Gorilla Bow Alternatives: Better Ways to Lift with Bands

Gorilla Bow took a simple idea—attach resistance bands to a bow-shaped bar—and turned it into a strength system. For a lot of people, it’s the first “gym replacement” that actually looks fun.

But if you’re here, you’re probably wondering: Is Gorilla Bow really my best option? Or is there a better fit for how you like to train, the space you have, and the progress you want to see?

We’ll cover:

Which types of Gorilla Bow alternatives exist (and who they’re for)
How XBAR Portable Home Gym compares head-to-head with Gorilla Bow
When it makes sense to stick with a bow-style bar vs. switch to a more flexible system

We’ll keep it simple, honest, and focused on helping you pick the tool you’ll actually use.

Gorilla Bow Alternatives: Main Options to Consider

When people search for “Gorilla Bow alternatives,” they usually fall into one of three buckets:

They want a similar concept, just better designed or more versatile.
They want something more joint-friendly or closer to traditional lifting.
They want the same portability but with a different training style.

Here are the main categories that cover all of that.

1. XBAR Portable Home Gym System

Best fit: You want a bar-and-band system that feels natural, scales with your strength, and doesn’t eat up space.

XBAR uses a 35" curl bar with resistance bands, straps, and anchors to create a full-body strength setup you can stash in a closet or suitcase. Instead of being locked into one bow path, you can position the bar, bands, and anchors in ways that mimic a barbell, dumbbells, and cable machines.

Training style: Classic strength patterns—press, row, squat, hinge, curl, lunge, rotate.
Setups: Train off the floor, from door anchors, with foot straps, or anchored low/high.
Progression: Swap bands, stack bands, change stance or anchor height to increase load.
Portability: Bar breaks down and bands pack into a compact kit for home or travel.

If you like the idea of Gorilla Bow but want more freedom in how you move—and more options for progression—XBAR is usually the first alternative worth a serious look.

2. Other Bow-Style Bar + Band Systems

Best fit: You like the bow concept specifically and just want variations in price or design.

There are several bow-style systems on the market that follow the same formula: rigid bow, band hooks, full-body workouts. The differences are mostly in build quality, band tension, grip comfort, and included programming.

Upside: Familiar design if you’ve already tried Gorilla Bow; similar movement patterns.
Downside: You’re still locked into the bow shape and limited bar paths.
Good for: People who are sold on the bow look and feel and want a slightly different version of it.

3. Band Systems with Handles and Door Anchors

Best fit: You want cable machine–style training in as little space as possible.

These systems lean into tube bands, handles, and anchors instead of a bar. You can set them up on a door or fixed anchor and replicate many cable machine movements: rows, chest presses, flyes, pulldowns, curls, triceps pushdowns, and more.

Upside: Ultra-compact, easy to travel with, and usually lower cost.
Downside: No bar, so you lose that “pressing and squatting with a bar” feel.
Good for: People who like the feel of cables and prioritize portability and simplicity.

4. Straight Bar + Band Systems (Non-Bow)

Best fit: You want a bar, but you care more about movement quality than shape.

Some systems use straight bars that bands attach to, often with multiple grip positions or detachable pieces. These setups usually feel more like traditional strength training, especially for pressing, rows, and squats.

Upside: Movement patterns feel familiar if you’ve lifted before.
Downside: Quality is all over the map; some are well-engineered, others are gimmicky. Additionally, straight bars for certain movements can cause wrist pain.
Good for: Lifters who want to keep bar-based movements but move away from the bow format.

5. Suspension Trainers (TRX-Style)

Best fit: You prefer using your bodyweight and like the idea of hanging from straps more than moving a bar.

Suspension trainers use your bodyweight as resistance. While they’re a very different category, they show up in the same “portable home gym” conversations. Think rows, push-ups, fallouts, planks, lunges—all using straps and handles.

Upside: Incredible for core strength and stability; travels easily; tiny footprint.
Downside: Harder to get the “loaded” bar feel you’d get from bands on a bar. Also, limited progression, since it's primarily based on body weight.
Good for: People who enjoy bodyweight training and are less focused on heavy resistance.

6. Adjustable Dumbbells and a Bench

Best fit: You don’t need ultra-portability and you want the classic lifting experience.

