Did the start of the Covid-19 pandemic leave you inspired to start an exercise routine, like a vast majority of Americans who found themselves indefinitely spending a lot of time at home? If so, you were probably made aware of this phenomenon if you tried to shop around online for equipment and found almost everything was sold out virtually everywhere.
The good news is that nearly two years in, it’s not that hard to find home fitness equipment anymore. One item that is still proving to be quite popular is resistance bands, which are compact and can provide a solid strength workout without breaking the bank. While these bands are often touted primarily as a way to strengthen your glutes (which is key for preventing injuries if you’re an avid runner), or butt muscles, they can efficiently work several muscle groups, including your legs, arms, back, shoulders, ankles, hips, and stomach.
Enter the Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands, which are currently on sale for $12.95 on Amazon.
Resistance Loop Exercise Bands with Instruction Guide and Carry Bag
Fit Simplify
amazon.com
$12.95
I ordered a set of these bands for the purpose of testing them out for this article. They come in a set of five in a variety of colors, which are intended to be used the same way you would use free weights — the heavier the level of resistance, the harder the move will be. The bands come in resistance levels ranging from extra-light to extra-heavy, and come with a small bag they all easily fit in, which makes for easy travel.
I’d had experience using bands like these before, so I was able to start from medium resistance and build-up for most moves. I used the heavier ones for glute exercises like squats and bridges and the lighter ones for hip exercises like clamshells, where I needed more ability to control the band and not compromise my form. Having lighter bands to choose from for any moves is also good for beginners to ease themselves into a strength routine.
Many strength newbies can often feel too intimidated to give a new routine a try because they don’t know where to start on their own. Another plus for these bands is that they come with a print-out instruction guide and detailed e-book with illustrated exercises explaining how to use the bands. There is also an online video workout guide with straightforward demonstrations.
At first glance and feel, you’ll likely feel the effect of working out with giant rubber bands. On the plus side, these natural latex bands won’t feel sticky on your skin, but they might easily roll down your skin once you get sweaty, meaning you’ll have to re-adjust them mid-workout, which happened to me a couple of times.
Additionally, with more and more use, the bands will eventually lose elasticity, if they don’t actually snap and break first. You should expect to have to eventually replace equipment like this anyway, but it’s definitely something to consider as you comparison shop for the price as well as durability. This brand actually offers a lifetime guarantee, though, so if you’ve enjoyed using them and then run into issues and have them snap and break on you, you might be satisfied with getting a replacement set.
In all, these bands are a good, cheap option to supplement your fitness routine without spending a ton of money and taking up a lot of home space.