Bodylastics Patented Basic Series Resistance Band Set - Resistance Bands with Snap Reduction Tech, 2 Handles, 2 Ankle Straps, 1 Door Anchor & 1 Carry Bag

Why i turned to resistance bands in the first place? I wanted to start a workout program in the comfort of my own home and needed either dumbbells or resistance bands to do the workout routine (Power 90). I looked around for a set of cheap dumbbells that I could use to workout with because those are what I had always used years ago when I had been working out. I ended up not being able to find any dumbbell setup that was cheap or easy to get so after a couple hours wasted on my pursuit of dumbbells i turned to resistance bands. Why this set of Bodylastics Resistance Bands and this 96 lbs Max Tension set? Now if your like me you most likely ended up looking at Bodylastics Resistance Bands because Bodylastics reviews across the board on Amazon are very high on all their products and have lifetime warranties to backup those high ratings. So i was sold on Bodylastics from that alone and then it was just a matter of figuring out which set of their resistance bands was the right for me. The determining factors were price and the fact that i was just starting out so for around $35 and almost 100lbs of resistance i didn't see any downsides to this set of resistance bands. My first Impressions? Everything that comes with this set from the bands all seems to be built with a lot of thought in mind. From the way the end of the band is covered with nylon, the strong handles with foam, and to the strength of the aluminum clips used nothing in the set seems to be built inadequate in any way. I also don't feel like you have to worry about a band snapping because when i do a military press I'm stretching the bands over 16 feet with no real strain on any of the equipment. With that said I bet they do break sometimes however unoften that is which is why I'm sure they have their lifetime warranty. After 2 months of using them what do i think? Two months of using them 3 times a week they haven't lost any resistance or seem to be any less strong then when i used each of them the first time. The set having 96lbs of resistance is a lot more then what you might think, and I'm not anywhere near using all 5 bands together to get that number of 96lbs. At the most what I have used is two of them at a time and that is only to add 3lbs (lightest band) with whichever band I'm using for a particular workout to increase the resistance slightly. Resistance bands are a lot different in nature from dumbbells obviously due to gravity versus resistance. What i mean by that is with dumbbells you can cheat a little by swaying your body to give you a little extra momentum to finish a move. With resistance bands it isn't like that the more and harder you pull the more resistance there is. It forces you to use the proper weight for you with any particular workout a lot more then with dumbbells and in my opinion makes the workout that much better for you. Any negative thoughts? No not really but a couple things worth pointing out are changing bands and short movements. When it comes to following a workout program you do a lot of various workout which means different sets of resistance for individual workouts. That means you have to pause the video take whatever bands your using off the handles and clip on the bands you do need for the next routine. The reason i don't feel this is a negative is because i like to take a few seconds between each move to let my muscles have a slight reprieve. The other thing that is slightly more of an annoyance is short movements and what i mean by that is when doing a workout were you are bent over and don't really want the full length of the band for resistance. This means making a small coil before stepping on the band to get the range of resistance you need for that workout. The reason I'm not going to take any stars off for that is because it's the inherit nature of all resistance bands and something you would have to do no matter what resistance bands you use. Final Thoughts? I really love resistance bands a lot more then I thought I was going into this. In almost any workout they seem superior than my memories of dumbbells with resistance being a constant. It seems very hard to cheat your body with anything you do with them in almost any workout I have done so far. The couple of downsides to these resistance bands aren't enough to keep me from using them or recommending them to anyone else. The amount of resistance in this set is more than enough for me, the lifetime warranty is great in case anything goes wrong, and i find resistance bands to be a great workout overall. So if your like I was in need of a good set of resistance bands then I really don't think you can go wrong with these, so give them a try.

