The Best Push Up Bars for Home Gyms we’ve Tested

The XTEK Versatile Parallettes are set apart from their competitors in their multiple applications. They’re tall enough to be used for dips, push-ups, v-sits, tuck, planches, and handstand push-ups. They are constructed out of 2mm thick gauge steel and when we used them, we agreed that they would be durable enough for crossfit training. Executed correctly you could use them to work out the chest, shoulders, back, arms, and abdominal muscles.

One of the drawbacks we found is that it has a wide base that can get in the way when changing positions during the workout. You have to be aware of your body position while working out so you do not hit your body against the equipment. Another drawback with this equipment is the lack of padding that can wear into your hands if you’re not careful. Perhaps this is why they are one of the less expensive models in their category. 

Parallettes are essentially push-up bars that excel in multi-functionality, and that is what makes them a complementary addition to a set of home workout equipment. 

What sets these push-up bars apart from their competitors is the way that they can rotate, which they claim is meant to put less pressure on your wrists. By being able to rotate, they are meant to offer a wider range of positions to do push ups from. But do they work? In our experimentation with the bars, we are pleased to announce that they do reduce pressure on the wrists. 

While there are some similar models on the market with varying degrees of quality, we feel this is a good choice for the price. While we were using them, we noticed that they didn’t slip on the hardwood floor and remain in place throughout the workout, with the rotating grips. 

Another area where these bars might come in handy is how compact they are. You could easily take them with you when going on a trip. One area where there could be some improvement though is with the lack of padding on the handles. Depending on how calloused your hands are, it could be uncomfortable using these at first. Another potential drawback could be the creaking sounds the unit makes when turning. These units are just one notch below the Perfect Fitness model. 

These push up bars are similar in design to the Elite Sportz Bars, with the internal ball bearings, though it comes at a lower price point. Though less expensive, when we gave these a try, we found it has some of the same issues as other models with the creaking plastic under pressure.

These are the kinds of units that you can look at if you just want a starter push up bar to keep you motivated and develop the push up habit. They're a little lighter and small than other rotating push up bars in their category. Because of this, when we were testing these bars, we were sometimes worried that they might crack. 

For our last example of rotating bars, we have the Perfect Fitness Perfect Pushup Elite. These are meant to be some of the higher-end bars in this category with steel ball bearings. Aesthetically, they look appealing with their red and black design. When using these, I did like the textured handles, but then I started to notice my hands slipping. You might want to buy some gloves to use in tandem with these. It can be frustrating to have to readjust your hands between push-ups.

I didn't notice much of a difference in terms of how light the Perfect Fitness might be on the wrists. I don't feel that these push up bars are so much more superior than comparable products in the category. Would I recommend these? If you want a more premium version of rotating bars, these are definitely an option, however, you might get something more cost-effective by going for a comparable product at a lower price point. 

These units are set apart from their competitors in the way that they fold. One of the things that we’re always interested in here at Home Fitness Life is compact exercise equipment for people living in cramped spaces. These push up bars were created to take up a minimal amount of space and are meant to easy to carry. As far as that's concerned, they work as advertised. We didn't have any trouble folding them and could easily put them in our bags. But what are they like to use?

In our tests with these units, we found that they were strong enough to support the weight of both of us, me and my heavyset client. This equipment is built out of a metal called duralumin, which is an aluminum alloy that though sturdy, could promote future corrosion. Another potential issue was the cording bands used for folding and unfolding these units. I would rather they used steel pins instead. We tried doing dips on these pushup bars and had no issues. Apart from the cords, we feel these are well designed, and a satisfactory choice if you're looking for something taller and a little more portable.

These push-up bars can be a little hard on your hands, so you might want to pick up a pair of gloves before using them.

These are a more standard pair of steel push up bars we wanted to evaluate as they might be just enough for most users that just want some extra equipment. This product is set apart from its competitors with stronger materials as well as cushioning for the hands. This equipment can easily be used for more purposes than push-ups, doing exercises such as L-sits, or even headstands.

Though the sales copy of the push-up bars says that the shape of the handles is meant to reduce wrist fatigue, but during our tests, we didn't notice any reduced pressure. However, we did notice that the design had a wide base, which will keep the equipment stable during exercise. Also, because the equipment is made out of steel, you should retain its usefulness over its lifetime.

If you're worried about your push up bars bending or breaking under your weight, these might be some of the best push up bars for you.

Just like other examples listed above, you can use these push-up bars to engage different muscle groups depending on how you position them during your workouts. 

I included these push-up bars as a more affordable option for people that are looking for alternative equipment to work their upper bodies. These chrome-plated push up bars are set apart from their competitors with their low price and slip-resistant foam. They're the more bare-bones version of the equipment we included in our tests.

So when we put the CAP Barbell units down on a hardwood floor, we noticed a slight degree of slippage. So, if you choose to use these on a smooth surface, it's something to keep in mind. After doing a few sets on these, we also saw that the foam grips had moved, so that's something that could become worse over time. The foam could tear. So, for these reasons, you might want to buy a pair of workout gloves as well if you plan on using these.

These are the best push up bars if you can't spend too much. That said the benefit you would get from spending a little more money on models like the ones above would be noticeable. We also noticed that these push-up bars didn't require much effort to build and put to use. 

We didn't know what to make up this thing when we first laid eyes on it, but it definitely caught our interest. Because we want you to be informed about the other options out there, the other alternatives to push-up bars, we wanted to evaluate this iron chest master machine. This machine provides a wider range of motion than that you would get with push-up bars, engaging more muscles in your upper body.

Though the ads say this equipment is portable and easy to store, to us, it appeared far too large to conveniently take with you traveling. Though bulky, it seemed to be sturdy enough to last, constructed out of tough plastic and aluminum. The inclusion of resistance bands adds something that you don't get from push-up bars which are more customizable.

This machine provides an alternative that could increase your max reps with dedicated use. Overall though, you could very likely get the results you were looking for without this machine. This is mostly about the novelty because using it feels very unusual and a little more to your workout. 

With an original design, this Power Press Original Push Up System supports more than 30 different combo positions. You can use the multi-color positions to enjoy more push-up angles to maximize your muscle definition. It's a pretty simple system, just reposition the handle grips on the color coded board to engage the targeted muscles. You can also mix and match the position of the handles on the power press push up board for an extra challenge.