Gold’s Gym is among the oldest fitness brand. It was established in the year 1965 by Joe Gold in Los Angeles. The brand manufactures every single kind of fitness equipment – body weights, lifting belts, weight plates, DVDs, barbells, Flooring, weight benches, Sportswear, etc.
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is one of the greatest additions to their fitness equipment. In order to have effective body-weight training, the user has to execute a lot of workouts inclusive of pulling and pushing exercises which are basic ones.
In case you wish to do that right inside your house, then the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower will be a perfect pick. This power tower is very versatile and is good for beginners or even intermediate level users. The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower has some amazing features that have helped it climb onto our list of best power towers 2021.
Read through our Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower Review 2021 to know more about this machine.
Best Suited to Whom?
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is perfect for those who intend to execute regular or basic bodyweight workouts. It is not a good choice for those who wish to perform advanced bodyweight exercises and hardcore Crossfit workouts.
The power tower is not the best choice for performing kipping pull-ups (the Crossfit style). It is good for controlled pull-ups and dips. Also, the pull-up bar of the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is about 7 feet above the ground. Hence, the machine has to be placed in a room where the ceiling height is about 8 feet, this power tower can also be used at home itself.
There has to be sufficient clearance to perform pull-ups. Also, the power tower cannot be adjusted.
Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower Assembly, Design and Build Quality
Assembly
The assembly process of the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is very simple and easy. The instruction manual has a 12-step process which is quite straightforward. It has both written instructions as well as diagrams for reference. Every part is packed well and is labeled and this makes the process easy too.
All the parts come in just one box and this weighs around 100 lbs. So you will definitely need help to get the box into your house. You would need about 1-1.5 hours to complete the assembling of this machine.
Once it is assembled, it is tough to move the machine upstairs or downstairs and disassembling it is no joke. Hence, it is advised to select the spot where it needs to be placed, post which the machine can be assembled at that spot itself.
For the assembly, you will definitely need extra help. In addition to this, you will need tools like a socket set, 2 adjustable wrenches, a basic screwdriver as well as a Phillips screwdriver.
Design and Build Quality
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower comes with a 4-station design which is similar to many power towers that are of beginner or intermediate levels. However, this machine is quite stable in contrast to these power towers as it has a heavy frame and a wide base.
When you use the stations, it will not wobble a lot. People who weigh more than 220 lbs might face some movement in the machine when they use the dip station. To solve issues of instability, a gym mat can be placed beneath this power tower.
This will also protect the flooring from any damage. You can also use some weight plates of sandbags on the machine’s base to sort the issue of instability. The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower has been created using solid materials. The frame has been constructed using heavy steel.
It has a weight capacity of 300 lbs and you can perform your workouts without worrying about the frame. The VKR station comes with a padded back along with armrests that have been double stitched and covered with vinyl. They are not of top-quality material but they work fine.
The various handles have foam grips that are comfortable. You could make use of some top-quality tennis grips in case you wish to improve the comfort and thickness of the existing grips. Overall, this machine is well-built and strong.
The power towers for a beginner or intermediate level are in the price range of $100 – $250. You can also have a look at power towers from other brands such as the Weider Power Tower, the Soozier Fitness Power Tower, and the Xmark XM-4434 Power Tower.
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is generally available at the lower price in short, the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is huge and heavy in comparison to other power towers. It weighs about 95 lbs and has a 41” wide x 57” deep x 84” tall footprint.
It requires a lot of space and it is tough to relocate. If you wish to use a power tower once in a while, you could check out the Body Vision PT600 as it is smaller as well as lighter.
Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower Features
Frame
The frame of the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is made using 2 3/8″ steel tubing. The tubes are double-coated using corrosion-resistant black and gray enamel. The non-metallic parts consist of the upholstery, the protective caps of plastic located at the base end, and the handles padding.
Padding
The backrest and arm pads have about 3″ of padding, thereby providing the necessary comfort to the forearms and back while you work out. The upholstery is made using durable synthetic material and is well-stitched and this makes it long-lasting.
