WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED

There's no pull-up program without something to hang from. A doorway bar is the cheapest way in — usually under fifty dollars. Get the kind that clamps into the door frame, not the type you screw into the wall.

No budget for one? A park, a playground, or a gym all work. And check Facebook Marketplace first — these turn up used constantly for a few dollars.

The loop kind, not the flat physio type. This is what assists your pull-ups while you're building strength — you loop it over the bar and rest a foot or knee in it. Start with one heavy band; I'll tell you which strength based on your baseline.

An assortment pack costs a little more but gives you lighter bands to graduate to as you get stronger. Worth it if you can — you'll use all of them across the sixteen weeks.

This is what you'll use for rows — the horizontal pulling that builds the muscles a pull-up needs. It hangs from the same pull-up bar you already have and drops the handles to whatever height you want, so you can set the difficulty exactly. Any TRX-style strap works; you don't need the brand-name one.

Don't want to buy one? You can do the rows with your long band instead — anchor it low and row against it. It works, and it costs nothing. The suspension trainer just gives you a cleaner, more adjustable row, and you'll use it the whole program.

Light to moderate — these handle the rows and accessory work. Because different exercises need different weights and you'll get stronger over the sixteen weeks, an adjustable pair is the smart buy: one purchase covers everything. If you'd rather keep it simple, a light fixed pair to start is fine — I'll guide the weight as you go.

Already own some? Perfect, skip this. If not, adjustable dumbbells save space and money versus buying pairs — but even one fixed pair to start is fine.

The small loop bands. Used for warm-ups and shoulder prep — the work that gets your shoulders ready to pull safely. Cheap, and they last for years.

A set of five in graded strengths is only a few dollars. One of the best-value pieces of training gear there is.

For assisted holds and step-ups to the bar. You almost certainly own something that works — a sturdy chair, a step, a low table.

Don't buy anything for this. Look around your house first. A plyo box is lovely and completely unnecessary.