Bodylastics Patented Basic Series Resistance Band Set - 5 Resistance Bands with Snap Reduction Tech, 2 Handles, 2 Ankle Straps, 1 Door Anchor & 1 Carry Bag

I bought a "quality" set years ago from a sports store. I hadn't use it for years, so when i started using it again, the bands snapped immediately. I did some research on Amazon and ordered the Bodylastics as a replacement, and the difference in quality is amazing, compared to my old set, and probably most of the sets available. * The lifetime guarantee ($6 for shipping). If you plan to get your money's worth, this is important. Some bands deteriorate over time, as I found out. If someothing happens in 90 days there's no charge. * Weight. As soon as I lifted the package, I was surprised how heavy it was. Check the package weight of other products, compared to the Bodylastics. My set had a shipping weight of 1.54 KGrams/3.25lbs. Other sets weight must less. The Bodylastics straps and clips are massive. I feel confident these aren't flimsy products. The large O clips should be able to handle 5 or even 7 bands at once. * Quality. The roller handles operate smoothly when you do curls, etc. Very nice. The ankle straps grip like a giant's hand. * Instructions - you download a manual with basic instructions - it's not included. There is also an online collection of videos. The URL was wrong, but I found them easily on their web page. The number of exercises is huge. I counted 17 different exercises just for legs. There are also a huge number of workouts, including flexibility and yoga workouts. They can also track your progress if you wish. * Safety- The manual stresses how to take care of the bands - and they show you clearly what to avoid. My old set didn't care if they broke through misuse. The patented safety design is a key benefit. They can't break. * Strength - I started with a very low 5 pound cord and I immediately noticed that this was much resistance than a higher cord on my old set. The numbers are apparently measured and not estimated. Overall - I'm very impressed.

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.

Absolutely outstanding equipment, and very glad I purchased these tubes [they call them resistance bands, but they are really resistance tubes]. Handles are first rate, large--but not too large, sturdy, and comfortable. Large ring at end of handle's web strap easily accommodates three carabiner hooks when necessary. The ability to adjust the tube tension by adding one or two more tubes to one handle actually makes adjusting the tension more easily and more precisely accomplished than adjusting weight on a barbell, crossover machine or typical weight machine that's restricted to 5 lb. or 10 lb. adjustments. I have been a barbell, dumbbell, squat rack, and crossover rack user for many more than 30 years, and never did I think "rubber" tubes and bands could replace such iron and pulleys--boy, was I wrong. I am a convert! Here's why. With the set of tubes with carabiner hooks at each end, handles that attach to the hooks with rings, and ankle straps that I bought in this kit, I also bought the Bodylastic "Band Barrier." Think for a moment of the velcro wraps on a gym or duffel bag, that strap being attached to one bag handle that wraps around the the other bag handle to keep the two handles together when carrying the bag. The Band Barrier "wraps" the tubes via the same design. It is about 12 to 14" long and 6" [or so] wide. You open it by separating the velcro clasp that goes the length of the wrap; then lay one, two or even five or six tubes into the middle of the wrap, and then roll the wrap up to reattach the velcro clasp. You can now carry that wrapped set of tubes anywhere and hook the entire bundle [Band Barrier with the wrapped tubes]--high, low, inbetween--and easily select the tube or tubes you need for a given exercise to your handles. Ingenious really. Not only that, you can put the Band Barrier and its wrapped tubes on the ground and stand on it to do curls, upright rows, squats, etc.--and not do any scraping or scratching of the tubes. I have given up my membership to the YMCA where I went to use barbells, dumbbells, squat rack, and crossover rack and use the Bodylastics Resistance Bands [actually tubes] wrapped in the Band Barrier at home--where I never have to stand in line to use the equipment. Further, in one swoop, I can move the combined Band Barrier wrapping five or six tubes from a low anchor point to a waist-level anchor point to a high anchor point. And I can put the whole shebang on the floor, stand on it, and do upward motion exercises [e.g., curls, squats, rises, upright rows] with no damage to the tubes. I am absolutely delighted with this purchase. So much so, that I sent the same set to my 15-year-old grandson, who is a ballet dancer. In fact, because I tend towards lazy, I actually bought a second set of tubes and a second Band Barrier so that I could hang one set high and a second set low, and move from high anchor points to low more readily. In buying your "set" of tubes, etc., take note if you are an experienced weight trainer who can handle heavier weights. Consider buying the next level set with its one additional and bigger tube [23 pounds] [i.e., six bands instead of 5]. One of the best purchases I have ever made at Amazon.

