Best Home Workout Bar
in 2024

If you’ve ever lifted weights, chances are you’re familiar with the standard Olympic workout bar or some variation of it. This is the long steel bar that holds your plates, giving you an easier and more comfortable grip while you work out. If you look closer, you’ll find not only free-weights use workout bars, but nearly all weight lifting systems have some type of bar attachment.

If you’re doing squats on a Smith Machine, you’ll be holding a bar. If you’re doing pull-downs with a cable system, you’ll be holding a bar. If you’re doing curls on a Nautilus machine, you’ll be holding a bar. Even body-weight workouts such as pull-ups incorporate holding a bar. There’s just no getting around the value of a workout bar when it comes to building muscle and strength.

In fact, using a workout bar will build muscle faster than using dumbbells or kettlebells. Research confirms1 you can lift at least 17% more weight with a barbell than with one-armed lifts using dumbbells. And if you want to build muscle faster, lifting heavier2 is the way to do it.

But can you lift heavy with a workout bar at home? The answer is yes. You can stock your home gym with an Olympic barbell and a set of weights or invest thousands in weight lifting machines, but there’s a much simpler, more effective type of workout bar for the home.

This article is all about workout bars you can use at home. The variety of home workout bars keeps increasing, so knowing your options is helpful. We’ll cover the different types of home workout bars out there, why they’re used, and the pros and cons of each.

Best of all, we’ll introduce you to the most versatile and innovative workout bar on the 2024 market. You’ll learn why it’s a bestseller, how people are using it, and why so many people have ditched their gym memberships after using it.

Types of home workout bars

Types of Workout Bars

Before you choose a home workout bar that’s going to check all of your boxes, you need to get a sense of what’s out there. We’ve found there are generally four categories of home workout bars to consider. Some function on their own, while others require a stack of weights or other accessories in order to access resistance.

Traditional Workout Bars

When most people think of workout bars they think of the standard or Olympic barbell which requires weights for added resistance. You’ll find these bars on flat benches and squat racks in every gym you walk into. An Olympic barbell is typically made from stainless steel alloys. The 45-pound bar is designed for heavy lifting.

The Olympic bar is used for the primary Olympic lifts, which include power cleans, front squats, squat cleans, push jerks, power snatches, and squat snatches. Additional exercises performed with Olympic barbells include bench presses and deadlifts.

No Weights, No Cardio

Variations of the traditional barbell include bars with thinner grips, shorter bars, and the EZ Curl bar. The EZ Curl bar is a shorter bar that’s designed to improve upon wrist angle for better isolation of biceps and triceps during curls.

While Olympic bars and their variations can be used at home, the need for an extensive set of accompanying weights makes them cost-prohibitive. Plus, they require ample storage space.

Machine Workout Bars

The next category of workout bars you’ll find in the gym are cable machine attachment bars. You’ll find dozens of different bars in this category. Common machine workout bars include straight bars, handlebars, curved revolving bars, triangle back row bars, multi-purpose “V” chrome bars, multi-purpose close grip bars, and more.

Assuming you had the space for a cable machine at home, equipping it with each of these bars would be very expensive. Attachments run from $30–$60 each, putting a machine bar set at upwards of $500. Of course, that doesn’t include the cost of the cable machine system itself.

Weighted Workout Bars

Weighted workout bars are typically about 4 feet long, wrapped in a foam layer, and come in a variety of weights ranging from 5 to 25 pounds. They’re often bought in sets that include several bars at 5-pound increments. Weighted workout bars can be used for a variety of exercises, including squats, lunges, and overhead presses.

Because weighted workout bars max out at around 25 pounds, for most people, they aren’t an effective means of building muscle. They’re relatively inexpensive and easy to store for home use but better suited for warming up and stretching than for building strength.

Home Workout Bar Systems

The final category of home workout bars are those that work as part of a total home gym system. Outside of machine-based home gyms, these bars often function alongside resistance bands and other accessories, such as door-anchors or foot plates. Home workout bar systems offer the most in terms of versatility, affordability, and portability.

However, like weighted workout bars, most home workout bar systems don’t offer enough resistance for building muscle mass. Only the X3 Bar is different. As we’ll explain below, the X3 bar is an affordable, space-saving home workout bar that’s strong enough to trigger real strength gains and weight loss.

best home workout bars

Best Home Workout Bars

Traditional and machine-based workout bars require a lot of space and a big investment. Weighted workout bars are affordable and space-saving, but limited to mobility or stretching. To build muscle and lose weight without breaking the bank or sacrificing your entire garage, opt for a resistance band system with barbell attachment.

