9 Best Resistance Bands For Your Home Gym

We’re always on the lookout for great ways to improve our fitness and strength. One of the key areas that we look at is convenience.

It’s not always possible to get to the gym, and a home workout can be quite limited if you don’t have any equipment. Resistance bands solve this issue by being lightweight and small, yet flexible enough to add value to almost anyone’s routine. And the best part is they’re extremely affordable.

They are an effective, gentle alternative to weights, and because they’re so versatile, they can be incorporated into almost any fitness program, from weight training to Pilates, yoga, and body conditioning.

Resistance bands work with positive and negative forces, so there is constant tension on the muscle both when it is flexed and as you release it so that it works in different ways to what the muscles are used to. The results? You get better results.

Resistance Bands Buying Guide

If you’re looking to skip our in-depth review and jump right into a purchase, the table below summarizes our findings on resistance bands. All are great options. Please read below to learn more about each.

What is a Resistance Band?

A resistance band is a flexible, elastic band, usually made from latex, that is used for strength training. The most popular applications include physical therapy for muscular and joint injuries, as well as for sports and fitness. They can be used for a wide range of exercises that target the body’s major muscle groups and are often incorporated into many workout routines.

Why Should I Purchase Resistance Bands?

People often avoid using resistance bands because they’re not sure how to use them and don’t know how to include them as part of a workout. Luckily, there are a number of training videos available online to help get you started, and I’m sure you have already searched YouTube for them.

So, once you’re comfortable with how to use them, maybe you want to know why you should use them.

Studies show that our muscles respond to strength training using resistance bands as well as if we were to use exercise equipment such as free weights or other machines. But, the price point and sheer convenience that resistance bands offer make them overall a much more appealing option.

In addition, tennis players have used resistance bands to successfully increase shoulder strength, and baseball pitchers were able to strengthen rotator cuff muscles more effectively with resistance bands than by using dumbbells.

And, if that wasn’t enough, Tom Brady of TB12, is a huge advocate for using resistance bands during training.

If you’re serious about working out by yourself, resistance bands should be one of your first home-gym purchases because:

• You don’t need a gym membership to get into great shape
• You can target specific areas or use them to rehab an injury
• They offer progressive resistance and variable speed of movement
• They increase muscle size and decrease body fat
• They offer resistance in multiple directions
• They can be incorporated into any workout, whether at home, at the gym, or out and about
• They increase coordination and engage core stabilizer muscles to improve your routine’s efficacy
• They’re affordable, yet often more effective than other, more expensive equipment
• You get a full-body workout as the band can be positioned to work for different muscle groups
• There’s an endless number of exercises and workouts that can be done with them
• They don’t take up much space and travel well
• They’re useful for all fitness levels, from beginner to advanced
• You can use them with your usual routine for improved results

How to Choose the Best Resistance Bands

With so many different resistance bands on the market, it can be difficult to narrow down your options and choose just one brand. The best option will depend on what you need and your budget, although budget is less of a factor as resistance bands tend to be affordable, ranging from around $10 to $30.

We’ve chosen the best resistance bands based on brand quality, our experience, the quality of reviews, and your ability to shop them online. Then, from this list, we narrowed it down to our top options by looking carefully at the features of each, their durability and quality of the product, the overall value that they offer, and the price point.

We’ve made out comprehensive comparison guide available to give you all the information you need to make buying a set of resistance bands easier. With resistance bands offering such an extensive range of benefits to your health and well-being through increased muscle strength, conditioning, and stability, this shortlist of exercise bands gets you access to a home workout that will provide real results.

Our buying guide will break down the different options as well as sharing some of the pros and cons, so you can choose the best resistance bands for exercising at home, at the gym, or even in your hotel room.

Let’s take a look at the top resistance bands and the many options!

Best Overall: Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set

The resistance bands from Black Mountain Products come as a set that includes five bands, a door anchor, an ankle strap, an exercise chart, and a carrying case.

