Customer Reviews

Bodylastics 24-Piece Mega-Resistance Quick-Clip Resistance Band System with 7 DVDs

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I m a bodybuilder and here is my feedback;

Great, superior quality, sufficint for extreme heavey workout on the go, with an excellant training guide whether you are beginner or a pro.


The 2 door anchors need rings at the end to enable easy use of the multiple bands, I used 2 of the 4 ankle straps with the door anchors instead to have a ring in both sides.

The storage/travel bag looks good but if it was customized with separator for each band color and the handles, straps and the anchors it will be super. because I have to get every thing out of it to pick what I want to use.

My openion; it is the best strength bands system I ever seen and the comment above is for perfection.

I've recently started working on getting myself back into shape after about 10 years of inactivity and poor eating choices. My background is in competitive combat sports, and I was once quite fit.

I spent a lot of time researching a low cost set of equipment to add to my home based fitness routine. I narrowed it down to the Tower 200, and X-Factor door gyms, for strength and toning. Then I saw Bodylastics, and decided to check them out too, and I'm glad I did. I got a chance to try out each set of equipment, and was impressed with all of them. Each one will leave you sweating, and are more than capable of producing results, but Bodylastics definitely had some advantages over the others.

1. Versatility- You can use this set with your door, but unlike the others you aren't anchored to it. You can use them without a door, attach them to a fence post, hand rail, tree, or virtually any stationary object that isn't going to move (that you can find a way to attach it to).

2. More variations on resistance- You can combine the bands in any combination to get the desired resistance. You can also configure them in multiple ways, loop them to one handle for each anchor, clip them full length using an ankle strap attached to an anchor, use the straps as handles for some types of motions, or no handle at all. There is also a lot more resistance with this system, as well as ways to vary the resistance.

3. More suitable for travel- You can use these things anywhere, door or no door. The whole set fits in it's own bag at around 10lbs.

Also, do some research on the product, and you will see that when they first hit the market, all the body builders said they were a joke, now, years later those same guys have added them to their own routines. Check out Muscle and Fitness, they have a section on them now too. Every disbeliever I let try them out, has gone and ordered their own set too, and most of them are already in great shape.

UPDATE:

I just ordered a second set after several bands got wet and started to erode as they were being stored over several months. They do have a great warranty, but this was user error on my part, and I wanted another set anyways.

My background with this product.

I lost 50 lbs in 4 months using a combination of these bands (3 days a week), an online calorie tracker, and cardio in the form of heavy bag or walk/jog depending on the weather (I also used a Polar heart rate monitor). I ended up out of the loop with a non workout related injury, and have slacked off for months now, but I will be starting up again soon full force.

Like with any piece of equipment, you get out of it what you put into it. Your results will depend on the intensity you attack it with, and the type of program you follow according to your fitness level.

And to be blunt here......

If you are fat, obese, or morbidly obese, this is a product that is going to work for you without the problems and awkwardness of trying to use equipment that is designed to accommodate average sized people, which covers most of what is on the market. Because of the versatility, you will be able to use these bands in a way that is comfortable for your size and shape, but is still highly effective. You can even effectively use these in several creative ways while sitting in a chair, or laying down.

Needless to say, I am still a big fan of Bodylastics. They didn't pay me to say that either. I'm just like everyone else here, I just stumbled upon them and have been impressed enough with them to write a review.

BTW, do some research and you will find out that the resistance getting heavier as the band stretches is actually a good thing.

I bought these for use with P90X. I was highly skeptical they would do anything. I've been going to a gym for about 10 years now, and have played around with the bands they have. They were garbage. These are definitely not. Probably the best home equipment I have ever bought. They do take some getting used to, and some exercises are better than others, but overall they are awesome. I think they are worth it simply because of how well they simulate a pulldown machine, allowing you to do lat pulldowns and triceps pushdowns without having a huge machine in your house. Plus, I travel a lot for work and these can be brought with me. A major plus. Highly recommended!

I had originally bought the max tension set and loved it so much that I also recently purchased the Super Strong Man (T.O. Edition). Those combined sets actually give you all the components of the Family edition (aka Muscle and Fitness Strength Bands). The only difference is that I have an extra set of handles, ankle straps and 2 extra door anchors (all nice to have :)).

This review is very much based on the original review I did for the max tension sets (and Super Strong Man sets as well) because aside from the additional resistance and accessories, the concepts behind the review are the same.

I have been using elastic resistance tubing for over 20 years. In fact I bought the first Body Shaper band back when multiple Ms. Olympia winner Cory Everson introduced them. I wanted to use it for traveling when a gym wouldn't be available since missing a workout wasn't an option for me!

