The Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym is a versatile resistance band fitness tool that provides many of the benefits of a traditional home gym in a far lighter and more compact package.
The gym’s Canadian manufacturer, Gorilla Fitness, is renowned for its quality home and commercial fitness products and excellent customer service.
The Gorilla Bow comes in a few different versions. These include Original and Lite models suitable for beginner and intermediate-level users, respectively.
A Travel version deconstructs to fit into a suitcase or backpack for easy transportation.
You can buy stronger bands to pair with the Original or Travel models to take things to the next level.
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What are its benefits?
The device can improve muscle tone and build muscle mass when used regularly.
It can also enhance balance, reduce joint pain, boost acceleration and speed, and assist with weight loss, and you can incorporate it into cardio routines.
With so many potential benefits, it’s not surprising that it is among the most popular portable home gyms.
But is it worth the money, and is it any better than other portable home gyms?
Keep reading this Gorilla Bow review to get the facts and decide if it’s worth including in your workout regimen.
Along with an overview, you will find out whom the device will best suit, some Gorilla Bow exercise options, and the pros and cons of the device.
Who does it best suit?
People of any fitness level can benefit from using the Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym.
It is an excellent choice for individuals who don’t have a lot of room for fitness equipment.
The device will also suit people who like the fluid movement fitness bands provide compared to heavy weight lifting equipment and those who want to lower the risk of joint stress that could cause an injury.
Its ability to hone speed and acceleration will appeal to people who want to improve their sporting performance.
The Original, Lite, and Travel versions best suit new and intermediate-level users. The Heavy model suits individuals who are already strong and fit.
Gorilla Bow Exercises
The Gorilla Bow will enable you to perform many different exercises. Included among these are:
– Deadlifts
– Lat Pulldowns
– Shrugs
– Upright Rows
– Seated Rows
– One-Arm Rows
– Bent-Over Rows
– Crouching Rows
– Clean and Press
– Incline Presses
– Decline Presses
– Shoulder Presses
– Chest Presses
– Chest Flys
– Bicep Curls
– Triceps Extensions
– Lunges
– Squats
– Side Bends
– Twists
– Crunches
– Calf Raises
Specs
Original Gorilla Bow:
Dimensions – The original model measures 56″ (L) x 1 1/2″ (D)
Weight – It weighs 6 lbs
Weight capacity – The weight capacity for this model is 300 pounds
Band strength – Four bands are included, offering an equivalent strength of 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 30 lbs, and 50 lbs, for a total of 110 lbs of resistance
Lite Gorilla Bow:
Dimensions – The Lite Gorilla Bow measures 47″ (L) x 1″ (D)
Weight – It weighs 3 lbs
Weight capacity – The weight capacity for this model is 120 pounds
Band strength – Three bands are included, these being equivalent to 10 lbs, 20 lbs, and 30 lbs, for a total resistance of 60 lbs
Travel Gorilla Bow:
Dimensions – The Travel Gorilla Bow measures 56″ (L) x 9.5″ x 1.75″ – it separates into three pieces, with the longest of these being 21″
Weight – It weighs 6 lbs
Weight capacity – It has a 400-pound weight capacity
Color – It comes in a choice of black, green, or pink
Band strength – Bands equal to 10 lb, 20 lb, 30 lb, & 50 lb are included, offering a total of up to 110 lbs of resistance
Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym Overview
The Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym is a sturdy, lightweight, and very compact apparatus made of aircraft-grade aluminum that is bend and snap-resistant. Its shape resembles that of a traditional bow and arrow.
The Gorilla Bow comes with resistance bands. A “flex claw” on either end of the Gorilla Bow makes attaching or swapping out the bands super-easy.
The bands are light and compact with enough stretch to enable you to do a broad range of resistance exercises, plus total-body HIIT workouts. You can start with just one, and work with light resistance if you are a beginner.
Each version comes with a storage bag.
Gorilla Fitness provides a 2-year warranty on the bow and the bands. They also give a 90-day money-back guarantee.
How is the device used?
Using the device involves attaching one or more resistance bands to either side of the high-tensile bow.
The bow is then flexed in different ways, depending on the exercise and muscle group you want to target.
Is it as effective as using free weights?
Exercising with resistance bands can be even more effective than using traditional gym equipment.
This is because, unlike when using fitness bands, there is no possibility of momentum helping you to complete reps.
And unlike using free weights, with this system, you can maintain the tension throughout each phase of the exercise, increasing the effectiveness of your workouts.
Another benefit of exercising with resistance bands instead of lifting free weights is that you won’t need a spotter.
How much resistance do the bands offer?
The bands you receive will vary depending on the version you choose.
Their color and equivalent resistance includes yellow, which equals 10 lbs of resistance; red, which is the equivalent of 20 lbs; blue, which offers 32 lbs of resistance; and black, which gives 45 lbs of resistance.
You can also purchase single bands. These include a green one offering 70 lbs of resistance, an orange one equivalent to 80 lbs, and a maroon band that provides 100 lbs of resistance.
There’s also the option of buying a set containing two 50 lb and two 60 lb bands, which are bright blue and pale blue, respectively.
A set containing four 27″ long white bands provides 90 lbs of resistance per band.
Next, in this Gorilla Bow review, we will look at its pros, followed by its cons.
Pros
- Compact, light, and portable
- There’s a model for every fitness level
- Provides a total-body workout
- Offers strength training, plus the potential for HIIT
- The risk of injury is extremely low
- You won’t need a spotter
- The bow is virtually indestructible
- The four supplied bands are very strong and resilient
- A bag is included for convenient storage and transportation
- The manufacturer provides excellent customer support, answering any questions promptly
- It comes with a great warranty plus a money-back guarantee
Cons
- The bow doesn’t fold, so if you want to take it on vacation, you will do best with the Travel version; however, the device will fit into a car trunk
- Depending on how often you work out, you may need to change the bands every couple of years as they will lose some resistance over time
- The bands are 100% latex, which may not suit some people
Final Thoughts on the Gorilla Bow Home Gym
The Gorilla Bow is worth a closer look if you’re bored with your regular workout and ready for a change.
It is light in weight and simple to use, and it can give you a fantastic total-body workout on par with the one you will get from heavy, bulky gym equipment.
It is also just as durable, and with it able to withstand up to 300 pounds of tension, you can expect to use it for many years.
If this isn’t the right portable model for you, you may like the Oyo Personal Gym. Still not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to read reviews of alternatives.