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Best Pull-Up Bars for Travel Reviewed

Getting your workout in when you’re on the go can be challenging. Most of the time, though, you can find a piece of ground to do your bodyweight pushing exercises such as push-ups and lunges. When it comes to pulling moves, like the chin-up or pull up bar, however, things get a little trickier. Unless you want to be running around looking for a low lying tree branch from which to hang, you’re going to have to pack your own equipment. Fortunately, there is a market segment catering to that very need; the travel pulls up bar.

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In a Hurry? The test winner after 16 hrs of research

Fits extra-wide doors

Fittings for three heights

Secure foam grip

10 Best Travel Pull-Up Bars

1 . garren fitness maximiza plus pull-up bar.

Some users say there is a little flex in the bar

Perfect to add into your fitness schedule, leg raises while hanging, pull-ups, sit-ups, crunches, as you gain more strength more exercises routines can be added.

Effectiveness

For the fitting, the bar is a telescopic expansion unit. It can also be set up as permanent. Vary the height for the three sets of fittings in a doorway to match your types of training; this will fit into doorways from thirty-five inches up to fifty inches. Expand to fit doorways or can be a permanent fixture. Useful for increasing strength for the upper body and works for the abe muscles, shoulders, arms, and back.

Ease of Use

Easy to set up the pull-up bar at different heights through the three sets of fittings, for low height, sit-up, medium height for leg raises, and higher for pull-ups. The handgrips are foam grips which are extra-long, and designed to keep hand fatigue to a minimum.

The value is through the design and the extensive range of home exercise routines which can do done; you get telescopic fittings, which means that this pull-up bar can be pre-set at different heights. Great value through the bar being able to expand and fit wider than average doorways.

2 . Ultimate Body Press Doorway Pull Up Bar with Adjustable Width

Wide range of exercises

Quick to change between floor and doorway exercises

Accessories are available for more exercise options

Some users prefer just a straight pull up bar

Go for high endurance metabolic work-outs and build up muscle strength for the core, back, arms and chest, good for sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups and dips. Telescopic fitting and very easy to set up.

Great design and strong construction which will support a weight reaching up to 300 pounds. The expandable bars will fit all standard home doorways from 26 inches up to 36 inches. Very convenient and effective for changing between floor exercises and higher doorways exercises. This bar has high-density foam grips to ensure less strain long workouts.

A solid, reliable anchor, which offers excellent ease for use, quickly alternate between floor exercises and doorways exercises such as pull-ups.

The value is due to the range of accessories that can be purchased and added to this product. Available accessories are gymnastic rings, Ab-straps, body-weight resistance trainers which allow you to expand your range with more compound movements, increase rep options, and add more exercises.

3 . Ikonfitness Pull-Up Bar

Curved Design

Multiple Grip Option

Quick Assembly

Not Adjustable

The Ikonfitness bar is a door overhang locking model that will set up in seconds on the majority of doors. Extra-large hooks ensure stability, this will hook up quickly and does not cause any damage to surface areas in contact with the hooks when it is used.

No need for screws, you won't need to assemble it, this sets up very quickly, hook it up and start, great for a full workout and afterward, quickly stow away in a cupboard. A very effective bar, good for those wide door-ways, fine for tall and shorter people,

Nice soft foam grips, so no blister issues, non-slip grip, fitted with large hooks to quickly hang up, these hooks give extra stability and safety and do not cause damage to the wall and doorframe.

Simple and easy to set up and use, the value in this bar is how quick and easy you can set it up, take it anywhere and use it to maintain your regular work-outs, even when you travel.

4 . Iron Age Pull Up Bar

Multi-function

Very Easy to Set Up

Will not damage frames and walls

No telescopic expansion feature

Nice bar with multi-use features, sit-ups, push up, pull up and easily fit into a door measuring from 27 inches up to thirty-six inches.

The design offers protection to your doorframe and wall while you work out, a very effective bar for setting up in seconds and going through a work-out for pull-ups, sit-ups. Two twin bars so you can vary your exercises. You are built from high-quality metal with good padded non-slip grip areas.

Smart hook tech means you set this up in no time at all, use the plastic sleeves provided to offer full protection from causing any surface damage when you hang up the bar. Solid, safe, and stable during a workout.

The design for this bar offers two bars so that you can vary height and workout activities, true value for your investment.

5 . Prosource Fit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar

Easy to set up

Can do heavy-duty workouts

12 Grip areas

Range of handle areas

Fits standard doorways

Heavy but stable

A Prosource heavy-duty bar for heavy-duty workouts, this is an excellent addition to your home gym equipment. Offering twelve secure areas for grip and an excellent range of handles. allows a very extensive range of work-outs.

It will let you strengthen your full upper body muscles, great for leg raises, pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, dips, and abs. Made from top-grade steel and able to hold up to three hundred pounds. It is a touch unit that will let you work at maximum effective training capacity .

The ease of this home bar is that you can do a full range of heavy-duty exercises at home and includes a guide for work-outs. It will safely hang on standard door frame sizes.

If you're looking for a heavy-duty work out system which is very easy to set up and allows a maximum variety of work-outs, this offers serious value in terms of performance and cost.

6 . No Screw Chin-Up Station

Offers a good range of exercise options

Very quick to set up

Steel frame-Enamel coating

12 grip areas for exercise

A little heavy though it gives good stability

A complete system that allows you to try out multiple exercises on the floor or in a doorway.

Designed with padded tubing to protect door frames, and will fit standard home/office doorways. Easy to set up and quickly remove after training. Built from steel and coated with tough enamel. You get a choice of three non-slip foam grips to vary your position and target a range of muscles. It is one of the best chin-up bars.

Ease of use

Offering a convenient range of grip areas so that different muscles can easily be targetted for strength training, this bar and an excellent range of easily accessible exercises. Set up in less than a minute.

For your money, you get a steel frame encased in highly durable enamel. It is a multi-use fitness training system that offers value for money.

7 . Sunny Chin Up and Pull Up Bar

Solid strong stell design

Chrome Plated

Non-slip grip

Very easy to set up

Only for pull and push-ups

Steel bar with chrome plating, lets you train like a professional and will support tough training session. It can take up to 220 pounds safely, designed for chin-ups and pull-ups. Telescopic design to allow fitting into standard door entrance areas.

Great for pull-ups, chin-ups and safe for a weight up to 220 pounds in weight. Designed explicitly for push and pull this is a straight forward pull up bar built from strong steel with a chrome plating. At 20 cm higher than standard bars, this works nicely for taller people. The grip areas are padded to prevent grip-slip.

It is effortless to set up, less than a minute, and it can be securely set to a high position for pull-ups or a low seat for push-ups. When you are finished, it can be quickly taken down and put away until you use it again.

Built from sturdy steel and plated with shiny chrome, this is a no-frills pull and push bar which has become very popular, excellent value for money.

8 . Yes4All Doorway Pull-Up Bar

Good for chin-ups

Good for pull-ups

High-grade steel bar

Fits standard doorframes

Limited to a weight of 200 pounds

High-grade premium steel bar for pull up or push-ups, coated in a protective black powder finish. It can be adjusted to fit all door frames from 24 inches up to 34 inches and will safely hold a weight of up to two hundred pounds.

The basic design which effectively fits in most standard style doorways adjusts it to the sufficient width. The bar is high-grade steel to avoid flexing while it is being used. Very useful for chin-ups and pull-ups at home.

Very easy to set up in less than a minute you can be working at chin-ups and pull-ups, safe padded areas for an easy, secure grip.

If you are looking to work on pull-ups or chin-ups and want a solid top-performing affordable bar, this product is particularly good value.

9 . AGPTEK Pull-Up Bar

Quick to set up

Anti-rotating during use

Good for home use

Strong Steel

Extended grip area

Not for heavy-duty work-outs

A standard telescopic bar that works well as a home pull up and chin-up bar, great full length padded grip feature and built from good quality steel. Available at a buyer-friendly price. It will work well as a home-use exercise bar for basic training routines.

Long foam grips that are non-slip and absorb sweat. A hexagon-shaped gasket design ensures that the bar does not rotate during use. Perfect for home training needs. Very effective, strong, and safe while I am also affordable.

Installs very easily, twist to adjust the length for fitting, for pull-ups, chin-ups, crunches, and sit-ups, this is very portable and can be taken and used anywhere.

This bar is strong steel, designed not to rotate during training, nice extended grip features along the bar and at a budget-friendly price.

10 . Sports God Lite Pull-Up Bar

Solid strong design

Allows a good range of exercises

Telescopic fitting

Nice grip features

Not for heavy-duty training sessions-for home use.

Looking for a lite workout bar for use at home which offers value, effectiveness, and ease of use then this will fit any budget in terms of quality and performance. Good for chin-ups. pull-ups, hanging leg raises and crunches.

Valid for crunches, sit-ups, leg raises, pull-ups all in the convenience of your office or home, no need to go to the gym. Work on strength for the back, arms, shoulders, legs, beautiful for upper body training.

A heavy-duty mount made from quality steel and fitted with padded anti-slip grip areas.

It is fitted with long padded foam grips to prevent hand fatigue. Perfect for a good variety of home exercises and very convenient and quick to set up.

Offered at a low mid-range price, this product gives the right choice of options for working-out, built from good quality steel, and it will be a good addition to your home training equipment.

Effectiveness means many useful designed in features

The pull up is a non-negotiable exercise for any serious trainer. It is the single best exercise that you can do to strengthen, shape and tone your upper body. When you’re traveling, you need a device that will allow you to continue with your pull up the regime on your travels. Travel pull up bar is the answer. It is a home pull up a unit that can be attached to a doorway with no screwing, bolting or other adjustments to the doorway surrounds. The unit must also be light enough and compact enough when disassembled to fit into the user’s luggage easily.

When it comes to the travel pull up bar, your choices are limited by the requirement that the bar cannot in any way be affixed to the structure of the building. That means that you will require either a doorway pull up bar that mounts on the top rear door surround or a telescopic bar that sits between the uprights of the door opening.

Ease of Use means variations on design.

The overhang doorway pull up bar

This is the sturdier of the two options, with most models providing for between 250 and 300 pounds of weight on the bar. The unit has a plate that sits on the top lip of the door frame. It requires a straight-edged frame that comes out at least an inch. The force of the body pulling down as you perform the pull up locks the unit in place. You need to be extremely careful about scratches and scuffs if you choose to use such a pull-up bar on your travels.

Overhang doorway pulls up bars will disassemble for transportation. However, they will generally break down into a minimum of five pieces, with nuts and bolts as extras. These can take up quite some considerable space in your travel bag.​

Telescopic Doorway Pull Up Bar

The telescopic pull-up bar consists of a single bar with arms on either end that can be screwed to either reduce or enlarge the length of the bar. The unit comes with two screws, which are suggested to be screwed into the door frame at the point of contact. When you are traveling this is not an option, and the bar works perfectly well without using the screws. You place the bar in the door gap above your head hard up against one side. Wind the other side out until it connects with the opposite side of the door opening. Make sure that the bar is straight and continue turning until you get a steady, firm grip. It will probably pay to place some protective barrier between the end of the bar and the door frame, such as a piece of flat cloth.

Separate Handles

The folks at Lifeline Gym have provided an innovative solution to the pull up on the go dilemma. They’ve come up with a device consisting of two separate handles that are wedged between the back and front of a closed door. There is no connecting bar, so they can be spaced as far as apart as required. These handles take up next to no space in your travel bag. A bonus is because you are essentially sliding up and down the door, your form is improved, preventing you from swinging for momentum.

Compactness - a user-friendly journey pull up bar will break down into an easily storable size that the user can conveniently pop in their travel bag. It should come with a string tightened carry bag — the fewer pieces that the unit breaks down into, the better.

Mark Free - If you’re going to be using the pull-up bar in a motel or hotel, the last thing you want is to leave nasty smudge or scratch marks around the door frame. That’s why you need to be confident that the bar you buy is smudge-free before you lay down your cash.

Rigid - You need to be totally confident that the pull-up bar, though compact and detachable, can provide the stability and rigidity that you need to be ablet o get in a decent workout.

Lightweight - You don’t want to be lugging around a bulky piece of equipment when you’re on the go. Your pull up bar needs to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Value can cover so much

The best value bar is simple to install and adjust, allowing you to create a good deal of tension immediately. It results in a sturdy bar that will allow you to exercise with confidence no matter where you happen to be. Value is also reflected when a bar is designed to ensure that you get a good range of exercises that can be regularly done on a well designed and reliable pull-up bar.

