Let's get this out in the open. I hate working out. I don't like getting "ma swole on", I don't get that endorphin rush thing, nor do I admire my pecs in the mirror when I step out of the shower. Now, I'm no fatty, but I have never taken an interest in sweating unless motivated by money or fear.
So, why would I get a TRX?
Let me walk you through my warped logic. I've seen infomercials for abthingers, totalgyms and all manner of infomercially pitched body shapers and thought, "man, I hate working out, but, this 10 minutes a day thing sounds like a decent way to stave of heart disease and maybe get in shape for my next trip overseas..."
But then I catch myself and realize that none of this As-Seen-On-TV crap is going to really do anything for me. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to need some kind of home gym thing that I can use to work out my whole body, not just my clubbing muscles. I remember guys using the TRX thing when I was embedded over in Iraq. They'ed come out after a run, strap the TRX to a pull-up bar or the side of a hooch and go to town for about 45 minutes. It didn't look complicated and it seemed like the contraption hits a whole lot more muscle groups than you could with an ab-roller or straight calisthenics.
Okay, so here I am looking to find an exercise system without joining a gym or giving up 100+ square feet of my home to Chuck Norris' latest pitch project. I'm looking at the TRX in terms of exercise value vs. storage space. I like the idea that TRX takes up no room and I can pull it out, set it up in a few seconds and then break it down and make it disappear just as quickly. I also like that I can take it on the road when I'm covering shows and assignments and keep my workout going. Lastly, I have to admit that I also like the idea that if my best-laid-fitness-plans go sideways, I'm not stuck with an albatross in my laundry room.
moreSo the basic argument was made, but how about effectiveness and price? I've read a lot of criticism about the TRX calling it a $200 strap. In some way, I can understand that argument. But, I reason that I'm not paying for the strap. I'm paying for an exercise program that's been proven to build strength without injury. That last part being key for a guy who is days away from his 40th birthday. The knowledge in the included workout guide and DVD are the real value.
The fact that this system comes with a well made workout device might as well be tangential if you consider all the work TRX has put into building the actual workout program. I mean that P90X thing is $150 for a bunch of $0.30 DVDs, if you apply the same logic. Looking at the TRX strap, at least its simple and durable, unlike the big and/or flimsy home gym products my friends have rotting in their basements.
The thing takes up as much room as a Nerf football and is nearly impervious to damage. There's no moving parts to break and the grips can be re-padded with foam and 100mph tape.
So, that was my inner monologue from this summer. I convinced myself that using the TRX workout program was my ticket to improved strength, stamina and health.
Since then, I've used TRX Force kit off and mostly on for about 6 months sticking with the included functional strength workout. I haven't convinced myself that I'm ready to do the more advanced exercises in the TRX Manual of Hate (as I've taken to calling the little workout book that came with the Force kit), but I do feel a hell of a lot stronger and I haven't hurt myself, at least not that I can blame on the TRX.
What's included: My TRX Force System came with a the main TRX strap, an extension to use it as a hanging system, a door anchor to use indoors, a TRX Force Training DVD and a Military Fitness Guide (a.k.a. The Manual of Hate). This is enough to get you started using the TRX inside or outside on a swingset or branch. I began using the rig inside over a door during the summer heat and then moved to the backyard slinging the TRX over the crossbar of my kids swingset when the weather cooled. I suppose I'll head back indoors when the snow hits, but working out outside feels much better to me. Try dragging a Total-Gym out onto the patio every time you want to work out and you'll appreciate the tiny TRX all the more.
Documentation: The Manual of Hate is filled with charts that set out a deeply engaging plan of pain that will turn gumby into a gladiator with enough time and effort. I haven't made gladiator, but I have lost 10-15 pounds and replaced it with some muscle. The workout program is the root value of the system, and it works. The book lays out the daily and weekly workout routine. It's also got a set of pictograms that remind you what each exercise looks like, but the DVD really shows how to perform each exercise. At first, the DVD was crucial for getting things going. But, after a few weeks, the program was ingrained enough that all I needed were some visual reminders. I used the book, but all I really needed was a laminated sheet or a poster. I wish it came with one. Better yet, screw the books and discs, this is 2011; there should be an app for smartphones that references each exercise and shows your workout.
Setup: The setup is straightforward. Using it outside, you just take the thing out of the stuff sack and sling it over the just about any overhead-ish horizontal bar or hook it to a strong eyelet above eye level using a simple girth hitch. The thing is light and compact enough to fit in the smallest of packs and could accompany me on a warmup run. Indoor setup is just as easy. Slide the included door stop over the top of a door from the outside and slide it over to the hinge, which is the strongest portion of the door frame. In my house there are no doors that open outward to a suitably large enough workout area so I employed TRX's XMount anchor as tidy mounting solution for indoor workouts.
Use: I made it clear that I really hate the working out. It's not the activity that I dislike, though. It's the boring, repetitive nature of the most workouts. The TRX presents plenty of variations to keep things from getting too stale. I mastered the first set of exercises with the side plank taking the most out of me most days. That particular exercise was troublesome to me simply because the description of the movements in both the book and DVD were a little hard to follow. I powered through and got the hang of it, letting my body find it's way and I haven't suffered an injury, so I must be doing it properly. I haven't worked up to some of the more ridiculous self-torture rituals like the suspended incline press, but I can live with that.
Durability: There isn't much on the TRX that can break if used properly. The straps can wear if you aren't careful and saw them back and forth during exercises. Other than that, the handles will get a little grody and torn up, but some foam and 100mph tape work well enough as a comfortable repair. I haven't seen enough wear to warrant any type of repair, so I'm happy. The only moving parts are the adjusting buckles and they are bulletproof, steel findings. The snap loop up top may get torqued the wrong way someday, but that's doubtful. All the webbing joints are double and triple bar-tacked. I'm pretty sure the TRX could be used to tow anything up to a C-130. The only real enemy is fine sand getting into the fibers of the strap and stiffening it up when used in the desert. Keep it clean and it will last for years.
Transportability: The TRX travels like a champ. I took it to a few hotels and carried on my workout in a few hotel rooms, but I can only imagine what my hotel room neighbors thought was going on as they listened to my breathless exertion through the walls.
Extendability: TRX has butressed their workout program using new workouts and videos you can get over the internet from their website. This is part of what I like most about TRX. The continued expansion of the workout program keeps the thing from getting boring. They are putting out a new $10 workout program each month. I had a go at the Winter Sports Conditioning workout and found the workout working a new set of muscles.
Price and Value: The TRX Force Kit was about $220 when I got it this summer, though an updated version of the TRX Force Kit just came out so the legacy Force Kit is now available for under $175. At this price, it's a great time to pick one of these systems up for yourself or as a gift. The new force kit has a deeper workout program included and a little backpack and newer handles. It's a worthy upgrade, but the legacy kit is a solid value while they are still around. Between these two choices, it's a good time to get fit using a TRX.
