Best Workout Bands Reviewed in 2024

Using resistance bands is intuitive and simple, and it shouldn’t confuse you that much, but if you are a beginner we understand how you may be confused by the concept, which is why we are writing about this in the first place.

One reason why workout bands are so popular is that they can add resistance to almost any type of exercise. Resistance bands work almost the same way as weights do, but instead of gravity giving you the challenge, the tension is what you’re fighting with instead. This way you can create tension whenever you move your muscles, instead of feeling the burn only when you move the opposite way of gravity.

These types of exercises are great when you do not have the time to go to a gym, when you suffer from joint issues, or if you just want to add some variety to your regime. You can either use regular bands, that are just long, rectangle-shaped strips of latex or rubber that must be tied down or held tightly to be used and tube bands that are similar to those a jump rope has, with handles at the end for convenience.

If you want to use the workout bands properly, you must determine how much resistance you need in the first place. You can always start with the least amount of resistance and work your way up. You will know how strong your band is by looking at their colors. Usually, the darker the band is the heavier it will be, but just in case consult the guide from the manufacturers to be completely sure. The lighter bands offer 3-6 pounds of resistance, medium bands offer 8-10 pounds, and this is usually a good starting point, heavy resistance gives you 10-15 pounds to work with, and extra-heavy resistance challenges you with 16 pounds or more.

You can also adjust the position of the band to make the workout tougher or easier. The looser the band sits around your hands o the anchor, the easier the exercise will be. This is because it will have room to stretch, and you won’t have to work so hard to pull it. If the band is tightened up and firm, you will really have to do your best to even nudge it in the first place. If you feel like your band is too easy to use, there are several ways you can try to make it harder. You can tie a loop around the palm of your hand, or wherever you have it wrapped around to make it shorter, thus making the exercise harder. You can even step on the band, which will again shorten it. And you can try moving away from the anchor, tightening the band. So you see, the length and tightness of the band determine how much you’ll have to work for the gains.

You should use controlled movements until you master the band completely. This is because you need to maintain perfect form in order to stay injury-free. Do not rush through a movement just to get it over with! It’s better to do fewer movements, but with perfect form, than to do more reps but with poor posture.

Also, you must make sure that your form is strong because otherwise the band might slip out of your hands or under your feet and hurt you. You must learn to tie a basic anchor knot if you want to use the band properly! This is because many movements will require a stable point for the band to be tied around. You can tie the knot around a tree, pole, or even a doorknob. The knot must be able to withstand your weight. You can increase and decrease the resistance by shortening or extending the knot.

These are the basics of using workout bands. As your experience grows, you will learn more and more tips and tricks on how to use the bands, and we are certain that you will be a pro in no time!

You may also start to wonder just how effective can a single strip of elastic rubber actually be effective. Well, we are here to tell you that they are actually very effective tools for building muscles!

Resistance bands will tense your muscles, acting just like regular weights do. They can also be used literally anywhere you go, since they are portable and simple to use, and do not weigh a ton. They are safe and effective and usually recommended by doctors and physical therapists for faster injury recovery.

As we mentioned before, bands come in various different types, both equally effective. Most basic bands are flat, and others are tubular, guarded by a protective material. Some bands have handles, for easier maneuvering. The weight you can work with ranges from 3-4 pounds, to over 200 pounds, so don't worry about the bands not giving you a challenge once the weight starts to go up!

Like we said before, workout bands create tension which you have to work against in order to pull the band towards you. This will make your muscles contract, which enhances both bone and muscle growth. Some experts even say that the bands are better than free weights, because as you stretch the band the tension grows, so you can actively change the number of “pounds” you are working with.

The workout bands can also be modified very easily to your own needs and preferences, as opposed to working with weights, where you have to maintain just one pose to feel all the benefits. Tennis players even use the bands to strengthen their backhand!

Resistance bands are not created using a huge variety of materials. They are almost always made out of rubber, latex, a blend of the two, and rarely cotton.

Workout bands are actually made at the same time and in the same place as latex and rubber tubing is made, both for medical and food industries. This way people conserve extra energy when making the bands, making them even environmentally friendly! The bands are created when liquid latex gets pushed into a special type of tube mold or is rolled into a sheet. This sheet, or tube, then hardens over time, then it gets painted, so you know the resistance level you are working with.

There are two types of latex rubber used to create resistance bands. Firstly, we have natural latex, which comes from rubber trees native to Southeast Asia, and is harvested from underneath the bark. Synthetic latex is created by humans, using petroleum oil as the base. These two types do not differ so much - they will both be effective workout tools, and will be hardy and durable.

