Suspension Training

[anomoly]

I've been checking out a few options for suspension training and have come down to 3. Before i get to that let me update you on my situation...

-I rent an small apartment (so i can't go drilling holes in the roof, or attaching things to the door and and risking breaking the door.)

-I also weigh over 250 lbs (i'm 6'7 so i'm not exactly over weight) so this system has to be strong.

-I do have a park thats close (i do my pullups on the swing set there)

the three options i have come down to is:

-TRX Suspension Trainer http://www.fitnessanywhere.com/ this seems like the perfect solution... the main problem is the price, almost $200 after shipping and more if you want the bells and whistles.

- Jungle Gym 1 or 2 http://www.performbetter.com/detail.aspx_Q_ID_E_4558_A_rnd_E_22I would have to get 2 because of my size... i'm just not sure how well this would work at the park, and if i could do all the same exercises (upper and lower body) as with the TRX.

-Make my OWN http://www.strapworks.com/ seems like it would be pretty cheap to make my own... I'm not sure what to get... I was thinking the metal cam straps... the only thing is i dont have sowing skills, and not sure what to do for the handles.


I would love to have some great input from BWC -

[juggledex]

Blast Straps are another option. They aren't too expensive, and from the site, clearly built strong for heavier people. I was thinking of ordering a set myself
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=&pid=916&cid=

[Celcius]

It's funny that you posted this. BWC guys including myself have been using costum made suspension trainer for a while now. The equipment we use is like nothing else on the market. Just a while ago we voted to bring this product to our members. It should be up in a month at most. We will use the money earned from it to develop the site and make it even better than it is now.

[anomoly]

anymore info you can give me on this system?

[Marinewarrior]

I made my own by ordering the 11' straps with the cam buckles off of strapworks.com for the straps and then I have got the 2' straps with the cams for the handles to go thru . The handles themselves are made of 1" pvc pipe.They are the same as the TRX and im only 200 lbs but they have been used by someone well over 300lbs and over 6'5" so they should hold up well for your size.

[NeilC]

Me too. I just bought two tie-down straps (http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acatalog/Tie_down_ratchet_straps.html) which are like a 5 metre nylon webbing strap with a spring loaded cam buckle on one end. They are used for tying luggage onto cars and that sort of thing.

I made a small loop in each strap by tying a knot about 6" from the cam. Once you have a loop you can attach it to almost anything (by threading it through the loop or using a carabiner or threading your pullup bar through the loops or whatever) and the buckle stays in place at the top. Then I made handles with 2" PVC piping and cut off a couple of feet of webbing to thread through the handles and knotted to form loops. The long loop made by the vertically hanging cam-strap threads though the handle loops. So 10 minutes, 2 cuts and 4 knots later I have a fully adjustable suspension trainer that I can hang off my pullup bar or a rafter.

I'm well pleased with it. Pullups, dips, rows, unstable pushups etc etc. The cam buckles make it instantly adjustable which I think is key to these things.

Mine have a rated assembly strength of 200KG per strap & buckle which makes the whole thing 400KG - 4 times my bodyweight. I think (hope) this is more than enough.

If you'd like pictures let me know.

[Celcius]

anymore info you can give me on this system?


You mean what we are using?

[anomoly]

You mean what we are using?

BWC guys including myself have been using costum made suspension trainer for a while now. The equipment we use is like nothing else on the market. Just a while ago we voted to bring this product to our members.

Just wondering, why is this so different from everything else on the market? any idea on the pricing of it? how much longer till it is available, i might just have to hold off... :cool:

[Celcius]

I answered your PM with the same question.

In few weeks it will be out. It's different, because it is designed to let you/help you do things that other products can't do.

[zenbeast]

I made mine for about 20 bucks. Climbing webbing...friction strap locks... some workout band handles, heavy type Im a bigger type of guy ......i put a piece of pvc for door jamming and a center c-beaner to hook it to other things.....

I saw the trx system at the IKC's and had to make my own....Like i said ...20 bucks....

