The 7 Best Resistance Bands for Seniors, According to Personal Trainers (2024)

Resistance bands provide a low-impact, strength-building exercise for anyone at any age, and seniors are no different. Choosing the right band can help you maintain and even build muscle as well as provide a portable, convenient way to work out.

How do you know which band is right for you? We’ve compiled a list of the best resistance bands for seniors, taking into account factors like resistance profile, comfort, convenience, and price point.

Your Trusted Home-Gym Champs

When searching for home gym equipment like resistance bands, have you ever read the marketing jargon and felt confused by what you read? Seriously, it’s not always easy to determine what’s actually worth a buy and what’s not. Sometimes they all end up seeming the same! 

In those moments, you need someone you can trust to cut through the fluff, and that’s where the GGR team comes in. Our expert testers, which include certified personal trainers, CrossFit-L1 trainers, competitive athletes, and more, have tried out differently priced bands, different types of bands, the best bands on Amazon, and bands made with different materials. We’ve literally put the stretch to the test to see how well they perform and who would benefit from them the most. 

So when you need to know what’s the best, approach the ones who’ve done the “best of” test. 

The 7 Best Resistance Bands for Seniors

• Best Overall: GoFit ProGym Workout Kit
• Best Portable Resistance Bands: Bodylastics Resistance Bands Set 
• Best Budget Resistance Bands for Seniors: Renoj Resistance Bands
• Best Mini-Loop Bands: Gritin Bands
• Best Tube Bands for Seniors: Rogue Tube Bands (Complete Package)
• Best Resistance Bands with Handles: Eilison Resistance Band Kit
• Best Non-Latex Bands: Fringe Sport Latex-Free Strength Bands

Best Overall: GoFit ProGym Workout Kit

Good for: Trainees with limited space in their home gym who still want multiple resistance options to achieve a worthwhile workout. 

Best Overall Resistance Band

GoFit ProGym Extreme Workout Kit

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Comes with four different resistance bands
• 20, 30, 40, and 50 pounds of tension
• Included carrying case, exercise booklet, handles, ankle straps, and door anchors

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Portable and comes with a carrying case
• Comfortable handles
• Door anchors are included

Cons

• Only goes up to 50 pounds of resistance
• Almost $70 for only 4 resistance bands

Bottom Line

This is a good kit if you're someone limited on space. It has the capacity to provide a decent workout at home due to the door anchors, workout book, and multiple resistance bands.

If you’re new to using resistance bands, purchasing a kit might be a good idea. This one comes with pretty much everything you’d need to begin your new exercise routine. 

To give you an idea, the package has four tube bands between 20 and 50 pounds, which provides you with a total of 140 pounds of resistance. You’ll find these especially beneficial if you’re looking to do some upper-body exercises that require the use of your hands, like biceps curls. This kit conveniently includes two comfortable rubber grip handles that you can easily attach to the band of your choice. You can do lower-body exercises, too, thanks to the two padded ankle straps. 

As if that wasn’t enough, this kit also includes wide door anchors. These allow you to implement various exercises into your routine, such as lateral leg lifts, triceps extensions, and seated chest presses. For even more workout options, you can refer to the exercise guide that comes along with the kit. 

We like that this set comes with a carrying bag and is only 3.65 pounds, making it super portable in case you need it while on the go. It’s neat, too, that each tube has a cord coil inside of it to reduce the likelihood of it snapping, as no one wants to experience that. 

For almost $70, you’ll be able to kick off your resistance training routine with a kit that’s been sold by retailers for over 10 years. We should note, though, that the resistance levels start at 20 pounds, which may be too advanced for some users. Also, the price for four bands is a bit steep compared to other budget options.

Best Portable Resistance Bands: Bodylastics Resistance Bands Set 

Good for: Individuals wanting a well-designed, high-quality, and stackable resistance band set.