All the handles have a padding of rubber foam material, that gives the user a comfortable grip and avoids damage to the user’s hands.
Capacity
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower weighs about 94 lbs and this offers the stability to users weighing about 250 lbs.
Stability
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is huge and heavy in comparison to various other) models. It weighs around 95 lbs (43 kgs) and has a huge footprint (41”w x 57”d x 84” h). The weight of the machine offers the required stability and in case you face issues.
You could place a few weight plates at the base or even keep a gym mat under the machine.
Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower Workout Programs
Every single power tower that has a vertical knee raise station or VKR enables the user to perform some solid core workout as well as the upper body. The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower also offers the same benefits. Because of the design, it offers lesser lower body workouts.
In case you wish to get a machine that helps build the strength in the legs, you could check out the Bowflex Body Tower. With the help of the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower you can perform the below-mentioned workouts:
1. Pull-ups or chin-ups: The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower has a pull-up bar that is padded and enables the user to perform pull-ups as well as chin-ups. Both these exercises focus on the biceps, latissimus dorsi (lats) and also the trapezius, abdominals, posterior deltoids, and pectorals (pecs).
2. Dips: The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower has dip bars that will help you perform dips with and will focus on the triceps, pecs, and anterior deltoids.
3. Vertical leg or knee raises using the VKR station: The VKR station enables the user to work on their lower abdominal muscles effectively. Shorter people can get platforms that will help them to get onto the VKR station and could be used to perform calf-raises.
4. Platform push-ups: The padded handles that are beneath the pull-up bar are used to perform platform push-ups. These push-ups work on the pecs, triceps, and deltoids.
Possible Exercises
So, the main workouts that can be performed using the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower are pull-ups, knee-ups, push-ups, and dips. However, you can also add a few variations to these exercises. The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower can be used to perform more than 20 different exercises, few of which are listed below: are:
- Pull-ups
- Muscle pull-ups
- Wide grip pull-ups
- Around the world pull-ups
- Behind head pull-ups
- Cliffhangers
- One-arm pull-ups
- Weighted pull-ups
- Close grip chin-ups
- Chin-ups
- One hand chin-ups
- Wide grip chin-ups
- Weighted chin-ups
- Band-resisted dips
- Dips
- Dip to leg raise
- Weighted dips
- Gironda dips
- Side-to-side dips
- Reverse Gironda dips
- Hanging leg raises
- Hanging knee raises
- Push-ups
A few points to keep in mind while performing these workouts is that in case you intend to execute weighted pull-ups or even chin-ups. It is advised not to cross the weight limit of 250 lbs, though the bar will withstand more than 250 lbs.
Also, to perform chin-ups or even pull-ups the ceiling of your room must be at least 8’. The machine does not have a wide footprint, hence you must perform the around-the-world pull-ups with caution.
Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower Warranty
The manufacturer offers a warranty of 90 days on the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower.
Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower Pros and Cons
Pros
- The machine offers a wide range of exercise
- The frame is made of tubular steel and it is durable
- The assembly process is simple and easy
- The machine is quite tall at 7’
- The package comes with an instruction manual for assembly
- The pull-up bar is narrow and angular
- The tower is affordable
- The backrest, armrests, and handles are padded
Cons
- The material used for padding the handles, armrests is not of top-quality
- The dip bars can be wide for a few people
- You might need to use weight plates, floor mat, etc, to ensure more stability
- The maximum user weight is 250 lbs
- This tower is not an all-in-one gym
- You might need help to assemble the product
- The warranty offered on the machine is just 90 days
- The tower is not adjustable
Verdict
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is ideal if you have a lot of room space and you intend to use it regularly for body strengthening. It offers a wide range of workouts and is quite affordable. The frame is sturdy and heavy which ensures the machine is stable.
The assembly is simple and you might need help as the package is heavy. It is among the best power towers 2021 for beginners or intermediate level users. In case you are on a budget and wish to get a good power tower under $500 that will give you a good core and upper body workout, then the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is a good pick.