When choosing a home pull up -work-out bar ease of use is a high factor for consideration, especially for a removable bar.

Most people will choose a pull-up bar for use at home, and this means setting it quickly and easily in somewhere like a bedroom door frame. You must check that a telescopic bar when extended still maintains a strong, rigid feel and does not start to flex. Check the system which is designed into the bar to hold it securely in the door-frame. Keep in mind that the bar will be used a lot, often set up and usually removed, so be sure that the design has reliability and durability.

You don't want a product which takes a long time to set up and equally long to remove, ensure that ease of use is clearly and very well designed into the functions of the bar.

Look closely at a pull-up bar before you buy it. Grip is super important.

Check which types of materials are used for the grip, look for durable padded dense foam which will not cause friction and hand fatigue. Look for design features which show that the grip area is extensive and will allow you choices on how you grip during exercising. a product with sub-standard grip design will be a problem for you, to ensure that high-quality materials and design have been applied to grip features.

q: Which is best, fitted or removavle pull up bars?

With two choices, we should carefully consider what we want. Fitted bars will carry a lot more weight and are more suited for heavy-duty workouts. If your training regime is a heavy-duty, you should consider a fitted bar; these often come with extra features. If you have a light training regime which is not heavy duty, choose a removable bar.

q: What are the advantages for a pull up bar at home?

The advantages indeed start with you not needing to travel to a gym. You will be in control when you train; it is very convenient to be able to train at home. If you choose a home pull up bar, you get to choose a product that is specific for your aims.

q: Can I do heavy duty training on pull up bars at home?

Yes, you can, there is no limit. The range of pull up bars available for home use ranges from a lite duty to heavy-duty. You need to decide your aims, your level of training and then look for a product which meets your needs.

q: Are removable bars safe?

A right amount of research and testing goes into designing a pull-up bar. So long as you very closely follow the fitting instructions, note the weight limits, and check periodically that the bar is secure, it should be safe enough for home use.

q: Are there many grip positions for pull up bars?

Yes, there is a good range of grip positions, here they are:

• overhand grip wide
• overhand grip narrow
• underhand grip shoulder-width
• overhand grip shoulder-width
• underhand grip wide
• underhand grip narrow
• neutral grip

q: Can you tell me the best choice of speed variations during training on a pull up bar?

Speed variations are significant; they do impact on your levels of power; here are the options:

• slow execution of the entire movement
• the consciously fast downward movement
• the consciously slow downward movement
• a consciously slow upward movement
• consciously fast execution of the upward movement
• fast execution of the entire movement
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Old Forum   Travel pull up bar

• Thread starter Thread starter Bamicus
• Start date Start date Aug 23, 2014

Level 1 Valued Member

• Aug 23, 2014

Can anyone recommend a pull up bar that I can take on the road with me that I can use in hotel rooms?  

Steve Freides

Door gym is the simplest. Bar from Trapeze Rigging (Google them) is great. -S-  

Level 6 Valued Member

• Aug 25, 2014

You could try something like this one: http://www.easyeffort.com/hybrid-portable-bar.php#.U_sll8WwJq0   In a pinch, I've used a tie-down strap and pvc pipe for a makeshift pull-up bar. It's not great because the bar rolls; but, like I said, it works in a pinch. -Phil  

Phil, I haven't seen that before.  It's basically a Door Gym but it disassembles - nice. Here is the one I own, which is more suitable for travelling by car. http://trapezerigging.com/collections/free-standing-portable-pullup-bars -S-  

Level 7 Valued Member

Rick - if you want zero equipment options: pull up on a door. Guess depends on the quality of the door, or more specifically door hinges. Pull up on a door frame. Hang from your finger tips for a rock climbing/parkour variant. Again, depends on the quality of the joinery. bodyweight plank pull. More a core plank drill but very demanding. it is said to be a good lead up exercise for pull ups But I find it a harder exercise than a strict pull up. Sure it'll be on you tube somewhere if you don't know it or have never seen it before. There are progressions. maybe not what you are asking but for compromise/change you could work something out with no equipment.  

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• Health and fitness

The Best Pull-Up Bars

By Seth Berkman

Seth Berkman is a writer covering fitness. He's showered with swim goggles and lugged thousands of pounds of weights on the subway to test durability.

A great pull-up bar can burn the muscles throughout your upper body (that’s a good thing!) while remaining gentle on your doors and woodwork.

Since 2015, we’ve installed and worked out with dozens of pull-up bars, and we’ve found that the Ultimate Body Press Elevated XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar is the most versatile.

Everything we recommend

Ultimate Body Press Elevated XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar

The best pull-up bar.

This sturdy pull-up bar has thick, ultra-accommodating grips and can adjust for various doorway sizes, but it takes up more space than most.

Buying Options

Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus

A sturdy, compact bar with curved grips.

Designed for smaller-framed bodies, this more compact bar is solidly built and offers unique grips.

Garren Fitness Maximiza

A space-saving bar for the basics.

This straight pull-up bar is less versatile, but it’s ideal for someone with a smaller door space.

How we picked

We prioritized pull-up bars that felt secure and didn’t shake much when we performed our test exercises.

We looked for bars with sturdy parts, easy instructions, and padding to reduce potential door damage.

The Ultimate Body Press Elevated XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar barely shook on our door, providing a strong sense of security. The various grip positions accommodate different body sizes and enable you to try workouts at angles that other bars don’t offer. The horizontal crossbar can be adjusted from 24 to 36 inches wide, making it installable in many doorways. It’s just as sturdy on the floor when being used as an aid for push-ups, but it can be difficult to store.

Along with traditional straight grips, the Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus has curved, U-shaped handles that create a unique secondary grip option, which none of our other picks have. It’s a more compact bar that is better for people with narrower shoulders and/or smaller bodies overall. This bar has a listed maximum weight of 250 pounds, which is 50 pounds less than our top pick’s weight limit.

The Garren Fitness Maximiza is a straight, simple bar (with no protruding handles) that fits in a doorframe, as opposed to going over the top of a door. Both ends can be extended out to fit 27- to 39-inch widths, and the bar is covered with a soft and comfortable hand grip. You can still do push-ups, perform chin-ups, and hang from the bar like you would on a top-of-the-door model, but you will have less height to do so, making it a not-so-great choice for people with taller frames (unless you have high doors).

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: ultimate body press elevated xl doorway pull-up bar, also great: stamina doorway trainer plus, best in-door pull-up bar: garren fitness maximiza, other good pull-up bars, the competition.

To find the best pull-up bars, we interviewed a personal trainer and a sports science professor and coach, read countless customer reviews, and assessed long-term testing notes from Wirecutter staff.

Seth Berkman is a staff writer covering fitness for Wirecutter. He’s also the author of Wirecutter’s guides to adjustable dumbbells and treadmills , among other exercise equipment.

Pull-ups are an effective way to increase strength and coordination across multiple joints and muscle groups. Pulling, as a movement pattern in an exercise context, is essential for targeting the posterior muscles of the back and shoulders and is a more challenging movement pattern to create in a bodyweight training program than its front-of-body partner, pushing. A door-mounted pull-up bar is a relatively inexpensive piece of equipment that makes pull-up exercises accessible for many at home.

Before buying a pull-up bar, you need to measure the height of your doors compared to your height and arm reach, said Joseph Marsit, a teaching professor and program director at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University . Taller people who can easily reach above the door height will usually need to bend their knees or modify their position to do a full pull-up.

There is no standard molding size for a pull-up bar’s supports to sit atop or line up against. We wouldn’t recommend using these on wide or crown molding. You should also consider the door-opening depth. If you have exceptionally thick walls plus molding, you may run into trouble with more shallowly built bars.

If pull-ups are too difficult for you, you might want to start by trying chin-ups (in which you grip your hands toward your body, as opposed to away from it) or doing dead hangs, which help improve grip strength and target the upper back, shoulders, and core. Marsit said that while chin-ups are somewhat easier for most people, both chin-ups and pull-ups are compound movements that put greater stress on the bicep muscle group when compared to isolation exercises like dumbbell or barbell curls, and thus create the potential to gain more strength and size in the bicep.

Pull-up bars can also aid in countering upper cross syndrome, a condition caused by “excessive ‘pushing’ patterns, computer, and phone use,” Marsit said. Upper cross syndrome is identified by forward rounding of the shoulders, a forward head tilt, and a rounding of the upper back, so strengthening the pulling muscles helps combat the stresses people encounter in their daily lives.

If you have enough space—like in a garage or basement with beams that can bear heavy loads—you might be able to make your own pull-up bar. Plenty of plans exist online on YouTube and home-workshop sites , but as with any pull-up bar you might install at home, you’ll want to be sure it is structurally sound and can accommodate plenty of weight and force for your needs.

We focused on cantilever-style pull-up bars that can hang in a doorway. They are easy to install and uninstall, and they don’t require any permanent alterations to your house. Most of the models we considered mount directly on doorway molding.

These pull-up bars typically offer several grip options, including wide overhand, close horizontal (popular for underhand-grip chin-ups), and narrow neutral grip, which can be safer for people who have shoulder issues. Different grips also allow you to vary your workouts. Curved or angled grips and elevated bars improve the experience for taller people, who typically have to bend their knees at the bottom of the move.

Altogether we’ve tested 16 doorway-mount pull-up bars. The bars we tested can accommodate maximum weights ranging from 220 to 350 pounds. As we installed and used each bar, we considered:

Grip placement, design, and comfort: Testers of various body sizes and athletic abilities hung from each bar, noting if there was any initial bowing or sagging. Testers also did a variety of pull-ups and chin-ups from each grip on every bar.

Ease of assembly: For each bar, we noted the clarity (or lack thereof) of the instructions and the quality (or lack thereof) of any included tools. We noted whether the bars left marks, dents, or chipped paint on the top of our doorframes, where the crossbar rests.

Ease of storage: We also noted the amount of storage space needed, if you prefer not to have a pull-up bar always hanging on your door or in your doorway.

The Ultimate Body Press Elevated XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar offers the most options to accommodate people with different heights, arm lengths, levels of strength, and door sizes. It is also the sturdiest bar we tested. Some testers referred to it as our “Texas” pick, because at 36 inches long—plus four large front handles—it is a behemoth of a pull-up bar (and even resembles the horns on a Longhorn steer). Its design curves up in the front, allowing for more vertical space for pull-ups (which is better for taller frames or people with longer arms).

It accommodates people of many sizes. The Elevated XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar has handles that curve up and away from the horizontal support crossbar, creating a higher point for the main grips. This allows taller people more room, whereas grips that are placed at the same height as the crossbar might mean that a taller user has to bend their knees when performing pull-ups. Smaller people shouldn’t be scared off because of its size, but if you have a tall doorway, you might need to use a step stool to reach the top bars. The bar is rated to support up to 300 pounds.

It fits doors of many different sizes. When assembled with the included crossbar extenders, the Elevated XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar can fit doorways up to 36 inches wide (3 inches wider than most bars available). Without the extenders, it can be installed in doorways as narrow as 24 inches.

It offers a strong sense of security. There is very little movement when doing pull-ups on the Elevated XL (sometimes a crossbar will jerk against your door). The bars are also bigger than the ones on other models we tested, measuring almost 1 inch thicker in circumference than those of our other picks.

It’s good for push-ups, too. Many pull-up bars are designed to support push-ups on the floor. We found the thicker, upward-curved bars to be steady, and they provided an ample anchor for both push-ups and dips.

The bar has a 10-year warranty .

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Perhaps because of the sheer size and unique bar placement of the Ultimate Body Press Elevated XL, it took longer to assemble (around 30 minutes) than other bars. The instructions were also not the most straightforward—they consisted of a single diagram, without a written step-by-step guide.

It’s also bulky. If you plan on storing this pull-up bar when not using it, you’re going to need a lot of space. In one tester’s New York City studio, it didn’t fit underneath a bed and took up too much room in a 28-inch-wide closet, so it mostly laid out in a corner when not on the door.

People with smaller frames or narrower shoulders may be happier with the Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus, which has a lower weight rating than our other picks but is also easier to assemble. It has several grip options that can target many muscles throughout your upper body.

Like the Ultimate Body Press Elevated XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar , this bar can also be used for floor exercises, but it’s less ergonomically friendly for that use.

There are grips galore. On first impression, this bar looks like it has fewer grips than our other over-the-door picks, but its U-shaped handles allow for several hand positions. You can place your hand at the front of the curve or on the outer or inner sides; there’s also space for gripping at the back of the curve where the handle meets the crossbar, as well as on the inside of the crossbar.

