Overview:

The Iron Gym Xtreme Total Upper Body Workout Bar is an extreme version of its cousin (seen here). It mounts to most doorways in seconds and has six different grip positions. It assembles in about 15 minutes and comes with all hardware/tools.

<< See All Pull-Up Bars

Mounting Method:
Doorway
Fits Doorway Sizes:
24″-32″ (Manufacturer Data)
Grip Positions:
6- Narrow,Neutral,Wide Neutral, Wide, Extra Wide, Floor Grips
Tools Required?:
Included. No tools needed for Installation.
Weight Limit:
300Lb
Ground Clearance for Dips/Push-Ups:
Approximately 7″
Manual Content:
Assembly
Steps to Success
Workout Plan
Exercises
Nutrition Plans
Food Choices
Extras:
Safety wedge needs no tools to install.
Ergonomic angle in extra wide position.
Optional Accessories:
Hanging Ab Straps
Home Training DVD
Workout Wall Chart
Frameless Door Wall Brackets
Extended Long Bar (34″-38″ Door Sizes)
Warranty:
Not Stated in Manual

Assembly:

5/5
The assembly instructions featured an exploded-view diagram which was easy to follow. It took us about 15 minutes to assemble the Iron Gym Xtreme after opening the box. The main bar is made up of two pieces that lock together with a quick twist. Two additional bar pairs must be slid into each other before the bolts can be inserted and locked down.

After each bolt is inserted into its hole, a nut is placed on the end and tightened with the wrench. The two shorter bolts are used to attach the rectangular bracer to the bar. Assembly doesn’t get simpler than this.

All Parts and Hardware

Hardware Includes a wrench, safety wedge and bolts/washers/nuts.

The two-piece main bar locks together.

All bolts are tightened at one end using the included wrench.

Assembly Complete!

Installation:

4.5/5
Installing the Iron Gym Xtreme takes only a second or two since it does not permanently attach to the door. Pro Fit provides an optional metal wedge that prevents slippage of the workout bar. The wedge slides behind the casing of the door in about 2-seconds and can be removed. When installed, the padding protected our door’s casing quite well. The bracer bar at the top has a strip of foam to prevent dents and scratches on the wall (we saw no evidence of damage). An extender bar is available for separate purchase which lets the bar be used on wider doors.

One important thing to note: if you have a door that is very close to the corner of a room, the Iron Gym Xtreme may not be able to fit properly, as we experienced.

Grips:

5/5
The Iron Gym workout bar has six different grip positions to choose from.

• Narrow (Chin-Ups or Pull-Ups)
• Neutral (Palms Facing Each Other)
• Wide Neutral
• Wide
• Extra Wide (Challenging)
• Floor Grips (Push-Ups/Dips)

All of the six grip positions are well padded and are wide enough to provide coverage for the entire width of the hand. The narrow position is used for standard pull-ups (palms away from body) and chin-ups (palms toward body). The two “narrow” positions are in many cases more comfortable to work with since they orient the palms facing each other. The Iron Gym Xtreme bar gets its “extreme” name from the wide and extra wide grip positions that provide the ultimate pull-up challenge. Our tester got quite a workout even after only a couple reps in these positions. The widest grip has a slight angle which places the wrists in an ergonomic position. Without the slight angle it would be awkward to use.

We liked how the Iron Gym Xtreme was able to offer multiple grip options while doing dips and push-ups on the ground. Using a bar like this make these types of workouts so much more enjoyable when compared to using the bare floor. Since there is only 7 inches of clearance between the handles and the ground, the range of motion for dips is fairly small.

The Xtreme bar offers several different ways to work the abdominal muscles. Pull-up exercises like knee lifts can do the trick, but the bar can also be placed on the ground within the doorway to support the legs during sit-ups (see photo above). Once we figured out how to install it (takes a few seconds), it worked well. It’s important to pull back on the bar with your legs, not upwards toward the ceiling.

Build Quality:

5/5
The steel tubing which makes up most of the workout bar is coated entirely in grey paint for protection from scratches, but more importantly sweat and moisture. We found the foam grips to be high quality being that they were comfortable in the hands and did not slip on the tubing. We paid close attention to the main bar during use and noticed very little, if any, flexing. Overall it’s a very solid and well-engineered piece of equipment.