This is the old reliable setup: adjustable dumbbells plus a flat/incline bench. It’s not as sleek as a bar-and-band system, but it’s simple, direct, and very effective.

Upside: Straightforward progression—add more weight, do more reps, rest less.
Downside: Heavier, bulkier, and not great if you’re constantly on the move. Expensive. And takes up more space than what's needed.
Good for: A dedicated home corner or garage gym where gear can live full-time.

7. DIY Hybrid Band Setups

Best fit: You’re okay tinkering with gear to build your own mini gym.

Some people build a Frankenstein system from loop bands, tube bands, a separate bar attachment, door anchors, and maybe a few handles or cuffs. Done right, it can be extremely capable.

Upside: Highly customizable and upgradeable piece by piece.
Downside: More trial-and-error, more clutter, and no single integrated design.
Good for: People who like experimenting with setups and don’t mind the extra work.

XBAR vs Gorilla Bow: What Actually Changes?

Let’s tackle the core question: “Gorilla Bow vs XBAR—what’s the real difference in how I train?”

Feature	Gorilla Bow (Bow-Style System)	XBAR Portable Home Gym
Bar Shape	Fixed bow shape with bands attached at each end	Curl bar with bands that can attach in multiple configurations
Movement Focus	Mainly big compound moves (press, row, squat, curl)	Full spectrum: big lifts plus accessory work, core, and rotational patterns
Grip & Angle Options	Limited by the bow curvature and handle spacing	Multiple grip positions and angles; easier to “fine-tune” for comfort
Anchor Flexibility	Commonly used standing, underfoot, or in a few anchored positions	Designed for door anchors, straps, floor/foot setups, and low/high anchor points
Progression	Heavier or additional bands on the bow	Heavier bands, band stacking, plus leverage changes via anchor and stance
Joint Comfort	Bands are easier on joints than weights, but bow path can limit adjustments	Variable resistance + adjustable bar paths make it easier to find pain-free ranges
Portability	Portable, but bow can feel awkward to pack or store	Bar and bands break down into a compact, travel-friendly kit
Learning Curve	Simple to start; limited options mean fewer decisions	Very approachable, especially for anyone who’s held a barbell or dumbbells

When Gorilla Bow Is the Better Fit

You’re specifically drawn to the bow format, the look of having a bow as w piece of exercise equipment, and want to keep things as simple as possible.
You mainly care about a handful of compound movements and don’t need a huge exercise library.
You’re okay with a slightly bulkier piece of gear if it keeps your routine straightforward.

When XBAR Is the Smarter Gorilla Bow Alternative

You want your bar-and-band system to feel more like a full gym replacement, not just a single tool.
You care about joint-friendly strength and like being able to tweak angles and setups.
You want one system that can handle beginner to advanced strength levels without being replaced.
You need something that’s easy to hide away or travel with when you’re not using it.

XBAR vs Other Bow-Style Competitors

If you’re comparing Gorilla Bow to other bow-style systems, most of what you’re weighing is:

Price
Band quality and tension range
Handle comfort and overall durability

When you add XBAR into that comparison, the question shifts from “Which bow is better?” to “Do I actually need a bow at all?”

What XBAR emphasizes instead:

Natural movement: Curl bar design keeps press and row paths intuitive and comfortable.
Versatility: Door anchors, straps, and floor setups let you train in more positions, not just “holding the bar like a bow.”
Progress over time: A clear path to increase resistance and complexity as you get stronger, not just “more of the same.”

If you’re already questioning whether the bow shape is actually helping you, or just looks cool, XBAR is what it looks like when you design a bar-and-band system around how people really move.

Which Gorilla Bow Alternative Should You Choose?

To keep it brutally clear:

Stick with a bow-style system if you love that specific look, format, and mainly want simple, repeatable full-body band workouts.
Pick XBAR if you want a more adaptable, joint-conscious, bar-and-band system that feels closer to real gym training in a smaller footprint.
Go with basic bands or suspension trainers if you just need a very low-profile way to move more and you’re not chasing heavier strength goals.
Choose dumbbells + bench if you’ve got space, don’t care about portability, and prefer traditional iron.

The “perfect” Gorilla Bow alternative is the one you’ll keep using when you’re tired, busy, and not in the mood. If you want something that works with real life, protects your joints, and still lets you train hard, XBAR's Portable Home Gym Systems was built with exactly that scenario in mind.