ringtraining.com

Anybody familiar with this? It seems nifty enough, but I'm curious - Does this sort of exercise have any advantages over typical dumbbell and barbell training?

I have a pair stored under my bed -- I haven't touched them in a long time.

Rings don't offer anything over typical barbell and dumbbell training because the movements you do on them do not replicate anything you do with barbells or dumbbells. However, push-ups, dips, pull-ups, muscle-ups, supports, levers, crosses, etc. are all exercises in their own right that can be a useful adjunct to your training. The primary advantages of using rings are that you can perform some of the more uncommon gymnastic exercises (muscle-ups, levers, and the various strength holds) and that you can destabilize basic upper body bodyweight exercises.

If you have a home gym, I would recommend them as a relatively inexpensive way to be able to do pull-ups and dips if you aren't currently able because of equipment limitations.

Sooo... If I've already got the equipment for pullups and dips, there's not a whole lot of advantage? I have no gymnastic aspirations whatsoever, I'm just looking for "the best option", you know?

I only do free weights and body weight exercises right now. I don't like those pulley type machines, som'm about them doesn't click right with me.

Sooo... If I've already got the equipment for pullups and dips, there's not a whole lot of advantage? I have no gymnastic aspirations whatsoever, I'm just looking for "the best option", you know?
In my opinion, that's correct.

Although I agree with chicanerous that there aren't VAST benefits from rings...I'll throw out a few I remember from using them in the past:

On push movements (dips and pushups in particular), you can rotate the rings throughout the rep to make the movement more natural (i.e. less joint stress). If you've ever seen the commercials for that "Perfect Pushup" thing that's floating around...you get the idea.

You also have greater muscle recruitment on each rep due to having to keep the rings under control (similar to how free-weight reps are better than machine reps).

Also...there is the ability to progress beyond the simple pull-up/dip/push-up equivalents to some more hardcore moves that can't be duplicated with what you currently have (Iron Cross, etc).

Again...I'm not saying these are huge benefits...but thought they were worth mentioning.