Plyo box question

[QueBert]

I have a week left on the Rushfit program, after that I'm going to take a week off, then do a month long HIIT program I found online. One of the things needed for it is a plyo box, and I've never actually measured my vertical so I don't know what to look for. I do know I really suck badly at jumping, also I'm not very explosive. Even without measuring it, I know my vertical's shitty. I'm seeing from 6 to 48" boxes when I Google. I really don't know which to start with, even 24" seems like it might be too much and 6" seems like too little. I am seeing some metal sets that come with 4 heights, but they're expensive. And I see a wood one with a 4" removable bottom, but it's still 20" without it. Which still might be too high for me to start with. The soft impact ones look really nice, and are stackable but they cost $$$. I'd like to keep it around $130 as I'm ordering some 2 Kettlebells and a rack for them. I figured out which KB and rack to get, but I'm totally clueless where to start height wise for the box. I know this will vary person to person, and I can't even give my vertical. But maybe someone with experience could give me some insight here?

5'11, 37yo, 180lbs, I'd say I'm in decent shape. Been jogging 3x a week for about a year and doing the Rushfit DVD's for 45 days now. Only Plyo I've done is what's on the DVD's, and there's honestly not too much.

 

[neocpp]

To be honest, I think the best thing would be to try to find one at a gym and go off that. I've seen it vary wildly between similarly sized people, and it really depends on that vertical. The problem is I've only seen them at a few gyms though. The 20/24" one is probably fine to start off with, don't forget that you can do much larger boxes than you can for your vertical because you bend your knees.

 

[marmasatt]

Why don't you just do some experimentation? Surely you can find *something* that will suit your needs for the moment. Find a ledge somewhere or a retaining wall, or some kind of dead parking lot at night. I happen to have an old cement factory by me, lol. I literally have perfectly formed 28" blocks in an abandoned factory. If you belong to a gym, you can also stack the stairmaster stairs that the old aerobic ladies use. I think I stack like 10 of the old light plastic ones.

 

[QueBert]

Anyone looking for a Plyo box, I came across this. Looks really kick ass in the video, not sure how long it'll actually hold up. I can't find any reviews which probably isn't a very positive sign. But the price and adjustability have me leaning towards it.

http://www.8thdaygym.com/8thDayGym/Store.html

 

[marmasatt]

Who has money for that? You didn't like my idea, lol?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Build them out of 2x8s

 

[QueBert]

Who has money for that? You didn't like my idea, lol?

You're idea was good, I looked around my area and didn't see anything though. There are some walls here and there that are almost the right height for me, but they're tore to hell and a few had a lot of spots where the metal bars inside were sticking out. I went to my gym and they have about 5 of those small step platforms, which wasn't going to be high enough. Also, I want to work out at home if at possible, so I can do it without a shirt on and not worry as I live in the ghetto so if I'm outside doing plyo like a mad man I have a suspicion a cop might shoot me or something.

So instead of buying 3 expensive wooden boxes, I could get this and have 1 thing that works from 16 - 24".

Build them out of 2x8s

I looked at plans, but I only have 1 of the tools needed. I have a friend who has the rest, but asking them to use anything would put me in debt to them. Also I'm not all that mechanically inclined so looking at the schematics just confused me lol.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Q,

Saw your reply.

$170 for that plus $25 shipping.

Forget borrowing the tool. Just go buy the tool. You'll spend the same amount but get a circular saw out of the deal.
$70: ciruclar saw
http://www.lowes.com/pd_40078-79992...0_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_price|0&facetInfo=
$60: corded drill
http://www.lowes.com/pd_219608-70-D...6_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_price|0&facetInfo=
3x$8: wood
http://www.lowes.com/pd_95727-99899...r|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=2 x 8
$10: Box of 3" screws

Total: $164

Just saying.

 

[QueBert]

Q,

Saw your reply.

$170 for that plus $25 shipping.

Forget borrowing the tool. Just go buy the tool. You'll spend the same amount but get a circular saw out of the deal.
$70: ciruclar saw
http://www.lowes.com/pd_40078-79992...0_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_price|0&facetInfo=
$60: corded drill
http://www.lowes.com/pd_219608-70-D...6_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_price|0&facetInfo=
3x$8: wood
http://www.lowes.com/pd_95727-99899...r|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=2 x 8
$10: Box of 3" screws

Total: $164

Just saying.

Great, I already have a driver, it's not uber as a drill, but it works fine for wood screws. Hummm that still doesn't help my lack of mechanics. But since I already have the drill I could spend the money I saved on extra wood as I'd no doubt screw up the 1st attempt. Wouldn't I need some saw horses too?

sounds like it could be a fun project though

 

[EvilYoda]

You can find tons of templates online, here's one from the CFJ:

http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/49_06_plyo_boxes.pdf

As for your height, we typically start people off at 12" if they're uncomfortable about jumping too high and/or missing a jump and hurting themselves. From there, 16" is quickly achievable and the standard 24" box jump (for men) isn't too far off. It's more so confidence and comfort (with the movement) than actual physical ability.

That said...you more than likely will miss at some point - everyone does.

 

[conorvansmack]

If you don't want to build one, Rogue sells this one preassembled for $135. If you can borrow a drill and are feeling confident, they also sell it unassembled for $125. I'm not sure if there is a difference in price for shipping.

 

[QueBert]

You can find tons of templates online, here's one from the CFJ:

http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/49_06_plyo_boxes.pdf

As for your height, we typically start people off at 12" if they're uncomfortable about jumping too high and/or missing a jump and hurting themselves. From there, 16" is quickly achievable and the standard 24" box jump (for men) isn't too far off. It's more so confidence and comfort (with the movement) than actual physical ability.

That said...you more than likely will miss at some point - everyone does.

What's the worst you've seen happen when a person misses? When something goes wrong for me, it tends to really go wrong lol. I'm seeing some sort of uber padded boxes or something people claim lessen the effect of a miss. But they're like $300-400 everywhere I look. I guess they pray on people who are scared of pain, because those prices are crazy.

 

[marmasatt]

Hmmm. Making these things does seem like a cool project. I don't know about anyone else though, but I am absolutely brutal on mine (whether it be the cement blocks or plastic steps). I think I would have that thing collapsed after about a week and a half. I totally wouldn't trust myself building that that.

 

[neocpp]

Usually a miss just involves me hitting my shins against the side... it's not that big of a deal. I was actually at lot more scared of it before it happened, but after the first time I don't worry at all.

Is 24" really the standard for guys? It seems kinda short since I think most guys have a vertical on par with that (but I really have no idea).

 

[EvilYoda]

Usually a miss just involves me hitting my shins against the side... it's not that big of a deal. I was actually at lot more scared of it before it happened, but after the first time I don't worry at all.

Is 24" really the standard for guys? It seems kinda short since I think most guys have a vertical on par with that (but I really have no idea).

When you're doing it for upwards of a hundred or so reps in a WOD, 24" gets annoying really fast.

And OP, in terms of damage...I've seen really bad gouges, but nothing too extreme. Still sucks!

 

[QueBert]

Hmmm. Making these things does seem like a cool project. I don't know about anyone else though, but I am absolutely brutal on mine (whether it be the cement blocks or plastic steps). I think I would have that thing collapsed after about a week and a half. I totally wouldn't trust myself building that that.

I agree, I absolutely suck with tools and can't read blueprints for building something from wood. I would worry it would collapse while I was using it and I'd break my neck. While it is much cheaper to build your own, I 1 visit to the hospital from using a home made one that uber fails on you would kind of kill the savings factor.

I do like the idea of an already cut one where all I have to do is drill in some screws. Even my non mechanical ass could handle that.