Best Power Towers

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 16, 2024
A power tower will allow you to tune and develop upper body and abdominal muscles without ever leaving your house. The best power ...Read more
PROS

Made of high-quality tubular steel, this thing holds up to 330 pounds. With adjustable armrests and back cushion, it is great for people of different height and builds. An extra bar at the bottom with a 2-level adjustment system makes the power tower suitable for leg pressing.

CONS

Takes some time to put the whole thing together. 

OUR VERDICT

What we have here is arguably the best power tower in this review for fitness enthusiasts and experienced athletes. It is as good of a fit for commercial gyms and home garage gyms. With it, you'll be able to shred body fat and develop the densest upper body muscles.

detailed parameters
Application

Pull-ups, tricep dips, push-ups, knee raises, leg pressing

Max Load

Up to 330 lbs

Frame material

Steel

Extras

Adjustable armrests, adjustable back cushion, safety locknut, height-adjustable suction cups, non-slip grips

Dimensions

Base: 26.4"W x 35.4"D

Height: 58.5" - 89" (adjustable)

Pull-up bar: 42.9"

Warranty

1 year on the frame (lifetime warranty on all other accessory parts)

PROS

The armrests are pretty easy on the skin and quite soft but the fabric is not fragile at all, so you do not have to be especially careful with them. The EVA foam padding will minimize calluses and provide an unbeatable grip. 

CONS

Some find the paintwork pretty shoddy. 

OUR VERDICT

There's a difference between discomfort that's the stepping stone towards success and discomfort that prevents you from succeeding. The Gold's Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower removes that second discomfort so that you're able to strive for physical excellence at home.

detailed parameters
Application

Pull-ups, tricep dips, push-ups, knee raises

Max Load

Up to 250 lbs

Frame material

Steel

Extras

Extended leg stabilizers with non-slip end caps, step-up supports with slip resistance, non-slip grips

Dimensions

41"W x 57"D x 84"H

Warranty

90 days

PROS

The slip-resistant step-up supports will allow you to rest your legs between sets. Extended leg stabilizers and the D-frame base give the entire station extra stability. A couple of arched stability bars prevent the power tower from shaking even as you do kipping pull-ups.

CONS

The low-grade bolts require occasional adjustment. 

OUR VERDICT

A comfortable workout is a productive workout and, with the Body Max VKR1010, nothing will keep you from being productive. Stick to basics or expand the range of your exercises, there's virtually nothing in the realm of the upper body muscle group that this power tower won't help you with.

detailed parameters
Application

Pull-ups, tricep dips, push-ups, knee raises

Max Load

Up to 250 lbs

Frame material

Steel

Extras

Extended leg stabilizers with non-slip end caps, step-up supports with slip resistance, non-slip grips

Dimensions

36"W x 54"D x 83"H

Warranty

1 year on the frame (90 days on upholstery)

PROS

The foam-padded grips at the bottom will give you the ability to perform sit-ups, crunches, and other abdominal workouts. The curved bars behind the legs give you the raised station necessary for doing push-ups with a neutral wrist, decreasing the strain on your wrist joints.

CONS

There are no back and arm supports for knee raises. 

OUR VERDICT

The Stamina 1690 is a slightly different power tower. Sure, it won't let you do knee raises but there's a bunch of extra exercises that this model will help you perform. Ultimately, it is up to you whether you're willing to take the trade-off or care about any of these exercises at all.

detailed parameters
Application

Pull-ups, tricep dips, push-ups, sit-ups

Max Load

Up to 250 lbs

Frame material

Steel

Extras

Extended leg stabilizers with non-slip end caps, non-slip grips

Dimensions

42.5"W x 49"D x 81"H

Warranty

5 years on the frame (90 days on upholstery)

PROS

The reinforced frame made from thick tubular steel will prevent the construction from deforming. The powder-coated finish will let you place this workout station in a humid setting (like a garage) knowing that the frame will not start showing corrosion signs.

CONS

The upholstery does not last. 

OUR VERDICT

Weider WEBE99712 will let you work out the entire upper body, from biceps, forearms, lats, and chest to the abs, obliques, and hip flexors. The sewn vinyl cushions and ample padding will allow you to train hard without worrying about injuries. 

detailed parameters
Application

Pull-ups, tricep dips, push-ups, knee raises

Max Load

Up to 300 lbs

Frame material

Steel

Extras

Extended leg stabilizers with non-slip end caps, step-up supports with slip resistance, non-slip grips

Dimensions

43.3"W x 53.2"D x 86.6"H

Warranty

90 days

Home Gym Power Towers

Killer Workout is a Go

Not the biggest fans of the cheesy name but we have to admit, this RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE product is excellent. In fact, it is probably the best power tower on our list. There are a few things that make it excellent.

First, made of high-quality tubular steel, this thing holds up to 330 pounds. It makes the tower equally suitable for home gyms and commercial ones. With adjustable armrests and back cushion, it is also suitable for people of different height and overall frame.

One thing that really separates this product from the bulk of its competition is an extra bar at the bottom with a 2-level adjustment system. This bar makes the whole thing perfectly fit for leg pressing, which isn't something you usually get out of these stations.

Vibrations that come from negligent practices often cause the nuts to fall off. The people behind this piece of exercise equipment solve this issue with safety locknuts. It keeps the screws tight, so you can push your body to its limits without worrying about safety.

The manufacturers claim that the station is easy to install but many customers claim that it takes some time and effort to put the whole thing together, so there really isn't a consensus on that subject.

Nevertheless, this model from RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE is still one of the best prospects in this review for fitness enthusiasts and experienced athletes. It is as good of a fit for commercial gyms and home garage gyms. With it, you'll be able to shred body fat and develop the densest upper body muscles.

