Suspension Trainer Showdown: TRX Vs Monkii Bars 2
Hanging machines are like a gym that you can take with you wherever you go . The TRX, currently a popular favorite, is used at home and in bodyweight training camps, but the monkii bars 2 gives it a value for money, both in terms of aesthetics and function. Both add a ton of variety to your workouts and allow you to train anywhere , but let’s see how they stack up into the categories that matter.
Applicants
Over the past year and a half, I’ve followed bodyweight workouts a lot, mainly because I was away from home and didn’t always have access to a gym. Suspension sneakers, which are basically a pair of straps with handles that can be attached to sturdy objects, allow me to keep fit and get stronger wherever I go . I trained in playgrounds, on beaches, on rooftops, under bridges – you name it, as long as there was a safe place for me, I would ride with him. While there are plenty of suspension running shoes on the market, we decided to match the longtime favorite with the rookie.
- Basic TRX Suspension Trainer Kit ($ 149.95): The TRX is one of the first quality commercial suspension trainers. I have used their classic model for a long time, tried different imitators (I have one). The basic kit includes a mesh carrying bag, a workout guide for beginners to get started, and special attachments that will allow you to set it up at home or outdoors (which we’ll talk about later). There is a lighter version of the GO ($ 99.95), but we’ll take a look at the standard model specifically.
- monkii bars 2 Adventure Kit ($ 189): monkii bars is a fairly new name. They take the very best in TRX and add a modern look that appeals to the adventurous and active person. The TRX is already quite portable, but the monkii bars 2 comes in a more compact and beautiful case. Full disclosure, monkii bars sent me the original monkii bars ($ 149) and monkii bars version 2 (which will go on sale in spring 2017) for the purpose of this showdown. Both the monkii bars and the monkii 2 bar can be installed at home or outdoors, but the first option requires the purchase of a special attachment for indoor use; whereas monkii bars 2 has everything you need to start your workout indoors or outdoors. You can also choose between the Ultralight Kit ($ 149) and the Tactical Kit ($ 219), but the showdowns will be based on the Adventure Kit.
Both are viable, great portable gyms, so to compare them I looked at their design, quality of materials, ease of installation, versatility, and portability.
monkii bars 2 is more travel-friendly
As someone who travels a lot and finds daily exercise in some form or another as important as breathing, I take the convenience and portability of my fitness equipment very seriously. The TRX has always seemed pretty light, weighing no more than two or three pounds. The Classic Kit comes with a mesh bag that you can use to neatly transport the TRX and pack it in your luggage without taking up a lot of space .
But when the TRX is uncomfortably stowed in a travel bag, it’s essentially a twisted hot mess, like earbuds hitting your pocket in just 20 seconds. Compare that to the Monkii Bars 2 Adventure Set, which is all laid out in a really nice bag that folds up like this:
The smoothness of the monkii 2 bars makes me take them with me everywhere. You just twist the pack like a burrito, zip it up, stuff it into your backpack and start running wild. And when it’s time to workout, everything is ready to be unpacked. What’s more, the monkii bars 2 Adventure Kit weighs less than the TRX at just over a pound and a half. If you want to pack extra lightness, the original monkii bars or monkii bars 2 Ultralight Kit are very compact and weigh even less.
TRX takes less time to set up and use
Suspension training is easy … once you set it up. You can set them up at home or outdoors for some fun in the sun, but depending on where you want to practice, the setup process may be slightly different. For indoor use, you use a special attachment called a door anchor, which you place on top of the door frame and attach your sneakers to it for hanging. When you’re outdoors, there is another attachment that you can sling over the crossbars or wrap around the uprights and then attach your sneakers.
I mention all of this because the setup is where the TRX and monkii 2 bars diverge a lot. The TRX straps and handles are designed as one piece. You just find somewhere – a door, a crossbar, a high beam, etc. – to anchor the anchor, hook on the TRX and you’re ready to play. However, with monkii bars 2, work a little more.
The monkii bars 2 handles are completely separate units, so additional assembly is required. In the Adventure Kit, the bag is itself a door anchor, making it less likely to break or damage your door, and the straps that attach to your handles are also part of the bag. This means you put the bag halfway on the door frame, close the door, unfold a pair of straps, and hook the handles before using it.
No doubt the whole package of monkii bars 2 looks flying, but that’s cool why it takes a little longer to set up and then disassemble and reassemble. This will help you wrap the straps neatly so that they fit snugly back into the backpack and close it properly. At first, this time was a little scared. I’m used to very little TRX setup other than setting up the anchor, and when I was done I just shoved the TRX back into my bag, hell of a confusing mess!
In addition, monkii bars 2 outdoor straps are designed to be propelled over tree branches and other horizontal bars. They are not easy to install, say, on street lamps, which is a big drawback for me.
Whether you can handle the extra assembly and cleaning time depends primarily on how often you have to tune and then pack the harness. Since I train 5-6 times a week, all this time added up and started to tire me. Of course, you can blame it on my impatience, but I can also predict that I will exit the workout because this is an extra step before I can start.
TRX is great for beginners, while monkii bars 2 are more versatile
The lightweight TRX setup and arsenal of bodyweight exercises are geared towards beginners. You grab the straps, lean on them and, depending on what you want to do, push, pull, squat, lunge, or twist. You can get a great workout if you’re already in good shape too.
Meanwhile, monkii bars 2 can do what TRX does, and then more if you have any imagination. Since the straps move independently, you can set them at different heights for more challenging upper body exercises such as pull-ups, push-ups, or pull-ups. Essentially, they give you the functionality of muscle rings and the versatility of suspension trainers in one package. This means more bodyweight movements and gymnastic movements. I mentioned the door anchor, but the monkii bar 2 also comes with much longer straps that I can easily sling over a high-hanging tree branch or gate post and install the crossbars. According to the website, the straps are rated for up to 250 pounds .
TRX is great for home workouts, monkii bars 2 for advanced workouts on the road
As faithful as I’ve been to my suspension sneakers for years, I’m a big fan of the monkii 2 bars for their design and versatility ( you say my own chin bar? ) And maybe start using them as my main sneakers with suspension. However, TRX shoes last a very long time and you can be sure that the straps will support your weight. I confess, there were times when I was worried that the thinner straps of the monkii bars 2 would rip from the strain and my face fell hard.
However, at these similar prices, it all comes down to how you use the suspension sneaker. Monkii 2 bars are made for those who are always on the move and train on the road. But if you just want a comfortable and simple bodyweight training system at home, and you can use it elsewhere, TRX is a great choice.