[gizmogirl]

Me too. I just bought two tie-down straps (http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acatalog/Tie_down_ratchet_straps.html) which are like a 5 metre nylon webbing strap with a spring loaded cam buckle on one end. They are used for tying luggage onto cars and that sort of thing.

I made a small loop in each strap by tying a knot about 6" from the cam. Once you have a loop you can attach it to almost anything (by threading it through the loop or using a carabiner or threading your pullup bar through the loops or whatever) and the buckle stays in place at the top. Then I made handles with 2" PVC piping and cut off a couple of feet of webbing to thread through the handles and knotted to form loops. The long loop made by the vertically hanging cam-strap threads though the handle loops. So 10 minutes, 2 cuts and 4 knots later I have a fully adjustable suspension trainer that I can hang off my pullup bar or a rafter.

I'm well pleased with it. Pullups, dips, rows, unstable pushups etc etc. The cam buckles make it instantly adjustable which I think is key to these things.

Mine have a rated assembly strength of 200KG per strap & buckle which makes the whole thing 400KG - 4 times my bodyweight. I think (hope) this is more than enough.

If you'd like pictures let me know.

Yes, please.

[NeilC]

Here are some photos. For some reason the close-ups of the handles didn't make it.

The straps comes with buckle attached. The first two show the strap as bought but with a knot tied near the buckle to form a loop. It's a simple overhand knot called a Water Knot in climbing circles. The 4th photo shows how it's attached - in this case I've just threaded my chin bar though the loop. The free end of the strap is threaded through handles (bits of PVC pipe with a seperate bit of strap looped through) and then through the buckle to create a long adjustable loop. The last photo shows the two straps in situ. The height of the handles can be adjusted from the floor to close to the bar.

[zenbeast]

Well they look a lot like mine. I'm sure they work. You might want to make a door jammer with a d-ring for travel...but ... very cool....

So how much did you spend...mine were about 20 bucks when done....

[NeilC]

about £7.50 for the cam-straps. I already had the PVC pipe.

The only downside to the system is the rubbing of the vertical straps on the arms. This is partly solved by having them wider but that makes it even more unstable.

Door-jammer? - is that something you shut between the door and the frame? Why do you need D-rings and how are they used?

[gizmogirl]

Cool! Thanks, Neil... I could do that! What kind of knot did you use for the pvc loop?

[NeilC]

The handles are made of pieces of webbing I cut off the cam straps - probably a couple of feet long. After threading through the PVC pipe bits, I used a simple overhand knot to create loops. I think the best knot would actually be Water Knot. The reason you can't see the knots is because they are tucked into the pipe bits (for no good reason).

I was mistaken saying the other knots (ones used for suspending the straps) were Water Knots. Actually for those I just grabbed a loop and tied a simple overhand knot to secure it (called an Overhand on a Bight). Maybe a Figure of Eight on a Bight would be even more secure - climbers rely on that knot routinely. However if you think about it, even if that knot slipped it would only tighten onto the chin-bar, not just drop off!

Once you've weight the system the knots really tighten so you'd struggle to undo them. I've checked my knots every time I've used it and they have not slipped at all. if you are worried about it you could put some glue onto the webbing as you tie it. I'd say water-based PVA would be best as you don't want to use anything which might act as a solvent to the nylon webbing. Or you could use a strong needle & thread to put a few stitches through the knots.

When you tie knots in webbing, keep the strands nice and flat against each other rather than twisted. It's more secure and looks neater.

The knots mentioned are here: http://dustinmalone.com/rock/Knots.html.

[angoleiro]

I have been thinking about making a set of these for myself recently. I am interested in seeing what is going to be put out by the people from on here, but in the meantime, getting a couple of tie-down straps and pvc piping sounds like a great idea...

On some of the sites that are selling equipment like this, there are manuals or books with lists of exercises that can be done with it. I was wondering if anyone knows any sites or resources online that have free, legal lists of exercises with suspension exercise equipment?

I've been excited to get a good full body circuit routine, mixed with burpees and other conditioning...

any suggestions would be great, thanks!
-angoleiro

[Marinewarrior]

search TRX exercise system on youtube and you will find a good bit of exercises for suspension training.I also made my own straps and found some new exercises by searching on youtube.Good luck.

