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Best Stall Bar Reviews for Home Use

last updated: Feb 11, 2020

Do you know what a stall bar is?

Not sure?

Just think back to your school days - remember those wooden ladder rails that run up and down the walls? Those are stall bars - and they're making a comeback. They are also known as Swedish ladders or Swedish walls.

In this article, we discover why stall bars are a smart addition to your home gym. We then identify the best gymnastics stall bars on the market and provide you with the vital information you need to make the right choices.

In a Hurry? The test winner after 10 hours of research:

icon
Stall Bars Swedish Style
97.2/100 our score
Use
98
Effectiveness
98
Durability
97
Comfort
96
Adjustability
97
Stall Bars Swedish Style
Why is it better?

Either Wooden Or Aluminum

Can Be Paired With Rogue Rig

Super Sturdy

Wall Mount System

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Researched Sources
42
Researched Sources
Reviews Considered
12.5k
Reviews Considered
Hours Researching
10
Hours Researching
Products Evaluated
14
Products Evaluated
Sorting Options
Use Effectiveness Durability Comfort Adjustability By Default
Rank
PictureProduct
Name
Rating
Shops
#1
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
97.2
Use
98 %
Effectiveness
98 %
Durability
97 %
Comfort
96 %
Adjustability
97 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
$419.95
#2
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
95.2
Use
95 %
Effectiveness
95 %
Durability
96 %
Comfort
96 %
Adjustability
94 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
$261.94
#3
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94.2
Use
93 %
Effectiveness
94 %
Durability
95 %
Comfort
94 %
Adjustability
95 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
#4
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
91.2
Use
90 %
Effectiveness
92 %
Durability
91 %
Comfort
91 %
Adjustability
92 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
#5
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
89.8
Use
89 %
Effectiveness
90 %
Durability
90 %
Comfort
91 %
Adjustability
89 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
$261.52
#6
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
88
Use
88 %
Effectiveness
88 %
Durability
89 %
Comfort
88 %
Adjustability
87 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
#7
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
86
Use
86 %
Effectiveness
86 %
Durability
87 %
Comfort
86 %
Adjustability
85 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
$889.00
#8
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84.8
Use
84 %
Effectiveness
85 %
Durability
85 %
Comfort
86 %
Adjustability
84 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
$649.00
#9
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
82.2
Use
81 %
Effectiveness
83 %
Durability
82 %
Comfort
83 %
Adjustability
82 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link
$379.00
#10
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
81.2
Use
80 %
Effectiveness
81 %
Durability
82 %
Comfort
82 %
Adjustability
81 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (07.03.24)
Amazon Link

10 Best Stall Bars

1. Stall Bars Swedish Style

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
97.2
Stall Bars swedish Style
Amazon Link
Use
98
Effectiveness
98
Durability
97
Comfort
96
Adjustability
97
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$419.95
Pros:

Either Wooden Or Aluminum

Can Be Paired With Rogue Rig

Super Sturdy

Wall Mount System

Cons:

Wooden Rungs Cause Splinters

These wall bars takes the traditional Swedish bar and gives it a 21st-century make-over. You can get your Rogue stall bar in either metal or timber. It is available as either a Wall-Mount or a rack mount unit. The wall mount system is designed to be mounted on a secure concrete wall or wooden studs. You may require additional supports or a stringer depending on your wall structure. The unit is not designed to be used on drywall or metal stud walls.

Read more

With the wall-mounted tall swedish ladder, you get a full set of metal or wooden rungs, with a diameter of 1.25 inches in the metal version and 1.5 inches in the wooden version. The wooden rungs are made out of dowel. You also get a pair of 90-inch Monster Lite uprights along with four wall mounting brackets. The unit does not come with mounting hardware.

The rig/rack cross member mounting stall bar is designed to be attached to any Monster Lite or Infinity Rack or Rig. You get all of the necessary cross members and hardware to attach the unit to a section at the back of the rack or to a single 43-inch wide section of the rig. If you go this route, you need to secure your rack to the floor.

The stall unit stands around 90 inches in height, with the rungs being an average 43 inches wide and spaced 6 inches.