Hardware

5/5
The main attribute we look at when determining the quality of hardware is the threading. None of the bolts/nuts stripped when tightening them down, which is a great sign. The locking washers help to keep everything tightened, as we saw even after several hours of use.

Included Documentation:

5/5
While none of the sections delve into great detail, there are quite a few morsels of helpful fitness information included in the manual. These sections include Steps to Success, Workout Plan, Exercises (illustrated), Eating Recommendations, Food Choices and more. It’s a lot more than you get with most workout bars.

Warranty:–/5

It seems that Pro Fit does not include warranty information with their pull-up bars. We found no warranty cards/info in the manual or the Pro Fit website.

Overview:

The Lifecore LS-XT Air Bike is a dual-action exercise bike that combines pedaling with handle movement for an upper and lower body workout. The Air Bike has a single air-powered resistance level that requires no adjustment. The computer’s simplistic design is easy to control and understand, and can track vital statistics including Time, Speed, Distance, Calories & Total Distance. Comfort features include an 11-position seat, aluminum water bottle holder and adjustable cooling vent.

<< See All Exercise Bikes

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Bike Type:
Upright Cross-Trainer
Resistance Type:
Air, Fan Wheel
Resistance Levels:
1
Heart Rate Measurement:
None
Storage:
Compact Profile
Grade:
Consumer
Maximum User Weight:
300 Lb
Resistance Adjustment:
None
Frame Construction:
Steel
Console Readout:
Time, Speed, Distance,
Calories, Total Distance
Programs:
None
User Profiles:
None
Seat Features:
10″ Wide Padded
11 Height Levels
Portability:
Roller-Blade Wheels in Front
Battery Requirement:
2 AAA
Handlebar Material:
Textured Rubber
Extras:
Aluminum Water Bottle Holder
Adjustable Cooling Fan
Overall Dimensions:
L39″ W27″ H53″
Workout Guide:
None
Warranty:
Lifetime Frame, 2Yr Parts,
1Yr Electronics, 90 Days Labor

Assembly:

4.8
Lifecore supplies the tools for assembly which include Allen keys, wrenches and screwdrivers (See assembly picture). Assembly starts off by hand-tightening the rubber feet onto the legs. The front and rear legs are then attached to the body with two bolts each.

The neck for the computer has a wire at the base and top which need to be connected to the body and computer, respectively. The wires click together quite easily. Four bolts fasten the neck to the body, while four screws connect the computer to the neck. The aluminum bottle holder is held onto the neck with two screws.

The handles and stationary foot rests are connected to the body in a single step (parts are labeled Left/Right so you can’t mess up). The rotating pedals screw onto the pedal arms easy enough, but remember that the left pedal screws on counter-clockwise (intended to prevent the pedal from un-screwing itself during use). The last step is to bolt the seat to its post and slide the post down into the body to the desired height.

The assembly process took us about 45 minutes with no significant problems. However, our Air Bike was missing a bolt/washer which Lifecore was happy to send out at no charge. We were briefly confused when we saw that Step 2 of the assembly process was missing from the manual. We discovered that Lifecore includes individual step sheets inside the baggies for the hardware. Here’s some photos of the assembly:

Comfort:

3.8
The adjustable seat measures 10″x10.5″ and has approximately 1/2″ of foam thickness. The padding is quite firm- with a similar feel to an upright bicycle seat. The seat can get tiring after extended periods of use. While the angle of the seat cannot be adjusted, it has 11 levels of height adjustment that are controlled by a spring loaded knob. At the highest setting the seat stands 45″ above the ground, a height quite worthy of any basketball player.

The Lifecore Air Bike has over-sized pedals that can accomodate any shoe size, no problem. The 5″x3.75″ pedal surface area has Velcro straps to secure shoes with. The only issue we found was the fairly limited clearance between the pedals and the body of the machine on the down-stroke. People with very large shoes may need to pedal with the ball of their foot/shoe to maintain clearance.

With the handles oriented at 90 degrees in relation to the body, the wrists need not bend in an awkward or painful direction. The handles are coated in textured rubber which is thin but comfortable nonetheless.

While in use, the adjustable air vent can be pointed on the face to receive a minimal breeze. The breeze was only noticeable to us at higher speeds.

