If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best push up stands for your home workout, then I’d recommend the CAP Barbell Push Up Bars as the best one.
Funnily enough, your body, your surroundings, and a clever mind are all that’s required to get in shape.
That being said, it can get pretty dull even if you can do a few dozen variations of the venerable push up.
So why don’t we add a little spice to the basic routine?
After a quick look into these subtly effective tools, we’ll be looking at what I consider the best push up stands on the market today.
Here are the top push up stands we’ll be reviewing:
- Elite Push Up Bars
- CAP Barbell Push Up Bars
- Perfect Fitness Push Up Stands
- Beachbody Tony Horton’s Power Stands
- Power Press Push Up Complete Push Up Training System
So What is a Push Up Stand and Why Use Them?
Also known as push up bars, these workout tools come in several shapes, but are almost certainly going to be compact enough to store even in a small studio.
The basic premise behind these body weight workout aids, are that they make push ups harder to do.
By increasing your range of motion, your muscles are going to be taxed quite a bit more than they would if you were simply using your body weight.
This additional stress is going to help build muscle as well as strengthen your body more completely than the standard exercise.
The Advantages of a Push Up Bar
The first major advantage these exercise aids provide is the sheer cost effectiveness of these products.
Honestly, it wouldn’t even be that difficult to make a ‘do it yourself’ kit with the tools you already have.
If you already have dumbbells at home, you’ve basically got a push up bar depending on how large the weights are.
You could even nab two bricks from Home Depot and use those as stands that won’t roll around everywhere.
Another great aspect about these tools is how portable they are. Besides being able to comfortably fit in any one room domicile, you could throw these in your day bag or car.
Now, I know most of you aren’t going to be doing push ups in the middle of the work day, but it’s nice to have the option.
But let’s get back on the idea behind ‘range of motion’ for a moment. It’s generally known that longer, fuller exercise motions are more beneficial to building strength than ‘half reps’.
By fully utilizing the additional distance a push up stand provides, you’ll be able to dip your body far lower to eke out every repetition.
Additionally, these products are great for those who have prior wrist injuries.
Instead of having to bend your hands back, the method by which you grip these things basically locks your wrist in a neutral position.
This takes a whole lot of pressure off your joints, especially if your body is on the heavy side.
The Disadvantages of a Push Up Bar
Even the best push up stands are going to have their drawbacks. Staying on the topic of exercise safety, there is one major issue that these tools exacerbate.
If you have had a previous shoulder injury, I can’t recommend these tools to you unless you’re absolutely certain that you have healed.
The increased range of motion push up stands provide is a double edged sword in this case.
Mechanically, your shoulder is going to be forced to travel further due to how these products are designed. It’s entirely possible to throw your shoulder out of position or to have your ligaments torn from a bad rep.
For those of you with shoulder issues, I’d recommend sticking to regular push ups as well as simple shoulder strengthening exercises before using a push up stand.
Who Benefits from a Push Up Bar?
Push up stands are awesome exercise aids that I can wholly recommend to just about everyone, even to people who are just starting to exercise.
Being so inexpensive and having such a small footprint, even most college students can easily afford to keep a pair of these in their dorm room.
It’s also great for people who can barely squeeze ten minutes of free time into their schedule.
Additionally, these push up stands are always going to be there, reminding you to actually finish your daily workout.
It’s a small psychological thing that can help you keep to your physical fitness goals.
But with all that being said, and like any exercise tool, you don’t need a push up stand to get fit.
The most important part of staying healthy is having the mental fortitude to stick to an effective exercise routine and a responsible diet.
The Best Push Up Stands Review
Alright boys and girls, it’s that time again. Here are the five best push up stands I’ve recently tried out.
As usual, I’ll be recommending my personal favorite at the end, but feel free to look over something that better fits your own necessities and requirements.
As for myself, the things I’ll personally be looking for are price point, portability, and build quality.
Elite Push Up Bars
Let’s start with something that we can use as a ‘baseline’ in terms of quality to cost performance.
Or basically, it’s cheap enough not to break the bank, but it does the job well.
The Elite Push Up Bar is a light weight workout tool that is made up of tough plastic. While it isn’t made of metal, this doesn’t mean it isn’t durable and actually has a bit of ‘heft’ to it.
This firmness helps to give the Elite a sense of additional security.
As it is, this product grips well to just about any uncarpeted surface, especially hardwood which it works great on.
Another positive is that the design helps to balance your body regardless of the angle in which the Elite is turned.
In terms of comfort, the plastic handle is easy on the hands, and feel good in the grip. You’ll also receive a money back guarantee if this product isn’t for you.
Pros
- Non-slip bottom is great for hardwood floors and won’t damage them.
- The grip is comfortable and the design is easy on the wrists.
- Light enough to carry around with you.
- Easy to rotate and place mid workout.
- Comes with a free jump rope.
- 100% satisfaction and lifetime replacement warranty.
- Affordable
Cons
- Not great for carpet use. It’s usable, but it doesn’t feel quite so secure.
- It’s a little low to the ground compared to some models.
- Not too much range of movement compared to a normal push up.
CAP Barbell Push Up Bars
CAP Barbell Push Up Bars utilize a slip resistant foam handle to provide a solid grip on top of a decent level of comfort.
