Best Dip Stations for Home – Key Aspects, and What to Avoid

While it only takes one straight bar to perform dips, the best dip stations feature several ways for you to train full-body. And frankly, why not, when space is always a consideration, especially that it’s home workout you folks are here for.

In this dip station review, I’m going to share my reasoning behind my choices, and also touch upon common issues with dip equipment in general. While I picked a few traditional ones, called power towers, my top picks break with the traditional dip/pull-up focus and offer more innovative solutions either in terms of versatility or practicality.

For a Quick Review Check Out the Comparison Table

The Best Dip Stations… Are Complete Home Gyms

If you want a quick answer, look no further, the best dip station I would recommend is the combination of the Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack paired with the Rogue Monster Lite Matador adjustable dip station attachment.

The logic behind this is if you buy a dip station, as bulky as they are you might as well just build a home gym. You leave a lot of potential untapped if you don’t use the power of squat rack versatility.

The Rogue RML foldable wall mount rack comes standard with a quick-attach pullup bar, however, the Rogue Matador Lite dip bar attachment is not part of the package. It needs to be obtained separately to make this rack function as a dip station.

REVIEWS

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Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack – Ultimate Space Efficiency and Versatility

While this rack is not your regular power tower, with a couple of attachment accessories, like a dip bar, spotter arms, and a landmine post, it can be turned into the best pull up dip station which is also a squat rack. And that just happens to be 90% of what your home gym needs. Couple it with a kettlebell, a few bands, and smart bodyweight training, and there you have a full spectrum home workout.

The Rogue RML-3W Foldback Wall Mount Rack’s added value over simple, light power towers is that it is a heavy-duty full workout station with a solid dip bar attachment which makes it an everlasting investment.

In contrast, other hobby dip stations do only okay-ish for dips, with their fixed wide bars, but they compromise the rest of the functions with cheap solutions and put style over function.
Too often they use light, cheap material, measly pins for holding a barbell, rubbish welding, and rather ridiculous pushup functions.
They just don’t come close to the sturdiness, simplicity of a multifaceted workout rack.

Versatility is Rogue’s edge over rivals, as their rigs and racks can be used endless ways due to their anchoring system and line of attachment options. Commercial quality equipment from the supplier of the Crossfit Games, manufactured with smart space-saving and home workout in mind.
In my understanding, there is no better deal than that if you look for a long-lasting solution for your home fitness.
But on to the hard facts.

Rogue uses precise laser cut technology, which ensures quick attachment in the precision-cut holes of the uprights, while the durable powder coat finish and solid welding resist years of heavy abuse. So much so, that Rogue is confident enough in the quality of their manufacturing to offer a lifetime warranty.

As the name implies, this robust workout station can be folded to the wall by hinge brackets that are mounted to a pair of stringer units secured to the wall. These stringer units are not included by default, however, recommended for greater stability (though a pair of 2×6 plywood boards are also a reliable option for padding between the hinges and the wall). You can add these items as an add-on when you order.

Along with that, via a dropdown menu you can also select the depth of rack, namely the length of the arms that determine how far away the uprights will be from your wall. The two options are 21.5″ or 41.5″ inches.
Usually the further away your are from the wall the more freedom you have with your exercises, like the kipping pull up or the front lever or any gymnastics type in general that take up more space. Though even the 21,5″ option allows way more space for your torso and legs than most pull up dip stations.

The rack is a constant 90.375″ inches tall and when fully open, needs a floor space of ~24″ or ~43″ x 56″ inches depending on which arm length you order the rack with (21.5″ or 41.5″). When folded completely, the rack is only 5 inches away from the wall. The only exception being a scenario, when you order the 41.5″ depth rack and you fold both uprights inward. In that case, you would have some overlap of the sides, something like 10+ inches from the wall.

Part of the package is the Monster Lite adjustable quick attach pull up bar which you can adjust in no time to any height along the holed uprights, meaning that it can also be used as a pushup bar when set closer to the ground. Or, ahem… set it halfway for L-sit pull ups.
Within Rogue’s accessories, you can also buy a parallel grip pull up bar called the Rogue Neutral Grips, or a Monster Lite Flying pull up bar if it’s kipping and calisthenics you are after.

Lastly but most importantly for this workout rack to function as an adjustable dip station, you need to separately buy a dip bar, that is the Rogue Monster Lite Matador, compatible with the 3×3″ uprights of the Rogue RML-3W foldable rack.
This dip bar attachment as any Rogue product has quality welding at the joints, this way you can rest assured that even very heavyweight dips won’t be an issue for this powerful rack add-on.