Last updated price $169.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B071HT1DH1

The Comfort to Excel

The Gold's Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower will make sure you're able to remain comfortable while working out and progress without risking injuries. First, the arm pads are soft and easy on the skin yet pretty durable, so you can squeeze into them without worrying about elbows slipping. The step-up supports come fitted with non-slip coating too, making this workout station suitable for tall and short people alike.

But the multi-grip pull-up bar is probably the biggest contributor here, letting you switch between wide, narrow, and side-to-side grips, building strong arms and an even stronger back. Pretty much the entire bar, including the angled ends are padded with EVA foam, practically gluing the arms to the handles and also minimizing calluses so that you're able to perform pull-ups and chin-ups without gloves. The handles that you grip when doing tricep feature EVA foam padding too, so the station will let you train triceps and chest muscles too.

Construction-wise, everything's great here except that the paintwork is a tad shoddy relative to every other part. Besides that, the Gold's Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower will let you push, pull, and lift the body to perfection. Forget the gym, everything you need to target every major upper-body muscle group is right here.

Last updated price $182.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00M1N76YC

Comfort is the Best Support System

Body Max VKR1010 takes your workout routine back to the basics, to the tried-and-tested exercises that always give you results. This thing is built for home fitness settings or for a light commercial gym. It won't allow you to adjust the height of the pull-up bar but, equipped with slip-resistant step-up supports, it will help shorter people reach it. Furthermore, these steps will allow you to rest your legs between sets.

Speaking of which, the model isn't devoid of the usual arrangement of parts and details, like non-slip grips that prevent the sweat from getting in the way of a killer workout or those thick box-style heavy-duty cushions that keep your elbows and forearms unharmed through the most rigorous exercises.

Toning and developing your muscles go best when you know the whole thing isn't going to come crumbling down onto you. The manufacturers made sure of that with extended leg stabilizers and a D-frame base for extra stability. On top of that, they have installed a couple of arched stability bars that prevent the station from vibrating and shaking even as you do kipping pull-ups.

All things considered, a comfortable workout is a productive workout and, with Body Max VKR1010, nothing will keep you from being productive. Stick to basics or expand the range of your exercises, there's virtually nothing in the realm of the upper body muscle group that this power tower won't help you with.

Last updated price $143.80
Stock In stock
ASIN B002JBBRV4

Not a bad Trade-Off

There's one thing we don't like about Stamina 1690, which is exactly where we'd like to start as (aside from this thing, there is really nothing to complain about here). Unlike every other model in this review, Stamina 1690 doesn't have back and arm supports, so you won't be able to use it for knee raises. That's a bit of a shame as it limits the otherwise impressive range of this fitness station's exercise options.

Suppose, one could argue that they have sacrificed these things for the foam padded grips on the bottom of the station, though there's hardly any correlation. Nevertheless, these foam padded grips, at the very least, partially make up for the back and arm supports as they let you do sit-ups, crunches, and other abdominal workouts.

Another part of this power tower that isn't always present in other models are these curved/arched bars behind the leg stabilizers. A raised station like that lets you perform push-ups with a neutral wrist, decreasing the strain on your wrist joints.

Finally, what we really like about this product and part of the reason we've included it to our review is just how easy it is to set up. A minimum number of parts and pieces, an instruction manual, and all of the necessary accessories already come supplied with the package, so it takes virtually no time and effort to put it together.

To bring it home, Stamina 1690 is a slightly different power tower. Sure, it won't let you do knee raises but there's a bunch of extra exercises that this model will help you perform. Ultimately, it is up to you whether you're willing to take the trade-off or care about any of these exercises at all.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $69.56
Stock In stock
ASIN B002Y2SUU4

Working out the Entire Upper Body

The Weider WEBE99712 is the best addition you can make to any home gym. What we have here is as much a knee raise station as it is a multi-grip pull-up station, a dip station, and a push-up station. Between the extended leg stabilizers, step-up supports, and top grips, you can target every major muscle group and strengthen the entire body.

The vertical knee raise station will let you target the midsection from every angle, developing not just abs but also strong hip flexors and shredded obliques. The push-up station will make standard push-ups more challenging, while the molded handgrips that basically constitute the station will provide comfort as well as security. As always, the pull-up grips are incorporating non-slip padding too, so you can switch between pronated and supinated grips as well as wide and close grips, strengthening and defining not just the lats but also biceps and forearms.

The upholstery does not last, an issue that plagues most power towers. But the reinforced frame will last, while the powder-coated finish will prevent the frame from corroding, making this affordable workout station a smart investment into your future physique. What's more, the frame can support up to 300 pounds.

Last updated price $132.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0098MAYNY

What Is a Power Tower?

A bit of an odd name, isn't it? Well, no odder than a Roman chair or a Smith machine but a little out there nevertheless. But, odd as it may be, the name is fairly accurate. One of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment, a power tower, sometimes referred to as a knee raise station or, on even rarer occasions, a captain's chair, is a tool that you can use to build upper body and abdominal muscle strength.

Though mostly similar, there's a fair bit of difference between these stations. Sure, there isn't a single tower that won't let you do pull-ups. Just about any one of these things will allow you to execute tricep dips. The majority incorporate armrests that give you the support necessary for knee raises, hence the knee raise station. Some even include bars and grips that will help you maintain the right form as you do sit-ups and push-ups.

Of course, you needn't forget about other aspects of the models' construction either. The max load of the power tower will determine just how suitable it is for commercial gyms and the frame material will tell you how durable and reliable the whole thing is.

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