Everyone knows that going to the gym can be a real pain in the ass.  It isn’t the most efficient way to get a workout as you have to drive to the gym, which can be difficult especially in the winter months when roads may not be up to par.  Also, you have to pay a monthly fee just for the benefit of being able to use their equipment. A great alternative to the gym membership is a quality home gym in your basement, garage, or other living space.  This way you don’t have to worry about driving to get your workout in and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.  If you are serious about lifting, then the home gym could be the answer.

For those who have a home gym or want to build on, an important piece of equipment to include is the power tower.  A power tower is a fairly simple structure that offers you multiple exercises that tone and build several muscle groups including your arms, back, shoulders, abs and obliques. What we appreciate most about the power tower is that most of the exercises it makes available to you utilize your own body weight.  This makes switching from exercise to exercise easy and quick.  Also, it may save you some money sense you won’t have to spend as much on plates.

• IRONMAN Triathlon X Class Multi-Function Power Tower

• Dimensions: 63″ x 49″ x 83″
• Total Weight: 150 lbs.
• Weight Limit: 400 lbs.
• Stations: Pull-Up, Push-Up, Dip, Leg Raise
• Summary: Offers up to 30 exercises, built to last, adjustable handles on frame
• Price: ~$500

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ListofFit Best Value

• Weider Power Tower

• Dimensions: 57" x 41" x 84"
• Total Weight: 94 lbs.
• Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
• Stations: Pull-Up, Push-Up, Dip, Leg Raise
• Summary: A great value power tower that offers all the main workout stations for an affordable price
• Price: ~$100

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ListofFit Best Value

• Stamina X-Fortress Power Tower

• Dimensions: 57″ x 48.5″ x 85″
• Total Weight: 159 lbs.
• Weight Limit: 250 lbs.
• Stations: Dip, Ab Wraps, Grip Strengtheners, Plyo-box, Pull-Ups
• Summary: Unique features not found on other power towers including a plyo-box. Weight capacity a bit low.
• Price: ~$500

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• X-Mark Power Tower

• Dimensions: 54.5″ x 86″ x 48″
• Total Weight: 125 lbs.
• Weight Limit: 350 lbs.
• Stations: Dip, Pull-Up, Push-Up, Leg Raise
• Summary: Great in between option that has all the main stations of a power tower with a bit higher price point than the lowest priced units.
• Price: ~$150

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• Stamina 1690 Power Tower

• Dimensions: 50" x 81.5" x 41.5"
• Total Weight: 54 lbs.
• Weight Limit: 350 lbs.
• Stations: Dip, Pull-Up, Push-Up
• Summary: Basic power tower without a leg raise station. Materials not as strong as other power towers on this list.
• Price: ~$90

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In Depth Best Power Tower Reviews

IRONMAN Triathlon X-Class Multi-Function Power Tower

Materials

The IRONMAN Triathlon X-Class Power Tower features a powder coated steel frame to prevent and minimize rusting.  It also has angled elbow pads that can be used during leg raises and other core exercises. This heavy-duty piece of strength-training equipment can hold up to 400 pounds so you don’t have to worry about it breaking down during use. Due to the quality components this power tower is a bit heavy coming in at 150 pounds, so you won’t want to move it often once it is set up and ready to go.  Dimensions on this tower once assembled are 63″L x 49″W x 83″H.

Value

This IRONMAN Power Tower comes in at just under $500, making it the second most expensive option on our list.  We still feel that overall the IRONMAN X-Class is an above average value due to the extra features and enormous number of workouts that can be done on this machine. However, if you are just starting out with your home gym or don’t have the budget, other lower cost power towers from our list should meet your needs.

