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In the grand scheme of the history of strength training, resistance bands are still fairly new to the scene. Barbells, dumbbells, and free weights have become staples in home gyms, and bands aren’t too far behind as manufacturers find more ways to make them accessible and easy to use.
The Harambe System allows trainees to get an intense full-body workout with a barbell-resistance band system. And fortunately, it doesn’t require a whole lot of space to make that happen! In this Harambe System review, we will touch on some of the positives and negatives that our expert product testers discovered when using this machine.
Reviews You Can’t (And Shouldn’t) Resist
We really love fitness, but do you want to know what we love even more than fitness? The various types of home gym equipment that’s out there to help us reach our goals. Our Garage Gym Reviews team includes weightlifting coaches, certified personal trainers, CrossFit Level 1 trainers, and more who just can’t get enough of trying out equipment!
We enjoy seeing how different products work and identifying who would benefit most from them. So when you need genuine advice on what products are hot (and what are not), take it from us. Our testers are able to dig deeper than the marketing verbiage provided by brands and really focus on the real-deal workout experience.
Harambe System
Harambe System K Bundle
Product Highlights
- Compact solution to strength training
- Resistance bands can offer over 300 lbs of tension
- Provides a barbell-like experience with a fraction of the space
- The K Bundle is a complete package of everything you need
- Ability to perform bilateral and unilateral exercises
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact size
- Versatile
- Maximizes resistance band training
- 5-year warranty on everything except the bands
- Stainless steel bar with knurling
Cons
- Expensive price tag
- Lots of moving parts
- Not the most straightforward piece of equipment
- Bands only have a 1-year warranty
Bottom Line
The Harambe System K Bundle is a compact solution for strength training when you don’t have enough space for a full blown home gym with traditional barbells and dumbbells.
A Quick Look at the Harambe System
This all-in-one home gym uses a plate base, a short barbell, and resistance bands to guide you through workouts with variable resistance. You can perform deadlifts, overhead presses, calf raises, curls, bench presses, and more.
In recent years, the Harambe System has built a cult following among both serious weightlifters and more casual fitness fans. Part of this is due to the product’s unique design and back story. Harambe Systems used a professor of mathematics to craft a resistance band system that uses pulleys and levers instead of the more traditional hook system.
Before You Buy
There are a lot of things you should think about before taking the plunge and buying a resistance band system.
- You can actually build your own Harambe System by choosing which bars, handles, slings, plates, and bands you want. However, doing this is likely more expensive than purchasing a complete set.
- If you choose to buy a bar and plate separately, you could use your own resistance bands if you prefer.
- We found the website for the Harambe System to be almost overwhelming, but in use, the machine is quite simple.
Video Review
Is the Harambe System Worth It?
For years, the X3 Bar system (which we discuss in greater detail below) was really the only serious band resistance system for serious athletes that was also easy for more casual exercisers to use. Harambe System’s entry into the market finally meant that consumers had viable choices to decide between.
As of this writing, the K Bundle is listed at a starting price of $817 and the T Bundle is listed at $459, which are both more expensive than most competitors. However, it has some great features that could make it a good product for you.
Great For:
- Athletes who want an intense workout with high resistance loads
- Those who like the feel of a barbell paired with resistance bands
- People who want a full-body workout from one portable machine
Not Recommended For:
- Those who prefer free weights
- People who need just a set of bands
- People who want budget-friendly gym equipment
Harambe System (K Bar Bundle) Specs
| Plate Footprint | 23.5” W x 11.75” L |
| Bar Weight | 11 lbs |
| Total Resistance | 500 lbs |
| Plate Material | 100% virgin UHMWPE |
| Bar Material | Stainless steel |
| Band Material | 100% natural latex |
| Resistance Band Weights (Singled) | Yellow: 10-20 lbs; White: 20-40 lbs; Light Green: 40-80 lbs; Heavy Green: 80-160 lbs |
| Price | $817-$867 |
A Second-To-None Ground Plate
The Harambe System has a highly durable ground plate made from the same material used for body armor: UHMWPE. “I have no worries about it breaking,” says Coop, founder of GGR and our expert product tester who used Harambe extensively. He found the ground plate incredibly stable, thanks to its width and durable construction.
