Best Portable Home Gym (2024): Pack It Up Or Store It Away

Portability-wise, the TRX Home Suspension Trainer really takes the cake—it’s less than 2 pounds and fits into a small carrying bag to stow away or take with you on the go. The TRX suspension training system is a unique method to incorporate all the major muscle groups and add more range of motion to your bodyweight training. You’ll be able to perform hack squats, inverted rows, pull-up variations, push ups, core exercises, stability drills, pilates, and even supported yoga poses. 

The TRX is an all-in-one system because you have the ability to target every part of your body. Plus, you have the ability to adjust the straps, which changes your body’s angle and distance to the floor on each exercise—meaning you are in control of the level of difficulty regardless of your fitness level. 

The TRX Suspension Trainer won’t replace free weight training, but it can level-up your bodyweight training. For about $230 you’ll receive the suspension trainer straps made with heavy-duty nylon, door anchor, suspension anchor (for squat racks, light posts, trees, or any other sturdy objects), and a mesh carrying bag. You’ll even receive a 30-day free trial to the TRX Training Club app, which has home workouts and exercise tutorials on how to get the most out of your suspension trainer. 

You might also like knowing your purchase even comes with a two-year warranty. As you might imagine, this warranty covers manufacturer defects not normal wear and tear or misuse of the TRX system. 

MAXPRO SmartConnect Home Gym has had a lot of buzz in recent years, and for good reason—it’s less than 10 pounds, foldable, and is basically a mini functional trainer (aka cable machine) delivering up to 300 pounds of resistance. 

Much like a full-size functional trainer, this mini gym is an all-in-one machine. You can pretty much hit all the major compound movements (like squat, row, and press) in addition to isolation movements (like biceps curls, and single-leg exercises).  

GGR founder and equipment expert, Coop Mitchell personally tested the MAXPRO and finds he uses it quite frequently. He enjoyed the fact that this lightweight machine is pre-assembled and pretty much ready to use right out of the box. However, he notes in our full in-depth review of the MAXPRO that it will be worth purchasing the wall-track up front with your initial purchase, saying that, “you can do way more exercises with this addition to your MAXPRO.”

The wall-track might allow you to adjust your leverage point on the wall, but it’s worth noting that it will cost an additional $325. However, with the base price of $799 you’ll get the MAXPRO machine, three-piece “Quick Connect” bar, two handles, ankle straps, door mount system, and a USB charger. 

The MAXPRO can not only provide several hundred pounds of resistance, you can also connect via Bluetooth to the brand’s app for workouts and to monitor your metrics. Coop mentions the app was a little clunky when he tested it, and notes not to expect Peloton-level quality. 

OK, OK, so technically Future isn’t a true portable gym—but like I mentioned earlier, we all live under unique circumstances and perhaps Future (and having a personal trainer at the touch of a finger tip) is the best solution for you at the moment.

Here’s what you need to know about Future: It’s an app that can pair you with a personal trainer based on your personal fitness goals, your preferred type of training, your equipment, and even common interests you share. 

I will say that just like finding a personal trainer IRL, you won’t jive with everyone’s methods (or personalities) so it’s OK to get picky with your selection. When I browsed through the coach profiles on the Future website, I noticed you can select a trainer based on their coaching style—detail oriented, high energy, even keeled, and supportive to name a few. 

Speaking as a certified personal trainer myself, I think that is a nice feature. I personally would dread being paired with a super bubbly, high-energy coach when I need someone who is more laid back but extremely detail oriented. 

All that said, Future requires a $150 monthly membership fee (and let’s remember that’s just for the app—no equipment comes with this monthly price). If you’re someone who is limited in space and equipment, your personal trainer can design a bodyweight-specific workout plan for you. However, for the price there are probably better options for bodyweight-only programs. 

Coop personally tested (and still uses) Future and likes the ease of use on the app platform, the actual programming, and the ability to record and send videos to your coach. If you think Future is the right option for you, check out our in-depth review before you ditch your gym membership!

When it comes to home gym equipment that can serve as an all-in-one strength training machine, the Vitruvian is a unique choice if you have a flexible budget. The Vitrvian is essentially a platform that provides digital magnetic resistance (up to 440 pounds) via cables and handles. 