In either version, is an impressively sturdy and stable unit. We love the versatility of being able to attach the unit easily. Be aware, however, that if you opt for the wooden dowel version of the swedish wall, you will be advised to sand them down before use in order to prevent splinters in your hands. You can then finish them with tuning oil.

The Rogue 3.0 is our favorite stall bar for home use.

2. Scientific Eucalyptus Wood Stall Bar

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
95.2
3B Scientific Eucalyptus Wood Stall Bar
Amazon Link
Use
95
Effectiveness
95
Durability
96
Comfort
96
Adjustability
94
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$261.94
Pros:

Budget Friendly

Eucalyptus Finish

Offset Bar For Pull-ups

Anti-humidity Sealer

Cons:

Offset Bar Too Far Out

The 3B Scientific Eucalyptus Wood Stall Bar is the best-priced swedish ladder that we could find. It is made from eucalyptus timber that has been coated with an anti-humidity sealer to ensure durability. It has twelve rungs along with a pull-up bar on the top of the unit. This unit measures 94.5 x 4.3 x 36.6 inches (H x L x W). The dowel rungs are each 1.5 inches in diameter. The weight capacity of the swedish wall is 250 pounds.

Read more

This unit has fewer rungs that most of the stalls that are on the market (12 compared to a standard of 14). Those extra two rungs can make a big difference, especially if being used by a taller than average exerciser. Because there are fewer rungs, they are spaced with a distance that is about 15 percent wider than most other units on the market.

Eucalyptus is not the strongest variety of wood, which limits the maximum weight to 250 pounds. This is significantly less than the Rogue 3.0.

While the offset bar at the top of the unit is ideal for pull ups and chin ups, it is too far from the rest of the rungs to be able to be effectively used for hanging leg raises.

3. Bodykore Gymnastic Stall Bars

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94.2
Bodykore Gymnastic Stall Bars
Amazon Link
Use
93
Effectiveness
94
Durability
95
Comfort
94
Adjustability
95
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Solid Steel Construction

Laser-cut Parts

Dip Bar Add-on

Pull Up Bar Extension

1000 Pounds Limit

Cons:

Can Be Uncomfortable

This is the very first stall bar that is completely made out of metal! In fact, it's made out of steel, so it has a whopping 1000 pounds limit! This is much more than any of the wall bars we described here, so be free to abuse this stall to the max.

Read more

Every component of this piece is laser cut, fit to perfection, giving it the ideal integrity, while the assembly is easy. This is also the first space-saving gymnastics stall bars, only six foot tall, while the wall mount can fit in tight spaces and small rooms. There are fourteen metal rungs. The extra bar for pull-ups can be retracted and extended at will, maximizing the space-saving property. There is height adjusting cable arms present as well.

4. Vita Vibe Stall Bar

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
91.2
Vita Vibe Stall Bar
Amazon Link
Use
90
Effectiveness
92
Durability
91
Comfort
91
Adjustability
92
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Adjustable Bars

Comfy Wooden Rungs

Ten Year Warranty

12 Gauge Steel Frame

Cons:

250 Pounds Weight Limit

The Vita Vibe Stall Bar comes with aluminum alloy vertical bars and hardwood ash wooden horizontal bars. Unlike the previous two models reviewed, you can adjust the distance between the bars at your will. This will be advantageous if you are doing an exercise, such as the human flag, where you position your hands on different rungs of the ladder.

Read more

The pull-up bar that is positioned at the top of the unit, offset at about 8 inches is also adjustable. The wooden horizontal bars on the Vita Vibe wall bar are quite comfortable. Unlike the wooden rungs on the Rogue 3.0, these ones do not require sanding in order to prevent hand splinters.

Before attaching the bolts, you need to drill a pilot hole that is no less than 7/32 inches. If it is smaller than that, the bolts may be damaged. The maximum weight on the gymnastics stall bars is 250 pounds. The unit is made in the USA and comes with a ten-year manufacturer’s warranty.

