We all know we’re supposed to exercise – we hear it from our friends, family, the news, and social media. But actually finding the time to exercise can be a challenge.
At-home equipment like power towers is a fantastic alternative – or supplement – to traditional gyms.
I’ve reviewed my top ten favorite power towers to help you get your perfect workout!
What Exactly is a Power Tower?
A power tower is a unique piece of equipment that can be used to target various muscle groups. Standard features of most power towers include a bar for pull-ups and chin-ups, handles for triceps dips, and armrests with back support for ab workouts.
Some towers may have additional features, like a push-up station or workout bench.
Why Should I Consider Buying a Power Tower?
Research groups such as the Mayo Clinic have made the benefits of exercise clear: It decreases incidents of disease, improves mood, and helps with better sleep, among others. But for many of us, regularly going to the gym is unrealistic.
At-home equipment such as a power tower is a useful alternative for people who are short on time or prefer the freedom of home workouts.
The great thing about these products is they combine multiple machines into one! You can use a power tower to get a full-body workout in less time. (Plus, no more waiting for someone who is sitting and texting on the machine you need.)
You can work out at your own pace and learn new workouts without the worry of judgmental stares.
How to Choose the Best Power Tower
You should first consider your specific needs:
What kind of workouts do you want to do? (Are standard features enough, or do you want something additional?)
How much room do you have? (The amount of space a machine takes up is called its footprint.)
Which size machine is best for you? (Some power towers are built for taller users, some have narrower frames for smaller users, and each tower has an individual weight capacity.)
You should also take the time to measure your ceilings in the location you plan to put the tower. Measuring is essential to ensure the product will fit, and so you don’t hit your head when doing pull-ups or chin-ups!
In terms of stability, do you want a tower with extra security features, such as one that can be bolted to the ground, or one with adjustable support beams? Each product below has a slightly different appeal in terms of stability.
Finally, what are you able/willing to spend? Some people prioritize affordable, high-quality workouts. Others prefer to invest a little more money for extra features and security.
What are the Advantages of a Power Tower?
Home workouts are ideal for people who have limited time or prefer the accessibility of exercising at home.
However, a power tower may also save you money – Over half of Americans use their gym memberships less than twice a week and only use a handful of machines when at the gym. That means you might be losing money on equipment you don’t even use!
For many of us, trips to the gym can be stressful. Especially if you are just starting your fitness journey, learning how to exercise in a busy gym might be overwhelming, and working out at home is a great way to get fit and build confidence.
A power tower is also a convenient way to complement your typical routine if you still go to the gym or do other workouts.
What Kind of Workouts Can I Do on a Power Tower?
There are many exercises that can be done with a power tower, making it useful whether you are a beginner or an expert.
All the power towers on this list offer the following exercises through their standard features:
- Pull-ups (Hands facing away)
- Wide and narrow grip
- Chin-ups (Hands facing you)
- Wide and narrow grip
- Triceps dips
- Vertical knee raises
- Hanging knee/leg raises
Some power towers offer features for the following exercises:
- Neutral grip pull-ups
- Push-ups
- Inverted rows
- Calf raises
- Bench press
- Triceps extensions
- Sit-ups
- Regular and inclined
Truthfully, there are nearly endless workouts that can be done on a power tower, depending on your expertise and creativity, such as those on this list created by Athletic Muscle.
Safety Precautions
Here are a few general workout precautions to consider when exercising:
- Always warm-up and cool down, including stretching
- Stay hydrated
- Listen to your body
- Get regular check-ups to make sure you are healthy enough for exercise
Some precautions to take when using a power tower:
- Make sure your equipment is assembled correctly
- Place it on a flat, stable surface
- Routinely check the bolts, pads, handles, and other pieces that can experience wear
- If you struggle to support your own body weight, a resistance band can provide safe support
Top 10 Product Reviews for Power Towers
Let’s take a closer look at our top picks for the best power towers on the market.
