ranger bands mixed 35 count made from epdm rubber for survival, emergency tinder and strapping gear of various sizes made in the usa nge61972 ranger bands what are rubber bands are strong, super durable rubber bands, which are known for being useful in a variety of applications. bands are said to have been first adopted by army rangers. now used by all branches of the military, parachutists, police, swat, homeland security, border patrol and outdoor enthusiasts. we began making ranger bands for the public years ago for attaching items to military style backpacks. strapping small survival kits closed. fire starters for survival situations they start easy and burn hot. non slip gripping surface for items like flash lights, gun grips, and knife sheaths. they are also good for anything else that you can think of. i started off using a jig to cut up new bicycle tubes of several sizes, i couldn't keep up with my sales and needed an automated way to produce the bands. got some quotes from taiwan but decided i wanted made in the usa. i found a us manufacture that was all ready making bands for the us army . we worked together on the creation of 9 sizes in two different formulas of epdm rubber.