Rubberbanditz Resistance Bands Review [6 Types]

Resistance bands just might be one of the most versatile training tools available. Everyone from hardcore powerlifters to gymnasts and bodyweight training enthusiasts can benefit from their versatility.

That’s why I was super excited when Rubberbanditz offered to send me some of their products to try out and review for Lift Vault.

Overall, I was impressed with the quality of the Rubberbanditz resistance bands.

Even though they’re backed by a lifetime warranty, I suspect these bands will last for years. If you’re looking to pick up some resistance bands to add to your training routine, I definitely recommend considering Rubberbanditz.

These are the bands I’ll be taking you through today:

• Light resistance band (41 in, 104 cm)
• Medium resistance band (41 in, 104 cm)
• Heavy resistance band (41 in, 104 cm) and (12 in, 30 cm)
• Robust resistance band (41 in, 104 cm) and (12 in, 30 cm)

Rubberbanditz Resistance Bands Review

Light Resistance Band (41 in, 104 cm)

Here’s a look at the 41-inch light resistance band from Rubberbanditz.

These provide 5 to 15 lb (2 to 7 kg) of resistance.

I like using this band when I’m warming up for the bench press. I’ll perform band pull aparts, which help warm up the rhomboids, traps, and rear delts. These are the muscles responsible for scapular retraction, which is an essential element of “staying tight” when performing the bench press.

Use Cases

Here are some other potential use cases for light resistance bands. These will be performed at high reps and are useful for warming up your muscles.

• Shoulder press
• Rows
• Tricep pushdowns
• Bicep curls
• Kick backs
• Lateral leg raises
• Small muscle work

Not Great For

• Pull-Ups
• Adding resistance to barbell work (bench press, squat, deadlift)

Related: Barbell vs Dumbell Bench Press

Medium Resistance Band (41 in, 104 cm)

Here’s a look at the 41-inch medium resistance band from Rubberbanditz.

These provide 20 to 25 lb (9 to 16 kg) of resistance.

The medium resistance bands are similar to the light resistance bands in that both are good for higher rep work.

Light Resistance Band vs. Medium Resistance Band

The main difference between the light and medium resistance bands is that the medium resistance bands could potentially serve as replacements for dumbbells on movements typically performed with a 20 to 30 lb load (e.g. bicep exercises, tricep exercises, shoulder exercises).

Use Cases

Any higher rep upper body or lower body exercises could benefit from the medium resistance band.

For example, I normally perform hammer curls with a 25-pound dumbbell when I’m working in higher rep ranges. The medium resistance band from Rubberbanditz could serve as a reasonable replacement for a dumbbell in this situation.

I also enjoyed using the medium resistance band for performing pull-throughs before my deadlifts. This helped me work on building the mind-muscle connection in my glutes and hips. There was enough resistance to allow me to feel my muscles working without creating a significant amount of fatigue.

Not Great For

I wouldn’t recommend this band for barbell work.

It could be helpful for assisted pull-ups, but only in two scenarios:

1. You’re extremely close to getting your first pull up and you only need a little bit of reduced resistance.
2. You can already perform pull-ups for reps, but you’re looking for extra accommodation to increase the total rep count of your sets and push your muscles a bit harder.

If you need a significant amount of accommodation to perform pull-ups, this is probably not the band for you. Instead, the heavy or robust resistance bands would probably be a better choice.

Related: Hammer Curl vs Bicep Curl

Heavy Resistance Band (41 in, 104 cm)

Here’s a look at the 41-inch heavy resistance band from Rubberbanditz.

These provide 30 to 50 lb (14 to 23 kg) of resistance.

Use Cases

The heavy band is great for assisted pull-ups, barbell lifts (squat, bench press, deadlift, overhead press), and lower rep exercises.

If you’re performing conjugate style powerlifting training, like Brian Alsruhe’s Conjugate Program, then these will definitely come in handy on dynamic effort (DE) and max effort (ME) training days.

Not Great For

These are too heavy to be recommended for warming up your upper-body. The light and medium bands are better suited for that type of work.

You could use it for some lower-body stretches, which may require a bit more resistance than upper-body stretches.

Heavy Resistance Band (12 in, 30 cm)

Here’s a look at the 12-inch heavy resistance band from Rubberbanditz.

These provide 30 to 50 lb (14 to 23 kg) of resistance.

Use Cases

The 12 in heavy resistance band is great for dynamic lower-body warm-up exercises like banded side-steps or adding extra resistance to glute exercises like hip thrusts.

Here’s an example of using resistance bands when performing side-steps:

Here’s an example of using resistance bands for extra resistance when performing hip thrusts:

Best Hip Thrust For Glute Gains (ADD THIS!)

Not Great For

Because this band is 12 inches in diameter, it’s not great for any movement that requires more stretch.

I’ll also call out that some people may prefer a wider resistance band for glute movements. While I have not had any issues with these bands slipping around my thighs, a wider resistance band may be more comfortable for some people.

Robust Resistance Band (41 in, 104 cm)

Here’s a look at the 41-inch robust resistance band from Rubberbanditz.

These provide 40 to 80 lb (18 to 36 kg) of resistance.

Use Cases

Like the 41-inch heavy resistance band, the 41-inch robust band is best suited for assisted pull-ups and barbell work.

It’s a favorite amongst athletes that perform bodyweight exercises like muscle-ups and shoulder mounts. This video from Austin Dunham is a great example of the different applications of the robust resistance band for calisthenics.

Calisthenics Resistance Bands Exercises Workout @RubberBanditz

Not Great For

Any high-volume exercises or low resistance stretches are probably not a great idea to perform with the robust band. You could use it for some lower-body stretches, which may require a bit more resistance than upper-body stretches.

Robust Resistance Band (12 in, 30 cm)

Here’s a look at the 12-inch robust resistance band from Rubberbanditz.

These provide 40 to 80 lb (18 to 36 kg) of resistance.

Like the 12-inch heavy resistance band, the 12-inch robust resistance band is best suited for hip and glute training.

Use Cases

Side steps, banded hip thrusts, and banded squats (band worn around the legs) can all benefit from using the 12-inch robust bands.

Here are some more ideas from Bret Contreras on how to implement a 12-inch resistance band into your training routine:

Glute Band Workout: Influencers Take Note!

Not Great For

Because this band is 12 inches in diameter, it’s not great for any movement that requires more stretch. While I have not had any issues with these bands slipping around my thighs, a wider resistance band may be more comfortable for some people.

About Kyle Risley

Kyle Risley founded Lift Vault in 2016 to make finding great powerlifting programs easier. Since then, the site has grown to include hundreds of programs for strength, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and more. He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete in powerlifting.