Product | Details | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 Gold's Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower | ||
 Body Champ Power Tower | ||
 Marcy Power Tower | ||
 Ainfox Power Tower | ||
 Fitness Reality Power Tower | ||
 Stamina Power Towers | ||
 RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE Power Tower | ||
 Weider Power Tower | ||
 CITYBIRDS Power Tower | ||
 HARISON Power Tower |
Gold's Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower
The first product on our list is an affordable, simple option that offers padded push-up hand grips as an additional feature. At 84” tall, this is a great mid-height machine that can be used by most people. (However, the width of the dip bars may be too wide for smaller users).
Gold’s Gym is also a trusted brand, so this could be an excellent choice if you are a beginner or a buyer who wants a modest, budget-friendly tower.
Unfortunately, unlike many of the other options, this product does not come with the tools necessary for assembly. If you don’t already have a toolset, it might be worth buying a tower that comes with tools.
We wish it had a little more stability, as it can be prone to wobbling when doing specific exercises such as dips.
PROS
CONS
Body Champ Power Tower
The Body Champ tower offers the basic workout features plus a push-up station, all with foam cushions for support and comfort. This power tower also offers a unique base with extra beams for increased stability.
We love the small details on this product, such as the caps to protect your floor, the contoured back support pad, the sweat-resistant powder coating for hygiene, and the slip-resistant steps (to help shorter users reach the dip and ab stations).
The height of this tower is about average, at 83”, but the width of the dip bars might prove difficult for smaller users to use. Additionally, this tower does not come with the tools necessary for assembly.
PROS
CONS
Marcy Power Tower
Standing at nearly 88”, the Marcy tower is a great option if you are tall and have high ceilings.
Additional features include steps that can double as a push-up station, meaning push-ups can be done at a higher incline. This is beneficial for beginners; however, if a traditional push up station is important to you, it might be worth looking at other options.
This power tower has an ergonomic back pad for support and non-slip handles that will keep you safe, even during your sweatiest workouts.
The weight capacity is fairly average, at 300 pounds. Users who are close to this number and plan to use their tower extensively might consider options with a higher capacity.
Due to the wide frame and lack of added stability, this tower is best suited if you want to focus on chin-ups and pull-ups, rather than vertical knee raises or dips.
PROS
CONS
Ainfox Power Tower
The Ainfox tower has a remarkable weight capacity of 550 pounds. This is possible due to the reinforced steel frame made of 4 mm thick bars.
In addition to being accessible for more users, one of the great things about such a high weight capacity is that you can add weights to your workouts if you are below the threshold (i.e. weighted pull-ups or dips).
The Ainfox tower offers standard workout options and built-in steps that can double as a push-up platform, but does not have a traditional push-up station.
We like the adjustable height (from 64.6-84.7”) and built-in steps, because users of all sizes can use it. Another plus is how lightweight the frame is, allowing it to be moved if necessary.
PROS
CONS
Fitness Reality Power Tower
The Fitness Reality tower is a significant jump in price from the previous towers, but you would definitely be paying for quality.
Favorite additional features included with this product are neutral grips for hammer pull-ups, a push-up station, and adjustable handles with rollers for reverse push-ups or rows.
We think this power tower is ideal for the whole family, as it is adjustable to fit nearly everyone: With a weight capacity of 400 pounds and a height of 83”, this is a great option for larger users, and it has more narrow dip handles for smaller users.
Other features that make this product useful to a range of consumers are the adjustable handlebars with seven mounting positions, built-in steps, and the extra stability beam with three counterbalance positions.
Additionally, if stability is a concern, Fitness Reality may be the best option for you: This tower comes with four bolt holes for mounting the unit to the ground. A bonus is the warranty that covers the frame and all parts for multiple years.
PROS
CONS
Stamina Power Towers
The cool thing about Stamina towers are all the style options available: They sell three versions of their tower in three colors.
The simplest version is suitable for push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, and dips (but does not have back support for vertical knee raises).
The most expensive version has a roller back pad, a neutral grip pull-up option, and padded loops for hanging leg raises.
