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18 Best Resistance Bands For Your Home And Gym Bag Per Trainers
Plus, their benefits and how to pick the right one for you.
An easy solution to get strength training in whenever wherever is to invest in a set of resistance bands. Just like the name says, they offer resistance (a.k.a. tension) to tone and strengthen your muscles. And the best part? They're lightweight and travel well, so you can bring them with you to the park, on vacation, or grab them on-the-go to use at the gym. They are simple and budget-friendly, but resistance bands can give you a mighty good workout.
Meet the experts: Sarah Gawron, is a certified trainer and Onnit kettlebell and steel mace Specialist. Toni Livers, is a personal trainer in Ogden, Utah.
What you might not yet realize is that there are plenty of different kinds of bands to choose from. We're talking open bands, loops, bands with handles, bands that can anchor to doors, extra long bands...the list goes on and on. So, we’ve rounded up some of the best resistance bands the internet has to offer, all according to expert trainers and rave reviews, to help you build your stash and strength. Intrigued yet? Great.
Here's a sneak peek at the best resistance bands for working out anywhere:
Types Of Resistance Bands—And How To Pick One
If you want a little more intel before you add to cart, consider the three types personal trainer Toni Livers keeps in her gym bag—and how she uses them.
Small loop band (a.k.a. the mini band). This is basically an elastic loop that’s around a foot long when you lay it down flat. Livers often uses her mini band for mobility work warm-ups, especially when she’s going to hit legs or shoulders.
Booty band. Although they look similar to mini bands, Livers says booty bands are stronger, thicker, and don’t slip or roll up. True to their name, she uses these for glute exercises. But both of these smaller varieties are great for lower-body work in general (either during your warm-up or the actual workout), she notes.
Long loop band. This is a pretty versatile piece of equipment, according to Livers. You can use this type of band for assisted pullups, strength training, and stretching.
Now, when it comes to choosing the best band for you, of course you’ll want to consider the kind of workouts you plan to do. But also keep in mind that how often you anticipate using the band might come into play. Livers notes that spending a bit more money on a quality option from a well-known exercise equipment company can get you bands that last longer.
As for the strength of the band you choose, consider this piece of advice from Livers: “When you do resistance work, always start out with the lighter band and then go heavier.”
18 Best Resistance Bands
So, which ones are worth the purchase? We spoke to seven personal trainers and poured over dozens of reviews from super-passionate users in order to find out. Here are the very best loops, booty bands, and complete resistance bands sets available on Amazon and other online retailers.
Te-Rich Resistance Bands for Legs and Butt
Te-Rich Resistance Bands for Legs and Butt
Pros
- Set of 3 Bands
- Comfortable Material
- Built In Grips
Cons
- Fabric May Pill
These resistance bands have over 31,000 positive reviews, and they're designed specifically to train your lower body using three different levels of resistance. The cotton material with anti-slip strips is also intended to keep the bands from rolling (and pinching your skin in the process).
Material: Cotton, Latex
Tension Range: Light, Medium, High
Number of Bands: 3
Buckleband Starter Set
Pros
- Buckle For Easy On/Off
- Four Resistance Levels
- Industrial Strength Silicone Material
Cons
- Not Ideal For Upper Body
Shimmying in and out of mini bands and booty bands has been unavoidable, until now. Buckleband solved this annoying prob with, you guessed it, a buckle in the middle of each of the resistance bands. You can click in and out in a flash to switch between moves and tension levels in this all-in-one starter set.
Material: Silicone | Tension Range: 15-55 Pounds |Number of Bands: 4
GoFit Extreme Pro Gym Set
Pros
- Attachable Handles
- Door Anchors
- Ankle Straps
Cons
- No Super Light Tension
If you want versatility in your resistance bands, this GoFit set is a great option. With four different resistance band levels, ankle straps, handles, door anchors, and an exercise manual, you're basically buying a fully-stocked gym.
