There’s only so much you can do to stay fit with your own two hands. Do you ever find yourself craving a hard workout while sitting at your desk? I know I do. Luckily for us fitness addicts, there’s a lot of marvelous office workout equipment at our disposal. One of the top pieces of portable exercise equipment is a traveling gym. Are you ready for my complete guide to choosing the best portable gym?
In this guide, I share:
- Top 10 Portable Home Gyms
- Portable Gym Reviews
Product | Description |
#1) Bullworker Bow Classic |
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#2) Tension Toner |
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#3) BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0 |
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#4) OYO Personal Gym |
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#5) Gorilla Bow |
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#6) TRX GO |
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#7) Gofit ProGym Extreme Workout Kit |
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#8) BandBoard |
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#9) Gymwell Portable Resistance Workout Set |
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#10) Power Press Push Up Board |
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Best Portable Gym Reviews
Are you ready to get to work in your office or on the road? Whether you’re a business traveler or work an office job, there are options in my Top 10 to kick your fitness regimen into high gear. The most important step to choosing the best portable gym equipment is to identify your fitness goals.
Do you want a toned physique? Do you want to build lean muscle mass from the comfort of your office or home without spending big bucks on an expensive gym membership? Is your upper or lower body your main priority? Once you consider the answers to these questions, my portable gym reviews below instantly become a lot more helpful.
By the time you finish checking out the reviews, you’ll have a clear vision of your fitness journey and will have already chosen the best travel gym to match your lifestyle. Let’s start with the ultimate portable gym, the timeless Bullworker.
#1) Bullworker
There are two versions of the Bullworker: The Bullworker Bow Classic and the Bullworker Steel Bow. Both versions are excellent options for training in your office or while traveling. The main difference is the length of each bow. The Classic version is 36″ long, and the Steel Bow is 20″ long. Below is a list of key considerations to make before you choose between the two versions.
Bullworker Classic vs Steel Bow
- Bow Classic 36″ and Steel Bow 20″
- The Steel Bow is better for traveling since it’s smaller
- The longer Bow Classic is better for a total-body workout including leg exercises
- Bow Classic is better for building overall strength, while Steel Bow is better for muscle targeting and isolating muscles similar to dumbbell workouts
- Steel Bow includes 3 interchangeable springs for a greater range of resistance and higher max difficulty level
- Bow Classic includes 2 interchangeable springs
- The Steel Bow is better for pushing exercises, especially chest work, and the Bow Classic is better for pulling exercises to work the back, arms, and legs
- Overall, the Steel Bow is easier to use, the Bow Classic is too challenging for some
Which model matches your fitness goals? That’s the question to ask yourself before you choose one. The amazing thing about the Bullworker is it’s been around for over 50 years, and it’ll be around for another 50 without blinking an eye. Why? Because the workout is hard, and it delivers awesome results.
The idea behind the Bullworker, Isometrics (*), has been proven effective for decades. The key is to use existing muscle strength against a superior level of resistance and hold it. Once you get accustomed to the workout and see how effective it is for working, toning, and sculpting your entire body, you won’t look back.
- Built to last a lifetime
- Recommended by arthritis sufferers who are unable to use free weights
- The best portable personal gym, skip the gym fees
- Work up a serious burn and get a hard workout in just 15 minutes
- Low-impact, easy on the joints
- Fun to use
- A noticeably more toned physique and serious strength gains
- Recommended by users who can’t use free weights or gym equipment after previous surgeries
- The inherent risk of injury (this isn’t a machine you jump on and master on day 1, the key is to move slowly)
- Might be too difficult to use, especially for total-body workouts
#2) Tension Toner
If the Bullworker was too hardcore for you, the Tension Toner might be more up your alley. The Tension Toner is super lightweight, compact, and TSA-friendly to stow in your carry-on bag. For this reason, I ranked it as the best travel gym currently on the market. What’s really cool is the inventor of the Tension Toner came up with the idea after reflecting on a conversation he had with his grandfather about pulling on a towel to build strength.
The unique workout of the Tension Toner targets major muscle groups and stabilizer muscles by forcing you to focus on stabilizing the bar during your workouts. The movements help to work out muscles most people don’t even think about it.
One drawback is the need to anchor the system to get the full range of 70 exercises. However, it’s possible to place the resistance bands below your feet instead of anchoring them. The Tension Toner package includes everything you need to get right to work including the bar, 2 latex-free resistance bands, a door anchor, cinch bang, instructions, and 2 training programs (10-minute & 30-minute).
Overall, the Tension Toner is an extremely versatile travel gym that’s better suited for beginners than the Bullworker.