5. Scientific W15400

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
89.8
3B Scientific W15400
Amazon Link
Use
89
Effectiveness
90
Durability
90
Comfort
91
Adjustability
89
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$261.52
Pros:

Offset Rung For Pull-ups

Three Middle Wooden Rungs

Rounded, Not Oval, Rungs

300 Pounds Capacity

Cons:

Non-adjustable

The 3B Scientific W15400 is a high-quality wall bar that is made from steel tubing, along with three wooden rungs placed in their center and with a different color. These middle rungs can be detached from the frame. This is handy because wooden rungs are easier to grasp than steel ones and the three-rung positions in the middle of the stall bar are the most commonly used. However, wooden bars are more likely to spin than steel ones.

Read more

You can attach this swedish wall to the floor at a distance of about twelve inches from the wall. This gives you more flexibility than most swedish ladders out there, especially when doing hanging leg raises and pull-ups. A rung at the top of the unit allows you to do your pull-ups effectively. You will also notice that these bars are rounded rather than oval. The dimensions of the unit are 98 inches in height by 42 inches in width by 11.5 inches in depth.

6. Beyond Balance Stall Bar

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
88
Beyond Balance Stall Bar
Amazon Link
Use
88
Effectiveness
88
Durability
89
Comfort
88
Adjustability
87
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Handcrafted In USA

Coated Oak Plywood

Preserved With Natural Oil

Option For Extended Rungs

Cons:

Not Adjustable

What makes this wall bar stand out from the rest is the fact that it was handcrafted out of the finest materials. This makes the swedish ladder incredibly durable, well-made, and with a minimum room for error, giving you unparalleled quality.

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The frame is made out of oak plywood, laminated for a better, splinter-free grip. The wood is preserved with natural mineral oil, giving it even more life. There is an offset rung present so you can do pull-ups along with a handful of other exercises. If the rungs present here do not work for you, you can always add extended rungs. All the hardware needed to assemble these swedish walls is present, so there's no need to waste time on a trip to the hardware store. The maximum user weight limit is 300 pounds.

7. Artimex Sport Stall Bar

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
86
Artimex Sport Stall Bar
Amazon Link
Use
86
Effectiveness
86
Durability
87
Comfort
86
Adjustability
85
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$889.00
Pros:

Made Out Of Beechwood

Great For Schrott Exercises

Either Oval Or Round Rungs

7'6" Tall

Easy Assembly

Cons:

Can Create Splinters

This is a simple wooden stall bar, but worthy of our time nevertheless. The construction is entirely made out of Beechwood, including the thirteen oval rungs, but if you want round rungs you can have them instead of the oval ones, so you have a neat little choice there.

Read more

The oval rungs are a better fit for your grip though, so they're a better choice than the round ones. The bars are mounted on either side with the help of wood screws, so it's a pretty stable stall. The gymnastics stall bars themselves are more than seven feet high, so you'll have more than enough room to experiment with different exercises. This wall bar can support up to 330 pounds! The stall is quite easy to assemble, and you can start using almost as soon as it crosses your threshold!

8. Suples Gladiator Stall Bar

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84.8
Suples Gladiator Stall Bar
Amazon Link
Use
84
Effectiveness
85
Durability
85
Comfort
86
Adjustability
84
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$649.00
Pros:

Accessories Available

Installation Instructions Included

Up To 400 Pounds

Angled Connection

Cons:

Have To Drill Own Holes

The Gladiator is a super powerful piece of gym equipment, just like the name suggests! Each rung can support up to 400 pounds, so you can pull, push and even jump on them and they will not give in!

Read more

What makes this unit unique is the angled connection. This gives the wall bar a super sturdy construction since the rungs and the frame that supports them is much less likely to break. Each swedish wall will come with a user-friendly instructional guide, paired with a DVD with further instructions, so you will be a swedish ladder pro in no time! It will also come with assembly instructions, and you won't be lost and confused when you see all of those parts scattered around the floor.

9. Dani Indoor Wooden Wall Bars

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
82.2
Dani Indoor Wooden Wall Bars
Amazon Link
Use
81
Effectiveness
83
Durability
82
Comfort
83
Adjustability
82
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$379.00
Pros:

Gymnastic Rings Included

Beech And Pine Construction

Safe For Children

Strong Wall Attachment

Cons:

132 Pounds Maximum Load

If you want to get physically fit, agile, and flexible, look no further than this wall stall! It even has gymnastic rings (although triangular) included, so you can work on your upper body strength even more. Just watch out for those rungs!

