The Iron Gym is basically a chin up bar for the home but it also has multiple uses. It's also quite versatile in that you can use it by either placing it in your door frame or on the floor.
At first glance, I like the idea that you don't have to screw the bar into the doorway or ruin your door. Here's a pretty good video explaining how to assemble it and showing the various workouts you can do. These include pull ups, push ups, knee raises, dips, body weight rows and crunches.
Below is a video review on Iron Gym.
Iron Gym Review - Advantages
- Assembly takes about 10 minutes and is pretty straight forward.
- It doesn't need to be mounted with screws and no damage is done to your doors.
- There are three different grip positions - neutral, wide and narrow. This is great if you want to challenge your muscles and switch up your routine.
- It's very easy to assemble, attach and remove it from a doorway.
- It really does support up to 300 lbs.
- The bar does remain firm and steady while you do your pull ups.
- It's great if you don't have access to a gym or have time to go to one.
- It comes with a very informative instruction booklet. It not only has assembly instructions but also workout tips, different ways to hold the bar, recommendations on how to start a work out plan and eating right.
Iron Gym Review - Disadvantages
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Note: Please read consumer comments below before you decide if it's right for you.
- If you want to do dips, they aren't very effective since you can't get very low with them.
- If you’re looking for a "wide" grip it doesn't really offer that. The wide grip will be as wide as your door frame's opening width.
- The installed height is a little too low for a normal height person. You'll more than likely need to bend your legs to do a pull up from full arm extension.
- It doesn't work on all doors. If the door is too thin and it will just fall off. If it's too thick the plastic brace won't sit flush against the wall.
- It needs a few inches on each side of the door in order to fit. One guy mentioned that it doesn't work on most bedroom doors off of a hallway.
- The main Iron Gym site also offers ab straps but charges you $8 for shipping. One Iron Gym user mentioned they aren't completely necessary. You can get more effective ab exercises with yoga and core mat routines.
Iron Gym and Ab Straps at Competitive Prices
Main site is www.getirongym.com but they are also available on eBay.
US $15.50
Handy Tips
1. Measure your door width and your door frame/molding width. Make sure that your door frame is between 5.5" and 6" thick. Also the top of the door frame/molding needs to be half an inch wide or more. When fully assembled, the total cross bar length is just a hair under 37" wide.
2. Try to make sure everything is tightened down or the bar will feel unsteady.
3. Careful not to over-tighten the bolts that go through the plastic brace. Some Iron Gym users thought that it looked like it would be fairly easy to 'strip' the un-reinforced square bolt holes in the plastic brace.
4. Before choosing a location for the Iron Gym, there is a metal safety clip that you can also install. It doesn't actually require screws which is nice. It's only optional but is there for added protection so the bar won't fall off.
5. Careful you don't swing around on it because it will fall off the door frame.
6. You can buy it for $30 at Bed, Bath and Beyond and also Walmart. Just double check before you go just to make sure. If you want to return it, they offer a 60 day no-questions asked, return policy.
Iron Gym Review in Summary - Iron Gym is a decent product and it really does what it’s supposed to do. Most guys who bought Iron Gym were very happy with it. Phew! Finally! I love it when a product actually lives up to what is shown on the infomercial. The only concern that some of them had was that they couldn't do dips properly. Also, the part of the bar that holds the workout bar to the door frame/molding is made of plastic. They weren't sure how it would hold up in the long term. Although, I didn't see anyone commenting that this plastic part ever broke which is good. BTW if you're wondering if that SlenderTone Flex really works, please check out this review I did yesterday. It's an ab belt that's suppose to do all the work for you... It's the lazy mans/women's way to working out!
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
i just bought the iron gyn and used it about 4 times, now im a little scared of usin it, reason being is cause my frames are a little to thin, the first 3 times i used, no problem even though the frame on my door is alittle thin. 4th time i used it i pull myself up and gravity pull me right back down to the ground , the iron gyms grip slipped and i fell, lol… it was funny cause i really didnt hurt myself cause im not to far from the floor , but it scared the crap out of me, dont really want to drill and wood or anything similar to make the walls frame alittle thicker for more support but looks like ill have to anyways, besides that pretty solid, just have to make sure your door frame is not thin .
OMG are you serious? Hope both you and your door are OK! I checked on the Iron Gym site and they gave no information on type of door frame you need for it to hold properly. But I have seen other guys recommend 5.5″-6″ right across the full door frame.