Best Portable Resistance Bands

Bodylastics MAX Tension Resistance Bands

GGR Score: 4.3

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Product Highlights

• 3 options for exercise kits
• Anti-snap construction
• Comes with travel bag and workout instructions
• Stackable for increased resistance

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Priced affordably
• Options to buy 5, 6, or 7 bands
• Snap-reduction design
• Commercial-grade handles
• Stackable for more resistance

Cons

• No covering on the tubes
• Ankle straps may not be the most durable
• Uses latex, which may trigger some allergies

Bottom Line

The Bodylastics Resistance Band Set is a great option for those looking for portable, affordable resistance bands that can be stacked for increased weight.

If you’re interested in stackable bands that are easy to use, say hello to these tube bands provided by Bodylastics. This set comes with five resistance bands that range in tension between 3 and 19 pounds. Individually, some of those resistance bands might seem extra light, but if you combine all of them, you’ll get a total of 96 pounds. 

Depending on your fitness level, this will be just enough resistance for some people, but it might not even scratch the surface for others. If it’s not enough for you, other sets by Bodylastics have additional bands and greater resistance levels. 

In terms of quality, these bands are pretty well-made. Our testers used Bodylastics for a variety of exercises and found they performed well. The bands have undergone a continuous dip process to ensure you get a lot of use out of them and experience just the right amount of stretch. Plus, they’re created with high-quality Malaysian latex that’s claimed to have 100% stretch memory. Therefore, they should still return to their original size even if you stretch them out a lot. 

Bodylastics also prioritizes safety, which is demonstrated by their design. They’ve created and implemented their very own patented inner cord system, so if the cord snaps, it is supposed to shorten instead of loosely flying back at you. Another step they’ve taken is creating their own carabiner clip design. Their patented design stops the clip from hanging upside down, which typically happens with other bands. 

If you order these resistance bands, you’ll also receive a door anchor, tote, two handles, and two ankle straps. For $50, we’d say this set brings very good value. One improvement we would like to see is if there were a protective sleeve cover on the bands.

Best Budget Resistance Bands for Seniors: Renoj Resistance Bands

Good for: Trainees desiring an ultra-affordable resistance band kit. 

Best Budget Resistance Bands for Seniors

RenoJ Resistance Bands

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Affordable, versatile and durable
• 5 natural latex bands and a carrying case
• Comes with door anchor, ankle straps and foam handles
• Stack for up to 100 pounds of resistance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• High-quality for low price
• Bands are easily stackable to add resistance up to 100 pounds
• Carabiner system allows for a multitude of exercises
• Included door anchor and foam handles provide additional exercise possibilities
• Carrying bag included for easy portability
• Free shipping for Amazon Prime members

Cons

• Ankle straps come off easily when in use
• Carrying bag is too small for bands and accessories

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to add an inexpensive resistance band set to your home gym, look no further than the RenoJ Resistance Band. The set’s affordability, versatility and included extra options make them the best affordable resistance band set that we tested.

Adding resistance bands to your workout routine doesn’t have to be an expensive thing, and it’s certainly possible to score some under $25. Such is the case with the Renoj set, which comes with five different resistance bands and everything else you need to get started. 

These natural latex bands range between 10 and 30 pounds of tension and can be stacked to achieve up to 100 pounds of resistance. So whether you’re on the cautious side and want to keep it light or are comfortable packing on the weight, you’ll find that there’s something for most fitness levels. 

The handles, ankle straps, and a door anchor that come with this affordable kit give you plenty of home workout options. In addition, they’re versatile, allowing you to improve your range of motion and increase your body strength. 

We did find one issue with this affordable kit, though. The ankle straps don’t have the best Velcro, which makes lower-body exercises a little more challenging. Kate Meier, a certified personal trainer and the head of content at GGR, tried them out and experienced the Velcro unfastening. In addition, although this set is portable, the carrying case is small. If you buy this, you can’t really fit everything in there, so you might need to find something else to put your items in. 

Best Mini-Loop Bands: Gritin Bands

Good for: Individuals looking for incredibly portable and versatile, budget-friendly bands.

