While you can stock a home gym with an Olympic barbell and a stack of weights, or invest thousands on a weight lifting machine, a workout bar is a much more affordable way to train at home. These bars are often more portable than traditional fitness equipment, too, and can be used to perform a wide range of exercises.1
In this article, we’ve rounded up the best home workout bar systems, so you can choose one that works for your space and workout needs. We’ve included wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and door frame-mounted designs, along with standalone bars.
Unlike traditional weights, which overload your joints in an impact-ready position, workout bars offer variable resistance that maximizes your strength potential. They also help you build muscles faster by challenging your muscles at their strongest range of motion.
A home workout bar is a great piece of equipment to have on hand if you’re looking for an easy way to perform a variety of exercises, such as pull ups, push ups, and crunches. Many of these bars are compact and easily storeable, so you can take them with you on the go or even use them at work if you’re short on time.2
The best workout bars for home use are versatile enough to train a number of muscle groups, and they’re designed to be sturdy. Most have a grip surface with either a rubber or foam coating, so they can be comfortably used by people of all ages and fitness levels. Some of the most versatile options feature a multi-functional design that transforms from a pull-up bar to a dip station by simply rotating it.
Another type of home workout bar is a weighted bar that’s typically wrapped in a layer of foam and comes in various lengths. These bars can be a convenient way to get in some upper body exercise, but since they max out at around 25 pounds, they’re not as effective as standard Olympic barbells for building strength.
While you can still find these types of home workout bars, many manufacturers have started producing more advanced models that combine the features of a pull-up bar with other pieces of fitness equipment. These more comprehensive systems come with a rock-solid height-adjustable ballet barre for sculpting and strengthening, and they can also support ab roller wheels, a post landmine sleeve, and more. They’re an ideal choice for those who want to strengthen their entire body and tone their core, but don’t have the space or budget to purchase a complete home gym. These models also come with a helpful app that provides access to free workouts from renowned fitness instructors, such as Lululemon, Y7 Studio, and celebrity favorite DOGPOUND. You can even participate in live challenges and earn milestone badges as you work out.
Milena Estêvão is a YouTuber passionate about sharing her experiences (challenges, successes and motivations) in the fitness activities she is involved in.
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