Some days, you simply can’t make it to the gym, no matter how bad you want to. Still, that doesn’t mean you have to totally miss your workout. While some guys commit to the bit and build a full home gym for such days, you don’t need a garage full of expensive equipment to train effectively. When deciding what’s actually worth buying, there are three important factors to consider: progressive overload potential, ease of use, and how easy it is to store.
“When I need to check all three of those boxes, I instantly think of a bodyweight suspension trainer,” Casey Lee, trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and owner of Purposeful Strength, says. “They’re adjustable straps that can be mounted over a door, attach easily to a hook in the wall, or wrap around a chinup bar or squat rack. They’re incredibly versatile not only in movements you can do, but also in where you choose to work out.”
Even if you’ve never used suspension trainers, you’ve probably seen them in a gym or group fitness setting. Using them can feel awkward at first, but they’re deceptively challenging. Because they use gravity and your bodyweight as resistance, small changes in where you’re standing adjust the difficulty.
How to Use Bodyweight Suspension Trainers
One of the biggest benefits of suspension trainers is portability. You can take them anywhere and set up in seconds, as long as you have a solid base to tie them to. They’re also easy to set up and don’t take up much space when you need to store them away.
Suspension trainers also make it easy to scale intensity up and down during a set. By simply adjusting where you’re standing in relation to the anchor point, you have the ability to increase or decrease the resistance. Step farther away to make the exercise easier, or move closer to increase the challenge.
“The other useful thing about bodyweight suspension trainers is that you can pair it with other pieces of gym equipment you may already own,” Lee adds. “Have a weight vest? You can wear it to increase the total weight of your body. Have a few random dumbbells or kettlebells? You can hold the weight and the straps for assisted movements like squats or lunges, but also incorporate the added weight for single-arm movements like rows.”
Best Suspension Trainers
You’ve probably heard of TRX, which is the most popular and recognizable name. In fact, when most people refer to bodyweight suspension training in general, they call it ‘TRX training.’ Their systems tend to be on the pricier side, pushing around $250 or more, but they’re certainly built to last. Jungle Gym is another popular option that typically costs just over $100.
But plenty of budget-friendly dupes exist online. Do a quick search with the phrase, ‘bodyweight suspension trainer,’ and you’ll find a variety of brands offered at different price points. If you go that route, Lee recommends paying attention to weight capacity. That number is usually the best indicator of overall build quality, and for that, you don’t necessarily want to go with the cheapest option.
Related: TRX’s ‘Fun’ and ‘Effective’ Suspension Training System Is Nearly $50 Off Right Now
TRX Workout Plan
If you’re finding it harder to lift as heavy as you once did, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Rather, it’s a sign you’re paying attention to what your body needs. As you get older, chasing max loads can take a massive toll on your joints and recovery. But your workouts can still be just as effective in the gains department. In fact, suspension trainers can deliver a full-body workout that rivals any piece of traditional gym equipment.
“With suspension trainers, you can set up a total body routine that you do two to three days per week,” Lee explains. “Likewise, if you wanted to do a body part or upper and lower body split on alternating days, you absolutely could.”
When programming suspension trainer exercises for clients, Lee uses higher reps in the 12 to 20 range. Because the resistance is so easy to adjust, suspension trainers still allow you to push close to muscular failure in a safe way. As for the big picture, using them makes it easier to apply progressive overload and build muscle from home.
Related: Strength Coaches Swear by This Full-Body Agility Workout to Help Men Over 40 Rebuild Athleticism
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Feb 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Fitness section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.