Customer Reviews

Lifeline USA TNT Special Triple Resistance Cable

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was somewhat skeptical buying this product. Maybe it would be too hard for me. Maybe it would be flimsy and break within a matter of days. However, I decided to "put myself out there" and buy it.

To my pleasure, I found that they were incredibly durable. It comes with 3 stretchy/flexible cables, and you have the option to connect one, two, or all three on the handles.

When I opened the package, I tried connecting all three that it came with. I'm not very muscular, and thus, it was too hard for me. I brought the setting down to two cables, but it was still too hard. I started getting worried that these cables were too tough for me. When I switched to only one cable, and found it was just the right setting. After using it for about 3-weeks (2-5 times per week) with just one cable, I felt ready to increase the difficulty by adding a second cable. I found it to be easier than when I first got the package. I had been using this along with the Lifeline Power Up Chin Ups. This obviously was a sign that I was getting more muscular. I recommend that you start each workout with the lowest cord in order to calibrate your body/muscles, and then work your way up, so that you don't put sudden strain on yourself.

Also, the wider apart you hold your legs, the harder it becomes to pull the cables up. This also adds another level of difficulty that you can factor in when you're ready. I haven't yet reached the 3-cord setting, so it also definitely includes lasting "replay" value.

It also includes a strap that you can wedge into your door, face your back towards the door, and then pull forward to increase chest workout.

Overall, I would definitely recommend buying these (along with the Power Up Chin Ups). I ordered these with Lifeline USA (the makers of the product) through Amazon, and they were nice enough to throw in some free stuff (they included a free jump rope, and push-up bars). If you are currently on a hunt for new workout equipment, search no further... this is a great product! :)

Having used weights for building muscle, I am not new to strength training. In the past I've done pretty much everything, from Smith machines in college, free weights after that, and , as I got older, a Soloflex machine...which, incidentally, made me comfortable with the idea of rubber resistance.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this product but fell for it very quickly. I can do more exercises with this in a short time, with infinitely more variation, than anything I've ever tried before. Best of all, I can take it with me anywhere I go, as evidenced during a recent extended trip to Europe where I didn't have the time or inclination - or reason, thanks to this product - to visit a gym.

The level of resistance is infinitely variable by changing one's stance, increasing or decreasing distance from the attachment point, adding more bands, etc. I can say without any exaggeration that this has built muscle on my male mid-40's 6 foot 2 inch frame, and even better, it has done so without any of the injuries or pain associated with free weights. As someone who prefers to exercise alone, there are practical limits to what I could do with free weights before getting into potentially dangerous situations, and while I like my Soloflex it doesn't provide much variation in terms of angles of resistance. The TNT power cables changed all that.

There really isn't any drawback. The only "caution" I would have is taking the time to learn how to brace yourself against the resistance as it can get mighty strong depending on how many bands and what resistance level you choose. But even this has an advantage as you're involving muscle groups that you would never involve in free weights or in a machine. For example, when doing the equivalent of a bench press, especially with heavy resistance, you have to lean forward and plant a solid foot behind you so you will move the band forward without your moving backward. This is excellent for improving balance, coordination, and involvement of more muscle groups.

I have had no problems with this product after six months of use and have bought several other items from the manufacturer, all of which I am very happy with. Be sure to follow the instructions for how to attach the door attachment. I haven't had any issues with it, but I can see how someone who didn't bother to read the (very simple) instructions could end up with a bunch of rubber in his or her face. Attach the strap on the hinge side of the door, not over the top or the latch side. That's it.

Too bad this isn't a franchise. if it were, I'd become a franchisee in a heartbeat, that's how impressed I am.

Most people are quite familiar with lifting weights as a way to do strength training. Weights definitely work, but they are not easily portable and there is a high potential for injury if you are lifting without the proper technique.

Enter exercise cables, a viable alternative to using weights for strength training. TNT cables, made by Lifeline, are some of the best out there. They use quality materials allowing the cables to hold up use after use. The cables come in a wide variety of different strengths that are well standardized by this company. And they are eminently portable, weighing less than a couple pounds.

Cables are versatile, and Lifeline's handle increases their versatility. You can connect up to three cables at a time to the TNT handle allowing you to increase or decrease the resistance as needed for a given exercise. A note to the skeptical: cables are no less challenging than weights. They are a different form of resistance, but by using multiple and heavier bands most people will find them just as challenging.

This is also a no frills/no nonsense product. Basically you receive the handles, three 'R4' cables, and a simple instruction poster. A door attachment is also supplied which increases the number of exercises that you can do.

Some caveats:

1. Snapping the cables in and out of the handle is simple, but with higher resistance cables this can sometimes be a daunting task. Once you get the hang of it it is fairly quick but it can take some serious stretching and pulling at first.

2. There are a lot of exercises that work well with the cables, but they do not correlate exactly with similar exercises with weights. You may have to experiment with different angles or approaches to make one of your exercises work with the bands.

3. Band resistance is different than weight resistance. Weight resistance is constant and dependent on gravity. Band resistance increases as the band is stretched. This is not a bad thing, it is just different and it takes a while to get used to the bands if you have used weights all of your life.

4. There is no exact 'number' or poundage that you can look at with the bands. This drives weight lifters crazy, because they cannot gauge their progress as easily. I have to say, however, that once you get used to using the bands this matters less. The results are no less dramatic than weights anyway so gauging progress becomes less important over time.

