You don’t need weights to strengthen your triceps — use this 9-move resistance band workout instead
Torch your triceps with one band and nine moves
If you're looking for some great exercises to target your triceps with but don't fancy or have time to hit up the gym, then we think you'll appreciate this arm workout that tunes into the tricep muscles with one of the best resistance bands and nine moves.
No matter where you are in your fitness journey, this is a great strength building session for your arms and is super convenient to add into your weekly routine. It involves no weights, takes up little space and doesn't take an age to work through — but we can guarantee your triceps will be feeling the burn by the end of the workout.
The triceps are an important muscle to train in your arms as they play a key role in completing every day pushing movements. When they well trained and strong they can also assist your performance in the gym or in sports such as swimming, tennis or basketball.
Ready to learn some excellent banded exercises for your triceps? Read on to find out.
What is the banded tricep workout?
We know what you're thinking, nine exercises sounds like a lot. But before you talk yourself out of trying this workout, it's worth noting that Whitney Houlin the creator behind this routine advises picking half the exercises, performing each for 10-12 reps and then repeating this same set over again.
This way you can save the other half of the exercises for your next upper body day. Or, if you don't like workouts that involve repeats of certain exercises, why not complete half of the exercises for the first round and the latter half for the second round?
If you want to check out what the moves are before building this tricep workout to suit your preferences, here is a list below. Plus, you can check out Houlin's demonstrations underneath before we discuss the benefits of doing this routine.
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- Tricep kickback
- Hinged Y extension
- Lateral extension
- Alternating medial extension
- Knee supported tricep push-up
- Puppy push up
- Overhead extension
- Y extension
- Oil Riggers
A post shared by Whitney Houlin || fitness • home workouts (@getfit_whit)
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The accessibility of this upper body workout is a big bonus, especially if you constantly feel like you never have time to travel to a gym and work on your strength. You really do only need a resistance band which handily eliminates the need for any bulky exercise equipment.
Working for 10-12 reps on each exercise is a solid approach to ensure your muscles are adequately challenged and fatigued for optimal growth and strength gains. Just make sure to allow rest periods between each exercise or else you'll find it hard to maintain good form throughout the routine.
Additionally, performing more than one set of the routine will assist in stimulating muscle hypertrophy and endurance, which helps to increase muscle definition over time. Of course, feel free to adjust the sets and reps to suit your fitness abilities and don't feel tied down by the recommended structure of the workout.
What really counts toward making significant strength gains is consistency. Regularly performing this workout can contribute to noticeable improvements in triceps strength and definition, as well as overall upper body strength.
However, it's important to note that while this workout is great for targeting the triceps, building a stronger upper body requires a complete strength training regime that includes exercises targeting other major muscle groups as well. Be sure to incorporate exercises for the chest, shoulders, back, and core if you're hoping to build balanced strength and prevent things like muscle imbalances or injury.
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Jessica has been a fitness writer at Tom’s Guide since 2023, bringing three years of experience writing about health, fitness, and the great outdoors. Her passion for exercise began during her childhood, where she spent weekends hiking and competing in local athletics club events. After earning a master’s degree in journalism from Cardiff University, Jessica found the perfect way to combine her love of storytelling and fitness into a career.
Jessica is passionate about testing fitness gear and tech, using her reviews to help readers make informed buying decisions. She ran her first marathon in April 2024, finishing it in 3 hours and 48 minutes. Through her training, she’s developed a deep understanding of what it takes to grow as a runner, from effective workouts and recovery techniques to selecting the right gear for every challenge.
When she’s not at her desk, Jessica enjoys spending time in the kitchen crafting new recipes, braving cold water swims and hiking.