The Best Portable Gyms to Use at Home, Work and Everywhere In Between

There’s no excuse to skip your workout, even on vacation, thanks to the convenience and packability of portable gyms.

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You can’t always control when and where exercise fits into your schedule, but that’s not an excuse to skip working out when you’ve got the option to use a portable gym. These fitness equipment systems offer a solution to getting exercise when you are on-the-go or have limited space.

Portable gyms are designed to replace bulky gym equipment by providing a way to get an effective full-body workout just about anywhere. When you are done using them, you can easily store them or put them in a space-saving carrying bag to bring with you wherever your day may take you. From innovative resistance training systems to one-on-one expert coaching, portable gyms offer versatile workout options to match your skill level and preferences. Whether you need a compact exercise option for your home, office or travel, this list of the best portable gyms has one that’s right for your budget and fitness goals.

Our Picks for the Best Portable Home Gym:

• Best Total-Body Portable Home Gym: TRX Pro4 System
• Best Portable Home Gym Personal Trainer: Future
• Best Rated Portable Home Gym: Body Boss Home Gym 2.0
• Best Full-Body Portable Home Gym: Gonex Portable Home Gym
• Best Portable Home Gym Resistance Bow: Synergee Resistance Bow
• Best Portable Home Cable Gym: MAXPRO Cable Gym
• Best Budget Portable Home Gym: TRIBE Resistance Bands Set

Best Total-Body Portable Home Gym: TRX Pro4 System

TRX

Key Features:

• Total weight: Around two pounds
• Types of exercises/workouts: Full-body resistance training with exercises including bicep curls, squats, chess presses and more
• Accessories: TRX Pro4 suspension trainer, door anchor, suspension anchor, extender
• Packed size: Fits in a mesh carry bag (About five by seven inches)
• Price: $279.95

The TRX Pro4 System allows you to recreate exercises from the gym just about anywhere. This popular portable gym can be set up in just a few seconds by attaching the suspension trainer to a sturdy anchor such as a doorway. Its portable design features a performance-driven strap that uses your body weight to provide resistance. The TRX Pro4 system’s adjustable straps can be used for a wide variety of moves whether you want to work on strength, cardio or mobility. The durable suspension trainer comes with a handy mesh bag that you can take with you on-the-go.

Reviewers on the TRX website say this is a versatile, well-designed system that’s easy and convenient to set up. One reviewer says, “If you can only invest in one piece of fitness equipment, this is it! The most bang for your buck since you can hit every muscle group large or small. You don't need heavy weights to stay fit and get a great workout in! Highly recommend!”

Pros:

• Two year warranty
• Easy and quick to set up
• Lightweight and convenient to take on-the-go

Cons:

• Some reviewers had difficulties with the foot straps
• Some reviewers say that they wish TRX provided more instructions/support for how to use it

Best Portable Home Gym Personal Trainer: Future

Future

Key Features:

• Total weight: N/A (App is used through an iPhone and can also be paired with a compatible smart watch.)
• Types of exercises/workouts: Exercises and workouts are customized based on your goals and available workout equipment
• Accessories: A compatible smart watch is recommended to track progress, but must be purchased separately
• Packed size: N/A
• Price: $149/month

Future is an app that pairs you with a personal trainer who will create customized exercise routines and coach you through your workout journey. The Future experience starts with a questionnaire about your preferences and goals to help find a personal trainer that’s the right fit for your needs. After you’ve completed the questionnaire, Future will give you a list of recommended trainers, along with their bios for you to select the one you want to work with.

Once you’ve been paired with a trainer, you’ll set up a “strategy” session via FaceTime to go over your needs and fitness objectives. Each week your trainer will create a fitness plan for you, and you can message them through the app with any questions about your workout program. The fitness plan is designed to be realistic based on what tools and equipment you have available. For instance, if you don’t have a gym membership, and want to work out at home instead, your trainer will create a home workout routine.

Your trainer will send you video messages, and you can also schedule FaceTime calls for check-ins. Future shares that the average user texts back and forth with their coach at least two times daily, which leads to users doubling their weekly number of workouts. If you have an Apple Watch, you can sync it with the Future app to share data with your coach.

For more information, check out our in-depth Future review.