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)

I ordered these for two reasons, first I have had some back trouble over the last few years and physical therepy with bands helped me strenghten targeted area to help with stabalization. After doing a couple of months in the clinic I decided some for homw use would be great. Secondly, I am a 46 year old deployed military member and the gym is often crowded so fighting the youngsters for a spot is not something I want to do these days. These have done the trick for me. I use them twice a day mostly the heavy band, and find the door anchor and handles holding up well. I like the inner cord that lets me stress the bands to maximum draw without worry of a break. I used a cheap pair someone had left behind and during curls the second day of use the handle seperated from the tube causing me to deliver a nice solid puch to my lower jaw. I was displeased to say the least. With these I don't even worry about it. They are solid. My only complaint is the difference between the medium and heavy band, there is a large differential there that makes medium band prettty useless but if you need that one and want to progress these are stackable so it is still a good deal. So far after about a month of use I am very satisfied. Recommend these for anyone who can't make it to the gym. anchor in teh door and do chest presses/flys, pseudo-pullups and tricept extensions for a solid upper body workout. Works well to add resistance for lunges also and laying on the floor I do leg extensions using the heavy band. Using a balance ball you can do crunches also by placing anchor high on a door. Seems to be a quality product, I definately recommend!

Before the pandemic I worked out in a gym using weight machines, but when everything closed I needed to get creative with my workouts. Originally I tried using Spri and Oak & Reed resistance bands, and they both worked alright but each time I worked out I worried that one of them would snap. Thankfully they did not, but as the pandemic wore on, I decided to do some research and invest in a quality set of resistance bands. The New York Times rarely steers me wrong with their product recommendations, so when I found out that this Bodylastics set was the top-rated resistance band set for 2021, I took the plunge and bought the set, and I am very pleased with it. The set comes with a foam door anchor, two reinforced ankle straps, two high-quality grippy handles and five color-coded resistance bands in the following weights: 3 lbs., 5 lbs., 8 lbs., 13 lbs. and 19 lbs., as well as a zippered pouch for easy storage and portability. Bands are labeled by weight and color, and each band has carabiners on either end that clip easily to the handles or ankle straps. It's easy to combine bands for higher tension combinations. Best of all (at least to me), the bands themselves are well made and heavy-duty, with reinforced stitching and internal cords that keep you from overstretching them, which is the most common reason that other bands break. The set comes with a quick start guide and links to free workouts, exercises and set up tips. Online videos show how to do everything from door installation to 34 different exercises. The only drawback for me is that I am short (5'3"), so in order to have the appropriate tension, a few of the exercises have to be done with the bands alone (without the handles clipped on). This is certainly not a deal breaker for me, as the all-around quality of this set is so much better than the other bands I had previously been using. This Bodylastics set is the best $50 I've spent during the pandemic, for sure.

I have literally tried dozens. Typically there are not a lot of major differences in quality, but these stand out big time in my opinion. In my experience there are several critical areas that I look for and that's what lead me to buy these and then I found a few new features that really impressed me that I didn't realize were a big difference. 1. The door anchor has a nice layer of foam padding so the friction created during workouts is reduced. This will protect the bands and help them last longer with heavy usage. I specifically looked for this design and it was about 80% of the reason why I chose this brand over others. 2. The handles are not foam, but they are a nice solid plastic that is high quality. 3. The carabiners are high quality and they have a feature I never realized was important but it really makes it a lot easier to use. The connection point has a ring that keeps the bands connected to the lower end and the upper end with the clip stays on top to clip to the D-ring. The other brands I own don't have this and the carabiners float around and while it's not a huge issue it makes it nice and convenient to have this design. 4. The large ring to connect multiple bands is much bigger than other brands that I own. It just makes connecting 3-4 bands that much easier. 5. The cord inside to prevent you from stretching too far and prevents the risk of the bands breaking is pretty clever. Overall, I love these. I'm typically a bit critical about products like this, and hardly take the time to write long, genuine reviews, but man...this was well thought out in design and it's impressive. Well done guys. I'll be buying these again for sure ...only down side is you made them a bit too good and they won't need to be replaced too soon like the other ones haha :) Highly recommended!

UPDATE: I originally thought the bands were fantastic, as you see my comment after using them for one week. I was so excited that I bought the door attachment to use it at varying heights and exercises. But the door thing was too ugly according to my wife and I was forced to box all the bands and door attachment and relegate it to the garage in a sealed box. After sitting for several years and a 60 lb weight gain I decided to use them again, my wifes only request was not in the house, but in the garage. Three months ago I decided to use them in the garage so i began to used them 30 minutes a day for the last 3 months. Last week the 19lb band exploded in my face and luckily hit my cheek and not my eye. I contacted the company and they said I could buy new band replacements. What I've taken away from this is one of two things: the band deteriorates whether used or not or it is not meant to be used for longer than three months, either case I would beware of buying these bands for fear of being hurt. How many of us buy something and then years later decide to give it a try. JUST SAYING BE CAREFUL! Bodylastics company didn't seem concerned at all that the band exploded in my face. Seemed like a normal occurrence to them by their lack of concern of possible injury. To be clear, I thought they were great the first couple of weeks of casual use by my original comment below. Maybe I'm naieve and expect more than 4 months usage from a band, and that the band material should only last several years. If that were the case maybe I missed the warning that material disintegrates over time and only use band for x amount of time. I won't be buying more Resistance bands are of highest quality. I've bought other brands and could instantly see quality/durability difference. They provide a great workout, I don't really miss the gym when I have to miss the gym. I am going to buy more.

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!