Top-notch Power Towers for Your Body in 2018
Finding a fun way to get fit may sound like a minefield littered with expensive gym memberships and endless exercise trends, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Home gym equipment is the proven way to get fit so that you look as good on the outside as you feel on the inside, which is precisely why I’ve decided now is the time to help you find the top power tower on the market.
My search has taken me far and wide, caused me to write a lot, to sweat even more, and it is everything you need to find a superior power tower for your needs so that you can get fit and healthy the right way. Let’s dive right in and take a look at what I found!
Fitness Reality – Top-Rated Power Tower
The first stop on my tour of all things power tower related was the latest offering from Fitness Reality.
They are a well-established name with a reputation for making premium-level equipment.
Furthermore, they have a track record of making equipment that stands the test of time.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one power tower that allows you to replace the multi gym with a series of super challenging compound movements then, in my opinion, you need to look no further! Let’s dive right in and see why this had to be my first port of call on my top-5 list…
An Array of Options
From the floor level rollers for crunches and sit-ups to the exhausting yet straightforward tricep dip bars they really have covered all the bases.
That allows you to get a total body workout in less than 20-minutes and without the risk of injury that comes from stacking up the weight plates on your old bench press. I really loved the way that it had been designed by a team that clearly knows the intricacies of home fitness.
Built to Last
Why? Because it will give you an instant indication of how long it will last. After all, it’s no use spending your hard earned money on something only for it to flex and fail on you after just a couple month’s use, is it?
- Multiple exercises for a total body workout
- Durable construction that is built to stand the test of time
- Professional grade equipment that you can fit into any sized home
- I did find on one occasion that the grip on the pull-up bar can work lose
Final Verdict
This is a product that I really feel I have to recommend in the highest terms. It doesn’t just do what you think it will do because in my experience you can quickly get creative add in all manner of new and exciting exercises on it to your routine.
The only limit is your imagination, and given how durable it is I think you can expect to get a lifetime of use out of it!
Bowflex – for Home Use
Bowflex is a name that needs to be included in any conversation about the top power towers, and with good reason. They have a name that resonates throughout the fitness industry through a combination of long-lasting equipment, innovative training methods, and compact apparatus.
With these three things at the front of my mind, I had little option but to give their latest power tower a try! Here’s how I got on…
Straps Make All the Difference
When you’re working with your entire bodyweight rather than a dumbbell your hands will be in for a hard time of it, there’s no way of getting away from that, unfortunately! What I was quite impressed with is that Bowflex includes a pair of bicep straps so that you can hang from a number of different points on the tower.
Not only does this provide a great way, in my opinion, of saving your hands from blistering as you get used to bodyweight training, it also allows you to vary things up and throw in additional sets to really shock your muscles into growing.
Highly Compact
I really liked this because it opened up a range of options in terms of where I could use it in my home.
Additionally, something I was worried about was how difficult it would be to move in and out of its storage position. I’m pleased to tell you that it looks to be the ideal blend of rugged durability and lightweight construction so that no matter how much of a sweat I worked up I didn’t struggle to store it at the end of an intense workout.
- A compact design that will fit into any home
- Straps help protect your hands and allow you to vary your training regime
- A lightweight and durable piece of equipment
- During assembly, I did have a couple of holes that needed to have their threads reworked
- I also found that the adjustable dipping station needed a little oil before I could easily move it up and down. These two issues aren’t insurmountable, but I can see that if you’re someone who isn’t interested in the mechanical side of things, it will rightly be a cause of frustration and annoyance
Final Verdict
I highly recommend the Bowflex, especially for those of you who are short on free space. I found the design to be compact and lightweight enough to stow away at the end of an intense workout easily.
While it is also durable and sturdy enough to withstand everything I threw at it. I would exercise a small word of caution because I found a couple of minor mechanical issues during assembly and the early days of using it.
You may well not experience the same thing that I did, but it’s worth having a can of spray oil or grease handy when it arrives on your doorstep just in case.
Body Champ – Top for the Money
What I’ve always loved about the Body Champ brand is that they build the type of equipment that can be used by everyone from the casual gym goer to the professional athlete.
They make everything intuitive and durable so that no matter what you want to throw at their kit it will still be standing when you’ve worked up a sweat and are ready for a well-deserved protein shake.
With that reputation in mind, I was super excited to throw everything I had at their latest arrival to see if it really did deserve the title.
Comfort is Key
So something I instantly liked was how comfortable the back and forearm padding was during my workouts. They might sound more like a finishing touch but when you’re in the middle of 100-ab raises you’ll be thanking me for pointing you in the direction of a real comfort-first approach, trust me!
