6 Best X3 Bar Alternatives That Will Make Your Muscles Burn

by: Michael Perry

July 6, 2024

Exercise bars have picked up in popularity thanks to their compact nature. They provide excellent workouts at a fraction of the space. If you’ve looked at the X3 Bar, though, you might have scoffed at the expensive price and decided to find an X3 Bar alternative

The best X3 Bar alternative is the OYO Personal Gym, though we have other options on the list depending on your specific needs. Keep reading this X3 Bar review to find out which X3 Bar alternative can save you money. 

Quick Comparison Table Of The Best X3 Bar Alternatives


Name
Best Alternative To The X3
OYO Personal Gym
Most Resistance Offered
Gorilla Bow
Best Full Body Workout
BodyBoss 2.0
Best Value
TENSION TONER
Best Budget Option
Black Mountain Resistance Bands
Image
OYO Personal Gym - Full Body Portable Gym: Home,...
Original Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym Resistance...
BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0 - Full Portable Gym Home...
TENSION TONER - Develop Total Body Strength and...
Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set with...
Resistance Rated At
25 Lbs
300 Lbs
270 Lbs
108 Lbs
75 Lbs
# Of Exercises
197 + 60 Workout Videos
30+
300+
70+
24
Offers Full Body Workout?
Weight
2 Lbs
10 Lbs
16 Lbs
2 Lbs
2 Lbs
Portable
Prime?
-
-
Amazon Prime
-
-
Best Alternative To The X3
Name
OYO Personal Gym
Image
OYO Personal Gym - Full Body Portable Gym: Home,...
Resistance Rated At
25 Lbs
# Of Exercises
197 + 60 Workout Videos
Offers Full Body Workout?
Weight
2 Lbs
Portable
Prime?
-
Most Resistance Offered
Name
Gorilla Bow
Image
Original Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym Resistance...
Resistance Rated At
300 Lbs
# Of Exercises
30+
Offers Full Body Workout?
Weight
10 Lbs
Portable
Prime?
-
Best Full Body Workout
Name
BodyBoss 2.0
Image
BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0 - Full Portable Gym Home...
Resistance Rated At
270 Lbs
# Of Exercises
300+
Offers Full Body Workout?
Weight
16 Lbs
Portable
Prime?
Amazon Prime
Best Value
Name
TENSION TONER
Image
TENSION TONER - Develop Total Body Strength and...
Resistance Rated At
108 Lbs
# Of Exercises
70+
Offers Full Body Workout?
Weight
2 Lbs
Portable
Prime?
-
Best Budget Option
Name
Black Mountain Resistance Bands
Image
Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set with...
Resistance Rated At
75 Lbs
# Of Exercises
24
Offers Full Body Workout?
Weight
2 Lbs
Portable
Prime?
-

Last update on 2024-09-17 at 19:29 / Affiliate links = As Amazon Associates We Earn From Qualifying Purchases - Learn More

6 Best X3 Bar Alternatives


1. Closest Match to the X3 Bar — OYO Personal Gym

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The OYO Personal Gym does everything the X3 Bar does. The OYO gives you a total body workout that builds muscle, tones fat, and can strengthen any muscle group you seek to target. 

OYO Fitness director Nick Bolton even created over 60 workouts you can use with the OYO Personal Gym, which includes HIIT, cardio, resistant training, pilates, and more. 

The technology in the OYO Personal Gym’s SpiralFlex resistance technology mirrors what NASA astronauts use to maintain muscle mass in space.

You can get lean fast thanks to the OYO’s DoubleFlex activation that provides more resistance using a compact band. You can save time while building a toned, muscular body. 

The OYO Personal Gym comes with FlexPacks in 5 and 10 lbs going up to 25 lbs. The smooth, linear resistance feels like free-weights to help you strengthen and shape your body. 

Pros
  • Smooth workout thanks to SpiralFlex technology
  • DoubleFlex activation builds more muscle in less time
  • Includes bands going up to 25 lbs
  • Affordable
  • Free workout program disk that includes 60 exercises
Cons
  • Can become quite fragile after a few months
  • Users in this alternative X3 Bar reviews have had issues with customer service

2. Most Resistance Offered — Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym

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The Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym gives you the heavy workouts you’re used to at the gym while staying at home. You can work all necessary muscle groups with up to 300 lbs of tension. 

With that much resistance, you can tone your body thanks to the combined weightlifting bar and tension bands. You can make sure to work every muscle group in your body without the bulk of free weights. 

Choose between four bands to give yourself a versatile workout. The Gorilla Bow’s bands are made from high quality layered latex, so the bands aren’t going to break or tear any time soon. The Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym is also light enough to workout anywhere too. 

