The Best Resistance Cords

Resistance cords or bands can be a convenient and potentially less harmful alternative to traditional free weights. The cords are used for strengthening, toning, stretching or even increasing the intensity of a cardiovascular workout and come in a variety of resistance levels. Finding the best resistance band or cordwill depend upon your individual needs. If your workouts are more demanding, a stiffer, more expensive cord may be the best long-term choice. If your use is less demanding, a cheaper, more flexible tool might be best.

  1. Rubber Strips

    • Rubber strip cords are frequently used for physical therapy exercises.

      Resistance cords made from a strip or sheet of rubber with no handles, come in a variety of resistance levels from light to heavy. They are best used as an inexpensive option for people who need to travel with them and don't require frequent or strenuous use of the bands. Rubber strip cords run about $5 each at time of publication but can also be purchased in a packet or a roll. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends checking them periodically for signs of wear, that are indicated by color-fading or fabric-fraying.

    Tubes

    • Resistance tubes without handles are frequently used to attach accessory pieces to them.

      Resistance cords made of a tube of rubber are also color coded by the manufacture to differentiate resistance levels and are best when you need to attach the cord to a pole or bar for different exercises. Sold mainly in rolls, they allow users to choose their desired length. While the tubed cords aren't a better resistance level or more comfortable to use than the sheet, they may last longer under frequent or intense use because the material is thicker. Resistance cords in a straight tube, without handles are sold in rolls and cost between $15 and $20. They're also sold in roll packs.

    Handled Tubes

    • Handled resistance tubes are currently the most popular.

      Resistance cords with handles are built specifically to provide extra comfort to the user. They are not intended for tying onto bars or poles for additional exercises, but the foam or plastic handles do make traditional resistance band exercises less stressful on the hands. For more therapeutic exercises that require tying the band to something, the handled tubes are less adaptable. Handled tube resistance cords called fit-tubes typical cost about $10 and can be purchased in multi-packets also.

    Accessories and Specialty Cords

    • Specialty resistance cords, such the figure-8 or the ring, are simply tubing that has attachments for a more specialized function. The specialty resistance cords are not made to be taken apart and used in other ways. While they are as strong and comfortable as the handled tubes, they are less functional for multiple exercises. The figure-8 runs about $10 to $12 and is about 15 inches of tube. The ring is about $6 and measures about 8 inches of tube in diameter.