The 4 Best Plyo Box (Jump Box) In 2022 to Improve Your Conditioning

Plyometric box jumps. They’ve been shown to improve strength as well as explosive power. They’ve also been shown to improve speed and acceleration in sprinters. The other benefits to plyometric box jumps are that they can increase your cardiovascular fitness, reaction time, mental and muscle endurance.  But before you can go ahead and start using plyo box jumps in your workouts, you first have to get the best plyo box on the market.

We’ve reviewed the 4 best jump and plyo boxes on the market.

1. Rogue Fitness Soft Foam – Box 
2. Titan Fitness 3-in-1 Wooden Plyometric Box
3. Titan Fitness Adjustable Plyo Box
4. Rogue Fitness Wooden Box

After reviewing all four, we’ve found that the Titan Fitness 3-in-1 Wooden Plyometric Box gets our seal of approval. With it’s an internal brace, solid structure, and overall quality, the Titan Fitness 3 – in – 1 plyo box is on par with the Rogue Fitness version, but at half the price.

The Best Plyo Box Reviewed

Product Image	Product's name	Main Features	More Info
	Best for Beginners Rogue Fitness Soft Foam - Box	3 - In - 1 Height Soft Material	View latest price
	Best Budget Option Titan Fitness 3-in-1 Wooden Plyometric Box	3 - In - 1 Height 20" and 24" with 4” topper	View latest price
[amazon fields="B01C654D5O" value="thumb" image_size="medium"]	Best Space Saver Titan Fitness Adjustable Plyo Box	Adjustable 12-24” supports up to 300 lb	View latest price
	Good Budget Option Rogue Fitness Wooden Box	3 - In - 1 Height 20" and 24" with 4” topper	View latest price

You’ll find our individual reviews below. Then we’ll look at some of the benefits to box jumps, and why you would want to consider using them as part of your training.  Athletes at all levels, and from a wide range of sports, use box jumps as a way to improve their athleticism. But here’s the thing. You don’t have to be an athlete to yield the same results.

If you’re new to plyometrics and you’ve just started using them in your training regime, there’s only one box we can recommend. And that’s the soft foam box. The reason is pretty simple. We want you to spare your shins from being obliterated from the sharp and hard sides of a wooden or metal box. We’ve seen it too many times, plyometrics being used for the first time, the jumper underestimates how high the box is and before you know it…

Crash, bang, ouch my shin!

And look, the downside isn’t just smashing your shins. It can also knock your confidence, sometimes for good.  At Strong Chap we don’t want that to happen.  But don’t let the soft foam complexion fool you.  This box is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Its sturdy and solid structure is built to last. And with 3 different heights to work with, you have a lot of potentials to increase your jump height and intensity.

The Rogue soft-box is a 3 – in – 1. By turning it on its side you can increase the height from 24” to 29” up to 30” in height. And with a bit of imagination, you can transform this plyometric box built for jumping, into a very handy piece of equipment like a bench, to target more than just your legs.  With it’s soft edges, a split second of hesitation won’t cost you your shins.

The Rogue Fitness soft foam box has the exact same dimensions as it’s wooden counterpart. But oddly enough, the soft foam is heavier than the wooden box, and because the soft foam box has no handle, it makes it harder to pick up and move. But if you decided later down the line you wanted a wooden one, you know exactly what you’re getting in terms of height and dimensions.

This box is ideal for those who are more experienced at plyometrics. We say this because the material and edges can be very unforgiving. A slight hesitation could cause you to slip and crack your shins. Which can be very painful.  But with that being said, the Titan Fitness wooden box has a lot more going for it than being a shin bruiser.

The Titan Fitness 3 – In – 1 is made from 0.7 high-quality wood and puzzle joints. Designed with precision and accuracy, this is solid in many ways and has been built to last you for years. You also get three different heights 16”, 20” and 24” inches. And with built-in handles, it’s a case of just turning it on its side to increase or decrease the height.  When assembling the wooden plyo box, we recommend you get a strong wood glue to help you tighten up those joints and ensure you don’t get any unwanted gaps between the edges. With its puzzle joints and pre-drilled holes you can assemble this in under 30 minutes.

The box from Titan Fitness is the same box Rogue Fitness has at the CrossFit games. The only difference is the price. The Titan Fitness box is half the price of a Rogue Fitness plyo box which suggests you’re just paying for the brand and logo.

The Titan adjustable plyo box is a smart piece of space-saving engineering. Its design is suited to anyone at any level. This box is built like a tank, with its pro steel structure and slip-free surface you can jump with confidence. This plyo box can hold up to 300lbs so whether you’re using it for jumps or dips, this box has you covered.

You have four easy adjustable heights to choose from 12”,16”, 20” & 24”. No need for spanners or wrenches to fix it in place. Adjusting the height couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is lift it or lower it until the pins meet the desired height, then lock it in.  We like this box for its simplicity but as well it’s easy to store away and takes up very little room. The design is ideal for speed and efficiency. Whether it’s a strength session or a conditioning session you can pick the box up, move it, and adjust it in seconds without it disrupting the flow of your workout.

There are a couple of downsides to the Titan Fitness adjustable plyo box. The rubber feet can cause it to be unstable, so you may need to alter it with some tape or wedge something underneath to ensure all four legs are firm and level.  We may even suggest looking at taking the rubber feet off but this will of course depend on the floor surface you don’t want it to slide when you jump onto it.

