Do I need one?
A Pull-up bar is an essential piece of equipment for guys who are trying to add muscle mass. Chin-ups and pull-ups are the best functional biceps and upper-back workouts for novices. Pull-ups not only strengthen the back, they balance bench presses and guard against shoulder problems.
A doorway pullup bar has many uses.
If you don’t have access to a standard-issue wall-mounted pull-up bar, a doorway pull-up bar is the next best thing. These inexpensive devices are perfect for a quick pull-up workout, but they also double as a sit-up station, a leg-lift station, and even a (partial) dip station. Versatility: thy name is “doorway pull-up bar”.
They’re convenient. Pop them in a doorway, do your sets, then throw them in a closet or under the bed until the next workout.
Drawbacks of a doorway pull-up bar
You won’t be able to do wide-grip pull-ups with one of these. For this, you need a longer bar. Also, if your doorways are unusually wide, you’re out of luck.
Most manufacturers market their doorway pull-up bars as a dip station too. But this is fanciful thinking; the truth is that you can’t get a full range of motion with these devices. Stick to performing dips between two chairs.
Which one is best?
They’re all basically the same, except for some bells and whistles. Some offer a range of different hand placements. Others come with straps so you can use them for hanging leg raises and other abdominal workouts.
My advice is to let price be your guide.
Doorway tension pullup bars
Tension pullup bars press against the inside of the doorjams, holding the bar in place. When you use a tension pull-up bar, you not only run the risk of injury when the bar slips out of the doorframe, but you put a huge amount of pressure on the structural elements surrounding your door. Modern manufacturers include some hardware which holds the tension bar in place, but installing this hardware prevents you from closing the door. Tension pull-up bars are only useful when you have a sturdy doorway set in masonry without a door, and then, only if the dimensions of the opening are so unusual as to make a typical doorway pull-up bar (like the ones above) unusable.
Check out the full selection at Amazon: doorway pullup bars
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I was thinking about getting a doorway pull-up bar, but I’m worried it will damage my doorway. Have you had experience with these? Is this a valid concern?
In my experience, doorway pullup bars don’t harm the house in any way. I’ve seen them in use, but I don’t use one myself. If you have concerns, you can see plenty of examples of their use on YouTube. And since they’re only 35 dollars or so, it’s not too big a deal if you have to abandon it and find something else to do pullups on.
Now, if I knew the answer to the “doorway too wide for a pullup bar” problem, I’d be happy!
Caution
Before buying a pull up bar like this, make sure your weight doesn’t exceed the recommended limit. I believe it’s around 250 lbs. If it’s not then your doorway will probably be fine. I own an older home, 19th century home, these pull up bars aren’t ideal for door ways with a lot of woodwork. They are pretty good for close grip pull ups and chin ups, but if you can get away with finding another object to use, one with a better option for placement of hands(close and wide grip) Save your money. If there is nothing else, go for it, they do help alot. Perfect pull up makes a pretty good bar, that’s more expensive, but offers a little more for pullups then door hangers like golds or iron gym.