Material: Rubber, Nylon, Metal | Tension Range: 20-50 Pounds |
Number of Bands: 4
Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
Pros
- Set of 5 Bands
- Carrier Bag
- Affordable Price
Cons
- Lighter Tension Only
You get five different resistance bands with this pack, which gives you tons of room for progression in your workouts and stretches. These have over 100,000 reviews on Amazon (100! Thousand!) and a solid average rating of 4.5 stars.
Material: Natural Rubber | Tension Range: X-Light, Light, Medium, Heavy, Extra Heavy (2-30 Pounds) | Number of Bands: 5
TheFitLife Resistance Pull Up Bands
TheFitLife Resistance Pull Up Bands
Pros
- Bands Have Long Loops
- Great For Hanging
- High Tension Range
Cons
- Strong Smell
If pullups are your thing, you're going to be obsessed with this set of resistance bands. Hang them on your weight rack or any suspended surface for assisted pullups, or feel free to incorporate them into other kinds of workouts, like Pilates. The set comes with four different resistance levels, too, so they'll work when you’re a beginner and once you’ve become a total pro.
Material: Latex | Tension Range: 15-175 Pounds | Number of Bands: 4
TheraBand Resistance Bands Set
TheraBand Resistance Bands Set
Pros
- Great For Beginners
- Helps With Stretching
- Latex-Free
Cons
- Light Tension Only
These OG resistance bands are the same type you'll likely spy at a physical therapist’s office. They're the perf prop to help you deepen any stretch so you can really help your muscles relax. (And P.S. – they’re latex-free!)
Material: Synthetic Rubber | Tension Range: 3-6.7 Pounds | Number of Bands: 3
WSAKOUE Pull Up Assistance Bands
Pros
- Soft Rubber
- Odorless
- Come With Storage Bag
Cons
- Bands Not Labelled With Tension
This set of four resistance bands is made of a super-soft and odorless rubber material, and many reviewers appreciate its quality and durability. With over 7,500 positive reviews on Amazon, you can bet these bands will be great additions to your workouts.
Material: Natural Rubber | Tension Range: 15-125 Pounds | Number of Bands: 4
Bodylastics Resistance Bands Set
Bodylastics Resistance Bands Set
Pros
- Snap Guard Feature
- Range of Tension Levels
- Attachments Included
Cons
This set includes five different resistance bands and attachments like handles, ankle straps, and door anchors, so you can start creating your own mini gym. Plus, the Snap Guard feature helps you avoid overstretching the band and can keep you safe if it does snap.
Material: Rubber | Tension Range: Light, Medium, Heavy, Extra Heavy | Number of Bands: 5
SKLZ Professional Grade Strength Training Resistance Band
SKLZ Professional Grade Strength Training Resistance Band
Pros
- Longer Band
- Available in 3 Widths
- Available in 3 Resistance Levels
Cons
- Single Band
Livers loves the longer loop bands from SKLZ. With this one, you can buy a light, medium, or heavy resistance level, and it’s good for building upper- and lower-body strength.
Material: Natural Rubber | Tension Range: 20-120 Pounds | Number of Bands: 1
SKLZ Mini Resistance Bands
SKLZ Mini Resistance Bands
Pros
- 3 Bands
- Natural Rubber Material
- Good Quality
Cons
- May Roll On Legs
If you like the SKLZ brand but would prefer to try out a mini band (or you just really want to round out your equipment collection), go for this set of three. Reviewers love how well they hold up, too.
Material: Natural Rubber | Tension Range: Light, Medium, Heavy | Number of Bands: 3
Perform Better Mini Bands
Perform Better Mini Bands
Pros
- Affordable Price
- Rubber Material
- Versatile Workout Options
Cons
- Band Tension Not Marked
Certified trainer Tatiana Lampa turns to these mini-loop bands to work her outer thighs, glutes, back, chest, abs, and arms.
