Resistance bands are one of the most underrated tools. Most people do not understand how well of a workout you can get with just some decent resistance bands. They are relatively cheap, easy to use, and can be taken anywhere. They are great for home workouts with limited space. Personally, I like to take my resistance bands outside to get a great workout in the sun. Dumbbells and barbells are great, but expensive and bulky to use at home.
Resistance bands provide linear variable resistance. Meaning, the resistance increases with further range of motion. So if you were using resistance bands for a shoulder press, the resistance would be greatest at the top of the rep when your arms are fully straight. Studies have found that resistance bands activate muscle fibers similarly to free weights, and are effective at increasing muscle size and strength. So resistance bands are a great way to continue your fat burning and muscle building while at home!
This article will not only discuss the pros and cons to using resistance bands, but will also show you the best resistance bands to use at home.
Things to Consider Before Buying
All resistance bands are different. Some are better for light rehabilitation purposes while others are very strong for heavy lifters. There are resistance bands for the full-body while some are just for the legs and butt. Some resistance bands have handles and come with clips for attachments. These can be beneficial for doing upper-body workouts and you can attach them to a door. While some do not come with handles, but are good for light shoulder rehabilitation exercises and warm-ups.
The leg and butt resistance bands are typically small circular bands that slip around your legs. These are great, but are limited with what you can do with them. They are strictly for leg and butt exercises. I will show you the top resistance bands for each.
Muscle Master’s Choice: Chareada 22 Pack Resistance Bands Set: Score 10/10
Pros:
– Multiple attachments
– Durable all in one set
– Easy color coded bands
Cons:
– More expensive than others
This resistance band set is an amazing set for home. It is a deluxe all-in-one set. It comes with 5 color resistance bands that are stackable up to 150lbs! It also comes with 5 resistance loop bands. You can get a great upper-body workout with the tube resistance bands. And a great lower-body workout with the loop resistance bands. The Chareada set is a great set for beginners or even experiences lifters. This resistance band set can provide an amazing full body workout nearly anywhere!
The main benefit of this set is all the attachments it comes with! The set comes with 2 double sided core sliders, 2 handles, 2 ankle straps, 1 door anchor, 1 instant cooling towel, 2 Wrist Wraps, and 2 carrying bags. It is a great value with everything it comes with.
Fitness Insanity Resistance Bands Set: Score 9.5/10
Pros:
– High quality
– Heavy resistant
– Multiple attachments
Cons:
– More expensive than others
This resistance band set is a great overall set that will provide an amazing workout while at home. It comes with 5 separate resistance bands at 10lb, 20lb, 30lb, 40lb, and 50lb. The attachment clips allows you to combine multiple bands so they are stackable all the way to 150lb! That is extremely heavy for resistance bands and will challenge even the strongest individuals. They also come with multiple attachments including a door anchor which can be a great way to target back rows or even glute kickbacks.
It comes with a carrying bag so you can take these outside with you to the park or wherever you would like to workout. Other attachments include 2 ankle straps which can be great to do glute kickbacks, abduction, and other leg exercises. These are very heavy duty resistance bands with reinforced links that will last. This is a great set for even a beginner because it comes with a workout guide and workout poster!
Letsfit Resistance Bands: Score 9.5/10
Pros:
– Heavy resistant
– Stackable bands
– Multiple attachments
Cons:
– Less durable
Another great overall resistance band set. Come with 5 separate resistance bands and is stackable up to 150lbs. These resistance bands come with cushioned handles which allow a nice grip while performing exercises. These bands can be used for strength training, muscle building, toning, rehabilitation, stretching, etc. This set is similar to the set above, but a little less quality compared to Fitness Insanity bands.
This a great starter set for home, and can provide a full body workout anywhere! You can use these for your arms, legs, chest, back, and even abs. The multiple attachments allows for different workouts.
Tribe 11PC Premium Resistance Bands Set: Score 9.5/10
Pros:
– Heavy resistant
– Stackable bands
– Multiple attachments
Cons:
– Less durable
This a great set for home workouts! Everyone should have a set like this because you can get a full body workout anywhere. This set comes with 5 different resistance bands and is stackable up to 105lbs. The Tribe resistance band set comes with a ton of accessories such as cushioned handles, door anchor, 2 cushioned ankle straps, and carry bag.
I recommend this set for beginners or anyone who is looking for a decent workout at home. These are stackable up to 105lbs which is good for most people, but heavy lifters should consider the two options above for the 150lb stack.