Best Mini-Loop Bands

Grintin Bands

GGR Score: 4.3

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Product Highlights

• Affordable at under $10
• 5 color-coded options
• Resistance clearly marked
• Lightweight and portable

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Budget friendly at under $15
• Good for beginners
• Come with small carrying bag
• Compact and easy to store

Cons

• Limited movement options due to them being loop resistance bands
• Not suitable for more advanced strength training
• Don’t feel particularly durable

Bottom Line

This resistance band set is a cheap, low-stakes option to add to your home gym.

If you’re looking for beginner-friendly lightweight bands that are great for working out the legs, glutes, and hips, these mini-loop bands are a great choice. They’re incredibly easy to use and mostly hassle-free. For instance, unlike other options where you have to attach handles or ankle straps on the end of the bands, you don’t have to do that here. Instead, you can literally open the package, choose whichever resistance level is best for you, and start doing squats. 

These five bands are color-coded and have the resistance label clearly marked. Therefore, you’ll be able to easily spot which one is light, extra heavy, and everything in between. However, the resistance level isn’t marked in weight, which might be problematic for some. While the instruction manual that comes with the kit does indicate the approximate weight of each band, it might be annoying having to constantly refer to it. 

Each band is made of non-toxic latex material that shouldn’t irritate your skin unless you have a latex allergy. However, they do have that harsh latex smell that many people can’t stand. If you can get past the scent, though, you’ll be able to use these elastic bands to do a number of exercises. 

Mini-loop bands can be fitting for injury rehabilitation training, such as physical therapy, and could even be used for high-intensity muscle training. 

For less than $10 on Amazon, you get a set of mini-loop bands that’ll let you target multiple muscle groups. They’re small enough to fit one or two in your pocket, but they do come with a convenient carrying case. The instruction manual even shares a handful of resistance band workouts you can also try. So for the price, versatility, and portability, these are a good buy. 

Best Tube Bands for Seniors: Rogue Tube Bands (Complete Package)

Good for: Trainees who want well-constructed, durable resistance bands without the extras.

Best Tube Bands for Seniors

Rogue Tube Resistance Bands

GGR Score: 4.6

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Product Highlights

• Made extremely well
• Option to purchase just one or in a set
• Comfortable handles
• Color-coded

Pros & Cons

Pros

• High quality handles with textured grip
• Well-made bands
• Fairly portable

Cons

• Resistance tension isn’t printed on the tube bands
• Sometimes squeak while in use
• On the shorter side

Bottom Line

If you're looking for tube resistance bands with handles, these are easily the highest quality. The grips on the handles are a nice touch that similar tube bands don't always have.

Many resistance bands have handles that you must manually attach at the end of the band. However, such is not the case with these. Instead, the Rogue Tube Bands have been designed to include permanent textured grip handles on both ends. The handles, which are 5 inches long and a quarter-inch thick, are very comfortable to use. In addition, they don’t make your palms sweaty like some others might, so you can complete your reps without feeling like your hands are slipping. 

In total, there are six color-coded tube bands that are 65 inches long if you include the handles. Of that, 48 inches is durable elastic that delivers greater resistance the more they’re stretched. Although that may seem like plenty, we still consider it a little on the shorter side and would’ve liked it if they were a bit longer. 

The bands’ resistance levels fall between 10 and 60 pounds, which is a decent range. So you could use these to do a mix of strength and mobility training workouts like bent-over rows, lateral raises, shoulder presses, and more. When our testers tried them out, they were pleased to note that they performed very well. They’re durable, comfortable, and should last a long time, but a few tweaks would’ve made them even better. 

For one, the amount of tension isn’t printed on the bands, so you’ll have to rely on the thickness of each band. Bands with greater tension tend to be thicker, while those with less tension are thinner. Nonetheless, it would be easier if they were labeled. Secondly, the bands squeak when you use them, which is a little annoying. 

Lastly, you might have some sticker shock: These bands are $75, and nothing extra comes with them. 

Best Resistance Bands With Handles: Eilison Resistance Band Kit

Good for: Beginner trainees under 5-foot-7 who need resistance bands for physical therapy or strengthening. 