Performance

The IRONMAN X-Class Power Tower excels when it comes to our performance rating.  This beast allows you to do up to thirty different exercises on just one piece of equipment.  You just can’t get that much bang for your buck with other exercise equipment. What is really great is that for each of these exercises there is minimal adjusting on the power tower.  Simply set your body up and go. We like the design of the IRONMAN X-Class as this power tower has the leg raise station on one side and the pull-up station on the other.  We’ve found that when both of these stations are on the same side it can feel a bit constricting, especially when doing pull-ups.  On the pull-up side the X-Class Power Tower has multiple handles that allow you to do many different pull-up varieties working specific muscle groups. Another design feature that we enjoy is the push-up bars at the bottom of the leg-raise side of the power tower.  This gives you the opportunity to do push-ups that are in proper form and easy on your wrists. Not only that, but these push-up bars can be adjusted all the way up the frame of the power tower to give you maximum variety in your exercises. For those with back pain, Ironman also makes a top rated inversion table.

Weider Power Tower

Materials:               (4.5 / 5) Value:                     (5 / 5) Performance:         (4.5 / 5) Overall:                   (4.7 / 5)

Materials

For a relatively reasonable price the Weider Power Tower has a lot of things going for it.  It has padded grips on each of its three stations for added comfort while doing the exercises. Also, it has a back cushion on the leg-raise station again for maximum comfort.  And don’t forget that the frame is made from heavy-duty powder-coated steel so this power tower is made to last for years. Value There’s little doubt that the Weider Power Tower is an exceptional value.  Coming in at just over $100 this piece of equipment is a great way to give variety to your workouts without breaking your bank account. For us at ListofFit, it was an easy decision to make Weider Power Tower our pick for best power tower value.

Performance

As we mentioned earlier, the Weider Power Tower has three distinct workout stations: push-up, pull-up, and leg raise.  These work to maximize different muscle groups including triceps, biceps, back, shoulders, core, and chest.  As with the IRONMAN X-Class the Weider features a design that has the pull-up station on the opposite side of the leg raise station.  This allows you to do pull-ups without feeling constricted by the leg raise equipment. Using the Weider Power Tower is a comfortable experience, at least as comfortable of an experience as you can expect while strength training.  The cushion on the leg raise station really does feel soft but supportive, which allows you to focus on the exercise at hand. While the Weider Power Tower does not offer the number of exercises that the IRONMAN X-Class does, it is still a great piece of a equipment and is about a fourth of the cost of the IRONMAN.

Stamina X-Fortress Power Tower

Materials:               (5 / 5) Value:                     (4 / 5) Performance:         (4.8 / 5) Overall:                   (4.6 / 5)

Materials

For those who are looking for another option beyond the IRONMAN X-Class look no further than the Stamina X-Fortress Power Tower. This power tower does indeed have some unique features that are not found on other power towers on this list or elsewhere.  To start, this is the only power tower on our list that includes ab wraps. No back cushion on the leg raise station means that this is a power tower meant for those who are already in shape and can do more advanced core exercises without the support a back cushion provides.  Be sure to be honest with yourself if you are in this category, because it not you may not find you get as much use out of this power tower. As with all the best power towers on our list, the Stamina X-Fortress is made from high-quality steel that is powder coated and meant to last. This is one of the larger power towers on our list with the dimensions of this piece of equipment coming in at 57″ x 48.5″ x 85″.

Value

The value of the Stamina X-Fortress Power Tower comes more from the quality of the product and its features, and less about price.  The truth is that the Stamina X-Fortress is fairly expensive, costing you right around $500.  However, if you want some of the unique features found on this power tower, then this tower is likely to be the only game in town.  Thankfully, it is a high quality product that will help you maximize you workouts.