Pros
  • Includes four adjustable resistance bands
  • Tension goes up to 300 lbs
  • Works out every muscle group in the body
  • Aesthetically pleasing design
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Higher resistance bands can cut into skin if you do enough reps
  • You’ll need to buy additional bands if you’re already strong

3. Best for Full Body Workouts — BodyBoss 2.0

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Simulate thousands of dollars worth of gym equipment with the BodyBoss 2.0 Home Gym. You can workout your upper and lower body. There’s the cardio resistance boxing option, as well as the body part focus workout. No matter what your fitness goal is, the BodyBoss delivers. 

Having raised over $1 million on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, BodyBoss developers designed this product to be the most lightweight, compact, and versatile as possible — all while keeping it at an affordable price. You can achieve your fitness goals wherever you are thanks to the BodyBoss 2.0. 

Pros
  • Do over 300 workouts
  • Works out upper body, lower body, and you can do cardio
  • Includes base, bar, handles, door anchor, and bar
  • Folds up into convenient carrying case
  • Affordable
Cons
  • You need to buy more accessories for fuller workout experience — especially if you’re already strong
  • Less efficient on shorter people (around 5’1)

4. Best Value — Tension Toner

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The Tension Toner gives you five latex-free resistance bands: 10 lbs, 16 lbs, 22 lbs, 24 lbs, and 36 lbs. All five bands are stackable to reach 108 lbs of tension. You also get a door anchor, instruction booklet, and cinch bag to fit all your materials inside. 

The Tension Toner home gym also gives you a workout program that includes over 70 exercises. You also get access to 25-minute HIIT exercises with the Tension Trio muscle building program. 

This home gym allows you to workout out your pulling and stabilizer muscles when keeping middle straps tight. You can use your larger muscles while working out to build strength and endurance. The patented adjustable tension levels provide three levels of resistance all from one bar. 

Get a thorough workout with the highly portable Tension Toner. The bar weighs less than 2 lbs and measures 16 inches long. You can fit all your materials in the convenient carrying bag for a total body workout wherever you are. 

Pros
  • Highly portable
  • Provides total resistance of 108 lbs
  • Includes other accessories like door anchor, instruction booklet, and cinch bag
  • Get free access to workout programs
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Cinch bag tears easily
  • Tension bands can cut into feet or fleshy parts of body

5. Best Budget Option — Black Mountain Resistance Band Set 

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If you want a tension-based home gym system that doesn’t break the bank, look no further than the Black Mountain Resistance Band Set.

You get five color-coated resistance bands: yellow (2-4 lbs), blue (4-6 lbs), green (10-12 lbs), black (15-20 lbs), and red (25-30 lbs). All bands come in at 48 inches. When stacked, the bands provide up to 75 lbs. 

The metal clipping system includes soft-grip handles and ankle straps. You also get a door anchor, exercise chart, starter guide, and carrying bag. All Black Mountain Products include a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to worry about the product breaking any time soon.

Pros
  • Highly affordable
  • Portable
  • Convenient color coded bands
  • Provides up to 75 lbs in resistance
  • Includes accessories like door anchor, exercise chart, starter guide, and carrying bag
Cons
  • Less effective if you’re shorter
  • Metal clips have broken on some users, causing injuries

6. Most Compact Option — Tribe Resistance Bands Set

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The Tribe Resistance Band Set gives you 16 total pieces and five color-coded resistance bands that all fit into a waterproof carrying case. Target all major muscle groups. 

The tension tube bands go from 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 30 lbs, and 40 lbs. Combined, you get a total of 105 lbs. You also get four color-coded loop bands, two cushioned handles, one door ankle, two ankle straps, one waterproof carry bag, and an advanced exercise eBook that’s downloadable online. 

You can do bicep curls, chest presses, and a total body workout anywhere. You can build serious muscle at home or while traveling. The resistance bands are made from fiber-reinforced and unbreakable polymer nylon bands. You don’t have to worry about snapping a band mid workout. 

Pros
  • Heavy duty nylon fiber-reinforced tension bands
  • Includes 16 pieces in the portable home gym
  • Provides up to 105 lbs of resistance
  • Highly portable
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Has harsh chemical smell after opening
  • Carrying bag tears easily

What is the X3 Bar?


The X3 Bar is a total body home gym created by Dr. John Jaquish (rights reserved). It provides a full body workout that provides results faster than conventional gym machines. 

Upon purchasing the X3 Bar, you get the complete home gym including the bar, base, and resistance bands. You also get the X2 12-week program to add some guidance to your fitness journey. The standard X3Bar provides up to 300 lbs of tension. 

The four X3 resistance bands provide up to 30% more traction than other layered latex bands. The heavy duty alloy steel ground plate guards your ankles from the high workout forces. 

The X3 Bar home gym is simple, but it provides exceptional results. The only downside is that it costs over $500 for the standard model. If you want 600 lbs of resistance, that will cost you nearly $700. 

While the X3 Bar is effective, not everyone has that sort of money. That’s why you should make sure to look into X3 Bar substitutes if your budget doesn’t allow you to spend that much money on a portable home gym. 