Pros:

• Your workout is customized for your needs by a real-person
• You can view personal trainer bios and select who you want to work with
• You can track and share your progress using the Future app and a smartwatch

Cons:

• Not available for Android phones (only iPhones)
• Currently only available for residents of the U.S.
• Requires a monthly membership fee

Best Rated Portable Home Gym: Body Boss Home Gym 2.0

Amazon

Key Features:

• Total weight: 15 pounds
• Types of exercises/workouts: Resistance training exercises are designed to simulate exercises that you would do at the gym including dumbbell exercises, squat rack exercises and cable fly exercises. This home gym can help you get an upper body workout, lower body workout and cardio resistance workout.
• Accessories: Body Boss Home Gym 2.0 comes with a fold up base, easy grip bar, two to four resistance bands, padded ankle straps/wrist straps, handles, a door anchor and a travel bag
• Packed size: ‎22.36 inches x 18.74 inches x 5.12 inches
• Price: $69.99-$179

If you have limited space or are looking for a small, lightweight portable gym system that you can travel with, BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0 may be a good fit. BodyBoss raised over $1,000,000 on Kickstarter and Indiegogo to make this compact home gym a reality.

This small portable system was designed to replace bulky home gym equipment with a streamlined portable workout concept that can simulate the same exercises you would do on larger machines. Though some reviewers say it can’t truly replace getting a full gym workout, it’s a good alternative for getting exercise when you need a convenient portable or at-home option.

BodyBoss 2.0 uses a combination of resistance training to help you get upper body, lower body and cardio exercise. The system consists of a small base to which you can attach resistance bands. You can attach handles, ankle/wrist straps or a collapsible workout bar to the resistance bands for variation in your exercises. You can also change the length of the bands to adjust your challenge.

BodyBoss 2.0 is a top-selling portable gym on Amazon where reviewers say this is a good option since it is easy to pack and bring on-the-go. The base folds in half to easily be stored in small spaces such as your car or under your bed. One reviewer says, “I do a lot of work travel (by car) in my region for several days at a time and this guy packs up pretty nicely in my large suitcase and beats the beat up hotel gyms for a maintenance workout. I do a lot with door mounted bands and free weights at home (not a gym guy) and this feels fairly equal to what I do at home.”

Pros:

• Folds up to a convenient packable size
• Versatile, yet good for exercising in limited space
• Over 100 live and pre-recorded video options to guide you through workouts

Cons:

• Reviewers say there is a learning curve to using BodyBoss 2.0, but once you figure it out it’s easy
• Some reviewers say the base board becomes less sturdy or can get damaged too easily after regular use

Best Full-Body Portable Home Gym: Gonex Portable Home Gym

Amazon

Key Features:

• Total weight: Around 20 pounds
• Types of exercises/workouts: Full-body muscle workouts with resistance bands such as exercises that combine cardio and strength training. The system includes accessories for ab workouts, push-ups and more.
• Accessories: Comes with 14 exercise accessories including 30 and 50 pound resistance bands, ab rollers, push-up handle bar, landmine accessory and a three-section bar
• Packed size: ‎26 inches x 20.35 inches x 5.25 inches
• Price: $159.99

If you are looking for an affordable and easily transportable fitness system, Gonex Portable Home Gym provides a compact option that can be used to achieve a full-body workout. This all-in-one home gym features a sturdy foldable training base with a non-slip mat and anchors that can support 300 pounds of pressure and 250 pounds of tension.

The base is the foundation for attaching accessories that can be used to perform a versatile range of motion and exercises to target a variety of muscle groups. For instance, push up handles can be attached in multiple positions for variations in your push up grip. The three section bar can be attached to the resistance band to perform shoulder presses, back rows, squats, deadlifts and more. Attach handles to the resistance bands for exercises such as curls or tricep presses or use the three section bar with the ab roller accessory for an ab workout.

Gonex comes with a carrying case to store or bring with you wherever you go. Reviewers on Amazon appreciate that this system comes with many accessories allowing you to get a versatile workout. One reviewer says, “Great and innovative product! I do not have enough space in my home to buy large gym equipment and going to the gym is not feasible at the moment. However, I still like to have a full-body workout. This product helps me with that!”

Pros:

• Comes with 14 accessories for a versatile workout
• Thorough instruction manual and video guidance available
• Comes with a storage bag for convenient storage and portability

Cons:

• 200 pound weight limit
• Resistance limited to 50 pounds

Best Portable Home Gym Resistance Bow: Synergee Resistance Bow

Synergee

Key Features:

• Total weight: 6.0 pounds (bow, bands and bag)
• Types of exercises/workouts: Light to heavy resistance exercises designed to help you achieve the benefits of weightlifting with resistance bands. It can be used for moves including squats, presses, pulls and lunges.
• Accessories: It comes with four resistance bands (10-pound, 20-pound, 30-pound and 40-pound resistance).
• Packed size: Four inches x 10 inches x 25 inches
• Price: $89.95

The Synergee Resistance Bow is a portable strength building system that you can use to get a full-body strength and muscle building workout using resistance bands. This unique, compact workout tool allows you to get an efficient workout, performing exercises for both the upper and lower body without relying on heavy-duty equipment. From bicep curls to military presses to squats and lunges, this tool is effective for a wide range of moves.