Read more

In case you're confused about assembling this beastly stall bar, have no worries! There's an instructional included to help you out. The frame and rungs are made out of completely natural materials - beech and pine, so you'll even have that lovely pine smell invigorating you as you get stronger. The stall is completely safe for your little ones too.

The wall mounts are strong and will hold the unit in place, no matter what. All parts of the stall are sanded down and polished, in case you were worried about splinters! The details of this lovely piece are varnished for a longer beautiful shine.

10. Gibson Stall Bar

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
81.2
Gibson Stall Bar
Amazon Link
Use
80
Effectiveness
81
Durability
82
Comfort
82
Adjustability
81
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Handcrafted

Polar And Oak

8 Foot High

Chinning Bar

Cons:

Pricey

Gibson knows a thing or two about expert craftsmanship, so expect a lot from this stall bar. It's been handcrafted with superior attention to detail, giving you security and extreme durability. No room for any mistakes!

Read more

This product is made out of a combination of two kinds of wood, poplar, and oak, so you'll get quite a hardy piece for your gym. This wall bar is eight feet tall, with 12 rungs placed all across its length. There's even a chinning bar at the top, and individual units can be placed side to side to give you even more room for exercising. The installation hardware is included!

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Use

Stall bars are a great way to build up your strength and flexibility, but you have to know how to use them properly before you actually manage to do so! Which is why we decided to dedicate a whole section for the use of wall bars, or Swedish ladders, however, you decide to call them.

Swedish ladder is widely used by fitness enthusiasts of all kinds, and they are even used for rehab. Stalls are a great tool for posture correction and body alignment improvement, so if you have spine issues you will gain a lot of benefits by using them!

The very first thing you can try out is front support. By doing front support on the stalls you effectively gain straight arm strength. This exercise is done by attempting to hold up your own body weight on your arms alone, and nothing else! This can be extremely difficult in the beginning though, and it's likely that you will struggle. You can fix this by mixing up one of your legs as added support, so you can do it easily.

Then try to use as much strength of your arms as you can, and gradually decrease the amount of support from your leg, until you are left with nothing but your arm strength! This exercise alone will work on your elbow tendon strength, and of course on the size of your forearms and shoulders. This is a very tough exercise, so don't be discouraged if you don't manage to do it on your first try!

Then you have the even harder version of this exercise! The back support. It's just the same as the front support, yet here you have your back against the stall, as opposed to having to face the Swedish ladders. Again, if this is a way to difficult for you, help yourself with one of your legs. You will find maintaining that position difficult, because of the lack of support. Do not give up! Experiment with different types of grip, either over or underhand, and you will figure out what works the best for you in no time.

The human flag is also one of the most popular exercises. If you always wanted to be a human flag, yet you had a lack of strength or a lack of room to practice this move, then this is just what you're looking for. The rungs are usually quite comfy, and there's no need to worry that you will lose your grip because of discomfort.

But you have to progress slowly and learn different techniques before you actually attempt to hold yourself up this way. You can progress by gradually turning your body sideways while maintaining your grip, and then try to lift your legs up, inch by inch. If you find you lack the strength to support your body, no matter how much you experiment with the grip, then you probably need to work on your overall strength and flexibility before you attempt to do the human flag. There are variations of this exercise as well - the tuck human flag and human flag jumps.

Your abs can also feel the burn when you use the stall bar. The difficulty is easily adjusted, and you won't need to be a pro to attempt this.

A great exercise for beginners is the hanging knee raise. These build exceptional ab and core strength. You need to keep your back as close to the ladder as you can because this way you will work on your abs the most. And then just lift up your knees towards your chest, and slowly lower them. This is an easy exercise, and if you feel like this is too hard for you, then you need more reps of basic abdominal exercises, like the sit-up or crunch!

Then there's the more advanced version of knee raises - hanging leg raises. Here you will attempt to lift up your legs all the way up while they are fully extended. You must remember to keep your legs straight! You can't cheat when you do leg raises here - there's no possibility of leaning, as the stall bar will have your back, and you will absolutely have to keep it straight, giving you a serious boost in ab strength and hip flexibility.

