Plyometric Boxes|New DIY Equipment

Finally. I finally decided to build some plyometric boxes for my home gym. I’ve used these boxes years ago at hockey training camps and at a few gyms since then. They are a killer workout for the legs; just what I need to extend my hours on the slopes snowboarding.

I was planning to build only a 24″ box, but when I started laying out the measurements on a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood I discovered that I could make a 12″ box as well. So out of a single sheet I got two boxes; nice.

I based the plans off the boxes described in the Crossfit Journal from Sept 2006 on Plyo Box with Slanted Sides. I created a spreadsheet to make scaling the boxes easier, then for these I decided to only use one layer of plywood for the tops.

Like any construction project measure, measure, measure, then cut. I determined the measurements with my spreadsheet, then drew them out on paper just to check the layout before mapping them onto the plywood. The sides have 10 degree angle cuts on the top and bottom, while the corner joints are cut square. Be careful about which cuts need the angle and which do not.

Home Depot had some rubber mat for outdoor use. For $7 this seemed like it might work great for the top padding. I only bought one so I could try it out. I discovered that my circular saw doesn’t like cutting the rubber mat; although it did try burning through it. I had to revert to using a utility knife to cut it down to size.

Here is a video of the process from raw material to assembled boxes.

I still have some finishing work to do. I sanded down the sides, cut some holes for carrying the boxes, painted with primer, then a coat of paint. I’ll post finished pics later.

The boxes are stackable so I can hide the 12″ box underneath the 24″ box. These are going to be a great addition to my home gym.

What’s in your gym?

About Troy Pesola

Troy is the founder of Cube.Dweller.Fitness. He's an innovation catalyst in several areas of life including business, marketing, and process improvement. Outside of work he's actively involved in fitness, health, and living vibrantly in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.