Bodylastics Resistance Bands Review
Bodylastics Maximum Resistance System
If you’re interested in starting a weight training program but can’t afford an expensive gym membership or lots of home equipment, a great way to get started working out at home is to invest in a set of high-quality resistance bands. Bodylastics currently sells one of the best systems on the market for home use. The videos below will give you a quick look at these resistance bands in action.
Terrell Owens Video
Five Exercises Performed with Bodylastics Bands
Some reasons to consider this resistance band system include:
- It’s affordable. For less than $100, you’ll have a quality piece of weight training equipment that allows you to perform virtually all of the exercises possible with free weights and cable machines.
- It’s durable. Expert and consumer reviews give Bodylastics products high marks for quality, saying these bands would not look out of place in a high-end gym environment. Users praise the durability and smooth handling of everything from the bands themselves to the aluminum clips, handles, and O-rings. In addition, the product includes a generous lifetime replacement warranty.
- It’s portable. The entire system fits in a carrying bag smaller than a shoebox and weights just a few pounds. You can take it with you almost anywhere.
Although Bodylastics bands are durable compared to other resistance band and tubing sets, keep in mind that they are made of latex, a biodegradable material. Over time, exposure to light, skin oils, and perspiration will cause latex to break down. To maximize the life of these resistance bands, avoid holding the latex portion of the bands in your bare hands, keep the bands clean of sweat, and store the bands in a cool, dark, dry place. Even with the most careful handling, however, the stress of regular daily use will ultimately wear out latex, so over the course of many months or years of use, most users should expect to break one or more bands. Fortunately, even if a band breaks as a result of normal use, Bodylastics has a generous lifetime replacement guarantee. If you’re concerned about the total lifetime cost of your equipment as much as the up front cost, consider whether you might be better off investing in a good set of adjustable dumbbells.
Bodylastics System Product Overview
At the core of the Bodylastics system are the elastic resistance bands themselves. These bands are manufactured from surgical-grade latex using a continuous dip process that Bodylastics claims gives the bands their unique durability and superior feel during use. Each band is four feet long and ends with an aluminum carabiner clip to connect to the handles or ankle straps to perform exercises.
Each Bodylastics system includes a pair of handles and a pair of ankle straps. Each handle has a 5.5 inch wide hard plastic grip bar wrapped in soft foam and ends in a heavy gauge O-ring. The ankle straps are 8 inch long padded straps with velcro closures and also end in a heavy gauge O-ring. You can clip up to 7 resistance bands at a time to the O-rings to create a wide range of equivalent weights, similar to using a good set of adjustable dumbbells. The effective weight range depends on the number of bands included in the system you purchase, with a maximum weight equivalence of 254 pounds (127 pounds per side) possible with the largest system, the Terrell Owens Super Strong Man System.
Some of the exercises you can perform with the Bodylastics system require an external anchor point (i.e. an anchor point other than your feet or another part of your body). To help you perform these exercises, you can use the included foam door anchor, which allows you to turn any closing door into a sturdy anchor point for your bands.
The entire Bodylastics system will fit in the included storage bag, which, when fully packed, is about the size of a pair of shoes. Since the system is so lightweight (3.7 pounds for the Maximum Tension System), it’s easy to carry along in luggage or to and from the office.
To help you learn how to use the resistance bands, each system also includes a printed 76-page visual guide to 126 exercises, as well as membership to the Strength Band University website. An optional circuit training DVD can be added to any system you purchase. The DVD provides a guided instruction through a combination cardio/strength training workout using the resistance bands.
All Bodylastics systems include the following guarantees:
- 90-day money back guarantee: You can return the product any time within 90 days of purchase for a full refund, no questions asked.
- 90-day free parts replacement: If any component in the system breaks within the first 90 days, Bodylastics promises to replace it at no charge to you.
- Lifetime replacement guarantee: From 90 days after purchase until forever, Bodylastics guarantees that they will replace any broken or defective component for $5.95 (US customers) or $8.95 (international customers), including all shipping and handling.
Product Lines
There are six different band thicknesses in the Bodylastics system, with the weight equivalence of each band indicated both by the band’s color and an imprinted number on the aluminum clips. The band weight equivalences are as follows:
- Yellow band: 5 pounds
- Green band: 7 pounds
- Red band: 13 pounds
- Blue band: 19 pounds
- Black band: 23 pounds
- Orange band: 30 pounds
The three main Bodylastics products lines are differentiated based on the bands included.
Basic Tension System
- Bands included: 1 yellow (5 lbs), 1 green (7 lbs), 1 red (13 lbs), 1 blue (19 lbs)
- Effective weight range possible: 88 lbs (44 lbs per side)
- Other components: 1 pair handles, 1 pair ankle straps, 1 door anchor, 1 bag, 1 manual, 1-year Strength Band University website membership
- Optional component: Circuit training DVD
Maximum Tension System
- Bands included: 1 yellow (5 lbs), 1 green (7 lbs), 1 red (13 lbs), 1 blue (19 lbs), 1 black (23 lbs)
- Effective weight range possible: 134 lbs (67 lbs per side)
- Other components: 1 pair handles, 1 pair ankle straps, 1 door anchor, 1 bag, 1 manual, 1-year Strength Band University website membership
- Optional component: Circuit training DVD
Terrell Owens Super Strong Man System
- Bands included: 1 yellow (5 lbs), 1 green (7 lbs), 1 red (13 lbs), 1 blue (19 lbs), 1 black (23 lbs), 2 orange (30 lbs)
- Effective weight range possible: 254 lbs (127 lbs per side)
- Other components: 2 pairs handles, 2 pairs ankle straps, 2 door anchors, 1 bag, 1 manual, lifetime Strength Band University website membership
- Optional component: Circuit training DVD
I’ve used bodylastics resistance bands for about an year and half. (Bought max tension first, then TO super strongman edition because 3 out of 5 bands from max tension snapped after 6 month use;5 times a week) They provide good workouts but don’t last long. I ended up buying adjustable dumbbells paying more money but in the long run, I will be saving money because these don’t ’snap’ like the bands did on me. For convenience, bands are good alternative but it’s a bit of deceiving statement saying buying bands will save you money than buying other homegym equipments, especially, dumbbells, barbells….
Hi regjoe,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment pointing out this drawback to using resistance bands. I agree that a good set of adjustable dumbbells will definitely be more durable under regular use than even the most high-quality resistance bands. I have updated my article to communicate more clearly the drawback of bands wearing out repeatedly over a lifetime of regular use.
Marty