We spend 20 hours researching the best resistance bands and comparing them. After looking through user reviews and research, we selected Limm Exercise Resistance Loop Bands as our best overall pick.
There are several types of resistance bands including different band styles and uses for each one. In this review,we are going to cover those differences.
Table of Contents
Best Overall Resistance Bands
Limm Exercise Resistance Loop Bands
Limm Exercise Resistance Loop Bands are our top pick for best overall resistance bands because they give you a choice of five bands with varying weight resistances. The bright colors differentiate each band, and a five-dot system gives visual direction to which level you will be working with for quick reference.
Best Workout Bands
321 Strong Single Fitness Resistance Band
We liked the 321 Strong Resistance band if you are going to only go with one band for your workout, or do not need the multi pack. The reason we chose this is that it has the weight resistance printed on the side, offers the longest length of 48 inches and because it doesn’t have handles, is much easier to pack for on the go work outs.
Resistance Bands History
The history of resistance bands didn’t originate in the local gym, but as legend has it, they originated in the early part of the 20th century to conduct muscle rehabilitation. Initially made from surgical tubing, they were found to be a flexible and light weight way for assisting with mobility and strength for those who used them. Resistance bands are an ideal form of exercise for those who like to take their work out on the road since they are lightweight and easy to pack in luggage or travel bags. Resistance band training is not based on high weight lifting or aerobic style movement but focuses on repetition of movement. The bands are often color coded to indicate varying levels of weight resistance offered by their use.
Features that are Important
When selecting any equipment for your home gym or working out on your own, you must put safety at the top of the list. Purchasing a quality piece of equipment and knowing how to use it properly are very important when it comes to any item that you decide to start using, but this is especially crucial with items like resistance bands. Because of the materials used in creating the bands, sunlight and heat can break down the bands over time, and create weak spots where breakage may occur. This is also true with the friction that is caused by using over time. Poorly made equipment may snap or pull away from the handles or other connective parts. While no one can foresee a future failure of your equipment, you can take the time to inspect and care for these items properly so that you are aware of possible hazards.
There are several different types of resistance bands to choose from. They include:
- Therapy bands which are bands with no handles. They are recommended for rehabilitative use.
- The Figure 8 Band style of band focuses on the upper body. It is a design that is shaped like the number eight and is comprised of two short bands joined in the middle, with a handle on each end or side. We did find some figure 8 bands that incorporated total body workouts into their marketing but be sure to find one that is long enough to accommodate that if you decide to go with this style.
- The Compact Resistance Band is designed for working out the upper and lower body and has plastic handles on the end of the band on each side. These plastic handles are usually covered in a soft foam that allows for a more solid grip.
- For the lower body, resistance bands come in four different models. There is the Fit Loop Band which is one continuous flat loop; the Lateral Resistance band which has two Velcro ankle cuffs connected by a band in the middle; and finally, the Ring Resistance style of theband which is a circular band with two soft handles on two ends.
How We Selected
We started our research by looking online to see the top sellers on a variety of fitness websites that were both retailers and fitness professionals. We wanted to see which type of band they were incorporating in the recommended moves and work outs, and which ones were receiving a lot of positive feedback on sales sites. We did find a lot of variety, and there are offerings like the TRX Training Systems that provide you with a complete setup at home, but we decided to focus on single bands that could be used on the go and for easy take along when traveling.
Since your work out will likely vary in what level of resistance you need from a band, we reviewed based on the variety of bands in a set. We then looked at what style the band was, which determines how we can use it in our workout. The size of the band was next because that also determines how much mobility it will give us. It’s like choosing a necklace chain length, they all might ultimately do the same thing, but how they fit determines total comfort.
Factors that Determine
Number of Bands per Set
The number of bands that you get within a set is relevant if you are looking to use resistance bands for a complete workout. You would want to have more than one option, just like you would use additional free weights at a gym.
| Band Brand & Style | Number of Bands per Set |
| Limm Exercise Resistance Loop Bands | Five |
| Phantom Fit Resistance Loop Bands | Four |
| 321 Strong Single Fitness Resistance Band | One |
| Isonder Resistance Bands | Five |
| Reehut Single Resistance Band | One |
Style of Band
The style of the band also determines how you can work out with resistance bands and what weight resistance is provided with the band. Some styles only focus on upper or lower body, so if you are looking for a full body workout, you’ll want to research the exercises you will be doing.
| Band Brand & Style | Style of Band |
| Limm Exercise Resistance Loop Bands | Fit Loop Band |
| Phantom Fit Resistance Loop Bands | Fit Loop Band |
| 321 Strong Single Fitness Resistance Band | Therapy Band |
| Isonder Resistance Bands | Fit Loop Band |
| Reehut Single Resistance Band | Compact Resistance Band |
The Size of the Bands
The longer the resistance band, the more flexibility it will have. If you have a smaller sized band, you will more likely find your resistance band to be restrictive in your movements and easier to snap or break if you should push the limits.