The most advanced ab workout is the dragon flag. With a name that cool it simply cannot be a beginner exercise! This exercise is a serious feat, and it will make your abs burn until they can burn no more. You begin by laying down on your mat, while you grab the second or third rung with your arms. Then you lift your whole body up (while keeping your head and shoulders on the ground) until it's at a 45-degree angle, and hold it that way. The next step is to lift yourself up until you are parallel with the rungs, and then go down in the 45-degree angle again. You can cheat by tucking your knees, but if this is too hard for you as well, go back to the less advanced ab exercises, and attempt the dragon flag when you are completely sure you can do it!

And last but not least, tricep extensions. You can really isolate the triceps when you work on them by using it, so they will progress quite fast here, even if you only use your own bodyweight.

Start by grabbing the lower rungs, and set yourself at a 45-degree angle. Keep your core firm, and start with your arms straight and your elbows locked. Lower your body until your head meets your elbows, and then go back up, and that one rep! You can make this exercise harder or easier by moving your arms up and down the rungs.

As you can see, wall bars are a very versatile tool, and they will definitely keep you in shape and give you a challenging routine!

Effectiveness

Wall bars are also known as Swedish bars or Swedish ladders because that is where they originated. They are a basic piece of gymnastic training equipment They are the creation of a Swedish gym teacher in the 19th Century who was a chronic sufferer from arthritis. It was created as a personal training aid in order to relieve his own pain.

Gymnasts soon cottoned to the benefits of using the wall bar, which include:

  • Improved conditioning
  • Building muscle
  • Enhancing flexibility
  • Increasing mobility

Gymnasts who began using it were able to improve their competitive performances, along with their agility. The bars are also great for rehabilitation training. The bar allows you to make use of your body weight in a range of different settings in order to build muscle mass, enhance strength and increase your mobility and agility. It gives you the choice to try out exercises such as these:

  • Pull-ups
  • Leg Raises
  • Human Flag
  • Triceps Extensions
  • German Hang
  • Pike Stretches
  • Band Exercises

The wall bar is especially beneficial for working your core. The flagship core exercise is the hanging leg raise. You can do this exercise more effectively because the stall bar prevents your shoulders from rolling back. The hamstrings are also very effectively worked on the wall bar.

While it won't build you the muscles of a pro bodybuilder, the stall unit is a great way to warm up, as well as directly working your core more effectively than anything else. If you suffer from any type of back pain, you will also gain a lot of relief from the use of a stall unit.

Durability

The durability of the stall unit is also something to think of when making your purchase. The stall unit is supposed to withstand your whole weight, plus some added weight if you want to give yourself an even more challenging workout. You will tug, pull, flex and abuse the rungs and the frame, so it really has to be able to withstand a lot of pressure.

First things first, you gotta consider what the stall unit is made out of. The traditional Swedish ladder is wooden, and what kind of wood is used to create them varies from producer to producer. Wood is generally very sturdy, but it can't withstand a lot of weight, so if you are heavier, or if you plan to use weights, maybe look for sturdier ladders. Your other option is metal ladders, usually made out of steel.

They can withstand so much more abuse, but they might not be so comfortable to grip, but that can be easily fixed with gloves or wraps.

The durability of your stall bars will also be affected by its construction. The way the parts are brought together, and how sturdy the connecting pieces are what defines how long your piece will last. Of course, your own size, how many times per week (or perhaps per day) you use the ladder, and what kind of exercises you do on them will affect their life.

And even your own sweat can shorten the life of the rungs! If they don't have a protective coat, not only will you suffer from splinters, but the wood will absorb the sweat and start to rot slowly but surely, and in time the rungs will crack, rendering them useless. Make sure to take every aspect into account when buying your ladders, and you will have them for a long time!

Comfort

If you end up with a stall unit that is particularly uncomfortable to grip, you probably won't be so motivated to use it, and it will end up just sitting somewhere tucked away, collecting dust. In order to avoid spending your money on something you won't even use, you must consider the shape of the rungs, what they are made out of, and whether you will use talc or grips to protect your delicate hands.

