Lifeline Jungle Gym XT

UPDATE 2/25/2015

still using the jungle gym and its pretty much brand new. definitely top notch construction. noticed my original review was unnecessarily long so here's a quick summary of basically everything i mentioned:

Short Version:

Pros:
Device is much better Value than overpriced TRX
Study construction
Dual Anchor System is actually better than single anchor IMO, plus you can make it a single with the attachment or bringing the straps closer together so it gives the best of both worlds.

Cons:
Handle is very stiff and doesn't rotate like TRX.

if you use dry erase markers, try rotating the cap around. the handles are basically like that out of the box: tight fitting plastic on plastic
this limits ability to do some exercises to full Range of Motion like reverse flys, bicep curls at least for me (idk maybe i'm using it wrong)

Minor Nitpicking: handle has no lateral or side to side play like TRX b/c of foot cradles. TRX has no foot cradles so nylon webbing moves through handle freely from side to side. (see pictures of both if this doesn't make sense)
Easy Fix: pop out the handle and sand down the inner pipe (DON'T OVERSAND or it'll pop out too easily).

Bottomline: I would buy it again simply b/c the TRX is so overpriced ($200), but apart from that this device is good on its own merits and its really well built. Plus any minor issues can be fixed very easily (100 grit sand paper or sandinng block)

Original Review (aka long version):

For the price and compared to the TRX it is a good buy. My only complaint is that I would prefer if they made the handles freely rotate so you can use the device more easily when doing reverse flys, supermans, and other exercises which benefit from a rotating handle. It just feels awkward when you are doing reverse fly exercise and the handle doesn't rotate with you which could encourage you to unnaturally curl your wrist when you reach the end range of that motion. Although to be technically accurate they do rotate as it is just an inner and outer plastic pipe, its just not smooth enough to be functional (think extremely tight fitting plastic on plastic). Smoothly rotating handles would be nice for doing preacher curls or other bicep curling exercises which are really not feasible with the fixed handles on the Lifeline. Granted you can modify the product by popping off the sides of each handle which are part of the foot cradle and perhaps sand/polish it down and use a plastic safe grease like white lithium or silicone. Tried just the grease by itself but you need more clearance between the outer and inner tubes, hence the sanding.

The other two things I wish they could have done was to make it possible to adjust the angle of the handles. What I mean by this is that if you look at the typical workout handle such as the TRX, they are just a piece of foam wrapped pvc pipe with nylon webbing running through it so you can move the handle laterally. The lifeline is essentially this but after the handles it is locked into place because the webbing passes out the handle and then makes a 90 deg turn through a narrow channel that is the side of the foot cradle and out a small slit at the end. This added friction from the foot cradle assembly keeps the handle from moving side to side or tilting, rather, 10,15 degrees left and right. While not applicable to all exercises there are certain ones where it would be nice to have some side to side play. However, this may have been an engineering compromise due to the need for stable fixed handles in certain exercises plus the incorporation of the foot cradle.

This is for those who are new to suspension training like myself. The new foot cradle is a good feature, but if you are doing ab exercises like mountain climbers you need shoes otherwise the cradle puts uncomfortable stress on your instep or top part of your foot. Lastly if you plan on using this as a strictly door mounted device, i.e. no pullup bar, keep in mind there are certain exercises which you cannot do as effectively such as the mountain climbers since the backwards motion is somewhat blocked by the door preventing full range of motion. Of course if you are a seasoned suspension trainer than you probably already know this.

However, I would still recommend the product as it is far less expensive than the TRX and despite the few nit picks here and there it is a very functional device

***UPDATE*** I had previously recommended sanding down/lubing the inner tube that slides into the handle. However, after re-examining the handle which I had greased with white lithium I noticed the foot cradle pops out too easily from the handle so the combination of sanding and grease may make it worse as the cradle could potentially pop in and out inadvertently during advanced/high resistance body weight exercises.

***UPDATE***11/03/2013 I got rid of the grease and very lightly sanded some of the raised nibs and the handles rotate very well now. Just don't sand very aggressively. Sand a little, wipe clean and check the fit to make sure it has just enough friction for it to rotate without popping out. If you sand too much (i would advise against using a dremel)you could end up having the sides pop out on certain exercises. Maybe use 150-200 grit to start off and smooth it down with 400 grit. sanding block would be easier than sand paper since it is round so you would have to awkwardly wrap a piece of sandpaper around the male end of the handle and try to shimmy the sandpaper around its cylindrical frame. Its doable but a little frustrating. The only thing I wish for now is if it has more side to side play. also the instep issue with the foot cradle I mentioned earlier doesn't bother me as much now so it may be a temporary thing once your body acclimates. Anyway on a legal note, these are just my observations.

***I am not suggesting or promoting that anyone actually does this to their handles. It just so happens that this particular modification enhances the product's functionality for my own uses. Please consult the manufacturer as they may have a more appropriate resolution for your particular issue.