Best Pull-Up Bars For You To Buy
Believe it or not, pull ups are one of the most effective upper body exercises that you can do. Not only do they develop your back, shoulders, and arms, but they also increase your pulling strength. By developing the muscles in your back, pulling exercises—which also include things like bent over rows and sled pulls—open up the chest and help improve things like posture and mobility. We’ve rounded up some of the best pull-up bars, so you can work on your pulling strength while developing your back, shoulder, and arm muscles. Find one below that fits your training style (and that fits into your home design)!
Our Top Five Recommended Pull-Up Bars
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Pull-Up Bars: Uses & Benefits
In today’s world, many people spend all or at least a majority of their day sitting at a desk, typing away on a computer. This can lead to a slouched disposition with hunched shoulders, which overtime can have an affect on your posture even when you’re not seated. In order to undo this damage, you have to retrain the body to stand upright. One of the best ways to do that? By strengthening your back with exercises like pull ups. Pull-up bars are a great tool for performing pull ups, dips and more to work your arms, chest, shoulders and back muscles. Using just your body weight, you can work individual target areas as well as total muscle groups, to customize challenging workouts day in and day out. Pull ups can be a challenge at first, but they are a natural and safe way to exercise and proved a host of benefits.
Among the many benefits are:
- Cardio and Strength Training: Pulling your own body weight builds muscle while simultaneously increasing your heart rate, giving you cardiovascular, as well as strength training benefits. Which means you burn calories and tone at the same time, to slim and tighten.
- Improved Posture: Working your back and shoulder muscles help you to stand taller and straighter. The increased muscle strength helps combat rounded shoulders or slumping that can come with sitting at a desk.
- Reduces the Risk of Injury: Since you use your own body weight to exercise, you are less likely to overdo it. You eliminate the risk of using too much weight and pulling a muscle.
- Optimize Workout Potential: Pull-up bars fit in any room of your home, so you can exercise when it’s convenient for you. So, no more excuses, just results.
How to Perform a Pull Up
Now don’t mistake it: Pull ups aren’t an easy exercise to do. And in fact, many men and women aren’t able to even do one, no matter how strong they are. Pull ups are an advanced exercise, and while they build back strength, they also require a very good amount of strength in order to be able to do them. But the best way to get better at doing them is by practicing. And what better way to practice regularly than to have a pull-up bar in your own home?
Types of Pull-Up Bars
There are different types of pull-up bar systems. The one you choose will depend on your home and how you plan to use it. Here are the different types:
- Doorway Pull-Up Bars: This type of pull-up bar system uses leverage to attach to the top of your door frame. It does not require brackets, so you can remove it and take it with you if you go away or want to exercise in a different room. It also will not damage your doorway. They usually have multiple hand grips along the bar to perform a variety of different exercises.
- Extended Doorway Pull-Up Bar: This is a single bar that extends out to fit the doorway and has with rubber grips on the end to prevent it from slipping. There are also brackets to help hold it in place. It is the least expensive type and simplest to install, but you are limited to pull ups and chin ups.
- Wall Mounted Pull-Up Bars: These types of pull-up systems are affixed to a solid wall, or even ceiling, for a stable, sturdy workout. As they are screwed in they cannot be moved to another area, but provide a strong foundation for those who weigh more.
Buying Considerations
Before investing in any of the systems featured here, there are some things you need to consider.
- How Will You Use It: Do you plan to do just chin ups? Do you need to do lateral pulls or dips? The types of exercises you want to do will determine the type of system you buy. For instance, an extended doorway model won’t be a good fit if you want a greater variety of exercises.
- Where Will You Use It: Plan to workout at home? Do you work long hours and need to bring it from home to work sometimes? Where you plan to use it is important to get the best use out of it. For example, if you travel a lot, a wall mounted style is not a good fit.
- Budget: How much you can comfortably spend is important. You don’t want to spend too much, so pay attention and buy what you need. If you are just doing pull ups a basic model will do. Don’t spend on features you don’t need and won’t use.
Pull-Up System Exercises
If you’re just starting out, or are looking for some new exercises, here are a few you can use:
- Kipping Pull Ups
Great for beginners, Cross Fit buffs, or those with limited upper body strength, the kipping pull up uses a jerking motion and momentum from swinging your legs to propel your chin up and over the bar. Cross Fit enthusiasts love that it allows you to do more repetitions in a shorter amount of time, while beginners will find it a bit easier to get through a full set.
- Behind the Neck Pull Up
Great for shoulders and lats, the behind the neck pull up is simple, yet effective. Grab the bar with a wide grip, palms facing out and away from you. Lean slightly forward, then pull your body up until the bar touches your shoulders. This exercise will increase muscle strength and give definition.
- Windscreen wipers
This move is great for working your arms and core muscles, but is a bit intense and should be used by those already familiar with pull-up bars. Grip the bar and slowly pull yourself up as you swing your legs towards the bar. Then, hold your torso still and swing your legs all the way to the right, then all the way to the left. Great for whittling your midsection and building arm strength.
Pull Up Safety Tips
To make sure you exercise safely, here are a few tips:
- Always ask a physician before starting any exercise program to make sure it is right for you.
- Warm up before exercising to loosen muscles and reduce the risk of injury
- Go slow; when you first start, do a few repetitions until your body is accustomed to it.
- Make sure the bar is secure and can hold your weight.
1. Ultimate Body Press Wall Mount Pull-Up Bar
Mount this tool against the wall so that you can start repping out the pull ups—the setup is easy. And the frame is reliable, too, so you don’t have to worry about it coming loose or undone. It’s great to use for chin ups, leg lifts, and more, too.
2. Prosource Fit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/ Pull-Up Bar
If you’re looking to develop but also improve all aspects of your pull ups, look no further! This bar offers 12 different grip variations to help you work even the smaller muscles in your back. The frame is made of steel, can hold up to 300 pounds, and comes with a lifetime warranty as well. Included with your purchase is an exercise guide, too, so you can learn new moves to try, especially if you aren’t too familiar with a pull-up bar.
3. IRON AGE Pull-Up Bar for Doorway
As mentioned above, not everyone can do a pull up—and that’s OK. In fact, that’s more often the case than not. So if you’re one of the many looking to work on your pull ups, but need some assistance, this bar is for you. It fits into almost any door frame, and has two different bar heights. Plus, it comes with suspension straps, which you can use to perform other exercises, too, which may be necessary as you work your way to your first chin to bar.
4. Garrett Fitness Maximiza Pull-Up Bar
Adjust this bar according to your doorway length (between 26 to 39 inches) and then lock it in with one of the screw-in door mounts. The bar comes with three sets, so you can have them in multiple places around your house, so you can move the bar to different locations and heights id needed. Non-slip hand grips will allow you to hang from the bar longer without to many calluses and blisters developing on your palms.
5. Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar
All you need is a door frame to hang this bar on, and you’re good to start working on your pull ups. There are three grip choices: narrow, wide, and neutral, so you can start with whichever you feel most comfortable. And don’t worry about getting blisters on your hands—the foam grips make grabbing the bar pain-free, so you won’t have to worry about dropping before you’re ready.