I was skeptical at first about the quality of workout you could achieve with resistance bands, since most of them are quite cheap looking, but I did some research and this being one of the better reviewed sets at a reasonable price point, decided to give it a try and I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed. The first thing I immediately noticed upon unpacking this set is how heavy it is. This is no flimsy hollow elastic tubes with cheap plastic or thin metal, no. Everything about this set screams heavy duty. The elastic bands are quite thick and feel very durable. The TPE handles are solid and have a good feel in the hand. The nylon webbing on the door anchor is thick and the ankle straps have a wide, secure Velcro band. The D rings and caribiners are solid metal and thick, can't really see these bending or warping even with continued use and there are no sharp edges whatsoever. I will say the video workouts available on their website are not my jam. If you like super aggro gym bros yelling at you while also sounding like an infomercial then it might be for you, but I just downloaded the actual product manual and took some time to familiarize myself with the basic exercises instead and have found that even just doing the basic 10 exercises you can do without the door anchor, you can get a really good upper and lower body workout in less than 15 minutes! If you do decide to use the door anchor, you can, of course, do a much broader range of exercises, but I found it can be pretty time consuming to reposition the anchor after each exercise in a set, so I recommend you familiarize yourself with the different exercises first and pick one or two anchor positions to minimize the time spent switching your setup. On that note, they do sell a whole door anchor system that consists of nylon webbing and buckles that the trainers in the videos use and it greatly minimizes transition time between exercises since it has multiple different anchor points but it's quite expensive (almost twice as much as this basic kit cost). I have used this set fairly regularly for a couple weeks now and I always bust a sweat when using them. It really does give you an equally good workout to using actual weights. Price per pound, this set cannot be beat. If you're even remotely thinking of exploring resistance band exercises, get this set, you won't regret it.

I bought these due to a health issue that prevented me from lifting weights under doctor's orders. These bands have been a safe way for me to maintain muscle mass and definition during my time away from weights. No, they are not exactly the same as weights. I would struggle to bulk up as much as I could with weights and you have to be creative to make the exercises work. The guide really helps with the latter point and you can definitely maintain mass and definition which is great when facing a period away from the bench. Think in terms of more reps and REALLY concentrating on form, tensing those muscles at the right moment and getting the full benefit of the exercise. I ordered two of this set to give me more options in terms of combining band weights. I also have the larger set with the heavier 30lb bands that comes in the camo bag and has all the extra attachments. I would not waste my money on the latter. First, the 30lb rarely gets used because the heavier bands do NOT have the same range of motion the lighter ones do. I find I just CANNOT get the same type of work out with them on most exercises. It's better to combine the lighter weight bands together to get the same weight but with more stretch and range of motion. Second, while all the extra attachments are nice, I haven't used them. Perhaps a couple who both use them would, but then again I would just get two of these bags. They are better in my opinion. Also, the Camo bag doesn't use the same band color scheme for indicating the weights. So again, I use them less. I like just grabbing a color and knowing what it is. I have used these daily since November and they show almost no sign of wear and seem very durable and safe. They are also lightweight and compact as opposed to having a ton of weight equipment. Finally, I will say that I found the Bodylastic door attachment to be key to getting the most out of these bands. You can use the anchors to achieve something like it, but you fiddle around more. If you have a door you don't mind dedicating to it, you will love the anchor. It's quick, easy, safe, and reliable.

