Resistance Bands vs Dumbbells/weights

[FlowersandPetals]

Is one better than the other? I do mostly weights at home. I’ve gotten my exercise equipment gradually over the years (birthday gifts, Christmas, etc). Is one better than the other? Are resistance bands less effective than weights?
I apologize if this question has been asked before. Thanks

 

[Germanamazon]

Hi
My personal look at weights verses bands is both are good one is not better than the other per se it depends on what you have and can afford.
I have both, and I love my bands. I can practically take them everywhere. I take them with me to physical therapy cause well germs. I have more than one "weight" with them and they ate so versatile. I personally like them more than my weights. I can have multiple bands and they take up hardly any room, where as multiple weights take up a lot of space.

I think it is still a preference thing though. Oh and a money thing. Weights here in Germany are expensive. Don't know how it is in other parts of this beautiful world.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

I agree with @Germanamazon . Bands will definitely give you more bang for your buck in terms of how much versatility they can provide with a small budget and small space requirement. But if you can afford and have space for free weights, they are good too.

Another significant difference is that the amount of resistance (or assistance) provided by bands increases and decreases as the band is stretched and relaxed, whereas a free weight weighs the same at every point in your exercise movement. Working either way will give you strength gains. But which is better? That likely depends on one's personal training goals.

There are also differences in how much stabilizing work one needs to do to use bands versus dumbbells (and dumbbells versus barbells). Barbells are inherently the most stable option, so enable you to focus the work on specific muscles more. Bands are inherently the most unstable, requiring you to activate additional muscles to keep the bands on the desired trajectory. Which is better? Again it comes down to training goals.

 

[FlowersandPetals]

Thank you @Germanamazon and @Laura Rainbow Dragon

@Germanamazon I live in the US, and yes weights are pretty expensive here as well. Sometimes we find good deals on Amazon and Department type stores like Walmart. This is why I ask for things like that for specific occasions.

My goals are to keep getting stronger and lose some weight. My husband and daughters are disabled and I need to be able to lift heavy at times especially since my husband isn’t able to.

 

[Fremen]

My husband and daughters are disabled and I need to be able to lift heavy at times especially since my husband isn’t able to.

The choice then becomes obligatory: dumbbells.
Both resistance bands and weights are great aids in strength training but if you have to lift weights then you need to train to lift weights
There are some great deals like this one:

With an initial expense you have everything you need once and for all, the dumbbells are very versatile and you can progress by increasing the weights, if you do not have bodybuilding needs a set of weights like the one in the image is more than enough.
It's just my opinion

 

[Damer]

@FlowersandPetals seeing how your need to get stronger has a very functional aspect you may find the answer to your question, which we covered in the last AMA, helpful. If kettlebells are cheaper where you are, they're a good option and offer quite a lot of benefits that would require both resistance bands and dumbbells to get. I hope this helps.

 

[FlowersandPetals]

@FlowersandPetals seeing how your need to get stronger has a very functional aspect you may find the answer to your question, which we covered in the last AMA, helpful. If kettlebells are cheaper where you are, they're a good option and offer quite a lot of benefits that would require both resistance bands and dumbbells to get. I hope this helps.

Hi Damer,
I’m sorry I didn’t reply sooner. As far as kettlebells go, I do have a 15 lb one (6.81 kg approximately- I’m using a converter found online) with a 5 lb (approximately 2.27 kg) ankle weight around the handle- there’s enough room for me to hold it since I push the ankle weight down the side of the handle. They’re pretty expensive here in the USA but like anything, sometimes I can find a good deal on one. The one I have was a birthday gift a few years ago. I use it a lot.

Thank you for the suggestion. So it looks like weights and kettlebells are better for strength training but bands still have value in training and physical therapy.

Thanks everyone for responding to my question