- Truly excellent for travel at just 16″ long when folded
- Better than traditional resistance band workouts
- Awesome for total-body workouts
- Durable materials that’ll stand the test of time
- There are over 50 free workout videos that make using the Tension Toner fun
- Easy to store almost anywhere
- Recommended by users over 60
- It might not live up to your expectations
- The workout is too challenging for some users
- The carry bag could be better
#3) BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0
Okay, if the Tension Toner was also too hardcore for you, the BodyBoss kit is the best portable home gym for users of all skill levels. The clear drawback when compared to the first two options is the BodyBoss is not made for air travel, meaning it’s less portable. Although, the suitcase-style design is pretty awesome.
With the BodyBoss 2.0, you get a complete portable home gym package that’s built to mimic nearly every workout you’ll find in a real gym. Start breaking out squats with the resistance band, bar, and board in under a minute. Then quickly switch to working out any muscle group or single muscle you desire.
The kit includes the folding base, a comfort-grip bar, resistance bands up to 30 lbs, ankle straps, handles to simulate dumbbell workouts, and a door anchor. There are literally over 300 possible exercises to suit everyone’s workout routine.
- The versatility and ease of use are truly awesome
- Perfect to use in small spaces and almost anywhere (great for the office)
- The exercise guide comes in handy to get a hard total-body workout
- Work up a serious sweat with this portable gym
- A superb option for toning exercises
- Great for rehabbing after injuries or accidents
- May require additional purchases such as resistance bands to get the workout you desire
- Does not fit into most suitcases or a carry-on
- The max resistance may not be challenging enough for you
#4) Gorilla Bow
The Gorilla Bow is another excellent piece of portable gym equipment that requires no anchoring. What I like the most about the Gorilla Bow is the resistance range of up to a whopping 330 lbs. Simply mix and match the included double-wall latex bands to dial in the exact resistance of your choosing. The wide range of bands included makes the Gorilla Bow perfect for everyone, from beginners to muscle heads.
There are a total of 8 resistance bands in the kit: 1 – 10lb, 1 – 20lb, 1 – 30lb, 3 – 50lb, and 2 – 60lb. The bow is made of aircraft-grade aluminum and will undoubtedly stand the test of time. The greatest drawback of the Gorilla Bow is the length of the bow at 58 inches. Unlike the Tension Toner and Bullworker, the Gorilla Bow is not made for air travel, and you’ll need enough clearance to use it in small spaces or to fit it in your car or office.
Having said that, if you have enough room, the Gorilla Bow just might be the best portable gym on the market with its massive resistance range and a full collection of exercises to get a total-body workout virtually anywhere.
- Users are gaining serious mass with the Gorilla Bow (remember up to 330lbs of resistance)
- Ditch the expensive gym membership and save time
- Worth the money and more
- Working out with the Gorilla Bow is fun and can be challenging
- It’s easy to use for all skill levels
- The resistance bands and the bar are both high-quality
- Recommended for HIIT workouts
- The workout is truly comparable to a real gym workout
- Makes working out amazingly convenient
- The length of the bar (Click Here #ad to check out the 3-piece travel version)
- Several reports about receiving the wrong resistance bands or incomplete sets
#5) TRX GO
Of all the TRX portable gym packages, the TRX GO is the best-priced and most highly recommended. If you plan to use the TRX GO inside your office, keep in mind that it does require anchoring. The good news is the kit comes with everything you need to anchor the system anywhere, including in your office. What I like the most about the TRX GO is how light and portable it is.
You’ll have no problem traveling with the TRX GO anywhere, including air travel, as it’s quite easy to squeeze into any carry-on bag without adding much weight (under 1 lb) or taking up valuable room. We all know that airlines find ways to nickel-and-dime us more each year when it comes to luggage fees.
The TRX GO does not require resistance bands to get a hard full-body workout. Instead, it relies on your own body weight and gravity to push you to your limits. Lastly, the single-anchor design makes it easy to set up in less than 60 seconds wherever you choose to work out.
- The most portable travel gym in my Top 10
- The range of possible exercises to get a total-body workout is awesome
- TRX GO sets up anywhere from tree limbs to hotel room doors
- TRX straps are built for safety with the locking loop (supports up to 350 lbs)
- Incredibly easy to use and to switch between exercises
- The possibilities are endless
- 1 free year of TRX official app use included (the app is actually worth using too)
- Reach muscles that workout machines can’t target
- Several durability issues were reported (Click Here #ad to view the sturdier ALL-IN-ONE kit)
- A handful of reports about the adjustment clip slipping
- Better for toning than muscle building
#6) Gofit ProGym Extreme Workout Kit
The GoFit ProGym Extreme kit is the best cheap portable gym in my Top 10 that costs significantly less, yet still delivers a complete total-body workout. Like the TRX GO kit, the GoFit ProGym is extremely lightweight and portable. Unlike the TRX GO, the ProGym offers resistance and does not rely on your body weight or gravity to target your muscle groups.
