The chest or tricep dip is one of the best upper body exercises around. It works the chest and triceps as well (if not more so) than a bench press, and only takes up a tiny amount of space.
Often, dip bars can also be used for inverted rows, push ups, and several other exercise variations.
While often thought of as a one-exercise machine, a good dip bar could be the basis of your home gym!
In this article we are going to take a look at a selection of the best dip bars you can currently buy.
Dip Bar #1 BalanceFrom Multi-Function Dip Stand
The multifunction dip stand from BalanceFrom is a great piece of kit to kick things off with.
Coming in three different colours (red, yellow, or grey) this dip stand definitely stands out as one of the most aesthetic products around. It is also very well made, with an excellent non-slip design.
It is made from premium quality steel, and has an improved design to increase stability.
The height of this dip stand is actually adjustable, which is a really nice touch. Meaning that the very short or very tall can use it with confidence.
The multi-function stand uses foam handles to improve your grip, both from a comfort and a non-slip point of view.
The company claims that this dip stand can be used for bar exercises, dips, pull ups, push ups, leg raises, bench presses and more.
We have absolutely no idea how it can be used for bench pressing, while pull ups would have to be of the inverted row variety, rather than full on pull ups.
Overall, this is a seriously high-quality dip stand, which looks nice, is stable, and comes with a lifetime returns policy as well as 2 years of support.
Dip Bar #2 Fuel Performance Deluxe Dip Station
While the previous dip station offered a wide variety of different exercises and uses, this next dip station is very much a single-use item.
You can do dips on them and nothing else. Is this a bad thing? Not really. Some people just want a product that does exactly what it says it does, really well.
That’s what you’re getting here with the Fuel Performance Deluxe Dip Station.
Not that it can’t be used for other exercises, if you purchase the Deluxe Dip Station with Rings, you can do some chest flyes (if you have the confidence to perform an exercise where if you fail you’re going to face plant into the floor).
You can also use the dip bar for inverted rows, but really, it’s an excellent dip station and not much more.
It is built with 12 and 14 gauge steel, it uses gussets for extra stability, and has a powdered coat which will increase durability over time.
The handles aren’t quite as good as the handles of the multi-function dip stand we reviewed before, but they are still good.
One good thing about the handles is how long they are, giving you a lot of space to hold on while dipping.
Dip Bar #3 Ultimate Body Press Dip Fitness Station
The Ultimate Body Press Dip Bar Fitness Station is very different in design to the previous two dip stations we’ve looked at.
For starters, its focus is on being easy to fold away after use, rather than being a fixed dip station.
This does not impact on durability and means that when not in use it can be tidied away quite easily.
This doesn’t suit everyone’s needs; many people want a dip station that they can set up once and never have to worry about again (in which case consider purchasing either one of the firs two dip stations on this list).
But for people who like to train in different locations or run an outdoor bootcamp or fitness studio.
Having a dip station which you can easily move around is ideal.
One cool feature of the Ultimate Body Press Dip Bar Fitness Station is that you can adjust the width of the bars.
Many dip stations allow you to adjust the height, but actually it is the width that is more important.
If you’ve ever tried to dip in a dip station that is too wide or too narrow than you’ll appreciate this.
The dip station looks amazing too, with a really cool design. The black and white colour scheme is superb.
The grips are angled, which helps to reduce strain and also supports improved form.
The dip station can be returned at any time within 10 years if there is a fault, which shows just how confident Ultimate Body Press are about their dip bars.
Dip Bar #4 Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower
The last dip station on this list is by far the grandest in design. It is also by quite a way the most expensive, yet it is still very reasonably priced and great value for money.
What makes this dip station superior is not the manufacturer (though Gold’s Gym certainly gets a lot of credit in gym circles) but the addition of a pull up bar and a back support.
This allows you to perform hanging leg raises properly, without rounding your back!
The station also has handles for push ups, meaning that you can train your chest, shoulders, and triceps with two very different exercises.
The only real downside here, is that the handles are a little uncomfortable, particularly when compared to the other dip stations on this list. They are very small and quite narrow.
It means you’ll get a good grip on them, but won’t enjoy the same level of comfort that you get with the previous three.
Overall, this is the best multi-functioning dip station on this list. All you need to decide is whether you want a pull up bar and dip station or whether you want just a dip station.
For the former, this is the product for you. But if you prefer the latter then check out the other dip stations on this list.