Not everyone has the money or the time to join a gym. Not many people have to money to buy or the space to set up a complete home gym, whether you are talking about a workout machine or a complete set of dumbbells. I have done a ton of research about how to work out from home and have arrived at what I think is the absolute top solution for those on a space and money budget: Resistance bands!
Now I know what you are saying: “Is this guy serious? Resistance bands? Rubber tubes? Really?”
I am 100% serious that you can build an awesome body using high quality resistance bands. They are all I use, and I have gained 20 lbs of lean muscle over the past year and a half (more on that later!). If I haven’t lost you yet, let me present the best workout resistance bands available today: Bodylastics!
The Overview – What, How Much, And Where To Buy
The Product: Bodylastics Stackable Anti-Snap Max Tension Resistance Bands
Retail Price: $28.95 – $124.95 (depending on which set you purchase)
Best Place To Buy: Amazon.com (complete with FREE shipping!)
Amazon Star-Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (with 2,393 total reviews!)
Credit Bodylastics.com
Blake Kassel – Credit Bodylastics.com
Behind The Bands – A Little History
Bodylastics is a company that was started by a man named Blake Kassel. At 21 years old, he was a bodybuilder and thought that free weights were the be-all-end-all when it came to building lean muscle. It wasn’t until about three years later, when he was taking a certification course for personal training, that he learned about the benefits of using resistance bands.
Two years after that course, he invented a type of resistance band that could be easily stacked using high quality clips.
However, life got in the way. He became overwhelmed and even though he was an owner of a fitness equipment company, he started to make unhealthy choices and got out of shape. At that point in time, he decided to make a change and finally started using his own product to get his body back.
Needless to say, it worked and at 49 years old, he says he is in the best shape of his life!
Build Tough, Built To Last
These bands are built to withstand pretty much anything you put them through. The carabiner clips are made of solid iron, while all straps are made of woven nylon webbing to ensure durability.
You also may have noticed that the bands claim to be anti-snap. This is due to the way they are constructed. The band itself is made with continuously dipped Malaysian latex, with nylon and ABS for the cores. On the inside, is a technology called “Snap Guard”, which consists of a cord of extremely strong Dyneema line thread.
This basically acts as an internal braking system that prevents you from stretching the band beyond the snapping point. If you try to stretch them too far, the inner cord will stop you.
However, don’t think that limiting the amount of stretch limits the effectiveness of the band. The weight is accurate and is not hampered at all by the coiled inner cord!
If the band should somehow snap, you are also protected from getting whipped with it, as the latex will simply shrink along the cord itself, limiting the risk of injury.
As someone who has owned the bands for years and used them nearly every day for the last year and a half, I can tell you first-hand that I have yet to have one snap on me. They are extremely durable! There has only been one instance where the latex was slightly ripped at the end, and that was due to my own fault in how I stored it.
I have also personally felt the bands give me clear feedback when I have stretched them too far. It’s an incredible system!
