TRX Suspension Trainer

One Anchor Point. Every Muscle. One of My Favourite Pieces of Equipment.

The TRX suspension trainer is an exceptional piece of equipment for building overall strength using just your bodyweight and gravity as resistance. It's one of my favourite pieces of home gym equipment and I use it in almost every upper body training session.

I've tried different suspension trainers over the years. Nothing beats the quality and versatility of the genuine TRX. Always choose an authentic TRX rather than a cheaper copy. The quality difference is significant and when you're hanging your full bodyweight from a single anchor point, that quality matters.

When you purchase a TRX it comes as a complete kit with the trainer, anchors and accessories. You also get access to full-body workouts on the TRX website and their training apps, plus a substantial library of training videos on their YouTube channel.

TRX training website →

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What I love about the TRX

• Simple to set up. One anchor point, one carabiner hook and you're ready to train

• Fast to adjust between exercises, saving time in your session

• Versatile. A complete full-body workout from a single piece of equipment

• Portable. Can be used indoors, outdoors, in a hotel room or anywhere with a solid anchor point

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How to increase or decrease difficulty on the TRX

One of the things I love about the TRX is how simple it is to make any exercise harder or easier without changing equipment. Here are the four key variables.

Base of support

The wider your stance on the ground, the more stable you are and the easier the exercise. A narrower stance or single leg on the ground increases the difficulty significantly. This simple adjustment lets you progress any exercise without changing anything else.

Angle of resistance

The lower your body is to the ground relative to the anchor point, the greater the resistance. Walk your feet closer to directly under the anchor point to make pushing exercises harder. Walk them further away to make pulling exercises harder.

The pendulum principle

For ground exercises with your feet in the TRX foot cradles, your position relative to directly under the anchor point determines the difficulty.

• Starting behind the anchor point is easiest because gravity assists you back toward the neutral position

• Starting directly under the anchor point is moderate intensity

• Starting in front of the anchor point is hardest because gravity wants to pull you back to neutral throughout the movement

Handles

Using both handles provides maximum stability and control. Using a single handle dramatically increases the difficulty and demands significantly more core strength and control to maintain position throughout the movement.

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The benefits of TRX suspension training

Total body workout

You get an effective and efficient full-body workout from a single piece of equipment. The TRX builds relative strength and power while improving your balance, coordination and mobility simultaneously. And because you simply adjust your body position to change the difficulty, you never outgrow it.

Builds a strong core

This is one of the most significant benefits of suspension training and one I've noticed consistently in my own training. Regardless of the exercise you perform or which muscle groups you're targeting, your core is continually challenged throughout every movement. The instability of the suspension system means your core can never switch off. Over time this produces deep, functional core strength that translates into better posture, better performance and a more resilient body.

Burns body fat

Every TRX exercise is a compound movement involving multiple muscles and joints simultaneously. The more muscle groups you recruit in a single movement, the more calories and body fat you burn. A TRX session is genuinely demanding from a metabolic standpoint despite the appearance of simply using a set of straps.

Safe to use

Because you're working with your own bodyweight, the injury risk is significantly lower than heavy barbell or dumbbell training. You have total control over the difficulty by adjusting your body position. The TRX also provides stability to your muscles and joints through its freedom of movement rather than locking you into a fixed plane like a machine would.

Improves balance and coordination

The inherent instability of suspension training requires your body to constantly make small adjustments to maintain position throughout each exercise. Over time this develops significantly improved balance, proprioception and whole-body coordination that carries over into sport and daily life.

Take it anywhere

The TRX packs down to almost nothing. I take mine when travelling and have never once missed a workout because of it. A hotel door anchor is included in the kit so you can set up and train in a hotel room in under two minutes.

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Setting up your TRX

The great thing about the TRX is that you can set it up on almost anything robust, secure and sturdy enough to take your bodyweight. Here are the main setup options.

Permanent anchor: ceiling, beam or wall

A permanent anchor gives you the most solid and stable setup. I have my TRX attached to a beam in the garage using a permanent anchor. Once it's in, setup takes seconds. A ceiling joist, exposed beam or high wall anchor all work well as long as the structure is solid and rated to take your weight.

Outdoor anchor: post or tree

You can also use your TRX outside. Wrap the strap around a solid post or a sturdy tree branch. The same caution applies here as with any improvised anchor point: make sure the structure is genuinely solid and capable of handling dynamic loading, not just static weight.

Door anchor: at home or travelling

The TRX kit includes a door anchor that loops over the top of any sturdy door. This is the most convenient option for most people getting started at home and is invaluable when travelling. Close the door firmly before training. Use a solid exterior door rather than a lightweight hollow interior door.

Whichever setup you use, always check that your anchor is completely secure before loading it with your bodyweight. Give it a firm tug before starting your first set. A few seconds of checking is worth it every time.

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Health should feel like your best life, not a break from it.

Marco ☕

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