BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0 | Full Review & Best Alternatives

There was a time that in order to get a good home workout, you needed to buy bulky and expensive exercise equipment, but that’s history.

The premise of the BodyBoss 2.0 Home Gym is that you can get a full-body home workout with just one small piece of equipment,

It is a compact portable home gym that allows you to work out and target every muscle group, just as you would in the gym.

If this review of the BodyBoss 2.0, we are going to find out if the claims of this portable home gym are valid.

Most people will end up using the BodyBoss at home. However, it is so compact that you can take it with you when traveling or for an on-the-go workout. In fact, it’s one of the best portable strength training equipment.

In reviewing the BodyBoss 2.0, I was surprised at how good it is and how much it has exceeded my expectations.

However, as you will find out reading my review, there are some negatives too.

It’s worth spending a few minutes reading my in-depth review to find out if it really is the right solution home gym solution for you.

Full Review Of The Bodyboss 2.0 Home Gym

What’s So Special About The Bodyboss 2.0

The BodyBoss 2.0 is a clever portable home gym based around resistance bands and a support platform.

If you are unfamiliar with resistance bands, they are basically just long, stretchy bands made out of a variety of elastic materials. They can add resistance to any repetitive muscle movement for portable strength training or rehabilitate an injury. The thicker the band, the more weight it feels like you’re lifting.

I am a big fan of resistance bands and have been using them for years. So I got excited when I heard about the BodyBoss 2.0 and decided to review them. Why I got excited? Because I take a set of resistance bands whenever I travel, and it helps me to maintain my workout routine. I’ve also used resistance bands extensively during the pandemic when working out at home was the only option. Since I already love working out with resistance bands, I was intrigued to find out how the BodyBoss 2.0 would compare with a simple set of resistance bands, and I was not let down.

The BodyBoss combines a set of jazzed up resistance bands with an anchoring base to give you extra stability and safety while working out. The base folds out into a wide platform with retractable hooks where you can attach the bands. The hooks are strategically placed to encourage perfect form and maximum resistance for an incredible number of exercises.

It’s simple to set up. You anchor one end of your bands to the platform and the other end to one of the grips that come with the BodyBoss. You can choose between individual handles that feel like lifting dumbbells or a bar that feels like a barbell. Then you stand on the platform and start lifting!

This basic configuration plus a few other accessories, allows you to perform more than 300 different exercises. These include workouts for your upper body, lower body and torso, allowing you to hit every muscle.

With a little bit of creativity, you can simulate the movements of practically any exercise machine while working out at home. You can also use it to add resistance to your favorite cardio routines or sports training programs.

The best part is that all this folds up into a thin, lightweight carrying case that you can take with you to the office or around the world. If you’re a workout junkie constantly on the go, the BodyBoss 2.0 really is a gym in a box.

What Comes In The Box

The biggest thing that comes in the box actually turns into the box itself. When not in use, the resistance bands platform folds in half like a suitcase with a handle at the top that makes it easy to carry.

When you open it up, it measures about 34 by 19 inches on the floor and about four inches thick. If you want to do squats, this should be wide enough to do squats with good form. The whole thing weighs about seven pounds and can take as much as 500 pounds of force (we assume you won’t need more than that).

The BodyBoss team calls the platform a ‘VectorFit base’ because of the many angles to which you can attach the bands. The hooks are set in deliberate locations to make it easy to find the best vector of resistance for the specific motion you want to do. They’re designed to provide a nearly limitless range of angles for any exercise you can imagine.

There are a total of 10 hooks, five on each side of the base/case. You can flip the hooks up to clip on the resistance bands or fold them flat against the platform when you’re carrying it around.

You can also use the hooks to simulate adding more weight even without adding another band. You increase the resistance by anchoring the band and then looping it through another hook and back. This shortens the band and makes it feel even heavier.

There are two resistance bands included in the box. At its full length, each band provides about 30 pounds of resistance. If you buy extra bands, you can clip on as many as you need for heavyweight exercises like squats and deadlifts. Each band is about 30 inches long and can stretch up to seven feet.

