Resistance bands are a great option for any exerciser looking to build muscle, rehab after injury, or work on stabilisation. Compact, budget-friendly and surprisingly versatile, the best resistance bands can slot into almost any fitness routine, whether you're training at home, squeezing in a workout while travelling or adding an extra challenge to your usual gym session. Lightweight enough to throw into a gym bag, they're one of the easiest pieces of equipment to have handy.

As a personal trainer, I regularly use resistance bands in my own training and with clients. Different styles suit different goals: fabric resistance loops are great for activating muscles, improving stability and targeting the glutes, while latex versions are particularly useful for rehab exercises. Longer loop bands are ideal for stretching, warm-ups and assisted pull-ups, and resistance tubes with handles can replicate many cable machine exercises at home.

Before buying, think about how you'll use them. If your goal is to build muscle, choose a set with a range of resistance levels so you can progressively overload exercises. For rehab or mobility work, lighter latex bands are the better option, while thick fabric options (known as ‘booty bands’) offer extra grip and comfort during lower-body workouts.

I’ve spent the last few weeks testing a range of different bands in my workouts and with clients, and here’s my definitive ranking of the best resistance bands to add to your gym kit.

Read more: Best gym bags, tested by a fitness writer

The best resistance bands for 2026 are:

  • Best overall– Rep Fitness resistance bands: £14.99, Repfitness.com
  • Budget buy– Domyos fitness resistance bands three-pack: £4.99, Decathlon.co.uk
  • Best for beginners– Core Balance resistance band set: £8.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best quality– Les Mills sculpt bands: £49.99, Lesmills.com
  • Best for sculpting glutes– Freyja Fit glute resistance bands: £14.95, Freyjafit.co.uk

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  • Bestresistance bands overall
  • Why we love it- Top quality layered elastic bands
  • Come in a wide range of sizes and resistance levels

  • Comfortable to use

  • Take note- You can buy a set of five, but there’s only one set choice. Other bands need to be bought individually

These elastic resistance bands from Rep Fitness come in a range of widths and colours, starting from 3x light, offering 5-15lbs of resistance, up to X-heavy (70-175lbs).

They’re made from layered elastic and the result is a smooth, strong band that doesn’t pull or snag – a big relief to my client who complained of other bands pulling his leg hair.

The bands are sold individually or as a set of five. I like having the choice to just buy one if needed, though I’d recommend the set of five for versatility. I used the green band (40-110lbs) to help a client with her pull-ups. The support is great and the band feels solid and secure. On the other end of the scale, the yellow and red bands have been great for warm-up exercises and shoulder rehab work. The bands are comfortable in the hands and offer a range of exercise possibilities. I would have liked some more set options, but overall, for versatility, comfort, quality and value, these are my top pick.

Key specifications

  • Type:Long loop

  • Resistance options:Five

  • Bestbudget resistance bands

  • Why we love it- Come in three resistance levels
  • Super affordable

  • Great grip compared to other latex bands

  • Take note- These only offer resistance up to 7kgs so you might need stronger if you’re a regular exerciser

At less than £5 for three, these resistance bands from Domyos offer superb value for money. They’re made of latex but unlike the Core Balance bands below on my list, they’re surprisingly grippy, and stayed put nicely around the legs for floor exercises and squats.

I used them with a new client, and the lightest band offered just the right level of resistance to encourage stability in squats, whilst the medium band (6kgs) was great for doing some gentle rotator cuff stretches for an old injury I have. They take up barely any space and would easily fit into luggage for travel. While you won’t be able to replicate every exercise with these bands, you can get a good leg workout and some upper body work in. The only drawback with them is they’re not suitable for advanced exercisers wanting to build muscle as they’re not quite strong enough.

Key specifications

  • Type:Short resistance loops

  • Resistance levels:Three

  • Bestquality resistance bands

  • Why we love it- Soft fabric bands that aren’t too thick
  • Great grip

  • Versatile

  • Take note- These are one of the more expensive options I tested

I love these bands from Les Mills, and they would have been my top pick had they not been so pricey. Like other resistance band sets, these come as a trio, labelled light, medium and heavy. The exact level of resistance isn’t listed in kgs or lbs.

The bands are fabric, but compared with other fabric bands on my list, they’re far more versatile simply because they’re not as thick. I used them for squats, but also side leg lifts on the floor, glute bridges and some shoulder mobility, while that wasn’t possible with the Freyja bands below, for example.

