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The 10 Best Resistance Bands to Pack in Your Gym Bag, According to Fitness Experts
These bands can make a big difference in your workouts.
IF YOU'RE trying to gain muscle, your first instinct may be to head to the gym and hit the weight rack. And while lifting will never go out of style (in our humble opinion), we're here to tell you that's not the only way to build strength. If you're short on gear—or even just want to shake things up—it's time to add one of the best resistance bands to your training arsenal.
The best exercise bands are affordable, compact and easy to use on the go, and above all, they're one of the most versatile strength accessories in the game. Adding a resistance band into your routine can be as simple as integrating it into your bodyweight warm up, or looping it onto a kettlebell to add a little extra heat to a set of swings.
Read more: How Men's Health Thoroughly Tests and Reviews Fitness Products
"Because of the elastic properties, resistance bands recruit muscle fibers differently than free weights," explains Juan Guadarrama, C.S.C.S., one of the creators of Men’s Health’s 7-Minute Workouts for Fat Burn.
Of course, there are tons of different types of resistance bands (and resistance band exercises) out there, from closed loop bands, thick latex bands, bands with handles, and ones that use anchors to attach to your door. Depending on the thickness, they also provide different levels of resistance, meaning that not every band workout is for light weights.
We've spent years testing dozens of the best exercise bands of every nearly type and thickness. Men's Health fitness editors, in collaboration with Men's Health Strength in Diversity initiative members Guadarrama and Eric Sung, C.S.C.S., a trainer at Performance Lab in New York City, have compared testing notes on the best resistance bands we've tried to break down what factors set the best apart from the rest. Throughout our meticulous testing process, we've carefully considered all the essentials: thickness and size, durability, resistance, and value. Our collective efforts have resulted in invaluable insights into performance, durability, and ensuring that we recommend only the very best exercise bands to our readers.
Looking to purchase some new resistance bands to add into your workout? Keep reading for our top 10 picks of the best resistance bands to shop in 2023.
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Talene Appleton is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where she covers fitness, nutrition, health, and wellness. She was previously the Associate Editor of General Surgery News, and a nutrition writer for The Food Institute. Talene is a retired professional dancer, and loves to spend her free time cooking elaborate meals for her friends and family.
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