Building a rig that is right for your facility

Rigs have been the cornerstone of functional fitness and performance gyms worldwide for a decade. Still, there is a growing trend for studios and commercial gyms to incorporate rigs into their floor plans, looking to take advantage of the opportunities rigs present for engaging programming, training variety, and space optimisation. Offered with bespoke designs and custom colours, rigs can add a striking aspect to a gym, a showcase for the brand.

A rig is used for various gymnastic movements and barbell strength training exercises at the most basic level. The beauty of a rig is its versatility, allowing facilities to create highly adaptive spaces with many uses for members and trainers alike. When fully optimised, a rig is an incredibly powerful piece of equipment. When done well, rigs become focal points and points of differentiation, a selling point to prospective members. They create an inviting social fitness area, allowing members to connect with each other and trainers by participating in fun, effective, engaging programs. Building these relationships is key to exercise and membership retention.

When considering a rig for your facility, there are some specific considerations to bring your aesthetic and programming best needs to life. These key considerations will help you decide which type of rig configuration, attachments and design is right for your members and facility.

Programming

The first consideration when designing a rig is programming. It’s essential to think through how you want to use your rig, engage with members and the types of tools you want to give trainers to work with members in group, small group and personal training formats.

Regarding group classes, will members perform the same movements simultaneously, requiring duplication of stations, or will classes be programmed in a circuit format where members rotate around to different stations? It’s also essential to think about how many members you will be programming for at one time. Remember the sight lines for the instructor, their ability to coach and instruct and be in a position that is visible to all participants.

For gyms considering rigs and functional training classes, make sure your staff is equipped to make the most of your investment through continuing education. Classes such as Eleiko Education's Functional Training Course, develop coaching strategies, movement progressions expertise, and programming know-how, equipping participants with the necessary skills to create effective and efficient functional training programs for clients.

Free Standing or Wall Mounted

A second consideration in designing the right rig for your members and facility is choosing between free-standing and wall-mounted rig solutions. How you want your facility to flow, your physical space, and building engineering will help determine which option is right for you.

Wall-mounted rigs offer space efficiency, keeping floor plans more open. With members lined up on one side, coaches can more clearly see, coach and correct all members during a class. Wall-mounted rig assemblies have specific building requirements, which will help determine whether this is viable.

Free-standing rigs are an excellent option for many facilities. They are used when wall-mounted units are not appropriate or when the class type or facility layout/design of the gym requires it. One benefit of free-standing rigs is that they support more users training simultaneously, doubling the number of stations you can set up.

To give the most flexibility and support long-term business goals, it can be wise to consider a modular system like Eleiko Prestera, as it is designed for reassembly and can be reconfigured, adapted and changed over time as needs evolve.

Movements and Exercises

The third consideration for rig design is the type of movements you want to perform. The movements and exercises will determine the height of the rig, the clearance needed, and the fitness attachments required. Keeping the number of stations in mind here is important as well. Ring muscle ups and rope climbs require taller rigs and more clearance.

We recommend 500mm clearance around the rig to perform the exercises and require a minimum of 100 mm to raise/install the rig. Deciding on rings, rope climbing, and monkey bars will help determine if you need a low or high rig. From battling ropes to wall ball shots, safety arms and muscle-up bars, numerous varieties of fitness attachments are available. It is imperative to compile a list of the movements you want to be sure you provide your members and trainers to support your programming needs.

In addition to the fixed attachments like the wall ball targets or ring and rope stations, exercise attachments and pads can add even more training functionality to a rig. From Smith attachments to hip thrust pads, lever arms to landmines, rigs become a foundation for endless training opportunities. Across the Prestera range, attachments are designed to be lighter for easier manoeuvrability, making them more convenient and likely to be utilized by members and trainers alike to their full potential.

Storage

The fourth consideration is storage and deciding whether to incorporate it into the rig's structure or keep the units separated to maximise training space within the kit.

Integrating storage within the rig design keeps equipment such as kettlebells, bumpers, and wall balls conveniently within reach and floor plans less cluttered. Storage units can help organise the area so that trainers and members can select their training tools, attachments and free weights easily and quickly. However, integrated storage cuts down the number of possible stations that could be used for training.

Customisation

The final consideration is how you want to customise your rig to create a bespoke design that optimises your space, best supports your programming and member training needs and sets your facility apart. This includes looking for custom colours, custom logos on specific components such as wall ball targets and any unique fitness attachments you want to have to make your rig shine and reflect your brand.

One way to include your message or branding into a bespoke rig design is with one of the Prestera Customization Plates. Available in stainless or powder coat, use plates to add a custom logo, message, or instructions to a Prestera training system.

Create a versatile, long-lasting rig with Eleiko Prestera

Eleiko Prestera is an innovative modular strength system meticulously designed to redefine your fitness space. Combining free weights, bodyweight exercises, and cable training in one scalable system, Prestera transcends conventional boundaries, empowering a new level of versatility and functionality within gym environments.

Prestera embodies adaptability and customization. It's the ultimate solution crafted to harmonize with your facility's layout and your evolving training requirements. Whether seeking a comprehensive overhaul or a seamless integration, Prestera offers a transformative approach to optimize your training space.