Best Resistance Bands With Handles

EILISON Resistance Band Kit

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• 6 resistance bands varying in tension from 10-60 lbs.
• Brightly colored nylon sleeved bands
• Come with a traveling case for easy storage
• Included workout page

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Options for 10-60 lbs of resistance in one kit
• Nylon cover doesn’t give off the traditional rubber resistance band smell
• Comes with a convenient carrying case to take them with you
• Comes with sheet of workout ideas for the resistance bands

Cons

• Not long enough for taller folks (5’9” or over) doing anything overhead
• Resistance is sub-par
• Attached metal clips are flimsy

Bottom Line

The EILISON Resistance Band Kit is a good option for beginners or people under 5'9" in height.

If you’re looking for the type of resistance bands that pack a lot of combined tension, these are them. In this kit, you’ll get six resistance bands that range between 10 and 60 pounds. So in total, you’re getting 210 pounds of tension, which is more than many other sets. 

In addition to the bands, you’ll also receive foam handles, ankle straps, and door anchors to take your workout up a notch. Those items, combined with the multiple tension levels, provide you with much variety. So if you’re a beginner who feels completely unsure of what to do, this would be a good set for you. The brand provides a workout guidebook with a number of resistance exercises you could try out. 

We also love the nylon protective sleeves. This not only protects you if the band pops but also protects the integrity of the band. This is often overlooked, but if they’re exposed to rough surfaces and other elements, they’ll get damaged. Therefore, the addition of protective sleeves should help these last a bit longer. 

One downside we discovered during testing is that the sleeve does restrict your ability to stretch the band fully. So if you’re tall, this could be extremely limiting. However, if you’re on the shorter side (5-foot-7 or less), these bands should work for you just fine. 

Something that the Eilison brand definitely got right is conveniently adding the weight of the bands on the handles. When you’re working out, you shouldn’t have to guess which band has what tension level. 

While these are not the most durable bands in the world, and the foam handles might tear, this portable set is very valuable. For less than $45, I’d say it’s money well spent. 

Best Non-Latex Bands: Fringe Sport Latex-Free Strength Bands

Good for: Trainees who have a latex allergy and need an alternative. 

Best Non-Latex Bands

Fringe Sports Latex-Free Strength Bands

GGR Score: 4.0

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Product Highlights

• No latex
• Made from medical-grade rubber
• 6 different resistance levels
• Purchased individually or in sets

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Made from latex-free, medical-grade rubber
• Six resistance levels for fine-tuning workouts
• Available to purchase a single bands or in various sets
• One year warranty and free shipping
• Fringe’s website offers movement recommendations for each band

Cons

• Expensive, but could be worth it if they are used frequently
• No carrying case provided

Bottom Line

Although fairly expensive, these resistance bands are durable. Also, they are latex-free, making them a great option for those with latex allergies and/or sensitivities.

If you have a latex allergy, does that mean bands aren’t an option for you? Not at all. Fringe Sport developed rubber bands instead, so you don’t have to worry about having an allergic reaction while working out. 

This set comes with six bands spanning about 20 pounds of tension to 175 pounds, which is quite a range. However, during our testing, we discovered that these are incredibly versatile, allowing trainees at every level to use them to complete a full-body workout. For example, if you’re new to working out, you could use these to introduce yourself to strength training exercises. However, if you’re up for the challenge, use them to do assisted pull-ups or some other advanced bodyweight exercises. The Fringe Sport website also provides some movement recommendations to give you some ideas. 

The bands come in different colors and all have the brand name printed in big, bold letters. You’ll also see text that says “latex-free,” which is convenient for those who might be unsure. But I think the text could’ve been smaller, and that area should’ve been utilized to tell trainees the actual resistance level. The thickness of the band can help you determine if it’s light or heavy, yet it would help if you didn’t have to rely on that—especially when you’re paying $190 for six of these. Fortunately, if you don’t want the entire set, you can get individual ones. 

Although these are pretty pricey, they come with a one-year warranty and free shipping. The warranty is a good sign that the brand believes in its product and that it’s well-constructed. 

