Resistance and super bands have become one of the most popular pieces of home fitness equipment. And for good reason; they help you get a great workout, are relatively inexpensive and can easily travel with you to the office, park or vacation destination.
Unlike free weights, resistance bands provide resistance through the entire movement, making the exercises feel a little different and a little more difficult than you may be used to. Free weights, on the other hand, depend on gravity, where the resistance and difficulty of the movement will vary throughout the exercise. For example, when performing an overhead press with free weights, pressing the weight up is more difficult than lowering it back down. When using resistance bands to perform the exact same exercise, both pressing the arms up and lowering them back down are against the resistance in the band, giving you an incredible workout throughout the entire movement.
While both resistance bands and super bands use this same principle of resistance, there are some important differences.
Read on for a comparison of high resistance bands and high strength resistance bands.
What are resistance bands?
Resistance bands are thin, yet strong pieces of elastic rubber that you can use for strength training exercises. Depending on your needs and the type of exercise that you will be doing, there are several different types of resistance bands, including:
- Flat and thin bands: These types of bands are simply long and flat looped elastic that do not have ends. These types of bands are great for exercises that work the ankles or the lower body, and can provide an incredible stretch. However, they don’t work with any of the other fitness accessories, like handles or door anchors.
- Fit loop bands: Fit loop bands are also known as mini bands. They are bands that are shaped like flexible closed loops, instead of a flat band. They can be placed around the ankles or legs for a killer lower body workout, but are also great for gentle stretching.
- Handle tube bands: Handle tube bands are long bands or tubes made from a heavy duty latex rubber. There are handles at each end to make holding and manipulating the band a breeze. They can be used for both upper and lower body workouts.
- Clip tube bands: These are similar to handle tube bands, but there are clips at the ends instead of handles. This allows you to attach several different types of accessories to the bands, like ankle and wrist cuffs. You can also attach these types of bands to other fitness equipment, to a door anchor or to other bands for a greater workout.
- Figure 8 bands: Figure 8 bands are similar in shape to a fit loop band, but there is a band connecting the center together so that the band looks like an “8”. There is also a handle on each loop to make gripping the band much easier. These bands are great for upper body exercises.
- Bungee style bands: Bungee style resistance bands are used by athletes in order to create powerful and explosive moves during a workout. One end of the band is attached to a person, and the other end is attached to a weight or another person.
Marcy offers several different types of resistance bands that are color-coded for your convenience, making it easier for you to grab the appropriate band:
What are super bands?
Super bands are very similar to resistance bands, but are significantly thicker and stronger. These bands are not meant for a beginner or casual exerciser. Rather, super bands are specially designed for athletes and the serious fitness buffs. Super bands allow someone to continue their resistance band training once they’ve graduated beyond the resistance level of traditional fitness bands.
Like resistance bands, super bands are made of high quality latex rubber and can be used for strength training, stretching, yoga and pilates. Also like resistance bands, super bands are very compact and portable, making it easy to take your workout with you.
Even though super bands are similar to resistance bands, here are a couple of differences:
- Super bands are color coded, but they aren’t standardized in the same way that resistance bands are. The color system varies between brands, so it is important to double-check the resistance that you are purchasing to ensure that it is the correct one.
- Super bands are much stronger than typical resistance bands. Where a heavy resistance band may have 20-70 lbs of resistance, super bands can offer up to 120 or 150 lbs of resistance.
- Bionic Body Super Bands are a closed, flexible loop and do not have handles or wrist/ankle cuffs.
- Safety is especially important when using super bands, due to the increased strength and resistance in the band. Make sure to choose a band that uses tear- and snap-resistant material to minimize the risk of injuries.
Despite these differences, super bands still give you an amazing workout, no matter how long you’ve been working out.
Which bands are right for you?
Your fitness level should be the primary factor when making the decision between resistance bands and super bands. If you are new to exercising, start with a for variety. The different parts of your body can handle distinct weights and resistances, so you may need different bands, even when first starting out. For example, you may be able to use a heavy resistance band when exercising your upper body, but may need a medium band when working out your lower body. Having many options means that you can get the safest and most effective workout.
If, however, you have been working out or using resistance bands for a while, you may be ready to move up to super bands. Like resistance bands, try purchasing an assortment of super bands so that you have the right resistance for each part of your body that you are working out. Keep in mind that you may need both resistance and super bands, depending on your strength and ability.
How do I get started?
When getting started, you should start with a lower resistance than you think you might need. Exercises using resistance bands will make you work throughout the entire movement, which is different from the use of other weight training equipment. This may make the same exercise seem a little more difficult when using a band. Having a variety of bands available can alleviate this risk as well.
There is a tendency to let the resistance of the band drive your movement back to the starting point in the exercise. Instead, make sure to perform the entire exercise movement slowly and deliberately.
Resistance and super bands make a great addition to every fitness routine and home gym. If you’re ready to give them a try, check out Bionic Body bands at , where you’ll find a large variety of the resistance bands, super bands, and accessories you need to get a great workout!