Pros
  • Made from high-quality materials
  • Offers a workout far superior than what conventional gym equipment can provide
  • Include X3 12-week program
  • Provides excellent muscle toning and workouts
  • Resistance bands give you 30% more traction than other layered latex bands
Cons
  • Incredibly expensive
  • Upgraded system also overpriced

What Should You Look For In An X3 Bar Alternative?


Your X3 Bar alternatives should first and foremost have a much lower price than the X3 Bar. They should also be hitting the following categories. 

Resistance

Your X3 Bar substitutes should give you more than 100 lbs of resistance. Beginners will have no problem struggling against 100 lbs of tension. Those with more strength may need home gyms with higher resistance pressure, such as the Gorilla Bow Portable Gym. 

Portability

Home gyms that fit into a cinch bag? Yes please. That’s pretty much the standard for X3 Bar alternative portability. Folding bars allow you to get added portability without sacrificing workout efficiency. 

The cinch bag standard also means that the manufacturer mustn’t overload the user with frivolous accessories. Only items necessary for workouts go into the carrying bag, which makes for a minimalistic yet effective workout. 

Weight

The home gym shouldn’t weigh much. If it weighs more than five pounds total, you’ve got a problem. The bar, while high-quality, should weigh around two to three pounds. Rubber, nylon, or latex should comprise the tension bands, and they should weigh next to nothing at all. 

Five pounds is our cut off. If your X3 Bar substitute weighs more than 10 lbs, you should question whether the materials the manufacturer gives you is really worth it. 

The materials the bar is made from greatly impacts the unit’s weight. We like bars to feel sturdy and resist breaking, as the bar must resist tension in order to provide your workout. A heavy metal construction would add durability but reduce portability. 

Size

We like it when the home gym fits into a simple cinch bag, like with the Black Mountain Resistance Band Set, Tension Toner, or Tribe Resistance Band Set. The BodyBoss 2.0 also provides excellent compactability, folding up into a portable size. 

Whatever the case, your X3 Bar alternative should fold up into a small size. Foldable bars are a plus, but not necessary. While your home gym will be far less bulky than standard gym equipment or free weights, you should purchase your X3 Bar substitute with the highest portability possible. 

Ease of Use

There’s no need to get fancy with these types of home gyms. Your X3 Bar alternative should be simple to use. Convoluted machines only increase the odds that you don’t actually use it. 

When we say easy to use, we mean that the tension bands add intuitively onto the bar. You can get the at home gym set up quickly so that you can jump right into a workout. The more fuss you have to do, the less we like. 

Exceptional players in this category include Tension Toners and the Gorilla Bow, though all the X3 Bar alternatives on this list are pretty easy to use. 

How Many Exercises Can You Do With It? 

You should be able to hit all the necessary muscle groups: shoulders, upper body, lower body, back, glutes, core, and chest. If an X3 Bar alternative can’t do that for you, you don’t want it. 

More exercises allow you to tone muscles how you want to. You can sculpt your body as you like it. But when manufacturers tout more than 100 workouts, it’s likely that they’re overcompensating for a poorly constructed machine or they’re trying to over sell it. It’s likely that you’re going to stick to around 30 exercises max to tone your body. 

The resistance band sets on this list all provide you with ample numbers of exercises without overdoing it. 

Does It Include Workout Programs? 

Workout programs aren’t necessary. It’s likely that you can figure out what exercises serve your workout routine the best, creating your own exercise regimen. 

But we like it when manufacturers include free workout programs. They reduce the learning curve for your new home gym and allow you to create an exercise regimen that fit your fitness goals faster. 

Can A Resistance Band Home Gym System Actually Help You Build Muscle?


Resistance bands can indeed help you build muscles thanks to physics. Rubber or latex stretches but has a high breaking point. The more force you apply to the latex band, the harder the tension gets. 

Bands with high resistance require a large amount of energy to stretch the band. This works out your muscles more than regular weights. And the harder you stretch the band, the harder you work your muscles. 

The beauty of high quality resistance band home gyms is that they’re lightweight and highly practical. You’re not burdened with bulky weights. Whether you’re on vacation, have a highly mobile job, or just want to change your workout locations, resistance band home gyms help you build muscle with less equipment. 

So What's The Best X3 Bar Alternative?


The X3 Bar is expensive, so go with the OYO Personal Gym to get many of the same benefits at a fraction of the cost.

If you’re on an extreme budget, opt for the Black Mountain Resistance Band Set. Want to get the best full body workout? Go for the BodyBoss 2.0


About the author

Growing up as the fat kid is what motivated him to take matters to his hands at fifteen, and he has never looked back again since!

When he's not pumping iron at the gym, you'll probably find him hooked to his record player listening to rock classics.

If only he could carry it with him to the gym. Sigh.

On this site, he'll do his best to help you accomplish the same results for yourself.

(We're talking about getting in shape, not trying to carry a record player to your local gym)

Michael Perry