I am impressed with this product. It is especially great for travel as it takes nearly no room in the suitcase and makes your gym portable.

After reading all the positive reviews, I purchased these for the P90X program while I'm on the road and away form my free weights. They certainly provide a good amount of resistance and seemed to be a good choice. Unfortunately, during the "lawnmower" exercise, one of the bands broke. I used the remaining two for the remainder of the workout without issue. Two days later, I was doing seated flies and SNAP! I would really like these to work, and perhaps I received a bad batch, but I'm thinking it's a design flaw.

The bands are connected to the handles by inserting them into one of the three slots on the handles. In order to keep the bands from sliding out, the manufacturers have inserted a round object into the band, which are actually hollow tubes, causing them to bulge at either end. In both instances, my bands broke very close to the bulges. I believe the stretched plastic causes additional stress to the band, and while the rest of the band can certainly handle the advertised resistance, that bulge introduces a week spot that cannot.

Update:

I wanted to circle back with what worked. I did end up returning these and buying a different set, albeit more expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026JOS4W/ref=wms_ohs_product_

These works great. I have abused these to death and they just keep on doing what they do best -- resisting me.Bodylastics Resistance Bands 134 lbs. of resistance-Max Tension Edition with User Book

I use resistance bands as part of an overall routine including a Smith Machine, free weights, pushups, and aerobics. These are the first I've found that really can provide all the resistance one would want unless you are a true power-lifter type or professional athlete or are only interested in quads. Even then I think you could stack them with heavier bands, but then you are really creating a different product. With the 3 Red R4 bands it comes with, you can select one or all of them based on how many you step on. With all 3 its pretty tough. This is great for travel. While its not a substitute for weight training in my opinion, it can provide a good workout to most muscle sets and certainly serves a valuable purpose when access to weights is not an option and as a supplement to weights where there are certain exercises for which I like the bands better (e.g. behind-the-back rows). One drawback is that they are suprisingly heavy for exercise bands. The handles are heavy plastic, which makes them sturdy, but they are heavy, and if you are not controlling the resistance well, can hurt a bit if they press against your rists or body during a movement. On the whole, though, a great product.

Bought my TNT Cable Set with the size 10 black cables, which are rated at 100 lbs each, and let me just say, they're a beast to snap into and out of the handles. It's a workout in and of itself. The size 4 red cables (rated at 40 lbs each) that come with the set take zero effort to switch in/out, but these black cables need quite a bit of stretching (definitely more than 100 lbs worth) to get them into and out of the handles.

It's particularly frustrating when your muscles are fatigued, and you just want to finish up your workout with some lighter sets, but just swapping the cables can become a Herculean task. Because of this, I ordered another pair of handles and keep the black cables in those permanently. The handles are only 10 bucks through the Lifeline website, so it might be worthwhile to pick up an extra set of handles if you're going with the heavier cables to save on shipping. Also, for the record, I've read similar effort is required for the size 8 (80 lbs) cables, though I don't have direct experience with those.

Another minor problem I have with the set is that the door attachment doesn't inspire a lot of confidence, particularly with the heavier cables. The door attachment is actually nothing more than a strip of nylon with a knot at one end, that gets wedged in between the hinge side of a door jamb. The instructions actually tell you to only use this attachment on doors with "at least three solid hinges", so you're SOL if all your doors only have two. Even with three hinges though, it's not an entirely comfortable experience having something equivalent to a giant rubber band under 300 lbs of tension at your back. lol.

Other than those things, I have to say I really do love this cable set. I did a lot of research before settling on the Lifeline brand, and what sold me on these cables over a brand like Bodylastics was the quality of the Lifeline cables. They have a reputation of lasting forever. Highly recommended.

For those days when you don't have access to your kettlebells or sandbags, the TNT cable fills the niche in an outstanding manner. Complexes with a mix of bodyweight exercises and cable exercises can give you a great workout. Very portable, easy to set up and use. Simple and effective. Highly recommended.

i was a little skeptical buying this, but the workout I'm doing requires this for about 40% of the workout. so i bought it. the power cable is lined with 3 cables; each with 40 pounds of resistance(more or less depending on the set you buy) that you can easily attach/detach for the desired tension. i usually do 3 sets of 20 reps with each workout. you will definitely feel the burn. also you can buy extra cables if your workout becomes to easy, to increase the intensity of your workout. i highly recommend this product.

I do have a gym membership, but I can't make it to the gym everyday because it's usually always full during peak hours. When I want to do something at home where I have more space, these cables are the perfect alternative. I can do almost work any muscle I could on the machines at the gym by just using these cables and have just about the same workout too. It provides excellent resistance. Plus there are a lot of free resources that show you what you can do with the cables if you run out of exercises to do with them.

I have bought quite a few "heavy" resistance bands, in an attempt to find something heavy enough to really give me a good workout. Most of those failed miserably. I am currently going through my 2nd round of p90x, and the TNT Power Cables deliver what they promise!!! Not only do they offer enough resistance to get the job done, the added benefit of being able to quickly change the bands out in the newly designed handles makes them the best product of this type that I have ever used. I highly recommend these to anyone that is serious about their workout. I will warn you though, they are not for the faint of heart!