For the price, it’s hard to beat the ProGym Extreme. The kit includes 4 resistance bands (20, 30, 40, and 50 lbs), 2 comfort-grip attachable handles, sturdy nylon door anchors, 2 reinforced padded ankle straps, a carrying bag, and even a workout guide. The resistance bands are clearly marked on the straps to make it easy to reach for your desired weight. All in all, the ProGym Extreme is a basic yet efficient portable gym that’ll get the job done for most people.
- The replacement guarantee in the event of broken resistance bands is comforting
- The handles are sturdy and comfortable in the hands
- Mixing and matching the resistance bands allows for virtually endless possibilities
- Suitable for all skill levels
- The door anchor is versatile and does not cause damage
- Easy to use and set up in an instant
- Top-notch quality materials, especially for the money
- Excellent for core exercises
- Several quality control issue reports
- Quality between sets might be inconsistent
- Resistance tubes feel awkward for some people
#7) BandBoard
The BandBoard is a unique portable gym that combines resistance bands with a footboard to create a highly functional and versatile piece of exercise equipment. The quick-release ball & hook system allows the user to switch between different levels of resistance with a single band. If you don’t like the idea of carrying around multiple resistance bands due to tangling and the extra time it takes to keep them organized, the BandBoard system could be the answer you’re looking for.
The drawback is the max resistance is not high enough for everyone, especially people who have used or are using a Bullworker or Gorilla Bow. The BandBoard kit comes with everything you need to start using it right out of the box and requires no anchoring – another advantage of owning it. Finally, the included exercise chart has more than enough ideas to engage all of your major muscle groups.
- Quite easy to store the BandBoard anywhere, takes up almost no space
- The carry bag is high-quality
- Incredibly simple to use
- The versatility is the real deal
- You may love the ball & hook system for easy transitioning between resistance levels
- A great choice for the whole family
- Low impact, easy on the joints
- Great for lower-body workouts, especially legs and glutes
- The bands might be tricky to keep in place
- Low max resitance compared to other picks in my Top 10
#8) Gymwell Portable Resistance Workout Set
The final piece of resistance equipment in my Top 10 is the Gymwell portable gym. The feature I like most about this kit is the collapsible workout bar, which makes this kit travel-ready, including for air travel. The concept is similar to the BodyBoss Home Gym, except the Gymwell does not include a board. Instead, the kit includes ankle straps to anchor the bands to your feet and ankles. There are also door and anchor straps to anchor the system anywhere you choose.
Another feature that’s worth pointing out is the range of resistance this kit offers. Users can employ anywhere from 30 – 120 lbs of resistance, making this a great kit for all skill levels. In total, the kit comes with 3 pairs of resistance bands of varying lengths and tensions.
- A good portable gym for small spaces
- The materials are of top-notch quality
- The Gymwell kit makes working out fun, most people get into a consistent routine
- Comparable to a true gym-quality workout
- An excellent option for people on the move or others who travel for work
- Lightweight and easy to pack
- The instructions may seem lacking
- Reports of missing workout posters
#9) Power Press Push Up Board
If you love doing push-ups but experience wrist or joint pain while doing them, the Power Press Push Up Board could be your solution. Personally, I love all the different positions offered by this board and the color-coding system that shows which muscles each position targets. This board isn’t limited to upper-body workouts either. The board gives you options to blast your core and get your lower body involved as well.
Need some extra motivation? The included 10-week challenge with a workout calendar motivates even the most sluggish individuals. The 3-phase program includes cardio, plyometric, and core exercises. Plus, it takes just 30 minutes per day.
- An excellent tool to learn proper form and posture
- Has the ability to motivate people to work out consistently, including people who never worked out before
- Great for building overall strength
- The workout program is worthy of anyone’s attention
- Users who love this push-up board, really LOVE it
- An awesome upper-body workout
- Highly recommended for office workouts
- The handles could be softer
- The materials may feel low-quality
- May slide on hard or slick surfaces
Bottom Line
Who needs a gym membership with all of these amazing portable gyms available? The best part is you can use travel gyms everywhere. Hotel room fitness and office fitness has never looked so appealing before. Be sure to follow the steps below to choose the best portable gym equipment:
- Identify your fitness goals and the muscle groups you want to target. For example, do you want to build muscle? Do you want to get toned?
- Once you identify your goals, be sure to check the max resistance offered by the portable gym. Is it enough for you to reach your goals or will you be disappointed by it? It’s also important to be sure it’s not too much. For example, Bullworker is too hardcore for some people.
- Check to make sure you can do your favorite workouts with the kit. What use is a travel gym kit if you can’t do your favorite workouts?
- Lastly, check the price and warranty to be sure the kit is within your budget. Also, does the company stand behind the quality of its products with a warranty?
I already did most of the hard work for you by finding the 10 best portable gyms on the market, now it’s up to you to choose your Excalibur.