Pilates bands and fitness cords provide strength training, with the better option based on several factors. The first factor to examine is the types of exercises you intend to do, as one can work better than the other for a specific exercise. Other factors to consider are convenience, exercise variety, cost and -- the bottom line -- which one is more comfortable for you.
What They Do
Pilates bands and fitness cords perform the same overall purpose. Both use resistance to strengthen, tone and work your muscles. Both work for a variety of exercises, including squats, biceps curls, triceps extensions, chest and shoulder presses and abdominal crunches. You can anchor the bands or cords by stepping or sitting on them, holding them taut or attaching them to or beneath a heavy object.
Design
A big difference between bands and cords is in their design. Pilates bands consist of wide, flat elasticized strips of latex or rubber that you can hold anywhere along the length of the band. Fitness cords are thin, rounded elasticized rubber tubes that have handles attached to the ends.
Convenience
Fitness cords with handles make it easier to hold the cord during your exercises. Holding onto a cord by the handles makes it less likely to slip, especially if your hands get sweaty, and gives you a firmer grasp. When you work your lower body and legs, the handles are more inclined to stay securely looped beneath your feet than bands do.
Variations
Because fitness cords have handles built in, the cords are stuck at a fixed length. Pilates bands, on the other hand, allow you to grasp them anywhere along the length of the band, an option that gives you more variety and automatically increases the tension as needed. Fitness cords, however, stay secure around your foot if you are performing exercises in which you need to lift your arms and legs, a move that would not work with bands.
Buying
Pilates band are generally less expensive than fitness cords. Both devices come in varying resistance levels that range from low, or light, to high, or heavy. Pilates bands denote different resistance levels by their color. A low-resistance Pilates band cost $6 in February 2011, while a high-resistance band cost $10. A lightweight fitness cord and heavyweight fitness cord had the same price of $11 in February 2011.
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