RX Smart Gear is positioning its new development as an answer for many of the common gripes surrounding the reliable yet clumsy plyometric box that can be found in just about every CrossFit facility. A series of clever design elements set the AirBox apart from standard boxes, but the design elements definitely warrant a closer look.
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According to RX Smart Gear’s website, the plyo box is constructed out of heavy-duty PVC piping, making it light, flexible, and forgiving. The box is 30 inches in diameter and can adjust to six heights — four, eight, 12, 16, 20, and 24 inches. Altogether, the box weighs just 23 pounds.
The box has velcro on either side that the user can stick and unstick to adjust the box to multiple heights. It can be stored in a bag (included) and stowed away in a closet or locker when you’re done using it. The Air Box also comes with a one-year warranty and a repair kit if you scratch or damage the box. The Air Box retails for $445.
How it Works
The inflatable box comes with a hose and pump. The user unscrews the cap to each box and hooks the hose, connected to the foot pump, to the box. Each panel is inflated one at a time. The height of the box can be adjusted or increased by resting it against a wall and pressing additional panels into it.
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Once the panels are locked in, the user attaches the velcro anchor straps and loops them around anything heavy — bumper plates, kettlebells, or dumbbells — to keep the box grounded.
Why Use a Plyo Box
There are many reasons why an athlete should use a plyo box. CrossFitters typically jump on them to perform box jumps or, for a more intense challenge, do a burpee and then hop over the box. Powerlifters and strongman competitors typically do box squats by squatting down until they’re sitting on a plyo box. On the other hand, bodybuilders may perform Bulgarian split squats or step-ups to isolate the quads and glutes.
Those are just a few examples — a plyo box is a universal tool that can upgrade any home gym. You can load it up with weight plates and push it across turf to mimic a sled push. You can do dips, push-ups, and inverted rows with it. If you don’t own a training bench, you can lay on it for presses. Regardless of the box you buy, a quality plyo box can upgrade your gym setup.
Is the AirBox Worth It?
RX Smart Gear undoubtedly deserves props for its ingenuity when designing the AirBox. For years, athletes have accepted that the plyo box is cumbersome, heavy, and sometimes injurious. Making this functional fitness staple soft, compact, and adjustable is certainly an attractive offering.
However, the AirBox does lose points in the same arena it gains them — convenience. While more of a space-saver than a conventional wooden box, the amount of time it takes to unpack, inflate, and assemble the Air Box may be a deterrent for athletes who want easy access to jumps, box squats, or just a comfy place to sit between sets.
RXSG has brought something creative and commendable to market, but only time will tell if it’s worth its weight in air.
Featured image: @rxsmartgear on Instagram
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