# What are the longest lasting rubber bands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 7, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488 "2018-07-07T20:46:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/1 "2018-07-07T20:46:27Z")
I have a few things that I keep wrapped up with rubber bands and they break after a few months. They seem to get dried out and loose their stretch. Is there a particular type (or brand) of rubber bands that I can expect to last longer, or should I just buy a bag of them and expect to change them often? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/2 "2018-07-07T20:59:35Z")
Could you use velcro wire ties? I use them in a couple of spots and they work fine. As far as rubber bands, I have an enormous rubber band ball. It’s probably got 15,000 rubber bands on it (it’s about the size of a basketball). A friend and I made it over the course of a few months back in college. Since then, I only feel the need to put another layer on every 2-3 years ago when they start to feel dry. Before I was adding to it, I had ignored it for probably 5 or 6 years before I noticed that the ones on the outer layer were starting to dry out and snap. I don’t think I’ve used any special type of rubber band, but part of it might be that they aren’t being used on a regular basis. Either not taking them off and putting them back on makes a difference or they dry out and lose their stretch but I never notice it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/3 "2018-07-07T21:08:25Z")
Rubber bands from office depot for file folders last longer. It would be their own brand, cause I am cheap like that. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/4 "2018-07-07T21:17:37Z")
I’ve found so many cords and other stuff with sticky residue from rotted rubber bands. I zip tie cords now. I buy Alliance Sterling Rubber Bands. They are at Walmart, Costco, Sams Club etc. I don’t know if they are any better than Office Depot or Staples store brand. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/5 "2018-07-07T21:25:07Z")
I consider rubber bands short term storage, due to problems described in the OP. Find another method for long term. Not real fond of paperclips, either. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/6 "2018-07-07T21:45:04Z")
If you don’t need large bands you could use the coated hair ties. The ones without a metal piece are better. You can get wads of them at Dollar Tree. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/7 "2018-07-07T22:00:05Z")
If you are really going through bags of elastic bands, why not invest in some twine? Tie it around the object with a binding knot and it will last for years. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/8 "2018-07-07T22:20:50Z")
I think silicone rubber won’t dry out and break down. And looking on Amazon, some people sell silicone rubber bands, mostly for kitchen use. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/9 "2018-07-08T11:20:34Z")
The best ones I ever had are the ones the postman uses to bundle letters and then drops on my drive or in the street. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/10 "2018-07-08T12:18:19Z")
Condoms make good improvised bands. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/11 "2018-07-08T13:08:35Z")
I don’t know the brand, but at work we have these orange rubber bands made out of some kind of synthetic rubber. Maybe like the silicone ones **Dewey Finn** mentioned. They don’t dry out and disintegrate like normal rubber bands do. A lot of stuff we rubber band goes into boxes for long term storage so it’s good to have rubber bands that won’t fall apart. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/12 "2018-07-08T13:28:38Z")
[Grifiti bands](https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=grifiti+bands). Look for the words “Food Grade” and they won’t break down on you. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-longest-lasting-rubber-bands/817488/13 "2018-07-08T14:33:31Z")
Thanks all! I went with non-latex rubber bands (they mention being “archival”). I really liked the Grafiti X bands but I couldn’t get them small enough (or I had to pay $15 which was way more money than I felt like paying).