I’d call this compact exercise equipment that’s fairly portable, but it’s not a toss-in-your-bag type of portable. It’s not super heavy but it’s worth noting that the Vitrvian platform is about 80 pounds and measures over 3 feet in length and is just under 2 feet wide. That said, this could be suitable for someone who just needs to have their home gym setup completely stored away while not in use. It’s also worth mentioning that the Vitruvian has a 330-pound user weight capacity. 

The Vitruvian starts around $2,900 and the monthly membership is $39 per month, which you’ll need if you want full functionality of the machine. With the membership, you’ll have access to a library of workouts and real-time tracking of every repetition you perform and the loads you use. 

There are four modes to training: pumped, time under tension (TUT), old school, and eccentric-only. Coop notes in his in-depth video review of the Vitruvian that the eccentric training might be the most unique feature of this device. In this eccentric-only mode, the digital resistance of the concentric (upward portion of a given lift) is essentially removed and the eccentric (lowering portion) is the only part that is loaded with resistance. It might not sound like a lot, but trust me that will make for some seriously hard workouts. 

RELATED: Vitruvian Trainer+ Review 

The Gorilla Bow is a fairly inexpensive and lightweight option for your home gym or for bringing with you on the go. Essentially, you have a set of tube bands—all ranging in levels of resistance—and an aluminum workout bar in the shape of a bow. 

What’s interesting about the Gorilla Bow is that it’s pretty much a self-contained portable gym capable of full-body workouts where your own body acts at the anchor (versus using a door anchor). 

For example, you will have to stand on the band to anchor it down for lower body exercises like deadlifts, squats, and lunges. For upper body movements you’ll have to anchor the band with your back muscles to perform a chest press or sit on the band for an overhead seated press. 

Additionally, you can even mimic a pulling motion similar to using a real bow and arrow by holding one arm out straight and using the other to pull back the resistance band. 

A former GGR product tester, Caroline Lubinksy, used the Gorilla Bow and liked the clever and simple design. However, the one thing she noted was the fact the Gorilla Bow might be confusing for beginners. 

In Caroline’s in-depth Gorilla Bow review she also mentions that the all-access app does have a beginner category focused on learning basic movement patterns. The app is $14.99 per month but you will get a free 30-day trial with your purchase. 

The X3 Bar is a unique solution if you’re limited on space and serious about getting stronger. It comes with four heavy-duty latex bands, a foot plate, and a mini workout bar.

So what sets this system apart from a set of Rogue Monster bands? Honestly, it’s the foot plate and the workout bar. The bands alone are high-quality, but the added components make the system really versatile. 

The bar features knurling and bearings that allow it to rotate smoothly with your movement. The entire setup is 17 pounds and can easily be thrown into a backpack for a weekend getaway or your luggage during a vacation. 

Although the price is a little steep at $549, there is a lot of value in being able to take the X3 Bar with you wherever you go. In fact, our GGR social media manager Brittany Combs talks about bringing the X3 Bar with her on vacation and into her living room during her kid’s playtime in our in-depth video review on the X3 Bar. 

With the price you’ll also get a 12-week program with instructional workout videos to help you navigate each movement. Brittany liked following the program and using the app and says she enjoyed the metrics and progression reports as she got stronger.  

RELATED: X3 Bar Review 

Rogue Tube Bands are the OG of portable home gyms. As simple and straightforward as they might be, bands are always my fallback when it comes to easy, full-body workouts on the go.  

On the Rogue website you can purchase bands individually (ranging from very light to over 60 pounds of resistance) or for $75 you can purchase all six Rogue bands as a set. 

The downside to the Rogue Tube Bands is they don’t come with ankle straps or a door anchor. That said, when I use tube bands at home I’ll loop them around the support post in my basement or if I’m outside, it’ll use the balusters on my deck. 

Makeshifting an attachment point can help you achieve movements like lat pull-downs, triceps extensions, and chest flyes. Many lower body movements can be anchored by your feet, such as squats, lunges, and deadlifts. 

Additionally, our former product tester Caroline mentioned that she didn’t appreciate that the resistance band tension in weight is not listed on the band like you might find on competitor brands. If that’s not a dealbreaker, check out our in-depth review on our full experience with the Rogue Tube Bands.