It’s better for smaller bodies. The Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus is a bit smaller than our top pick. It also has a lower weight rating (250 pounds).

Expect some slight sag. Testers ranging in weight from 170 to 220 pounds noted that the crossbar sagged a bit in the middle, even with a center bolt that’s meant to provide extra security. If you’re closer to 250 pounds (the bar’s listed weight limit), this could deter you, lest the crossbar bend further or break after repeated use.

The bar has a one-year warranty for the frame and 90 days for parts .

If you want a doorway-mounted pull-up bar that requires minimal assembly and won’t take up much room, the Garren Fitness Maximiza is a solid option.

You can set it and forget it. The bar can be installed by wedging it in between two sides of a doorframe (think of how you install an extendable tension rod for a shower curtain). While we tried some reps this way, we highly suggest using the enclosed brackets that can be screwed into the doorframe for extra security. You can twist out extenders on each side to fit your doorway—it’s easy to do this while holding up the bar in between your doorframe and then securing the two ends with screws.

It’s stable and comfortable. A cushioned lining around the bar prevents wear and calluses on your hands. For people who want a pull-up bar for hanging, the design of this bar may feel more natural than the curved handles on our other picks. One tester who installed it in a doorway where people enter and exit frequently noted that they barely noticed its presence (you can fully close a door with the bar installed, unlike with our other picks).

It’s less versatile than our other picks. Because of the Garren Fitness Maximiza’s straightforward design, you can’t use it for floor exercises, and your grip positions are more limited. Also, because you put this in a doorway, it will be several inches below the top of the door (you want to leave enough room for your hands to wrap around it). So it’s not the best option for taller people with smaller doorways.

The bar has a limited lifetime warranty .

If you want a wider grip position with extra space for your elbows: The Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Pro may be the pull-up bar for you. It has three grip positions (including an extra-wide one) and is relatively easy to assemble and store (it is 5.5 inches shorter in width than our top pick ). However, some long-term testers have reported quality issues, including gouges and scuffs on doorframes. A 6-foot tester said they felt cramped using this bar. Long-term testers have also said that some of the bar’s parts became loose after repeated use, requiring occasional tightening. In addition, testers who have owned this pick for more than a year have noted that the hand grips have flattened and flaked. The bar has a one-year warranty .

The Decathlon 500 Strength Training Pull-Up Bar is designed very much like the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Pro but was less sturdy in our testing, wobbling even with the addition of safety cleats that are supposed to secure the bar to a doorframe. Customer reviews mention bars bending and missing parts.

The Gym1 Power Fitness Package is expensive, but it’s safety rated for use by children . However, it took the longest of any model to put together, and it takes up a lot of space. The addition of vise clamps on the side of the main bar, while adding extra support, also made it a pain to uninstall.

The Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar has the highest weight limit of any bar we’ve tested (350 pounds). However, one tester who weighs 170 pounds observed noticeable wobbling when using the bar and felt like it bent toward the middle during pull-ups. The grip padding is also not as comfortable as other models’.

Slightly smaller than the similarly priced Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus, the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Sport is a solid basic option if you prefer a higher, 300-pound weight rating. That said, its grips offer among the least variety, and the wide ones may not be wide enough for people with broader shoulders.

The Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Elite ’s rubber (rather than foam) support bumpers are what dropped it out of contention: Without sitting flush on the walls around your door, they won’t make contact on decorative door trim as well as the more moldable foam can.

The ProsourceFit Doorway Pull-Up Bar , another in-door model, has a weight limit of only 220 pounds. It also felt less sturdy compared to the Garren Fitness Maximiza.

We passed on the Prosource Fit Heavy-Duty Easy Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar based on customer reviews noting significant doorframe damage.

The Sagler Pull-Up Bar was just about as sturdy as our picks and relatively easy to put together. We had concerns about its durability, though, since its warranty is for only 30 days (most pull-up bars have a warranty of at least one year, while our top pick has a 10-year warranty).

Several customer reviewers have reported needing to wrap door supports on the Yes4All Deluxe Chin-Up Bar with cloth in order to avoid scuffing or digging into a doorframe. We chose not to test it.

Amy Roberts contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.

Adolph Bellamy, CSCS, personal trainer and athletic coach , in-person interview , September 6, 2017

Joseph Marsit, teaching professor and program director at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University , email interview , August 9, 2023

Meet your guide

Seth Berkman

Seth Berkman is a staff writer at Wirecutter, covering fitness. He previously covered sports and health for several years as a freelancer for The New York Times. He is passionate about making fitness reporting accessible to people of all levels, whether they’re serious marathoners or first-time gym-goers. He is the author of A Team of Their Own: How an International Sisterhood Made Olympic History .

Further reading

This Gigantic Pull-Up Bar Is a Beast to Store. But It’s the Best of Its Kind.

by Harry Sawyers

Even if you can hardly do a pull-up, this bar can help you get a grip on one of the most dynamic exercises.

The Best Pry Bar

by Doug Mahoney

A small pry bar isn’t exactly a home-toolbox essential, but it is quite handy, whether you need it to open a stuck window, lift a corner of a bookcase for shimming, remove a piece of baseboard, or pry up a floor register. After three veteran carpenters pulled nails and separated boards with five leading pry bars, they chose the Stanley 55-116 8-inch Nail Puller .

Wirecutter’s Best Fitness Gear

by Wirecutter Staff

Here are 75(ish) of our top fitness picks to help you get your year started right.

The Best Grab Bars

by Anna Wenner

Grab bars offer one of the best ways to prevent slips and falls in your home. These four bars are safe and versatile enough to fit in any bathroom.

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Best Pull-Up Bar for 2024: Build Your Back (and More) With Our Top Picks

By Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC

Expert Verified by Kate Meier NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1

updated August 8, 2024

We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. If you use our links to purchase something, we may earn a commission. Read our disclosures.

Pull-ups are arguably one of the best exercises for upper-body strength and overall functional fitness. Although they’re sometimes seen as an advanced-only exercise, even beginners can benefit from them—the best pull-up bars support a range of pull-up variations and modifications that anyone can do. 

A team of certified fitness professionals and long-time exercisers have sifted through the bottomless pit of pull-up bar listings on the internet; ordered and personally tested more than a dozen of them, and brought you this guide to the best pull-up bars so you can easily order the one that best fits your home gym setup and get to work. We rate each pull-up bar from 1 to 5 on a range of factors, including:

• Assembly and Mounting: How easy is it to get it installed?
• Construction and Durability : How durable is it?
• Workout Versatility : How many exercises can you do with it?
• Grip: Can you hold onto it easily?
• Best Pull-Up Bars in 2024
• Best Overall Pull-Up Bar: Titan Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
• Best Ceiling Mounted Pull-Up Bar: Giant Lifting Pull-Up Bar
• Best Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar : PRx Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
• Best Pull-Up Bar With Squat Rack: Fringe Sport Garage Series Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar
• Best Freestanding Pull-Up Bar: BaseBlocks The Big Bar
• Best Power Tower: Weider Power Tower
• Best Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar: REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar
• Best Budget Pull-Up Bar: Titan Fitness 3 Position Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
• Best Doorway Pull-Up Bar: Rogue Jammer Pull-Up Bar
• Best Pull-Up Bars Video Review

Good for: Anyone who wants a sturdy, well-priced, wall-mounted pull-up bar

Best Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar

Titan Wall Mounted Pull Up Chin Bar

Product Highlights

• Heavyweight steel construction ensures stability
• 500-lb weight capacity
• Matte black powder coating
• Adjustable mounting

Pros & Cons

• Can be installed vertically or horizontally
• Weight capacity of 500 lbs
• Can be mounted on concrete or wood
• Heavy-duty steel construction
• Mounting hardware not included
• May not work for kipping movements
• Short 1-year warranty

Bottom Line

This pull-up bar is a great option for home gym owners looking for an affordable way to do suspended work. It has a high weight capacity and can be bolted to a variety of surfaces.

The Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar earned a spot as our top overall pick because it checks all the boxes for a low price: For less than $100, this bar boasts a 500-pound weight capacity, 34-inch bar-to-mount depth, a 1.2-inch bar diameter, and multiple mounting options. 

You can secure this 11-gauge steel behemoth to a wall or ceiling, provided you purchase the correct mounting hardware (it’s not included in your purchase, unfortunately) and properly locate studs. 

This bar is Coop’s favorite because of its versatility. He loves that you can mount it on wood studs that are 16, 32, or 52 inches apart; or on any concrete wall at any width up to 52 inches apart. What this means for you is that more types of home gyms can accommodate this pull-up bar. 

The Titan pull-up bar comes with a black powder coat finish, which is not the best for grip, but it’s pretty standard among different manufacturers. 

The sturdy construction and versatile mounting options on this bar make it a great choice for people who want to do more than just pull-ups: When installed correctly, it can support you for kipping exercises, resistance band movements, and more. 

• Best Ceiling-Mounted Pull-Up Bar: Giant Lifting Pull-Up Bar

Good for: People with limited wall space or those who want to prioritize kipping/CrossFit exercises

Best Ceiling Pull-Up Bar

Giant Lifting Pull-Up Bar

• Black pull-up bar 
• Mount to either the wall or the ceiling 
• Heavily discounted due to increased difficulty mounting
• Wall or ceiling mounted
• Free shipping
• Only 1 year warranty
• Materials and user weight capacity are not listed

If you’re good with tools this could be a great way to get a deal on a pull-up bar. The Giant Pull-Up Bar is discounted 50% because it will not align perfectly with wall studs. That will make the mounting process more complex. You will have to mount the bar to a stud that has been lag bolted into the wall. However, once it is mounted it will be functional. Currently, there are no customer reviews for this product.

Simple and straightforward, yet versatile and durable: This sentiment perfectly describes the Giant Lifting Pull-Up Bar, which can be mounted to the wall or ceiling.

It has a 24.5-inch depth, leaving plenty of room for kipping or chest-to-bar chin-ups. It also comes with a powder coat finish that takes chalk well, so you’ll be able to grip it just fine.

There is, however, one major issue. Giant Lifting says the pull-up bar will not align with wall studs unless it’s mounted to a stud that’s been lag bolted into the wall, so if you’re not very handy this might not be the best choice for you.

• Best Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar: PRx Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar

Good for: People who want an ultra-stable pull-up bar

PRx Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar

• Unlisted with capacity
• Very grippy
• Around $200
• Must be used on walls with 16" or 24" spaced studs
• Weight capacity not listed
• Must be placed into studs

A durable and very grippy pull-up bar that must be on walls with 16" or 24" spaced studs.

Want to avoid going viral by falling on your you-know-what while trying to hit a pull-up? The PRx Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar isn’t going anywhere , and according to customer reviews it’s one of the grippiest pull-up bars on the market. In other words, you don’t have to worry about a hidden camera catching your blunder and making you internet famous.

RELATED: How To Do a Pull-Up

While this bar doesn’t specify its weight capacity, we’re sure it can withstand most people if properly installed. It must be placed in studs spaced either 16 or 24 inches apart. Some people have even installed it on their ceiling joists.

The depth is adjustable, starting at 21 inches and going up to 36, so it can be used for a variety of movements and by many people. Some people have noted the width might be a bit too big for some home gyms, so be sure it can fit in your space before hitting purchase.

Good for: People who want a squat stand with a pull-up bar 

Best Freestanding Pull-Up Bar

Fringe Sport Garage Series Squat Cage

A team of certified fitness professionals and long-time exercisers have sifted through the bottomless pit of pull-up bar listings on the internet; ordered and personally tested more than a dozen of them,

• 2-in x 3-in 12-gauge steel
• Spotter arms sold separately
• One-year warranty

This is an affordably priced power cage that comes with a pull-up bar.

A basic squat stand with a pull-up bar attached can get you a long way. Our team of product testers loves the Fringe Sport Garage Series Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar because it’s simple, sturdy, and versatile. 

The pull-up bar itself is a standard straight bar with a 1.25-inch diameter and smooth finish (no knurling). It fits into an adjustable mount on the squat rack uprights, so you can move it up or down by 2 inches. This is helpful for accommodating trainees of different heights—no more standing on plyo boxes if you’re short! You can set the pull-up bar anywhere from 82.25 inches to 70.25 inches from the ground.

Certified personal trainer Lindsay Scheele says she’s impressed by the rack and pull-up bar, especially for the price, but noted it felt slightly unstable since it wasn’t bolted. We rated it a 3.5 out of 5 for stability in our Fringe Sport Squat Rack with Pull-Up Bar review .