The Features – What Comes With Your Order
There are several packages you can order, with different amounts of bands equaling a different amount of total weight. While the 12-piece package may be ideal for some, I personally need more weight included from the start. However, the offered packages are as follows:
- The 12-Piece Package (Maximum Tension: 96lbs):
- 5 Bands (One 3lbs, one 5lbs, one 8lbs, one 13lbs, and one 19lbs)
- 2 Waffle Grip Handles
- 1 Door Anchor
- 2 Ankle Straps
- 1 Carry Bag
- 1 Instruction Manual
- The 14-Piece Package (Maximum Tension: 142lbs) *Not currently in stock on Amazon
- 6 Bands (One 3lbs, one 5lbs, one 8lbs, one 13lbs, one 19lbs, and one 23lbs)
- 2 Waffle Grip Handles
- 1 Door Anchor
- 1 Anywhere Anchor (Can be tied to poles if you choose to work outside or don’t have a great door to use)
- 2 Ankle Straps
- 1 Carry Bag
- 1 Instruction Manual
- The 19-Piece Package (Maximum Tension: 202lbs):
- 7 Bands (One 3lbs, one 5lbs, one 8lbs, one 13lbs, one 19lbs, one 23lbs, and one 30lbs)
- 4 Waffle Grip Handles
- 2 Door Anchors
- 4 Ankle Straps
- 1 Medium Carry Bag
- 1 Instruction Manual
- The 31-Piece Package (Maximum Tension: 404lbs)
- 14 Bands (Two 3lbs, two 5lbs, two 8lbs, two 13lbs, two 19lbs, two 23lbs, and two 30lbs)
- 6 Heavy-Duty Waffle Grip Handles
- 6 Heavy-Duty Ankle Straps
- 2 Heavy-Duty Door Anchors
- 1 Heavy-Duty Small Anywhere Anchor
- 1 Heavy-Duty Large Anywhere Anchor
- 1 Large Carry Bag with a Shoulder Strap
- 1 Instruction Manual
Credit Bodylastics.com
A Review Of The Reviews
As I have already noted, Bodylastics bands have an incredible 4.7 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon out of over 2,000 reviews! Let’s take a little closer look at the star breakdown. This is where I was sold when I purchased my first set of bands:
The Amazon Star Breakdown:
- 2,008 5-star reviews (84%!)
- 279 4-star reviews (12%)
- 55 3-star reviews (2%)
- 20 2-star reviews (1%)
- 31 1-star reviews (1%)
You can clearly see, the general opinion is overwhelmingly positive!
Credit Bodylastics.com
As many of the positive reviews discuss, for the amount of money you are asked to spend on these bands, there really is no comparison. You could easily drop hundreds of dollars on a full set of dumbbells or an all-in-one workout machine, but that just isn’t in the budget for many people who want to get fit. For me, that is one of the biggest pros I can ask for. Some other positive aspects include:
- They were named the best resistance bands by The New York Times company, The Wirecutter.
- They are stackable, which means you can use as much weight as your strength will allow, up to 404 lbs on the largest set!
- They are compact, which means you don’t have to have a whole room dedicated to equipment. Everything can fit inside of a bag, making it perfect for home or travel.
- Anti-Snap technology is designed with your safety in mind, however, they are incredibly durable (from personal experience).
- You can do all the exercises you would do with dumbbells or machines.
- They offer a 100% money back guarantee. If you decide you don’t like them in the first 30 days, you are encouraged to send them back for a full refund.
I know I have said a lot about the positives, and it’s hard not to because I fully believe in this product. However, I also want to be fair and look at the cons:
- There are some reviews that talked about how the bands can wear out. This is possibly due to standing on the bands in sneakers or just through normal use. There is an add-on you can purchase HERE to allow you to stand on your bands while giving them protection.
- I have found that it is preferable to me to use them while wearing socks since I usually work out in my carpeted living room. I don’t like to wear sneakers in the house and it is easier on the bands.
- Some complained that the bands were a bit awkward to use and if you are limited on space, it can be tough to get a full stretch out of them.
- I have sometimes had this problem and had to adjust the type of exercise I was doing in order to work the muscle group. I did find that they were versatile enough to do so however. The space problem can be an issue sometimes as I only have one door with which I can realistically use them. As it is in the living room and I have two kids, things can get a little cluttered, so I have to work around that.
- One of my main concerns is the door I use. They say the ideal door is one that you can close toward you as that is the most secure for the band. However, I only have a door that opens toward me and so I get a little nervous sometimes, as I move up in the amount of weight I am using, whether my door will be ok! So far so good, but I have heard the door shift a little as I pulled. Something to keep in mind!
Credit Bodylastics.com
Body By Bodylastics – My Personal Success Story
By this time in the review, you know about the product – what it is, the good, and the bad. However, here is a little of my story with Bodylastics.
I have been into fitness for a while now and one of my main struggles was not being able to put on lean muscle/gain weight. No matter what I did, the scale always read somewhere around 155lbs. Part of this was not having the knowledge about weightlifting, but another part was struggling to find the right equipment with which I could get into a consistent routine.
