Pull-ups are one of the best back exercises because they work all your major back muscles at once. But in order to mount a conventional chin-up bar you must be able to drill into a doorway, wall studs or ceiling joists. If a hardware-mounted chin-up bar isn't an option and you don't have access to chin-up bars in the gym, you can explore alternative ways of working chin-ups into your exercise routine.
Door Gyms
So-called "door gyms" are just leverage-mount pull-up bars that install with no drilling or hardware necessary, and leave no marks when removed -- assuming the door trim is sturdy enough to support your weight as you pull on the door gym. If your biggest obstacle to installing a chin-up bar is not being able to drill, this might be the ideal solution.
Fitness Stations and Playground Equipment
Scout the nearby parks and trails for outdoor fitness stations. These stations often sport wooden balance beams, benches, and usually have at least one pull-up bar you can use to do your chin-ups. If you don't find any fitness stations nearby, look for a children's playground. These sometimes sport pull-up bars too, and the monkey bars usually make a good sturdy, adult-sized chin-up bar alternative.
Roman Chair
If you have access to a Roman chair, also called a captain's chair, you can use the protruding dip handles -- the "arms" of the chair -- as alternative chin-up bars. In fact, any parallel dip bars will work. Squat down between the handles or bars facing up, reach up, and use the bars as if they were neutral-grip pull-up bars. You'll be able to push with your legs, helping you pull up toward the bars if you aren't strong enough to do pull-ups on your own.
Rings
If the problem isn't that you can't mount a chin-up bar but instead that you find them boring or not versatile enough, consider using gymnastic-style rings instead. Suspended by sturdy nylon straps, these readily mount on an existing pull-up bar or any horizontal beam or bar sturdy enough to safely support your weight. Doing pull-ups on the rings forces your back, shoulder and arm muscles to stabilize constantly against the rings' instability.
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