Comparing the Top Indoor Pullup Bars

These are the top three pull-up bars on Amazon.com under the Strength Training Equipment page here. We hope you find a good one and do great things with the Armstrong program!

2021 Update

Well, new technology is making our previous indoor pullup bar reviews obsolete!

We had a blast reviewing one of the very first Duonamic Eleviia indoor pullup bars.

Pros

1. Easy to install.
2. Can be removed when not in use.
3. Parallel as well as conventional grips.
4. Extremely small and portable.
5. Non-marking grips.

Cons

1. Requires molding along the top of the doorway.
2. Tough to do wide-grip palms out wider than a doorway.
3. Does not fit many walls and doorways–not wide enough for handicap-accessible doors, for example.
4. Doesn’t work if you’re a 300-lb lineman.

Learn more about the Duonamic Eleviia Portable Pullup Bar here.

Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar

The Iron Gym Workout Bar is the most common indoor pullup bar in use. It’s inexpensive, gets the job done, and is versatile enough for the complete Armstrong Pullup Program. Just make sure you measure your doorways–it fits most but not all walls and doors. It’s designed to fit residential doorways 24 to 32 inches wide, with doorway trim or molding up to 3.5 inches wide. However, narrow molding in doorways will cause it to hang at a slant. The Iron Gym is rated up to 300 lbs. The “bonus” fitness features have mostly been panned. Who needs a special bar to do pushups?

Pros

1. Easy to install.
2. Can be removed when not in use.
3. Parallel as well as conventional grips.

Cons

1. After time, creates marks on the wall from the bars.
2. Requires molding along the top of the doorway.
3. Tough to do wide-grip palms out wider than a doorway.
4. Does not fit many walls and doorways–not wide enough for handicap-accessible doors, for example.

GoFit Chin-up Bar

This is the simple, classic doorway pull-up bar. If you don’t mind a more permanent bar, this is an inexpensive way to do chin-ups inside. While The GoFit is rated up to 250 pounds. Do to its small width, it is only useful for chin-ups.One of the simplest doorway pull-up bars.

Pros

• The padded grips are moveable.
• Less bulky than other options.

Cons

• Can’t complete the Armstrong Pullup Program using this bar!

ProSource Heavy-Duty Easy Gym Doorway Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar

The ProSource Easy Gym Doorway bar is the Cadillac of indoor pullup bars! It has all the benefits of the classic Iron Gym, but also gives more wide grip options, which help build the upper back and lats, especially for those with longer arms.

Pros

• Best solution for the Armstrong Pullup Program, due to wide grip options.
• Portable.
• Easy to install.
• Can be removed when not in use.
• Parallel as well as conventional grips.

Cons

• After time, creates marks on the wall from the bars. (Though less than the Iron Gym.)
• Requires molding along the top of the doorway.
• Does not fit many walls and doorways–not wide enough for handicap-accessible doors, for example.

Thanks to Armstrong Pullup Program.com for this guest gear review!