| Unit | Dimensions | Possible exercises | Weight capacity | Workout stations | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold's Gym XR 10.9 Check Discounted Price | L:57" W:26" H:83" | 20+ | 250 lbs | Pull-ups, Dips, Push-ups | 90 days |
On the list of affordable fitness machines, power towers will always stand high, simply because they don’t integrate weight stacks or pulleys, and overall, they have a simple construction. Of course, the many workout stations integrated in a power tower, the higher the price. But in general, most will provide dips, pull-ups and push-ups stations, great to have for a series of exercises that involve multiple groups of muscles. So, in case you’re looking for a basic power tower including the mentioned stations, which also won’t burn a hole in your bank account, the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 is definitely one to consider.
Even though it’s a rather simple and straightforward fitness machine, in this review we’ll try to offer as much information as possible about it. Therefore, let’s see what it can offer.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 57L x 26W x 83H inches (145 x 66 x 211 cm)
- Assembled weight: 94 lbs (42.6 kg)
- Max. user weight: 250 lbs (113.3 kg)
- Possible exercises: 20+
- Warranty: 90 days
Frame construction and parts
To begin with, this Gold’s Gym power tower is made of 2 3/8″ steel tubing, all tubes
being double coated with corrosion resistant gray and black enamel. The only non-metallic parts in its frame are the upholstery, the plastic protective caps at the end of the bases, and of course, the padding on the several handles. It weighs approx. 94 lbs (42.6 kg), weight which renders it pretty stable for users up to 250 lbs. This is actually the specified weight capacity of the machine. However, even heavier users should be able to use it for certain exercises, such as pull-ups for example, but for heavier users than 250 lbs, the machine may tip or wobble if the user doesn’t maintain a steady form during exercising.
This power tower doesn’t have an extremely wide footprint. It takes approx. 57″L x 26″W (145 x 66 cm) of floor space. However, the distance between the outer grips of the pull-up bar is 32″ (81.2 cm). Therefore, depending on the space you want to place this machine, you might want to take this aspect into consideration.
When it comes to the machine’s height, its top part reaches 83″ (211 cm). This reflects several aspects that must be underlined here. First of all, this power tower should fit in a room with a 7′ (84″) ceiling, but keep in mind that it will be a tight fit. Also, in this case you won’t be able to perform chin-ups or pull-ups fully, as your head may hit the ceiling. Second of all, the pull-ups bar is placed at approx. 82″ (208 cm) above floor level, while the lateral grips of the bar will place you a bit lower. Therefore, users taller than 6’3″ – 6’4″ (190 – 193 cm) won’t be able to do pull-ups with legs completely straight. They may need to bend the knees a little. However, many users don’t consider this an issue, as they keep their knees bent during pull-ups / chin-ups anyway.
The arm pads and backrest feature approx. 3″ of padding, offering all the comfort required for your back and forearms during exercises. The upholstery on them is made of durable synthetic material, well-stitched, which should last for many years of use. All the handles of the machine, including the top bar, are padded with rubber foam material, to provide a comfortable grip and to prevent any damage to the hands.
Workout stations
As we’ve mentioned above, the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 is a basic power tower. It includes the main three workout stations, which are:
Pull-up station – consisting in a non-adjustable, dual-grip pull-up bar. Evidently, this bar gives you the possibility to train your biceps and back muscles, but most exercises that can be carried on this bar will also partially involve other muscle groups.
Dip station – consisting in the middle dip bars, with forearm rests and handles. Different dips and knee-ups variations can be done by using these bars, evidently for the training of abdominal and triceps muscles. In case you’re wondering, the distance between the dip bars is 24″ (61 cm).
Push-up station – consisting in two low, non-adjustable handles which give you the possibility to perform parallel grip push-ups.
Possible Exercises
Evidently, the main exercises that can be performed on this power tower are pull-ups, dips, knee-ups and push-ups. But you can add variations to each type of exercise. Therefore, this Gold’s Gym machine actually gives you the possibility to perform more than 20 exercises. Some of them are:
- Pull-ups
- Wide grip pull-ups
- Muscle pull-ups
- Behind head pull-ups
- Around the world pull-ups
- One arm pull-ups
- Cliffhangers
- Weighted pull-ups
- Chin-ups
- Close grip chin-ups
- Wide grip chin-ups
- One hand chin-ups
- Weighted chin-ups
- Dips
- Weighted dips
- Band-resisted dips
- Dip to leg raise
- Side-to-side dips
- Gironda dips
- Reverse Gironda dips
- Hanging knee raises
- Hanging leg raises
- Push-ups
- … and more
Now, regarding some of the mentioned exercises, there are a few aspects to consider. For example, if you’re going to perform weighted pull-ups or chin-ups, it’s recommended not to exceed the maximum 250 lbs weight limit of the machine. The bar should however, withstand more than 250 lbs, but the whole machine may become unstable. Also, the dip bars may bend under a weight heavier than that.
In case you want to perform muscle chin-ups or pull-ups, evidently you’ll need to place the power tower in a room with at least an 8′ ceiling. These exercises require the user to raise above the bar.
Also, when it comes to around-the-worlds pull-ups, extra care is required, as the machine doesn’t have a very wide footprint. Thus, balancing your weight sideways, may lead to instability, especially if you’re close to the weight limit.
Assembly and Maintenance
Since it’s a simple machine, its assembly is also far from being complicated. It shouldn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to put together, and the manual supplied offers pretty clear step-by-step instructions for it. Tools for assembly are not included though. You’ll need an adjustable wrench and a Phillips screwdriver. Also, in case you’re wondering, the dimensions of the box are approx. 62″L x 23″W x 11″H (157.5 x 58.4 x 28 cm).
When it comes to maintenance, there’s also not much to worry about. It’s a power tower, there are no pulleys, nor other wearable parts. Therefore, all you basically need to do for maintenance is remove the perspiration drops that may fall onto the frame. Even though the steel parts are dyed with anti-corrosive paint, perspiration can be really corrosive and can also damage the paint.
The Pros
- Sturdy, steel frame;
- Thick padding on the backrest and armrests;
- 3 main workout stations;
- Offers the possibility to perform more than 20 exercises;
- Easy to assemble;
- Virtually no maintenance required;
- Excellent price / quality ratio.
The Cons
- Height of the pull-up bar and dip bars is not adjustable;
- Warranty isn’t exactly the best, but the machine is pretty solid and should last for many years of daily use.
Summary
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 is a power tower that has been around for quite a few years, yet so far it benefits from a wide array of 5-star reviews, from users all over the world. It’s also one of the most affordable power towers that you can find at the moment. Even though it falls into the category of basic power towers, it still has a bit more to offer than other, “more basic” models. It’s a great machine for toning and building muscles, offering excellent possibilities to train your deltoids, triceps, biceps, dorsal muscles, and abs. All in all, it’s a decent addition to any home gym.