These workout bar systems are great for working out in small spaces like the office, at home, or while traveling. The resistance range offered by each home bar system varies, but most are adjustable and include multiple resistance bands that can be interchanged to increase or decrease the challenge of your workout.

Trusted by ProfessionalAthletes Worldwide

Below are some of the most popular home workout bars for resistance bands, plus our top choice for 2024. We review each product’s price, features, pros, and cons.

The Best Home Workout Bar for 2024: <A Href="/Products/X3-Bar/">X3 Bar</A>

Price: $549

The X3 Workout Bar is the best home workout bar on our list. The resistance band bar system comes with a 12-week workout program created by X3’s inventor and biomedical engineer, Dr. John Jaquish. If you’re looking for maximum strength gains in a minimal workout space, the X3 bar is your best option.

The X3 Bar outperforms all other home workout bar options in the areas that count most.

  • Range of resistance offered—over 600 pounds of available force
  • Durability for strong, heavy lifts—made from alloyed stainless steel
  • Portability for easy storage and travel—can be used anywhere

The X3 Bar uses heavy-duty latex bands and a 21.5-inch long steel bar which allows you to perform various exercises designed to increase muscle mass, strength, and bone density.

While researching bone density for his first invention, OsteoStrong, Dr. Jaquish discovered there’s a sevenfold difference in strength between the body’s strongest and weakest ranges when performing weightlifting movements.

This means your max lifts are limited by your strength in your weakest range. The weight you struggle to get off the floor is the max weight you’ll be able to lift in your strongest, impact-ready posture.

Dr. Jaquish went to work on a solution that would protect joints in the weakest ranges of movement while maximizing power in the strongest ranges. The result was X3 Workout Bar, a device that trains strength using variable resistance training.

Unlike traditional weight-lifting that’s based on static resistance, with variable resistance, the weight changes as you move, mimicking the natural, variable power curve of the body. The result? You can access seven times greater strength at your strongest range.

The X3 Workout Bar helps people build muscle faster and easier than conventional free weights, fitness equipment, or stand-alone resistance bands. With X3 you’ll hit your fitness goals soonest, no matter how much space you have to work with.

The Ultimate Solution for MaximizingMuscle and Minimizing Body Fat

Pros

  • Total body workout: builds muscle and strength across all muscle groups
  • Anyone can learn it: easy-to-follow videos teach you how to use the system
  • Range of resistance bands: make X3 suitable for any fitness level
  • Elite resistance bands: so even the strongest athletes can build muscle
  • Safe on the joints: while allowing for maximum resistance
  • FREE programming provided: repeatable 12-week program tells you what to work and when to rest
  • FREE nutrition advice: diet and food prep tips help you sleep better and lose weight faster
  • High portability: perfect for full-body workouts at home or on the road
  • Comes pre-assembled: no tools are required for assembly
  • Easy to store: keep X3 under your bed or in a drawer

Cons

  • X3 workouts are not easy. If you’re not ready to commit to an intense, 10-minute muscle-building workout, then X3 might not be your best choice.
  • You must follow directions. For best results, you must stick to the X3 12-Week Program—you’re not going to see results from freestyling your workouts.
  • X3 is a weight-free system. If you enjoy throwing iron plates around the garage, X3 is not the best choice.
home workout bar options

Home Workout Bar Options

While X3 is undoubtedly the best home workout bar for serious strength training and efficient weight loss, it’s not the only option out there. We looked at the following home workout bars before settling on our top choice.

Keep reading to learn more about each, including why we chose X3 as the best workout bar for 2024.

Body Boss 2.0

Price: $180

The Body Boss home workout bar system isn’t as strong or durable as X3, but delivers a decent full body workout for those new to resistance training.

Body Boss 2.0 comes packaged with a variety of accessories. You’ll get a fold-up base, a workout bar, resistance bands, a door anchor, straps, and handles.

The equipment is extremely lightweight and compact. Using just your body weight, you can perform hundreds of different exercises. Exercise difficulty can be adjusted by shortening the resistance bands or adding more. The Body Boss 2.0 is one of the most popular home workout bar options on our list.

