The best resistance bands right now
The greatest resistance bands can provide a good workout without requiring you to visit the weight room at the gym. These skinny, seemingly simple elastic sleeves can help you create lean muscle and improve your overall mobility. They may appear simple, yet they are among the greatest home gym equipment available.
Still don’t believe us? Let’s start with the science: a research published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine discovered that just five weeks of resistance band training enhanced hamstring and inner thigh flexibility significantly. Resistance bands are also far softer on the joints than dumbbells or kettlebells, making them ideal for people recuperating from injury or looking for a lower-impact workout.
Resistance bands are available in a number of lengths, strengths, and sizes, allowing you to tailor your workout to your specific needs. They’re light and portable, so you can quickly put them into a backpack on your way to and from the gym, and they take up less space than other bulkier gym gear, which is ideal if you live in an apartment (particularly a higher floor).
But what are the best resistance bands to buy, and should you go for a large resistance band with grips or smaller looped bands to get the most out of your workout? We’ve tried and tested the greatest resistance bands on the market to help you figure out which one is right for you.
What are the best resistance bands?
The Bodylastics Resistance Bands set, which includes five extra-tough tubes with reinforced stitching and an internal cord, is our top pick among the best resistance bands we evaluated. This all-in-one set’s versatility and flexibility are rounded off by a series of accessories, including a door anchor and carrying bag.
For years, medical practitioners have relied on TheraBand for joint-friendly resistance bands used in physical therapy of any kind. They’re also latex-free, which is great news for anyone who suffers from that allergy.
Look no further than the BodyBoss 2.0 portable gym set for the complete shebang. These bands have low tension levels, but the sheer variety of what you can accomplish with BodyBoss 2.0 (and the accompanying website) makes it worthwhile to spend. It’s a terrific method to stay active while traveling for jetsetting fitness fanatics.
Bodylastics – Resistance Bands
Pros
- Comes with a variety of attachments
- Internal cord to prevent breakage
- Wide range of resistance
Cons
- Exercises in booklet supplied are limited
The Bodylastics resistance bands are the greatest for total-body exercise. This package has it all: in addition to the workout bands, it includes a number of practical attachments such as handles, ankle straps, and a door anchor. The anti-snap latex bands range in resistance from 3 to 30 pounds and can be combined for a total resistance of 404 pounds, depending on which package you purchase. Each latex tube has an inside cord to prevent breakage, which should provide some piece of mind in the event of an unexpected (and painful!) snapping.
Everything comes in a neat carrying pouch; the entire product weighs less than 5 pounds, and it’s simple to slip the kit in a backpack. Inside, you’ll discover anti-snap resistance bands (with resistance varying from 3 to 30 pounds each), clippable handles, ankle straps, a door anchor, a “anywhere anchor,” and a surprisingly comprehensive instructional book. Bodylastics sells three more versions of these bands in addition to the Max Tension bundle we examined. The basic kit can only simulate 96 total pounds of force, however the “Mega” version can simulate 404 pounds of resistance; it also includes four extra handles and ankle straps, making it perfect for group exercises.
The handles are well-sized and properly gripping; even when my hands were a touch sweaty, I was able to hold on to them during every workout. The distinct O-Ring construction of each carabiner clip prevents it from being entangled in the nylon webbing, which is a pleasant change from inferior bands I’ve used in the past. The innovative anti-snap technology, designed to avoid overstretching and snapping during those more strenuous workouts; in the event of any terrible snaps, the inside cord eliminates that feared “whipping” effect across your body or face, is the best thing about these bands, in my opinion. During my testing, each band felt incredibly powerful, and I never felt unsafe when increasing the resistance levels.
Whether you’re a recreational athlete or a dedicated Spartan participant, these are the best resistance bands available today, and you won’t be disappointed with any of Bodylastics’ kits. The supplied instruction booklet is an added bonus for beginners because it demonstrates how to properly use the bands, ankle straps, and anchors; there are even 34 exercises included, and the step-by-step graphics are really helpful.
TheraBand – Resistance Bands Set
Pros
- Non-latex design
- 4-inch bands comfortable against the skin
- Slip-proof
Cons
- No extra accessories
Although many of the best resistance bands are composed of natural rubber latex, some people are allergic to it. TheraBand’s synthetic rubber band triple helps allergy sufferers prevent hives or anaphylactic shock. The strong loops are perfect for physical therapy, strengthening, and stretching, particularly while recovering from an injury.
TheraBand, like many other resistance bands on our list, does not come with any extra accessories other from a meager brochure with a few sample workouts you may do with them. However, unlike other non-loop bands, there are no handles (or carabiner clips) on either end to grab onto; instead, you can wrap the resistance bands around your body as you grip them, or tie them off into different sizes.
