How to choose the right latex fitness bands: part 2

A very important factor when choosing fitness rubber bands is awareness of the composition of the material.

Manufacturers, and most often sellers, indicate the following compositions in the characteristics of rubber bands: Latex. 100% latex. Latex 100%. Hypoallergenic latex etc. How to determine what all the same is the composition of the materials? What’s better?

Let’s start with the basics: Natural latex is nothing more than the sap of the Brazilian hevea. This is a liquid-like mass containing rubber, carbohydrates, proteins and various biological substances. What we see, holding a fitness band in our hands, is a combination of natural rubber in the composition of natural latex with coagulants, due to which the liquid takes on a gel-like form. After drying, this composition hardens and a rubber product is obtained. Yes, it was rubber, latex was also called the latex processed in the above way, which causes great difficulties in perception.

We quote Evgeny Alekseevich Bersenev. Education: Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, 4th year student. Directions: «Fundamental and applied chemistry» «Chemistry. Chemistry teacher». From an interview about the composition of materials for fitness rubber bands.

Now we have enough knowledge to understand that a fitness band made from natural latex does not at all consist of natural latex, because it is a white solution, but consists of natural rubber obtained from natural latex. And rubber products are obtained as follows — latex is taken, then special substances are added to it — coagulants that will break our globules and release rubber polymer filaments outward, we will get the so-called gel, which can already be cast into a mold so that the rubber is finally hardened, we need to dry it, after drying we get our rubber product, whether it be a latex glove, shoe sole, etc. However, over time, the latex itself, processed in this way, began to be called latex, which causes great difficulties in perception.

Meaning 100% latex composition, manufacturers/sellers report that the latex is distributed evenly over the entire surface of the gum, as it is part of the material for production. And what is the ratio of artificial additives and natural latex, it depends on the manufacturer.

Since natural latex is an expensive raw material, some manufacturers deliberately reduce its percentage in the composition of the mixture in order to reduce the cost of their product by adding artificial / synthetic rubber to it. However, this does not mean at all that artificial additives are useless and serve only to reduce the cost of the material. If you make an elastic band from natural latex or a composition consisting of 90-95% of it, then this product will stretch more than 7-10 times its original length.

There will also be a very weak and prolonged set of tensile load, which will not allow you to fully feel the load declared by the manufacturer, since there is not enough range of motion in the exercises (I talked about the range of motion in exercises in the first part).

So the main task of manufacturers is to find the very middle ground in order to maintain the elasticity and resistance level of the gum.

Let’s look at the example of our latex fitness elastic bands, the composition of materials.

We indicate in the composition: Latex (this is the general name of the raw material). In the description of the elastic bands, it is indicated that these elastic bands are for medium and wide range of motion in exercises, with a tensile load measured in the laboratory at 1.5 and 2.5 times the original length, as well as the specified load at the peak (4 times the original length). From reading this article, from the description of the rubber bands, we can conclude that the composition is mixed (natural + artificial rubber). But, with the predominance of artificial rubber. The predominance of artificial rubber restrains the elasticity of natural rubber, thereby regulating the load, making it more explosive. Natural rubber in the composition of the gum, betrays the elasticity of the product. Do you understand? Artificial rubber has a lower percentage of stretch.

Conclusion: All fitness bands are made from mixed latex (the common name for raw materials).

If you see in the specifications: Latex.100% Latex. Latex 100%. Latex elastic, know it will be mixed. You will just need to find out (ask a question about the product), how many times from the original length, you can stretch the elastic. More than 4 times, the predominance of artificial. Less than 4 times, the predominance of artificial is more times compared to natural, but of course, here you must understand that less natural — lower price, more natural — higher price.

If specified: Hypoallergenic latexthen it is artificial/synthetic latex, as it does not contain a protein that can cause latex allergies.

And yet, most importantly, there is no competition between manufacturers of fitness rubber bands, no!

There is a misunderstanding of buyers and lack of awareness of sellers. The main thing is to look at the load of the elastic in different intervals during stretching, from beginning to end (peak point), not during tension at the beginning and at the end (as manufacturers indicate the load (two numbers)), namely, in intervals, so you will understand the load when performing exercises with different range of motion. And also compare the load with other nonsense rubber bands, believe me, the same load with the same length and width of the rubber bands, but you will not find different brands. From that we write that there are no analogues to our latex fitness rubber bands of the GO DO trademark!