The final comfort feature for the Lifecore Air Bike is the aluminum bottle holder. We had to bend out the holder an inch or two so that our small bottle would fit.

Computer:

3
If you like simplicity, then the Air Bike’s onboard computer will be to your liking. Three buttons- SET, MODE and RESET- are all that is needed for control.

Trackble Statistics: Users can track Time, Speed, Distance, Calories, and Total Distance (since the last battery replacement). The computer will automatically run cycle through these stats when you start pedaling, which we found to be an intelligent addition (no button-mashing while pedaling).

This model cannot track heart rate and does not have wireless pulse sensing capability. The manual provides instructions for this feature, but was apparently left out of the design. A quick remedy is to use a wrist or chest mounted monitor purchased separately.

Cycle Motion:

5
The pedals can move in the forward and reverse direction (for all you backwards pedalers out there). There are three distinct positions that can be used- Pedal Only, Pedal/Handles, and Handles Only. In the Handles Only position, the feet are placed on the stationary pedals located at the base of the arms. It feels a bit strange at first, but can actually be quite fun using only the arms. The resistance in this position is enough to deliver a powerful and challenging workout for the upper body. To start the handles in motion, it helps to begin pedaling first.

At high speeds the resistance fan can become fairly noisy- enough to disturb someone watching TV nearby, but not enough to disturb someone in the next room.

Resistance System

3.5
The LS-XT Air Bike requires no external power since it uses a plastic fan to provide air resistance. Experienced athletes and fitness enthusiasts may not appreciate the simplistic single-stage of resistance. There is no way to adjust the resistance level. The Air Bike is obviously intended to appeal to people looking for simplicity and ease of use. With less moving parts, there are less pieces to break and wear down.

As far as smoothness is concerned, the Air Bike glides through each stroke beautifully. The drive train consists of a rubber belt that connects the pedals to the fan, making for super smooth rotation.

Build Quality

5
Steel tubing makes up most of the Air Bike’s frame. Once assembled and properly tightened, the bike is very stable even on carpeting. Making sure the handle bolts are tightened securely is essential in preventing jiggling. All steel parts are coated in grey paint.

All hardware, which included the bolts, washers and nuts, are galvanized and did not strip when tightened.

The straps for the foot pedals are made of a single plastic piece that locks down using a ratchet on the side of the pedal. We experienced no issues with tightening or loosening these straps. All four pedals on the Air Bike have all-metal bearings for smooth rotation. The outer plastic casing can be easy to scratch, so use caution.

Portability

3.5
Roller-blade-style wheels mounted to the front support leg let the Air Bike roll across floors. The rear of the bike must be lifted up using a metal handle on the rear foot. Once lifted up, the bike can feel very awkward and top-heavy, but can roll across smooth (emphasis on smooth) floors if care is taken. The bike must be leaned up far enough so that the rubber feet do not rub against the ground.

Included Documentation:

4.5
The manual includes safety instructions, assembly procedure, seat height adjustment, console operation, warm ups/cool downs, care/maintenance, and a full parts list. A separate sheet is included with details on the console operation.

Warranty:

5

• Lifetime Frame
• 2 Years Parts
• 1 Year Electronics
• 90 Days Labor

Overview:

The Lifecore R88 rowing machine has six levels of air/magnetic resistance that is manually adjusted using a control knob. The professional-quality, all-aluminum rail supports a smooth-gliding padded seat with a movement range of 31 inches. The pivoting computer screen can track a number of workout statistics and features three modes: Manual, Race and Recovery (wireless pulse monitor required). The R88 folds into an upright position for a minimal footprint after the workout.