I didn’t have the money to spend on dumbbells or machines, so I was kind of stuck. That’s when I started to research resistance bands and stumbled upon Bodylastics. I saw the price and decided to take a shot. I used them on and off and, while I really was happy with the product, life and health problems got in the way.
That is, they got in the way until about a year and a half ago. That’s when I decided I was going to dedicate myself to finding a routine that worked for me and I could do on a consistent basis.
I’m happy to say that after a year and a half of using Bodylastics resistance bands and tweaking my diet, I have gained 20lbs of lean muscle and I am stronger and in better shape than at any other point in my life! I couldn’t be more happy with this product, as it has been a fitness life-changer for me!
The Verdict
It’s probably pretty obvious, but I love these bands! I haven’t experienced the cons in the same way as others and have really seen some huge benefits while using them. These are indeed, the best workout resistance bands on the market, in my opinion!
I hope this review has been helpful to you. If you are convinced that Bodylastics bands are for you, CLICK HERE to get your own set!
What about you? What is your experience with resistance bands? Have you ever tried Bodylastics? Please feel free to leave a comment or question below! I’d be happy to help in any way that I can.
Happy stretching everyone!
*This page contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase items, then I will be granted a small commission. This will not, however, mean that you are paying any more for that item than you normally would!
Click below to purchase your preferred package!
I just love resistance bands, ever since I went to physical therapy and the therapist sent me home with some. They weren’t as nice as these Bodylastics Stackable Anti-Snap Max Tension Resistance Bands, but they made me fall in love. What I really like about these Bodylastics is that they are anti-snap. That’s a great feature, and I like that they’re strong, so for the price I know they’re going to last probably for quite a while. Great review, they sound like just what I’m looking for.
I’m glad that you have seen the benefits of resistance bands! It’s unfortunate that many people look at free weights as their only option because they can get ridiculously expensive!
The anti-snap feature is really great and gives me such peace of mind when using them. The best thing about them is that they work! I’m dead tired after using them for a workout, so I really do think they are worth every penny I paid for them!
Thanks so much for your comment! I hope you find the bands as helpful as I have!
I just saw these Bodylastic bands and I must say I’m hooked. At first, I was a bit worried wondering what would happen if the band rips in two, which could be a bad accident. But, you’ve calmed my fears regarding that as I know I won’t get injured using this. They don’t even cost much, so thanks for sharing this. I’ll surely pick up a set.
Warm regards
Hello Louis! I’m glad you found the review helpful and I’m sure if you pick up a set, you won’t be disappointed! I have found them to be of the highest quality and they definitely work!
I’m also happy I was able to calm your fears. The anti-snap technology is great. However, I haven’t ever experienced a snap because they bands have been so durable, in my experience.
Enjoy them and please feel free to come back and give some feedback after using them!
This is one of the most excellent and well-detailed product reviews I’ve read recently. You have given me plenty to think about here. This review is so thorough, it opened my eyes to all sorts of information I wasn’t aware of!
Doing exercise has been on my to do list for many many years, but I’ve yet to implement it and going to gym daily might be one of the reasons I hesitate. But with this awesome product, I can do it from the comfort of my home and at my convenient time.
Since I am on budget the wide pricing range suits me as well. For sure, this is on my list and gonna try the 12 Pcs – 96 lbs.
Named BEST Resistance Bands by The Wirecutter, A New York Times Company is great information.
Much Success!
Paul
Hey Paul! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it!
I’m glad that you found the review so thorough as I really try to give every detail someone might want to know before making a purchase. I feel like it’s my responsibility to make sure the reader is well-informed before making a decision!
I have had the same dilemma in the past. I don’t want to have to travel to a gym every day (as I work out 5-6 days a week) and be away from my family after working all day. These bands allow me to work out both where I want and whenever I want, and for me, that’s a huge advantage.
I truly hope you enjoy the bands, and when you try them, be sure to come back and comment with any questions or feedback you may have! I’d love to hear it!
Thank you for taking your time to talk about all these things. You have really provided great insight into the world of fitness and I really appreciate that. I am just starting to work out and I believe all the tips you have provided below will be of great use to everyone out there. I will check out the The 12-Piece Package.
