Fitness and Strength Bands

Are you looking to supplement your home workout equipment but don’t know exactly what you need? One of the most popular home training accessories is resistance bands. But which ones are the best, most durable, and what’s the difference between them?

Resistance bands are an excellent alternative to free weights. They take up little space, so they’re easy to store and take with you wherever you go. But how do you choose the right one for you? With such a wide variety of resistance bands available, it can be easy to get confused. That’s why we’ve prepared a brief overview to help you choose the most suitable one for your needs and preferences.

Strength Resistance Bands

Strength resistance bands are usually made from latex or rubber and form a "complete" loop without breaks in the material. As the name suggests, these types of resistance bands are perfect for squats, pulls, or simply to increase the load during exercises such as leg workouts.

There are also fabric strength bands, produced by the German manufacturer FLEXVIT, which creates various lengths and constructions of strength bands, selected depending on the use – for physiotherapy, acceleration training, or strength training.

TRX has introduced an interesting innovation in the strength resistance band market – the TRX Bandit. TRX makes specially designed handles that can easily be used with TRX strength resistance bands or any other brand’s bands. The ergonomic design of these handles makes the grip much more comfortable.

Manufacturers: TRX, SKLZ, Bodylastics, FLEXVIT

Resistance Bands with Handles

Resistance bands with handles are most often made of latex. They either have non-removable handles or adjustable ones, with clips at each end that allow you to attach the resistance band to various fitness accessories, such as handles, ankle straps, and door anchors. You can also use different resistance bands with a single handle set – interchangeable handles expand the number of exercises you can perform at home. As a budget alternative, fitness bands are sometimes used, with their ends held in the hands or wrapped around the hands (if the resistance is higher) to perform similar exercises.

Manufacturers: SKLZ (offers bands with removable handles and other accessories), Escape, Gravity, Bodylastics

Mini Bands

Mini bands are the smallest in size among all resistance bands. They can be narrow or wide – you need to choose the one that’s most comfortable for you. These bands are usually placed around the thighs, just above the knees, to train the leg and hip muscles. When placed below the knee, they can be used for lunges and leg raises or for arm, shoulder, and back exercises. Recently, mini fabric bands have become especially popular – they don’t roll, stay in place more easily, and are washable.

Resistance Band Sets

While resistance bands can be purchased individually, most bands are offered in ready-made sets, which include bands of varying resistance, such as those from FLEXVIT, SKLZ, or TRX. This option is perfect for those who are just starting to use resistance bands in their workouts, as they can choose the most suitable resistance level. It’s also great for active users, as you can adjust the resistance and perform exercises gradually by decreasing the resistance (starting with the heaviest resistance, doing as many repetitions as possible, and then switching to a lighter resistance).

Power resistance tubes, LifeMaxx