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Resistance Type:
Air/Magnetic
Resistance Levels:
6
Heart Rate Measurement:
Optional Wireless Chest Strap
Storage:
Folds Upright
Grade:
Consumer
Maximum User Weight:
300 Lb
Resistance Adjustment:
Knob
Frame Construction:
Steel
Console Readout:
Time,Time/500m,SPM,Distance,
Strokes,Total Strokes,
Watts,Calories,Pulse,Batt.
Programs:
Manual, Race, Recovery
User Profiles:
None
Rowing Motion:
Band Pull
Seat Features:
14″ Wide Ergonomic
Portability:
Plastic Wheels in Front
Seat Movement Range:
31″
Battery Requirement:
2 AA
Handlebar Material:
Textured Rubber, Metal Core
Flywheel:
All Steel, Band Pulled
Track:
Aluminum
Rail:
Aluminum
Extras:
Displays Room Temp. in Standby
Overall Dimensions:
L72″ W18.5″ H34″
Workout Guide:
Correct Rowing Guide,
Heart Rate Calculation
Warranty:
Lifetime Frame, 2Yr Parts,
90 Days Labor

Assembly:

5
When we assembled the Lifecore R88 (35-40 min.), we were pleased to find that all of the hardware (nuts/bolts, etc.) were already attached to the machine. There are no plastic baggies of hardware to misplace- just remove the hardware from the machine and use it to attach the components. The process begins by removing the cap from the end of the rail and sliding on the seat. A total of three legs are attached to the machine, but only two are used during rowing. The computer comes pre-attached to a post that clicks into the pivoting arm after the quick-connect data/power cables are connected. The battery compartment is located at the front behind a door (yes, batteries included).

Lifecore Fitness provides two wrenches and an Allen key, which are the only tools needed for assembly. The only tricky part was attaching the rail to the machine using the six bolts. Depending on how the rail is angled with the machine, is can be difficult to thread all of the bolts. It helps to have an assistant support and align the rail while another person applies the bolts. The bolts for the legs are self-locking at one end, meaning that you only need one wrench for tightening. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

Comfort:

4.7
The Lifecore R88 has a number of comfort features. The handles are made of thin, textured rubber and are slightly angled (about 10 degrees) for wrist comfort. The seat is quite large, measuring 14″ wide, 10″ long and about 1.5″ at the thickest point. As with many rowing machines, the padding on this seat is fairly firm. Some people might find the ergonomic curves a bit too shallow. Our 6-foot-tall tester found the 31 inches of sliding range to be plenty for his height.

Above the resistance knob is an adjustable air vent that uses air created by the flywheel to cool the body. Airflow only occurs during each stroke, and is quite mild. There was just enough air to take the edge off. It’s the kind of extra feature that isn’t necessary, but you’re glad that it’s there nonetheless.

The foot pedals are oversized (11″x4.5″) and are attached to pivots that move with the ankles throughout each stroke. Shoes are secured using Velcro straps.

The computer display has two pivot points- one at the base of the neck and another just behind the display. Two test subjects had no issues finding a good viewing angle for the screen.

Computer:

4.3
We were able to get the computer working quickly using the included computer instruction manual (separate from the main manual). The computer only has six buttons to manage: Recovery, Reset, Start/Stop, Enter, Down and Up. Trackable statistics include Time, Time/500m, Distance, Calories, Strokes, Total Strokes (since batteries replaced), Watts, and Pulse. In standby mode, the room temperature, time and year is displayed on the screen. We had no difficulty getting the computer to track stats after we started rowing.

Heart Rate can only be tracked using the “5K” wireless chest strap offered by Lifecore (Appx. $45). The strap is placed around the torso and wirelessly transmits the user’s pulse rate to the computer.

Manual Mode: In manual mode, users can set goals as they see fit. For example, you can set a calorie goal and the computer will track calories burned until that goal is met. Whenever the user exceeds their goal, an alarm will sound. In manual mode, the display continuously switches between a timer countdown (set by user) and your Time/500m.

Race Mode: A fun little addition to this model is the Race Mode. In this mode you can challenge a mini “boat” on the screen to a race. Users can set their own Time/500m and total distance they want to travel. Users who need a bit more motivation in their routine may find this quite helpful. The difficulty of the race can be set from a range of L1-L15 depending on how fast you can row in a 500m distance.

Recovery Mode: This feature is only available when using the wireless chest strap. After the workout, press the “Recovery” button to initiate a 60-second cooldown mode where the computer monitors your heart rate recovery. Once complete, the computer will give you a “fitness score” ranging from L1-L6.

User Profiles: The box for this machine states that a single user profile can be created, but we found no clear evidence of this. It is possible that the computer can store your fitness score between sessions, but we did not have the heart rate monitor to test out the recovery mode. We still wouldn’t consider that to be a full user profile.