Performance

As far as performance is concerned, the Stamina X-Fortress really stands out due to its uniqueness.  The ab wraps and the lack of a back pad for leg raises will really benefit those who are in shape and ready for advanced core exercises.  For those who are just getting started, this power tower is likely not for you. The stronghold grips are great for doing a different type of pull-up that will strengthen your hands and forearms.  This is something standard pull-ups will not do.  If you are a rock climber, this could be a big benefit for your rock climbing adventures. One downside to the X-Fortress is that it has both the leg-raise station and pull-up station on the same side.  For some this may not be a problem, but for those who want space when doing pull-ups this could present a minor annoyance. The best feature of the X-Fortress has to be the adjustable plyo box.  No other power tower has this and it really is cool.  Being adjustable allows this plyo box to benefit many different individuals who have different levels of fitness and athletic ability.  In fact, this plyo box will adjust from 16″ to 24″ in two inch increments. If typical power towers seem to easy and you are ready to move up to the next level of fitness, then pick up this power tower. Stamina is the most featured brand on the ListofFit site, they have great products that include pilates reformers, rowing machines, and mini trampolines.

XMark Power Tower

Materials:               (4 / 5) Value:                     (3.5 / 5) Performance:         (4 / 5) Overall:                   (3.8 / 5)

Materials

XMark may not be a household name when it comes to fitness, but they created a very nice power tower for those who are on a budget.   This power tower has all of the major stations covered including dips, pushups, leg raises, and pull-ups. The XMark is made from steel, but the steel is not as heavy-duty as some of the more expensive models on our list.  So you may find you get a bit more shaking when you do the exercises with the XMark compared to say the Stamina X-Fortress. Dimensions for the XMark Power Tower are 54.5″ x 86″ x 48″.  The maximum weight capacity for the XMark is 300 pounds.  

Value

At around $165.00 with free shipping, it’s competitive with the Powerline weight bench that we reviewed, as well. That said, though it costs the same as the Powerline, it has a slightly lower maximum weight capacity, which may make a difference for some buyers. Overall, we consider the Universal Weight Bench an average value compared to our other selections.

Performance

The XMark performs well in regard to its stability and does not shake much with typical use.  It does not offer the same variety of workouts that you might find on the IRONMAN X-Clear or the Stamina X-Fortress, but you can do the standard power tower exercises like dips, leg raises, push-ups, and pull-ups.   One weakness to the XMark is the limited adjustability to the components.  Unlike some of the higher priced power towers, the XMark does have any moveable parts.  Despite this, the actual core of this piece of equipment is solid given that it is made from powder coated steel, and has rubber grips on each handle which does significantly enhance comfort and grip. Overall, the performance of the XMark Power Tower is impressive.  We like this piece of equipment most for those on a budget, and anyone else who is looking for a well built basic power tower without a ton of bells and whistles.

Stamina 1690 Power Tower

Materials:               (3.5 / 5) Value:                     (3.5 / 5) Performance:         (3.8 / 5) Overall:                   (3.6 / 5)

Materials

Rounding out our top five best power towers is the Stamina 1690 Power Tower.  This power tower as with the Weider is a purchase we’d recommend to those who are on a budget but are looking to get fit. The frame on this tower is steel, but as you can see in the pictures the steel is not nearly as thick as many of the other power towers on our list. Also, missing from the Stamina 1690 is the leg raise station with a back support.  This does limit your exercise options unless you are fit enough to do leg or knee raises properly on the pull-up bar. On a positive note, this power tower does include nice rubber grips to help you grip the bars in a comfortable manner. Dimensions for this power tower are 50″ x 81.5″ x 41.5″ with a total weight of 54 pounds.  This makes the Stamina 1690 the lightest power tower on our list by far.

Value

From a price only perspective the Stamina 1690 is a really strong value.  It allows you to have a power tower in your home for under $90.  But when you take into consideration some of the features it is missing compared to the Weider, the Stamina 1690 is just not as good of a value. We like this power tower best for those whose focus is mainly on price. Performance The Stamina 1690 will certainly allow you to do pull-ups, dips, and push-ups with out difficulty.  Some users did note that this tower does shake a bit when doing the pull-ups, but performs well for the other exercises.  Again, we feel the biggest downside to this downside to this power tower is simply the lacking back pad and handles to do the leg raises, which are great for core strength.  If you weren’t planning to do leg raises with your tower then this equipment may suite you just fine.  Otherwise, we feel that most buyers would be better off spending a few more dollars to pick up the Weider Power Tower.

