The current pandemic has forced us to all to stay at home and avoid coming close to others. This has forced most of us to buy home gyms. When we say home gyms naturally we think of heavy and bulky machines like the Total Gym or Bowflex. But lately “resistance training” has replaced strength and weight training in home gyms. This has caused the home gyms to become more portable and compact. In this article we will review three of the most popular fitness systems based on resistance training. namely the Gorilla Bow, BodyBoss 2.0 and the X3 Bar.
Gorilla Bow
The least complicated of the three fitness systems, the Gorilla Bow claims to have solutions to several fitness goals. Be it loosing weight, building muscles and toning the entire body – Gorilla Bow is the answer. Unlike weight training, the Gorilla Bow workouts do not put stress on your joints.- The Bow – Is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and offers a total resistance of about 300 lbs. The Gorilla Bow weighs 6 lbs. and measures 56″ in length.
- Resistance Bands – The Gorilla Bow comes with 4 resistance bands that offer upto 110 lbs. of resistance. Total resistance the Gorilla Bow offers is 350 lbs.
- Models Available – The Gorilla Bow comes in three models – The Original Gorilla Bow, Gorilla Bow Elite and the Gorilla Bow Travel.
- The Original Gorilla Bow is suited for intense workouts like strength building.
- The Elite Gorilla Bow is suited for burning fat and toning your body.
- Portable Gorilla Bow the travel variant that can be dis-assembled and carried conveniently in a travel bag.
About BodyBoss 2.0
It is not a home gym like Total Gym or Bowflex but a lightweight, compact, versatile and portable resistance training system. BodyBoss 2.0 offers hundreds of customized workouts. The BodyBoss 2.0 claims to simulate thousands of dollars worth of bulky gym equipment. The BodyBoss 2.0 claims to be an alternative to the bulky dumb-bells and squat rack. The BodyBoss 2.02 is designed to provide upper-body, lower-body, cardio, boxing workouts and more. The main elements of the BodyBoss 2.0 are:- VectorFit Base platform which claims to support user force of up to 500 lbs. The VectorFit base allows you to increase or decrease height of the resistance bands thus increasing and decreasing the resistance level. The BodyBoss 2.0’s base features 10 anchor points where you can attach the resistance bands.
- Cloth covered resistance bands [2 nos.] Attach the resistance bands to the VectorFit base and use the handle, collapsible bar or the wrist/ankle straps to perform over 300 exercises. You can add more bands on either side to increase the resistance. Each resistance band offers 30 lbs. of resistance at its normal height. You can decrease the length of the bands to increase the resistance to upto 80 lbs. per band.
X3 Bar Elite
The X3 Bar claims to build muscles three times faster than the weights. The X3 Bar claims to be safer than training with traditional free weights. With the X3 Bar you lift heavier weight with less risk of injury and being portable it can be carried anywhere. The recommended workout duration is 10 minutes. The X3 Bar features latex bands that are 50 to 100 times powerful than the normal resistance bands. The X3 Bar system features three main elements:
What are the similarities between Gorilla Bow, BodyBoss 2.0 and X3 Bar
All the three fitness systems are based on resistance training which has emerged as a preferred alternative to at-home weight training systems which are expensive and bulky. The benefits of the resistance training systems [like the Gorilla Bow, BodyBoss 2.0 and the X3 Bar] are:- The are not Expensive – Compare to real home gyms [like Total Gym] which cost over $700.
- Simple to Use – Not too many parts to deal with, these fitness systems are pretty simple compared to their traditional counter-parts. They are easy to assemble and dismantle.
- Low Cost Maintenance – The only thing that you have to spend money on is the resistance bands as they wear and tear.
- Portable – You can carry these fitness systems with you.
Where do they Differ
While the BodyBoss 2.0 and the X3 Bar systems are somewhat identical, the Gorilla Bow is a completely different system. Let us compare the products at individual levels.
Compare Resistance
- Gorilla Bar – 350 lbs.
- BodyBoss 2.0 – 400 lbs.
- X3 Bar – 600 lbs.
- Verdict – The X3 Bar with its thick latex resistance bands offers the highest resistance compared with the Gorilla Bar and BodyBoss 2.0. So what does it mean? More resistance makes it possible to achieve higher fitness goals in lesser time. Given the fact that it has highest resistance of the two, X3 Bar is more suited for strength/muscle building exercises that are traditionally associated with free weights.
Compare Number of Exercises
- Gorilla Bow – Full Range of Upper Body Workouts, Weight lifting, Exercise to build chest muscles, arms, shoulders etc.
- BodyBoss 2.0 – 24 Exercises targeting your upper body and mid-section.
- X3 Bar – 10 Exercises that include strength training, squats, chest press, bicep curls, and deadlift.
- Our Verdict – The BodyBoss 2.0 with its wide range of exercises has a clear edge over the Gorilla Bow and X3 Bar.
Compare Price
- Gorilla Bow – $249
- BodyBoss 2.0 – $175.99
- X3 Bar – $549
- Verdict – The Body Boss 2.0 is cheapest. If your fitness goals are not too big [like building bigger muscles in short time] then we would suggest the Gorilla Bow or the Body Boss 2.0.