Again we have to give credit to space-saving as the Monster Lite Matador can be anchored to the uprights from any side, things won’t be in the way. Securing the dip handle is simple and easy due to the pins and 3 sided structure, that guarantees a tight lock-in system.

The Matador dip handles are angled, the distance between the bars range from 16.5″ to 23.5″ inches. This means you can adjust your grip width by just moving towards the rack or away from it. You can also use the handles of the dip bar attachment for parallel grip pull ups if you set it high enough on the uprights.

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Other solutions to use the Rogue Matador as a dip station with

If a power rack is too much for you, a lighter option is to attach the Matador dip bar anywhere to the uprights of either:

A Squat Rack

Kind of like a half power rack, a squat rack that is connected on the top with a pull up bar.

A Standalone Pair of Squat Stands

A Wall-Mountable Steel Note and Storage Accessory – The Rogue 3X3 Strip® 2.0

In case you already have a pull up or a squat rack and you only need a height-adjustable dip bar, the Rogue 3X3 Strip® 2.0 might be your best bet.

This is basically a holed, 3×3 11 gauge steel tube, available in 36″ and 16″ length. The Strip 2.0 is compatible with most of the Rogue accessories thus with the Monster Lite Matador dip bar as well.
You only need to mount this tube to a sturdy wall and attach the Matador bar and there you have a solid adjustable dip station, taking the least space of all other solutions.

Besides dips, you can use this post as a landmine attachment base or a barbell plate storage among other attachment options. As simple as this product is, being only a steel pole, the Strip 2.0 is the pinnacle of space efficiency and simplicity unmatched by any weight rack.

As such this makes it the best lightweight alternative of the Rogue RML-3W foldback rack.

>>CHECK PRICE ON ROGUEFITNESS<<

Stamina 1690 Power Tower

The Stamina dip station is the light version of it’s kind. Weighing 58 pounds it is easy to move away for space, though since it’s not foldable it has a constant footprint of 49” x 42” inches.
Its height is 81″ inches which are not so ideal for taller individuals. However, if you have a low ceiling, this dip station might be your perfect pal.
The frame has a simple, bolted construction, supporting up to 250lbs backed by a 5-year warranty.

A good point that the distance between the dip handles is 21 inches which is narrower than most dip stations—for most people that means it is more shoulder-friendly.

The foam hand grips ensure a comfortable feel for whoever this is a priority. I personally aim for barehand training for maximum feel and control, also, foams molder in no time with reasonable training, unless you don’t use your dip station at all.

Stamina, just like other power towers, feature a secured bar to stick the legs under for sit-ups. It’s rather just to give stability to the frame, but I had to mention it in case you are obsessed with sit-ups, though it is definitely the same gimmick as foam grips or foam anything for that matter.

I would recommend the Stamina dip station for bodyweight training and/or mostly for beginners. Dips, pullups, chinups, pushups are no problem for this equipment, however, if you weigh above average, or want to use extra weights, you need a station with a more robust frame.

Overall the Stamina 1690 Power Tower is a handy, rather entry-level, lightweight frame, that can get the job done, nothing more, nothing less. It’s a budget-friendly option and with a small footprint and easy portability, a rational choice for those who look for reliable fitness equipment for their home workout.

>>CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON<<

Relife Rebuild Your Life Power Tower Workout Dip Station

The area where the Relife dip station stands out is adjustability:

The pull up bar has 9 levels of height adjustment from 58.5-89 inches. Dip handles can be horizontally adjusted in 3 levels from 20.47″-22.44″. The backrest can also be horizontally adjusted from 7-9.6 inches to comfort vertical leg raises.

There is also an adjustable crossbar that can be set at two levels to vary the angle of your pushup or simply just to stretch the hamstrings or hip flexors.

The whole rack takes about 27×36″ of floor space and weighs around 60lbs.
Weight capacity is 330lbs which is above average within power towers designed for mostly bodyweight workouts. Still as indicated before, heavier users might experience mild twisting and wobbling during the last reps of their pull ups, dips or explosive leg raises with extended knees.

The biggest drawback though as with most dip stations out there is that the width of the dip handles can’t be adjusted, which in my opinion is a more important feature than their length. The handles are rather wide, 25.6 inches apart.
Nor can you adjust the dip handles vertically, only the pull up bar.

On the upside, this rack is easy to assemble and the elbow pads for vertical leg raises are long enough with fine cushioning.
The foam covers allow for comfortable grips where it matters, but their durability is questionable.

