Iron Neck Alpha Harness Review

The Iron Neck Alpha harness is an adjustable neck training device that conforms to the size and shape of my head.

With insides lined with neoprene, it’s comfortable around my head and ears.

And with 6 points of attachment, I can use it to do neck exercises with weight plates or resistance bands.

Let’s check it out!

Unboxing

The neck harness and all its accessories comes inside a large ziploc bag.

I’ve tested other neck training devices but have never used a harness so I’m excited to try this one out.

Here’s what’s inside…

The neck harness, a couple of carabiners, and a tether strap to hang weight plates from.

First impressions of the neck harness is that it’s made of quality materials. The fabric, D-rings, neoprene lining, and velcro all look well made.

Here’s what the nylon tether looks like once I unfolded it.

I don’t plan to hang 45 lbs weight plates from my head but the tether definitely looks thick enough to take on a lot of weight.

And the carabiners connect to the end loops so I can hang the tether from the D-rings on the harness.

Specs

• Straps: Adjustable chin and forehead straps

• Neoprene: Inside of the straps are lined with 1/4″ of neoprene for comfort

• D-rings: 6 stainless steel d-rings

• Tether: 46″ nylon tether connects to d-rings to support weight plates

What Is The Iron Neck Alpha Harness?

The Alpha Neck Harness is a harness for neck training with 6 D-rings in different positions around the head where I can attach resistance bands or hang weight plates to do neck exercises from different angles.  

It’s made with a durable strap, heavy duty D-rings, and strong velcro so I can attach resistance bands or hang weight plates to do neck exercises from different angles.  

These types of neck trainers are popular among athletes in combat sports and weightlifting for neck strength and to reduce the risk of injuries.

I’m showing you this angle of the neck harness so you can see all the D-rings.

Those 6 attachment points give me lots of options to train my neck from different angles with resistance bands or weights.

I’ve even used it with my Voltra cable machine because of the different resistance modes I can use (resistance band, eccentric load, cable machine).

How To Use The Iron Neck Alpha Harness

Using the Alpha neck harness is straight forward.

First, I detach the velcro chin strap so I can get the harness on my head.

Once I have my head in, I velcro it down.

Then I adjust the side straps on each side.

These side straps go through a buckle on the back of my head and I pull each one forward to make them tighter.

Third, I thread the tether through weight plates.

I don’t need heavy weight plates to get a good neck workout but the tether is strong enough for athletes.

And finally, I clip the carabiner the D-rings.

In the picture above I clipped them to the dog ears on each side for neck extensions.

But I can also use resistance bands which I like better for rotational movements.

Top Benefits Of The Iron Neck Alpha Harness

Hands Off

I like that I can go completely hands off with a neck harness.

After selecting what type of resistance I wanna use, I don’t have to use my hands to hold anything down.

This way I can just focus on my neck muscles.

One thing I have noticed about this neck harness, is that for some exercises it tends to move down a bit.

This will vary depending on head size so getting the Alpha Harness Plus with the vertical adjustment strap might be worth it to get a tighter fit.

Adjustable

The Alpha harness has two adjustable side straps that go through buckles in the back.

To adjust them I pull both straps forward then velcro them down right above my ears.

Pretty easy to do and secures the horizontal strap around my head.

Then comes the chin strap.

This is just one strap that goes through a bucke on the left side.

And it velcros down on the right side.

I have to play around with the tension on this one cause I don’t wanna get it too tight that it feels like it’s choking me but I also don’t want it too loose so that the harness doesn’t move around easily.

Best Features Of The Iron Neck Alpha Harness

Fabric

The Alpha harness is made out of nylon fabric which has a high tensile strength so it can take on heavy weight without breaking.

I like that the straps have reinforced stitching all over the place which gives me confidence that parts won’t rip easily.

Heavy Duty D-Rings

All six D-rings are coated in chrome which is something I always look for because I workout in a humid garage gym so this prevents rust.

I don’t see these anything happening to them because they’re robust.

Neoprene Lining

The entire interior of the harness is lined with neoprene so that the fabric doesn’t rub against my skin.

Overall it feels good and also helps to cushion my head once I hang weight plates from it.

Strong Velcro

The velcro on both side straps is wide and really strong.

I haven’t had any issues with it coming off while I’m exercising.

Same with the chin strap. The velcro is less wide but it’s also not taking on any load.

Who Is The Iron Neck Alpha Harness For?

I use it to strengthen my neck but it’s also for anyone looking increase their neck size.

It’s used by many athletes in contact sports like boxers, MMA, football, Jiujitsu, wrestling, and others.

RELATED: Check out my Neck Hammock review for a natural way to relieve neck pain

Neck Harness Exercises

Extension

I can do neck extension exercises in different ways.

The easiest one is seated with a weight plate hanging in between my legs.

It works but I feel more tension when I do this lying down on my stomach.

And here’s what it looks like when I do them from a horizontal position but…

Flat benches are too low for the tether so I flip down the top half of my Infinity bench and that gives me enough space so the weight plate doesn’t touch the floor.

