It’s PIT DAY on Gymnastics Coaching. I’ve been researching best, cheapest and most durable designs — both in ground and above ground.
Gymnova invented the “suspended” pit, so far as I know. The knock against the “suspended pit” design is that the foam top can be easily split by bigger athletes. I’ve heard that there is a more expensive kind of foam fill that is unsplitable, but it’s about twice the cost.
My gut feeling is that their built-in pit is more durable.
In ground or raised, it’s still nice to have loose foam for NEW skills.
Loose foam is messy. But cubes can be ordered with fire retardant covers.
Those images all come from the current Gymnova catalogue. (PDF)
Do you have a favourite pit design? Leave a comment, if so.
… After much consideration, I’m still leaning towards the Jim Walker design as best of the best.
3 comments ↓
Closed pits are a bit unnecesary. Although they are probably useful for quite a lot of training, you still need open ‘loose foam’ pits for new skills. On the other hand you can do everything with an open pit. You can do most of your training with a mat on top of the foam and just take the mat out for new skills.
Im in the process of designing in in ground pit system for our gym. Who do you recommend out fitting the pit John deary or Jim walker? And what is the best inground trench bar?
I’m still researching myself. But here’s my 2 bits …
Right now I’d hire Jim Walker to install a cube pit. Covered cubes, if I had the money.
The narrower the trench pit, the better, I feel. The one in the post is too wide.
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