Material: Rubber | Tension Range: Light, Medium, Heavy, Extra Heavy | Number of Bands: 4
Sling Shot Hip Circle by Mark Bell
Sling Shot Hip Circle by Mark Bell
Pros
- Wide Variety of Colors
- Comfortable Material
- Multiple Circumferences Available
Cons
- Single Band
Katherine Ellis, CPT, says this resistance band is perfect for waking up your hip, thigh, and glute muscles before any heavy lifting on leg days.
Material: Rubber | Tension Range: Level 2 Resistance | Number of Bands: 1
TheraBand Non-Latex Resistance Bands Set
TheraBand Non-Latex Resistance Bands Set
Pros
- Non-Latex Material
- Beginner Tension Range
- Versatile Design
Cons
- Lightweight Tension Range
Gawron says these latex-free bands are great for everything from strength training to leg and arm stretches to increase flexibility and mobility.
Material: Synthetic Rubber | Tension Range: 5.8 - 10.2 pounds | Number of Bands: 2
RangeMaster StretchStrap
Pros
- 9 Elastic Loops
- 2 End Straps
- 2 Colorways
Cons
- One Length Available
This band is over six feet long, and it features elastic loops for anchoring your feet or hands during stretches and recovery moves. “This is a great tool for improving flexibility,” Ellis says. Stuck on which moves are best? You’re covered: The strap comes with a guide.
Material: Nylon | Tension Range: N/A | Number of Bands: 1
Vergali Fabric Booty Bands
Vergali Fabric Booty Bands
Pros
- Won't Pinch Legs
- Durable Fabric
- 4 Band Set
Cons
- Stitching May Unravel
We’re not saying cute colors are everything, but it doesn’t hurt, right? This set is top-ranked on Amazon, and the four booty bands are aqua, pink, gray, and black. Even more importantly, they’re made of a comfortable, non-slip material.
Material: Polyester, Natural Rubber | Tension Range: 12-125 pounds | Number of Bands: 4
Power Guidance Pull Up Assist Resistance Bands
Power Guidance Pull Up Assist Resistance Bands
Pros
- Natural Rubber
- Diverse Tension Range
- Set of 4 Bands
Cons
- Rubber Might Fray
There are four bands in this pack of resistance loops, and each one is a different resistance level. If you want to go even harder, you can purchase the blue Power Guidance band to go along with the set, too.
Material: Natural Rubber | Tension Range: 12-125 pounds | Number of Bands: 4
ETHOS Super Band
Pros
- Seamless Latex Material
- Heavy Resistance Level Options
- Sturdy Construction
Cons
- Sold As Single Band
This band comes in four different tension levels, and reviewers gave it great marks for quality. The resistance ranges from 65 to 175 pounds, so you can work heavy.
Material: Seamless latex | Tension Range: 65, 85, 125, 175 pounds | Number of Bands: 1
Hoocan Resistance Bands Set
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy For Travel
- Affordable
Cons
- Not Super Thick
These bands are pretty inexpensive, too. You get three with different levels of resistance, and you can couple them up for stronger resistance.
Material: Rubber | Tension Range: Light, Medium, Heavy | Number of Bands: 3
Resistance Band Benefits
While the bands might not look like anything special, don’t be fooled: Resistance band training comes with these major benefits.
Strengthen muscles better than dumbbells. Resistance band training has been shown to be a "feasible alternative" to lifting weights when it comes to activating your muscles, according to recent research published in the Journal of Human Kinetics. The study's authors compared muscle activation during upper-body strength training exercises with resistance bands versus free weights and found the results to be very similar. They believe that the instability created by the bands is what causes muscle fibers to fire even more than with free weights.
Improve flexibility and mobility. You can use bands to go deeper stretching, or feel more stretch during your strength routine. Certified trainer Sarah Gawron points out, "they can improve flexibility, mobility, and strength."
Fast results. It may not even take that long to start seeing a difference. Five weeks of resistance band training was enough to significantly improve hamstring and inner thigh flexibility in subjects that participated in a study published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine.
This is all great news—especially if you're working out at home—since resistance bands are relatively cheap and don't take up much space.
Emily Shiffer is a freelance health and wellness writer living in Pennsylvania.
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