| Unit | Dimensions | Assembled weight | Weight capacity | Possible exercises | Workout stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelbody STB-98501 Check Discounted Price | L:58.25" W:42.25" H:91" | 119 lbs | 350 lbs | 25+ | Pull-ups, Dips & push-ups, Knee-raises, Sit-ups |
The Steelbody STB-98501 is one of the power towers released in 2016. Its design is slightly different than the average power tower, as its dip handles can also be attached to the lower sections of the upright bars for push-ups. It is also equipped with sit-up assist foam rollers, a feature that many other models don’t have.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 58.25L x 42.25W x 91H inches (148L x 107W x 231H cm)
- Assembled weight: 119 lbs (53.98 kg)
- Weight capacity: 350 lbs (159 kg)
- Possible exercises: 25+
- Warranty: 2 years
Frame construction
The Steelbody STB-98501 power tower is made of 14-gauge steel tubing. Most of the tubes in its construction are
rectangular. The only exceptions are the tubes of the pull-up bar assembly. All the steel bars feature a durable powder double-coating, highly resistant to corrosion and abrasion. The colors used are brown for the upright bars and the support bar of the knee raise station, and black for the base bars, pull-up bar assembly, and other attachments. These are the only colors available for this home gym system.
The tower doesn’t take too much space but is designed to provide superior stability. It is approx. 58.25 (148 cm) long and 42.25″ (107 cm) wide. Its highest point is 91″ (231 cm), so it won’t fit in a room with a 7-foot ceiling. You will need a ceiling height of at least 8′ (244 cm) for it, to be able to execute all the pull-up and chin-up exercises correctly.
The unit’s base bars rest on large rubber pads to prevent floor damage. However, it is still recommended to place and use this tower on a rubber mat. Also, the square plates welded on the ends of the base bars have pre-drilled holes so you can anchor the unit to the floor.
The Steelbody STB-98501 is also pretty heavy. Its net weight is approx. 120 lbs (54 kg). This being said, it offers superior stability and shouldn’t wobble or move even if your weight is close to the maximum 350 lbs (159 kg) weight limit.
The two main pillars of the unit feature six adjustment holes for the dip bars. Three of these adjustment holes are at the base of the pillars so you can attach the two handles lower for push-ups. The other three are in the middle for dips.
Workout stations
The STB-98501 power tower offers four distinct workout stations. These are:
Pull-up station. This consists of a multi-grip pull-up bar assembly featuring rubber foam sleeves on its end grips for improved contact. It offers the possibility to perform wide grip, close grip, and parallel grip pull-ups and chin-ups. The distance between the pull-up bar’s end grips is approx. 41″ (104 cm).
Dip and push-up station. This workout station consists of two adjustable grips. As we’ve mentioned above, you can attach them either to the holes in the middle of the two upright pillars for dips, or to the holes at the bottom for push-ups. The distance between them is approx. 27″ (68.5 cm).
Knee raise station. Similar to the Body Champ VKR1987, this Steelbody power tower offers extra support for the knee raise station. The bar that holds the pads and grips not only attaches to the two upright pillars of the tower, it is also supported by an extra upright bar that connects to the unit’s rear base. This not only offers extra sturdiness to the VKR station, but also improves the overall toughness of the whole unit.
The knee raise station is equipped with a large backrest and two armrests. The backrest features a vinyl covering while the two armrests have synthetic mesh covers. Both armrests and the backrest have 2″ (5 cm) of foam padding for extra comfort. Also, the station has upright grips at the front.
Sit-up station. This workout station has a pretty simple construction. It consists of a metallic rod that passes through the base of the support upright bar of the VKR station. A set of foam rollers that can be inserted on the two ends of the metallic rod are included with the tower. This foot stopper allows the execution of standard sit-ups. However, you may also need to add some extra padding on the rear base bar of the unit because its square design may not feel too comfortable for your ankles during sit-ups.
Possible Exercises
- Pull-ups
- Wide grip pull-ups
- Muscle pull-ups
- Around the world pull-ups
- One-arm pull-ups
- Close-grip pull-ups
- Cliffhangers
- Weighted pull-ups
- Inclined pull-ups
- Chin-ups
- Wide grip chin-ups
- Close grip chin-ups
- One hand chin-ups
- Weighted chin-ups
- Dips
- Weighted dips
- Dip to leg raise
- Side-to-side dips
- Gironda dips
- Reverse Gironda dips
- Low-level dips
- Hanging knee raises
- Hanging leg raises
- Neutral grip push-ups
- Push-ups with feet elevated
- Parallel grip push-ups
- Sit-ups
- Calf raises
- … and more.
Assembly and Maintenance
The Steelbody STB-98501 power tower requires full assembly. The whole task shouldn’t take more than two hours, though. It’s a pretty straightforward process and the manual provides clear assembly instructions and schematics. You will basically have to put together the base first, add the upright bars, the VKS support bar, the top frame bar, then the rest of the small attachments and accessories. Two hex wrenches are included with the tower but you will also need an adjustable wrench.
Once the tower is assembled, maintenance doesn’t require much. There are no moving parts so there’s no need for any lubrication. So, you only have to keep the tower clean, wipe the sweat that may fall onto the frame at the end of each workout, and periodically check for loose bolts and parts.
The Pros
- Durable frame – can support users up to 350 lbs;
- Small footprint – can fit even into a smaller room;
- Base bars with pre-drilled holes for anchoring the tower to the floor;
- Multi-grip pull-up station;
- Knee raise station with an upright reinforcement bar;
- Cushioned knee-raise arms with extra grips for dip exercises or inclined pull-ups;
- 2″ of cushioning and durable upholstery on the arm pads and backrest;
- 6 height attachment points for the dip bars;
- Sit-up assist station with thick foam rollers;
- More than 30 possible exercises;
- Fairly easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required;
- Hex keys for assembly are included;
- Decent warranty.
The Cons
- The pull-up bar is non-adjustable;
- The knee raise station is non-adjustable.
Summary
The Steelbody STB-98501 is a power tower made for home use. It offers a pull-up station, an adjustable dip and push-up station, a knee raise station, and a sit-up assist station. It’s a pretty sturdy unit, rated for a maximum user weight limit of 350 lbs. It offers the possibility to execute more than 30 exercises. It’s also affordable and doesn’t take too much space.