Then we have cotton bands. These bands are not created solely out of cotton - instead, the cotton is blended with latex, since you won’t get the resistance just by using cotton bands. Also, cotton is not durable and will tear if you pull on it too hard, so using latex is a really important step here! These bands may be even sturdier than regular ones, and you can manipulate them just like you would manipulate regular latex bands.

They are also color-coded since cotton soaks up color very well. The only problem might be cleaning the bands. Cotton absorbs moisture like crazy, but it also holds onto it, not wicking it away. This will make your bands dirty and smelly fast, so it’s vital that you keep them clean! You can do that by popping them into the washing machine, if it’s safe, or by washing them by hand.

Truth be told, resistance bands are quite sturdy, lasting one to two years, or even more if you take care of them. This makes them a worthy investment, and a valuable fitness companion. We will now let you know a few tips and tricks that explain how you can extend the life of your bands even more, so you have even more time to work together. Take these tips to heart and follow them diligently and we are sure that you will use the bands for a long time.

If you want your band to last a really long time, switch to using two bands! This will reduce wear and tear damage, and doesn’t let the bands snap. When you use two bands instead of one, it will reduce the strain the bands feel when you work with them, because you won’t need to stretch one band so much, yet you will still get the same level of resistance.

Usually, bands come in a set, so it’s going to be easy for you to find the right combo of bands to use at the same time. If you want, you can even use three, four or even five bands at the same time, for extra protection. But some people don’t like handling more than one band at the time, and it really can be a hassle if you’re not used to it.

The bands may tangle and loop, and they can get torn this way too, so use two or more at the same time if you are already used to them. The good news is that more than one band will not create any issues for exercises performed with a band, and you can easily work with 10 bands at the same time if you like, the movement will be unchanged.

You don’t have to worry about your bands rusting over, that one’s for sure, but water damage is a real danger to your bands. Water can cause chemical changes at the top layer of the bands. This is because most of the bands are made out of rubber, which corrodes slowly over time when exposed to water. The colors can even start to fade over time, and your bands can develop white spots. This is when you should pay special attention to your bands when you use them, as they may be more prone to snapping. Keeping the bands dry shouldn’t be such a problem.

Most of the time, you won’t be in direct contact with the bands, and they will be protected from water and sweat with handles or clothing. Sometimes, your feet and hands might still come into direct contact with the bands. This happens when you need to stand on the band to keep it in place, or when you need to hold it tightly in your arms. The bands can even press against your torso and upper and lower body as you perform the exercises. So you must keep your body dry before actually getting down to business with the bands. Dry yourself off with a towel before grabbing the bands, and if you sweat during the exercises with the band, make sure to keep a towel nearby to dry off your skin and the band.

Growing attached to one certain band as time goes by and making it your favorite is normal, and it will most probably happen to you. The band could provide you with ideal tension and comfort, and this is simply why you must make sure to keep the band safe. Switch up the bands, use a different level of resistance, or use two, as we mentioned before. Do not stretch the bands too far! Usually, no exercise will require you to stretch the band out so much that it snaps. Just in case, you should not stretch the band more than two times its length!

These bands, although they are simple rubber strips, can actually have a bunch of features, making them much easier to use. Every band set you will buy will be color-coded, and those colors will tell you with how much resistance you are working with, which is quite important for your progress.

Resistance bands are always tested by the manufacturers, where they check the resistance levels and convert it to pounds, giving you insight into how much pounds you are actually working with. This is done by attaching the band to an anchor attached to a scale, stretching it, and then reading the results at the beginning of the stretch, then once again when the band is stretched out to the max. Then the average is calculated from all the readings and is used to determine the pound equivalent.

Usually, most of the band manufacturers will use the same colors to code the resistance, so that people can always know just with what they are working with, even if they do not recognize the brand.

Yellow is used to mark the easiest band level that anyone can work with. These bands are great for physical therapy when you are recovering from an injury, or for working on small muscles on the body, like the rotator cuff in the shoulder, and it can even help with chronic conditions like the tennis elbow.

Green and red follow each other and provide us with light to medium tension. These bands are used if you want to set your reps to a big number. People often use these bands to work on their biceps, triceps, and shoulders.

Dark blue, or sometimes even green bands are the heavy hitters. This level of resistance is the best when you want to work on strength training and powerlifting, like when you use the bench press, perform squats, lunges, push-ups and so on and so forth.

Purple, black or silver are the colors used to mark champions. These colors are for the most advanced users, ideal for building strength and muscle mass. You can use them when you do squats, deadlifts, heavy shoulder presses or anything where your reps will stay low.