Join many thousands of happy customers who have given this set a five-star rating — for a durable, high-quality product that adds variety to your exercise routine or will help with physical rehab after an injury.

They can be stacked to a maximum of 75 lbs., with a yellow band (2-4 lbs.), a blue band (4-6 lbs.), a green band (10-12 lbs.), a black band (15-20 lbs.) and a red band (25-30 lbs.).

The resistance set features commercial-grade grommets, durable carabiner clips (rated up to 200 lbs. each), high thread count nylon, and all seams are double stitched. The set also includes a metal clipping system that allows you to attach soft-grip handles or anchor straps.

Bands produced by Black Mountain Products combine a proprietary blend of synthetic and natural rubber, standardizing the resistance’s consistency while providing a much longer band lifespan. It’s this commitment to quality that allows Black Mountain Products to offer a manufacturer’s Lifetime Warranty.

The bands can be used to target most major muscle groups, including biceps, triceps, upper and lower back, abs, and core strength, as well as quads and calves. This offers endless opportunities for a full-body workout from the comfort of your own home.

Best Loop Bands: Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands

With over 10,000 reviews and an affordable price point, the Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands get our vote for the best price. They come in a set of 5 with an instruction guide, carry bag, eBook, and online workout videos.

These heavy-duty resistance loops are manufactured to the highest standards and made with natural latex that is 100% TPE free. The five different resistance levels make them the perfect option whether you’re a beginner starting out or and a fitness pro looking to level up your home workout.

They’re incredibly versatile and can be combined into your Yoga or Pilates session or as part of a general program for stretching and strength training. These fitness loops are most often used for fitness and sports but are often incorporated into a physical therapist’s rehabilitation program for injuries. They are also ideal for body shaping and conditioning and weight loss.

Best Eco-Friendly: Tribe Resistance Bands Set

The Tribe exercise bands for working out include 5 color-coded stackable tube bands, 2 cushioned handles, ankle straps, a stable door anchor, a carry bag, and an eBook to help you get the most from your set.

If you’ve been stressing about the cost of a gym membership, this is your one-stop low-cost option. The Tribe resistance exercise bands have been designed to maximize your home workouts, whether you’re just starting out or have been exercising for years. They can be used one-at-a-time, or stacked in any combination you need for the optimal resistance level.

With Tribe’s bands, you can build an effective at-home or on-to-go routine for your arms, shoulders, abs, legs, and glutes. And you can do it stress-free because the double-layered eco-friendly latex bands won’t snap. In fact, they are tested to ensure they’re snap, stretch and sweat-resistant. The straps are also incredibly durable, made from fiber-reinforced unbreakable polymer and ballistic nylon.

Best Value: TheFitLife Exercise Resistance Bands

Burn fat and build muscle with the lightweight, portable TheFitLife resistance training bands as you exercise from the comfort of your home or on the go. This is a versatile solution that can be stacked and used in a variety of different ways to tone and build muscle as you increase coordination, flexibility, stamina, and range of motion.

And because the bands can be used to exercise different muscle groups, they offer a full-body workout for your shoulders, arms, legs, glutes, and more.

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just getting started, these exercise bands are ideal as you can increase the intensity of your workout as your strength improves. They can be used alone or in any combination you need, from 10 lbs to 110lbs. And the attachments mean your home workouts have more flexibility than ever before when you attach the soft handles, the ankle straps, or the door anchor.

The bands are made from premium materials that are non-allergenic and odor-free to ensure that they have a long lifespan and remain safe for regular use. The set comes with a lightweight bag, a door anchor, 2 larger straps and handles, and an exercise guide.

Best Reviews: Whatafit Resistance Bands Set

The Whatafit Resistance Bands Set contains 11 pieces, including 5 exercise bands, a door anchor, a waterproof carry bag, 2 cushioned handles, 2 ankle straps for resistance training, and a home workout guide. The 5 resistance bands can be stacked to match your ideal resistance, and they’re lightweight, so you can take them with you and train on the go.