Rowing Motion:

4.8
The seat’s sliding action is virtually silent and extremely smooth. Close inspection revealed high quality metal bearings and high-density plastic rollers. One big contributing factor in the smoothness of the machine is the all-aluminum solid extruded rail. The rail and track are integrated into a single piece. Our tester, who is 6 feet tall, had plenty of room to work with in the 31″ movement range.

No grinding, squeaking or loose joints were detected during our routines. Lifecore recommends re-tightening all hardware after the first 12 hours of use, and regularly inspecting the machine every 3 months. Using WD-40 is not advised and will void the warranty.

Resistance System

5
We started off at Level 1 resistance which is, as expected, a fairly light workout. Pleasingly, the resistance increases dramatically from Level 1 to Level 6 (controlled by dial). Although the Lifecore R88 combines magnetic resistance with air resistance, it still has the typical loudness associated with fan-based flywheels. The addition of the magnetic resistance system makes resistance changes smooth and requires no power cords.

Build Quality

4.8
The all-aluminum rail is supported by a mostly-steel frame. The resistance chamber is contained within a plastic vented chamber. Even when rowing vigorously, the Lifecore R88 rowing machine is extremely stable, sitting on 2.25″ thick leg posts. Every leg has two grey-colored rubber feet (3.25″x2.25″ in size) that shouldn’t create any scuff marks on tile or wood flooring. The front feet measure 18″ wide, while the rear one measures 12.5″ wide.

There are no staples or stitching on the seat- it’s all molded into a single component.

We took a close look at the welds on the steel framework and found solid beads with virtually non-existent splatter. While the rail is left bare, all steel parts are coated in thick grey paint.

Portability

4.2
To lift the rail up into the air for storage, the clamp knob must be turned counter-clockwise, then pulled out. After lifting the rail, the knob is tightened. The rail can be used as a handle when rolling the R88 on it dual wheels. (See video above for a demonstration). If you’re not careful to lock the rail securely, it can press into the computer and scratch the paint. When dropping the rail back down, you need to grip the joint and lift upward until you hear a click- then tighten the knob.

When folded, the Lifecore R88 only takes up about 23″x18.5″ of space. The wheels are not very big in diameter, making it quite difficult to roll the machine over carpeting. However, they work just fine on smooth surfaces.

Included Documentation:

4.5
Lifecore includes a manual with an illustrated assembly guide, Safety Instructions & Warnings, Setting Up Your Rower, Transportation & Storage, Correct Rowing Guide, Console Operation, Calculating Target Heart Rate, and Care & Maintenance. A separate computer guide is also included.

Besides some grammatical errors here and there, the instruction are thorough and easy to understand.
Download the Manual

Warranty:

5

• Lifetime Frame
• 2 Years Parts
• 90 Days Labor

Overview:

The Apex Roman Chair Hyperextension Bench is used for targeting the abs, back, and side muscles like the obliques. During hyperextensions, the legs are supported by two thick foam rollers that can be adjusted to six positions. This is a very solid piece of equipment that can perform a number of core and back exercises. Add in dumbbells or medicine balls for custom workouts.

Watch Video!

Workout Positions:
Core Targeting
Back Targeting
Sides (Obliques)
Dips
Storage Features:
None
Maximum User Weight:
Unlisted
Foot Holder Positions:
Six
Frame Construction:
Powder Coated 2×2″ Steel Tubing
Seat Features:
High Density Boxed Upholstery
17″ Wide, 19″ Long
Portability:
None
Handlebar Material:
Textured Rubber
Manual Content:
Safety
Assembly
Parts List
Warranty
Parts Ordering
Dimensions:
43.5″ x 28″ x 38″
Warranty:
2-Years on Frame

Assembly:

4.2/5
It took us 45 minutes to assemble the Apex Hyperextension Bench. The manual has detailed numbered pictures of all the hardware as well as an exploded view of the bench. You’ll need to provide an allen wrench as well as a few wrenches. The large bolts use a 5/8″ wrench and the smaller ones use a 1/2″ wrench. We found that a socket wrench was best in getting into the tight spots.

