Several factors must be taken into account when buying resistance tubes, the most important being their manufacturing method. As surprising as this sounds, there are huge differences between dipped and extruded bands. They make the basis of your workout, so be sure to choose the best ones.

What Are Resistance Bands?

They are dipped or extruded rubber strips of different colors and tension level made to train with and build muscles. Bands are usually color-coded and vary in forms, accessories, and their resistance levels. There are three types and they differ in shape and focus of training.

How Are They Made?

There exists two methods: dipping and extrusion. The latter, with its technical term being ‘extruded’, consists of the most common type of bands. These are single-layered, thus made of one piece molded rubber tubes. On the other hand, dipped tubes are long thin rods are dipped into a vat of latex until the thickness one is looking for is achieved.

• Continuous: The tubes, which are built of many layers and are very strong and long-lasting, are the best. Their manufacturing process is called ‘’multi-layering’’ or ‘’continuous dipping’’. The layers remind us of many rings that look like a target.
• Extrusion: Known as ‘’extruded tubes’’, they are single-layered. One needs to avoid them as they snap easily. A machine forces the rubber out of the hot strips of rubber sheets in long hollow tubes.
• Rarity: Few manufacturers dip the cords since it is very costly and time-consuming.

Quality is Everything

Make sure you are buying a dipped (or continuous) band instead of an extruded one as they are much more resistant. Also be very careful for some manufacturers will lie about the method used to make their cords and sell you cheap ones at a higher price than they should. Fortunately, there are trustworthy brands and products they offer are high in quality, such as these resistance bands set.

Their Benefits & Flaws

Everything has negative and positive points, and resistance cords are no exception no matter their making method. Of course, the dipping has more benefits than the extrusion does.

Extruded Tubes’ Resistance: The biggest difference is how resistant the dipped and extruded products are. The extruded ones are easy to snap and break as their made of only one layer of latex. It will start tearing and snap while you’re using it as soon as it gets a tear, even the smallest, in its fabric.

Dipped Tubes’ Resistance: However, the dipped tubes are long-lasting and strong. You can stretch them a lot before they start losing their original length and tension. Plus, they’re very hard to snap as a tear in them will affect the outer layers only, hence the advantage of getting a multi-layered (or continuous) band.

Single-layered: They consist of only one piece molded rubber tube, so there is one layer. It makes for a pretty cheap and fragile band that will break and snap during use if there is the smallest of tears in its fabric. They’re also always made using the process of extrusion and are best when avoided for your own safety. As mentioned earlier, some try to pass these off as continuous in order to sell them at a higher price than what they’re really worth. Try and be careful not to fall into their trap!

Multi-layered: Known as continuous or multi-layered bands, these are made by dipping long thin rods into a vat of latex until the desired thickness is reached. From a side view, they look like a target made of many rings. In spite of their great cost and time consumption, they’re the best kind of tubes as their resistance is unmatchable; a small tear in their fabric will just affect the outer layers, thus you will be able to keep using your bands for a long time. You can also stretch it a lot before it starts breaking or diverging from its original length and resistance level. If you’re looking for bands, make sure you’re choosing continuous ones to last you for long!

You Deserve What’s Best For You

Two very different methods of creating a band exist, including the cheap and dangerous extrusion one. It’s the one you need to stay away from by getting the more information out of your products for it easily snaps. You want to go with continuous bands, which are consist of multiple layers or rubber and are safer for you. Not only do they last longer, but they’re quite difficult to break as a tear in the fabric will usually not affect the inner layers.