The Whatafit resistance bands work well because they scale with you – as your strength increases, you can move up to a higher level or stack them to get the ideal resistance. The bands are color-coded, with resistance from 10 lbs through to 50 lbs. The bands are made from natural latex, which is environmentally friendly as well as incredibly durable. They offer strong wear resistance and feature a steel metal buckle for reinforced strength.

Best Runner-UP: U-POWEX Resistance Bands Set

This set offers excellent value and includes 5 stackable exercise bands and a carry bag, a door anchor attachment, leg ankle straps, foam handles, and a workout guide. The resistance bands are color-coded according to their weight from yellow (10 lbs) through to red (50 lbs). The 48” bands are designed to match your routine and strength and can be used singly or stacked in any combination up to a maximum of 150 lbs.

Made from the highest quality, eco-friendly natural latex, the bands are incredibly durable. The tube band design also features a double layer to provide maximum resistance. They’re suitable for any fitness level from beginner to expert as you can adjust the level of resistance easily using the multi-clip system.

With 3000 reviews and a 5-star rating at the time of writing, the UPOWEX Resistance Bands Set is hard to beat. The bands give you access to a wide range of resistance training exercises, so you get a personal home gym for a once-off low price.

Best Price: OlarHike Resistance Bands Set

This 13-piece set includes 5 stackable exercise bands, a door anchor, ankle straps, a carrying case, and an ebook guide. The OlarHike bands can be used for resistance training, physical therapy, home workouts, yoga, and more.

The double-layer bands are made from natural latex and carefully constructed to offer maximum resistance. Because they’re color-coded with different resistance options, they are suitable for all fitness levels, from beginner to advanced, and can be stacked to a maximum equivalence of 150 lbs.

Best Therapy Use: TheraBand Professional Latex Resistance Bands

This set of three bands is ideal for resistance training for beginners and rehabilitation after an injury. Manufactured by the well-known company TheraBand, this set includes 3 bands (yellow, red, and green) and provides both positive and negative force on joints and muscles, as well as helping to stretch and tone major muscle groups.

With the TheraBand resistance bands, it’s easy to get started with a series of upper and lower body exercises that can be done anywhere. As you grow stronger, you can progress to the next color. Yellow is 3-4.3 lbs., red is 3.7-5.5 lb. and green is 4.6-6.7 lbs.

The bands are manufactured to the highest standards using durable natural rubber latex. The highly respected TheraBand brand has been recognized as offering the original system for progressive resistance since it first launched over 40 years ago.

Use these bands to increase strength and flexibility gently and naturally without weights. In addition to rehabbing injuries, they can also be incorporated into specific training for CrossFit, pilates, yoga, running, and rotator cuff strengthening. TheraBand resistance bands are used in professional health environments, including clinics, hospitals, and physical rehabilitation centers.

Best Professional Use: INNSTAR Stackable Resistance Bands Set

Finally, rounding up our series is the professional-gym grade series by INNSTAR. These 48″ inch-long resistance bands are made of 100% Malaysian natural latex, durable, non-irritant, and odor-free.

The tension range is from 43 Lb to 210 Lb and will provide an excellent home-gym workout for beginners and seasoned fitness experts.

If you want to spend a little more and be sure of the quality, this set is for you.

Simply attach their bands to a door or a pillar at home and then start your personal gym-level training. Enjoy an effective workout without limit of place — workout in your hotel room or at home.

Conclusion

We loved the Tribe Resistance Bands Set — it’s made from great quality materials that are stretch, snap, and sweat-resistant, and they’re environmentally friendly too. From our experience, the versatility of the bands from Tribe is unmatched as they can be used for rehabilitation from injuries, as well as for sports and fitness.

If you want an affordable set of exercise bands that get the job done, then the Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands — with over 10,000 verified reviews, is an easy choice to make. And, because they offer a guarantee it’s worth trying them for yourself, we’re pretty sure that you’ll be impressed with the price.

Good luck with incorporating resistance bands into your rehabilitation program or fitness routine – we know it’s going to be a great addition to your workout!