pull up alternatives

Soldato
Joined
29 Oct 2005
Posts
3,298
Hi all,

I love pull ups, but I'm not going to pay £30 a month to go to the gym and do them. I used to have a pull up bar at home, but I have since moved and don't have anywhere one could go.

Is there an alternative exercise that would use the same muscles and give the same kind of resistance?

Thanks

Daven
 
Soldato
Joined
10 Feb 2010
Posts
3,248
Do it on a door? A little more awkward but a sturdy door with a towel thrown over the top should be able to do the trick at least for palm-forward ones.
 
Caporegime
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Buckinghamshire
While it's do-able ^^^ It's not THAT comfortable, and it depends on the door frame type as to how comfortable it will be :p

I'm looking to find a way to do them also really. One member said you put a broom across the loft hatch opening?

Otherwise you'll have to add in various isolations to work the back at a guess. No idea what exercises are next best for alternatives though
 
Caporegime
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Location
Buckinghamshire
Pull-ups are king :cool: :p

Forgot about inverted rows...But yeah, as ice said, you can get some bars that fit in between the door frames as opposed to hooking over them...Might be worth a look?
 
Soldato
OP
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29 Oct 2005
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3,298
The ones I had before fitted between the frames, however they required some brackets to be installed. Since I rent my flat I can't really do that :( I have no door frames that will fit the "no installation" bars.

Inverted rows look do-able, so I will try them.

Are resistance bands any good for emulating pullups?

Thanks

Daven
 
Soldato
OP
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True, but my wife won't like the brackets, as they will look "ugly"! Not to worry though, I'm going to ask the gym at work if they don't mind if I just use the pull up equipment for 5 mins in the morning! I will also try to find some other exercises that will work the same muscles.

Daven
 
Associate
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4 Jun 2011
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Location
London
Perhaps DIY something in the garden?

Alternatively, find another gym. "Pure"/"TheGym" are very budget gyms. My local "TheGym" is £10 per month.
 
Last edited:
Man of Honour
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3 Apr 2003
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Location
Cambridge
True, but my wife won't like the brackets, as they will look "ugly"! Not to worry though, I'm going to ask the gym at work if they don't mind if I just use the pull up equipment for 5 mins in the morning! I will also try to find some other exercises that will work the same muscles.

Daven

Bicep curls. :D

The other alternative position is the loft hatch... I used mine like that for ages. :)
 
Soldato
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25 Feb 2009
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3,605
I got one of these, works like a dream, Powerbar

31zDxHu8JHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
Soldato
Joined
22 Sep 2011
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Location
Portsmouth (Southsea)
I'm having trouble finding a decent looking ceiling mounted pull-up bar, the one I got off e-bay was naff.

I've got an Olympic bench with built in squat stands - I've considered doing pull-ups off the bar (as the bench is designed to take a good amount of weight, but it's a bit low.

Annoying as I can't do the door-frame ones (none are suitable) but really want to get back onto pull-ups (my favourite workout).
 
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