Lets expand on just two of the tools from the video:
Things to do with the Valslide:
1.) Slide Lunges (squat/hip hinge)
2.) Body Saws (core)
3.) Pushaways (core)
4.) Archer Pushups (push)
5.) Mountain Climbers (cardio)
6.) Pike (core)
Things to do with a Suspension Trainer
1.) Body Rows (pull)
2.) Suspended Pushups (push)
3.) Suspended Split-squats (squat)
4.) Body Saw (core)
5.) Archer Pushups (push)
6.) Pike (core)
You'll notice that you can actually use Valslides for most of the things you can use a suspension trainer for. The biggest and most notable difference, obviously, would be that you can't body row. Given how reasonably priced Valslides are, and how many things you can do with them, I think everyone who travels should have them, no question.
At Perform Better, legendary strength and conditioning coach Mike Boyle said that slide lunges were his number one favorite exercise.
And of course, legendary celebrity trainer Valerie Waters (who created them) uses them with all of her celebrity clients.
Normally I'd put lunges in the squat category instead of the hip hinge, but slide lunges hit the butt and hamstrings waaaaaay harder. They're definitely as much a hip hinge as a squat, if not more.
As far as suspension trainers go, the LifeLine Jungle Gym XT was the original suspension trainer. It came out almost a decade before the TRX.
The LifeLine Jungle Gym XT is about half the price of the TRX, and most reviews online rate it equal or better, especially with the split base that allows for progressing to harder exercises like dips and muscle ups – essentially you can also use it as a substitue for gymnastics rings.
On top of that, part of me just gives the Jungle Gym credit for being the first suspension trainer.
Watch the whole video here: Essential Tools for Travel Workouts
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