Things have come a long long way since then and Bodylastics is a great example of the highest level of evolution of this modality!

As a certified personal trainer I do In-Home training exclusively and the primary form of resistance training I use with my clients is elastic resistance. I use it not only due to the portability of the equipment but because I also feel it is a superior training modality on many levels.

I use a wide variety of elastics in my training, from Slastix covered tubing, uncovered (aka "Naked") tubing for other applications, and mini-bands which are generally placed above the knees for a variety of hip work.

My clients get a great workout with this equipment, and since we do a lot of work from a standing, "ground based" position they build tremendous integrated strength from their feet upwards!

I also use uncovered elastic resistance for my Boot Camp classes along with the mini-bands and I've seen my boot campers get considerably stronger using this training modality plus they love it!

Bottom line, elastic resistance training works!

For my own personal workouts I also do the majority of my training at home also using elastic resistance. Prior to ordering the Bodylastics set I already had several types of elastic based equipment such as a Powerbase unit, a collection of Lifeline products (both the TNT system as well as some single handles, along with and a wide variety of their 5 foot tubing), and various single bands from different companies.

Lifeline makes extremely high quality products and the TNT handles allow you to vary the resistance by combining up to 3 resistance cables at one time. The only negative is that with the heavier cables it can be extremely difficult to either remove or replace them on the handles. This makes changing resistance fairly difficult. This is not a problem with the lighter cables though which are very easy to substitute as needed. In spite of this issue with the heavier cables the Lifeline products are extremely high quality and I can't say enough good things about them from that standpoint!

After purchasing and enjoying working with those two very high quality resistance cable systems I didn't think I would have considered adding more elastic tubing based products.

However after seeing more and more about Bodylastics on the web, my curiosity finally got the best of me and after much research, including reading countless positive reviews, I originally purchased the Bodylastics Max Tension System and as mentioned above also added the Super Strong Man Edition (the combination of which is basically the family edition (formerly known as the "Muscle and Fitness Strength Band System) plus a few extra accessories.

I have to definitely say that the Bodylastics system has really lived up to my expectations. The elastic tubing is made of extremely high quality materials and are very smooth through the range of motion. The metal Carabiner Clips make it easy to add and subtract tubing from the various handles for quick changes of resistance.

The attachments are very well made and are quite substantial. In fact the ankle straps are light years better compared to those that came with my powerbase unit.
In fact they are "gym quality"!

The door anchor is the best I've seen (in fact that is one area of weakness for lifeline, the door anchors are very small and I won't use them) and I love that the max tension set comes with two anchors so you can have one high and one low at the same time for faster transitions.

This set also provides more resistance than I can ever imagine any one person ever needing. In fact if you split the set between two people at a time I'd be surprised if they'd ever find they are wanting for more.

One particularly interesting and common concern I've seen folks make regarding elastic tubing based resistance systems is that they can't load as much for horizontal pushing movements (such as chest presses). This is based on the fact that they can't go beyond a certain level of tension or else they get pulled back towards the door. However to me, this is a positive rather than a negative.

You get a higher degree of functional benefit from having to stabilize from your feet upwards rather than lying on a bench. This means that your entire core is engaged (and by core I mean from the hips up to the shoulders, front, back and sides). Personally I prefer to work primarily from a standing, "ground based" position because I like engaging my entire kinetic chain when I train.


In fact this is called "Stabilization Limited Training" (SLT) because one can only use as much loading as one can stabilize compared to having an external support. This is a clear embodiment of the idea of "being only as strong as your weakest link".

In day to day life or even high level athletics, there are rarely situations where you will need to move a substantial load while lying on your back. Life is lived on our feet from a standing position, so it makes the most sense to train in a way that enhances the way we actually function.

Now certainly if one is a bodybuilder or a football lineman who needs to focus on maximum hypertrophy in their upper body then of course they will be limited trying to push maximal loads from a standing position and will most definitely need to spend a lot of time doing more traditional bench pressing.

Likewise if one wants maximal loading for their legs they will most likely need to use heavy squats, leg presses and the like using free weights and various machines.

Ideally I would recommend that even those folks use both types of modalities. The Bodylastics system would be a great option for performing SLT type of training in order to work their body in a more integrated fashion. This will also help them, as J.C. Santana says "Put some hustle behind the muscle".

This would be especially important for a Football player who can do explosive combination movements such as explosive forward lunging (or stepping) while pressing with high intensity. Also since the elastic resistance is "reactive", it provides an intense deceleration/eccentric component which must be able to control from a standing, integrated position. This mimics the actual sport specific activity much more than lying on a bench and will help one learn to take the strength they developed from the heavy bench pressing and apply it in a manner more functional to their sport.

