Leverage your Body's Strength

Body Leverage Training can be done without any equipment at all, but there are tools that add variety and continuously variable resistance for targeted movements and muscles. This allows the specificity, progressive overload, and periodization needed to break plateaus and prevent or heal injuries.

If your time is short and you want to hit the ground running, go for the ultimate in value and comfort with the NOSSK Gym Pro. You’ll likely also want a sturdy anchor such as a pull-up bar or a set of wall/ceiling mounts. NOSSK does offer options for door anchoring, but they’re bulky and likely to scratch paint. TRX, the biggest name in the industry, has a good door anchor but it comes with a very steep markup (cache), tricky ergonomics, and puts convenience over the low price and versatility of traditional gymnastics rings.

While there are no kick-backs or affiliate links on this page, I do have a dog in this fight. After a decade of fruitless searching, I resolved to make the perfect set myself! If you know this type of training is for you, consider upgrading to the ultraportable, durable, and ergonomic Slim Rings Mini.

Fair warning: what follows is a very deep dive. Don’t succumb to paralysis by analysis—check out the Gear Wizard here!

Straps (By Cost)	Price ———Warranty	Length Change	Anchor Position (↔Dips?)		Handle Tilts (Radial /Ulnar)		Handle Can Spin	Handle Height (↕ Pull-Ups?)
STR	$0-60	Fast	Dual	🟢	🟢	🟢*	🟢†	🟢	🟢
Gym Rings	$20-100	Slow	Dual	🟡	🟢	🟢*	🔴‡	🟢	🔴
WorldFit ISO Trainer	$40	Fast	Single	🟢	🟡	🔴	🟢	🟢	🟢
NOSSK Gym Trainer	$46 ——— Lifetime	Fair	Dual	🟢	🟡	🟢	🟢	🟢	🟡
Kensui Nano-bars	$49 ——— Lifetime	Slow	Dual	🟢	🟢	🟡*	🟢	🟢	🟢
Slim Rings Mini	$129 ——— 10 Years	Fast	Dual	🟢	🟢	🟡*	🟢	🟢	🟢
TRX	$150-300 ——— 2 Years	Slow	Single → ←	🟡	🟡	🟢	🟢	🔴§	🟡
RapidRings	$259 ——— 2 Years	Fast	Dual	🟡	🟢	🔴	🔴‡	🟢	🔴
Recoil S2	$350 ——— 10 Years	Very Fast	Single: 5″ ↔	🟡	🟡	🟢	🟢	🟢	🔴

Key: 🟢 = optimal 🟡 = fair 🔴 = suboptimal. Notes: (↔) Dual anchors can be wide or narrow, offering several advantages. (*) Integrated: slide the handles out of the way and use the webbing! (†) Your choice! See spinning, or non-spinning options. (‡) Spinning handles suit many exercises, but not all. (§) Shoulder-height and above handle position hard to achieve for tall users.

Inexpensive and time-tested: Gymnastics Rings

The oldest and least expensive of the options above is gymnastics rings. Notable for their dual anchor points, they offer all the staples of bodyweight exercise: dips, pull-ups, and even muscle-ups. More importantly, separate anchor points increase stability and maximize pec/delt activation (see study). Single/narrow anchors produce greater triceps/core activation but also elbow compression. That’s fine for some, but—as always—the dose makes the poison. Rings will not spin in your hands, reducing the grip challenge on full body weight pull-ups and conferring needed stability for dips and one-arm presses. For exercises that require spinning handles like curls, extensions, and W’s (external shoulder rotation), you may need to look elsewhere or don a pair of gloves. If you don’t have room for rings in your bag, consider a more compact option in the Slim Rings Mini, AbMat quarter rings or even your own DIY gymnastics rings.

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Slim Rings Mini: Gym Rings that fit in your pocket

Slim Rings takes portability to the extreme with its Amsteel Blue (a type of Dyneema) adjustable slings. They can support support thousands of pounds of force, but Dyneema is the strongest commercially available fiber by weight, so they don’t need webbing’s bulk. The whole set weighs just over three quarters of a pound and that includes anchoring loops with an integrated door anchor knot. The handles feature small triangle that can be turned 120°—once the handle is out of the way, simply drop your foot into the webbing and you’re ready for crunches and hamstring curls.