>>CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON<<

Body Champ VKR1010 Fitness Multi Function Power Tower

The Body Champ dip station is still a basic, rather bodyweight power tower for home, but one of the more stable ones. Still for maximum dsafety it is recommended for users weighing 250lbs or less.

It is not adjustable in any way, though easy to assemble and provides a fair amount of stability compared to other bodyweight dip stations in the category of at-home fitness equipment.

Don’t expect anything fancy here regarding versatility – unlike the Rogue rack with its dozen accessories.
The frame doesn’t have holes for pins, enabling barbell squats or bench press.

Still, the Body Champ workout station can be a viable option if you need a reliable steel base without the usual cheap gimmicks to take care of your classic bodyweight home exercises.

In the lightweight home gym category, the Body Champ VKR1010 power tower represents relatively enhanced stability hence the increased dimensions. With 64 pounds and 55″x41″ footprint, this dip station is slightly bigger than its peers.
As mentioned earlier, since this frame has been designed for bodyweight exercises, wobbling is still present, only slightly less than with other counterparts.

Regarding grips, only the inside of the pull up bar has foam hand grips for chin ups, the rest of the handles for wide pullups, dips, and pushups have durable non-slip nylon grips.
The elbow pads and backrest are seam-stitched and cushioned with an ideal degree of firmness.
The distance between the elbow pads and the dip handles is roughly 24 inches, which might be too wide for users with narrower and stiffer shoulders, especially those who lack shoulder internal rotation.

>>CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON<<

Multi Function Wall Mount Chin Up Bar Height Adjustable Pull-Up Bar Multi Grip Strength Training Equipment for Home Gym 880 LB Weight Capacity

Phew…well, at least they didn’t have to think too much of the name, but who cares if they come up with such an imaginative product.
You can tell, this workout post is rather unusual. As the name implies the most striking feature of this chin up dip power tower is its maximum weight capacity of 880lbs. Though, how much you can effectively use of that is really dependent on the quality of your wall and your DIY skills, since it only has a hanging wall mounted frame, without any legs or uprights, hence the beauty.
Still, if this frame is installed properly, it is the most stable of all the dip stations in this list, except the Rogue RML-3W.

This wall mounted dip station is easily detachable of its H metal plate that can be secured to almost any material except drywall and tiles. After so the frame can easily be reattached to this wall mount by hooking its 2 pins in one of the 3 fixed height levels of the metal rings of the plate.

It’s important to mention that the only way to convert this wall mounted pull up station to a dip bar, and a vertical knee raise post, is to detach it from the hooks, rotate 180° degrees, then reattach.

All in all this chin up dip station is a great and reliable equipment for any home gym where space is of consideration.
If you are into martial arts you can even hang your boxing bag by the two hooks under the pull up bar, or attach a TRX, gymnastic ring you name it.

Even though you can’t do pushups on this piece since it has no legs, and have to detach and re-attach in between pull-ups and dips, its superior stability, anchoring attributes, and 42.1″x27.2″x31.5″ wall print puts it up to the third place of this list.

>>CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON<<

Reflex Dip Station – Single Freestanding

If you are really only looking for a dip station, nothing fancy, then Reflex got you covered. This piece is dead simple, made of 11 gauge welded steel, weighing 100lbs it’s a beast, providing exceptional stability, hence perfect for weighted dips.

Because of its fixed height and for practicality there is an aluminum footstep. This comes very handily for weighted dips especially. When you have extra pounds hanging from underneath your dip belt, it’s impossible or not safe, to say the least, to jump up for the starting position and lock the elbows.

The non-slip aluminum skid plates make it extra safe and comfortable with weights to get into position before you start pumping your reps.

The V-shaped bars also allow you to pick your own dip width that best fit your body proportions.

Should you move more forward for a narrow grip and off the rubber handles, the powder coated tubes are just as comfortable if not better. Powder coating provides the best grip in my opinion, and makes the Reflex dip station sweat proof and extra durable even if you use chalk.

You can also pick your own color by commenting before checkout.

To wrap up, the Reflex dip station is for serious athletes who are looking for a tank-like solution to do heavy, weighted dips. While its place on this list is definitely justified, the Reflex dip station is more for garage gyms and less for living rooms or tight apartments where the versatility of home gym equipment should be a priority.

>>CHECK PRICE ON ROGUEFITNESS<<

A Word About Dips

If the king of bodyweight exercises is the pull up, then the queen must be the dip and all its variations – and the pushup…of course…but this is a dip review article. There are no doubts about its functionality in life, anything that requires you to support your body with arms can benefit from dip training. For calisthenics, home workout and gymnasts it’s a downright must exercise.

