Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar - Extreme Edition

The Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar Extreme Edition is the updated version of the Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar. Both products are doorway pull up bars that can also be used for sit ups, push ups, and dips. The bar includes narrow, neutral, and wide grips which, when used with various mounting positions, allow you to perform multiple exercises. The bar attaches and removes from the doorframe without the need for mounts or fasteners. The box includes a mail-in offer for ab straps that can be used to perform hanging leg lifts (the same straps can be purchased directly from Amazon).

The following two video reviews give you a good idea of how the Iron Gym pull up bar looks and works:

Read on to find the answers to commonly asked questions about the Iron Gym and Iron Gym Extreme Edition.

Is it hard to assemble?

The product includes a wrench for assembling the bar, and no drilling is needed, although you may speed up the process by using your own tools. Most users took 10 to 15 minutes to put the bar together. For best results, install all the bolts loosely at first and then when the entire bar is loosely assembled tighten everything down at once. This will allow you to avoid the problem of misaligned components or incorrectly placed bolts, which can be difficult to unscrew once they’re in.

Once I’ve assembled it, how do I use it?

You just pick it up and hang it from the top of your doorframe. To take it down, you just lift the bar a few inches and it comes right off the doorframe.

How do I perform push ups, sit ups, and dips with it?

Just take the bar off the doorframe and set it on the floor. For sit ups, you’ll place the bar in the lower part of the doorframe for leverage. For push ups and dips, you can place the bar anywhere on the floor. For best results when using on a hardwood or linoleum floor, put down a rubber mat or towel to prevent the bar from slipping. You will probably have a limited range of motion if you’re planning to use this bar for dips, so you’re better off getting a dip stand if you want a full range of motion for dips.

How much weight will the bar hold?

The steel bar is rated to hold up to 300 pounds. Most users felt that the bar was extremely sturdy when assembled (no worrisome flexing, creaking, or shifting noticed), although one reviewer said he replaced the flat plastic piece that hangs on top of the doorframe with a solid wooden piece from an Everlast-brand doorway pullup bar to reduce the sensation of flexing while using the bar.

What size doorframe does it fit?

The manufacturer says the bar fits doorways 24″ to 32″ wide with doorway trim or moulding up to 3.5″ tall.

Do I need to drill any holes into my walls or doorframe to use it?

You don’t have to, but you can use the included metal wedge fastener to secure the bar on the top of the doorframe for added stability during use and to prevent the bar from sliding off the doorframe when it’s not in use. The wedge is driven into the top of the doorframe, so if you do use it the holes it leaves may not be visible to the casual observer.

Will it damage my walls or doorframe?

The bar can leave black marks behind where it touches the doorframe, though; if this is a problem for you, try wrapping the contact points of the bar with plastic tape or non-marking fabric before you use it. Also note that, because the metal ends of the U-shaped bars on the Extreme Edition protrude behind the main horizontal bar, those tips could gouge your doorframe if it’s narrower than about 31″.

Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar - Extreme Edition

The least expensive category of pull up bars available for home use mount inside or above a doorway. At the lower end of the price range you’ll find telescoping bars that mount on weight-bearing brackets inside the doorway, and at the higher end you’ll find multi-grip bars that either hang or mount from the top of the doorframe moulding. If you are considering a doorway pull up bar to help you perform pull ups, chin ups, sit ups, and dips at home, read on to find out what you should know before you buy.

Dimensions Are Key

A common complaint from buyers is that a bar they purchased was too wide or too narrow for the doorway they had planned to use. The first thing you’ll need to check before buying any doorway pull up bar is the dimensions of your doorways and the dimensions supported by the product.

• For bars that mount inside the doorframe, you’ll need to measure the width of the opening at the center of the doorframe, as well as the width of the interior of the doorframe where the weight-bearing brackets will be mounted. Make sure you will be able to screw in the weight-bearing brackets with some buffer on either side so the doorframe doesn’t split when you’re exercising.
• For bars that hang over the top of the doorframe, you need to know how wide your door openings are at the point where the horizontal bar will press against the frame, how much space you have between the doorframe opening and the nearest wall, and how tall the moulding is above the doorframe. If you want to use a doorway near a corner, make sure you have enough clearance on both sides of the door to accommodate the horizontal bar. If you want to use a doorway with a door, keep in mind that most doorway pull up bars can only install so the horizontal bar presses against the side of the doorframe opposite the hinges.