The bands are covered in a cloth sheath to increase their lifespan and protect you from band burn. This is yet another plus the BodyBoss has over simple resistance bands. The sheath is latex-free, sweat-resistant and soft to the touch.

The BodyBoss 2.0 comes with eight grip attachments. There is a door anchor for when you want to do pulldown exercises. For isolation exercises, there are two handles, two wrist straps, and two ankle straps.

For compound exercises, there is a padded workout bar with a non-slip grip. The band clips at each end rotate separately from the rest of the bar. This helps keep the resistance in the right position and prevents the bands from getting tangled. The bar comes apart into two pieces to make it easier to carry around.

Finally, there is also an instruction manual. The manual includes links to a free workout program on the BodyBoss website with hundreds of videos to help you get started.

What I Like About The Bodyboss

My favorite thing about the BodyBoss 2.0 is the incredible variety. You can target any individual muscle on your body or do compound lifts that work out several muscle groups together. You can build mass, get your heart rate up, or focus on strength training.

If you have a workout bench, you can use the resistance bands platform for chest presses. If you’re injured, the resistance starts out light enough that you can use it for physical therapy. You can even put on the wrist straps and simulate boxing with weights as you work on your knockout punch.

There’s an impressive variety of workout videos on the BodyBoss website. It seems they invested a lot of thought, not only in the design of the equipment but also in showing how to use it properly.

You can find clips that teach you individual exercises or entire structured workout plans if you like exercising along with a video. There are workouts with background music and videos with no music for people who prefer to bring their own beats.

Another thing I like is that the BodyBoss 2.0 takes most of the safety concerns out of working out at home. There’s no risk of dropping a heavy weight on your toe or hardwood floor. The resistance requires you to use good form, so there’s less risk of pulling a muscle or throwing out your back.

I also love its portability. In its closed position, transporting the base feels like carrying around a thick binder with a handle. There is also a carrying case so you can keep all the attachments together in one place.

Last but not least, the price is pretty impressive for a full-body gym that you can hold in one hand.

What I Don’t Like About It

Ok, so I raved about how good the BodyBoss 2.0 is, so let’s examine what I like less about it. My biggest complaints involve the bands. The regular package only comes with two bands, giving you a total of 60 pounds of resistance.

The two included bands are more than enough for general fitness and should be fine for beginner men and women. But if you are after some serious strength training, increasing strength and building muscle mass, you can add an extra set of bands. There is no need to buy them now, though. You can buy regular resistance bands later and attach them to the BodyBoss platform.

I also wish all the attachments would fit inside the folded base. As it is, you have to carry around two separate items, I think it would be more convenient if the whole thing were self-contained.

Another minor problem I want to point out in my review is that the base may shift a bit if your body weight isn’t holding it down. Even so, that’s only a problem if you are very light. In fairness, this is easy to fix by putting something heavy on it.

My final con is the very personal matter of self-motivation when working out at home. That, of course, isn’t unique to the BodyBoss 2.0, but just about to any home exercise equipment. The BodyBoss 2.0 doesn’t come with a little angel on your shoulder encouraging you to exercise. You’ll have to come up with the willpower on your own, but I suspect that if you are interested in working out at home, you pretty much already know that.

Pros & Cons Of The Bodyboss 2.0

The Pros

• You can do a full-body workout.
• You can build muscle mass.
• You can do a high-rep cardio workout.
• Rubber-based bands (non-weight) are great for physical rehabilitation.

• Nothing heavy you can drop on yourself.
• The resistance bands of the BodyBoss encourage good form.

• It’s a great portable strength training kit you can take anywhere

• The BodyBoss 2.0 is very affordable compared to other home exercise equipment. It’s one of the most inexpensive tools to get an effective full body workout.

The Cons

• Only two resistance bands in the basic option, but you can buy the 4 bands option or buy extra resistance bands later on.
• Two separate carrying cases.
• Base may shift when you’re not standing on it, but you can place something heavy on the platform.