Although the squat stand is made of 2-by-3-inch 11-gauge steel, Fringe Sport recommends avoiding kipping movements unless you bolt the rack into the ground. You can certainly try, but with the rack weighing just 145 pounds, it will likely wobble some, especially if your floor is uneven. 

That said, it has a 1,000-pound weight capacity so it gets a 5 out of 5 for durability and construction.

This squat stand includes J-cups, weight horns, and battle rope anchors, too, making it an extremely versatile piece of equipment that allows you to do more than just pull-ups. 

Good for: Those who want to practice calisthenics and can’t (or don’t want to) drill holes in their walls

Best Freestanding

Baseblocks The Big Bar

• Bar designed for taller people and use in apartments 
• Features foldable feet to decrease footprint when stored 
• Thicker bar to train grip strength
• Lifetime replacement warranty
• Adjustable height 81” or 45” and foldable legs for storage
• Attach bands or rings
• 3 months free access to Baseblocks+ app with order
• Happiness Guarantee - return within 100 days (minus shipping cost)
• Free shipping to USA and Canada
• Limited customer reviews
• Assembly required
• Large diameter (2”) bar may not be ideal for all users

The Big Bar was designed with taller users in mind, featuring a 81” maximum height. The bar features BaseBlocks signature thick bar, with a 2 inch diameter, to challenge and improve grip strength. There are limited customer reviews but they were generally positive. Finding the bar solid, some customers noted it took time to adjust to the 2 inch bar.

Most home gym equipment isn’t built for apartments, so we’re happy to see The Big Bar from BaseBlocks fill that void. This freestanding pull-up bar requires no drilling, has an adjustable height, and comes with foldable feet that makes the already compact workout equipment even smaller.

It has an impressive 660-pound weight capacity, though the steel gauge is not listed so we’ll have to leave the durability score at a 3 out of 5 until we get more details. The steel has a powder coat finish, so it should be easy enough to grip no matter which exercise you’re doing.

Speaking of which, this bar is meant for more than just pull-ups. It can be set to 45 inches tall for muscle-ups or rows and can be used with bands or rings to amp up your bodyweight workout. We’ll give it a 5 out of 5 on versatility.

The bar diameter is 2 inches, which is slightly thicker than other pull-up bars on this list. That just means that those with smaller hands may struggle to get a good grip the first few times, but as the old saying goes there’s no gain without any pain.

When you’re done, you can fold the feet to reduce the floor space by about 30 inches. That might not sound like a lot, but when you’re living in a studio every inch matters.

Good for: Home gym owners who don’t want to mount anything and prefer multi-purpose gym equipment 

Weider Power Tower

• Versatile piece of equipment
• 30-day iFIT membership, trainer-led workouts
• Easy to assemble
• 300 lb weight capacity
• 30 day iFIT membership, trainer-led workouts
• Pull-up bar height is not adjustable
• Some reviewers stated that sandbags are needed to keep the tower from slipping or shaking

The Weider Power Tower is a versatile piece of equipment to use for strength training in a home gym. If you have the room for it, you can perform a variety of upper body and core exercises.

Weider Health and Fitness is one of the most recognizable brand names in the fitness industry—as it should be, having been founded by Joe Weider, one of the fathers of bodybuilding . 

Weider fitness equipment is now nestled under iFIT (previously ICON Health & Fitness), which is why the Weider Power Tower comes with a 30-day free membership to iFIT programming. That’s great news for beginners who may need assistance learning how to perform exercises on this piece of equipment. 

The Weider Power Tower features steel construction and ergonomic padding to support your forearms, elbows, back, and knees during exercises that aren’t pull-ups—’cause you can do much more than pull-ups on this power tower. 

Thanks to its multi-functional design, the Weider Power Tower supports many movements, including different pull-up variations, elevated push-ups, triceps dips, leg raises, knees-to-chest, and more. It also has anchors for battle ropes and resistance bands. 

There’s only one big downside to this product, and it’s that the tower weighs only 86 pounds. This means it could feel wobbly during certain exercises, especially any kipping movements. However, the low weight also means it’s relatively easy to move around, despite the lack of transport wheels. 

One thing to note is that this tower has a lower weight capacity than the other pull-up bars on our list. With a max user weight of 300 pounds, some people may not be able to incorporate weighted pull-ups or dips. 

Good for: People who want to practice advanced calisthenics and multiple pull-up variations

Best Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar

REP Fitness Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar

• 700-lb weight capacity
• Multi-grip option
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Can be used with bodyweight suspension systems
• High-weight capacity
• Multiple-grip capability
• Variety of workouts
• Compatible with body suspension trainers, resistance bands and gymnastic rings
• Need a lot of space to mount

If you are someone who enjoys doing a variety of different pull-up routines and has enough space to properly mount it, you will not be disappointed with the REP Fitness Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar.

More grip options equal more workout variety. That’s what you’ll get with the REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar, which features close-grip, neutral-grip, and wide-grip options, as well as a 2-inch thick rear bar for grip strength training. 

This item has two external bars and six internal short bars, creating a virtually unlimited number of ways you can alter your grip. A multi-grip pull-up bar is a great way to challenge your pulling strength and increase functional fitness. 

Thanks to the multiple grip options, you can also use this pull-up bar for a variety of suspension training or gymnastics rings setups. 

The REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar is constructed of 11-gauge steel and boasts a weight capacity of up to 700 pounds (if installed properly, as noted by REP). There is also a version of this pull-up bar that’s compatible with REP PR-4000 racks and REP PR-5000 racks. 

• Best Budget Pull-Up Bar: Titan Fitness 3-Position Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar

Good for: Trainees looking for an inexpensive, simple product to get some upper body work in 

Best Budget Pull-Up Bar

Titan 3-Position Pull Up Bar

• 5 different bars for many positions
• Foam grips for added comfort
• High quality steel construction
• Includes mounting hardware and instructions
• Can be used as mount for exercise and resistance straps and bands
• Three pull-up grip options
• Mounting hardware included
• Can be used with resistance bands
• Relatively low weight capacity

Titan Fitness’s multiple grip pull-up bar has 1 center bar that extends into a handle on each side and parallel bars going forward. With all of these available surfaces, many different pull-up grips are available depending on which muscle groups you want to work. The comfortable padded foam handles are easier on the hands than knurled surface bars and work better with bare hands than with gloved ones. Mounting at a height just at the tips of your fingers allows you to do pull-ups without touching the ground. The center bar is perfect for use as a mounting place for our resistance bands!

For a no-frills pull-up bar that won’t dent your savings account, check out the Titan Fitness 3-Position Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar, which costs less than $40 and offers as much versatility, if not more than more expensive options.

This wall-mounted pull-up bar allows you to perform chin-ups, pull-ups, and wide-grip pull-ups depending on what movements you’re looking to do on a particular day. The center bar can also be used with resistance bands, increasing its versatility score to a 5 out of 5.

It’s a different story when it comes to durability. This only has a 250-pound weight capacity and TItan doesn’t list what type of steel it uses, so we’re giving it a 2 out of 5 in that category.

The grips also come with foam padding, rather than knurling for a tighter grip like you see on other pull-up bars. Some people might like that, though a few people on our team preferred versions without the foam. There might also be some issues with it down the line, depending on how often you use the bar and how sweaty it gets. Still, you really can’t beat the price.

• Best Doorway Pull-Up Bar: Rogue Fitness Jammer Pull-Up Bar

Good for: People who want the sturdiest doorway pull-up bar available

Best Doorway Pull-Up Bar

Rogue Jammer Pull-Up Bar

• 11-gauge steel
• Comes in different colors and finishes

• Made of 11-gauge steel
• Comes with mounting hardware
• Available in a variety of colors and finishes
• Depth from mount is less than 9 inches
• Cerakote and stainless steel cost more

The Rogue Jammer Pull-Up Bar is by far the best doorway/door frame pull up bar on the market, however, it's at a completely different price point than the rest of the competition. If you're looking for a simple pull-up bar that isn't permanently attached and is lightweight and priced for the budget-friendly, look elsewhere. However, if you'd like a pull-up bar that can be used for any movement and for any weight of person (including weighted pull-ups) this is your best and really, the only option.

The Rogue Fitness Jammer Pull-Up Bar is not your average doorway pull-up bar. Most doorway bars simply slip over your doorframe, which leaves a lot of room for mishaps. 

The Jammer may be more accurately described as another wall-mounted pull-up bar, but it is designed to mount specifically into wooden studs above a door frame. Rogue Fitness encourages buyers to hire a contractor for alternate mounting plans, and mounting the Jammer somewhere other than above a door may void your warranty. 

All that said, the Jammer is the last door-mounted pull-up bar you’ll ever need. When installed correctly, it has a 500-pound weight capacity, which is much higher than the average doorway pull-up bar. This is due to two things: that the bar is installed into wooden studs, and that it’s made of steel that’s nearly half an inch thick. 

One of our favorite things about the Rogue Jammer pull-up bar is its customization options. It’s available in several colors and finishes, from a standard black powder coat to full knurling to colorful Cerakote. 

The big downfall, according to our product testers, is that this bar has a depth of just 7 inches, which means it’s basically impossible to do anything but strict pull-ups and chin-ups. (But, that goes for all doorway bars, not just the Jammer.) I also want to point out that it’s generally unsafe to do kipping movements on doorway pull-up bars—while the Jammer bar is probably sturdy enough due to its installment style, it’s still rather close to the wall and could cause an accident. 

• Other Pull-Up Bars We Researched and Tested

Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar : We ordered this popular doorway pull-up bar but found it to be clunky during testing and not as comfortable to use as our budget pick, the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym bar. 

Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus : This is yet another budget-friendly door-mounted pull-up bar with foam grips. In our testing, we determined it wasn’t bad, but nothing special. 

Ultimate Body Press Ceiling Mounted Pull-Up Bar : A unique ceiling-mounted pull-up bar, the Ultimate Body Press features patented reversible risers and both 16-inch and 24-inch joists. It’s an interesting design concept, but ultimately didn’t impress our testers enough to make the top list. 

OneTwoFit Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar : This is a cool quasi-power tower product that takes up no floor space, but a regular power tower is better for most people since it’s portable and likely more durable over time. 

ProsourceFit Multi-Use Doorway Chin-Up Bar : This simple tension pull-up bar didn’t feel sturdy during use, and we wouldn’t recommend it for anyone planning to do a high volume of pull-ups or weighted pull-ups. 

Rogue Fitness P-4 Pull-Up System : The Rogue P-4 pull-up bar is much like the Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar, but it’s much more expensive, and we think the Titan one is a better value.

Rogue Fitness P-3 Pull-Up System : The P-3 is a slightly smaller version of the P-4. 

Titan Fitness Adjustable-Depth Pull-Up Bar : This is similar to our top pick, the Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar, but we don’t think most people need the adjustable depth, since the fixed version has a 34-inch depth to support multiple exercises. 

• How We Picked and Tested the Best Pull-Up Bars

Our guide to the best pull-up bars started with in-depth research on dozens of pull-up bars available from major equipment manufacturers, as well as Amazon and other retailers. 

What we noticed straight away is that many pull-up bars are pretty much the same. (This is just like dumbbells : Most rubber hex and cast iron dumbbells are made in the same factories, but branded differently for varying companies.) 

RELATED: Best Adjustable Dumbbells

After sifting through tons of product listings, our team of product testers created a list of pull-up bars to order and test. The pull-up bars were delivered to our product testing facility in Springfield, Missouri, where our facility manager assembled and installed them all. 

Our experts then spent several weeks using the different pull-up bars in the testing facility, both in workouts and in isolation. Here are some of the criteria we judge pull-up bars against: 

• Assembly process and mounting
• Grip options
• Stability and durability
• Weight capacity 
• Workout experience/variety 
• Construction
• Value 
• Why You Should Have a Pull-Up Bar in Your Home Gym

Pull-ups are truly one of the best (and hardest) bodyweight exercises out there. A pull-up bar will provide one of the best returns on investment as far as exercise equipment goes: Here’s a look at how they can up the ante on your home workouts. 

Develop Upper Body Strength 

“Pull-ups are one of the most challenging bodyweight exercises you can perform, and, I’d argue, one of the most effective, too,” says Nicole Davis, ACE-certified personal trainer and Garage Gym Reviews editor. 

“They require significant upper body strength, core strength, and grip strength, and will take your functional fitness to the next level. If you integrate pull-ups into your training program you’ll strengthen not only your back muscles—namely the lats—but muscles in your chest, shoulders, arms, and core, too,” she explains. 