THIS IS THE WORST PIECE OF GARBAGE THAT HAS EVER HIT THE MARKETPLACE. WHILE ON A DATE I HAD MY GIRLFRIEND TRY IT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND USED MINUTES BEFORE BY MY AVERAGE SIZED ROOMMATES, SHE FELL. THIS PEICE OF JUNK CAME RIGHT OFF THE DOOR FRAME AND TOOK HER WITH IT. SHE LOST HER TWO FRONT TEETH, HAD TO HAVE PLASTIC SURGERY, FRACTURED HER WRIST,FRACTURED HER NOSE AND HAD OTHE BRUISES ON HER HEAD AND KNEES.
IS IT WORTH THE $29.99 TO PUT YOUR LOVED ONES AT RISK? THANK GOD THE CAT SCAN OF THE HEAD WAS NORMAL. SHE IS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE WORKING HER WAY THROUGH BY MODELING AND WAITRESSING. SINCE HER TWO SECOND STINT ON THE IRON GYM, SHE CAN NO LONGER WORK, DRIVE OR MODEL. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT FOR ANYONE YOU CARE ABOUT. WHERE IS THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY?
WHEN I TOOK MY GIRLFRIEND OUT LAST WEEK, SHE LOOKED LIKE A BEAUTY QUEEN: I TOOK HER HOME WITH FAKE TEETH AND STITCHES. THANKS TO THIS INFERIOR PRODUCT I AM NO LONGER WELCOME IN HER HOME.
SOMEONE BETTER ALERT THE PUBLIC TO THE DANGERS OF THIS DANGEROUS AND FATAL CHEAP IMITATION OF GYM EQUIPMENT.
SAVE YOURSELF AND THOSE YOU LOVE,
ANTHONY
That’s just awful! I’m so sorry to hear about the accident. Not worth the risk if you ask me. Thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention.
Really,
I’ve had mine for about a month now, I had no problems like falling off the door so far. I weigh 220 lbs.
You can’t do effective dips or situps with it, but it is great with the pullups and pushups.
Sorry to hear about the unfortunate incidents above. I do have 1/2 inch door frames. They should be very clear on what size door frames work instead of touting the “Turn ANY DOOR INTO A YOUR OWN PERSONAL GYM!!” line.
Other than that though I am very pleased with mine.
Yeah I know what you mean…all those infomercials never tell you the full story. Guess it wouldn’t look cool or macho to mention that. They should at least put that info on their site.
I’ve been using this for a month and i am totally satisfied with it. it doesn’t fall off or move around at all. those mere accidents stated above are probably because of the wrong installment or the person probably weighing 301 lbs lol….So far i am loving it and i am sure it would last for a long time. though i have to admit that the plastic support does concern me but it hasn’t given me any problems yet.
I too have been using it for about a month and I’m pretty satisfied with it. I’m sorry for those people who’ve fallen off of it. I was worried about that ever happening to me so every time I mount it to the doorway, I make sure it’s secure before I put my full body weight onto it.
Seriously, the people who had problems with this did not measure their door or make sure they installed it correctly. In other words, STUPIDITY, which there is a great deal of in the world. You would almost have to try to fall face first. I weigh 240 lbs and have not had a single problem!
Iron Gym sucks its a piece of crap. While I was assembling it one of the carriage bolts just snapped clear off. Called “ontel” and they wouldn’t replace the bolts even though they’re worth like what 30 cents? Now I feel like this bar is retarded. It creaks and when you tighten it, the bolts break? WTH? I don’t want one of those breaking while I’m doing pull ups on it and landing in my eye.
My son is 16, 5′ 11″ and 180 lbs, last night he was doing pull ups and the metal piece you put IN the top of the door frame bent. My son and the gym fell to the ground, my son landing on his back and hitting his head on the other door/door frame, while the gym came down and hit him in the face. I will not allow either of my children to use this product unless it’s on the ground. I DO NOT recommend this product.
So sorry to hear about that Darbi…I hope your sons doing ok. Iron Gym is definitely not working well for everyone.
I just picked this up thinking that it would be an easy install but the door frames are about 1/2 the recommended width (about 2 ~ 3 inches) – I live in Japan where thin walls and door frames are common. Any recommendations on to install this on a thin wall/doorframe? Thanks!!