The rung shape is the first thing to consider. Rungs can either be round or oval-shaped. Round rungs are traditional, and most old models have them. They are quite comfortable, but their shape is not so ergonomic, so you might struggle to find a comfortable place to grip them without feeling pain.

On the other hands, oval rungs follow the natural shape of your palms and fingers, and they are much friendlier towards your hands. The flat surface of the ovoid shape provides your hands with a much better surface to rest on. This is also great when you want to rest your knees or legs on the rungs because the flat surface will not dig into your bones and skin as much.

And last but not least, oval rungs are stronger! They are made out of more material, making them sturdier and more durable than round rungs. If you still feel like you need more comfort while performing exercises on the stall bar, you might want to go with grips. Gloves may not be such a good option here since they can affect your grip, but grips, just like the name suggests, will only make holding onto the rungs comfier, and nothing more. So if you want a comfier experience, go for oval rungs, and protect your palms with grips!

Adjustability

No one was born the same shape and size, so it's vital that the stall units you purchase can be adjusted, at least to some degree. The traditional wooden stall units are not so adjustable. This doesn't make them inherently bad, but it can be problematic if you are taller or shorter than the average. The rung height, position, the pull-up bar, even the width, and height can all be adjustable.

But this is not where the adjustability of stall bars stops! In fact, many wall bars come with additional pieces of equipment that can be placed on the rungs. This includes offset bars for pull-ups, which can sometimes be extended and retracted whenever you feel like it, handles for doing dips, resistance bands, gymnastic rings, and much more. By including this with their product, the manufacturers give you a chance to explore additional ways to exercise and get fit, which is actually quite important, since you will then get much more benefits out of one machine. Adjustability is not the most important aspect of Swedish walls, but it is if you want to get the most out of a single item!

Expert Interviews & Opinions

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Brief History

Just like we mentioned before, and just like the name suggests, stall bars, or Swedish ladders, were invented in Sweden in the 19th century by Per Henrik Ling. They are super versatile tools, and they have been recognized as such ever since they were created, so their potential was always known. In Sweden, they carry a slightly different name - en ribbstol, which simply means frame with crossbars.

These magical frames were quickly accepted by the wider masses, and once American emigrants arrived, they too saw this potential, and the popularity of the Swedish ladder spread like wildfire. Today you will rarely see a gym without one, and many people still crave their healing powers!

Size

Let's be real here - stall bars are pretty huge. Well, they're not as big as they are tall, which can be a problem if you don't have enough room. The standard height is somewhere between 6 and 7 feet. The average ceiling is 7 to eight feet high.

You see where we are going with this, right? If you are going to be using the top bar, plus if you want to hang a pull-up bar or a dip bar, the height of the stall bars combined with the height of your ceiling can be problematic. You don't want to hit your head every time you pull yourself up! So make sure that you checked whether the stall bar can actually fit in your home or not.

Some stall bars are portable, and they don't need to be at a fixed point in your house. This is great when you need to move them around, and since they are not too wide, you can easily squeeze them into tight spaces. Make sure that you got the right size of stall bars for home, and everything will be okay!

Other Factors to Consider

Materials

What your stall bar is made out of says a lot about them. Most stall bars are made out of wood, but the type of wood chosen to create them matters as well. The rungs are the weakest or the strongest link of your stall bar, and if they are made out of a weak wood, you won't be using them for a long time!

Some producers choose to use poplar for their rungs, and poplar is a weak wood. Ash, maple, and beechwood tend to be the strongest wood types, so your best bet is to search for rungs made out of these kinds of wood. Ash is also lovely to look at, with dark patterns swirling all around the lighter background. Maple is super strong, with a gorgeous grain pattern and consistent color.

Steel is also a choice, and steel is even tougher than wood is. But steel brings its own set of problems, like rusting, discomfort, and possibly weight. Wood can also rot fast, especially if it's not laminated or coated with a protective film. Wood is prone to having splinters, so make sure that the stall bar you're getting has rungs that are sanded down and with a protective layer that will keep both you and the wood safe!

Bottom Line

The best gym bars for home use is the Rogue Stall bar 3.0, which is available as a wall mount or a rig/rack attachment. It is very solid and sturdy and available in either aluminum or wood. We were also impressed with the 3B Scientific Eucalyptus Wood Stall Bar, which has an attractive price point, attractive finish and offset pull up bar.