Assembly is fairly straightforward. First, the two pieces that make up the base are slid together. Then, the foot post is placed over them and the holes are aligned, locking all three pieces together with a few bolts. After the seat post is attached, a mount is bolted onto the underside of the seat. Attaching the seat to the post can be a bit tricky, since you have to attach the handles at the same time (see assembly picture). It helps to have someone hold the handle while you use your allen wrench in the tight space.

Opening up the box.

All hardware is numbered, corresponding to the assembly diagram.

The two piece for the base must be slid into one another.

Tightening up the foot post.

The foot post is secured.

Tightening up the bolts for the seat post.

The leg and seat posts are now attached.

The seat mount attaches with four bolts.

The bolts for the handles under the seat can be hard to reach.

The last step is to slide the foam rollers onto their mount, slide the mount onto the post, and screw the adjustment knob into place.

Comfort:

3.8/5
Roman chairs like these take some “getting used to” if you’ve never used one before. It takes a degree of trust to lean your body back in the chair over open air. Apex’s design is extremely solid and does not move at all if placed on solid ground, so your trust is well-placed.

The 17 inch wide seat has foam which is quite firm (made of high-density boxed upholstery), and may pose some “male issues” when used for back extensions, although our tester did not have any trouble. The plastic seat surface can be slippery when wearing shorts/pants made out of smooth fabric.

At the thinnest point, the leg rollers are 3.5 inches thick which is more than enough for no leg discomfort. The leg rollers can be raised or lowered into six positions, and our 6 foot tall tester was able to find one that felt “right” for him.

The only real comfort issue that the Apex Hyperextension Bench has is the handle length. The handles are several inches too short, making it awkward to brace yourself while entering or exiting a position, or simply catching your breath. The chair is still functional, but could benefit from extended handlebars.

Workout:

4.4/5
The beauty of this hyperextension bench is that it has multiple uses. When you incorporate medicine balls or dumbbells into your hyperextensions, the workout can be customized in difficulty. Here are the main positions that are used:

• Back Hyperextensions
• Stomach Hyperextension
• Sides (Obliques)
• Dips

Before starting hyperextensions, it helps to have a moderately strong core. Suspending your body in the chair can be an intense challenge- start slow by doing partial suspensions.

Build Quality:

5.0/5
Once we got the Apex Roman Chair assembled, we were very surprised by the quality and sturdiness. The body is made out of steel tubing that is very rigid but also fairly lightweight (unit weighs about 45 pounds). As long as the floor is level, there is no wobble. The hardware tightened up nicely with no stripping of the threads.

The foam for the rollers is dense enough to where your calves can’t feel the metal pole in the center. They even have plastic caps on the ends. The adjustment knob is easy to manipulate and locks into each position with a distinct “click”.

The rubber feet do their job in terms of protecting the floors and preventing movement of the frame, but we noticed they were warped in shape. Not a big issue at all, but you can observe this warping in the last picture of our main photo gallery above.

Portability:

3.0/5
Not much to say here- the Apex bench does not have any kind of rollers/wheels to aid in transportation. If portability is an issue, the bench can be slid across the floor with only one person. It doesn’t take up a great deal of space with its 43.5″ x 24″ profile (at the base).

Included Documentation:

4.2/5
The manual includes safety information, assembly, a parts list, warranty information, and instructions on how to order parts. It does not include any workout guides.

Warranty:

5.0/5

• 2 Years on Frame

Overview:

The Creative Fitness Door Gym is the lightest pull up bar we have ever tested. If you’re looking for a very simple and sturdy bar for basic exercises, then this is the one for you. The Door Gym fits door sizes of 24″-32″ and has four grip positions. An extender bar is available for wider doorways.

<< See All Pull-Up Bars

Mounting Method:
Doorway
Fits Doorway Sizes:
24″-32″ (Manufacturer Data)
Grip Positions:
4- Narrow, Neutral, Wide (Not Padded), Push Ups (Not Padded)
Tools Required?:
Included. No tools needed for installation.
Weight Limit:
300Lb
Ground Clearance for Dips/Push-Ups:
Approximately 6″
Manual Content:
Basic Exercises
Grip Positions
Extras:
Lightweight Design
Optional Accessories:
Broadreach Bar
Ab Loops
Extended Long Bar (32″-45″ Door Sizes)
Warranty:
90 Day Repair/Replace for Defects

Assembly

4/5
It took us less than 10 minutes to assemble the Door Gym. The instructions did not specify the location for the washers, so we’ll clarify it here:

The silver washers go with the hex-head bolts, and the black washers go with the round-head bolts. All washers should be placed directly underneath the nuts.