The beginning set we tested includes three different bands (rated at 4.3, 3.7, and 6.7 pounds of resistance, respectively), while the advanced set ups the ante to 8.5, 10.2, and 15.3 pounds of resistance. Heck, both sets would cost less than $50, making these resistance bands an excellent value. And, despite their modest appearance, TheraBands are an excellent complement to any home gym; they’re more adaptable than you might think.
These bands, which were 4 inches wide, were really comfortable to wrap around my limbs for various stretches and upper body exercises. The latex-free rubber is sticky and supple, and it resisted slippage to an unexpected extent as I repositioned my grip between sets.
How effective are the TheraBands? I’ve had two knee surgeries and can attest that every single physical therapist I’ve ever worked with (or been worked on by) had a stack of TheraBands on ready for my post-surgery sessions.
Fit Simplify – Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
Pros
- Lightweight and extremely portable
- Simple, easy to understand resistance rating
Cons
- They won’t last forever – each band only rated for 9000 stretches
- Not suitable for anyone with a latex allergy
While most resistance bands are reasonably priced, Fit Simplify’s best-selling set is almost startlingly low-cost. The five loops are composed of heavy-duty, tear-free latex and range in resistance from “extra-light” to “extra-heavy.” Put them in the matching bag for on-the-go strength-training exercises wherever your feet take you.
Resistance bands aren’t necessary for severe strength training, and the Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands are simply ideal for anyone wishing to add a bit more resistance to their HIIT practice. (They’re also great for at-home physical rehabilitation.) We liked how simple each box is: it includes five resistance bands (available in multicolor, berry, or pink) in a nylon pouch, as well as a small “use and maintenance” leaflet.
Be warned: these bands are designed to (at some point) fail. Each band is rated for 9,000 unique stretches with normal use, according to the booklet. Having saying that, they don’t feel particularly low-cost. During our testing, each band felt pleasantly flexible when we used it for vertical and horizontal arm extensions; it reminded us of the cheaper resistance bands we’d received from physical therapists in the past.
With these super-simple bands, you get what you paid for, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They won’t last forever, but they’ll do the job cheaply.
Perform Better – Mini Band Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
Pros
- Easy to understand loops
- Comfortable to use
Cons
- Won’t be large enough for all users
- No carry pouch
- Not suitable for anyone with a latex allergy
Mini bands are commonly used in physical treatment, but they can also be useful when traveling and don’t want to take up too much space. The Perform Better Mini Band set includes four loops that range in weight from “low” to “extra heavy.” (The tension range isn’t specified, but it’s most likely between 3 and 30 pounds.) They are only 9 inches in diameter, ensuring immediate tension, though larger-limbed folks may find them too severe.
The Perform Better Mini Band Resistance Loop Exercise Bands, like the Fit Simplify bands above, don’t have any outstanding design elements. You’ll receive four 9 x 2-inch bands ranging in intensity from light to very heavy, as well as a single-page exercise brochure. A carrying pouch of some kind would have been useful, as these bands are easily misidentified as errant socks if tossed around with any surrounding laundry.
The narrower diameter of the bands does, in fact, put you to work right immediately. The Fit Simplify bands may be a better alternative if you require additional range for lankier arms and legs. (Aside from that, they’re pretty much the same in terms of comfort.) Nonetheless, there isn’t much to complain about here. If your resistance band requirements are low, or if you require them for physical therapy, these should suffice. Especially for those who are shorter and have smaller arms.
Serious Steel-Assisted Pull-up Band
Pros
- Feel extremely strong
- Can buy in bundles
Cons
- No accessories or instructions
- Not suitable for anyone with a latex allergy
We’re now cooking with oil. Serious Steel’s Heavy Duty Resistance Bands are available in six different sizes and are built with fused latex sheets for extreme tensile strength. The strongest band can handle 150 pounds of stress, giving your pull-ups, squats, deadlifts, and leg presses that more “oomph.”
With one look at the Serious Steel Heavy Duty Resistance Band Set, I knew this company was in it for the long haul. I put their two-band set to the test, which comprises a 5 to 25-pound band and a 10 to 50-pound band. Serious Steel has six different bands in total, and they are available in packs of two, three, four, and six. These resistance bands don’t come with any extra supplies or instructions, but that’s because they’re intended to those who already know what to do with them. Personally, I enjoy all of the customizing options available here because everyone has different exercise objectives and requirements.
There’s a reason the company’s founders chose the name Serious Steel for these bands: they’re practically indestructible. I used them on my power tower for a few sets of aided pull-ups and never once felt like they were about to snap. The bands also offered some hard resistance to my pushup routine, and the more I used them, the more I pondered why I didn’t have a whole set earlier.