Hey, Clement! Thanks so much for your comment! I greatly appreciate you reading my review!
What I’m even more glad about is that you are starting to work out! It’s the best decision you could make for your health! If you need a starting place, feel free to head over to my brand new article series, Weekly Workout Schedule Template: Week 1 – Cardio and Strength. It’s a wonderful place to start and will be updated each week to get you ready for the next step!
I hope you enjoy the bands and please feel free to leave any questions or feedback here when you’ve tried them out!
Wow, this is a great review, I know this to be true that these bands are built to withstand pretty much anything you put them through and the carabiner clips are made of solid iron, while all straps are made of woven nylon webbing to ensure durability. I do believe that these bands are built to withstand pretty much anything you put them through and I’m thankful that you did a review on it. I recommend these as being the best work out resistance bands. Cheers!
Hey Marshall! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on the review! They really are awesome and I would recommend them to anyone who asked. So far, I really haven’t had much in the way of problems with them. I have been extremely happy with them!
I’ve heard about this type of equipment and tried them out personally when I use to workout at my local PCYC gym.
I’m ready to get back into working out since I have put on a fair few kilograms of late.
I cannot decide whether to purchase the Bodylastics tension resistant bands or join up to the city’s Planet Fitness since the membership fees are incredibly low.
What do you think would be better investment? Which is the one that will have better long-term results?
Hey Benji! Thanks for commenting! I think it depends on your preference. I have had my bands for about 5 years now, so if I were to personally compare it, I think they have more than paid for themselves. 5 years of $10 a month for Planet Fitness adds up $600 total. For that amount, I could purchase 4 of Bodylastics’ most expensive set.
I’m not sure what your transportation is to the gym, but that can add up too.
However, if you like going to the gym, that’s perfectly fine too. I think the most important thing is you have to decide what will help you be the most consistent with your workouts, as that will be the most helpful thing for you to choose.
I hope that helps!
I am a fitness instructor and have taught a Les Mills group fitness program called CXWorx. I know working out with a band is VERY effective and so much can be achieved in a short amount of time. I have found that many people struggle with technique though and therefore miss out on a lot of the benefits, or get frustrated with it and quit, so I think a good training program is needed so people can get the most out of the exercises. But done right, I would say it is one of the best pieces of exercise equipment around! And the cheapest!
Hey Liz! Thanks for bringing your expertise to the comment section! While I agree there is a bit of a learning curve as far as technique with the bands is concerned, I think the same thing can be said for using free weights too. Proper technique is so important, no matter what exercise you are doing, and is something that takes time to develop and master. You are absolutely correct that a training program is vital. I know that each set comes with an instruction manual that talks about technique for many different exercises, but in addition, Bodylastics has a YouTube channel with many videos highlighting different exercises and going over proper technique! Check them out HERE!
This is a really helpful review on body building by Bodylastics. This means that one doesn’t have to spend much before getting the desired body one wants. To me, this is the best of all body building techniques I’ve ever seen. And Bodylastics is built from quality materials that can undergo the stress it is been put to. What else is there to say? Get your own copy with free shipping from amazon today. Thanks Steve.
Thanks so much for the comment! My philosophy is that health and fitness is so important, it shouldn’t cost a ton of money to get it. That’s why I think this is such a great product, as it has helped me change my body while not taking a ton of cash away. I’m glad you found the review helpful!
Your website looks good and is full of details. I think the topic is a very good topic. I don’t use these products, but I definitely learned something from this page. I haven’t seen a lot of pages that go into detail like this on the subject. It’s very nice to know. The layout and structure is very easy to read with plenty of images to show types of workouts. I think this will leave you some room to possibly add a video somewhere on this page. That seems like the only thing you are missing. If I ever start working out again I’m for sure going to remember these tips. Thanks.
Hey Jason! Thanks for taking a look at the article and leaving a comment! I’m glad you found the review helpful, easy to read, and learned something in the process! If you were to decide to purchase these bands and start working out, Bodylastics has a great Youtube channel with a ton of videos! You can check those out HERE.
