Product Review: Dip Bars and Wide Grip Pull-Up Bar

Recently I’ve decided to take my training indoors.

To prepare for the occasion, I purchased parallel dip bars and a wide grip pull-up bar.

Parallel Dip Bars

First thought after lifting the package was “heavy!” At nearly 30 lbs, the steel tubing does offer a sense of security when doing inverse dip variations. However, I would not classify them as extremely portable.

Where the product does shine is in its craftsmanship and thoughtfulness.

The padding is ample for any body part you throw at it.  Height is not an issue as the highest setting offers plenty of leg room on dips (I’m 6ft).  Quick release pins and conveniently placed knobs allow for easy adjustments.

My main gripe with the product is that the feet easily leave the ground if you’re applying anything but direct downward force. Since the bars themselves are steel but the feet are plastic, the product is definitely top-heavy.  I think if you’re using them in the same spot everyday, it could be practical to place heavy objects on either side for stability. Otherwise I’d say you’d get a feel for where to move them over time.

Overall, a great product and much more robust than in the pictures. The freedom to move the pieces independently of each other and generous grip real-estate are what separates it from the others.

Wide Grip Pull-up Bars

Really impressive pull-up bar that provides a legitimate wide-grip.  Mostly constructed with steel tubing, the grips offer comfortable foam cushioning at all major touch points. It also has a good amount of clearance if the top of your door frame runs particularly wide.

I’m currently staying in an airbnb and my greatest fear was damaging the door frame or scratching the paint. Luckily I didn’t need to worry, as the rubber casing on top interacts safely with the top of the door frame and the foam padding behind the wide grips is plenty thick.

I would say if you’re looking for a wide grip pull-up bar at a very competitive price, this would be a good option.