BodyBoss 2.0 vs. Regular Resistance Bands

You may ask yourself if the BodyBoss is really worth it or maybe you should just buy a simple set of resistance bands

Normal resistance bands are great, but the main problem with them is that you have to anchor them on your own. You can step on them for certain exercises like curls and shoulder presses. However, it may feel uncomfortable or awkward. For many other exercises, though, there’s no way to get the vector of resistance right by stepping on the bands.

It’s challenging to add resistance to push-ups without an anchoring platform. Also, boxing with resistance while stepping on the bands doesn’t let you float like a butterfly. Exercises like lunges and single-leg raises are technically possible but feel quite awkward.

The BodyBoss just makes many exercises more comfortable than just using resistance bands. You can also perform more exercises than you can do with resistance bands alone.

Don’t get me wrong, I love resistance bands and you can get a hell of a good workout with them. If you need to save space or money, regular resistance bands will be more compact and cheaper for portable strength training. However, if you want more exercise options, more stability, and better workout form, the BodyBoss 2.0 is hands down better.

BodyBoss 2.0 Exercises

You can work every muscle you want, and there are numerous exercises you can do with the BodyBoss, so I’ll just mention the basic ones here:

• Horizontal Chest Presses
• Chest Flys
• Bench Presses (w/bench)
• Incline Presses (w/bench)
• Decline Presses (w/bench)
• Push-ups with Resistance
• T’s and Y’s

• Stiff-legged Deadlifts
• Bent-over Rows
• Lat Pulldowns
• Back Bends
• Good Mornings

• Overhead Triceps extensions
• Bent-over Triceps extensions
• Triceps Pulldowns
• Bicep Curls

• Shoulder Presses
• Front Raises
• Side Lateral Raises
• Rope Climbs
• Cross Punches
• Boxing Upper Cuts
• Upright Rows
• Flys
• Shrugs

• Squats
• Deadlifts
• Pop squats
• Lunges
• Single-leg side raises
• Single-leg reverse raises
• Calf raises
• Hip thrusts

• Ab kickbacks
• Ab twists
• Plank raises
• Bucket tosses

Doing Deadlifts With The Bodyboss

The deadlift is a compound exercise that uses almost your entire body to lift a weight from the ground. Along with squats, deadlifts are considered one of the single best exercises you can do because they recruit so many muscle groups.

With good form, the deadlift can work your upper and lower back muscles, glutes, hamstrings, quads, and even your forearms and core muscles.

Because they use so many muscles simultaneously, deadlifts are an efficient exercise to add to your routine. For the same reason, though, they also use much more weight than most other exercises.

This gives me three good reasons why the BodyBoss 2.0 is better for deadlifts than regular resistance bands.

The main reason is that it’s not easy to get regular bands short enough to give you all the resistance you’ll need at the beginning of the movement.

The looping method of the BodyBoss makes it one of the few portable home gyms which allow you to shorten the bands enough for deadlifts.

Deadlifts are also more stable with the BodyBoss’ bar attachment. The rotating clips on each end give you a fluid motion that lets you focus on your form.

Finally, it’s safer to use a resistance bands platform for a complicated, heavy movement like the deadlift. Trying to deadlift while stepping on the bands is awkward and frustrating. I know because I have tried it many times.

My Verdict

In all honesty, there are many more things to like about the Bodyboss than not to like. And that’s not something you can easily say about other portable exercise equipment.

The BodyBoss 2.0 is the perfect portable home gym for people who need variety in their workouts, whether you like changing up your exercise routine or just changing your view while exercising.

The training videos make sure you’ll never run out of ideas. The customized angles of resistance make it difficult to hurt yourself while lifting alone. If you’re self-motivated and love working out at home, I highly recommend it

Best BodyBoss 2.0 Alternatives

As much as I love the BodyBoss, there are other great portable home gyms that we feel comfortable recommending.

The top alternatives I are going to review below are:

Gorilla Bow
Lewin Fitness Platform
Ideer Life Home Gym Workout Fitness Platform
Fusion Motion Portable Gym

I’ll compare each of these against the BodyBoss 2.0 to see where it excels or falls short.

