So you’re interested in a high quality, reliable, and flexible (both literally and figuratively) home workout system? Well, unless your goal is specifically weight training, chances are that the TRX system will meet all of your needs. But for such a simple-looking and portable piece of workout gear, there sure seems to be a lot needed to actually set the TRX up before an exercise session. With the various anchoring options, as well as the tools needed to make use of them, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Today we are going to help you with that. Whatever your question on setting up the TRX home gym may be, chances are that you’ll be able to find your answer here. For a quick look at all you need, check out the table below:
How to Set Up The TRX
The TRX (not counting the anchoring additions) consists of:
- The top carabiner,
- Yellow suspension anchor
- The main carabiner (leading to the main body of the system)
- A pair of adjustable straps (for lengthening or shortening the system as needed)
- Two club-grade handles
- The foot cradles that extend out from them.
This should all be self-explanatory; the carabiners are there for you to disassemble the whole thing if needed or perhaps replace a part, the handles are for your hands, and the foot cradles are obviously for your feet. Before getting to the actual set up, you’ll need to determine your working area. Ideally, you’ll want it to be at the very least 1.8 meters (6 feet) by 2.4 meters (8 feet). If you can help it, the floor shouldn’t be slippery. The best way to anchor it is actually using the ceiling, due to the somewhat movement-limiting nature of most other anchor points. An Xmount would be ideal, but the thing is quite pricy (more on that later). If you end up using a one-sided anchor point though, you’ll want it to be at least 2.1 meters (7 feet) off the ground for optimal results. This is where we should move on to the various anchoring methods, but keep one thing in mind for future reference: after the setup, the bottom part of the yellow suspension anchor should hang at about 1.8 meters (or 6 feet) above the ground. This is the recommended height for using the system. Also, no matter the anchoring method, never forget to weight test the TRX by giving it a good tug before use. The bands are sturdy, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
TRX Ceiling or Wall Mount
Whether you end up making these with the Xmount or one of the alternatives, the idea remains the same. You’ll have to drill a pair of holes in either the wall or ceiling (you’ll need to find the beam in the ceiling, or preferably hire a professional), and fasten the Xmount or alternative via screws. Video tutorials for doing this are plentiful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ECc7jx6X2U Once the Xmount equivalent is in place, you’ll want to pull the suspension anchor through it (you can find instructions on this under “TRX Suspension Anchor” below), adjust it for length, and clip it around one of the suspension anchor’s intermediate loops. Give it a good tug. If everything is in order, the workout can commence.
TRX Xmount Alternatives
Considering the stability of the Xmount, as well as the ease of getting your hands on one, why would you ever consider an alternative? The answer is simple: the price. It may be high quality, but 40 dollars may be a tad too much for a lot of people. Luckily, mount brackets, mount anchors and the like, have always been a thing. Off the top of our head, here are some products that will fulfill the same function, but at less of a strain for your wallet.
TRX Suspension Anchor
The suspension anchor is the simplest (and cheapest) method of anchoring the TRX system, with the catch being that it requires a high enough horizontal bar. The bar should of course be both stable enough that it doesn’t rock, and sturdy enough to handle all the abuse that you’ll be putting it through. So how do we make this work? To start with, the main carabiner should be clipped to the yellow suspension anchor’s bottom loop (under the black TRX badge). Do not clip it to any other loop. What you want to do then is wrap the topmost anchor around the bar several times so it doesn’t slide to the side, then clip it to one of the suspension anchor’s built-in intermediate loops. Alternatively you may clip it around the suspension anchor itself, although then you’ll want to wrap it more tightly around the bar. Adjust the height in order to attain the abovementioned 1.8 meters above the ground. Once that is done and you’ve performed the weight test, you’re good to go.
TRX Door Anchor
Ah, the ever-popular door anchor. This is a solid option for both home use and when travelling, as it can potentially turn any sturdy door into a very viable workout station. So what you want to do is clip the main carabiner to the loop of the TRX door anchor. You can anchor it to a door that opens either to or away from you, but the latter is preferable. Open the door, flip the pillow (the rectangular part) of the door anchor over the door, and shut it. If the door opens away from you, than you’re good to go. If the door opens toward you however, then you’ll want to put the pillow closer to the core of the opening. This will reduce the force you’ll be applying to the door. It also wouldn’t hurt to lock it. You obviously don’t want it opening while you’re using it as an anchor. Either way, you may now start your workout.
TRX Invizi-mount
The invizi-mount may be a gimmick, but it’d be a lie to say that it doesn’t fulfil both of its purposes. With the TRX attached, it serves to support your workout station. Without it, it becomes a very functional picture hanger. You attach it to the wall the same way you would an Xmount: via drilling and screws. Before putting it to use, all you’ll need to do is remove the concealing picture, then clip the top carabiner to it. If you want the stability of an Xmount or one of its alternatives, but don’t want it sticking our when not in use, you’ll probably like the invizi-mount.
Fitness enthusiast, suspension training addict. Ditched the gym 5 years ago, never looked back. Passionate about teaching how to build muscle and loose weight using only the force of gravity and your own bodyweight.