It’s a little more expensive than the cheapest item on the list, but I’m also going to point out how much you’ll get out of this product.
To begin with, the height of these push up bars provide a significant range of movement for you to work with.
If you’re strong enough, you’ll be able to easily hold yourself up completely off the ground without any issue.
This added feature allows you to do more than simple push ups.
The rubber footpads will also provide a rock solid foundation on just about any workout surface.
Unlike some other push up stands, I had very little trouble using this on the carpet much less on wooden flooring.
Despite it’s inexpensive price, the CAP push up bar is exceptionally rugged.
If you want a tool that’s going to stick with you for years of use, I’d highly recommend this product for all levels of physical fitness buffs.
Pros
- Incredibly versatile. You’ll be able to do exercises most other push up bars don’t have the capability for.
- Extremely secure during use.
- Great range of movement.
- Sturdy, chrome plated design with comfortable non-slip handles.
Cons
- Despite being lightweight and easy to store, it’s not really convenient to carry around.
- Less ergonomic than some other designs on this list.
Perfect Fitness Push Up Stands
Despite being the least expensive item on this list, the Perfect Fitness Push Up Stands will get the job done.
It’s clever ‘hollow’ design actually helps it to grip on both solid and carpeted surfaces while keeping it extremely lightweight.
If you want the most efficient option to throw in your gym bag, look no further as the handles of this device stack together.
The grips themselves are padded and provide a secure foundation to do push ups on. While the range of motion isn’t superb, it’s still easier on the wrists than doing exercises without them.
The biggest downside I have about these stands are how ‘cheap’ they look. While in actuality they are quite sturdy, the design gives it the feeling of being flimsy.
Otherwise, ten bucks is going to net you a pretty decent piece of kit.
Pros
- Very inexpensive option. It’s about the same cost as a large combo meal at a fast food joint.
- The handles are comfortable and very easy on the wrists.
- Very firm grip on most surfaces due to its design.
- Lightweight and stack together for easy portability.
- Fairly sturdy.
Cons
- These push up bars don’t ‘feel’ solid.
- You won’t get as good a range of motion as some other options.
- The funny little press marks on the carpet might set off some people’s OCD.
Beachbody Tony Horton’s Power Stands
Currently the most expensive option on the list as of this date, the Beachbody Tony Horton’s Power Stands are made up of heavy duty ABS plastic.
If the perceived flimsiness of the previous Perfect Fitness stand was the only downside for you, this is a great alternative option to think about.
The hollow center design prevents skidding and provides a better grip against the floor. And while I’m not saying you should, you could probably chuck this out your window and it’ll still be fine to use.
That being said, I’m not sure I would recommend this option unless your body weight could be an issue on flimsier designs.
The range of motion is similar to other pushup stands that use a similar design, and while it works well, I’m not sure if I could justify the cost for most people.
The grips are quite comfortable though, and I barely felt any wrist strain while using it.
Pros
- Super solid. You might be able to run this over with a car and get away with it. Maybe.
- Exceptionally stable on all surfaces, and you get a good range of motion that is easily adjusted.
- Foam grips are quite comfortable.
- A little heftier than some others, but still light enough to throw in your go bag.
Cons
- Fairly expensive compared to some of the others on the list.
- Besides being durable, it doesn’t provide anything more than other push up bars.
Power Press Push Up Complete Push Up Training System
Boy howdy. The second most expensive item on this list is going to cost you a little more than a set of children’s blocks.
Jokes aside, I found myself more than a little intrigued at the design philosophy behind the Power Press Push Up Complete Push Up Training System.
Marketed primarily for entry level fitness enthusiasts, the ‘plug and play’ board that this product comes with is color coded for easy use.
If you want to maximize your chest workout? Plug it into the position the manual says. If you want to primarily target your triceps? Same thing, just plug the handles in elsewhere.
I’ll be honest. This product is a bit superfluous for anyone with an internet connection and the willingness to do a few minutes of research.
The caveat to that is this product gives you a set routine, one that is easily accessible for beginners who are susceptible to information overload.
I get it, there are uncountable terabytes worth of exercise articles on the internet.
This product will allow you to skip past all that and get your feet wet while you find out what works for you.
So for newbies? I totally recommend this item.
Less so for those of you who’ve been going to the gym for a few years, but it might make a good present for that friend you can’t ever seem to drag into a workout.
Pros
- Very intuitive to use and easy to understand.
- Great product for beginners.
- Won’t slide anywhere and is comfortable to use.
Cons
- Kind of expensive at 50 bucks.
- It isn’t very portable.
- You can do all the exercises with any other set of push up stands.
And The Best Push Up Stand is…
I’ll have to go with the CAP Barbell Push Up Bars here. In terms of cost, sturdiness, range of motion, and sheer versatility, you’ll get the most out of this product hands down.
While it isn’t as portable compared to the Perfect Fitness or Elite push up bars, you also get a better range of motion due to how high up the bars sit.
This product is tough, grips most surfaces well, and affordable even with shipping included.
Personally, I find it easy to use, keeps the pressure off my wrists, and gives me the option to do raised leg dips if I sit these stands between two heightened surfaces.
It’s this added versatility that really sold this product to me.
