The 8 best resistance bands for strengthening, stretching, and doing Pilates at home in 2025, tested by us

Out of all the resistance bands I tried, the Fitbeast set was the only one that covered all the bases, making it the best overall for a full-body resistance band workout at home - or for taking to the gym, if yours doesn't have some already.

The design of these bands was stand-out for me. They feel very premium in material, sturdy, and unlikely to snap or fray with regular use. I've had mine for about six months now, using them every other day, and they look almost as good as new. While I've never found an issue with gripping the bands, given they are made from high-quality latex, the pack comes with two grip handles, making them more comfortable. The Fitbeast Resistance Bands Set also comes in a small carry bag, which is bulky when all the bands are inside but makes storage easy.

For me, these were the top choice for home workouts because they also come with a door jam. This small nylon piece of kit can hold the band securely to your doorframe by sandwiching it between the frame and door, making exercises like lat pull-downs (which are normally hard to do with resistance bands) very easy.

For lower-body work, many people like using the so-called 'booty' bands. These bands sit just above the knee and are perfect for squats, glute bridges, lunges, and crab walks and so on, where you have the band wrapped around your legs. The Mirafit Fabric Resistance Bands Set ticks all the boxes - they feel strong and premium out of the bag, they get the job done, are easy to move over the legs even when you're wearing leggings, and are much more budget-friendly than similar options. At under £20, these thick bands are a steal - you'll find many for £30 and above.

The smell of these bands was another thing I noticed - or I should say, the lack of smell. Some latex resistance bands, especially when new, leave a distinct plastic smell on your hands and in the air, which does fade with time. I didn't have the same problem with these. And, as they are much thicker than others, they don't resume their folded position even after you've had them packed away in the bag for a while.

However, you'll need to pair your Mirafit Fabric Resistance Bands Set with our top pick for upper-body work for a full-body workout. The thickness means they have a limited movement range, which makes them ideal for a resistance band leg workout - but not upper-body, where you'll need a little more stretch in your band.

For me, the key requirement for a good set of upper-body workout bands is stretch. Can I stretch them above my head with the band secured under my foot? If so, they are a contender for one of the best resistance bands. The Pro Fitness Resistance Bands scored the top spot for me in the end as there's a choice of three resistances and the bands are longer than ones like the Fitness Mad Mini Power Loops, for example, so they stretch easily above the head.

I used these bands for shoulder presses, shoulder raises, bicep curls, tricep extensions, and more upper-body resistance band workouts on workout apps. They feel very secure and won't be prone to snapping during use, as they're thicker than other longer bands. They are also versatile - you can easily loop the bands around your hands to adjust the length and find a more secure grip.

One note would be that the colour is a lot darker in 'real life' compared to the product images, with the red more of a burgundy. This shouldn't dissuade or persuade you towards these resistance bands over others, but it's worth considering.

You don't need weights to do a weighted Pilates workout - resistance bands work just fine too. This set from Decathlon, which I tried using workouts from various Pilates apps, came up top thanks to the range of resistances (2 to 4kg), unique colours, and premium design.

While I've used the 4kg in a couple of workouts, I mainly use the lighter resistances, but I'm happy to have a choice and as my Pilates prowess progresses, I'm sure I'll need it. This also makes the set a good one for beginners.

The standout feature is the design though - unlike any other band on the list, these have a textured underside, making them comfortable and more secure for longer holds on the mat as they don't slide away, even when you're using the bands against your skin.

They are also compact and weigh almost nothing, so it's no trouble to take them to class or on holiday with you.

Available in light, medium (which is the one I tried), heavy, and extra-heavy, this simple band ticks the boxes for comfort, quality, and ease of use. I tested it with full-body exercises like bicep curls, shoulder raises, rows, squats, and shoulder presses.

Stepping on the band to keep it stable, the resistance felt strong and I had all the confidence that the material would stand up to being stretched to the limit. The band itself feels premium and well-made. The handles are ribbed for a better grip and move with you, making for a comfortable experience in any full-body workout.

I would recommend buying more than one though. The medium resistance was perfect for my bicep curls but I'd switch to a lighter resistance for shoulder raises and a heavier one for rows. For the shoulder press, the band was stretched to its limit, so I'd switch to the ProFitness Resistance Bands for this exercise. However, I am taller than most women. If you're 5'6 or under, you'll be fine with this one. You can also buy the complete set, which ranges from extra light resistance (which you can't buy individually) to extra-heavy with additional handles from Myprotein's website, which may work out more cost-effectively.

If you're looking to take your workout abroad, a small set of resistance bands can be your best friend. While the Myprotein Resistance Band with Handles or the ProFitness Resistance Bands are great options for home workouts, Fitness Mad Mini Power Loops from Amazon are just the right size to pack away in your suitcase. The bag only measures 18cm in length when full and weighs just 156g. It can also be squashed down to make more space as the bands are thin compared to other bands on this list.

For me, this one made the top pick for variety, affordability, and ease of use. There are five bands, ranging from light to extra-heavy resistance. I'd say they are best suited for exercises like banded deadlifts, squats, glute bridges, lunges, bicep curls, and rows - so almost a full-body workout. In testing, I found the only exercises they weren't suitable for were overhead ones where you need to secure the band under your foot as they don't quite stretch that long. For this, I'd recommend pairing this £12 pack with the BodyMax Resistance Band, our top pick for upper-body strengthening.

For beginners, I firstly recommend buying a set of shorter resistance bands (like the Mirafit Fabric Resistance Bands Set) and a longer set (like the ProFitness Resistance Bands). Together, you have everything you need to get started with strength training at home.

However, as these products come from different retailers, you might like to save on postage and buy from the same retailer. In that case, I can recommend the Myprotein Booty bands, which I also rated very highly (but they missed the top spot as they are more expensive) after using them for squats and lunges in my home workouts, and the Myprotein Resistance Band, 2 to 16kg. Having one band you can adjust the resistance simply by folding and shortening the length is a great idea. It's also the perfect starting resistance for beginners.

If you're new to strength training, you'll need bands that can support your current strength level and help you get stronger. When your strength has improved, you'll need bands with a heavier resistance to keep the progress going. These are my top picks together as both products offer a range of resistances.

Most resistance bands without handles (and excluding the thick nylon Mirafit bands) on this list will be suitable for stretching. But, I found the Atemi Sports Exercise Bands to be the pick of the bunch as they are made from a thinner latex material that stretches wider, offering a more gentle, controlled resistance. With these, I found I could get deeper into my stretches without slipping accidentally into strength work by putting strain on my muscles, as I might with a thicker rubber band.

There needs to be a range of resistance options to meet you where your flexibility is at right now and allow you to progress further. The fact these come in a range of four resistances ticks this box. I also found the BodyMax V2 PowerBand red band to be a good choice all-rounder for lower-body stretching - but it's sold out online.

I tried the Atemi Sports Exercise Bands out during sessions with various stretching apps and found I needed all four resistances, as my upper body is more flexible than my hamstrings, so I used the lighter one for my chest and arms and heaviest one for my legs and glutes. They feel secure during use - but they are more likely to wear and tear sooner, thanks to the thinner materials. They also don't have the loop design of a classic resistance band, making them slightly harder to hold.