RELATED: Best CrossFit Grips

Increase Functional Fitness

Pulling strength is one of the most crucial skills for developing overall functional fitness, which refers to any type of physical activity or skill that supports you in daily life activities. 

Although pull-ups primarily train the upper body, you can use a pull-up bar as part of full-body workouts. Try incorporating pull-up variations into workouts with other functional movements, such as squats, lunges, sit-ups, or push-ups, to increase functional strength and stamina.

Save Space in Your Home

If you’re creating your home gym in a small space , a pull-up bar is a great way to incorporate strength training equipment. You can do many exercises on a pull-up bar to build strength, and they don’t take up much space (especially if they’re on the ceiling). 

Easy Access to Exercise

Compared to other types of home gym equipment, pull-up bars aren’t as cost-prohibitive or space-prohibitive. Most of our top picks cost less than $150 and are relatively easy to assemble and install. 

This makes pull-up bars much more accessible to most people than larger, more expensive equipment such as power cages or cardio equipment . Plus, once a pull-up bar is assembled, it’s ready to go at all times—you don’t need to do any setup or even press a button to turn it on. No excuses! 

• How to Choose the Best Pull-Up Bar for You 

Consider these factors as you search for a pull-up bar for your home gym. 

Mount Type 

There are four main types of pull-up bars: ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, door frame-mounted, and freestanding. The best mount type for you depends largely on your home gym setup and what kind of workouts you intend to do with your pull-up bar. 

Wall- and ceiling-mounted bars tend to be the sturdiest, while doorway bars tend to be less expensive but less durable. Freestanding bars are great if you want a multi-purpose piece of equipment that allows you to train multiple muscle groups. 

Grip Options

Choosing a pull-up bar with multiple grip positions provides more opportunities for targeting different muscles. For example, wide-grip pull-ups primarily engage the latissimus dorsi (lats), while neutral-grip pull-ups put the rhomboids and rear deltoids under more duress. 

Construction and Stability 

Not everyone needs a super heavy-duty pull-up bar, but those who intend to do weighted pull-ups, kipping pull-ups, or other intense exercises on their bar should pay close attention to the construction of products they’re interested in. The sturdiest pull-up bars will feature steel tubing, minimal bolt-together parts, and hefty mounting brackets. 

Weight Capacity

Be sure to check the weight capacity of a pull-up bar before purchasing one, especially if you intend to perform weighted pull-ups. The last thing you want is your pull-up bar to tear through the wall mid-set. 

Workout Versatility 

There are two factors that create versatility in pull-up bars: grip options and dimensions. With more than one grip option, you can do more than one type of pull-up exercise. And with larger dimensions—particularly greater depth between the bar and the mounting site—it’s safer to do kipping pull-ups, toes-to-bars, muscle-ups, and other movements. 

Power towers offer even more versatility, with dip stations for working out the triceps and pectorals, plus supports for leg raises and other core exercises. Freestanding pull-up bars double as squat racks, so you can use them for barbell work, too. 

Do you plan on using this pull-up bar on a regular basis or are you only going to use it once or twice a week (if that)? If you’re in the first group then spend a bit more on your pull-up bar, but if you’re in the second consider decreasing your budget and using the money for things you’ll use more often.

• How to Use a Pull-Up Bar

The first step to using a pull-up bar is following all manufacturer’s directions on properly installing your pull-up bar. That means drilling into studs if required and any other steps to ensure the equipment won’t come out of the wall or doorway.

Then, follow these steps:

• Stand beneath a pull-up bar, using a platform if you can’t reach on your own. Use a box or stool if you can’t reach. 
• Grab the bar with an overhand grip, keeping your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Wrap your hands all the way around the bar.
• Draw your elbows toward your obliques and pull yourself up to the bar by squeezing your shoulder blades back and down while contracting your lats. Pull until your chin passes the bar and avoid rounding your shoulders.
• Control your descent and remain on the bar until your elbows and shoulders are fully extended.
• Go for another rep or drop yourself down (safely). 

• Pull-Up Bars FAQs

Do at-home pull-up bars work?

At-home pull-up bars do work, but it’s important to choose the correct type for your home gym setup in order to get the most out of it. For example, if you buy a doorframe pull-up bar but you don’t have a standard-width door, it won’t do you much good.

What are at-home pull-up bars good for?

Pull-up bars are a great piece of equipment to add to any home gym. They require minimal space and provide great strength training opportunities. Having a pull-up bar at home is a good way to increase your pulling strength and overall functional fitness.

Can you kip on a doorway pull-up bar?

Our team of fitness professionals and product experts does not recommend kipping on a doorway pull-up bar. Door frame-mounted pull-up bars typically aren’t stable enough to withstand kipping motions, and you risk damaging your door frame and gym equipment, not to mention injuring yourself. 

Additionally, doorway pull-up bars typically don’t leave enough depth between the bar and the doorframe to kip, so it’s best to perform this CrossFit movement on a different type of pull-up bar (ideally a freestanding one or a ceiling- or wall-mounted bar with ample depth).

Can you use resistance bands on a wall-mounted pull-up bar?

Yes, you can use resistance bands on a wall-mounted pull-up bar, whether you’re using them for pull-up assistance or other accessory exercises. The important thing is to avoid exceeding the weight capacity stated in the product’s user manual. 

Can beginners use pull-up bars?

Beginners can certainly use and benefit from a pull-up bar. There are many pull-up variations beginners can do until they gain enough strength to do a full, unassisted pull-up. Some great ways to practice include: using pull-up assist bands, doing pull-up negatives, and performing dead hangs. 

Are doorway pull-ups safe?

So long as the pull-up bar is securely installed and you’re not disrupting any foot traffic, doorway pull-ups are perfectly safe.

Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC

Further reading.

Dietary intake plays a key role in wellness, and this Cronometer review shows how nutrition tracking can be a game-changer in maximizing health. Read more

We tested our first rowing machine with both water and magnetic resistance. See what we think in our MERACH 950 Rower review. Read more

My garage gym is without a doubt one of my favorite places in the world. I've assembled some of the best equipment I could find to create a setup that would rival any Pro or Olympic-Level Training Center. And here's the best part, its in my garage. Read more

In this Zeno Gym Bench Pro review, we’ll tell you the great and not so good about this bench to help you decide if it’s worth adding to your home gym. Read more

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• What is Calisthenics?
• Benefits of Calisthenics
• Calisthenics For Beginners
• Calisthenics for Women
• Best Chest Exercises
• Best Triceps Exercises
• Do Your First Pull-Up
• Master the Planche
• Easy Calisthenics Exercises
• Hardest Calisthenics Exercises
• Cali Move Complete Calisthenics Review 2024
• Cali Move Body Transformation Review
• The Movement Athlete Review
• Best Planche Programs
• Berg Movement App Review 2024
• Madbarz Workout App
• Caliverse App Review
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• Cali Move Mobility 2.0 Program Review
• VAHVA Fitness Movement 20XX Review
• The Ready State Review
• Pliability App Review
• Best Stretching Apps & Programs
• Best Mobility Apps
• Best Free Standing Pull-Up Bars
• Best Door Pull Up Bars
• Best Outdoor Pull-Up Bars
• Best Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bars
• Best Ceiling Mounted Pull-Up Bars
• Best Travel Pull-Up Bars
• Best Kids Pull-Up Bars
• Best Power Towers
• Best Calisthenics Parallettes
• Best Dip Bars For Calisthenics
• Best Gymnastic Rings for Calisthenics
• Best Dip Belts for Calisthenics
• Best Push Up Bars for Calisthenics
• Best Weighted Vest for Calisthenics
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• Best Calisthenics Gloves
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Calisthenics equipment

Duonamic eleviia review: modern portable pull-up bars.

Creation of the Duonamic Eleviia Pull-Up Bars

Our expectations for this duonamic eleviia review, how does the duonamic eleviia work, do they work on any door, range of motion, advantages of using the duonamic eleviia portable pull-up bar, add-on: powrholds, add-on: duonamic rings, disadvantage of using the duonamic eleviia pull-up bar, general thoughts about the duonamic eleviia , conclusions, final thoughts & discount code, unboxing & review by jelle from our team.

Over the last weeks, or rather couple of weeks, we’ve been working on doing a Deonamic Eleviia review. This new and innovative company has come up with a solution for our Calisthenics needs when we’re not at home. The Duonamic Eleviia portable Pull-Up Bars is light and can easily fit inside a small bag or suitcase. In fact, it is so compact that you can just lay on top of your clothes and close the zipper. Naturally, we were intrigued by a “pocket” Pull-Up Bar, portable enough to literally take anywhere at the cost of virtually no extra space or weight. So, we got our own set and started testing. This is our Duonamic Eleviia review.

Get it here:

At first glance, the Duonamic Eleviia Pull-Up Bars look unassuming. So, we need discuss the creation of the company itself because there is a method to the madness behind these Pull-Up Bars. Whereas most Calisthenics equipment is made from either stainless, galvanized or coated steel, plastics are used more and more often. Durable polymers are strong enough to get the job done and have the added benefit of being much lighter. This isn’t new, but were Duonamics differs is the creation and manufacturing process.

All the parts that go into a Duonamic Eleviia are proprietary, down to the screws holding the two halves together. Everything has been precision engineered to fit and function just right. This is followed by rigorous testing; some of the testing devices obviously being made in-house. But that has a certain charm to it. This is where innovation happens; not a big white label manufacturer churning out copies of the same design, but in the homes and basements of enthusiastic young people with a keen edge for engineering and a passion for Calisthenics. To see that come to fruition as a brand demands our respect. But! Does it work?

New and innovative aside, we’re ready to burn this thing to the ground if it’s just another gimmick. If you’ve been around in the Calisthenics scene for longer than ONE WEEK, you’ll have had your fill of fanciful but ultimately useless gadgets people try to push onto you. We know this is a  portable  device but it’s also advertised as a Pull-Up Bar. So, our expectations during this Duonamic Eleviia review are simple. We want to:

• Do Pull-Ups
• Do Chin-Ups
• Try some variations
• Do them safely

Since it is a portable device, we’re not looking into anything acrobatic but anything that  can  be done safely is of course another advantage. We will also be looking at comfort and of course, ease of carry and ease of installation. The last two should be a given seeing as it’s a portable Pull-Up Bar but we’ll see.

The Duonamic Eleviia comes in a set of what are basically two clamps. With clever engineering, the two clamps clamp themselves around the doorframe and apply even pressuring when weight is suspended from them. For those wondering; it is mechanically impossible for them to slip off as long as any sort of weight is hanging from the grips. The only failure that could happen here is if either the hinge-point of the Pull-Up Bars themselves snap or if the suspension point (the doorframe) gives. They have an internal spring as well, which keeps the Duonamic Eleviia clamped shut naturally. This is how you use them:

• Pull the two handles apart and place the protruding feet over the frame
• Make sure the feet (which are rubberized to prevent damaging the frame) are securely placed over the frame itself
• The handles should hang freely and vertically downward

You can set this up in under five seconds and you’re ready to do your Calisthenics exercise. Despite their small size compared to full-sized Pull-Up Bars , they sit securely and the moment you even lay your hand on them, they become solid as rock.

Yes, but provided the door frame is sturdy enough to hold your weight. Remember, the mechanical action of the Duonamic Eleviia makes it impossible for them to slip off the frame. Duonamic provides us with a manual with instructions, including on minimum and maximum dimensions for the doorframe. In the following picture, you can see what the doorframe should be like:

We had them hanging there and they looked sturdy and it took us all but 5 seconds to get everything ready, so we got started doing our exercises. We started with Pull-Ups and Chin-Ups as we fully recognize the possible limitations to a portable product. That said, we were pleasantly surprised with what this little package is capable off. Doing straight-up Pull-Ups and Chin-Ups, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the Duonamic Eleviia and a full-sized Pull-Up Bar. We were worried that the clearance above the “bar” wouldn’t be enough for a full, rounded-biceps chin-up. And, sure enough we were looking at the wall above the doorframe with every pull, but it was manageable. 

Next, we turned it up a notch and did Front-Levers and L-Sits. These also worked fine and we didn’t notice any difference from doing them with a regular bar. Noticing there was no real difference to the Pull-Up Bars we were used too, we went full out and performed the notorious German Hang, which if you ever did them will require absolute confidence in both yourself and your equipment. 

Our main concern here was stability. Would one or both of the clamps slip or flip over? But they remained rock-solid in place and we could perform all of our Calisthenics exercises with no problem.

