TRX GO vs Bodylastics: Which Travel Gym Should You Buy?

If you train in an apartment or travel often, you need compact equipment. TRX suspension trainers and Bodylastics resistance bands are the two best portable training systems on Amazon. Both fit in a backpack. Both offer dozens of exercises. So which should you buy? After months of testing both, here's the answer.

The Quick Answer

Buy the TRX GO if: You want bodyweight-based suspension training, you have a sturdy overhead anchor, or you prefer slow controlled movements.

Buy Bodylastics if: You want adjustable resistance, you train without overhead anchors, or you want stackable load up to 142 lbs.

Head-to-Head Specs

How They Work

TRX GO: Uses your bodyweight against gravity. Adjust difficulty by changing your body angle (closer to vertical = easier, closer to horizontal = harder). Always has the same "load" — your bodyweight.

Bodylastics: Uses elastic resistance from rubber tubes. Stack multiple bands to add resistance from 5 to 142 lbs.

These are fundamentally different training tools. TRX trains bodyweight strength and stability. Bodylastics simulates traditional weight training.

Winner: Depends on goals

Resistance Range

TRX GO: Limited by your bodyweight. Max difficulty = horizontal push-ups, archer rows, etc. Bodylastics: 5-142 lbs of stackable resistance.

If you're a beginner or intermediate, TRX is plenty. If you're already strong, Bodylastics gives you more progressive overload potential.

Winner: Bodylastics (for serious lifters)

Anchor Requirements

TRX: Requires a sturdy overhead anchor (pull-up bar, tree branch, ceiling hook, door frame top). Bodylastics: Door anchor included. Anchors at any height.

The TRX needs something solid above you. Hotel rooms, apartments without pull-up bars, and outdoor parks might not have anchors. Bodylastics works in any room with an inward-opening door.

Winner: Bodylastics (for versatility)

Best Exercises

TRX:

• TRX rows (best back exercise without weights)
• TRX push-ups
• TRX pistol squats
• TRX hamstring curls
• TRX planks

Bodylastics:

• Banded squats
• Banded deadlifts
• Banded curls and presses
• Cable-style row simulations
• Tricep pushdowns

TRX is best at bodyweight strength movements that need anti-gravity loading. Bodylastics is best at simulating traditional weight exercises.

Winner: Tie (different strengths)

Travel Friendliness

TRX GO: Fits in a backpack. ~2 lbs total weight. Bodylastics: Fits in a small bag. ~3 lbs total weight.

Both are travel-friendly. TRX is slightly more compact since it's just two straps. Bodylastics has more pieces (5+ bands, handles, ankle straps, door anchor) but is still pocket-sized.

Winner: TRX (marginal)

Durability and Warranty

TRX: Mil-spec nylon webbing. Lifetime warranty on hardware. Bodylastics: Anti-snap inner cord on rubber bands. Lifetime replacement on bands.

Both have lifetime warranties. TRX hardware is famously bulletproof. Bodylastics anti-snap design prevents the face-whipping injuries that plague cheap bands.

Winner: Tie

Price-to-Value

TRX GO: $130. Premium price for premium quality. Bodylastics: $60. About half the price for a complete set.

Bodylastics is cheaper and includes more pieces. TRX is more expensive but the brand quality is unmatched.

Winner: Bodylastics (for value)

Who Should Buy Which

Buy TRX GO if you:

• Have a sturdy overhead anchor everywhere you train
• Prefer bodyweight-based training
• Want premium hardware that lasts forever
• Train slow controlled movements
• Like the cult following and ecosystem

Buy Bodylastics if you:

• Want adjustable resistance up to 142 lbs
• Lack overhead anchors in some training locations
• Prefer simulating traditional weight training
• Are on a tighter budget
• Want to add resistance progressively

The Hybrid Approach

For under $200, you can buy both:

• TRX for upper-body bodyweight work (rows, push-ups, planks)
• Bodylastics for lower-body resistance (squats, deadlifts, hip work)

This combination covers nearly every exercise you'd want for travel or apartment training.

Final Verdict

For bodyweight athletes and minimalists, the TRX GO is the right choice. It's the original suspension trainer, hardware is bulletproof, and the brand ecosystem is unmatched.

For traditional lifters who travel, Bodylastics is the better buy. Stackable resistance up to 142 lbs gives you real progressive overload, the price is half of TRX, and you don't need an overhead anchor.

For most users, Bodylastics is the smarter first purchase because it works anywhere and offers more weight progression. Add TRX later if you want bodyweight-specific training.

Related Content

• TRX GO Suspension Trainer Review
• Bodylastics Resistance Bands Review
• Home Gym for Travel
• Apartment Home Gym Under $300
• Best Resistance Bands