Everything looked in precisely the right place when I had finished assembling it, so I jumped straight on and got my blood pumping. I’m delighted to tell you that it certainly did not disappoint.
Made to Last
I’d heard from some of my friends who avoid power towers altogether, their primary reason for doing so is that they think all you can do on them is a few leg raises.
In their opinion everything else runs the risk of bending or twisting the frames; take it from me that you will not be able to move the Body Champ by even a tiny amount, no matter how hard you’re working.
The design looks a little understated and simple compared to a few of the other entries on my list. However, I implore you not to let that fool you.
Body Champ is that brand judging from everything I’ve seen, and their ability to create something functional yet simple is indeed something that I applaud.
- A simple approach to home exercise equipment that gets all of the basics right
- Robust design that allows you to get fit and toned in minutes
- Lightweight, multifunctional piece of exercise equipment that no home or professional gym should be without
- One thing and I might be ultra critical here, is that I think the arms supports could do with being about another 4 inches further apart. It doesn’t sound like much, but to me, they just didn’t feel as natural as the other towers on my list
Admittedly, if you’re a different size to my rather average build, you may well find it fits you correctly. Although, I think you may want to measure out the width before purchase just to make sure you avoid disappointment or annoyance once you’ve parted with your hard earned money.
Final Verdict
A reliable and durable piece of equipment that takes the simple approach. This makes it an excellent choice in my opinion for the home exerciser with one eye on their budget.
The assembly was mainly straightforward due to the elegance and simplicity of the design. Furthermore, I would politely suggest that you measure up against yourself before buying.
You may well get a more natural fit than I did but it’s certainly something worth bearing in mind.
Gold’s Gym – Best to Buy
Known the world over for offering the very best equipment and gyms in the world, Gold’s know a thing or two about making you sweat!
What I couldn’t believe when it arrived was that I actually had a genuine piece of Gold’s Gym equipment in my home gym.
I’d always wanted one, so I jumped on immediately and gave it a real blast for an hour.
I’m pleased to say that the results certainly did not disappoint. The chin-up bar was ergonomic and fitted nicely into my hand.
The dipping station was ideally spaced and gave my triceps a real good going over.
To makes things even better the whole system was weighted down to the floor in a way that ensured that no matter how hard I was pushing myself it stayed utterly still like it had been anchored to a concrete floor.
A Name For the Ages
If like me you’re a fan of all things exercise related then you’ll likely be a fan of the Gold’s Gym brand. They’ve been around forever, they know what they’re doing, and their equipment really does last a lifetime if you look after it.
On top of the name though I want to get it across to you that this is one piece of equipment that isn’t resting on its laurels.
The station was enjoyable to workout with, and I really loved how easy it was to put together.
Straight away I got the impression of a piece of equipment that had been designed and refined over a period of years by a team of experts in the industry. In my opinion, it is an excellent example of why it often pays to go with the global brand!
Comfortable and Adaptable
As I said earlier, I have a couple of friends who are sworn off power towers because of their perceived limitations. If there ever were a piece of equipment that could blow their opinions to pieces it would have to be the XR 10.9 from Gold’s.
Add to that the ergonomics and the thought that has obviously gone into the handles, pads, and grips, and you have a recipe for the perfect centerpiece for your home gym!
- A genuine world-class brand with decades of experience of creating training gear
- Durable construction that will last a lifetime
- Ergonomic design that will help you avoid blisters and callouses
- One thing that I think a few of you may find if you’re a little above average height is that it can be quite easy to watch your heals on the ground as you descend during chin ups. While perfectly safe this did break my concentration a couple of times
Final Verdict
I absolutely loved training on the Gold’s Gym as they’re a brand with a big reputation that I wanted to put to the test. As such, I’m delighted to say that they delivered in just about every way I can imagine.
The assembly out of the box was quick and easy, and for once the instructions genuinely did speed things up for me! I really liked the feel of all the contact points, especially the forearm pads, and I can only commend the quality of the craftsmanship.
By putting build quality at the top of their list, Gold’s have in my opinion outdone itself with its latest creation. Highly recommended for the home gym enthusiast who thinks they already have everything!
Weider – Fitness Power Tower
Weider is as big a name in bodybuilding as the Yankees are in baseball.
Now while you wouldn’t necessarily associate bodyweight training with some of the most muscular men and women on the planet, I had to add this to my list of 5 to try on reputation alone!
What I was delighted by straight away was how easy it was to put it together. Once I had it up and running, I then got down to business…
Solid Build Quality
One of the main gripes people have with power towers is that they can be prone to wobbling or shifting, particularly during chin ups and tricep dips. Not only can this be a safety concern, but it will also break up your rhythm by breaking your concentration.