Resistance Bands
If you bundle the system, you’ll receive four bands made from high-quality latex:
- Yellow: 10-20 lbs
- Ivory: 20-40 lbs
- Light Green: 40-80 lbs
- Dark Green: 80-160 lbs
Additional bands are also sold separately. You can stack them to create more than 800 pounds of tension, with some combinations reaching more than 1,600 pounds of resistance.
The bands themselves are 38 inches, which is on the shorter side. This shouldn’t be an issue unless you’re very tall, in which case, you may want to use your own bands. In use, these feel high-quality, but they really aren’t the selling point of the system.
A Unique Sling System
Unlike most of its competitors, the Harambe System uses slings (or pulleys) to attach the exercise bands to the bar. The brand claims that this increases the safety level since it is almost impossible for a band to slip out of the sling (even under tremendous resistance).
RELATED: MAXPRO SmartConnect Review: A Portable and Versatile Home Gym
An Ergonomically Designed Bar
There are two different bars that come with the Harambe System: The K Bar and the T Bar.
The K Bar, which is included with the Harambe System’s K Bundle, is longer and thicker than the T Bar. It has a 1.1-inch thick diameter, weighs about 11 pounds, and is 35.25 inches wide. It’s a solidly constructed band bar made from stainless steel and can reportedly withstand a working load of 1,000 pounds.
There is also an option to purchase the T Bundle with the T Bar, which is just 3.4 pounds and 28 inches long.
Coop says using the bar feels like having a traditional barbell in your hands. “There is a rotating bushing system that allows the bar to spin as you go through movements,” he explains.
Both bars use stainless steel and feature a volcano knurl. There’s also a patent pending on this pulley and sling system.
Portability
When looking at full-body workout machines, the Harambe System is highly portable. For the K Bundle, the plate is about 12 pounds, the heaviest bar is about 11 pounds, and the bands weigh next to nothing. You could easily put this in a car for travel (though flying with it may be difficult). The T Bundle is even more portable: the T Bar weighs just 3.4 pounds.
Note: This isn’t as lightweight as resistance bands alone or competitors like the X3 Bar, but you can still move the Harambe System around easily.
Workout Program
Like other all-in-one systems, the Harambe System has an app called Harambe Fit. The app allows you to access all of its workout programs and create your own to share with the community. While we haven’t tried the app for ourselves, it has a 4.6 average rating in the Apple App Store. It’s also available on Android.
Harambe System vs X3 Bar
X3 Bar
X3 Bar
Product Highlights
- Up to 300 lbs of force
- Upgrade to up to 600 lbs
- Free workout program included
- No assembly necessary
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Can create up to 300 pounds of force (up to 600 if you get the Elite Band, sold separately)
- Free 12-week workout program with high-quality workout and nutrition advice
- Bar has great knurling
- No assembly necessary
- Bands are dipped in layered latex, making them thick and durable
Cons
- Platform’s embedded rollers don’t allow bands to roll during lift, but that's nitpicky
- Quite pricey at around $550 (financing available)
- Only 1-year warranty for the bands
- Some complaints of the bands wearing down after only a few weeks
Bottom Line
A compact piece of strength training equipment that combines the best parts of resistance bands and barbells into one.
“The X3 bar is the grandfather of all resistance band systems,” Coop says. The X3 system is very straightforward, with a simple foot plate that you stand on while exercising. The actual exercise band loops under this plate and then extends to hooks on the X3 Bar. Once the band is hooked on, the X3 can be used for a wide range of both upper- and lower-body resistance band workouts.
RELATED: Upper-Body Resistance Band Workout
Because of its sturdy metal construction, the X3 bar can withstand significant band resistance. Like the Harambe System, the X3 bar also comes with a full-scale exercise program.
Coop is a big fan of the old X3 plastic footplate, which was sturdy yet lightweight. He is less fond of the new, heavier metal foot plate. Coop says that the ground plate for the Harambe System is dramatically better than the X3 plate. The only downside of this plate is that it is heavy because it is made out of the same material used for body armor.
The final point of comparison between the two products is in the bands they use. Coop was somewhat skeptical of each company’s claim that they use proprietary technology to create bands. He found that both companies use high-quality latex for their bands, and both have started moving towards smaller loops in their bands than other competitors use.