The handles are suspended by cords. This means that your body’s center of mass will gravitate towards right below the doorframe. Your legs will stick out slightly more forward and you’ll find yourself leaning back a bit more. This helps generate enough clearance to do a full Pull-Up or Chin-Up. The biggest difference here is that you’re not seeking to lift your face above a bar (there is none). Instead, you have to rely on the feeling in your biceps alone to determine if you’ve made a full pull.

The handles themselves were comfortable to grip and felt solid in the hand. Our performance was the same as on a regular Pull-Up Bar. Of course, to change the distance between your hands, you will have to move one or both of the clamps in its entirety. For extra-long reach, we decided to hang the Eleviia’s from two perpendicular doorways. This also didn’t create any instability despite there now being a force exerted at a 45-degree perpendicular angle.

After our own experience with the Duonamic Eleviia, we’ve come to the following advantages to using them as a substitute to a full-sized Pull-Up Bar.

Portable & Lightweight

I mean, it’s 30 x 25 x 12 centimeters (12 x 10 x 4¾) so you unless your suitcase is absolutely stuffed, you can fit these in there somewhere. All you really need to find is a doorframe and five seconds later you’re good to go. There’s no beating that really. This makes the Eleviia ideal for travel. Take it with you anywhere and in a couple of seconds you have (a part of) your home gym installed in a hotel room. There’s also a handy travel package which comes with a travel bag at a reduced price then buying them separately, should you feel so inclined.

Safe to Use

With many products touted as “portable”, safety is often the afterthought. Not with the Duonamic Eleviia. The bars can hold up to 250 pounds safely and they sit securely around the doorframe. We performed all manner of Calisthenics exercises, including those which put some perpendicular force against the Eleviia clamps. It remained stable throughout all our sets. They are “small” but when you first look at them, they also aren’t  that  small. There’s some mass behind the construction and it’s really the clever engineering that took that mass and put it into an easy to carry  shape .

Comfortable

The grips are very comfortable to use and, in a way, offered us more arm room than a normal Pull-Up Bar. There’s nothing in between the two grips to obstruct your movement upward. You can pull your torso up and in-between the handles. That’s something you can’t do with a solid bar in the way. Especially for the German Hang this was a big pro. 

Eleviia not included.

You can get, for an additional price, Duonamics latest innovation added to your Eleviia. Powrholds are specialized grips which replace the regular grips. They’re specially designed with the climbing community mind and customized after receiving feedback from professional climbers. The grips increase your grip strength and the more you use them, the more your fingers will strengthen. The Eleviia in combination with the Powrhold grips is a staple favorite among athletes participating in American Ninja Warrior, where a rock-solid grip is one of the most important things to have.

With the addition of Duonamic Rings, you open up many more options for your workout.  Gymnastic Rings are great because they decrease your bodily stability, requiring you to use muscles you don’t often use to keep stable. We found that the Duonamic Rings solution is probably the easiest and quickest way to setup your Gymnastic Rings.

We also noticed some things we couldn’t do as well with the portable Pull-Up Bars which we could do with a regular Pull-Up Bar. It should come to know surprise to anyone but we wanted to have it mentioned.

The handles aren’t fixed and of course offer only a very limited space to grab them by. Compare this to a larger Pull-Up Bar where the bars are much longer. This makes it easier to make a quick, small adjustment in hand placement; say if you feel you’ve placed your hands too far apart or too close together. You could even do this during a set in many cases. If you find you need to adjust the distance between your hands with the Eleviia, you have to stop your set and move one or both of the bars over a little. We found this a small price to pay for being able to bring it with us basically anywhere.

Solid construction, clever design and very importantly, safety by design. We liked the Duonamic Eleviia for its ease of use and ease of transportation. It gave us a good impression, felt comfortable and allowed us to do all of our regular routine on the move. You’re holding so much potential in such a small package. With a maximum weight capacity of 250 pounds, most Calisthenics practitioners can use the Eleviia no problem and their only real concern is finding a suitable doorframe. 

You can also get a bag with your Eleviia, which is nice to have but ultimately not really a necessity. You can just lay them flat in your suitcase, if you’re looking to safe the additional dollars it costs.

Will the Eleviia replace a larger Pull-Up Bar entirely? It could, if you wanted it to. Especially with the add-on grips and rings it makes for a very versatile package. It is also the ideal travel companion when you’re going on a holiday or are away from home for business. If you have a body type you ambition to attain or retain, then you know that missing even a couple of sessions comes back to bite you in the behind. The Eleviia solves exactly  that  problem too! 

If you’re interested in buying a Duonamic Eleviia Portable Pull-Up Bar, we’ve managed to secure a 10% discount for you if you use the code CWW10 during checkout.

10% off with our code:  CWW10

Related Posts:

Jelle Smeding

With over 10 years of expertise in calisthenics, Jelle Smeding is a certified coach trained by the Calisthenics Educational Institute. Formerly serving as the director of the Dutch Calisthenics Union (NLCB.nl), Jelle now shines as our YouTube host, where he combines his passion for presenting with his skills in video editing. His content stands out for being not only educational but also thoroughly engaging and entertaining. Additionally, Jelle lends his expertise as our social media manager, ensuring a comprehensive digital experience for our audience.

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The 3 best pull up bars according to Reddit

If you’re working out at home, a pull up bar should be a non-negotiable part of your training.

It can be extremely difficult to work your back and biceps properly without one (unless you also happen to have really heavy dumbbells at home, which most people don’t or can’t afford).

When I’m trying to get the skinny on workout programs or equipment, I almost always go to Reddit first so I can find out what real people have to say.

(I recently did this with power racks and adjustable dumbbells .)

So with that in mind… what are the best pull up bars according to Reddit? Here’s what I found after studying tons of threads on r/bodyweightfitness and more.

• Best pull up bar on a budget: Iron Gym Pull Up Bar (Amazon)
• Best intermediate pull up bar: Stamina X Doorway Trainer (Amazon)
• Best high-end pull up bar: Rogue Jammer Pull Up Bar (Rogue)

Let’s take a look at each of them, plus some Reddit reviews from real users, to help you decide which one might be right for you.

Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar

(In fact, I own this one myself and have been using it with no issues!)

It’s your run of the mill doorway pull up bar that hooks to the top of the door frame and wedges itself along the sides for a snug and secure fit.

You can do wide grip, neutral grip, and underhand pull ups or chin ups with this bar.

Plus, if you take it off the door and lay it on the ground, you can use it for deficit pushups, dips, sit ups, and more.

Reddit users say that, while it’s not the highest quality bar in the world, the construction is sturdy enough and (if it fits your door frame), it’s highly unlikely that you’ll slip off.

• Budget friendly price
• Easy to “install” and remove
• Use for neutral, underhand, wide pull ups, plus pushups, dips, and more
• Might not withstand your weight if you’re 200+ pounds, even though official weight limit is 300
• Can ding your doorframe (users suggest putting socks over the ends of the bar to prevent this)

Iron Gym Pull Up Bar Reddit Reviews

Here’s what some of the folks on r/bodyweightfitness and other subreddits are saying about this one:

TexasFlood_ is a longtime user of the Iron Gym doorway bar, and writes that it’s held up really well over time.

However, they caution that it can ding up your door frame and recommend putting towels over the ends (I’ve also seen socks recommended) to prevent scraping.

“I’ve had mine for nearly four years,” they write. “It’s solid.”

A now deleted user writes: “Ive had the same Iron Gym pullup bar for 5 years and have done weighted pullups on it with over 250 pounds… I’ve also used it for rings and front/back levers.”

“Shit is pretty solid,” they write, although they add the foam grips might not hold up forever.

u/CarrotJuiceIsMurder echoes some of the thoughts of others when it comes to the high quality of the bar.

“The design of the thing is pretty well done,” they write. “It does have some downward pull, but quite a lot of your weight is made to pinch the door frame instead.”

And finally, if you’re worrying about slipping and hurting yourself when using the bar, you’re probably in good hands according to 404NOTF0UND.

“It definitely stays absolutely flush on the wall when in use just because of the design.”

You can check the latest price and read more reviews of the Iron Gym bar on Amazon.

Stamina X Boulder Fit Doorway Trainer

It works pretty much the same as the Iron Gym bar, giving you options for wide overhand pull ups, under hand, neutral and more. You can also use it for deficit pushups, dips, sit ups, and all kinds of extra movements.

But one feature I love on the boulder trainer is the addition of rock climbing grips on the bar for rock climbing-style pull ups and grip training!

If you’re into specific types of training, rock climbing, or want to improve your grip strength — this is the bar for you.

• Wide, neutral, and underhand grips available
• Rock climbing grips allow you to train your grip and finger strength
• Still affordable compared to high-end models
• Not the cheapest budget pick
• Most people won’t get much use out of the rock climbing grips

Stamina X Pull Up Bar Reddit Reviews

Stamina is a really popular brand with at-home fitness junkies.

The folks at r/fitness and r/bodyweight fitness love their pull up bars and power towers, in particular.

The Boulder doorway trainer is mentioned in passing pretty frequently when people ask for pull up bar recommendations, and it’s almost always mentioned as the best choice for improving grip strength or training rock climbing technique.

The best place to get the Stamina X Doorway Trainer is on Amazon.

Rogue Jammer Pull Up Bar

Rogue is one of the best names in all of fitness and strength training, hands down.

So it’s no surprise that their home pull up bar, the “Jammer”, is considered the Mac Daddy of all pull up bars.

If you’re a little leery of the pull up bars that wedge themselves on top of your door frame, you might need something a little sturdier. The Jammer installs directly into the stud above your door frame and can handle hundreds of pounds of weight without budging a millimeter.

The only downside of this one (beside the installation, which you’ll need to be a little handy for) is that there are no neutral grips. You’ll only be able to do standard underhand and overhand pull ups on this equipment.

• Unreal quality and durability
• Can handle as much weight as you can throw at it and will never fall off
• Looks beautiful (in a manly way!)
• No neutral or other specialty grips
• Requires installation & is semi-permanently attached
• Most expensive option

Rogue Jammer Reddit Reviews

Redditors love Rogue, and especially the Jammer, for at-home fitness and calisthenics .

Here’s what they’re saying.

Kfeelan posted to share that they had installed a Rogue Jammer after considering dozens of different options, and shared a picture of the finished product.

They write that it “seems pretty heavy duty and solid so should hold up.”

Users below in the thread complimented the choice, so bravo!

This quick exchange is a double whammy.

User Rryl writes that the Jammer will definitely be secure (in response to an OP asking if these kinds of pull up bars are safe or likely to fall) and user therustylink chimes in with another thumbs up.

“Agreed great one to get” they write.

User mgxm26 gives a shoutout to Rogue customer service and their engineering department, not to mention the sturdiness of the piece.

“Mine is hung exactly how they do it in the video and it feels like I could hang a car on it.”

Finally, dvdcrspjr throws in a good word for Rogue quality and durability over the long haul.

“You get what you pay for over 90% of the time,” they write, adding that the extra cost is worth it for better service and longevity.

Wrapping Up

So that about covers the best pull up bars according to Reddit!

If you’ve got the cash to invest in a high quality product, want a permanent installation, and are handy enough to install it, go with the Rogue.

But if you want something simpler and cheaper (not to mention, easily removable), you’ll do great with the Iron Gym or the Stamina X .

What did I miss? Do you have a favorite pull up bar for home bodyweight training?

Before you go, don’t miss my favorite bodyweight workout program reviewed right here .

• Health & Fitness Reviews
• Fitness Gear Reviews

The 4 Best Pull Up Bars

Our Top Picks

The Best Pull Up Bars

To help you find the best pull up bar, we bought the best 7 doorway pull-up bars and tested them side-by-side on our own trim and molding. After careful research, we did an in-depth dive with a range of styles and brands to bring you a comprehensive overview and to deduce which model is right for you and your home. Each bar was judged by how comfortable it is for your workout, how well it fits in your doorway, how easy it is to store, and overall stability while in use.

Best Overall Pull Up Bar

Iron age doorway bar.

The Iron Age Doorway Bar checks all the boxes for a removable doorway pull up bar. This model utilizes standard doorway installation, has padding for all the possible grip positions, and can even be converted for floor use during ab workouts. The bar comes already assembled and stores flat when not in use. Iron Age also includes TRX bands with this bar. We really like that there is a central ring that the TRX bands attach to, as well as the inclusion of angled down wide grips.

One drawback of this model is the small contact points that fit on the back of the door frame. They're designed to keep from busting through your drywall, and small contact points allow for easier storage when the bar isn't in use. However, they might still damage your trim because there is not a lot of surface area to ensure the bar is secure. That said, this is still our overall favorite, and we found it especially strong, adaptable, and a good fit for most door frames.

