Best Pull-Up Bars for Travel Reviewed
Richard Haberkost
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.
Garren Fitness Maximiza Plus Pull-Up Bar
Ultimate Body Press Doorway Pull Up Bar with Adjustable Width
Ikonfitness Pull-Up Bar
Iron Age Pull Up Bar
Prosource Fit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar
No Screw Chin-Up Station
Sunny Chin Up and Pull Up Bar
Yes4All Doorway Pull-Up Bar
AGPTEK Pull-Up Bar
Sports God Lite Pull-Up Bar
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
Fits extra-wide doors
Fittings for three heights
Secure foam grip
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Ease of Use
A solid, reliable anchor, which offers excellent ease for use, quickly alternate between floor exercises and doorways exercises such as pull-ups.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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,
Ease of Use
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.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Ease of Use
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.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Ease of Use
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.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Ease of Use
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.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Ease of Use
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.
Value
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.
Read moreEffectiveness
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.
Ease of Use
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.
Value
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
Quick to set up
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.
Effectiveness
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.
Ease of Use
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.
Value
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.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Effectiveness
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
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
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.
Expert Interviews & Opinions
Effectiveness Ease of Use
Adjustability
Accessories Value
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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
Sources
- , Pro Fitness Tips, Article
- , Best Pull Up Bars 2019, Article-Guide
- , The Best Pull Up Bars, Article.
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Garren Fitness Maximiza Plus Pull-Up Bar
-
Ultimate Body Press Doorway Pull Up Bar with Adjustable Width
-
Ikonfitness Pull-Up Bar
-
Iron Age Pull Up Bar
-
Prosource Fit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar
-
No Screw Chin-Up Station
-
Sunny Chin Up and Pull Up Bar
-
Yes4All Doorway Pull-Up Bar
-
AGPTEK Pull-Up Bar
-
Sports God Lite Pull-Up Bar
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