The bow’s body is made up of three parts that lock together for a total length of 55 inches. This fitness product comes with four resistance bands of various weights: a 10-pound yellow band, a 20-pound red band, a 30-pound blue band and a 40-pound black band. Depending on how much challenge you want, you can use the bands for 10 to 100 pounds of resistance.

The total weight of the bow when packed in its carrying bag along with the bands is just six pounds which makes it an attractive option for travel. At only $89.95, it’s also an affordable resistance bow option. (The Gorilla Bow, which provides a similar workout, is $249.99.)

Reviewers on the Synergee website say this is a sturdy, high quality piece of equipment that is convenient for staying fit on-the-go. One reviewer says, “Great bow. It is easy to assemble and portable which is perfect for me.”

Synergee is a sustainably conscious brand and has partnered with Shopify to offer carbon neutral shipping. Carbon emissions from each product sale are offset through a carbon catching and storing processes to help ensure that the shipping process results in a net-zero of carbon emissions.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to assemble
• Affordable resistance bow option
• Synergee is committed to carbon neutral shipping

Cons:

• The bow only comes with 100 pounds of resistance

Best Portable Home Cable Gym: MAXPRO Cable Gym

Amazon

Key Features:

• Total weight: 10 pounds
• Types of exercises/workouts: Full-body “concentric” resistance training exercises including strength, cardio, suspension, plyometrics and function training moves.
• Accessories: Three-piece quick connect long bar, set of MAXPRO workout handles, set of MAXPRO ankle/wrist straps, MAXPRO door mount system and USB charger
• Packed size: 19.2 inches x 15.7 inches x 5.9 inches
• Price: $799

If you’re a fan of Shark Tank, you may remember seeing this portable cable machine on the show, where it earned an investment from Mark Cuban. MAXPRO is a “Concentric Resistance Training” (CRT) machine that engages resistance during the lift/pull phase of exercises. The brand says that this type of resistance training results in reduced muscle damage and faster recovery.

The cable machine offers up to 300 pounds of resistance and can be used for a variety of full-body movements such as deadlifts, squats, curls, presses and more. The device can be attached to an anchor, such as a door, or used on the ground. (You can stand on the foot holders or lie on it to keep it in place.)

The MAXPRO SmartConnect package comes with a three-piece quick connect long bar, set of MAXPRO workout handles, ankle/wrist straps, door mount system and USB charger. The machine is sturdy, yet can fold in half for easy transport and storage. The resistance cords are thin, yet durable. Levels of resistance are easy to adjust directly on the machine. You can also purchase additional accessories on the MAXPRO website like a storage backpack ($115), wall track mount ($318) and foldable bench ($218).

One of the unique aspects of this smart gym training system is that it uses Bluetooth to connect to the brand’s exclusive MAXPRO app to track progress, set goals and follow trainer-led classes.

Reviewers on Amazon say that this is a versatile, easy-to-use machine that is convenient for travel. One reviewer says, “I believe the MAXPRO portable gym is the best option for strength exercises on the go. Light enough to check it in your baggage on airplane trips, easily fits into even small cars with minimal storage. We also will use it on longer camping trips.”

Pros:

• Offers up to 300 pounds of resistance
• “Concentric” resistance may offer faster recovery
• Easy to transport and store

Cons:

• Only offers resistance in one direction (concentric resistance)
• Higher price point

Best Budget Portable Home Gym: TRIBE Resistance Bands Set

Amazon

Key Features:

• Total weight: 1.15 pounds
• Types of exercises/workouts: Full-body resistance band exercises such as leg presses, bicep curls, calf presses and squats
• Accessories: Five color-coated resistance bands, two cushioned handles, door anchor and carry bag
• Packed size: ‎8.74 inches x 8.27 inches x 4.72 inches
• Price: $23.98

Even if you're on a budget, you can still experience the benefits of resistance training. At just $23.98, TRIBE Resistance Bands Set is the most affordable option on this best portable home gyms list. It comes with five color-coated resistance bands, two cushioned handles, a door anchor and a carry bag.

The resistance bands are made with one layer of natural Malaysian latex and another layer of high-grade silicone for a consistent and durable experience. Each band is labeled so that you know the maximum resistance. (The five options include five, 15, 20, 30 and 35 pounds.)

Simply stand on the resistance band or use the band’s carabiner to attach it to an anchor to secure your exercise position. You can use the bands for up to 105 pounds of resistance.