Best Bang for Your Buck

Sagler doorway.

The Sagler Doorway is one of the most affordable models in our test lineup. This low price, paired with uncomplicated instructions, strong construction, and a classic design, leads us to recommend it for those seeking a budget option. Standard door casings will support this bar without issue, and it causes minimal, if any, damage. There are a couple of different choices for your pull up and chin up form with this functional bar, but it remains simple to assemble right out of the box.

Unfortunately, the Sagler lacks padding for wide grip pull ups. This can be a real pain if you live in the heat, but could perhaps be remedied with gloves or extra padding purchased separately. This bar is bulky, which means it will take up a bit more storage real estate in your closet or garage.

Best Semi-Permanent Bar

Garren fitness maximiza locking.

The Garren Fitness Maximiza Locking is the best option for a semi-permanent bar. If you are looking for a simple bar that you can leave up for extended periods of time without having to worry about interference with a door or walkway, this bar is the best. It is sleek, minimalist, and reliably sturdy. It has comfortable padding for close grip and normal grip chin ups and pull ups, and is easy to take down when you need to.

The biggest downside to the Garren Fitness Maximiza is that you have to put screws in your doorframe in order to use it. However, this is also what makes it so sturdy. There is also a more conservative installation method that only requires one screw for more solid door frames. While testing, we noticed that the rubber suction at the end of the bar detaches from the rest of the bar when taking it down, but this does not seem to affect its functionality.

Best Semi-Permanent Bar Without Hardware

Hakeno doorway bar.

The HAKENO Doorway Bar is a great option for someone who just needs a bar for standard chin ups and pull ups, and they want it to be well-padded. This bar is super stable and comfy to use, and you can leave it in your door frame without interfering with the door's function.

The HAKENO Doorway Bar has two-inch pads securing it to the wall, making it very stable, but also requiring a two-inch wide flat space in your door frame. In our standard door frame, it didn't quite fit, but would still work. The bar also stripped some paint from our doorframe and crushed a bit of our casing. We recommend a sturdy door.

Simple and Sturdy

Anxen doorway pull up.

The Anxen Doorway Pull Up is a great option for a semi-permanent bar. This bar uses pressure and stable pads to secure it in any doorway without the use of screws. It has removable rubber pads that are great for avoiding damage to your door. It is also slim enough to secure in a doorway and leave it there for extended periods without disturbing the functionality of your door. This bar is also a great option for doors without trim or casing.

However, if you need to remove your bar frequently, this probably isn't the model for you. The ANXEN Doorway Bar isn't terribly hard to install in the doorway, but it does require an Allen wrench and a few minutes of your time every time it goes up. This bar could also be a problem if the casing on your door isn't super solid.

Best Bar for a Deep Door Frame

Stamina doorway trainer.

The Stamina Doorway Trainer is versatile, sturdy, and fun, with options of rock climbing holds for grip options. It wasn't too difficult to assemble, and from the construction, it is clear this bar can bear quite a bit of weight. There is also exceptional padding on the bar, excluding the climbing holds.

This model weighs in at 11 pounds, so it makes sense that it requires a sturdy door. Before you buy the Stamina Doorway Trainer, we recommend you measure the depth of your door and make sure it is eight inches thick. We found that most indoor doorways are about 5 inches thick, and doorways leading outside or to the garage run about 8 inches thick. For you climbers out there, we did not try to change out the climbing holds. Unfortunately, the way the holds are mounted makes it challenging to replace them with a different type of hold.

Best Bar for Wide Doors

Ikon fitness ultimate 4-in-1 doorway.

The Ikon Fitness Ultimate 4-in-1 Doorway has a fantastic design that's ready to go right out of the box. It has great padding for multiple grips and folds flat for easy storage. This bar is wider than the similar Iron Age model, so if you have longer arms or want that extra-wide grip, this bar could be right for you.

The instructions for the Ikon Fitness Ultimate 4-in-1 Doorway claim that this product will fit in any doorway 27" - 36.22", but we found this only to be true of door frames without a door attached. It quickly became clear if the door you are hanging it on has a door, and the door does not open past 120 degrees, the door frame cannot be under 31 inches wide.

Why Trust GearLab

Head tester Daniel Dolan has been fitness-focused for the better half of his life. He spent his younger years playing any sport available, from soccer, to baseball, to gymnastics. It wasn't until his early twenties that he started weight lifting heavily, and about eight years ago, all other hobbies dropped to the wayside as Daniel discovered climbing. Since then, his life has been a series of varying upper body workouts and outdoor climbing trips. Needless to say, Daniel knows what to expect out of a pull up bar.

Our process started by researching the available products on the market and selecting seven of the top styles and brands. Once the bars arrived, we decided on a series of tests designed to expose each bar's weaknesses and strengths. We tested on four metrics that we found to be most relevant: ease of assembly, ease of use, construction, and size. These four categories form a comprehensive summary of what it is like to use each of these bars.

Analysis and Test Results

As we used our developed criteria to evaluate each product, it became increasingly clear that each model has specific advantages and disadvantages. Some bars are better because they are easier to store; some are better because they have more variability in grip. Ultimately, we found that it is incredibly important to pick your pull up bar based on what you want out of it.

The most important factor in selecting a pull up bar, regardless of anything else, is whether or not it fits in your doorway. As doorways come in many different shapes and sizes, so do these bars. It is very important that you measure the depth and width of your door frame and take into account whether or not it has trim. Once you do that, you can take a look at the metrics we list with each bar to find a bar that will fit in your doorway and your needs.

We took into account the dimensions of each bar and tested each one in a standard doorway: 29 inches wide, and 5 inches deep. All seven test models claim to fit a standard door frame, but this was not always the case. Due to some of the features or the way a couple of the bars were constructed, we found that certain door frames were better for certain bars. The Iron Age Doorway and Sagler models fit well in a standard door frame, and the HAKENO Doorway Bar , ANXEN , Garren Fitness Maximiza fit in just about any door frame, but require sturdy casing. The Stamina Doorway Trainer is a great option for a deeper doorway — at least 8 inches — and the Ikon Fitness Ultimate 4-in-1 Doorway is a good option for a wider doorway.

In the size category, we also rated how easy each bar is to store, either out of the doorway or in it. We found that the pressure bars fit in the doorway and don't need to be removed in order to close the door. This is good news, since they are somewhat challenging to put up. The Iron Age , Ikon Fitness Ultimate 4-in-1 Doorway , and Garren Fitness Maximiza are the most storable of the more removable bars.

Construction

Depending on your priorities, an equally important factor in choosing a pull up bar is if it will hold up to regular use, and whether or not that regular use will destroy your door frame due to the structure of the bar.

We wanted to test bars that do minimal damage to your door frame. This means minimal screws, nails, and holes in your wall. This is why it would be incredibly disappointing if one of these bars dealt your door frame some damage. The best option for a delicate door frame is the Sagler . It has a large contact point for the back of the door frame and cushioned arms for the front.

While most of the bars we tested were made with sturdy and reliable construction, our door frames were not. While trying to install the HAKENO Doorway Bar , we managed to inflict some damage. We found that a sturdy door frame is essential when using the ANXEN and the HAKENO bars.

We did test one bar that required screws in the door frame for installation. The Garren Fitness Maximiza has two options for installation. The first and recommended option is the heavy-duty door mount, requiring 4 screws to secure each mount (2 mounts for each door frame). The second option, a medium-duty door mount, requires only one screw for each mount. Our testing showed that the medium-duty door mount works well as long as you are using a sturdy door frame.

Ease of Use

In this category we focused on balance and comfort. We tested balance by hanging on one side of the bar and then the other for a few seconds and then pulling up, while comfort was evaluated by bar width and foam padding for your hands.

We did multiple pull ups in several variations of grips to get a feel for the comfort of each bar. We found the most balanced and stable bar to be the pressure bars, the Garren Fitness Maximiza , HAKENO Doorway , and ANXEN . The most comfortable bars for multiple pull up grips are the Iron Age and Stamina Doorway Trainer .

Ease of Assembly

The final category we observed was ease of assembly and installation. The pull up bars arrived in varying states, some fully assembled, others in pieces. We were surprised to see that Iron Age and Ikon Fitness Ultimate 4-in-1 Doorway arrived in one piece even though they are both three-dimensional bars.

The only bars that really require assembly are the Stamina Doorway Trainer , assembled in about 30 minutes, and Sagler , assembled in about 5 minutes. Both of these bars have excellent, easy-to-follow directions and include all the equipment and tools needed for assembly.

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The 8 Best Pullup Bars for Home Workouts, According to Fitness Experts

From free-standing rigs to door attachment units, everything you need to build your back and arms at home.

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?

WHETHER YOU prefer doing pullups or chinups , you'll need a solid bar that can bear your weight. And while any gym worth the price of admission probably has tons of spots for you to work on, investing in a pullup bar for your home gym space or even as one of a few strategic pieces of gear for your home is a great way to get stronger. Most fit right on or in a doorway, so you can get a quick pump anytime.

Moves like heavy bench presses or deadlifts require some recovery time between sessions. But when it comes to pullups, it's a whole different story. "Pullups strengthen back and core muscles that can use reinforcement daily," explains Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S, MH Fitness Director. It pays to have access to a bar daily, which is exactly why having one of the best pullup bars for home workouts is an absolute game-changer.

Best Compact Pull-Up Bar

Perfect fitness perfect fitness multi-gym doorway pull up bar.

Best Wall-mounted Pullup Bar

Onetwofit onetwofit multifunctional wall mounted pull up bar.

Best Premium Power Tower

Relife rebuild your life power tower pull up bar station.

Read more: How Men's Health Thoroughly Tests and Reviews Fitness Products

From doorway-mounted bars that fit snugly into your living space to freestanding power towers that provide versatility and stability, we've spent years testing dozens of the best pullup bars for home workouts (or anywhere, really). Men's Health fitness editors, in collaboration with fitness experts Kurt Giovanni Ellis , Owner/Performance Coach of Beyond Numbers Performance, and D.J. Gibson , a fitness trainer in Harlem, New York, have compared testing notes on dozens of the best pullup bars to identify which ones are worthy of a recommendation. Throughout our meticulous testing process, we've carefully considered all the essentials: weight capacity build quality, mounting type, grip options, and, of course, price. Our collective efforts have resulted in logging hundreds of reps on these bars, providing invaluable insights into performance, durability, and ensuring that your investment is built to last.

So, if you're ready to take your home gym equipment arsenal to the next level, it's time to get yourself a pullup bar. Let's dive in to the 8 best pullup bars for home workouts in 2023.

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Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull Up Bar

Even the best pullup bars don’t have to be complicated to be efficient. We found this bar simple and effective, making it a great choice for those looking for multiple grip positions when pounding out pullups. From wide to neutral to palms-facing for chinups, we love that this versatile design can do it all. We found the grippy foam handles to be actually non-slip safety and pretty comfortable, too. It mounts easily and securely to almost any door frame, but you can also take it down, flip it over, and put it on the floor to use the different grips for sit-ups, push-ups, and dips too.

This is easily among the best-reviewed pullup bars on Amazon with more than 6,900 mostly positive ratings. We credit that to its compact, yet durable design, versatility to use beyond “just” pullups, and the great price. It’s a steal at around $35 (with free delivery and free returns through Amazon, if it doesn’t work out for you).

What do buyers say? Out of more than 7,100 Amazon reviews, 87% recommend the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull Up Bar with at least a 4-star rating.

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ONETWOFIT Multifunctional Wall Mounted Pullup Bar

If you don’t love the idea of hanging from your doorway, a wall-mounted bar is a great solution. This bar from ONETWOFIT is sturdy and durable bar, is designed to hold up to 440 pounds, and can be adjusted to five different heights. We found the multiple grip options and padding placements provide a great base for a ton of upper-body workouts beyond just chin-ups and pullups.

At under $100, it’s still pricier than some of our top budget pullup bar picks. However, it's still an incredible value for a multipurpose piece that makes a great upper-body-centric complement to any at-home gym (or as a standalone).

What do buyers say? “Buy it. It's a good price with [awesome] versatility. It has a solid build. I have used mine daily since hanging it and have no regrets,” said one Amazon reviewer.