However, for people whose primary goal is to get super fit, build a high level of functional, useable strength, as well as the development of lean body tissue, SLT training using the Bodylastics system can be used almost exclusively.

While I personally also enjoy going to the gym several times a month and doing more externally supported training, I use that type of training to supplement my elastic resistance work rather than the other way around. If I had to choose one over the other from a pure integrated fitness perspective the bands would win hands down!

Comparing the various elastic equipment I have available, I would definitely have to say that if I was forced to choose between my Powerbase, Lifeline or Bodylastics equipment I would definitely choose the Bodylastics because of its versatility in terms of ease of use and equal quality.

In fact, I love the Bodylastics equipment set so much I purchased a Max Tension set as a gift for one of my brothers who is now involved in a regular fitness regime so he can have a set to use at his home and/or office.

I just wanted to mention one important point regarding using elastic resistance safely and effectively.

If you are using any form of elastic resistance you want to start the movement just about where you have some tension in the band or perhaps a bit further. But you don't want to overstretch the band at the start of the movement.

If you need more tension it is very important to either use a heavier band or add more bands into the equation (as you can w/ a system like Bodylastics).

Not only does starting in an overstretched position put the band's integrity at risk but you also change the way the resistance of the band will create torque during the movement which will be less than optimal and may create a loading situation that can put unfavorable stresses on your body. The new Bodylastics sets have something called the DGS (Distance Governor Safety) system which is supposed to prevent the cables from overstretching. It is basically some type of very strong rope-like material in the core of the tubing that will stop the tubing at a certain distance.

This is not only an excellent safety feature, but it shows the commitment of Bodylastics to continue to improve the quality and safety of their products (and they did this without increasing the cost of the sets).

Strength bands work best with overhead presses, chest presses, chest flys, squats, deadlifts and bicep and tricep work. I tried working out my back with resistance bands and it just doesn't work because the resistance is not even (moreso for rows than lat pulldowns). The resistance will always be the hardest at the end of the repetition because you are stretching out the band, with that said the resistance is not even throughout the entire range of motion but it is close. Resistance bands are not as smooth as the cable pulleys in most gyms, but for the low price, bands mimic cable pulleys pretty well while giving most of the benifits of cable pulleys for 1/10th of the price. If you are strong you will shred the foam off the handles within 1 year (with heavy use). And be sure to check your bands every workout or so because if they begin to shred and you don't replace them with new ones they could break leaving a very nasty injury.

It should be known that I am a workout partner at [...] and by using workouts exclusive to bodylastics resistance bands I have gone from 200lbs and a 42 inch waist to 200lbs and a 35 inch waist. I'm extremely loyal to this product because it works. By using it nearly daily since last August and some before my wedding a couple years ago. I've seen tremenedous muscle growth and fitness improvement. I've also seen the improvements my fellow workout partners at [...] who are not fictious have made and the pictures are not made up or airbrushed.

All the bands I've had from this company have never snapped, failed or weakened. My original set is over 3 years old and is just as strong today as it was 3 years ago(I've used them a ton). The new set has bigger clips, reinforcement around the clip, larger door anchors and anklestraps. The new duffle bag is just the right size to fit in an old system and new system in it and a vast improvement over the old one. The new ankle straps are light years ahead of the old ones because of the extra width and padding. The ability to run them through the new door anchors to allow works outs with full length bands adds even more versatility to system. The door anchors are way better.

These bands really shine in working the lower body, abs, shoulders, arms, chest and back when used properly. If you are having trouble call them and they will get you straightened out.

There are some side effects that should be considered though.

Waist shrinkage has resulted in me having to buy new pants and use belts to hold up my pants. Arm growth has resulted in compliments from admirers and tight sleeves on shirts. Chest and Back growth has resulted in an increase from L to XL. Though an L feels really nice. Leg Growth has resulted in more tightness in the legs portion of pants. I used to be the skinny guy bodylastics have made me huge. I would attribute over 40lbs of muscle growth in my 3 years of using these(which is around the natural average for free weights) I have had zero injuries and even strengthened delicate place like my lower back.

Some pitfalls to avoid:
Squats using these require proper form make sure you arms are postioned correctly.
Effort matters most when building strength so be focused. Don't worry too much about rep range maximal effort leads to maximal growth. This means going to failure.
You must do real workouts to get real results. A 10-minute session once a week will do nothing at least three sessions of training around 35 minutes a week is required. I workout 4-6 times a week. The 6 times a week when I feel strong the 4 times a week when I need more rest.