With X3, you train with greater force to trigger Greater Gains

Pros

  • Portable
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Perform hundreds of exercises with just your body weight
  • Comes with workout guides

Cons

  • Each bands offers up to 30 pounds of resistance
  • Additional bands required to increase resistance
  • Two separate carrying cases make portability awkward
  • Users complain the folding base could be more stable

Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym

Price: $200

Shaped like a bow, the Gorilla Bow is one of the most unique home workout bars available. The bow shape is designed in part to prevent you from “cheating” by using momentum to complete a repetition. The bow weighs only 3 pounds and can sustain up to 300 pounds of tension, although the standard package provides just 120 pounds of resistance.

The lightweight construction makes Gorilla Bow easy to take with you on the go, but the 47" length can make it awkward to stow during travel.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Includes three resistance bands
  • Safe to use
  • Easy home storage

Cons

  • No instruction guide for exercises is included
  • Difficult to travel with
  • An upgrade is needed for more than 120 pounds of resistance

Bodygym Portable Home Gym

Price: $120

This simple home workout bar is lightweight, requires no installation, and is one of the most affordable on our list.

The workout bar system takes every muscle group into account. It provides an all-in-one full-body workout for improving endurance, flexibility, and agility.

The Bodygym comes with instructional DVDs to guide you through the workout program. The product also has a 30-day money-back satisfaction warranty.

With X3, you train with greater force to trigger Greater Gains

Pros

  • Adjustable straps
  • Quick-adjust resistance
  • Workout guide and DVDs included
  • Highly portable design

Cons

  • Can feel a bit unstable
  • Construction is not solid
  • Not suitable for strength training

Bodyblade Classic Kit

Price: $100

The Bodyblade Classic was designed by a physical therapist with the intention of providing a smooth workout with variable resistance. It’s not a resistance-band home workout system but a workout bar on its own. By shaking the bar vigorously, it provides more or less resistance.

The Bodyblade is an extremely lightweight and portable workout bar system. It comes with an extensive instructional guide allowing you to work on a variety of muscle groups. The “zero impact” trainer is not suitable for strength training but can help improve balance, coordination, and flexibility.

Pros

  • Easy portability
  • Lightweight
  • Great for regaining mobility
  • Adjusts to the needs of the user

Cons

  • Offers very little resistance
  • Not suitable for strength training
  • Price point is high for just a bar with no accessories
choosing the right home workout bar

Choosing the Right Home Workout Bar

The best home workout bar is the one that suits your exercise goals and budget best. When choosing a bar based on fitness goals, consider the following:

Mobility

If improving mobility, balance training, and flexibility is high on your list, or if you’re recovering from an injury or long period of being sedentary, you might consider the Body Blade or Bodygym Portable Home Gym.

Endurance

If light cardio is something you enjoy, the Bodyblade or Body Boss 2.0 will let you keep moving for a greater number of repetitions without a lot of resistance.

Strength

If strength training is your goal, you’re best off considering the Gorilla Bow or X3 Bar. Of these, only the X3 provides strong enough resistance to trigger the hormones necessary for muscle growth.

A portable, all-in-one home gym system

Weight Loss

If weight loss is your goal, look to strength training first. Combining strength training with a calorie-restricted diet is the most surefire way to lose weight. It’s even more effective than cardio.3

Home Workout Bar Price

When it comes to cost, most home workout bars are relatively inexpensive. Many brands offer monthly payment plans that are much lower than what you would pay for a gym membership.

But watch out for additional expenses. For example, resistance band bars such as X3 arrive with free access to all the programming you need. Others, like Gorilla Bow, require paid access to an online service for on-demand workouts.

With X3, you train with greater force to trigger Greater Gains

Adding resistance bands or accessories can also be an added expense. With X3 bar, only the Elite band is sold separately. Most people won’t need this super-strength upgrade, which lets you access over 600 pounds of resistance. With Body Boss 2.0, on the other hand, you’ll have to purchase more bands as soon as you’re able to lift over 30 pounds. To access all the workouts, you might need other add-ons like ab rollers, wrist-straps, door-anchors, or handles.

Home Workout Bar Portability

Finally, when choosing a home workout bar system, consider your lifestyle. Some of the best workout bar systems can be tucked into the trunk of your car, brought on a plane as a carry-on, or thrown into your backpack and taken to the park for an outdoor workout. Others might save space in comparison to a weight rack or universal home gym, but these options don’t offer portability.

The best home workout bar

The Best Home Workout Bar

The X3 Bar Elite came in at the top of our list for overall best home workout bar because it gives both beginners and strength training pros all the tools they need to build strength and lose weight at home or on the road.

