Elastic Bands vs. Basis Paddle Trainer: Which One Actually Works?

A lot of surfers ask about the difference between elastic bands and the Basis Paddle Trainer. The truth is, these two tools couldn’t be more different. In this article, we’re going to break down why that matters—and which one actually helps you paddle better in the water.

What Makes a Good Paddle Trainer?

Before comparing tools, we need to define what makes a good paddle trainer in the first place. There are two key criteria:

1. It needs to accurately simulate the biomechanics of paddling.
   
2. It needs to allow you to train different energy systems—like endurance, sprinting, and strength.

Most surfers want to paddle longer, faster, and with more power. If your paddle trainer doesn’t help you build the muscles that actually move your board through water, then it’s not helping.

Elastic bands might feel convenient, but the way they work actually creates several problems for surf-specific training.

Consistent Resistance

The biggest issue is that resistance from an elastic band is inconsistent. At the start of your paddle stroke—during the catch phase—there’s barely any resistance. But at the end of the stroke, when your hand is at your hip, resistance spikes. This throws off the way you recruit muscles.

The result? It turns into a triceps workout. If you’ve used bands for a while, you’ve probably noticed sore triceps. But you probably haven’t felt it in your lats or chest—which are the primary muscles used in actual surf paddling.

So instead of training the muscles that actually generate paddle power in the water (lats, chest, and rear deltoids), you’re mostly training a supporting muscle (triceps). That’s a major problem.

The Basis Paddle Trainer fixes this issue with consistent resistance across the full range of motion. You feel the same resistance during the catch, pull, and exit phases—just like when paddling on a surfboard.

The Recovery Stroke

Another major difference is the ability to train the recovery stroke—the part of the stroke when your hand returns to the entry point. This is where many surfers fall short, especially during long sessions. The recovery stroke relies on smaller stabilizing muscles in your shoulder like the rotator cuff. These are muscles that rarely get trained otherwise.

Elastic bands don’t let you train this part properly. When you finish the stroke, the band snaps your hand back. That not only prevents you from building strength in your shoulder stabilizers, it also reinforces bad technique.

The Basis Paddle Trainer, on the other hand, uses concentric-only resistance. That means there’s resistance when you pull, but not when you return. This lets you train the recovery stroke correctly—just like you would in the water.

Adjustable Resistance

With elastic bands, resistance is not truly adjustable. You can switch to heavier bands, but all that does is increase the snapping effect during the recovery, which makes things worse.

The Basis Paddle Trainer lets you dial in the resistance with precision—from light endurance work all the way to heavy resistance. You can train everything from long paddle-outs to short explosive bursts.

Strength Training for Paddle Power

If you really want to take your paddle strength to the next level, you need to train strength directly. That means working in lower rep ranges (8–10 reps), just like in the gym.

Elastic bands can’t come close to that level of resistance. The Basis Paddle Trainer can. You can load it up to around 200 pounds and use it for heavy straight-arm pull-downs—just like a cable machine. That’s how you build real paddle power.

Durability and Long-Term Use

Elastic bands degrade over time. Resistance drops. Bands snap. If you've used them long enough, you’ve probably had one break—and maybe even hit you in the face.

The Basis Paddle Trainer is built differently. I’ve had mine for over three years and it still works like the day I got it. It's built to last. And if you're worried, we've got your back with a multi-year warranty (check the site for exact terms).

Try It, Risk-Free

Still not sure? We get it. That’s why we offer:

• Free shipping
  
• Free returns within 45 days
  
• All duties and taxes covered

So if you try the Basis Paddle Trainer and don’t think it’s better than elastic bands, send it back. No questions asked.

Elastic bands might seem like a simple fix for surf paddle training, but they fall short in the areas that matter most. The Basis Paddle Trainer was designed specifically to fix those issues and help surfers train the full paddle stroke accurately.

If you're serious about improving your paddle endurance, sprint power, and technique, the choice is clear.

Start building paddle fitness before the swell hits. Match your training to the type of break. It’s the easiest way to boost your wave count—and your progression.

Use the Basis Paddle Trainer to train your paddling anytime, anywhere, so you can catch more waves and have more fun.

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For a deep dive customer testimonial from one of our early beta testers check out