My name is Richard Sullivan. I am a fitness author and a personal training consultant. I am going to compare three popular brands of resistance bands here, two of which were purchased on Amazon, and the third gifted to me by the manufacturer. I am going to compare all the different components and relate important features you may not have given much thought to. Each brand has its own strengths and weaknesses, but one is the clear overall choice and you can zoom ahead to the end of this post if you’re impatient. If you search Amazon.com you will find a few dozen different types of resistance bands and brand names, but these three I am reviewing I personally own and have used multiple times a week over an extended period of time for very challenging workouts, far more challenging than what the average person would utilize. Because I did not acquire these with the goal of doing a comparison, but actually put to heavy use all three interchangeably, three or more times a week, and have done so now for a prolonged period, I think you might find my observations to be of value with regard to your deciding what to look for in considering a set of non-rubberband style resistance bands. My chief criteria, because I am an advanced strength trainer who engages in challenging workouts, is safety and durability. Due to the nature of stretch latex type materials, these materials do fatigue and age, especially with heavy use and heavy stresses placed upon them. CAUTION: At the first sign of wear on a band, stop using it. If they snap they can be painful, or even injurious. These are the three brands that I own and I have put to extended use. The Bodylastics brand is the newest at just five months old. Next, the Shredbands brand at one year old, and finally the Flexsolate Gym In A Bag (GIAB) is eight years old. I actually use all of these alone, and I use them interchangeably, mixing and matching components because each has its individual merits. I purchased the Bodylastics and Shredbands with my own money. I do not have any associations whatsoever with these companies. I was gifted the Gym In A Bag by the Flexsolate company eight years ago with no pressure thereafter for any promotional favors. I tried Flexsolate GIAB a few times right after receipt, and mistakenly and foolishly on my part I dismissed their value. To my own detriment, I never gave their bands a real chance. A little over two years ago I decided to try them again and was pleasantly surprised at the quality challenging workout I was able to achieve. Because the GIAB bands were old and I’d read online how aged latex bands can break, after some months of heavy use, I bought the Shredbands model as a supplement/backup. The very first time I used the Shredbands I chose the heaviest band, the black one, and used it solo. In my very first set, the anchor at the end of the band that keeps the handle attached failed. A plastic ball is used in this case, inserted into the hollow band, to provide a stop at the point of handle attachment, and this ball popped out, sending the end of the latex band whipping into my face. I was not happy obviously, but it taught me a valuable thing that pertains to all resistance bands, and that is, never rely on a single band—if you can help it. Instead of using one heavier band to perform an exercise, for instance, combine two or three lighter bands. This provides a safety net in case one of the bands fails, but also increases the longevity of the individual bands by spreading the stress across two or three bands rather than putting all the stresses on a single band. This is the most valuable takeaway advice: do not place all the stress on one individual band when it can be mollified by using two, or even three. In this case, for beginners especially, no matter what brand you buy, since they are so inexpensive, you might purchase two sets so you will have enough light bands to combine. The Flexsolate GIAB has advantages the others do not. The door anchor in the Flexsolate GIAB is superior in every way to the others, and as this is such a crucial safety component, I’m concerned especially about the comparative inferiority of the Shredbands door anchor. The nylon webbing material used in the Shredbands model is only about half the thickness of the GIAB’s, and the loop that will come in contact with the latex bands is not coated or cushioned. As relatively smooth as the nylon webbing might be, it is still going to cause friction which will put completely unnecessary wear and tear on the latex bands. It would behoove Shredbands to redesign their door anchor, and most especially provide a smooth surface for the bands to resist against. The Bodylastics door anchor on the other hand is far superior in both strength and size to the Shredbands door anchor, with a smooth pad installed at the point where the bands will be undergoing the most friction and stress. Unlike the rough surface of the Shredbands door anchor at the point of contact with the bands, the Bodylastics anchor’s smooth point of contact with the bands will minimize friction and stress. However the unsubstantial soft foam knob, used in the door anchor stop, although huge in comparison with the anemic Shredbands version, still gives me concern. The most superior door anchor by far is the terrific Flexsolate Gym In A Bag door anchor which is large, heavy and robust in its materials and construction. Best of all it has a very wide pliable clear plastic sheaf covering the nylon webbing where the bands will be subjected to the most stress, which in my opinion places the least amount of wear and tear on the bands, allowing them to last longer. Indeed, the Flexsolate GIAB bands are 8 years old now and still in use, with only one having failed as it was used not in combination with another as I now recommend. The latex bands among the three models themselves differ in that as I mentioned before, the end of the Shredbands band popped its plastic ball that provided a stop where the carabiner strap attaches. The Flexsolate GIAB bands have held up even after eight years of exposure to salt air, as I live near the ocean where everything corrodes, (even the elastic in your underwear.) The Bodylastic bands feel superior in thickness and strength to the other brands, and additionally contain a string running through the hollow center of the bands to provide a safety in case the latex ever does break, which is an important safety consideration. The rigid handles on the Bodylastics model is far more robust in construction than that of the Shredbands handles. Both models’ are comfortable. The Flexsolate GIAB on the other hand has soft loop handles which I feel allow your hand to rotate more naturally while performing an exercise. The ankle straps used mainly for glutes/butt work are far more robust too on the Bodylastics model, although the Shredbands is lighter weight and quite secure regardless due to the over-generous strip of velcro, something the Flexsolate GIAB model lacks. The Flexsolate GIAB bands feature an open plastic clip that attaches it to the handles whereas the other two feature heavy metal caribiners. The Flexsolate model, although looking as if they could possibly detach since the clips do not close over, have never done so due to intelligent design in my opinion. The heavy metal caribiners used on the Bodylastics and Shredbands models would seem as if they would be more secure than the open hook design of the plastic GIAB model, but I’ve not found this to be the case, and in the event of a failure the GIAB’s small plastic hook would do far less damage if it hit you. The most recent version of the Flexsolate GIAB pictured on their website has an interesting new door mount design that I do not own, so I can’t comment on it. The door anchor I describe herein does not appear in the photo of the newest version of the GIAB on their website, and the GIAB itself seems to be out of stock. The Flexsolate GIAB is not available on Amazon. As an aside, the many YouTube videos demonstrating the use of these underappreciated bands are very disappointing, failing to fully mine the bands’ amazing low-impact muscle-strengthening potential. My overall choice then, if I were restricted to buying only one set of bands, would be the Bodylastics model. Reclaim Your Youth: Growing Younger After 40: You Really Can Turn Back The Clock by Richard Sullivan (2009-07-12)

