The best sets to practice calisthenics

In the constant quest to stay fit and improve health, calisthenics has gained ground as one of the most accessible and effective disciplines. With the rise of this trend, which is usually practiced mainly in gyms and on the street, calisthenics sets have evolved to suit both beginners and people who already have experience, offering options ranging from pull-up bars to rings and portable parallel bars.

In this comparison I have tested several options available on Amazon, evaluating their quality, functionality and value for money to help you choose the calisthenics set that best suits your needs and training goals.

How we chose and tested the products

The first thing I have to point out is that, although I usually do sports regularly, I had never tried calisthenics. I had tried several times to do a pull-up on a bar, but the results had not been all that good. However, I had always been interested in this sport and by having to do this comparison I have been able to put it to the test and, above all, challenge myself.

The first thing I had to do was assemble the bars, a process that wasn’t complicated as they came with instructions. Afterwards, I placed several in my parents’ garden and others in my village gym, as not all of them fit in my house and so, in addition, several friends were able to try them out and give me their opinion. Before using them, I watched several calisthenics tutorials for beginners on YouTube in order to have basic notions and be able to perform different exercises. In this way, I have been practicing while evaluating the quality and functionality of the sets.

When analyzing and evaluating them, I have taken into account the following aspects:

• Design: how the bars are designed, what their layout is…
• Ergonomics: Are they easy to assemble? Are they comfortable to use? Do they slip?
• Firmness: whether the bars are firm and strong enough to perform the different exercises or whether, on the contrary, they become loose when being used.
• User experience: In general, if the bars are comfortable and easy to use, their assembly is not very complicated, they are resistant…

For multiple exercises: Dskeuzeew Power Tower Station

Who is it for: People who want to practice calisthenics on a continuous basis with a quality station and who have prior knowledge of this practice.

Why we chose it: It is the most expensive model in the comparison but also the one that, without a doubt, offers the best value for money. It is not just two parallel bars on which to perform exercises, but it also has a multifunctional design, which allows you to perform a wide variety of exercises such as pull-ups, dips, push-ups and sit-ups. It is made of steel, which gives it a load capacity of up to 200 kg.

As for assembly, although it has quite a few more components than the other selected models, it is not too complex. You do not have to drill holes in the wall to anchor it, but simply tighten the different bars. At this point I needed the help of my father to tighten the screws firmly. Another feature that makes this model stand out is that it has non-slip foam handles, which offer a comfortable and firm grip, reducing the risk of injuries due to slipping. In addition, it also has a lumbar cushion and two other foam cushions located on the sides, which help protect the back and arm joints while performing the exercises. It has a 12-level height adjustment, which is ideal for anyone, whether taller or shorter, to be able to use it.

I have tried to practice almost all the possible exercises that can be done with it, with greater or lesser success: pull-ups, dips, sit-ups… In short, the user experience has been quite good since the station is of very good quality.

Its weak points: it is quite large so you need a good space to place it and I think it is too expensive for beginner users.

You may also like: Discover the best premium treadmills of 2024

With H Shape Base: EASY BIG Power Tower Dip Station Pull Up Bar

Who it’s for: People looking for a full-size calisthenics station.

Why we chose it: It has a similar design to the winning model in the comparison, but without the same accessories. This calisthenics set is characterized by having an H-shaped base that seeks to guarantee the stability of the bars so that it is much safer to practice sports on them. Then it has two vertical bars and a horizontal one at the top, which is the one used to do pull-ups and different exercises. It supports a maximum weight of 150 kilos.

As with the other models, this one can also adjust the height to suit the user’s needs. Assembly is also simple, you just have to tighten the screws tightly and for this I needed my father’s help again because I was worried that they wouldn’t fit quite right. It also has pads on the bars to make the grip more comfortable and non-slip feet.

I did different exercises with it, mainly pull-ups, since I thought it had a very good design for that. On the grips that are in the middle of the station, I also did some vertical lift exercises, which, although it takes a bit of getting the hang of them, I really liked them for working out my abs.

Its weak points: it takes up a lot of space.

Simple but effective: Yaheetech Parallel Bars

Who are they for: Those looking for simple, affordable bars.

Why we chose it: The main reason I went with this model is because I found it to be an easier calisthenics set to use considering I’m a beginner. It’s made up of two parallel bars that are made from heavy-duty steel and can hold up to 227kg per bar. Plus, both the width and height of the bar can be adjusted between 106cm and 90cm, which is very useful for adapting the workout to different heights and body types.

The first thing you have to do before using it is to assemble its bars, something that is not too complex since it comes with instructions and you just have to join them together and tighten them tightly.

Once assembled, I first wanted to check the stability and firmness of the set to avoid possible falls and the results were positive, especially thanks to its non-slip rubber feet that prevent it from moving at all. This set also has padded handles to place your hands on when you are doing the exercises to make it more comfortable and prevent blisters on your hands. The experience of using these bars was good, although I cannot do many exercises, only the simplest ones, since I am not yet strong enough for it, and for example, you cannot do pull-ups with it.

Its weak points: it does not have as many exercise possibilities as the previous model.