Total-body workouts comparison

Interested in an exercise device that costs $200 or less and can be used in a small space like your bedroom? Our fitness experts checked out two that offer total-body workouts using resistance training: The Body by Jake Tower 200 and the Fitness Anywhere TRX. The workouts focus on functional exercises, which emphasize multi-joint movement to help you become stronger for everyday activities like putting away your groceries or picking up a small child.

Both devices are supposed to help you propel your workout into high gear. The company that makes the Tower 200 says you'll "get bigger, harder, stronger" in just 30 days with its 200 pounds of "explosive" resistance. The manufacturer of the TRX claims it uses "vector resistance" to ignite your metabolism and target every muscle. Both devices target many muscle groups, including those in your core, chest, arms, legs, and shoulders.

If you're new to this type of total-body workout, you should start off with more traditional fitness machines like those found in a gym to help with strength and technique, says Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., fitness research director at Quincy College in Massachusetts. Follow up with training using free weights, and then functional training, which builds on the strength you've gained in the first two steps.

We recruited seven male and seven female staff members of different heights, ages, and fitness levels to use each system twice. Here's what we found about the Body by Jake Tower 200 and the TRX.

www.officialtower200.com

The claim. The manual for The Body by Jake Tower 200 says you can "get bigger, harder, stronger, in 11 minutes ... No excuses." And the device will "push your muscles to the max with over 200 exercises working arms, chest, shoulders, back, abs, and legs."

The check. The device is made up of two sets of three resistance bands (25 pounds, 35 pounds, and 40 pounds) mounted to a frame that attaches to a door. It comes with a poster, a booklet of 281 exercises, and a DVD, "11-Minute Mother of All Workouts," with 13 exercises. A newer version has the "21-Minute Supreme Mother of All Workouts," with 20 exercises, and an extra 80 pounds of resistance, for $175. Both versions of the DVD also offer four extra workouts of 3 minutes each. Users can change to heavier resistance bands as they get stronger.

Bottom line. The Body by Jake Tower 200 offers the potential for a good workout but won't replace free weights and does have some limitations (See "A Few Nits," below). Overall, our seven male and seven female testers liked the Fitness Anywhere TRX a bit better than the Body by Jake Tower 200. Our Consumer Reports fitness experts said The Tower 200 was fine for most beginners and intermediate users but might not challenge very fit users. Both are portable and easy to install, but the TRX is more compact.

The pace of the 11-minute Tower 200 workout DVD felt rushed, our experts said, and more instruction on the proper technique for each exercise was needed. Our engineers tested the durability of the resistance bands and found that they held up. For those who purchase the Tower 200, our fitness experts suggest using it for strength training two to three times a week with cardio exercises.

A few nits. Many exercise panelists found that the bands rubbed their bodies or arms while they did certain exercises. The resistance might be too high for out-of-shape people when doing shoulder exercises. People at the extremes of the height range—shorter or taller than most people—might find some exercises to be either too difficult or too easy depending on which pulley is used.

www.trxtraining.com

The claim. The Fitness Anywhere TRX can "make your body your machine" using "fast and effective workouts." It says on the box that "Vector Resistance ignites your metabolism and targets every muscle." We bought a version of the Pro Pack, which includes the 2-pound device, a door anchor, a mesh carrying bag, and a 35-minute DVD workout for $200, plus $7.35 for shipping, on Amazon.

The check. To use the TRX indoors, you need either the door anchor or a TRX Xmount ($34.95), which you screw into a sturdy wall or ceiling framing. (We built our own mount because our lab ceilings were too high.) You'll need a workout area that measures at least 8 feet long by 6 feet wide. The anchor fits over a door you should be able to lock to prevent others from opening it while you're exercising. Your weight creates the resistance for the muscle-building exercises (including squats, hamstring curls, chest presses, planks, and crunches).

The DVD features two models who demonstrate different levels of each exercise. There are safety tips for proper exercise technique and joint alignment.

Bottom line. The Fitness Anywhere TRX offers the potential for a good workout but won't replace free weights and does have some limitations (see "A Few Nits," below). Overall, our seven male and seven female testers liked it a bit better than the Body by Jake Tower 200. They thought the TRX's range of resistance matched their abilities better.

Both are portable and easy to install, but the TRX is more compact. Our Consumer Reports fitness experts slightly favored it over the Tower 200, in part because it allowed them to do a variety of multi-joint exercises and provided a functional challenge to the body's core muscles.

And the 35-minute DVD workout was effective. Our fitness experts said the TRX could effectively train all major muscle groups while continuously working their core. The DVD is comprehensive and shows how to intensify each exercise by changing your body's position (that's what "vector resistance" refers to). For those who purchase the TRX, our fitness experts suggest using it for strength training two to three times a week with cardio exercises.

A few nits. Some panelists had difficulty at first with some exercises that required them to put their feet in stirrups and flip into plank and push-up positions. The TRX also might be challenging for people with limited flexibility, mobility, or strength.