Unlike a solid wooden box or soft foam box, the Titan Fitness adjustable box wouldn’t be suitable for heavy box squats due to its 300lb weight limit.

This box is ideal for those who are more experienced at plyometrics and the reason for that is the material and edges can be very unforgiving. A slight hesitation could cause you to slip and crack your shins. But with that being said. The original Rogue Fitness wooden box has a lot more going for it.

The Rogue Fitness 3 – In – 1 original wood plyo box is easy to assemble with its precision CNC cut, the dimensions and construction is solid., with beveled edges, you can assemble it from box to home gym floor in under 15 minutes. We also recommend having a strong wood glue to glue up the joints to ensure a tighter fit and to seal up any unwanted gaps.

This original wooden box is the same box they use at the CrossFit games. And because it has handles on each side it’s much easier to move around, unlike the soft foam box. The heights vary from 20” to 24” inches.

But thanks to the ingenuity at Rogue Fitness, they have also made a 4” plyo-booster, which when placed underneath the box, gives you an extra 4” inches, allowing you to increase your jump height without having to stick plates or anything underneath, which could cause it to be unsteady.

The Top Five Benefits To Box Jumps

#1- You’ll Develop More Lower Body Strength

Box jumps can increase your lower body strength. It takes a lot of energy and strength to perform a box jump, no matter the height. Box jumps recruit type II muscle fibers which are your fast-twitch muscles, they’re responsible for speed, strength and power. The more you recruit these muscles, the better your nervous system has at activating them. This can also improve your reaction time, your acceleration and your mental agility.

#2- It’ll Help Reduce Injuries

Performing a negative box jump or a depth box jump (This is where you step OFF the box, land with both feet on the ground, ready to sprint off) can significantly reduce injuries commonly found in sprinters and athletes who play high impact sports. Because this exercise focuses on the eccentric portion ( The lengthening of your muscles) you’re building up the muscle’s tolerance to stretch and strengthen at the same time, whilst under tension.

#3- Develop A Stronger Core and Reduce Lower Back Pain

Box jumps can strengthen your core, which in turn can help reduce lower back pain. When landing a box jump, it requires a strong core to keep your balance – stopping you from toppling over. Primarily this comes from your core muscles, as well as stabilizing muscles found in your knees and ankles. However, if you do have a weak core, it’s not advised to perform box jumps. Instead, we recommend you build your core by performing exercises like:

• Farmers walks
• Rotational exercises with a band
• Goblet squats
• Suitcase deadlift

#4- Improve Your Cardiovascular Fitness

Performing box jumps can vastly improve your cardiovascular fitness. Especially when performed at high intensity. This type of training increases your heart rate, allowing more blood and oxygen to get around the body. This not only strengthens your heart, but it also improves your lung capacity allowing you to train longer and harder. We do have one recommendation though. Try not to perform this style of training every session. The impact can be hard on the joints and you also run the risk of fatiguing and injuring yourself.

#5- A Fat Burning Exercise

Box jumps are a great exercise to burn MORE calories, increase your metabolism and kickstart the fat burning process (providing you’re in a calorie deficit) Because of the intensity of the exercise – box jumps are going to require a lot of energy than most other exercises. The more energy your body needs, the more calories you’ll burn. Making box jumps an effective method of burning more calories FAST.  Now you know the benefits and the potential they have. It’s time to move onto the plyo box reviews.

What To Look For When Buying A Plyo Box

Buying the right plyo box, there are some considerations you ought to think about before whipping out your credit card.  We’ve covered the styles and what type of box is best suited for beginners, intermediates and advanced. We’ve also highlighted which is more affordable. However, there is one area we haven’t covered and something that’s very important to think about.

How Long Will My Plyo Box Last?

This all depends on how often you use it and what you use it for. One thing is for sure, we wouldn’t review a box that’ll short-change you. Whatever you decide to buy, you will most definitely get your money’s worth.  However, out of the three. One is most certainly going to last the longest.  In reverse order:

#3 The Adjustable Box

It might be built like a tank, but because of the working parts, one of two things will happen. 1- It will eventually cease up, making it difficult to adjust the height. 2- The hinges will start to become loose. Making it too dangerous to use. Metal also tends to flex a lot more than wood and foam so you have to ensure you look after the hinges and make sure none of the pins that hold it together come loose.

#2 The Foam Box

Foam over time will lose its integrity and shape. If you think about the impact of jumping on it over and over again, like a mattress you will start to see small impressions and changes in shape. Not to mention the outside material will start to wear thin, fade and eventually tear.  We’re not saying this will happen overnight. It’s more likely to happen 2-3 years down the line.

#1 The Wooden Box

The wooden box is not only solid but it’s durable. There are no working parts and the material can withstand a lot more impact than foam. These boxes are designed to withstand lots of abuse and lots of jumping. Wood can flex but not too much that it starts to distort on impact.  When assembled right this box will last until the day you decide to take an axe to it and use it for firewood.

FAQs for The Best Plyo Box

Conclusion

The softbox is ideal for anyone at any level. It will save your shins and with its soft foam surface it will absorb the impact saving your knees, ankles, hips and back.  The wooden box is catered for the more experienced in plyometrics, and who aren’t afraid of the possibility of hitting their shins. With it’s solid and sturdy structure, the wooden box is built to last.  The adjustable box is best suited to bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate. Someone’s who’s looking to progress with their plyometrics but has little space to do so.