Resistance bands - what strength(s) to get?

[stingo]

As the subject indicates, I'm interested in picking up some resistance bands, but I'm not sure what size/strength to get. I'd be using them for Ross-style bodyweight routines. I'd imagine getting an entire set in one go would be cheaper, but I don't have the budget for it right now. Any ideas welcome. Thanks in advance for replies.

[TheFitOne]

I have a set of these

TNT Cable System

[Biskit]

Tom,

These are what I just ordered per my PT. I got the average flex band and the light flex band. Good luck.

Deb

http://www.flexcart.com/member s/elitefts/default.asp?cid=138

[stingo]

Thanks for the replies. I may try just an average one and see what it feels like, and go from there.

[LisaS]

TheFitOne - how do you like those? Do you have a way of fixing them to a rack or cage? I think I'll need something like that to sub for a horizontal pulley - and they'd be nice for Pallof Presses as well. Can you use them for x-band walks?

[RobLL]

Stingo - Dave Schmitz (Summit 2007) always returns phone calls, his prices seem very good, and he would likely be happy to give you some advice. RobLL

[kong]

Iron Woody has good prices on their assisted pull-up packages...

[Alcoholiday]

i would get minis and lights from jumpstretch. You could probably even go monster minis. Minis are good for things like pullaparts, prehab work, and for some resistance in pushups. It depends, specifically, what you're using them for in your training.

actually, you could probably get away with just 1 of each band, so i might bump it up to mini/monster mini, light and average if you have the cash.

[Lisa~]

Originally Posted by LisaS

TheFitOne - how do you like those? Do you have a way of fixing them to a rack or cage? I think I'll need something like that to sub for a horizontal pulley - and they'd be nice for Pallof Presses as well. Can you use them for x-band walks?

Lisa, I use a mini (the green) for x-band walks. I could probably side step with a monster mini (the black), but not an average. I haven't tried Pallof Presses yet!

You don't need anything special to attach them to your power rack. Just loop or choke them, according to how much resistance you need. If you need more room, you choke two bands together.

Iron Woody's has the best prices on bands. They're the same quality as the original JumpStretch bands that EliteFTS sells, but they're labeled differently. With all that said, I agree that Dave Schmitz is a great guy. Stingo you really can just call him or email him and ask your questions. He has a lot of info on his website too.

I put a bunch of band links in this thread, including Dave Schmitz's site:
alternative for wide grip lat pulldown??

[Alcoholiday]

Originally Posted by Lisa~

Lisa, I use a mini (the green) for x-band walks. I could probably side step with a monster mini (the black), but not an average. I haven't tried Pallof Presses yet!

You don't need anything special to attach them to your power rack. Just loop or choke them, according to how much resistance you need. If you need more room, you choke two bands together.

Iron Woody's has the best prices on bands. They're the same quality as the original JumpStretch bands that EliteFTS sells, but they're labeled differently. With all that said, I agree that Dave Schmitz is a great guy. Stingo you really can just call him or email him and ask your questions. He has a lot of info on his website too.

I put a bunch of band links in this thread, including Dave Schmitz's site:
alternative for wide grip lat pulldown??

that's funny. the color of my bands are different.

mini=pink
light=purple
average=green.

[Lisa~]

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

that's funny. the color of my bands are different.

mini=pink
light=purple
average=green.

That is funny. The colors vary with brands though. I know that. My green mini's and black monster mini's are from EliteFTS, but I was just looking on their site and I see the black one, but now the average is green and the mini looks kinda blue(?).

At home I've got Iron Woody bands and they're all just a natural beige color. You tell them apart by their widths. I think they're putting little rectangles of color on them now. They don't even call them mini, monster mini, etc. It's different.

I got a strong band from Dave Schmitz at the Summit and it's purple. I'm not sure what color the JumpStretch strong is.

That does make it confusing!

[Alcoholiday]

Originally Posted by Lisa~

That is funny. The colors vary with brands though. I know that. My green mini's and black monster mini's are from EliteFTS, but I was just looking on their site and I see the black one, but now the average is green and the mini looks kinda blue(?).

yea, all mine are from elitefts, but they are different colors. Not sure why, maybe different generations?

[spankdat]

LisaS, if I may interject here, as the others all seem to be referring to the 'band' form... 'cable' elastic gyms like the one that TheFitOne refers to are fantastic and very, very versatile and adaptable. The version at the link he provided allows for interchanging from one to three cables, and the cables themselves are available in different strengths. I don't believe the anchoring attachment it comes with allows for use on a cage or rack but that's an easy fix with a caribiner and a loop of strap. You also should have no problem using one of the cables for performing x-band walks.

I have been using one version or another of this type of equipment since the mid/late 70's and find it to be a very valuable and permanent addition to my equipment "toolbox". I would suggest you explore the site and watch whatever demo videos you come upon to get a better idea of application.

As an aside, and for the sake of veracity too I guess, I'll mention that back in the 70's when I was a gymnast in high school, some of us were sort of guinea pigs for testing this company's "new" piece of equipment, the elastic cable gym. The owner's kids were acquaintances, and one day Jeff showed up at practise with a few of these things, giving them to us and asking that we try them out and explore their uses and share back with whatever we discovered or learned. I've owned and used them ever since, very old hat to me and interesting to see it's emergence as a "new" method or training tool.

[spankdat]

LisaS, I forgot to provide the link for the site I was referring to in my previous post. It's Lifeline USA Functional Fitness Equipment 1.800.553.6633 . This company makes and sells the TNT Cable System that TheFitOne mentions in his post, and you'll find the video demos I suggested there.

[LisaS]

thanks.

[TheFitOne]

Originally Posted by LisaS

TheFitOne - how do you like those? Do you have a way of fixing them to a rack or cage? I think I'll need something like that to sub for a horizontal pulley - and they'd be nice for Pallof Presses as well. Can you use them for x-band walks?

I think they are superb. I use them when I am travelling away from home, which is quite often. They have a door attachment that you can use for pretty much any excercise. You could easily wrap them around a rack pillar. Excellent quaility and you get a neat little bag that you can stuff them into and then throw in the corner or suitcase.

I think with some ingenuity you could manipulate them for X-band walks.

[Cynic]

I got one of each. There is a blue, a purple and a green.

The blue is the widest, at 2 1/2 - 2 3/4" or so. It sees little use right now, except as a "rope" for neutral grip pull-ups. Fold it over twice and it doesn't stretch.

The green is the middle one. At present, no use, but I might see about using it for adding resistance to push-ups.

The purple is the thinnest and I use that for X-band walks and other hip activation work.