They’re soft but strong – they grip round the legs nicely and don’t roll or slide. The quality is clear, but I wouldn't recommend them to clients as £49.99 is a lot of money for three resistance loops and, while they are good, other, more affordable bands on the market will do the same job perfectly adequately. They just might not feel as nice on the thighs.

Key specifications

  • Type: Short fabric loops

  • Resistance levels:Three

  • Bestresistance bands for sculpting glutes

  • Why we love it- Thick, wide fabric bands that don’t roll
  • Three levels of resistance

  • Great for leg and glute exercises

  • Take note- Strong levels of resistance so not suitable for beginners

If you want to work on glute strength and size, these resistance bands from Freyja fit are the ones for you. They come in a pack of three (light, medium and heavy) and are made of strong fabric. They grip the legs well and as they’re quite wide, they don’t roll or slide.

They’re ideal for leg exercises but they do offer a lot of resistance, so bear that in mind if you’re new to exercise – you might want to try some of the latex bands on this list instead.

At £14.95 for the set, these are great value for money if you’re after a set of bands specifically for your legs and glutes.

Key specifications

  • Type:Short fabric loops

  • Resistance levels:Three

  • Bestresistance bands for beginners

  • Why we love it- Five bands in a set
  • Resistance levels clearly marked

  • Great value

  • Take note- Bands will slip or roll if worn over leggings or shorts

These Core Balance resistance bands are great for anyone new to exercise. With five different levels of resistance – all clearly marked – there's lots of room for progression. Made from latex, they seem durable, but I did find they tended to roll or slip over leggings. However, they offered a great level of stability in squats and were fantastic for leg lifts and glute bridges.

I also used the lightest band with an older client for triceps and shoulder exercises as she found it kinder to her hands than gripping dumbbells. It’s a great price point for five bands, too.

Key specifications

  • Type:Short latex loops

  • Resistance levels:Five

  • Bestresistance band with handles

  • Why we love it- Flat band for great grip
  • Very comfortable handles

  • Sturdy design

  • Take note- Only one band offering mid-level resistance

Like the Les Mills sculpt bands, this smartband is pricey – especially since it is only one band offering one level of resistance. It is great quality; well-made and durable, though. The handles are comfortable and the band is flat, so it doesn’t slip.

There’s lots to love about it; I used it for a variety of exercises, including curls, woodchops and front raises. It’s also good for balance and core work. The resistance is suitable for beginners to intermediate exercisers.

I think it’s a lot to pay for one band, though, since you’ll also need to invest in other equipment for a more comprehensive workout as you progress. While I appreciate all it can do (it’s especially great for an assisted hamstring stretch), I’d have liked some more versatility for the price.

Key specifications

  • Type:Long resistance band with handles

  • Resistance levels:One

  • Bestresistance bands for squats and push-up support

  • Why we love it- Thick fabric – doesn't roll or slip
  • Comes in a range of colours

  • Great for added support in challenging moves

  • Take note- The strongest band is very strong and only suitable for seasoned exercisers

Push-ups aren’t the first thing that spring to mind when talking about resistance bands but trust me when I say they help. You simply pop one band of mid-level resistance around the arms, above the elbows, and do your push-ups. The resistance offers support in lifting your body back up from the bottom of the move. These Onyx bands have been great for just that. I found the medium one was good for my beginners whilst the lighter one helped other clients move from knees to toes.

These are thick, wide fabric bands, but they’re not as dense as the Freyja ones. I felt they gave better stability in squats as you didn’t need to fight against the resistance quite as much. That said, the strongest band is still very strong, so you need to have some good leg strength to make proper use of it. They also come in a range of pleasing pastel colours.

Key specifications

  • Type:Short fabric resistance loops

  • Resistance levels:Three

  • Bestresistance bands for pull-ups

  • Why we love it- Durable, strong bands

  • Easily paired together for differing levels of support

  • Take note- Not comfortable on the hands

If you’re looking to get your first pull-up, it’s worth investing in these bands from Mirafit. They come in a range of widths and resistance levels- though they’re simply numbered rather than having actual weights listed. I tested bands one and two. When I stretched them both across the J-hooks on a squat rack, they offered the perfect level of support for my feet so I could do several assisted pull-ups.

At home, I looped one band over my pullup bar and hooked one foot in. Again, I could rep out several pull-ups this way.

The bands are great quality and very durable. They’re also suitable for other exercises such as chest openers, but they’re not the most comfortable on the hands for extended periods of time.

Key specifications

  • Type:Long resistance loops
  • Resistance levels:Up to six (or multiple if combining bands)