Because of the minimalistic design, assembly is easy, and you will be working out in no time. However, the frame is better suited for smaller users, with narrow dip handles, a height of only 81”, and a weight capacity of 250 pounds.
The simple tower is ideal if your workouts are focused on pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, and push-ups, meaning you can save money by not paying for gear that supports ab workouts (or if you are an advanced user who does not need support during ab workouts).
The most sophisticated version is better for workouts focused on core and upper-body, shown by its various grip positions. (Note: Although the most complex tower does not appear to have a push-up station, the dip station is adjustable and can be used for push-ups or inverted rows).
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RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE Power Tower
This is the most adjustable tower on the list, which is perfect for those of us who, like myself, will be sharing the power tower with someone who is drastically shorter (or taller) than we are.
Adjustable features include nine levels of height ranging from 58.5-89” (making it both the shortest and tallest option on the list), four levels of backrest movement, armrest adjustments, and a movable bar for stretching/inverted rows.
This product offers standard workouts, with an additional push-up station. One interesting consideration is that the grips might actually be slightly too small for users with large hands.
In addition to all that adjustability, this tower also has unique stability features: Rotatable suction cups that attach to the floor and can alter the height, as well as safety lock nuts to keep screws tight.
This power tower has a one-year frame and lifetime accessory part warranties.
PROS
CONS
Weider Power Tower
The Weider tower is another affordable option with excellent stability, built-in steps, cushioned armrests, and a height of 86.6”.
In addition to standard features, this product offers a calf-raise station that is perfect for targeting those often-overlooked leg muscles. We love the 24” wide dip station that is optimal for users of nearly any size.
Finally, although assembly can be difficult, the instructions are clear, and waiting to tighten the bolts until all pieces are put into place seems to help.
We wish this power tower had a longer warranty. The manual offers a 90-day warranty, but requires you to register your product on their website within 30 days of purchasing.
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CONS
CITYBIRDS Power Tower
The CityBirds tower is another excellent choice for the whole family! The top bar adjusts from 64.56-88.18”, the backrest has seven options (1.2-6.7”), and the ab station arm handles are angled inward at 10 degrees to prevent slipping.
In addition to standard features, it includes a push-up station and stability bar than can double as a leg-stretching station.
One key feature of this tower is its emphasis on stability. The base has an H-shaped, thick steel design creating eight contact points with the floor, in addition to safety locknut technology.
Other important features are the capped ends to protect your floor, scratch-resistant coating, and durable handles/pads.
The only major issue we had with this tower is the 26.6” distance between dip handles, making it difficult for smaller people to use.
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CONS
HARISON Power Tower
This is another high-priced, high-quality tower for those who want to make a bigger investment. In addition to standard workout features, this tower has neutral grips for hammer pull-ups, a push-up station, non-slip steps, and foam rollers.
However, the feature that makes this product stand out the most is its bench, which allows for assisted triceps dips, bench press, and inverted sit-ups.
The frame is designed so that the bench is directly below the pull-up bars. This is a good step-up option for smaller users. However, if you are taller (or don’t want to damage the feature by stepping on it), the bench can be easily folded or removed.
The bench can be used flat or at a decline, although there is no inclined option.
Another feature worth highlighting is the included resistance bands that can be used for triceps extensions, bicep curls, and other exercises. I enjoy this feature, as triceps are a muscle group that I’m constantly trying to target. The bands plus triceps dips are a killer combination!
Its coated steel frame has a weight capacity up to 500 pounds and four adjustable height options ranging from 70.47-88.19”. Finally, I also like the 30-day return, five-year frame, and lifetime parts warranties.
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Our #1 Recommended Power Tower
CITYBIRDS Power Tower
When it comes to home gym equipment, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. Power towers have a small footprint and can support numerous exercises, making them an appropriate purchase for both beginners and experts.
The essential factors for the products we reviewed were stability, extra features, affordability, weight restrictions, and adjustability. With these categories in mind, the winning tower power is the CITYBIRDS Power Tower.