The X3 Bar offers the most advanced form of strength training available, variable resistance. Traditional weights overload your joints and underload your muscles. You are seven times stronger near full extension in an impact-ready position versus a joint-compromised starting position. Variable resistance maximizes your potential for muscle growth by offering greater resistance in your body’s strongest range.

With X3, you train with greater force to trigger Greater Gains

X3 Workout Bar helps you:

  • Reduce risk of injury compared to traditional weights
  • Lift heavier loads
  • Protect both joints and tendons
  • Recruit more muscle fibers for greater gains than weightlifting

What Comes With the X3 Bar System?

Steel Workout Bar

The 21.5-inch workout bar is engineered from machined alloy steel. It’s designed to withstand over 600 pounds of force. Each side of the bar has ball bearings with a hook attached which allows the bar to rotate, keeping the band’s orientation consistent and your grip secure throughout the full range of any movement.

Resistance Bands

The quality and strength of the bands set X3 apart from other home bar systems that use resistance bands. X3 comes with four resistance bands. The heavy-duty layered latex resistance bands just don’t compare to rubber, hollow-tube bands. X3 bar bands are designed to provide greater resistance and last longer than any other resistance band on the market.

Each resistance band is made specifically for the X3 bar and features layered latex for superior strength. The four included resistance bands come in the following tensile ranges:

  • Super lightweight: 10 – 50+ pounds as a single loop, 100 pounds doubled over
  • Lightweight: 25 – 80+ pounds as a single loop, 160 pounds doubled over
  • Middleweight: 50 – 120+ pounds as a single loop, 240 pounds doubled over
  • Heavyweight: 60 – 150+ pounds as a single loop, 300 pounds doubled over

The X3 Elite resistance band is sold separately. It provides 110–300 pounds of resistance as a single, closed-loop and over 600 pounds when doubled over.

Ground Plate

When resistance bands are stronger and more powerful, anchoring them by standing on them becomes increasingly difficult. They dig into your feet and put a tremendous amount of pressure on your ankle joints. It’s also unsafe—one slip and a band might snap back at you. The X3 Bar system solves this common problem with the addition of a stabilizing ground plate.

The high-density polyethylene plate has a notched-out area on the bottom designed to keep the band in place while at the same time, allowing it to stretch. Using the ground plate makes any exercise safer and more comfortable, which also makes it more effective.

The ground plate is engineered to withstand over 600 pounds of force, allowing it to keep up with the heavy-duty resistance bands.

Exercises

With the steel bar and ground plate, the X3 workout bar system lets you safely accomplish the total-body strength training movements you may already be familiar with. A complimentary 12-week online training program helps you get the most out of every X3 workout.

With the steel bar and ground plate, the X3 workout bar system lets you safely accomplish the total-body strength training movements you may already be familiar with. A complimentary 12-week online training program helps you get the most out of every X3 workout.

At first, you’ll alternate between a push day and a pull day, each performed twice per week for a total of 4 workouts. After completing week 4, users move to a 6-day/week workout schedule.

Each easy-to-follow workout consists of just four exercises. Users perform just one set each. Before you think it sounds easy, note that each set is performed to failure. When you can no longer do the complete movement, you continue doing partial reps until you absolutely cannot move the bar.

This training method is designed with precision to maximize the recruitment of muscle fiber and trigger the perfect hormonal environment3 for muscle growth and fat burning. This is why with X3, you’ll see results sooner than you would with any other strength training method.

With X3, you train with greater force to trigger Greater Gains

Push Day Exercises Include:

  • Chest Press
  • Tricep Press
  • Overhead Press
  • Front Squats

Pull Day Exercises Include:

  • Deadlift
  • Bent Row
  • Bicep Curl
  • Calf Raise

Variation Exercises Include:

  • Pec Crossover
  • Split Squat
the bottom line

The Bottom Line

If your goal is to move again after becoming detrained or to familiarize yourself with home workout bar systems, you might save money in the short term by choosing a resistance bar system from our runners-up list.

But if muscle building, toning, or weight loss are important to you, the best long-term choice is X3 Bar. X3 is the only workout bar system to offer enough resistance for muscle growth, yet varying tension levels make it suitable for all levels. It’s also the most portable on our list, so with X3, you’ll never miss a workout when you’re on the road. Why not start with the best home workout bar for 2024, and give yourself room to grow?

See the X3 Workout Bar

With X3, you train with greater force to trigger Greater Gains