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RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE Power Tower

If a basic pullup bar just won’t cut it—maybe you need more flexibility for your daily workouts or don't trust a hanging bar—a power tower is the answer. The Relife Rebuild Your Life’s Power Tower is a solid mid-range choice. We found the design to be simple and sturdy, providing a safe, comfortable base to work a ton of exercises. It’s great for push-ups, but also for dips, leg presses, and so much more. Plus, the floor-standing design means zero installation is required. Just stand it up and get sweating.

One downside: the steel construction only supports up to 330 pounds, which might be a little light for some users.

But at around $250, this is a great option for budget-conscious home gym builders looking for a versatile machine that does more than just a pullup bar, but is more affordable than a full-blown power rack. It’s versatile, sets up easy, moves out of the way when you don’t need it, and is plenty durable for all but the most hardcore upper-body workouts. Plus, buying through Amazon means free delivery.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 5,900 Amazon reviews, 90% recommend the Relife Rebuild Your Life Power Tower with at least a 4-star rating.

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ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar

ProsourceFit takes things back to basics with this deceptively simple pullup bar. We love that the design is ultra-portable, allowing you to set up and tear down in your home (or a friend’s, or the office, or just about anywhere) in minutes. With a dozen grips in a smart configuration, this bar also provides the perfect base for a wide variety of upper-body exercises. In addition to pullups, this model works equally well for push-ups, sit-ups, dips, leg raises, and more.

It’s the second cheapest pullup bar in this roundup, and, as a result, is one of the least heavy-duty with a weight capacity of 300-pounds. If you're weighing in under ~150-pounds, easy installation, multi-grip versatility, and an great price makes this a reasonable choice.

Plus, like many others on this list, buying through Amazon earns you free delivery and free returns, so you can try it in-home to see if it works for you.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 23,000 Amazon reviews, 87% recommend the ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar with at least a 4-star rating.

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Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar

Iron gym pull up bars.

If a dead-simple pullup bar is all you need, it doesn’t get much more barebones than Iron Gym’s simply named Pull-Up Bar. The straightforward, screw-free design relies on leverage so there’s almost zero installation time required. You can go from unboxing to ripping pullups in minutes. That simplicity also makes this one relatively portable too. Still, the sturdy construction supports up to 300 pounds, making it easy for guys of all sizes to do pullups, chin-ups, dips, and other arm and shoulder exercises using narrow, wide, or neutral hand positions. At less than $30, it’s hard to find much to dislike about this one. More than 20,000 Amazon buyers agree, so this is one of the best pullup bars we’ve seen on the site this year. The combination of a straightforward setup, solid versatility, and an incredible price make this a winner. Plus, you can score free delivery and free returns through Amazon (so it’s basically like a free in-home trial). What do buyers say? Out of more than 20,000 Amazon reviews, 88% recommend the Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar with at least a 4-star rating.

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REP Fitness Wall or Ceiling Mount Pull-Up Bar

It's built with 11-gauge steel, capable of supporting up to a whopping 500-pounds when properly mounted. The bar is a solid 1.25" thick, the ideal size for a sturdy grip, and features a nonslip powder coating to keep your hands locked in place.

"This is an ultra-sturdy, versatile bar that feels commercial-grade and gym-quality, meaning I can do anything from muscle-ups to scapular pullups with confidence," explains Samuel.

It also allows you to attach pullup bands, rings, or exercise straps wherever you want, giving you a ton of exercise variations. We found installation to be a breeze, too. With a total width of 50", including 46" of usable bar space, we love that this bar offers enough room for even kipping pullups.

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Ultimate Body Press Ergonomic Pull Up Bar

Ultimate body press ergonomic joist mount pull up bar.

The straightforward design of Ultimate Body Press’ Ergonomic Joist Mount Pull Up Bar is thanks to its joist-mounted design. That means it mounts to exposed beams or joists in your home (perfect for a basement, attic, or garage), making it extremely stable. Unfortunately, that also limits your installation options, so this model won’t work for everyone. Installation requires a bit more work than a simple “plug-and-play” door mount model, but that also makes this one much safer and more comfortable to use. We also love that 95% of Amazon buyers recommend this model with a 4-star or higher rating.

On the downside, it’s not as versatile as other pullup bars on this, largely due to its extremely simple design. Some reviewers note that the smooth (grip-free) bar is harder to keep a hold of than models with dedicated foam grips. Unlike portable, door-mounted models, this pullup bar obviously isn’t portable. So, if that matters to you, you may want to consider an alternative.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 20,000 Amazon reviews, 88% recommend the Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar with at least a 4-star rating.

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Duonamic Eleviia Portable Pullup Bar

Duonamic duonamic eleviia portable pullup bar clamps.

Technically, this isn't a pull up bar, but more like two individual pull up clamps with handles. But, it’s a unique device that’s designed for the same purpose as a pullup bar. Plus it’s compact, lightweight (just 3.5 lbs for the set), and portable enough to toss in a suitcase or gym bag and take with you just about anywhere. The temporary “installation” (if you can call it that) requires nothing more than clamping each side to a door frame, and the whole process takes less than ten seconds. Reverse the process to remove and reclamp them at a friend’s house, at your vacation Airbnb, or anywhere else you want to get in an upper-body workout. Each clamp set supports a decent 250-pound weight capacity—enough for most users. Duonamic also claims the non-marking design will not damage or scuff up your doorway.

They’re unlike most pullup bars on the market which could be good for some or a dealbreaker for others. With more than 300 positive Amazon ratings, they’re overwhelmingly well-reviewed. There’s not much to dislike about this pull up bar alternative, other than the price. It’s a little expensive at more than $125. But, if you’re looking to take your pullup and chin-up game to go, it’s a great option.

What do buyers say? “I am super pleased with how easy these are to 'install'. The design is brilliant. They are so portable. Everyone at work is using them and loves them,” said one Amazon reviewer.

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How to Do Pullups Better

“It's a staple in upper body workouts; we use it a ton in weight lifting,” says Sean Waxman, C.S.C.S., owner of Waxman’s Gym. “Depending on how you grip—wide most of the time—you'll see a thickening and a widening of the back. Your grip will improve, and your whole upper body will get stronger.”

Proper pullup technique is relatively simple, but that doesn't mean that you'll have an easy go of it every time you step up to the bar. The move can get difficult quickly for even the strongest among us as you gas your muscles.

It’s important to stay on-form as you do pullups so you’re getting the best possible workout while avoiding injury. Waxman has a few tips for those just starting out to remember. “You want to be hanging from a bar, whether it's a chinup or a pullup. You want to start with your arms extended, and you want to pull yourself up until the bar hits your chest or at least chin level. At the top of the movement, you want to pull your shoulder blades down and together.”

You might not be able to do all that right away. For some people, eking out even one rep is an accomplishment worth striving for, so you can't just jump up to the bar and pull. You might have to break the move down to its component parts. To really master the form, work your way up from dead hangs to full-on reps using this guide .

As you improve on your pullups, you may want to find ways to make them more difficult. “If you can blow out 20 pullups, you’re not really improving strength anymore,” says Waxman.

First, he recommends adding some weight. “If you want to improve hypertrophy , you want to add enough weight to you’re doing eight to 12 reps. Then looking for improvement and more strength, you add more weight so you can do three to five reps.”

To add weight, you'll need a weighed vest or a belt that can have weight attached to it. Them try some new variations , like those seen in the video below.

Now that you’ve got the knowledge to start doing pullups, you need the right tools. As Waxman says, “All you need is a place to hang.”

How to Find the Best Pullup Bar for Your Home Workouts

Pullup and chinup bars are among the simplest tools to add to any home gym. So, finding the right one isn’t as complicated as shopping for, say, a power rack or the best rowing machine . Still, you want to be sure that the bar you find is right for you. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for the best pullup bar for your home workouts:

Mounting type

Deciding what mounting type you need is the most important decision. There are four main types of pullup bar: Door mount, wall mount, joist mount, and freestanding. If your home setup is flexible enough, you may have the option of choosing between all four. Most buyers will at least be able to shop door and wall mount models as these only require either an open doorway or sufficient wallspace to hang.

Joist-mount (sometimes called ceiling-mount) pullup bars, as the name implies, need an exposed joist or beam in your house to secure to. That makes these an ideal choice for basements, attics, and some garages, depending on the architecture of your home.

Finally, freestanding power towers (with built-in pullup bars) require enough floor space to set up. While these are typically smaller than most full-sized home gym machines, they still take up substantial floor space. You’ll also want to be sure to allow for a few feet around the unit in all directions for proper workout safety.

Grip options

Most modern bars, especially the best pullup bars, provide a variety of grip options. Different grips target different muscles. So, the better the variety of grip options, the more versatile your bar will be.

Construction

Construction and weight capacity go hand-in-hand. For novice or beginner workouts, almost any well-reviewed steel pullup bar will do. But, if you’re planning to get fancy with weighted pullups, kipping pullups, or some other crazy HIIT exercises you saw on Youtube, make sure your pullup bar’s construction is up to the task. Ideally, you’ll want to look for a bar with steel tubing and beefy mounting brackets.

Weight capacity

It’s critical to double-check your pullup bar’s weight capacity, and to aim for one that can support double your bodyweight. "You might think a bar that supports your bodyweight is enough," says Samuel, "Ideally, you want a pullup bar far stronger than that to account for any downward jerks on the bar."

If you like to (or plan to) add weights into your sets, be sure to buy a pullup bar that can support you and those additional pounds. All of the bars we recommend have a maximum weight capacity of at least 250 pounds (most are 300).

Even the best pullup bars can be had for under $100, and you can score a decent budget model for around $50. If you’re shopping for your own pullup bar, chances are that budget won’t be much of an issue.

Benefits of Pullup Bars

As often as people hit chest and arms, they should dedicate even more time to training their backs. After all, our backs play a critical role in supporting shoulder health and maintaining a well-rounded physique.

"It's critical to train your pulling muscles, both to offset the positions life puts us in and also for both shoulder health and aesthetic balance," explains Samuel. "And that means eventually mastering the pullup. This is an advanced move, so make sure you own your horizontal pulling motions, like rows, first. But once you have that, owning the pullup will finish out your back. Everyone should work up to this move."

Having a pullup bar in the comfort of your own home allows you to reinforce your back and core muscles daily, without the hassle of going to the gym or relying on other equipment. Get in the habit of banging out a few reps whenever you pass the bar, and you'll be on your way to building strength and improving posture in no time.

How to Install a Pullup Bar

Installing an at-home pull-up bar is easier than you think. We'll give you an idea of what to expect based on the mounting type, but, keep in mind that every bar is different, so it's important to read the instructions provided by manufacturers prior to installation.

For a doorway pullup bar, you'll need to identify a sturdy doorframe to get started. Place the bar on top of the frame and adjust it to your desired height. Make sure it's secure and won't budge when you're pumping out those reps. Most doorway pull-up bars come with adjustable mechanisms and don't require any drilling or hardware. Just twist, extend, and lock it in place. Boom! You're ready to go.

If you're going for a wall-mounted pullup bar, start by finding a stud on your wall. Trust us, you don't want to hang on something that can't handle your beast mode strength. Once you locate the stud, mark the spot and drill pilot holes. Attach the mounting brackets securely to the wall and slide the bar onto the brackets. Give it a firm tug to make sure it's solid. You wouldn't want any surprises mid-rep, right?

Now, if you're feeling fancy and want to go for a ceiling-mounted pullup bar, the process is similar. Find those studs on your ceiling, mark the spots, and drill pilot holes. Screw the mounting brackets into the ceiling and slide the bar onto them. Make sure it's level and ready to handle your pull-up prowess.

Remember, safety first. Double-check the manufacturer's installation instructions and the stability of your DIY job before attempting any pullups. You don't want any unexpected falls ruining your gains.

Why You Can Trust Us

At Men's Health , we take great pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy product recommendations. We believe that our readers deserve the best, which is why we always make sure to conduct thorough research and testing before making any recommendations. Our writers and editors thoughtfully select experts for collaboration on product recommendations, and are also experts in their own right, using their informed opinions to select products and ensuring that our content is of the highest quality.

Our product recommendations are purely editorial, and while we may receive free products to test and review, we only recommend the products we are most impressed by. We never let retailers or public relations contacts dictate our content or product coverage. Which is why you can trust us to provide you with reliable and unbiased product recommendations.

How We Selected the Best Pullup Bars

For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health 's Fitness editors and writers on the best pullup bars for home workouts. Experts including our own fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., tested pullup and chinup bars from top home gym brands to evaluate their durability, functionality, effectiveness, ease of installation, and price. The final list above represents our carefully considered picks for the best of the best pullup bars for your home workouts.

A fitness trainer and Kettlebell & Mobility Specialist in Harlem, New York.

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