Recredo Booty Bands: Score 9.5/10
Pros:
– Strong and durable
– Great for Legs and Butt
– Multiple colors
Cons:
– No upper-body use
I recommend these bands for guys and girls to get a great leg workout while at home. These are heavy duty, durable, and strong resistance bands. These resistance bands are thickened and have rubber on the inside so they won’t slip down your legs. They are very high quality with a nice durable fabric protection layer. They are very comfortable compared to rubber sets due to the fabric.
The Recerdo resistance bands comes in light, medium, and heavy resistance. This allows you to find the perfect level to use based on your leg size and strength. These resistance bands can be used for squats and butt exercises. They are incredible at improving hip strength.
Arena Strength Fabric Booty Bands: Score 9/10
Pros:
– Fabric Coating
– Carry bag included
– Warranty included
Cons:
– Limited colors
The Arena Strength Fabric bands are a great addition for home to train hips, legs, and butt. These bands come in a set of 3 for easy, medium, and hard. They are also different diameters so they can fit around all leg sizes. The resistance bands comes with a fabric coating so they are comfortable and stay on sturdy.
This company offers a 12 month warranty and money back guarantee which is a plus. So if these bands somehow would break, you could get a replacement or your money back.
BEST VALUE: Fit Simplify Resistance Loop: Score 9/10
Pros:
– Very inexpensive
– Easy to use
– Exercise guide included
Cons:
– Less durable
These resistance band loops are fairly inexpensive and can provide a great workout. They come in 5 different levels from light to heavy. The resistance loops can slip around your thighs or ankles to add resistance to squats or lunges. The resistance bands are great for leg training, yoga, pilates, etc. I recommend these bands for shoulder warm ups and rehabilitation as well.
These resistance bands come with a carry bag and instruction guide with exercises. This is easily the best value on the list, very inexpensive and gets the job done right.
Kootek 10 Pieces Resistance Loop Bands Set: Score 8.5/10
Pros:
– Core Sliders included
– Resistance loops
– Multiple attachments
Cons:
– Only one tube included
I like this resistance band set because it comes with leg loops and one resistance band tube. So you can get a great leg, butt, and hip workout with the resistance loops. And a great upper-body workout with the resistance tube. This 10 piece set includes a door anchor, handles, and leg ankle straps.
It also includes core exercise sliders which is a great addition for at home training. You can use the smooth side on wood, carpet, and even tile. The core sliders are great for abdominal exercises, arm, leg, and whole body training. Overall a good set that comes with multiple attachments.
Odoland 16 pcs Resistance Bands Set: Score 8.5/10
Pros:
– Multiple uses
– High quality
– Includes bands and loops
Cons:
– Max weight 75 lbs
The Odoland resistance band set has multiple use due to the resistance band kit & 4 piece loop bands. These bands are made of high quality natural latex. The resistance band tubing comes in 5lb, 10lbs, 15lbs, 20lbs, and 25lbs with a total stackable resistance of 75lbs. This set is great for beginners or those who want to burn fat and tone muscle. I wouldn’t recommend this set for an experienced heavy lifter due to it only going up to 75lbs. Some of the sets listed above would be better due to 150lbs.
SUPALAK 15 Piece Resistance Band Set: Score 8.5/10
Pros:
– Anti-snap bands
– High quality
– Very durable
Cons:
– Light resistance
The main benefit to these resistance bands are the anti-snap double protection. These resistance tubes are covered with high quality protective nylon sleeve. This protective sleeve can come in handy if the bands were to ever snap! I have never had much of an issue with resistance bands snapping on me, but I know it can happen.
These resistance band set comes with 5 separate bands from 20lbs to 40lbs. The metal clips allow you to stack the set to add or remove resistance. The nylon sleeve has a maximum stretch of 12ft, so you can use these anywhere.
Final Thoughts
We know selecting a resistance band set can be very difficult. It is important to consider the purpose you are using resistance bands. If it is to gain muscle strength and size make sure to get a heavy duty resistance band set that is stackable up to 150lbs. If your main goal is muscle toning and burning fat then you won’t need that heavy of resistance to get a good workout. Another thing to consider is if you are going to be targeting upper-body, lower-body, or full-body. If you are targeting full-body make sure to get a deluxe set that includes multiple bands and attachments. If you are only training legs and butt then get a high quality fabric leg loop resistance band.
Resistance bands are a great addition to anyone’s workout regimen, and can offer an amazing workout. These resistance bands come in handy for quick home workouts or when you can’t make it to the gym. It is always good to switch it up, and your body will be shocked with the linear variable resistance that these bands provide. If your main goal is build your legs and butt then make sure to check out my article on top leg and butt resistance loops.
