If the squat is the essential movement in weight training, then the pull-up is likely the equivalent in calisthenics. Because of this, people looking to start bodyweight training often start with a doorway pull-up bar such as the Prosource Fir Multi-Grip. Despite the fact doorway bars often destroy door frames, and are inherently less stable than a power tower pull-up set up, they remain popular.
I myself purchased a doorway pull-up bar as my first piece of equipment for my calisthenics home gym. It ended up destroying the door frame, but it served my fitness goals quite well.
Let’s find out if the Prosource Multi-Grip Doorway Pull-up Bar is a good choice for those looking to start their calisthenics gym with a simple, affordable piece of equipment.
The Good:
The assembly process was simple out of the box, though I recommend stating with a loose assembly and only tightening the bolts when the whole bar system is put together. The bar comes with pads to protect your door frame, which I definitely recommend using. I saw that other reviewers even wrapped the contact points in tee shirts and towels.
The performance of the product was good. It felt fairly sturdy and the grips were comfortable. I weigh 190 lbs., and had no issues with flexing or straining of the metal or bolts. There are a lot of grips to choose from, and the bar can also be removed from the door and used as a push-up bar on the ground. The many grips are probably this bar’s biggest selling point. I found myself doing close, wide, and decline pull-ups of all kinds. I also had no issues with more acrobatic movements on the bar.
The Bad:
If the pads or some other protective layer are not used, this will certainly destroy your door frame. Also, the sturdiness is fine, but not quite perfect. If you’re looking for something rock solid, that feels anchored to the ground, this isn’t it. The instructions were not the best, though assembly is not very complex.
Recommended?
Overall, this is a decent bar in the sub-30 dollar range. However, there are a few issues. For someone looking into getting into calisthenics and pull-ups at home, I would probably suggest they splurge on a more expensive pull-up bar than the Prosource Fit Multi-Grip Doorway Bar.
You can also check out our article on building a calisthenics home gym.