Gorilla Bow

The Gorilla Bow is a portable gym shaped like a large bow. Like the BodyBoss, it’s great for people who want a full-body workout machine that encourages good form.

Because you anchor the Gorilla Bow directly to your body, it is as stable as you make it. The mechanism makes you use your core muscles and improves your balance more than a stationary platform like the BodyBoss. For most people, though, it’s a little more difficult to get used to the Gorilla Bow.

With a 400-pound maximum, the Gorilla Bow can take slightly less resistance than the BodyBoss 2.0. It feels solid and strong in your hands even though it’s actually the lighter and more compact of the two. It also looks great. Working out with Gorilla Bow in the park will also attract more than a few admiring looks.

The Gorilla Bow encourages flexibility, and you can find many videos online that show you how to use it to improve your mobility. If you like doing pulldown exercises or horizontal pushes, you’ll like the Gorilla Bow, however, if you prefer heavy-duty lifting exercises like squats and deadlifts, the BodyBoss’ anchoring platform is safer.

Lewin Fitness Platform

Michelle Lewin’s Fitness Platform is another all-in-one, travel-friendly exercise machine based around resistance bands and a platform. It’s a portable strength training juggernaut designed for people who want to use high reps to build lean muscle and lose weight

This device comes with a USB drive full of fun and enjoyable training videos by Michelle Lewin. Her charisma is contagious and designed to get you addicted to the platform in a hurry.

It has similar attachments to the BodyBoss with a few extras. These include a set of balance bars you can use to work on your core stability and a set of attachable wheels you can use as an ab coaster.

The Lewin Fitness Platform has three sets of lightweight resistance bands, but you can only use one set at a time for maximum resistance of 25 pounds. It comes with a set of bands pre-loaded in a fixed position. The other sets are just for backup in case something breaks.

The Lewin Platform is more user-friendly than the BodyBoss. You can change the amount of resistance easily by pressing a foot pedal that winds the bands into the interior of the machine to shorten them.

Unfortunately, you can’t change the angles of resistance, which means you’ll be able to do fewer exercises than with the BodyBoss.

Ideer Life Home Gym Workout Platform

Ideer Life’s Fitness Platform is slightly longer than the BodyBoss. This mean it’s heavier and bulkier, but it does come with transportation wheels. The extra length also means that all the accessories fit inside the folded platform.

Besides the individual handles, straps, and barbell, it also comes with set of push-up handles. These handles can attach directly to the platform to anchor your feet to the ground for sit-ups or rowing exercises. The BodyBoss isn’t quite long enough to let you sit comfortably and row, but the Ideer’s length and feet attachments make it ideal for rowing.

The surface of this platform is covered in a soft mat that makes it more comfortable to stand on than the BodyBoss. It also has lots of clip angles that let you perform many different exercises, although not nearly as many as the BodyBoss.

This one has six resistance bands of different weights and lengths. You can use all of them at the same time for a total of about 40 pounds of resistance. The platform can take a maximum of 440 pounds of force.

Fusion Motion Portable Gym

With a reinforced steel base, Fusion’s resistance bands platform is designed for heavy exercises. It comes with two sets of bands that give you a maximum resistance of 70 pounds. If you buy heavier bands, you can use them without worrying.

The Fusion Motion platform comes with all the standard accessories. It also has push-up handles and an ab roller wheel. It folds up to fit inside a case that measures about 20 by 20 inches. When open, it’s about six inches longer than the BodyBoss, which makes it a bit more comfortable for heavy squats and deadlifts.

The Fusion has a pulley inside it that gives you a smooth upward lifting motion. The pulley plus the steel base makes it awesome for building massive shoulders, biceps, and legs. The pulley does, however, tend to stick when you use multiple bands or horizontal motions.

Like the BodyBoss, you can change the amount and angle of resistance, but the clips are on the bottom of the base. This means you have to turn it over, mount your bands, then flip it back over to see if you got it right. There are also fewer clips than on the BodyBoss, which means fewer exercises.