Many products in this category indicate that they fit a “standard” doorframe, but manufacturers define this standard size differently. Find out specifically what range of doorway widths the bar fits before you buy.

Safety First

Bars that mount inside the doorframe typically include one or more pairs of weight-bearing brackets to secure the bar at various heights for different exercises. At a minimum, you should install weight-bearing brackets at the height where you will perform pull ups. (Brackets can sometimes be safely omitted when using these bars for sit-ups.) If you don’t want to drill holes in your doorframe, you may want to consider bars that hang from the top of the doorframe moulding or a free standing standing pull up bar. Some users reported using these bars without the included weight-bearing bracket hardware, but this poses a serious safety risk and is not advisable.

Some bars that hang from the top of the doorframe moulding may be used safely without installing brackets of any kind. Check the manufacturer instructions first before using such equipment without brackets.

Pull Up Bar Ergonomics

Consider your body size when purchasing a pull up bar that mounts inside your doorframe. You will probably need to hang from the bar with your knees bent in order not to touch the floor at the start of the exercise, and depending on the height of your ceiling relative to your doorframe height, you may run the risk of hitting your head against the ceiling. If you don’t think you can perform a pull up comfortably given the dimensions of your doorframe, you should consider a wall mounted or free standing pull up bar instead.

The ability to adjust grip width and grip padding is also important for pull up bars. For any pull up bar you’re considering, make sure the separation between the foam grips on the bar can be adjusted.

Common Complaints

Nearly all doorway pull up bars have the potential to leave black marks wherever they come into contact with the wall or doorframe. Some users wrap the offending portions of the bar in clear plastic tape to minimize the damage.

Popular Doorway Pull Up Bars

Valeo Chin Up Bar

Valeo Chin-Up Bar: This is an adjustable length metal bar with foam hand grips. Users liked that the width between the hand grips could be adjusted, and that the bar could be easily repositioned at multiple heights within the doorframe to perform other exercises.

Altus Athletic ADCUB Deluxe Chin Up, Pull Up, Sit Up Bar

Altus Athletic ADCUB Deluxe Chin Up, Pull Up, Sit Up Bar: The manufacturer description and user reviews characterize this as one of the sturdiest bars in this category. Users liked the ease of repositioning the foam grips on this bar, as well as the design of the weight-bearing brackets that prevents the bar from rotating during use. Users noted the interior of the doorframe should be at least 1 7/8″ wide for secure mounting of the brackets.

Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar - Extreme Edition

Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar: Users love the variety of hand grips and sturdiness of this product, as well as the ability to use the bar for pull ups and sit ups without mounting brackets. Though the manufacturer claims you can use this product for dips, most users agreed that the limited range of motion possible when performing dips makes this basically a joke.

P90X Chin-Up Bar

P90X Chin-Up Bar: Many users love the P90X bar and think it’s the sturdiest product in this category. Others say it isn’t good enough to merit the high price (about twice the price of many other products in this category). Keep in mind that, though the P90X looks like many other doorway pull up bars that can be used without mounting brackets, in fact you do need to use the included brackets for the P90X.

Doorway Pull Up Bars

Doorway pull up bars include both telescoping bars that fit inside the doorway and multi-grip bars that hang or mount from the top of the doorframe moulding. These types of bars tend to be less expensive than the other categories of pull up bars. Check out our helpful doorway pull up bar guide to learn how to find the right doorway pull up bar for your home gym.

Free Standing Pull Up Bars

Free standing pull up bars, also called pull up towers or pull up stands, include products at the higher end of the price range for home pull up equipment. If you have the space and the budget for a free standing pull up bar machine, you’ll be able to perform pull ups, chin ups, and dips with a greater range of motion than is possible with most other home pull up bars.

Wall Mounted Pull Up Bars and Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bars

Wall mounted pull up bars drill into solid load-bearing surfaces (such as cement walls or solid wood beams or joists) to provide a permanent pull up station. Bars in this category often can support more weight than products in the doorway pull up bar category, but they require a strong wall and cannot be set up and taken down down for each workout.

Similar to wall mounted pull up bars, ceiling mounted pull up bars attach to solid load-bearing ceiling surfaces, like rafters, to provide a permanent pull up station.