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Straight Handle Options: TRX, Recoil, NOSSK, WorldFit, and Kensui

The most common body leverage straps are the TRX Suspension Trainer™ by trxtraining.com. The design allows for quick transitions from pulling to pushing exercises (no need to let go of the handles between sets) and increased comfort over rings for foot-suspended exercises. All that said, they haven’t shied away from cashing in on their brand recognition. If you’re looking to invest in a premium set of straps, consider the comparably priced Recoil S2, which offers the same single-anchor option with easier, faster adjustments and a ten-year warranty that speaks to its durability. TRX warranties range from two to five years.

For a two-anchor option at a bare minimum of cost, consider the no-frills but well-reviewed NOSSK Gym Trainer. These heavy duty straps are versatile enough for advanced movements like dips and pull-ups. Unlike their other models, this one doesn’t have a door anchor, but options abound.

Even more basic is the WorldFit ISO Trainer with its single strap design. Meant for isometric training, it’s equally suited to suspension exercise. Just loop it over a sturdy anchor with a cow hitch knot.

Kensui Nanobars V2 are the first set of straps to offer the choice of rotation or stability depending on the position of the handle. The price is reasonable but the gymnastics rings style strap requires significant time to adjust. It is possible to use the loop as a foot cradle but your results may vary.

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Rapid Rings: Old Meets New

Rapid Rings offer fast length changes (utilizing a coil spring like the Recoil S2) plus the advantages of separate anchor points. Weighing in at 13.5lbs, that convenience of use comes at the cost of portability. These won’t work on a door as they require a heavy duty horizontal anchoring surface like a pull-up bar. While no foot suspension option is included, the loop ends can accommodate the handle or foot cradle of your choice.

Do It Yourself Strength Training Rig (STR)

If you can’t find the perfect straps, make them yourself!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1) Handles (loop end) – Choose one:

“Perfect” Ergonomics: Perfect Fitness Handles (Amazon – door anchor included!) ~ $15 shipped

Inexpensive: DIY handles (including “quarter ring” options for increased stability) ~ $0 – $14

Extra Stable: AbMat Quarter Rings (Amazon) (AbMat) ~ $43 shipped

Extra Strong: Lights Mountain (Ali Express 1, Ali Express 2) (Amazon link) ~ $20 shipped

2) Cam Buckles & Straps

2 x 9′ NRS Loop end straps and cam buckles (Amazon – in blue) (REI – in blue) (RiverSports – in black).

Simply cut the webbing off the cams and cinch your handles onto them instead. ~ $16-22 shipped

3) Optional Accessories:

• • DIY door anchor: use 26″ to 30″ of 1″ tubular webbing (sold by the foot at REI) to create a loop using a water knot (2800lb strength) or beer knot (3,200lb+ strength) ~ $2.50
  • YB X Mounts (Amazon), Simple Wall/Ceiling Mounts (Amazon)
  • Garren Fitness Pull-up bar (Amazon) Excellent alternative to door, ceiling, and wall anchors that does double duty as a pull-up bar.
    Pay a small premium for this bar’s safety features: 1) The handle won’t spin 2) Brackets keep it firmly in place! Rated for 300lbs <$50
  • Seleware Pull Up Bar with strap/band attachments. Rated for up to 440lbs. This is an excellent options for permanent installation above a door. For walls without doors, most studs are 16″/32″ from center, so extra planning may be required ~ $47

 

In summary, the DIY STR, NOSSK Gym Trainer Pro, and Slim Rings offer a balance of the body leverage tool essentials:

• Versatility of gymnastics rings (suitable for dips, pull-ups, muscle-ups) which requires the…
• Ability to move handles to shoulder-height or higher for vertical pushing and pulling
• Roughly shoulder width anchors for optimal biomechanics whether pushing or pulling
• Enough stability for absolute beginners and advanced movements
• Ergonomic handles
• Portable
• Strong and durable
• Foot cradles

Please get in touch with any products we may have missed. Some options have been omitted due to inadequate warranties.

When your body is on the line, pick a brand that will stand by their work! Or if you’re more adventurous than most, consider making your own:

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