ListofFit Top Pick: IRONMAN Triathlon X-Class Power Tower

The IRONMAN Triathlon X-Class get high marks from us for its build quality and versatility.  Due to these factors it is our ListofFit best pick for power towers. When talking about the X-Class and why it is the best, first you have to look at build quality.  The IRONMAN X-Class Power Tower has the largest weight capacity of any of the other towers on our list at 400 pounds. It also has more pull-up grips than the other choices.  With this power tower you can easily do front grip, back grip, wide, and narrow pull-ups with ease due to the number of grips to choose from. We also are big fans of the adjustability that comes with this unit.  The push-up bars can be moved up the sides of the frame to add several different workout options that are not possible on the other power towers.  In fact, the IRONMAN X-Class offers you an impressive 30 different strength training exercises.  This is where this power tower shines in terms of value. The back padding on the leg raise station is well cushioned, but it is not too big as to take away from your workout.  Similarly, the elbow pads are soft but do not get in the way. Overall, there are a lot of reasons why this power tower by IRONMAN claimed our top spot.  Be sure to check it out and research further to determine if this is the right power tower for your home gym.

See the latest reviews and pricing on the IRONMAN X-Class Power Tower

Things to Consider When Buying a Power Tower

Materials

Power towers are a great investment for anyone wanting to build the gym of their dreams in their own home.  These nifty pieces of equipment maximize space and offer a variety of strength training exercises. Always look for a power tower that has a frame made from powder coated steel.  Powder coating keeps the frame from rusting and the steel is strong enough to take the punishment. Also, check to see if the power tower has rubber grips on the bars as well as padding for your back and elbows. Having a power tower with quality materials will keep it from shaking too much during use and allow it to function for years to come.

Value

As you can see from our in depth reviews, power towers come in different sizes, features, and prices.  The cheapest power towers can be purchased for under $100 with more expensive towers costing $500 or more.   But price is not the only measure of value.  Also consider each power tower’s features and unique qualities.  If you are looking for a tower with a plyo box then the Stamina X-Fortress is for you, and if you want maximum adjustability go with the IRONMAN X-Class.  Either way, think about the features of each power tower and how the match up to what you are looking for.

Performance

In terms of performance there are two main considerations for a power tower.  The first is that you do not want to buy a power tower that is going to shake significantly when in use.  This can be distracting and frustrating, which will take away your focus from your workout.  To combat this make sure to buy a tower with heavy-duty steel and a wide frame base. Second, make sure the power tower you buy allows you to do all the exercises you want to on the tower.  If you can’t do leg raises with a back support on a specific tower, don’t buy it if that is why you getting a power tower in the first place.  The tower you buy must meet your individual needs as someone who is into being physically fit.  Otherwise, you are wasting your money.

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Stamina-50-1690-1690-Power-Tower/dp/B002Y2SUU4/ref=sr_1_3?s=exercise-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1473168150&sr=1-3&keywords=power+tower https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RQ0F8W/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza https://www.amazon.com/Stamina-X-Fortress-Power-Tower/dp/B00IYFNXXY/ref=sr_1_23?s=exercise-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1473168150&sr=1-23&keywords=power+tower https://www.amazon.com/Weider-WEBE99712-Power-Tower/dp/B0098MAYNY/ref=sr_1_2?s=exercise-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1473168150&sr=1-2&keywords=power+tower https://www.amazon.com/IRONMAN-Triathlon-Class-Multi-Function-Power/dp/B0171P9Z1G/ref=sr_1_11?s=exercise-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1473168150&sr=1-11&keywords=power+tower https://www.ironmanfitness.com/productdetail/?pid=49 http://www.xmarkfitness.com/power-towers/xmark-power-tower-with-dip-station-and-pull-up-bar-xm-4434/ https://www.staminaproducts.com/product_detail.cfm?cat=Staminax&pid=50-1755