Push Up / Dip Stands

ICameToGetDown

Are push up / dip stands worth it?
The ones that seem stable are like $50, so I wanted some opinions before I wasted money on gear I may not need.
Thanks

dewd2

Not sure about push ups but I use my dip station all the time. It's a combo dips and pull ups.

lemmie177

I'd say depends on what you have already. There's definitely equipment I'd prioritize over dip stands. I have squat stands and just put them together to do dips.

That being said, I do dips at least 2-3X a week! They're one of my fav exercises!

sgt1372

OP: You don't need stands to do pushups, so any money spent on them would essentially be a waste.

That said, I do have a pair of pushup grips that I like because they have nice round 2" diameter cushioned handles that are only about 6" off the ground. Easy to grip and they keep my hands clean. They are much more comfortable and practical than the more expensive and higher/narrower tube push up stands I've seen/tried but I don't think they make them any more.

As for dip stands, you can't do them w/o some kind of stand. However, I think the short light weight tubular dip stands sold for around $50-60 (that I think you are referring to) are junk. They are perhaps better than nothing but just barely.

The best retail dip stand sold that I've ever seen is made by Black Widow. It's 4' high, made of heavy gauge steel w/angled handles about 2-3' wide, weighs about 60# and costs $219 plus shipping. I bought one and it's worth every penny. Just Google "Black Widow Dip Stand" To find it.

If you don't want to spend that much, you can build your own dip station w/2 saw horses at least 4' high and a pair of 4' long 3/4 or 1" pipes to use as handles. I used a set up like this before I bought the Black Widow dip stand. Still have it. Beats the heck out of those short flimsy tubular dip stands.

It's a bit awkward but if you have a rack at home, you can also create a dip station in it w/2 barbells resting on the safety bars. You could do this at a gym too but people will probably get annoyed if you bogart the rack and 2 barbells just to do dips.

There are also dip rack attachments you can buy but they are rack specific. So, they're useless if you don't already own a rack and of limited utility and a PITA to carry around if you buy one specific to the rack(s) at the gym(s) you visit. Perhaps you can get you gym to buy one, if they don't already have a dip station.

There are also the tall combo leg raise/dip stands but they are large, cost around $200+ and take up a lot of room but if you have the space and money, they would also be preferable to the cheap tubular dip stands.

But if you don't want to spend a lot and/or don't have a lot of space, keep an eye out on Craigslist and you can probably pick up a pair of those cheap dip stands for just $20-30 and, if you decide they really are just junk, you can pawn them off later onto someone else on Craigslist w/o losing any $ on them. LOL!! Good luck!

Return2Fit

I just use two stools...and for standing push ups, the picnic table bench works well.
What am I missing here?

sgt1372

Return2Fit wrote: »

I just use two stools...and for standing push ups, the picnic table bench works well.

I assume you use the stools for dips. If they are high stools, they would work too. The high ones are still little too low for my taste but certainly another cheap alternative for doing dips.

Standing push ups are usually done against a wall or other sturdy object around waist to chest high. If are doing incline or decline pushups, any bench or chair could be used to raise your chest or feet, which is what I assume you use your picnic table bench for.

Return2Fit

sgt1372 wrote: »

Return2Fit wrote: »

I just use two stools...and for standing push ups, the picnic table bench works well.

I assume you use the stools for dips. If they are high stools, they would work too. The high ones are still little too low for my taste but certainly another cheap alternative for doing dips.

Standing push ups are usually done against a wall or other sturdy object around waist to chest high. If are doing incline or decline pushups, any bench or chair could be used to raise your chest or feet, which is what I assume you use your picnic table bench for.

I use all sorts of creative alternatives wherever I am.
It's too easy to just skip a workout, because the equipment is not optimal.