Rounding out our top 3 gymnastics stall bars is the Vita Vibe Stall Bar, which provides you with the ability to easily adjust the distance between rungs, comes with very comfortable wooden rungs and gives you a ten-year manufacturer’s warranty. We hope our guide has helped you understand the stall bars better, and that you will love using them!

Frequently Asked Questions

q: Do my rungs need to be coated?

a:

You've probably noticed that you have a choice between coated and uncoated wood rungs. Coated rungs are usually protected with natural mineral oil or a layer of polyurethane. This layer, before everything else, makes it easy to clean them, which might not seem like such a big deal for you, but for hospital settings, it's very important.

On the other hands, uncoated rungs will provide you with a much better grip, especially if your hands are sweaty since you won't be able to slide down so easily. But then again, the coating makes the rungs resistant to moisture and your sweat. If more people are going to be using the stall bar, coated rungs might be a better option, but if you're buying the Swedish ladders just for you and the people in your own house, you can go for uncoated rungs because of the traction they provide you with!

q: Should I go for round or oval rungs?

a:

It's easy to be confused about the shape of your rungs, especially when the shapes are just so similar to one another. Some people prefer round rungs, while others prefer oval, and truth be told, there's no winner here. Round rungs work better for gymnastic environments since the feeling of the rungs pressing into your palms won't change as you change the position of your fingers and palms, never distracting you from the task at hand.

Yet oval rungs give you a better shape to grip. They will also have a flat surface on which you can lean on, either with your knees, your shins or even your forearms, making them much comfier. And oval rungs are denser, made out of more material, so they are more durable. As we said, there is no true winner here, so you will have to experiment to discover what works the best for you!

q: Can I use stall bars for Schroth scoliosis therappy?

a:

This is actually what the stall bars were used forever since they were created. Well, not that soon, but this potential was recognized very fast. But if you want to use your stall bar for this purpose, there are some additional things you need to consider before making your purchase.

First, you must look at the spacing between the bars. This special kind of therapy has patients requiring a more narrow space between the bars because they can adjust their grip and position much easier this way.

The second thing you need to look at is how much space there is between the rungs and the surface of the wall. This is because some exercises require you to grip behind the bars, and if you can't squeeze your fingers there, then there's no point in attempting this kind of therapy.

And last but not least, the topmost offset rung. Schroth hanging exercises are a thing, and if you don't have enough room to hang freely, you won't be able to feel the stretch and relaxation that comes with this exercise. So make sure you've taken all of this into account before getting your stall bar if you need it for therapy purposes!

q: Why have my rungs started to spin?

a:

There is only one possible explanation for this - you've chosen to buy a stall bar that is not constructed so well, and instead of using proper material to connect the rungs with the frames, the manufacturer decided to simply glue these two together, so the rungs became unstuck and started spinning. Spinning rungs are a safety hazard, and you shouldn't try to rely on them to provide you with a stable grip! Make sure that the stall bar you're purchasing has rungs that are screwed into the frame, securely and tightly, and you won't experience this again!

q: Can I use the swedish ladder if I'm a beginner?

a:

Stall bars can look frightening, especially if you looked at pros performing the human flag, front arm support, and exercises such as these, that really require you to be fit before you attempt to do them. Although you can attempt these even at the beginning, you won't be able to do them right away.

For serious exercises such as these, it's better to build your strength and flexibility doing other things, and then giving the stall bar a try. But of course, there are some things you can try even if you never hung from a stall bar before. Your abs and triceps can benefit from stall bars, for example.

Simply hanging from the stall bar and lifting your knees up can challenge your abs, and you can probably do this even if you're not particularly fit. The same thing goes for tricep exercises. You can always have someone show you how to start, and we are sure that you will master the stall bars in no time!

Sources

  1. Samuli Tapio, www.vahvafitness.com, How to Use Stall Bars (Swedish Bars) for Strength Training,
  2. team BenchK, benchk.com, The history of Gymnastics Ladder (Swedish Ladder),
  3. en.wikipedia.org, Wall bars,
  4. infitnessequipment.com, Buying Guide,