Though dips are quite challenging, so if you’re a beginner, you are beter off to start with either:

• Isometric holds with extended elbows. Work up to 1 minute holds. Make sure to keep the shoulders depressed and don’t let them drop forward.
• Pushups and horizontal rows. With the former, if you can do 20 reps with good form that’s a green light to progress to dips. Rows are important as a way to strengthen the stabilizers of the shoulder, that prevent them from dropping forward as you descend during the dip.
• Also, you can build up pushing strength with the good old chair dip exercise, when your legs are resting ton the floor. This exercise prepares the triceps and your elbow joint for a full bodyweight dip later.

Conceptual Distinction Between Dip Bars, Dip Stands, and Dip Stations

To clear up definitions here are the most common dip equipment categories:

Classic Parallel Dip Bar

The classic parallel dip bars such as the ones found at playgrounds are the most versatile of this list in my opinion. They are sturdy great for weighted dips and all sorts of bodyweight, calisthenics movements.

Portable Dip Bar

Portable dip bar versions are really just the big brothers of parallettes. Their heights being the only difference between them. They can be used for dips, also versatile enough to be used for pushups, rows, and whatnot. However, since they are only stabilized by two crossbars as their legs, for some, especially for starters—who rely too much on the stability of the equipment and less on the stability created by their own muscles—this lack of secure feel can be a dealbreaker.

Dip Stand

On the other hand, dip stands are screwed or welded together, hence they are rather heavy duty and great for weighted dips, however, less useful for more dynamic moves like calisthenics.
Just to clarify, dip stands and dip stations can be the same thing, as a station is a stand too. However, if you make a Google search you’ll find that results are somewhat different still. Hence my differentiation. A dip stand is shorter than dip stations, barely reaching over waist level, but usually very sturdy everlasting constructions.

Dip Station, Power Tower

So, lastly are dip stations, the topic of this article.
They are the big brothers and the taller versions of dip stands, most often equipped with a pull-up bar as well and are often called power towers, pull up dip stations or vertical knee raise machine.
Their big advantage over other types of dip equipment besides the pull-up bar is their versatility. Their heavier weight allows them to be used as a post, that you can use as an anchor to attach a variety of fitness equipment, such as bands, suspension trainers, rings, boxing bags.

Common Ways of Using a Dip Station

Benefits of Dips

One of the best exercises for the pecs, easily in par with the bench press, especially when done with added weight. Weighted dips are best at activating the lower pecs and medial triceps according to Bret Contreras’ experiment using EMG to measure the muscle activation level of different chest and triceps exercises.

Moreover, triceps give roughly 60%+ of the bulk of the arm.

Also, since pressing muscles are more dominant in sports performance due to their inherent quickness over pulling muscles, it makes sense to give triceps a priority over biceps if we are ever to make a choice when it comes to building bigger arms.

Benefits of Dip Stations

As I mentioned earlier the true advantage of dip stations over their smaller counterparts is their multifunctionality which is a very considerable feature when it comes to planning your home gym.
Most of these power towers are equipped with elbow pads and back pads allowing for easier and effective leg or knee raises, strengthening the abs and hip flexors. Supporting your back with the pads it is more likely to prevent the lower back muscles to take over the movement and your abs are forced to help lifting the legs and crunching the core.

A pull up handle or bar is also part of their structure, this way you don’t have to drill holes for a wall-mounted or ceiling mounted pull up bar, but can still enjoy the benefits of them.
A pull up bar is really a must in your home gym, and not at all merely for pull ups but for all kinds of attachments, stretching and suspension training, using bands, harnesses, TRX, rings, etc. The ways a fixed tall structure can complement your home workout are endless.

Their height is another reason why power towers might be a better choice over dip stands for some. Personally I like doing dips in a hollow body position with my legs vertically extended. Also, taller individuals might find it uncomfortable with shorter dip parallel bars, that they need to really bend and pull up their hips and knees to clear the floor which can alter their shoulder position and might provoke pain. With a tall enough dip station, it’s not an issue though.

Also, most of the dip stations have pushup bars welded to their bases which allows a parallel grip, shoulder friendly pushup and a bigger range of motion on the way down for stronger chest and front delt muscle involvement.

Common Problems

The most annoying problem, in my opinion, is the fixed distance between the bars. Most dip stations have their handles too far apart in fixed width, causing the elbows to flare out, which can put additional strain on the shoulders. How far apart the handlebars are, is the most foundational factor of dips, yet still, it is very rare to find dip stations with adjustable handles.
While the way of doing proper dips should not be carved in stone, if you do dips one way repetitively, in a less than optimal position, for long enough, you might face injuries from overuse.