Hi Steve,
This is a very nice article. I always have the excuse that I have no time to exercise since driving to the gym is a task and I have no money or space to build a home gym. Now with your Bodylastics resistance bands, I could perform my exercises right from comfort of my home and with easy reach.
I have back pain and would like to focus on the back exercises. Could you suggest a package that strengthens my back muscles and reduce my back pain?
Thanks for sharing!
Anthony
Hey Anthony! I’m so glad you found the review helpful! I know for me, personally, it would be so tough to work up the motivation to travel to the gym every day (I work out at least 5-6 days a week). That is time away from family and I don’t want to do that, nor do I have the money for a complete home gym, like you said. This is the perfect solution for me.
As far as your question, any one of the packages mentioned can help with building muscle. It all depends on how much weight do you want. My suggestion would be the mid-priced package as it has a good amount of weight that will take a long time to max out.
Additionally, before starting an exercise program, especially if you have back pain, I would suggest seeing a doctor and asking their advise on if there are any restrictions to you working out and if they have any suggested exercises for strengthening the muscles that are hurting.
I hope that is helpful!
I’m not familiar with Bodylastics bands, as I have never used them. They do sound practical though. To be able to use them in a small amount of space would be good for me as I live in a small apartment. Is there anything a person using Bodylastics bands for the first time should be aware of? How long should you work with them at a time when you are a beginner?
Hello and thanks for the comment! For me, they have been very cost effective and practical. I definitely recommend them for someone living within a small space. There is nothing necessarily you should be aware of. I would definitely familiarize yourself with the instruction manual as it can give really helpful pointers on how to use the equipment as well as how to perform certain exercises. They also have a helpful YouTube channel with plenty of videos you can check out.
As far as how long to use them, it depends on what your fitness goals are. If you want to discuss that, I’d be more than happy to help! In fact, I just started a new article series that is perfect for someone just beginning to work out. You can check that out here: Weekly Workout Schedule Template: Week 1 – Cardio and Strength
Great information there. I like the idea that Bodylastics tension resistance bands are capable of replacing my heavy weight workout machines and save me some space in the house. I believe in your review because I have worked with physical therapists that used such elastic bands for range of motion for patients, though those are of less quality, but it gave me some insight on how this works. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for the comment and for reading the review! One of the most attractive things for me, beside the price, was that I could do all the exercises a machine could do while not having something so bulky sitting in my house. They are so easy to pack up in a bag and take on the go! I think sometimes resistance bands aren’t taken seriously, but for me, the results speak for themselves! I couldn’t be happier with what I have gotten out of them!
My friend gained a lot of weight after having 2 boys. She did everything that she could to get the pregnancy weight off, but it was coming off too slowly. Then, our mutual friend recommended her these resistance bands and the rest is history. She is now so fit and toned. Even though her weight was actually more than her pre-pregnancy weight, it is all muscle weight! Summer is right around the corner and I wanna look fit :). I do have some bands, but not the complete set, so I will consider getting them. Thanks!
Hey Nuttanee! That’s an awesome story of success for your friend! I’m so glad to hear that she had a great experience with the bands and was able to get stronger and healthier! She must be so pleased! I hope you found the review to be helpful and if you do end up purchasing a set, please feel free to let me know your thoughts and feedback!
Awesome review on the best workout resistance bands, Steve. I personally haven’t used resistance bands before, but saw that my daughter and her husband had them the last time I visited them. I am not totally sure that they were Bodylastics bands though. I do know that they used to have a large free standing weight station they used to use, but now that is gone and they can use the garage again. The fact that the Bodylastics are stackable sure would make them versatile. Just wondering if one set would be good for both males and females ?
Hey Rick, thanks so much for reading and commenting! As you saw, having bands really allows you to have so much more room in the house. The ability to stack the bands and to change out weights quickly is a really attractive feature, one that was a main reason I purchased my first set a few years back. As far as if one set would be good, it depends on whether or not your daughter and her husband enjoy working out together or not. If they do, it might be good to get the set with two bands of each color and two sets of handles and straps. I hope that helps!