mefordis]

My daughter has the jr kip bar from tumbl trak. She uses it all of the time when not in the gym. We did buy the extentions for it as well. She is on a gymnastics team though so it's more for learning her routines.

Thank you! I was looking at that one. It is pricy! Can I use a regular mat underneath it, or would that not work? Our mat is wide and I see you can buy the mat that slides right in between the bars. I'm worried that our wide mat might make the bar unstable, sitting on the squishy mat.

Any recommendations you can make would be greatly appreciated! She is not a gymnast by any means but loves activity of gymnastics and I want to encourage her to be active.

Thanks so much! I didn't think I'd get any responses to this!

 

[Jaime4004]

We have a jr kip bar also. My daughter was on a gymnastics team and begged for it when she was 8. She used it a lot for about 2 years. She is 12 now and never uses it, but now I have a 7 yr old boy on a gymnastics team and he uses it often. So it was worth it for us. Not sure if it's worth it for the year or two you'll get out of it if only one child. But they do sell quickly on craigslist if she stops using it because I tried that route first. I would get the leg extensions, it's pretty unstable without them.

 

[mefordis]

Thanks so much for your help! This is the one I'm looking at:

http://www.amazon.com/Tumbl-Trak-Ju...1449534933&sr=8-1&keywords=gymnastics+kip+bar

 

[princessesintraining]

We have a Norbert's kip bar. Bought it used for $150 from someone at a gym. If she takes lessons, it might be worth asking around at the gym, as he higher level girls can't use the kip bars. We have ours bolted to our basement floor for stability. My daughter is in her second year of gym team. We also just use a folding Norbert's mat under her bar.

 

[Rstoro]

My daughter had a Jr. Kip bar years ago and I bought thick foam from a local fabric store to put under the mat for extra cushioning
since it was in our basement. She used it for years until she touched the ceiling while doing some skills. make sure it is weighted down
and can not move. I believe my husband put weights on the legs from a home gym to be on the safe side. It will depend on the child as
to whether or not it is useful. Ours was well worth the cost.

 

[playitagainkat]

I would definitely suggest looking for a pre-owned one on Craigslist or even Freecycle. Maybe even stick up a flyer at your local gym; although your time is tight, there may be a higher level girl getting the next step up for Christmas.

 

[Linda777]

I agree with the post before me. Craigslist is a good place to purchase equipment for someone just starting. But, for the future be sure to invest in a quality heavy duty bars that includes extensions. Extensions are essential for stability. Less expensive bars sold don't come with extensions, so don't be fooled. I purchased my grandaughters bars at Gymnastics Bars & Beams LLC and couldn't be happier.

 

[neatokimmo]

Have you thought about a beam instead? We have had friends own that type of bar and it will rock. With a beam you can start on the floor and raise it with legs when she is ready.

 

[Linda777]

A friend told me that her child was walking on the backs of their sofas. That's when she decided to purchase a floor level balance beam.

 

[Linda777]

Gymnastics bars are expensive. The less expensive ones might not have extensions which are needed for maximum stabilization and safety. I purchase my bars at Gymnastics Bars & Beams LLC