When we tried to slide the bolts through the main bar, they wouldn’t go through easily because the padding was overlapping the holes. To correct this, give the pads a twist to slide them over about half an inch.

The pole is a single piece of tubing.

Hardware includes bolts, washers, nuts, a wrench and safety wedge.

The padding overlaps the holes. To correct this, slide the padding away from the hole about 1/2 inch.

Wrench is Included.

Assembly Complete!

Installation:

5/5
The lightweight design of the Door Gym makes it a breeze to install. You don’t need any tools whatsoever- just the included safety wedge which slides behind the door trim. We recommend using the wedge because it prevents the bar from falling off the door. The pads on the end of the bar had full contact with the door trim, protecting it from damage. There’s really not much more to say about the installation- it’s really that simple.

Creative Fitness offers optional accessories like the “extension bar” which makes the Door Gym usable on larger doors (32″-45″ size).

Grips:

3.5/5
The Iron Gym workout bar has four different grip positions to choose from.

• Narrow (Chin-Ups or Pull-Ups)
• Neutral (Palms Facing Each Other)
• Wide (Not Padded)
• Floor Grips (Not Padded)

We can’t quite understand why Creative Fitness failed to put padding on the wide grip position. Gripping the bare metal isn’t exactly painful, but it’s less than ideal. There is also no padding on the push-up grips, but this is not a big deal.

The pads for the pull-up position are thick but are not very wide at 4″ (my knuckles are 3.5″ wide). As long as you center your hands properly, they pads offer a good deal of comfort.

Build Quality:

5/5
The beauty of a product like this is the simplicity. With less parts, it’s likely to last longer than a complex piece of equipment. After you tighten the nuts you’ll immediately notice how solid and strong the bar is. Part of the reason for its strength is due to the one-piece bar. The metal is coated in black paint that protects the steel from salt and sweat.

Hardware

5/5
The nuts and lock-washers tightened up the bar nicely, and stayed tight during our testing. Better yet, no bolt stripping occurred. The little wrench is more than qualified for the job.

Included Documentation:

3/5
The images in the manual look like they were drawn by a 6th grade art class, but it’s not hard to figure out how to assemble the Door Gym. A basic guide on push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, crunches, and grip positions is provided.

Warranty:

5/5
Creative Fitness gives you 90 days to report any defects in workmanship. They will repair or replace the bar at their discretion.

• 90 Day Warranty Against Defects

Overview:

The Black Mountain Products pull-up bar comes with a set of five resistance bands that can be used with or without the bar. With six different grip positions to choose from, this bar has enough options for beginning or advanced training. Black Mountain claims that the bar fits doorways measuring 24-32″ with a maximum weight limit of 300 pounds.

<< See All Pull-Up Bars

Mounting Method:
Doorway
Fits Doorway Sizes:
24″-32″ (Manufacturer Data)
Grip Positions:
6- Narrow,Neutral,Wide Neutral, Wide, Extra Wide, Floor Grips
Tools Required?:
10mm Wrench
1/4″ Drill (For Safety Bracket)
Screwdriver (For Safety Bracket)
Weight Limit:
300Lb
Ground Clearance for Dips/Push-Ups:
Approximately 7.25″
Manual Content:
Assembly
Safety Reminders
Extras:
Five Resistance Bands
Optional Accessories:
Orange Resistance Band Offer in Box
Additional Band Sets
Warranty:
Not Stated in Manual

Assembly:

4.0/5
The Black Mountain Products pull up bar does not come with the tools needed for assembly. To assemble the bar, you’ll need a 10mm wrench and screwdriver to tighten the bolts. An exploded-view diagram in the manual shows how all the parts fit together. Everything tightened up nicely and took about 15 minutes. It would have taken 10 minutes if it weren’t for the fact that each bolt requires a screwdriver AND wrench to tighten down. Some pull-up bar hardware only needs to be tightened at one end. Here are some photos:

The hardware on the left side of the picture is used to install the J-brackets on the top of the door, which are optional.

A screwdriver and 10mm wrench are needed for tightening.

