Pull-up bars
- Thread starter gemgirl
- Start date
Sherri Lynn,
Yep, when I bought P90X I bit the bullet and went for a pull-up bar. It's the kind you intall with small circular brackets in a doorway. I think it cost about $15 on Amazon.com. It works wonderfully, but I can't really do more than one unassisted pull-up or chin-up (okay, maybe 2 chins). I have to use a chair to help out, but this way I manage about 15-25 reps depending on type/set number. I couldn't even do one unassisted before P90X and now, even though I'm not doing a P90X rotation, I do my own sets of pull/chin-ups with my back work.
I think you'll find that they are a great upper body workout and that getting better at them will make you feel kind of tough}(
Mattea
Yep, when I bought P90X I bit the bullet and went for a pull-up bar. It's the kind you intall with small circular brackets in a doorway. I think it cost about $15 on Amazon.com. It works wonderfully, but I can't really do more than one unassisted pull-up or chin-up (okay, maybe 2 chins). I have to use a chair to help out, but this way I manage about 15-25 reps depending on type/set number. I couldn't even do one unassisted before P90X and now, even though I'm not doing a P90X rotation, I do my own sets of pull/chin-ups with my back work.
I think you'll find that they are a great upper body workout and that getting better at them will make you feel kind of tough}(
Mattea
Sherri Lynn,
I also got the Door Gym for P90X through Amazon and by the end of the program I did 10 unassisted reverse grip chinups and did one closed grip overhand pullup for the first time yesterday. I have never done them assisted. It felt uncomfortable for me to do it with the chair so I just did them unassisted. I never used bands either. I'll never forget the glorious feeling I got when my chin went over that bar for the first time. These definitely helped me with the back fat.
Marcy
I also got the Door Gym for P90X through Amazon and by the end of the program I did 10 unassisted reverse grip chinups and did one closed grip overhand pullup for the first time yesterday. I have never done them assisted. It felt uncomfortable for me to do it with the chair so I just did them unassisted. I never used bands either. I'll never forget the glorious feeling I got when my chin went over that bar for the first time. These definitely helped me with the back fat.
Marcy
They're most definitely NOT all the same quality-wise, but having said that, you can get a perfectly nice one for cheap. I don't think it matters WHERE you buy it, but if you go online you can read reviews of the different ones before you buy.
If you have a doorway you're willing to put screws and metal brackets into, than you can get a good one at a reasonable price. Otherwise, you have to shell out for a molding/frame supported one that you doesn't require hardware be put more or less permanently into your door frame. These can be pretty expensive and depending on the size or your door/molding may more may not work very well (i.e. you might find yourself on the floor
). But you can't always rule that out for any pull-up bar, stuff happens;-)
Mattea
If you have a doorway you're willing to put screws and metal brackets into, than you can get a good one at a reasonable price. Otherwise, you have to shell out for a molding/frame supported one that you doesn't require hardware be put more or less permanently into your door frame. These can be pretty expensive and depending on the size or your door/molding may more may not work very well (i.e. you might find yourself on the floor
). But you can't always rule that out for any pull-up bar, stuff happens;-) Mattea
Sherri Lynn -
My Door Gym was made by Karate Depot. You can check out their chinup bars here: http://www.karatedepot.com/chinup-bars.html. I was very happy with it. It was strong and it came up and down in seconds. Instructions to put it together were a little confusing to figure out but I think there are some reviews where people explain how to put it together.
Marcy
My Door Gym was made by Karate Depot. You can check out their chinup bars here: http://www.karatedepot.com/chinup-bars.html. I was very happy with it. It was strong and it came up and down in seconds. Instructions to put it together were a little confusing to figure out but I think there are some reviews where people explain how to put it together.
Marcy
desertbriez
Banned
we have a really nice free-standing pull up bar thingy that we bought for p90x.... it even has the little "seat" thing that assists and you can adjust the band on it for more or less help.... when i was doing it i could do a few without assistance... now???? probably not!
we originally had a door pull up thingy (well... still have it... just don't use it cuz the freestanding one is nicer (also has a pushup area on the bottom/feet and you can do the stomach/core work by holding yourself up on the arm rests and lifting your legs (not sure i'm explaining that good)
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cute work out clothes are good for AT LEAST an additional 10-15 calories burned!
http://www.picturetrail.com/desertbriez
we originally had a door pull up thingy (well... still have it... just don't use it cuz the freestanding one is nicer (also has a pushup area on the bottom/feet and you can do the stomach/core work by holding yourself up on the arm rests and lifting your legs (not sure i'm explaining that good)
-------------
cute work out clothes are good for AT LEAST an additional 10-15 calories burned!
http://www.picturetrail.com/desertbriez
angie_nrs
Cathlete
I bought a Weider Power Tower that has the pull up bar on one side and the back seat with arm rest for ab raises on the other side. It takes up a good amount of space, but I had a spot for it in my basement. I got it on sale at dunhams for aoubt $100. It has definitely improved my upper body strength and has the bonus of providing yet another tool for the abs. Run an internet search of the weider power tower and you should be able to find a picture of it.
Angie
Angie
FitGirl-ATX
Cathlete
Hi Sherry Lynn,
For whatever it's worth, I also had a door gym. It was very sturdy, but my doorway was a bit short (and I am tall 5'8"), so unfortunately, I was never able to do a full dead hang pull up. I always had to bend my knees. If space is a concern, the door gym could be a viable alternative for you.
Good luck!!
Your friend in fitness,
FitGirl-ATX
My Blog: http://fitgirlatx.blogspot.com/index.html
Picture Trail URL: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=fitgirl-atx
"I am only competing with the me I have yet to be..."
For whatever it's worth, I also had a door gym. It was very sturdy, but my doorway was a bit short (and I am tall 5'8"), so unfortunately, I was never able to do a full dead hang pull up. I always had to bend my knees. If space is a concern, the door gym could be a viable alternative for you.
Good luck!!
Your friend in fitness,
FitGirl-ATX
My Blog: http://fitgirlatx.blogspot.com/index.html
Picture Trail URL: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=fitgirl-atx
"I am only competing with the me I have yet to be..."
RunninTeach
Cathlete
I'm glad to see comments about the Door Gym. I wound up using the bands with P90X (which I don't think are as effective) because I was afraid the Door Gym would not work - I envisioned myself crashing to the floor along with half the molding.
It's too bad someone doesn't invent a sturdy, space-saving power tower, sort of like how the Fluidity barre can be stored compactly. But in the meantime, I may finally give that Door Gym a go.
~Cathy http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/4.gif
"Man who runs behind car gets exhausted. Man who runs in front of car gets tired." -Source unknown
It's too bad someone doesn't invent a sturdy, space-saving power tower, sort of like how the Fluidity barre can be stored compactly. But in the meantime, I may finally give that Door Gym a go.
~Cathy http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/4.gif
"Man who runs behind car gets exhausted. Man who runs in front of car gets tired." -Source unknown