My exercise background (skip ahead to the next section if you want just a product review): Just wanted to start with my exercise background so you know where I'm coming from. So I used to be an avid jogger, but after a few years I got into lifting weights at the gym, the whole cutting and bulking cycles, just trying to gain mass. I did that for a few years before quitting all exercise for another few years. Anyway, I found the itch to begin exercising again, after sort of having a quarter-life crisis; I know that exercise was one of the few things that used to keep me sane. I started doing push ups, pull ups, and chin ups for about a half a year, and found that I had leveled off and was getting bored. So I decided to get some resistance bands. The product review: I chose to get resistance bands for two reasons. One, my at home routine was getting redundant. Two, I wanted something I could easily streamline to when I got home from work, rather than buying a membership to a gym and having to drive there. Along with the various strengths of resistance bands, comes a wall poster with a variety of different exercises sorted by muscle group that can be performed. Additionally, the website has videos to show you how to properly use the bands, etc. So anyway, after spending 30 or so minutes familiarizing myself with the usage, I performed my first ever workout. I ABSOLUTELY HATED THEM. I didn't feel like I had a great workout and it felt like a gimmicky waste of time. Frustrated I put them away and thought about it for a bit. What was my problem? I was treating these like free weights, given that they have substitute exercises (for example, they have a resistance band chest press that is supposed to replace the bench press, etc). So if you are looking to replace the feel of pumping iron, turn away, these are not for you. The next time I worked out, I chose to do less resistance and really worked on my technique and control. Next, I chose to focus solely on one or two exercise from each group, whatever ones that appealed to me (I figure when I get bored of one, I'll change it up). So when I put aside the fact that this wasn't like lifting free weights, concentrated on my control and form from a few exercises in each muscle group, I found that I really like these. I set up a routine with my own reps and weights that takes about 45 minutes to complete. I'd like to also point out, this does come with a 2 month membership to their online program, if you looking to follow a workout regiment designed by the people that advertise this. Final Verdict: I find that my resistance bands workout are a combination of mild cardio and weight lifting. It's perfect for me as I'm looking to keep my shape and gain a little bit of strength, rather than gain a ton of mass. I actually find these are a great compliment to my workout regiment, rather than a replacement. So I'll use these twice a week, a pull up bar once a week, and jog once a week. Thus I feel like I get a total body workout. So if you are looking at purely gaining mass, I'd skip out on these, free lifting is much more efficient and in my opinion will yield better results. But, if you looking to just keep in shape or add a mix up to your routine, these are the perfect compliment.