[comradebillyboy]

I have the TRX system. I use it mostly for body weight rows on my pull days. There are a lot of good body weight exercises you can do with this device. Its very good quality but a bit over priced IMO; you can use it both at home or at the park. It has the huge advantage of being both transportable and flexible in the training routines. My wife likes it to help her with upper body strength work.

I've been checking out a few options for suspension training and have come down to 3. Before i get to that let me update you on my situation...

-I rent an small apartment (so i can't go drilling holes in the roof, or attaching things to the door and and risking breaking the door.)

-I also weigh over 250 lbs (i'm 6'7 so i'm not exactly over weight) so this system has to be strong.

-I do have a park thats close (i do my pullups on the swing set there)

the three options i have come down to is:

-TRX Suspension Trainer http://www.fitnessanywhere.com/ this seems like the perfect solution... the main problem is the price, almost $200 after shipping and more if you want the bells and whistles.

- Jungle Gym 1 or 2 http://www.performbetter.com/detail.aspx_Q_ID_E_4558_A_rnd_E_22I would have to get 2 because of my size... i'm just not sure how well this would work at the park, and if i could do all the same exercises (upper and lower body) as with the TRX.

-Make my OWN http://www.strapworks.com/ seems like it would be pretty cheap to make my own... I'm not sure what to get... I was thinking the metal cam straps... the only thing is i dont have sowing skills, and not sure what to do for the handles.


I would love to have some great input from BWC -

[Big Jew]

I bit the price bullet and got the TRX system.

I travel a lot for work and stay in hotel after hotel.

The TRX stuffs into a little travel bag and fits nicely in my suitcase, weighs just under 5 pounds. Its a quality product.

[rayco55]

I made mine for about 20 bucks. Climbing webbing...friction strap locks... some workout band handles, heavy type Im a bigger type of guy ......i put a piece of pvc for door jamming and a center c-beaner to hook it to other things.....

I saw the trx system at the IKC's and had to make my own....Like i said ...20 bucks....

i also made my own suspention system for less than 20$, nylon tiedown straps with friction device for about5$ each and handles made out of pvc tubing "kiss"

[InsidiousFuManchu]

Hi all, newbie question here.

I've been scanning the net and this forum for info on do-it-yourself TRX/Jungle Gym style equipment. I've got the basic idea. Though I understand this is a simple project, I still think it'd be nice to see the step-by-step guide (including pics, parts list, necessary tools, and measurements), is there a thread on this site that already has this? I've looked around for a bit but haven't come across it in my searches yet. My apologies if this is too simple a request.

I found on Amazon the Jungle Gym 1 for $29. Any reason not to go with it, and for those with information, what's the big difference between it and version 2?

Finally, if it isn't appropriate asking this within this thread, which should I head to?

Thanks!

[thrasybulus]

I have a TRX and after 9 months I can say I'm still impressed.

[Beev]

The Jungle Gym now comes split so you have two separate straps. And they also have foot attachments now. You can check them out here:

http://www.monkeybargym.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26&products_id=44&zenid=d91bc9b3fade95b4f79ef5106c595e47

I might bite the bullet and get them. Much better than my current webbing set up. I went to my local B&Q (im in the UK), and bought a tie down strap, that is measured at 14 feet long, and has a big hook at each end. I also bought 1 meter of webbing, and 1 meter of plastic tubing, which is about 1.5" diameter. The 1 meter of tubing and webbing made up the hadles. All of those materials came to less than £15. I could get another tie down strap the same length which would give me the versatility for exercises better suited with 2 separate straps. Ring dips come to mind. I think the only problem I have seen with the JUngle Gym is the webing length.

Yours,
Beev

[moak]

I'm a huge fan of rings; I got turned on to those over at Crossfit. They make rings with nylon straps that you can hang over a swingset (or anything that will support your weight.) They can definitely handle 225lbs.
They're basically just like blast straps in what you can do with them, they're just a little more comfortable and you can do cool things like ring dips and muscle-ups.
Mine cost about $75 including shipping, from ringtraining.com