Other Resistance Bands We Have Used and Researched

Rogue Monster Bands: These bands are very durable, great to use on the go, and allow you to do everything from light stretching to speed training. However, they have a powerful latex smell and leave a powdery residue when you use them. 

Crossover Symmetry Shoulder System: They’re great bands for shoulder injuries and rehabilitation purposes, but not ideal for completing other exercises. The system is also pretty expensive; we love this kit for many reasons, but don’t feel it’s best for seniors.

Gorilla Bow: This is an incredibly innovative and high-quality system offering up to 300 pounds of resistance. Trainees could complete a full-body workout with this set, but it’s not beginner-friendly and is best suited for more advanced trainees. 

Titan Fitness Loop Resistance Bands: These loop bands are thick, durable, and great for the glutes, but not so great for exercising other body parts. The strong latex smell can also be a turnoff.

How We Picked the Best Resistance Bands for Seniors

There are hundreds of resistance band sets out there, but many of them don’t particularly cater to older adults. So when we evaluated some of the most popular bands on the market, we didn’t just look for price, durability, and value, we also paid close attention to their usability, such as whether or not they’re easy to grip or simple to use. 

Outside of researching which ones are best, we also have put many of these to the test. What better way to know which ones work than have people try them out? Kate Meier, head of content and certified personal trainer, used many of these bands with her 65 and older clientele. As a result, she was able to observe and hear honest feedback, which helped us pick which ones deserved a spot on our “best resistance bands for seniors” list. 

Benefits of Resistance Bands

Whether you’re new to working out or an advanced athlete, resistance bands have something to offer everybody. Here are a few reasons why you should add these bands to your home workout regimen. 

Affordability 

If you compare the best kettlebells to the best resistance bands, one big difference you’ll notice right away is the price. The same is true if you compare the price of bands to barbells and dumbbells. Resistance bands are some of the most affordable pieces of fitness equipment you’ll find. You could find a pack of multiple bands for under $10, but a kettlebell alone will cost you at least $20 or more. 

Portability 

If you’re a frequent traveler and want something you can take with you, bands are a great choice. They could pack a hundred pounds of tension and still weigh less than or as much as a candy bar. That’s just not something you’ll find with other equipment. 

Versatility 

Elastic bands can be moved in many different ways. You can push them, pull them, and so much more. 

User-friendly

Resistance bands are a good choice for older adults who don’t want something super technical. While some work better with door anchors and handles, many don’t require any of that. Most are ready to use upon arrival and have no assembly process. 

A Safer Choice

Free weights are a great way to build muscle mass, but they’re a little less safe. Dropping one could be dangerous, and misusing them could lead to muscle strain. Resistance bands aren’t 100% safe either, but they’re a safer and more efficient option for building muscle for beginners or older adults compared to others. 

What to Look for in Resistance Bands

Since resistance bands are less pricey than some other types of equipment, it’s easy to assume that you shouldn’t have to put much thought into them. However, buying bands should be given the same amount of attention as buying any other item you’d purchase for your home gym. Here’s what you should keep in mind. 

Band Style

One of the most overlooked factors when selecting resistance bands is recognizing that there are different styles. This is important because some types cater to certain exercises better. For instance, loop bands are suitable for working your hamstrings, while tube bands are better for upper-body workouts. There are mini-bands, figure-8 bands, and rehabilitation bands, too. 

Material Matters

The majority of resistance bands are made of latex, which would be problematic for someone with an allergy. Therefore, if you and latex don’t go well together, look for bands that are made of rubber instead. In addition, the quality of the material matters, too. Cheaply-constructed bands tend to snap and roll up, which isn’t ideal. 

The Resistance Level

Before you buy resistance bands, it’s important to be realistic about your current fitness level and what you plan to do with them. These things might be small, but some of them carry a lot of tension. For instance, imagine needing resistance bands for rehabilitation purposes and then discovering that the one you bought has 70 pounds of tension! 

FAQs About Resistance Bands for Seniors

Jessica Thomas

Jessica is a public health professional, health & wellness writer, and entrepreneur. She enjoys learning about and educating others on healthy living and helping business owners achieve more while doing less.

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