| Band Brand & Style | Size of Bands |
| Limm Exercise Resistance Loop Bands | 12 inches long (24 total in the loop) |
| Phantom Fit Resistance Loop Bands | 10 inches long (20 total in the loop) |
| 321 Strong Single Fitness Resistance Band | 41 inches long (82 total in the loop) |
| Isonder Resistance Bands | 10 inches long (20 total in the loop) |
| Reehut Single Resistance Band | 3.6 feet total |
Resistance Bands Reviews
Limm Exercise Resistance Loop Bands– Set of Five
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The Limm Exercise Resistance Bands come in a set of five latex workout bands. Each band is 12 inches long and range in weight resistance that they offer:
- Yellow (extra light)offers 4 – 10 lbs. of resistance
- Green (light) offers 6 – 15 lbs. of resistance
- Blue (medium) offers 15 – 20 lbs. of resistance
- Red (heavy) offers 20 – 25 lbs. of resistance
- Black (extra heavy) offers 35 – 40 lbs. of resistance
Limm also includes a drawstring travel bag to keep your gear together and quickly grab for packing, as well as an eBook that offers home workouts. We liked the bright coloring system that gives us a quick visual guide to choosing our band when working out so that we can continue without having to search through the set for the correct band. They use a second visual indicator with the five dot system and also mark it with the words. This style of the band is also ideal for both upper and lower body workouts which makes for a much more versatile product than having to purchase separate products for different body work outs. This set gives room for growth in your workout and will allow multiple people to share a set if necessary since it offers a wide range of resistance options. Their customer service was top notch, and they responded to any negative feedback immediately and with money back guarantee.
Phantom Fit Resistance Loop Bands – Set of Four
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The Phantom Fit set offered varying resistance in the four bands. They also provide a travel bag that is great for trips and keeping your bands together and tidy when not in use. The solid black drawstring bag is good to keep the light out and can prevent damaging sunlight from the bands. What we didn’t like was the two-inch width seemed to roll up on users, and the ten-inch diameter was shorter than most bands. This is assuming all bands arrive in the ten-inch size since some measured up just a bit smaller. This combination of less length and width than the Limm set was not favorable and made working out tougher. When the band has less room for giving, it is more restrictive, and it rolled up on some of the testers which can be painful as it digs into the skin.Phantom marks the brightly colored bands to identify the level of resistance, but we were not sure what that translates to in pounds since it wasn’t available anywhere. The colors (blue, red, green, and black) were only identified as light, medium, heavy and extra heavy. We also weren’t impressed with their customer service level, having little to no response to written inquiries on Amazon and didn’t like how there wasn’t an indicator on the band as to which weight resistance you were working with.
321 Strong Single Fitness 41” Resistance Band
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If you don’t need a set of bands, and just want to order the weight resistance that you need for your specific workout, 321 Strong offers a solidly built and flexible (no pun intended) fitness resistance band that will meet your needs. Each different band option is identified by a bright color with bold and clear markings on the band which tells you the weight resistance offered. This was the only band that we could find that had the weight markings on the actual band, something we consider to be a real plus. The bands are thick and strong and are a continuous loop of material. Since they are so much longer in size, they do offer more options to your workout. We think that this type of band would be geared to a more experienced user, and not an ideal introductory band for working out. The 321 Strong Single Fitness band would be our top pick for single band purchase.
Insonder Resistance Bands – 5 Piece Set
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We were happy to see a set of resistance bands that had full bright colors identifying the resistance weight with a visual indication of the of that with their five-dot system. The bands are ten inches long by 2 inches wide. The main complaint of these bands is that they roll up too easily, which we believe comes from the smaller 10-inch length. They also don’t come with a travel bag, so you have to come up with your own solution for storage.
Reehut Single Resistance Band & Exercise Tube with Door Anchor
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Reehut offers a well-made product that comes in a single strand with two handles on the end. You can choose from a variety of eight different options in weight resistance. The elastic tube is color coded to identify which weight you are working with, and the length of 3.6 feet is the same for each option. The soft grip handles are comfortable to hold onto while doing your pulls and the band will arrive with a door anchor and starter guide for additional options and instructions to get you working out with guidance. With this type of band, you can do upper and lower body workouts, but they aren’t as versatile as a pack of loop bands, and you do have to order them as a single unit.
What We Liked
Overall, we love how resistance bands take up very little space, regardless of the style of band you decide to go with. They are great for travel and offer a variety of options to work out with in any environment, from home to hotel. Another cool thing is that they are not limiting to a person who is male, female, old, or young. There is a band workout that most anyone can benefit from, and can often workout with another person to make the journey more fun. And they are affordable. You can get started without much investment.
We also liked how the Limm, Isonder, and Phantom resistance bands came in a multi pack for added options in our workout and that they were small and light enough to take on any trip. The identification on the actual band is also a great feature, which was something that we really liked on the 321 Strong model.
What We Didn’t Like
Resistance bands styles and options are hard to sort through. We didn’t like how some of the resistance bands do not identify the product’s weight resistance amount that is included in the resistance for that band. Colors can assist with that identification, but it’s not a perfect system. You also have to watch for shoddy materials and components that can come apart. When you are putting your weight into it, there’s a lot of force that can build up to project rouge parts into your face. This is not something that obviously happens all of the time, but an important thing to consider when making sure that your gear is intact.
Conclusion
Resistance bands offer a fantastic way to do body strength training and increase flexibility. Additionally, they work to help in rehabilitation and are generally safe for people of all shapes, sizes, age, and gender to get started with a workout program or to add diversity their existing exercise program. They are fantastic for training anywhere because of their small size, and versatility. There are a lot of styles and features within those styles that make it difficult to decipher which one may be right for your work out. Do your homework and see what kind of resistance band suits your preferred workout. There are videos online that you can view before purchasing, or ask at your gym if there is a trainer that you can speak with. Poorly constructed bands can snap, and if it isn’t a piece of latex that you can be zapped with, it might be a plastic handle. We can’t say it enough, check your equipment each time before using. Also, take care of your equipment to really get your money’s worth.
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