TRX Alternatives: 6 Smart Options

If you’ve been looking at TRX suspension trainers, you’re already ahead of the “I’ll just go to the gym… someday” crowd. TRX is a solid tool: portable, bodyweight-focused, and great for core strength.

But it’s not the only way to build real strength at home. Depending on your space, joints, goals, and budget, a TRX alternative might actually fit you better.

We’ll walk through:

The best TRX alternatives (including XBAR Portable Home Gym and other systems)
How each option works in real life, not just in ads
A clear comparison of XBAR Portable Home Gym vs TRX so you can decide what’s right for you

No drama, no trash talk. Just honest pros, cons, and where XBAR fits into the picture.

TRX Alternatives: Your Top Options

Before we zoom in on XBAR vs TRX, here are some of the main TRX alternatives people consider when they want a compact home gym:

1. XBAR Portable Home Gym System

Best for: People who want “real weight training” feel from bands and a bar, not just bodyweight exercises.

XBAR uses resistance bands that connect to a 35" curl bar, letting you mimic barbell and cable-style lifts in a tiny footprint. Instead of only pulling your bodyweight up to a strap, you can load resistance bands and move the bar through familiar patterns: presses, rows, curls, squats, deadlifts, hip hinges, and more.

Strength Curve: Variable resistance—lighter at the bottom of a lift, heavier at the top—tends to be easier on joints while still building strength.
Exercise Variety: Upper body, lower body, core, and rotational work—all with one bar and bands.
Progression: Add heavier bands, combine bands, or change leverage to increase load over time.
Footprint: Fits under a bed or in a closet; travels in a carry bag.

If you like the TRX idea of a “gym in a bag” but want more traditional strength-training movements and still fits into a bag, XBAR resistance band kits is usually the next logical step.

2. Other Suspension Trainer Systems

Best for: People who like the TRX style but want a different price point or slight design tweaks.

There are several TRX-style suspension trainers on the market: similar straps, similar handles, similar concept. They typically anchor to a door, beam, or ceiling mount, and you use your bodyweight for rows, push-ups, lunges, and core work.

Pros: Familiar feel if you’ve used TRX; usually cheaper; very portable.
Cons: Many have lower build quality, less comfortable handles, or less detailed training resources.
Use case: You just want “TRX but not TRX” and don’t care much about long-term durability.

3. Resistance Band Door-Anchored Systems

Best for: Apartment dwellers and frequent travelers who want cable-style exercises without machines.

These setups use tube bands with handles that clip onto a door anchor. You can simulate cable rows, chest presses, pulldowns, flyes, and more. Compared to TRX, you’re loading bands rather than bodyweight and can dial in resistance more precisely.

Pros: Very compact; simple to set up; lots of familiar “cable machine” movements.
Cons: No bar; some movements feel unstable or awkward at heavier resistance; quality varies a lot.

Use case:

You like the feel of resistance bands and want a low-cost, ultra-portable option.

4. Bar-and-Band Systems (e.g., Gorilla Bow–style setups)

Best for: People who like the idea of a bar plus bands but mainly focus on big compound moves.

These systems attach bands to a rigid bar, in this case, shaped like a bow. You can do squats, presses, rows, and some athletic-style movements. They sit somewhere between a pure band setup and a compact barbell substitute.

Pros: Strong focus on big lifts; portable; can be fun and engaging.
Cons: Limited variety in grip positions and angles; bulky shape can be awkward to pack.
Use case: You want a “barbell-ish” feel but don’t need a wide variety of accessory movements.

5. Adjustable Dumbbells + Bench

Best for: People who don’t mind a little bulk and want classic strength training.

This is the old-school alternative: adjustable dumbbells and a small bench. No straps, no bands—just weights. Compared to TRX, this lets you load up heavier for certain lifts, but you lose the suspension-training style and portability.

Pros: Straightforward, proven results, tons of exercise variety.
Cons: Heavier, less travel-friendly, takes more floor space.
Use case: You have a fixed workout space and prioritize traditional lifting over portability.

6. Gymnastic Rings

Best for: Bodyweight purists who want a serious challenge.

Rings are like TRX on “expert mode.” They’re incredibly effective for strength and stability, but the learning curve is steep.

Pros: Huge strength potential; amazing for shoulders and core.
Cons: Tough on beginners; requires a safe place to mount overhead; much less forgiving than bands.
Use case: You want to master advanced bodyweight skills (e.g., dips, levers, muscle-ups).

XBAR vs TRX: How They Really Compare

Let’s get into the head-to-head comparison: “TRX vs XBAR” or “TRX alternatives for home gym.”

Feature	TRX Suspension Trainer	XBAR Portable Home Gym
Primary Training Style	Bodyweight suspension training	Band-based resistance training with a curl bar
Main Movement Patterns	Rows, push-ups, lunges, planks, core work	Presses, rows, curls, squats, deadlifts, hip hinges, core & rotational
Progression	Change body angle or single-leg/arm variations	Swap bands, combine bands, or change setup to add load
Joint Friendliness	Generally joint-friendly, but can stress wrists/shoulders if form slips	Variable resistance reduces joint stress at weak points of the lift
Space & Setup	Needs solid door/anchor point and floor space behind it	Works with door anchors, foot plates, or ground-based setups in very small spaces
Travel-Friendly	Very travel-friendly; simple to pack	Also highly travel-friendly; bar and bands fit in a carry bag
Strength Ceiling	Limited by your bodyweight and leverage	Limited by band tension; can stack bands to become very challenging
Learning Curve	Easy to start; some moves get technical	Familiar to anyone who’s used dumbbells or barbells

When TRX Makes More Sense

You love bodyweight training and want to keep equipment minimal.
You train mostly with rows, push-ups, planks, and lunges.
You have a good anchor point and enough space to move freely around it.

When XBAR Is the Better TRX Alternative

You want exercises that feel closer to dumbbells or barbells.
You want to scale resistance easily by adding or swapping bands.
You need something that’s joint-friendly but still lets you chase real strength.
You like having one system that covers full-body strength in a very small footprint.

XBAR vs Other Suspension Trainers (TRX-Style Competitors)

If you’re already looking at “TRX knockoffs” or other suspension trainers, here’s how XBAR fits into that picture.

Most TRX-style competitors are essentially the same category: two straps, handles, an anchor, and some training videos. The main differences are price, build quality, brand, and customer support.

XBAR is different by design:

It’s built around a bar + band concept, not just straps.
It’s meant to replace multiple machines and weights, not just add a core workout.
It focuses heavily on strength + mobility in one system, especially for people who don’t want to beat up their joints.

If suspension trainers feel like “fancy push-up handles on straps” to you, XBAR is a natural alternative—same level of portability, but a very different training experience.

So… Which TRX Alternative Should You Choose?

Here’s the short version:

If you love bodyweight-only training: TRX or similar suspension trainers are a good fit.
If you want classic strength training in a tiny footprint: XBAR is one of the strongest TRX alternatives you can choose.
If you just want “something cheap” to move more at home: Basic band kits or low-cost suspension trainers can work, as long as you actually use them.
If you have a dedicated space and don’t care about portability: Adjustable dumbbells and a bench are never a bad idea.

The important thing isn’t picking the “perfect” tool—it’s picking the one you’ll actually use consistently throughout the week without dreading it.

If you want a TRX alternative that’s portable, joint-friendly, and feels like real strength training instead of just “creative planks,” XBAR is built for exactly that.