Compare Weight
- Gorilla Bow – 6 lbs.
- BodyBoss 2.0 – 16 lbs.
- X3 Bar – Not Available
Compare Accessories
- Gorilla Bow – Gorilla Bow, (4) Double-Wall Gorilla Bands ((1) 10 lb., (1) 20 lb., (1) 30 lb., (1) 50 lb.) with accessory carry bag, Gorilla Bow Band Wrap.
- BodyBoss 2.0 – VectorFit Base, Bar, Bands [2 or 4 nos.], Straps [2 nos.], Handles [2 nos.], Door Anchor
- X3 Bar – Elite Bar, Ground Plate, Resistance Bands [4 nos.]
Compare Advantages and Disadvantages
Gorilla Bow Advantages
- If you want to do overhead presses, rows, shrugs and bicep curls, then Gorilla Bow is well suited for you.
- Gorilla Bow is built very well, it is sturdy for moderate use.
- Gorilla Bow is a good supplement
- Buying heavier short resistance bands offer a more wider range of workouts.
Gorilla Bow Disadvantages
- Not for heavy chest press, triceps and squats. The resistance bands are not an alternative to the squat weights.
- The bands are too loose for bench-press, even after adding all the bands it is just too easy.
- Not worth $249. Many reviewers say it should be priced around $100/$120.
- No option to buy additional bands as they are all sold-out. And the extra bands cost you an extra $100
- Somewhat clumsy and uncomfortable. Changing the bands in circuit training is a pain. Gorilla Bow is not well adapted for circuit training or HIIT.
Body Boss 2.0 Advantages
- Cheaper and Portable compared to “TRUE” Home Gyms
- More than 300 exercises possible with the Body Boss 2.0
- You can invent your own exercises
Body Boss 2.0 Disadvantages
- You still have to pay monthly membership fee to watch the tutorial videos. Videos are not all that great.
- Workout sheets offer very little information.
- You have to buy more bands for effective resistance.
- You may not like if you are transitioning from “free-weights” to “elastic”.
- BodyBoss 2.0 is not suited for short people.
Summary of aggregate reviews BodyBoss 2.0 and X3 Bar are identical Compare Duration Compare Models Compare Ease of Use
Compare Reviews: Gorilla Bar vs Body Boss 2.0 vs X3 Bar
X3 Bar Review
Convenient and Sturdy
One reviewer in his X3 Bar review says that he ordered the X3 Bar for his workout. In his review he adds that it is very convenient to use for those with little space in their house. He says that you can use the X3 Bar for plenty of workouts! However he says that there are a few things to keep in mind before you decide to buy the X3 Bar:- The bar is a little short. It makes it tough to do some “shoulder width” grips for workouts. But it’s still very doable.
- The anchors/hooks on the bar are extremely sturdy. But if you want to put the door mount on, swap bands, add bands you have to unscrew each anchor to get it setup. So this will add to your workout time.
- He says there were no instructions with it so he had to look through the questions and reviews. He adds that maybe he missed this somewhere in the ad but they don’t send paper instructions, but a PDF. If you didn’t look through the item questions or your messages, you’d probably miss their instruction PDF.
Good Quality but Heavy for Some Workouts
In his X3 Bar review, another reviewer writes that all in all the X3 Bar and everything seems like great quality. He hopes they sell different band weights because for some workouts 40/80lbs is too much.
Too Narrow for Some People
Some reviewers are of the opinion that if you have a 1/2ft shoulder width the X3 Bar is perfect for you but it may be too narrow for some people.
Overpriced
According to a number of reviewers who bought the X3 Bar it is way over priced for what you get.
BODY BOSS 2.O REVIEW
Great for Beginners but Expensive
The Body Boss 2.0 promises to bring the gym to your home. But some reviewers are of the opinion that the Body Boss 2.0 is more expensive that going to the gym. Other than the initial investment, a buyer will end up paying more for extra bands, hand grips, curl bar and so on. Simultaneously, some feel that exercising with the Body Boss 2.0 is not the same as working out in the gym. Few reviewers feel that Boss Body 2.0 is excellent for beginners who are looking for a good home work out. It works well for people who are just starting to work out and who are not looking for hard core exercise sessions.
Squatting and Dead lifting not recommended
Some reviewers are of the opinion that the bands in Boss Body 2.0 are just not steady enough for squatting and dead lighting even if they are doubled or tripled. Squatting with these bands on a daily basis will definitely lead to muscular imbalance as these bands just do not provide with enough support. Even if the bands are doubled it just doesn’t provide stability to stand on the board. Again if deadlifting is done regularly, there is higher chance of muscle imbalance. Instead most reviewers feel it’s better and safer to lift a barbell in a gym. Hence a gym is better equipped for squatting and deadlifting.
Defects in length of the cables
Disappointed with the Boss Body 2.0, a number of reviewers say that the cables are defective with uneven cables but it should have included a range of cables rather than just the 40 pound set. It has a knob at the top of the bands which is held together by a ring. There are complaints that there one knob is a half an inch higher than the other. This doesn’t seem like a big difference but can be felt while exercising using the handle.
Lousy review.