This TRIBE Resistance Bands Set has received over 16,000 reviews on Amazon with 75 percent of reviewers giving it 5/5 stars. One reviewer says, “Easy to manipulate to give me freedom to get a workout in while I’m traveling, which I do often. Hotel gyms can be inconsistent and this allows me to be consistent with my fitness while on the road.”

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Weighs only 1.15 pounds and easily portable
• Five resistance options that can also be combined

Cons:

• Some reviewers say the bands or other parts broke after regular use in less than six months
• Resistance limited to 105 pounds

What Is a Portable Home Gym?

A portable gym is a fitness equipment system that you can bring with you on-the-go to achieve a full-body workout. Portable gyms often use resistance bands to achieve moves that are similar to exercises that you do with larger machines at the gym. Portable gyms are more compact, lightweight and easy to transport than other fitness equipment.

How to Choose the Best Portable Home Gym for You

When selecting the right portable gym for your needs, it’s important to consider how much space you have available and your goals. Other factors to consider include:

• The weight of the portable gym
• How large the portable gym is when it is packed
• What exercises you want to perform
• How much resistance you prefer
• Weight capacity
• If you want a portable gym that’s compatible with an app
• If you prefer one-on-one coaching
• Your budget

How We Chose the Top Portable Home Gyms

We selected the top portable gyms based on several factors. We considered how easy the gym is to travel with (including how much it weighs) how much room you need to use it and its packed size. We also looked at versatility in terms of the types of exercises you can perform with the portable gym. Our top picks for portable home gyms are highly rated by reviewers and suitable for a range of budgets.

Who Is a Portable Home Gym Best For?

A portable gym is best for people who want an exercise equipment system that can be used just about anywhere. Since portable gyms are compact and lightweight, they make great options for those who are looking for a way to maintain their exercise routine when traveling or on-the-go. They are also a good fit for those who have limited space for a home gym or want a workout option that they can bring to the office.

Who Is a Portable Home Gym Not Best For?

While portable gyms can help you get a full-body workout just about anywhere, they may not fully replace all the equipment you would get at the gym. If you prefer heavy weights or resistance, you might find the available resistance of portable gyms limited. Though you can achieve a cardio experience with a portable gym, if your main focus is cardio (such as running on a treadmill, cycling, etc.), you may find that portable gyms aren’t the best fit.

How to Use a Portable Home Gym

Most portable gyms use resistance to help you achieve moves similar to the exercises you would do using standard gym equipment. Each portable gym is different: some can be anchored, while others have a base that does not need to be anchored. Most portable gyms will come with an instruction manual or provide workout videos to show you how to best use their system.

What to Look for in a Portable Home Gym

Size: Consider the total footprint you will need when the gym is in use and how much space it takes up when it is packed.

Total weight: The total weight is important to consider so you know how heavy it will be to bring on-the-go. The portable gyms on this list weigh 20 pounds or less.

Resistance method: This includes the type of bands or resistance cords that are used and how durable that method is.

Exercises available: Most portable gyms offer instruction manuals or videos to guide you through the exercises that you can perform using their product.

Assembly & pieces: Most portable gyms are easy to assemble, and some can be disassembled/folded for storage or travel. Consider whether accessories are included or need to be purchased separately.

Cost: There are portable gyms available for just about any budget. The portable gyms on this list range from the budget-friendly $23.98 TRIBE Resistance Bands Set to the splurge-worthy $799 MAXPRO Cable Gym. Future requires a monthly subscription of $149/month.

Key features: Key features include how many parts/pieces are needed to use the gym, the type of base it has, if resistance bands are removable and how much resistance is available/supported, if you need an anchor, if there is a compatible app, what accessories the portable gym comes with and if additional accessories can be purchased.

Portable Gym FAQs

Can you build muscle with minimal home gym equipment?

Portable gyms can target a variety of muscle groups, helping you build strength. Research indicates that training with elastic resistance (a method similar to the one used by many portable gyms) can provide similar strength gains to conventional gym equipment such as dumbbells and weight machines.

How can I exercise on vacation without a gym?

Portable gyms are ideal for exercising on vacation since they are packable, lightweight and space-efficient. Other options for exercising on vacation include incorporating the local environment, such as walking, hiking, swimming or biking, depending on what is available.

Will you lose muscle if you don’t work out while on vacation?

Research suggests that you may start to lose muscle after ten or more days of inactivity.

Final Thoughts

Portable gyms allow you to easily and conveniently maintain your exercise routine wherever you go. Whether you prefer one-on-one guidance, need an affordable exercise system for travel or have limited space but a generous budget, there’s a portable gym that will help you reach your fitness goals.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.