By staying planted on the spot in my garage, my new Weider power tower took everything I threw at it and then was still asking for more once I was spent!
One Size Fits All
You’ll have seen one or two criticisms pop up in this list regarding the dimensions that some manufacturers use, which is why I’m delighted to tell you that Weider got everything spot on in my opinion. I loved that the grips fitted perfectly in my hands.
Upon closer inspection, I saw that the stitching of each pad was the best that I’d seen on this list too. Another indicator that this was a piece of equipment that I was certainly well advised to keep on my list of five of the best.
- Stylish red back support is a nice finishing touch that is also super comfortable
- A name you can trust that has been around for years
- Ergonomic handles and grips make all the difference during those last few reps
- One thing I would like to see changed is that the assembly screws and tools could do with being better packaged. Perhaps I encountered a one-off case, but I did have to search around for a number of the washers as they’d fallen out of the somewhat flimsy packaging and ended up in the bottom of the box. Luckily I hadn’t accidentally thrown them away, but you may not be so lucky
Final Verdict
A great piece of equipment that I’m proud to have as part of my home gym. It comes highly recommended if you’re looking to get something that you can do it all on, is easy to build, easy to maintain, and made to last.
Now, what’s there not to like about that?
Power Towers – Buyer’s Guide
Now that you’ve worked your way through my run down of five of the best why not take things to the next level and have a glance at my buyer’s guide? With all your questions answered it’s your one-stop shop for everything power tower related!
Contents:
Can I Do Weights On A Power Tower?
By using nothing more than the weight of your own body you instantly do away with the need for a spotter and the risk of crushing injuries. Not only that, but you need only to work out for a fraction of the time to create that intense burn you’ve been looking for.
What Are The Advantages Of Bodyweight Training?
Bodyweight training allows you to perform a number of compound movements that work your muscles and connective tissue in a way that dumbbell curls in front of the mirror never can.
That means you will avoid creating the muscle imbalances that be can all too easily build up when going through the same old weight routine week after week.
What Type Of Surface Should I Workout On?
What you’re looking for is something stable so that your station doesn’t subside or skate slightly during use. Avoid thick carpets and laminate flooring.
Do I Really Need One When I Can Just Do Sit-ups At Home?
Have you ever noticed that after a while you are able to do sit-ups for what seems like days on end? While you deserve big congratulations for building your fitness up to that kind of level you need to consider that when it comes to packing on some lean muscle, you’re no longer making much progress at this point.
What you need to do is what you would do if you were bench pressing: up the weight. That is difficult at home without the right equipment, and you can end up taking the risky approach of locking a weight disc to your chest; not ideal if you want to make sure you keep your teeth intact!
With dedication and application, you’ll soon be well into double figures and looking to mix things up again. That is where the power tower really comes into its own: you can also build in rotational movements.
Rotations are brilliant for your core because they exercise it asymmetrically, meaning that you have to compensate on one side and then on the other during each rep.
How Much Space Do I Need?
Less than a bench press! A power tower is a mostly upright piece of equipment that you will hang from in a variety of different positions.
Each manufacturer will provide you with the exact dimensions of their product and will include some suggested spatial requirements for optimal use.
I like to store mine in the corner or up against a wall in my garage and then pull it out into the middle during my workout. Because of the intensity of the exercise, it’s not like it will be in the middle of the room for hours and hours.
So it really is a matter of finding a space you can easily maneuver it around in, get your session done, and then pop it back into storage.
Do Professional Athletes Use Them?
Absolutely! Head to any decent members gym, and you’ll find a power tower. Everyone has their own favorite piece of equipment, and if you visit at the right time, you’re guaranteed to see a group of people waiting to use it.
How Much Use Will I Get Out Of It?
What I realized about this approach to home fitness is that it does a great job at keeping your routine fresh. You can quickly add in little variations that make you really struggle for a couple of weeks, and then before you know it that near impossible last set will have become your warm up.
Did you have any stability problems?
Many people who haven’t subscribed to the power tower approach to home fitness yet will tell you how unstable and wobbly they are. In my experience, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The key is to plan ahead and ensure that your floor is level. With wooden flooring, you can often get shifts and warps over time that you won’t notice when walking.
However, that will be easily picked up by a larger footprint like a power tower.
Plan ahead, measure up and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you’ll be able to build the all-in-one home gym you have always wanted in a single afternoon.
Ideal for creating the powerful and toned physique that allows you to look as good on the outside as you feel on the inside!
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