Ends of bolts are not safety capped.

Installation:

3.0/5
(Bar Installation)
We tried installing the Black Mountain Products pull-up bar on a 28″ wide door frame, and the bar was simply too wide to fit properly. The bar could be used, but we had bare metal in contact with our door trim.

There’s an easy way to figure out whether or not this bar will work with your door. See our custom “dimensions” picture in the photo gallery above to ensure that the padding will be in contact with the trim.

The protective door padding on this bar is made out of fairly rigid plastic. Honestly we prefer soft foam over plastic, such as the type used in the Iron Gym series.

(Safety Bracket Installation)
Two safety brackets are included in the box, and are designed to hold the bar onto the door frame. The brackets included with this bar are actually quite a pain to install. You need to drill a total of eight 1/4″ holes, and hammer in a drywall anchor into each one. Then, the brackets are placed over the anchors and secured into place with eight screws. The good news is that the manual has diagrams which describe the process. While the bar can be installed onto the door without the brackets, we like to have the added security. Note: we did not use them during our testing.

Grips:

3.6/5
The Iron Gym workout bar has six different grip positions to choose from.

• Narrow (Chin-Ups or Pull-Ups)
• Neutral (Palms Facing Each Other)
• Wide Neutral
• Wide
• Extra Wide (Challenging)
• Floor Grips (Push-Ups/Dips), Un-padded

Padding width ranges from 4-4.5′ wide which is plenty for most hands. The padding on the main bar is slightly thinner than the padding located in the neutral positions, but still thick enough to be comfortable. The widest grips are set at an angle to make them more ergonomic. Most people will be inclined to use the narrower positions being that the widest one is quite a challenge.

When our tester was using the neutral positions, the padding started to slip over the bars, making it difficult to perform the workout in that position.

There are several grips you can use to do push-ups and dips. Any one of the grips used for pull ups will work. Simply set the bar onto the ground to get started. The highest grip above the ground does not have any padding, so you have to grip the bare metal.

Resistance Bands

5.0/5
The bands included with the Black Mountain Products are offered separately but have been included in the package as a bonus. The bands (about 4 feet long) can be attached to the feet or wrapped around the bar for a variety of interesting workouts. Here are the specs for each resistance band:

• Yellow 2-4 Lb
• Blue 4-6 Lb
• Green 10-12 Lb
• Black 15-20 Lb
• Red 25-30 Lb

There are several reasons why we think thee bands are high quality. The handles consist of a foam roller attached to a thick strap. The strap is secured to the band with a metal grommet. We did read reports on various online marketplaces of people experiencing band breakage after about 2 week of use. Our testing session was not nearly that long, but we did stretch out the bands to about 3x their length with no breakage.

Build Quality:

4.6/5
Black Mountain Products built this bar for durability. Thick metal tubing is used everywhere- including the square support bar that holds onto the door trim. This durability comes at the cost of being quite heavy. If you don’t want a heavy bar, then this one may not be for you. We are taking a couple marks off the score due to the slippage of the padding discussed in the previous section.

Hardware

3.0/5
One reason why we’re so hooked on the Iron Gym bars is that they make it very easy to add extra safety measures. As we discussed in the “Assembly” section, we don’t like the fact that the safety brackets need so much hardware to install.

The bolts, washers and nuts that bind the bar together are all high quality, but more effort could have been made to make them more user-friendly. For example, the ends of the bolts stick out of the bar and could pose a danger if drawn across the skin. This could have been corrected by using blunt-edged cap nuts. See the photo in “Assembly” to see what we mean.

Included Documentation:

3.8/5
The manual only covers assembly and safety considerations. A separate insert is included that shows you some basic workouts that can be done with the resistance band set. However, they don’t show users how to integrate the bands with the pull up bar, or how to use the pull-up bar itself. Take a look at our image gallery above to get some ideas as to how the bands can be used in unison with the bar. Here is a list of the band exercise included in the manual:

• Resistance Band Squats
• Chest Press
• Triceps Extension
• Resistance Band Lunges
• Bicep Curls
• Lateral Raise

Warranty:

3.0/5
Black Mountain Products includes a 60-day “No Questions Asked” warranty on the resistance bands included with this bar. No warranty information could be found for the bar itself.