I got these to use with Insanity: The Asylum. It was a choice between this or the next step up from Bodylastics. I knew that because of the intense repetition of The Asylum, I wouldn't need a great deal of weight, so I decided to go with the 12 pcs. I have been through Insanity 3 times, so I am in pretty good shape, and when I attached all the bands onto the handles, I couldn't move them an inch, so I knew right then, I would have enough weight to 'work into' for some time. The quality is outstanding, and there are more than enough accessories for any move you may want to do. The only thing I noticed was the straps tended to move and stick a little in the handles when you were using the bands. This concern was quickly forgotten about, and actually, the more I used them, the smoother the straps moved in the handles, making it a moot point. The user guide (in both color & B&W) is like a mini novel at 76 pages and has care instructions as well as a vast array of exercises you can do with the bands. The other DVD of the recorded workouts are of good quality and seem to be useful (I have not done any of them yet). Bottom line, Bodylastics is a very good product that with proper care, should last and perform for many years. I would highly recommend these to anybody. UPDATE: I have been using these bands for about two weeks and can't say enough about them. The bands alone or in combination are more than enough for my needs. The workmanship and quality is outstanding. In the interim before I start Insanity: The Asylum, I've edited some of the workouts in the user guide to make my own circuit, which takes me about an hour to complete two of them. During the workouts, you can really feel the work being done on your specific muscle groups, and at the end of the workout, I can feel that I have done something. I don't know about the longevity of the latex, but even if they only last a couple of years (which I think they will outlast that), they would be well worth the money spent, and I would not hesitate to buy more Bodylastic products.

A convalescence of over 7 years has left me with greatly diminished muscle mass. Now that I have regained my health I have been looking for a way to regain some strength and stamina. A gym is too expensive and too far and I don't have room for weights etc. I read lots of reviews on bungee based exercise equipment, and shopped in numerous national sporting goods stores. I chose the Bodylastics kit based on the reviews here on Amazon. The kit arrived precisely when they had predicted and it far exceeds my expectations. The first thing that struck me is the quality and engineering. Compared to what I saw in the sporting goods stores, I would expect to pay at least $200 for these. The hand grips are solid and strong, and the clips that attach the cords beautifully engineered and crafted. I especially appreciated the nylon cord that is contained in each band to prevent over-stretching and possibly snapping. Some of the exercises involve positions that would send a snapped cord straight into one's face. The extra security allows me to go at such exercises more vigorously than I would otherwise do. The kit comes with a really handy door mounted strap. This allows a much greater variety of exercises from below, above and straight on. For those of us without much space, this is like having a full gym in the bedroom. The two enclosed DVDs are most professional. They clearly demonstrate all the features of the kit and how to use them to best advantage. They also include a full workout routine, conducted by pro fitness instructors, for toning, strength or strength/cardio. I really look forward to progressing through the various stages. They also have a website with many more routines that make use of the elastics. This system is so satisfying on many levels. It is intuitive and easy to use, simple and quick to change from one strength to another. The quality is without compromise and it gives me the feeling that I am not cutting any corners as I follow the routines. If Steve Jobs had designed exercise equipment, it would be like this :-)

These exercise bands have been instrumental with me getting back in shape. I don’t recommend following the specified exercises or at least all of them. My Doctor, a sports doctor, pointed out which exercises were beneficial, and which were potentially harmful. Especially, at my age, and I am nearly 60. These were excellent for rehabilitation of certain muscles I had damaged. One word of caution from a middle-aged man, remember, the age, you are and exercise accordingly. I would definitely discuss any exercise program with your doctor and especially a sports doctor, and or a physical therapist. I’ve also resourced the mayo clinic frequently to find sustainable, and non-injure us exercises using exercise bands. The best thing about these bands is that they have an anti-snap core, so that when they eventually snap, they will not fly up into your face or elsewhere. The drawback behind this design is if you were a person that is as tall as me, 6‘,2“ or 180 cm, then certain exercises become a little problematic, because the anti-snap core does reach a limit and you cannot extend the band further. For instance, squats can be problematic ask him the overhead press. The best thing about having these bands is not having to go to a gym, which I despise. Sometimes I can set up to where I can exercise hard enough between these exercise, bands and body resistance to get a pretty good workout for anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. I always supplement with aerobic exercise, such as walking. It’s great to have access to some hills or stairs to go up and down to help increase your aerobic exercise. Whatever you do, please take it easy and don’t push if you’re a person my age. And I’ve seen many younger people who pushed themselves way too hard, including me, and then have to deal with chronic injuries or the effects of chronic injuries later in life lesson learned. Thank you very much Bodylastics for creating such a well thought out an engineered product.

