TRX Suspension Trainer Review and Competition

Suspending the body from nylon straps while holding onto rubber handles may not seem like much of a workout, but that’s exactly what it is. Suspension training, and in particular the trx suspension training system, has gone pro and spawned many a competitor.

This trx review will take a look at the product, instructional fitness dvds and suspension training exercises.

The TRX, which is made by Fitness Anywhere, has three core products. For the sake of avoiding redundancy, all trx products have a no-hassle 30 day return policy for a full refund. The first and original product is the trx professional kit, which uses the trx P2 trainer.

This is a packaged bundle, the only way to buy a trx, which includes an instructional dvd, door anchor and a ‘quick start guide.’ Translated, this is a 65 minute dvd with a complete follow along trx suspension workout. To their credit, the dvd is all meat and no fluff, you can be sweating within five minutes of getting your package off your doorstep.

The workout routines feature different fitness actors performing beginning, intermediate and advanced versions of the exercises, allowing everyone to follow along. You might find it amusing to see the buff muscular guy struggling to keep up with his female counterpart, who is doing the advanced routine.

The door anchor allows the user to slip the anchor strap over the top of any doorway, which becomes a strong anchor point when the door is closed. Without the door anchor, the TRX Pro has a carabineer that allows attachment to a strong hook or to itself when wrapped around a beam, post or tree.

The ‘quick start guide’ walks the user through the technicalities of adjusting their suspension trainer and includes a 35 page step-by-step exercise guide. The latest Pro Kit also has two additional workouts, the TRX Endurance Circuit and TRX Metabolic Blast.

Of course, with all the suspension exercises in the 65 minute workout and workout guide, these workout routines can be improvised, but it is a nice bonus to have additional expert instruction.

All of this comes in a mesh carrying bag for just under $200 dollars, but if you are seriously in the market for a TRX and like saving money, keep an eye out for regular specials that occur throughout the year. For the record, it weighs a whopping 2 pounds and can hold up to 1000 lbs.

The trx force kit has always been an upgraded version of the Pro Kit, but they have improved the product and the intense 12 week workout program this kit comes with. The Tactical Force Kit was created with military service in mind.

The suspension trainers are lighter at 1.5 pounds, but have more durable D-rings, and tough rubber handles instead of firm foam. Granted, half a pound may not seem like much, but when you already have a sixty-pound pack on, every little bit helps.

Besides being lighter and tougher, the trx force kit comes with an extender strap to allow attachment to higher anchoring points, a feature that seems long overdo, considering the ‘fitness anywhere’ motto. In any case, it is a smart addition to a piece of workout equipment meant to be in the field.

With the same thinking in mind, this kit comes with a small running ‘backsack,’ complete with interior and exterior pockets.

The upgraded suspension trainer is great, but what really sets the Force Kit apart from the Pro Kit is the trx suspension workout program in the two included training dvds.

The workout routines take the user through 3 months of progressive conditioning exercises, designed for building strength and endurance, while increasing mobility and agility.

This is possible with any suspension training system, but the TRX Force Kit is the bundle these detailed dvds come in.

The nice thing about suspension trainer exercises is they are quickly and easily adjusted to the fitness level of the trainee. The 12 week Tactical program is no different; regressions and progressions are shown, and regular testing shows users their progress, or lack of it!

It is progressive though, and there are three phases to the trx force program. The workout routine is four weeks of four days per week for every phase, each beginning with a mobility warm up.

The first phase is devoted to building up core strength and endurance. As we noted earlier, one of the main advantages to suspension training is the emphasis on the core musculature.

However, it is hard to execute any advanced trx exercise without having practiced and adapted to this type of training first, even if you already have rock hard abs. Thus, phase one.

The second phase is designed to build muscle and endurance in the arms and legs, while continuing to improve core and hip strength.

Phase three is a comprehensive regimen combining the previous four week sessions, and adding on intensity in the form of interval training.

All in all there are three workout modules and waterproof, tear proof, detailed exercise ‘maps’ of all exercises. An intelligently designed package, for about $250 dollars.

Don’t panic though, Fitness Anywhere gives military, veterans and first responders a $30.00 discount. Although the price is steep, there is nothing quite like it on the market.

One of the most recent additions to Fitness Anywhere’s product line, and one that takes them in a different direction, is the trx rip trainer.

The Rip Trainer Basic Kit includes the rip trainer, a medium resistance cord, a beginner’s training dvd, exercise guide and a door anchor with foam protection. They package it all in a nice carrying bag so you can workout, that’s right, anywhere.

So is this just a glorified stick on the end of a resistance cord? Or is it a clever new exercise tool for increasing power over specific patterns of movement?

Perhaps it is both. One thing is for sure, it is a new innovation and one that has excellent potential for increasing athletic performance.

To rewind a bit, the trx rip trainer is a ‘level bar and resistance cord,’ designed to improve rotational strength and power, which translates into increased explosiveness. It comes with a carabineer for attaching to various anchor points (including a trx suspension trainer,) and provides an asymmetrical load.

In other words, the resistance cord is attached at one end and the other end is free. This is similar to real life sports and activities in which an implement is held primarily by one side of the body.

Examples in which this equipment could be beneficial include golf, lacrosse, occupations requiring the swinging of axes, hammers and piks, tennis, baseball, basketball and martial arts.

That is the short list, though, as the bar can be used to resist almost any motion from any angle.

Can you duplicate this? Is there a cheaper alternative? Sure, a homemade version is always possible. But the answer to the second question is no; not at the time of this writing in any case.

While the trx rip trainer seems to be standing alone in the industry for now, there are at least half a dozen suspension trainer copycats chasing Fitness Anywhere’s market position.

To be fair, some of these, such as the jungle gym and jungle gym xt, are tough contenders.

Many people prefer the split design of the Lifeline jungle gym xt, which is similar to gymnastic rings. Fans also preferred the molded foot cradles, and some just like the color more. It also has a much lower price than the TRX.

The problem for these competitors is that Fitness Anywhere and the trx suspension trainers got there first. They designed or popularized 99 percent of the suspension exercises done on any brand’s model.

This gives the impression that advertisements and instruction for competitors are just trying to play catch up by copying trx and changing the exercise name.

TRX also has excellent instruction and superior video quality. In addition to this, they have created a culture around this expert instruction which includes trainer certifications and weekly instructional videos on their trx.tv channel.

Without a doubt, Fitness Anywhere makes quality products, but are they really worth the higher price tag?

In general, yes. Especially when you factor in the cost of high quality fitness dvds, anchors and carrying bags.

By comparison, the jungle gym xt comes with an extensive training dvd and wall poster, as well as two door anchors (one for each strap,) all for less than $100 bucks before tax and shipping. Extender straps need to be purchased at additional cost, however.

No matter which suspension training system you decide to try, give it the full length of the warranty before giving up. This form of exercise is here to stay, and if you spend some time performing suspension training exercises in good form it will definitely change your body for the better.