Buying guide for Best power towers
It’s all too easy to find reasons to avoid working out, but a home power tower aims to make exercising even easier. A power tower uses your own body weight to increase muscle definition and tone, offering a full body and core workout that’s an alternative to free weights. It is more convenient than going to the gym while still offering a variety of workout options. Depending on the power tower, it may be more cost effective than going to a gym or investing in weights.
A power tower offers a variety of positions to work out your arms, legs, shoulders, back, and abs using your own body weight. Basic power towers include pull-up and dip stations. The more elaborate a power tower, the more exercises it will allow, including leg and knee raises and push-ups.
Before choosing a power tower, it’s important to first determine what your fitness level is — where you are in your journey and where you want to go. A simple power tower could help you get motivated, while a more complex one could help create an elaborate home gym.
Key considerations
How much space do you have?
You will need to know exactly where you want to position your power tower and how much space is available for enough freedom of movement. It’s not enough just to have the measurements for the actual power tower; keep in mind where your body might end up in relation to it.
Some offer exercises where you will be elevating your body and end up over the actual height of the system. Other workouts might find you beside the power tower or swinging your legs in a particular direction. Make sure you have enough space for both the power tower and your body, with no danger of damaging anything nearby.
How self-motivated and creative are you?
How motivated are you to work out regularly? How much variety do you seek in your workouts? If you are hoping that the acquisition of a power tower will motivate you, then it may be best to start with an entry-level model. However, such a model might not provide enough variety to keep your motivation level up. While routine may appeal to some users, it can also be a rut for others, especially if the power tower has a limited amount of exercise options. On the flip side, if you’re a gym rat and know you’ll use a power tower routinely and for more advanced exercises, investing in a great model is worth it.
Expert Tip
A great exercise sequence when using a power tower is a push & pull sequence, which will target the upper body muscles, including the chest, mid-back, biceps, and triceps. First, perform a set of pushups using the tower’s handles and immediately follow it with a set of pull-ups using the tower’s pullup bars. Perform 3 sets of 10-15 reps.
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How else do you exercise?
Are you looking to start your fitness journey, accelerate it, or supplement it? A low-cost, entry-level model might benefit those gym enthusiasts who already have a membership but sometimes can’t get out of the house. If you have a treadmill or elliptical at home for your cardio, a more elaborate power tower could serve as the perfect complement for creating a home gym.
How much weight can the power tower hold?
Always check to see the weight limit for the power tower. Keep in mind not only your current weight, but what your future weight could be if you intend to add a lot of muscle. Also, keep in mind whether or not your might be adding weights to some of your exercises. More advanced exercise enthusiasts may be doing pull-ups and dips with extra weights around them.
Who is it for?
If you are going to be the sole user of the power tower, then you can rather easily match your body type to a specific model. However, if a partner, roommate, or teenager is going to use it as well, you may find the need to choose a power tower that offers some adjustable bars or rests to better accommodate different body types.
Expert Tip
A great accessory for a power tower is exercise bands that you can attach to the pull-up bars. These allow you to place your feet in them and provide assistance with doing the exercise.
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Features
Workout bench
If you have quite a lot of space available for your power tower, you may want to opt for one with a workout bench. This addition allows you to incorporate a whole slew of workout options, including a variety of sit-ups, curls, and free weight exercises. Benches are different, too — they vary in terms of inclination, barbell holder, ease of taking on and off, and storage requirements.
Push-up station
To add some variety to push-ups, some power towers have handles at the bottom so you can perform the exercise at a slight incline. Push-up declines, in which your feet rest over the ground on an object, may also vary so pay attention to this if it’s an important feature to you.
Sit-up station
Some power towers feature a low horizontal bar (possibly adjustable) under which you can place your feet and ankles in order to get more resistance while doing sit-ups. It comes in handy when you’re lacking a gym buddy.
Grip variety
Many individual exercises, such as pull-ups and dips, can be slightly altered depending on the way your hand is facing. Check to see what variety of grips the power tower offers before selecting. If there is just one horizontal pull-up bar, that exercise is limited.
With a pair of perpendicular grips, you add another component that is better for beginners. Certain grips are better for beginners while others are best suited for the more advanced athlete.
Adjustability
Some power towers are static; core body workouts are performed without the ability to adjust height or settings. Others allow dip height, for example, to change to the user’s desire. If your power tower will be used by multiple exercisers, the ability to adjust the height of certain parts may be necessary.
Expert Tip
Most Power Towers come with dip bars that can provide excellent exercise for the triceps and chest. However, the dip exercise can also place too much strain on your shoulders IF you have a history of shoulder problems. The best practice is to seek advice from a qualified fitness professional to learn techniques when performing this exercise.
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Power tower prices
Inexpensive
Many versions can run for around $150, with some even closer to $100. Most of the power towers in this price range will be basic models, offering dips, pull-ups, and the limited variety that comes with those positions.
Mid-range
These power towers can run from $150 to $300, offering more stability, quality, and likely a few more features, such as a push-up station. These may also be basic as far as features, but with a more ideal shape, size, and better durability.
Expensive
Some power towers, including those with more brand name recognition and those that appeal to serious athletes, can cost well over $300. Usually, these have a lot of features, are very adjustable, and include a warranty, as well as a more ergonomic, comfortable design.
Don’t skip leg day! This oft-repeated phrase exists for a reason. It’s a reminder to spread the exercise love around your body; don’t just work the same areas over again.
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Tips
- Think about how often you’ll use the power tower. Be honest with yourself about your dedication to working out. Are you being aspirational with your exercise goals, or are you ready to commit? If you’re going to workout infrequently, then a lower-cost machine might be a wiser investment. Those who are more committed or want the very best will want to invest in a power tower that is more durable and versatile.
- Create a workout plan. Don’t just jump right into your brand-new power tower. Keep in mind that it’s a tool used to help improve your fitness, so it’s up to you to determine how to most effectively employ it. A workout schedule, a specific regimen across days and weeks, as well as other forms of exercise, and a healthy diet are necessary to get the most out of your power tower. The power tower will help you get fit, but you have to lead the way.
- Be sure to stretch. When it comes to any type of workout, there is an inherent possibility of injury if you’re not properly prepared. Make sure to stretch before and after your workout, and don’t rush or push yourself.
- Know your form. Often machines at the gym are created in a way to make it easy for someone to jump in and workout. When you are doing bodyweight exercises, there is less constraint so it’s easier to fall out of form and hurt yourself or simply be less effective. Even the simplest exercises, like a push-up, require proper form.
FAQ
Q. How effective are bodyweight exercises?
A. Bodyweight exercises are great for beginners, anyone who doesn’t want to or can’t go to the gym, and those who want simpler workouts. There is a great deal of research to suggest that switching from free weights and weightlifting to bodyweight exercises can lead to the same amount of muscle gain and definition. By increasing reps, sets, and variations, you can progressively overload your body into building muscle and gaining fitness, similar to adding more weight at the gym.
Q. How much does a power tower weigh?
A. While it’s important to keep in mind how much the power tower can support in weight, the unit’s own footprint is an important factor, too. Some with heavy-duty material and elaborate extras will weigh far greater than some simpler models that will allow the power tower to be moved with ease.
Q. What will join the power tower to make a great workout?
A. It’s important to come up with a plan of action. That could mean any variety of apps that will keep on you about working out. It could also mean getting a fitness tracker to help monitor your health and activities. If you’re seeking a balanced workout, then a treadmill or elliptical would add cardio options to your home gym.