The principle is good to have that safety cord in the middle of the hollow tubing but as a previous reviewer said, you have to detangle or detwist that inner cord right from the get go, or else you can damage the rubber tubing very early on, when pulling against a sudden end point. My yellow bodylastic arrived with an inner twisted cord and you can see it from the outside. No where does it say to do this correction in the brief instruction sheet. Not only this. My green tube arrived with a „bubble“ in the rubber tubing and it looks like a weak spot. :-( So the idea is good but my set came with more than one quality issue.. do I have to contact the company now? Why did this obvious bubble in the green one get through quality control? Who needs that when you are doing rehab and just want a product to work well and safely… Update --------- I emailed the company to give feedback, and knew this was already past the warranty period because we opened to set up the system some months after purchase. They actually offered and sent two replacement tubes, saying it was very unusual for this QC issue. The tubes they sent (from Canada) were fine, in fact, they seemed different quality from the ones originally received - darker, thicker rubber. Not sure why the differences though.. do they have different manufacturing sites? So Ive changed the review rating, for very prompt customer care and service expected. However, the quality of those two tubes received in Singapore was not the same as the two received from Canada.

This is not a review for "Bodylastics Stackable" as i received a different Resistance Bands Set. I will return.

I had been doing weight training eariler. recently came to know about this product and made up my mind to give it a try. it is amazing product, with lot of pros over free weights and provides plenty of options to train muscles from different angles, that too at very less expense compared to traditional weights. I can feel the difference. The quality of product components are also really very good. Lot of videos available on you tube for exercise. There is one issue however, i have noticed, the door anchor has started to tear (though it really good) because of rubbing against the door edges. To improve that i have done few things, one is to rub the sharp edges of door with sand paper to make them smooth and other one is to put one sleeve on the part of door anchor, which is pressed under the door, so scratches damages only the outer sleeve and inner strip of anchor remains safe. I would really recommend and prefer such an arrangement from Bodylastics itself to make the product more durable. Happy workout....Cheers to Bodylastics

This resistance training kit might be the best and most cost-effective bit of exercise equipment that I have ever bought. I initially purchased this (along with another higher resistance Bodylastics band) for a 6 week trip where I likely won’t have access to a decent gym, or won’t have time to keep travelling to a gym. The quality is quite good, other than the somewhat questionable door anchor. The internal ropes provide a better sense of safety – which is the main reason I bought this brand instead of others. I have a pretty extensive home weight-training gym which uses free weights – including several benches, hex trap, lots of steel plates, pulley equipment, many attachments, etc. Compared to the free weights, these elastic bands seem be easier on the body, but provide longer lasting benefits. This might be partly because my body has become used to free weights, but I think it’s more because the elastics can provide a more linear resistance throughout the range of motion. It’s not actually linear, simply because the elastic resistance becomes greater as it stretches – but it’s better than with free weights. i.e. regular bicep curls have little resistance at the start of the pull, but then becomes much tougher halfway through. Because of the better linear resistance, (for me) the muscles stay toner for longer. Compared with free weights, I can use less resistance (easier on the body), and have more rest days between workouts without losing muscle tone. And unexpectedly, my muscles seem to be running on a higher metabolic rate days after the workouts – but this might just be a coincidence with other factors. These resistance bands are great for general strength training and body toning. But it is probably not suitable for power lifters, because the movement dynamics are so different. Also, I don’t see this as being able to replace free weights, because free weights provide a more natural and full range of resistance. I think the resistance bands and free weights are good complements to each other, and I will continue using both in my home workouts (likely alternating them, instead of using both in the same workout). I can actually use just the resistance bands if I didn’t already have a home gym, and I can definitely just use the bands on long trips. BTW, I use this package with better anchor straps (hood loop straps - the type used to anchor ropes to the hood of a car), because I’m skeptical of the anchor which came with the kit. Also, I am using some good climbing carabiners to avoid nicking the bands on the anchor straps (which will cause them to snap). And I got some tree safe straps to anchor the bands to poles, trees, etc if a suitable door is not available. For presses, I instead use swivelling push up bars, which are great. These items cost more than the original resistance kit – and the entire combined package does take up a lot of space in the luggage.

Great to supplement your home workout and give you a different range of motion with some exercises. The bands are all durable though some may lose colour. The attachments are enough to perform a variety of routines. Great that you can combine them to increase resistance. I like the ankle attachment that helps me do glute leg raises to tone my butt!