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The Perfect DIY TRX Door Anchor: Easy Setup for Suspension Trainers, Indoors, Outdoors, Anywhere

Suspension trainers are an amazing way to get a fantastic bodyweight workout in the comfort of your own home, or in a park, no weights required. Whether you’re a TRX suspension trainer, one of the compact Monkii trainers, or my favorite DIY suspension trainers, its easy to get in a great workout without a gym. Unfortunately, setting up the suspension trainer can be confusing.

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation
A simple TRX door anchor that could hold thousands of pounds, depending on your door. Cheap, quick, easy, and travel friendly

Don’t let this stop you! In this tutorial, we’ll detail how to make a quick, easy, and versatile TRX door anchor that sets up in doorways, on poles and trees outdoors, and countless other anchor point options- quickly and easily.

The same kit works perfectly for creating a TRX anchor on any sturdy object

Read on to discover how to make this DIY TRX door anchor that will make your workouts possible anywhere and why it is the ideal accessory to add to your travel workout kit.

CONTENTS OF THIS TRX DOOR ANCHOR SETUP TUTORIAL

  1. Overview: The DIY Minimalist Suspension Trainer Anchor & Why You Need One
  2. Materials & How to Make the Minimalist Suspension Trainer Anchor
  3. How to the DIY TRX Door Anchor Indoors
  4. How to Setup the DIY TRX Door Anchor Outdoors

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Overview: The DIY Minimalist TRX Door Anchor and Outdoor Suspension Trainer Anchor

This minimalist anchor for suspension trainers has been my go to for years because it is tiny, making it great for travel, and can be setup anywhere, from a hotel room, to a beach, to a city center.

Why you need to make and carry this suspension trainer anchor

  • Packable: Packs away small, smaller than your current one making it perfect for travelers and lightening your load
  • Versatility: Sets up anywhere there is a doorway or sturdy vertical object

What you need to make the minimalist suspension trainer anchor

  • A Climbing Runner: A ½” tubular nylon runner designed for rock climbing at least one meter long, but I prefer two meters. Runners are generally tubular nylon webbing sewn into a loop and incredibly strong – a perfect and cheap anchor.  It is versatile enough to attach easily onto posts, poles, and trees and the thin yet strong straps allow to close the anchor into doorways
  • One climbing grade carabiner: I prefer these Metolius carabiners because they are strong and tiny. We’ll use the carabiner to clip our suspension trainer to yoru anchor
  • Knot – Figure 8: Ability to tie a “Figure 8” knot as they are easy to tie but also easy to undo when tightened (we’ll explain how to do that later)
  • Knot – A Girth Hitch or Pipe hitch (we’ll explain how to tie this later too)

Safety Tips for Setting the TRX Straps with a Door as an Anchor Point

  • Only use a solid door! A flimsy door may not just pop off the hinges, but may snap completely.
  • Ensure setup the TRX Suspension Trainer System so it pulls the door closed. If the TRX or trainer is setup to pull the door open, you stand a chance of breaking the handle or locking mechanism
  • Be aware the strap may scratch or damage paint at the top of the door, or scratch wood if you are in a hotel. Do a quick test before fully committing.

Now, let’s get into setting up the equipment, indoors and outdoors…

How to Set Up the DIY anchor Indoors

To setup the TRX door anchor indoors using a solid door grab your supplies (a rock climbing “runner” made of tubular nylon webbing and a rock climbing carabiner) and follow these instructions:

  1. Tie a figure 8 knot on one end (to block the runner from sliding through the doorway)
  2. Separate the runner and place the two straps side by side (to make closing the door easier)
  3. Place the strap over the top or around the side of the door
  4. Close the door
  5. Optional: Tie another figure 8 knot in the runner close to the door if you want your anchor close to the doorway
  6. Clip your carabiner into the runner above the new figure 8 knot for a higher anchor
  7. Clip your suspension trainer into your carabiner
  8. Get down to business

How to Set Up the DIY TRX door anchor Indoors (with pics)

  1. Tie a figure 8 knot on one end (to block the runner from sliding through the doorway)

2. Separate the individual straps of the runner and place the two straps side by side (to make closing the door easier)


3. Place the strap over the top or around the side of the door


4. Close the door

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation
Step 3: Clip your climbing grade carabiner into your anchor

4a. Optional: Tie another figure 8 knot in the runner close to the door if you want your anchor close to the doorway|

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation

5. Clip your carabiner into the runner above the new figure 8 knot for a higher anchor

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation

6. Clip your suspension trainer into your carabiner

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation
Step 4: Clip your suspension trainer into your carabiners

7. Get down to business

Option: for a sturdier mid-level height anchor setup on the side of the door,

  1. Slide the untied runner between the doorway and the door on the side of the door with hinges
  2. On the outer side of the door, tie a figure 8 knot
  3. Close the door and pull the strap until the figure 8 knot catches
  4. To adjust the height of the anchor, open the door, slide the anchor up or down, close, and continue.

Tip: For a sturdier setup, try to setup the anchor so that it pulls the door closed

How to Set Up the DIY anchor outdoors


  1. Find a sturdy pole, post, or tree, that will be able to support being pulled on by your bodyweight
  2. Wrap the runner around the pole at least twice – this creates friction that will keep your anchor from sliding up or down.
  3. Run the end of the runner through the beginning loop
  4. Clip your carabiner onto the end of the runner and pull the runner tight
  5. Clip your suspension trainer into the carabiner
  6. Get down to business
  7. To adjust the anchor, loosen the wraps, slide the anchor up or down, tighten and continue
  8. To move the suspension trainer closer to your pole or post, just wrap the runner around your pole or post a few more times.

How to Set Up the DIY anchor outdoors (with pics)

  1. Find a sturdy pole, post, or tree, that will be able to support being pulled on by your bodyweight
DIY TRX SUspension Anchor

2. Wrap the runner around the pole at least twice – this creates friction that will keep your anchor from sliding up or down.

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation

3. Run the end of the runner through the beginning loop

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation

4. Clip your carabiner onto the end of the runner and pull the runner tight

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation
Step 3: Clip your suspension trainer into your carbiner. The friction of the pipe hitch loops will hold the runner in place during your workout. If the anchor slides, add more wraps.

5. Clip your suspension trainer into the carabiner

DIY TRX Suspension Anchor Installation

6. Get down to business

To adjust the anchor, loosen the wraps, slide the anchor up or down, tighten and continue

To move the suspension trainer closer to your pole or post, just wrap the runner around your pole or post a few more times.

Consider checking out these other great Travel Fitness articles

  1. The Travel Fitness Homepage for A Brother Abroad
  2. The essential suspension trainer exercises
  3. How to make your own travel friendly TRX suspension trainer
  4. The Best Weighted Backpacks for Workouts
  5. 23 Awesome Sandbag Workouts for a Great Training Session Anywhere
  6. No Gym Fitness