For this very reason, some manufacturers make their dip stations not with parallel but with angled handles, so the space between them gradually increases as you move away from the station. This way you can freely adjust your dip grip according to your body proportions.

In general, for most individuals, a shoulder-width grip is ideal and most shoulder-friendly, hence the benefit of parallel portable dip bars which you can move around and adjust their angles freely.
On the contrary, I have clients who only have done dips on power towers without any pain ever, so it’s really up to the individual.

Also, if your primary goal is calisthenics then for sure, you want to stick with parallel, or playground dip bars or adjustable gymnastics rings. Dip stations are constructed in a way that there’s not much horizontal space in between the dip/pull up handles and the frame support crossbars to which the backrest is secured.

Due to this, it is hard or nearly impossible to carry out exercises like the “skin the cat”, front lever or for many, even the kipping pull up.
Also, the short dip handles on a power tower don’t allow for Russian dips, a common exercise to make traditional dips more challenging.

Lastly, a seemingly minor problem, however, for vertical knee and leg raises performed sideways and diagonally, the way could be blocked by the dip handles. In this case, you are limited to lifting your legs only sagitally.

Key Aspects to Consider When Buying a Dip Station

Dimension and Space

Typically their height ranges from 60 up to 95 inches, though if you have a low ceiling, pull ups might be an issue. In that case, a dip bar and a separate ceiling mounted pull up station might a better choice.

Dip station bases usually measure between ~30×55 inches, so that’s rarely an issue, however, if you lack this extra space and do not have a dedicated area for your home gym, then a portable dip bar is again a better solution.

The width of the bar handles I already mentioned, unfortunately, this piece of information is very rarely provided. Though in many cases it is identical to the width of the base, being the crosslegs. Make sure to always check for this information, if not stated, contact the seller or the manufacturer.

Stability and Sturdiness

It should be clarified that unlike the Rogue RML-3W Wall Mount Rack, all the other power towers in this list—and most of them that are designed for home use—, are rather entry-level, satisfying the needs of the casual home gym owner.
This means a little wobbling, even twisting is okay during controlled movements, dips, and pull-ups. However, these light dip stations in the worst-case scenario can tip over thus are not ideal for weighted exercises, or even bodyweight explosive routines, swinging actions, and calisthenics.
Leave these to commercial quality racks and accessories like that of Rogue’s lineup.

Multiformity

Band attachment options, pushup handles, ab straps, TRX suspension training, even cable pulley solutions should come to your mind when planning to buy a dip station. These are valuable additions to your home training. Be creative, think about all the exercises you plan on doing, make a list of them and see how many you can carry out on a dip station.

Many multi-functional dip stations have holes running through their poles for rack attachment safety pins just like weight and squat racks. This allows you to perform barbell squats, also they come with an adjustable weight bench, allowing for bench press, and incline sit-ups and a host of other exercises.

If you only have a few square feet behind your couch to train, the size of the place will be the determining factor.
Saving space is always of concern with home workouts, thus the more multi-functional your dip station, the better.

Conclusion

There is a reason why dip stations and power towers tend to emphasize versatility, and that is space efficiency for home workouts. If that is coupled with industry-leading sturdiness and reliability—which is pretty rare—that is a lifetime investment into quality;

The Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack provides just that, being the clear winner of this dip station roundup review, easily beating any of its rivals.

Besides being a pull up and squat rack by default—, it can be converted to a superior adjustable dip station, by purchasing the Monster Lite Matador Dip Bar. The practicality and stability of this combination are unmatched by other power towers in this list.

Rogue, also assures a lifetime warranty to this piece, which isn’t surprising at all, from the USA-based company. (Rogue is a leading manufacturer of fitness products and the main supplier of the Crossfit Games—acclaimed the toughest competition whose winner earns the “fittest on earth” title.)

The runner-up is from Rogue as well, the 3X3 Strip® 2.0. Just a wall-mountable piece of steel note with holes on it for Rogue’s line of attachments. If it’s only dips that you are after, just attach the Rogue Matador dip bar to it and there you have a piece of dip equipment with the best sturdiness/space ratio.

The third place is earned by the Multi-Function Wall Mount Chin Up Bar. This multifunctional piece is a true home gym equipment, that can be converted to a dip bar with its smart space-saving quick attach design.
Again this chin-up dip rack provides all three: versatility, space efficiency, and stability.
Apart from its lack of grip width adjustment options, it is a surprisingly smart and reliable option, raising the bar for the “dip station industry”.