If you want something more affordable and portable, the X3 Bar is a good bet. If you want a sturdier foot plate and a heavier bar, go with Harambe.
Learn more in our X3 Bar review.
| Harambe System (K Bar Bundle) | X3 Bar Elite | |
| Plate Footprint | 23.5” W x 11.75” L | 19″ W x 10″ L |
| Bar Weight | 11 lbs | 4 lbs |
| Total Resistance | 500 lbs | 600+ lbs |
| Plate Material | 100% virgin UHMWPE | Alloy steel |
| Bar Material | Stainless steel | Alloy steel |
| Band Material | 100% natural latex | Layered latex |
| Resistance Band Weights (Singled) | Yellow: 10-20 lbs; White: 20-40 lbs; Light Green: 40-80 lbs; Heavy Green: 80-160 lbs | White: 10-50 lbs; Light Grey: 25-80+ lbs; Dark Grey: 50-120+ lbs; Black: 60-150+ lbs |
| Price | $817-$867 | $549 |
Customer Experience
As a family-owned company, Harambe prides itself on providing outstanding customer service to buyers. Harambe honors the important work that our nation’s military and first responders provide. If you are one of these workers, then you qualify for a discount (after providing proof). We even have an exclusive Harambe System promo code.
Warranty
The bar and sling system sold by Harambe has a 5-year warranty. Other parts, like the bands and rope, are under a 1-year warranty.
Returns
The brand offers a 30-day return window. However, buyers must pay the return shipping cost to return the product to Harambe’s headquarters.
Ordering and Shipping
The Harambe System can be purchased through the brand’s website. As of this writing, it is not available on Amazon. Shipping is free for orders over $300, except for international sales.
Assembling the Harambe System
Putting together a band resistance system is very straightforward since there are only a handful of pieces of equipment. The only potential snag with the Harambe System is the sling or pulley system that attaches the band to the bar. Assembly instructions are available on the corporate website, and once you do it a few times, it is very simple.
RELATED: The Gorilla Bow: A Unique Resistance Band System
Customer Reviews
On Harambe’s website, numerous outstanding reviews highlight how well it meets most users’ needs.
One user, Rob, noted: “I love the solid feeling and the smoothness of the K Bar. I am 58 yrs old coming from a weightlifting background and this fits the bill perfectly for me. No more joint pain.”
A second stellar review came from Tim M., who transitioned to the Harambe System because he wanted a better ground plate. He explained: “I did want a larger plate. I jumped on the ‘cosmetic defect’ sale and I’m really glad I did. This board is amazing. Adds a whole other dynamic to my workouts.”
Final Verdict of Our The Harambe System Review
So, should you add the Harambe System to your home gym?
Ultimately, our final verdict on the Harambe System for resistance bands is enthusiastic. Trainees who plan on doing the majority of their resistance band workouts at home will find this extremely beneficial. Thanks to this system, you can do back squats, overhead presses, front squats, and so much more right at home.
It is an expensive system backed by high-quality materials and a unique attachment. If you have the money to spend, it could be worth it.
- The Harambe system is durably constructed and will withstand heavy use and high resistance loads.
- The system emphasizes safety with a unique attachment mechanism between the bands and the bar.
- The Harambe System ground plate has no competition. It is truly second to none and offers users durability and stability. Their platforms are made out of UHMWPE, the same material used in bulletproof vests!
Harambe System Rating
Harambe System
Who needs barbells and dumbbells when they could use resistance bands? Check out our Harambe system review to see if this is a better choice for your home gym.
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 650
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.3
Harambe System FAQs
What is the Harambe System?
Founded by Khalid Bou-Rabee, the Harambe System is a resistance band set that packs the power of barbells and dumbbells. It’s innovative, uniquely designed with top-notch materials, and doesn’t take up a lot of space. This solution is an optimal choice for those who are into resistance training.
How much weight can you use with Harambe?
The K bar and T bar can handle a working load of 1,000 pounds, which is plenty!
Where did the Harambe System get its name?
Harambe means caring, sharing, and pulling together. Since that is what the brand embodies, the founder felt this name was appropriate.
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