These things work and my body is proof of that, but I'm by no means finished. Whatever you decide do everybody a favor and get off the couch and get moving. I will be using bodylastics as long as I'm living. I'm a customer that is truly happy. This company is a wonderful example of the American dream and what is right in our country.

I've had these bands for a few months now, but I've only been using them for about a month.

Originally I bought them because I was going to use them with the P90X system, however after I previewed the P90X system I knew that I could never keep up.

So they sat around for a few months and I hit a high-point about my weight. I got fed-up with my body and thought to myself, "Those stupid funny looking bands came with a few DVDs. Maybe I can handle that".

I took out and opened all of the items in the duffel bag and I saw one *bonus* DVD had [...] printed on it.

I didn't even put in the DVDs. I immediately went to the site and saw what it was all about.

This was the day that changed my life. They had so many free live shows (with all of the archives saved) I didn't know where to begin. So I posted a few questions on the forums and got some good feedback.

The shows and the information on the forums at [...] is really impressive. This is what made this purchase well worth it. I changed my diet based on information that I found on there and I have been following two shows. The kickboxing workout as well as the chiseled show.

In a month I lost 9 pounds and already feeling so much better about myself. I have more energy and I can feel my clothes becoming looser.

In my opinion, this is what separates this system from the rest. It makes the price of these bands meaningless. With [...] you can seriously drop your gym membership. That website is awesome. I love following along with the shows. What I love is the ability to play it on my iPhone or iPad because their site works with iOS. You can also rewind and pause just like a DVR. It's perfect. I pause and rewind all the time to be sure I'm getting the exercises right.

I wish I had bought these bands years ago. I'd already be in shape if that was the case. But I'll get there. I'm determined!

Whether you are going through the rigors of the P90X work-outs, looking to lift or pull at your own pace, looking to augment any other work-out approach, this Strength Bands System by Bodylastics is amazing and easy to use. This particular set allows for couples to use at the same time and allows for somebody to have multiple bands set up prior or on the fly.

I'm using them with P90X. I made the mistake of buy other bands that are basically permanent in their weight. With this Strength Bands System by Bodylastics, I have extremely sturdy and versatile bands. And this particular array of bands makes it easy to have two different strength bands ready to go without changing a thing. Even if I had to change the strength, the ease at which makes them easy to buy these cords.

One of the best thing about the Strength Bands System by Bodylastics, it allows you to attach multiple bands to one set of handles. So, unlike other systems where you have to hold multiple cords with multiple handles to increase the weight/strength, Strength Bands System by Bodylastics allows you to attach multiple bands/cords to one handle.

Lastly, the quality of these cords over those that I bought and sampled at Fitness Outlets is like night and day. While the reputable name bands are well-made and perform as they claim, the Strength Bands System by Bodylastics out-perform these other brands in every category you can think of.

With Strength Bands System by Bodylastics, there are different sets or packages. This particular set I believe is the high-end (which means it doesn't differ in quality but in quantity and multiples). So look for the right set for you and remember, as you go from set-to-set, each colored band or cord is of the same high quality and versatility.

I love these bands. This set came with a gym/travel bag. I can't wait to take them w/me on a trip. One just has to carry around about 4lbs of bands and such to get the equivalent weight of a set of dumbbells.

These resistance bands are great! I purchased the 24 piece set for myself, and then ordered a smaller set for my dad so that he can get in better shape.

The quick clip system makes it really easy to change the bands. I have used some of the other resistance bands out there, and it is a real pain to change handles for different weights.

The bag for the 24 piece set is the perfect size to hold all of the bands. The nice part about the 24 piece set is that you can work out with someone else. There are plenty of bands available.

I have not worked out with the online videos yet, but I have viewed them. This looks like a great asset. I find it hard to get motivated by just doing a workout. If I have something to watch and exercise with, I will actually stay committed. I believe that this is why P90X is so successful. The live exercise website looks like it will help keep me motivated...once I get started.

I'm currently living in a cramped space where I can't practically have weights.

This Bodylastics set is awesome, particularly the DVD to give newbies some instruction as to how to use the darn things.

And, oy vey, I'm sore.

(As far as Amazon user xvaesthirxv, I think he's become utterly paranoid that Bodylastics had created a bunch of bogus reviews.)

Addendum: My only problem with the bundle is that Blake Kassel on the companion "Chiseled" DVD set does the exercises and changes the bands too quickly...So there's a lot of rewinding on my part, which is a PITA on a PS3.

I do have to laugh every time Blake Kassel says "Stand by," because that's what the little kid in "Howl's Moving Castle" says every time he answers the door.