Another option is to set my bench to incline and hang off the top of the bench. It’s not fully horizontal but it’ll work.

Another option is to use resistance bands.

For this, I tie the resistance band around an upright and clip the carabiner to the front D-ring.

Then I do neck extensions from a seated position.

In the pic above you can see how the forehead strap moves down toward my nose when the resistance band starts pulling.

I can still do the exercise but the strap blocks my vision a little bit.

This is where I think having an adjustable vertical strap would be a better option.

Flexion

I like to use a resistance band for flexiong.

This way I don’t have to hang my head off a bench and I can control the intensity of the pull by shifting a chair back and forth.

Lateral Flexion

For lateral flexion I clip both carabiners to one side D-ring.

I set my weight bench to 45 degrees incline and lie on it sideways.

This gives me enough height so the weight plate doesn’t touch my stall mats when I bend my head towards the floor.

From here I bend my neck towards the ceiling.

Then I turn over and repeat for the other side.

I can also do lateral flexion exercises from a seated position with a resistance band clipped to one side D-ring.

Rotation

For neck rotations I like using a resistance band.

Same seated setup and I clip the carabiner to the front D-ring.

I feel slight movement to the side when the resistance band pulls but it’s not enough to disrupt the exercise.

Iron Neck Alpha Harness Pros & Cons

Pros

• Versatile: I can train my neck from multiple angles and use weight plates, resistance bands, or cable machines

• Progression: I can add weight as I get stronger for progressive overload

• Comfortable: Inside neoprene lining cushions weight so the straps don’t come in direct contact with my face or press to hard on my ears

• Durable: Straps, velcro, and D-rings are made of high quality material that last

• Adjustable: Velcro straps around my chin and forehead adjust to the size of my head

Cons

• Fit: Even though I tighten the straps all the way, it can move a little bit. Going for the Alpha Plus harness may be worth it to get the vertical head strap.

Iron Neck Alpha Harness Price

The Iron Neck Alpha harness sells for $59 which is a bit more expensive than other straps in the market but it is well built.

Iron Neck uses quality materials and the Alpha has more attachment points than cheaper harnesses.

So I have more options to train my neck from different angles for better overall neck workouts.

Iron Neck Alpha Harness Discount Code

Since the Alpha harness is not a high ticket product, it currently doesn’t quality for any discount codes.

Click the red button below for the lowest price.

Iron Neck Alpha Harness Alternatives

The Iron Neck 3.0 Pro

The Iron Neck 3.0 Pro is a neck strengthener that goes on my head like a halo.

It uses bands as resistance and allows 360 degrees of rotational resistance.

The Strong Neck

The Strong Neck is a plate loaded neck strengthening tool that’s super simple.

It’s a weight horn with padding right below it.

I insert an Olympic weight plate into it and hang my head off a weight bench in a direction I want.

The Mad Neck

The Mad Neck is another plate loaded neck strengthener but it has a curved base.

This curved base is meant to make it easier to roll on my head as I go through different neck range of motion exercises.

I find it requires more balance than other tool especially if I go real heavy.

NecksLevel Glide

The NecksLevel Glide is an isolation neck strengthening device that works with resistance bands.

It supports my head so gravity is eliminated so I can target deep neck muscles without having to support the weight of my head.

With a progressive overload band system, it helps me with range of motion, reduces stiffness, and strengthens my neck.

My Experience Using The Iron Neck Alpha Harness

I mainly train my neck with extension exercises and prefer using weight plates for this.

Whether it’s a seated neck extension or prone neck extension, weight plates feel the best for me.

Weight plates also force me to slow down the movement because if I go too fast, the plates will start swing so this forces me to control the exercise.

Although I can use the lower D-rings (like shown above), I prefer using the D-rings above my ears.

The weight feels like it’s centered better when I use the top D-rings and I feel more tension throughout the movement.

For rotations and lateral flexions, I prefer using a resistance band.

Although there’s slight movement in some movements like banded rotations and extensions, overall I feel the harness fits me well and is strong enough to last a while.

Final Verdict: Is The Iron Neck Alpha Harness Worth It?

After putting the Iron Neck Alpha harness to the test, I feel it is worth it but spending a little bit more to upgrade to the Alpha Harness plus might be better.

I say this because there is slight movement with rotation and extensions when I do seated exercises with a resistance band.

But other than that, this Alpha harness is comfortable and built with high quality materials that make it durable.

With six D-rings placed all around my head, it gives me plenty of anchor points for weight plates or resistance bands to hit my neck from all angles.

Iron Neck Alpha Harness FAQ’s

Is it comfortable to wear?

Yes, the inner neoprene lining prevents the nylon fabric from scratching my face and cushions the weight of plates when hanging.

Can it be used with resistance bands?

Yes it can. Bands are not included but one end can be wrapped around an anchor point or held with one hand and the other can be attached to a D-ring.

Is it made with durable materials?

Yes, the nylon fabric, reinforced stitching, heavy duty D-rings, and strong velcro are made to last.