A few observations I have made about rubber bands:

(1) I find the cream colored/light tan ones to be better and stronger rubber bands than the darker ones. In my area Office Max rubber bands are dark. Staples has the light better ones. I read somewhere the darker ones have more ash and/or dirt as filler.

(2) I throw them away after one use. They are too cheap. And, cutting them off is fine. Just don't leave the pieces on the ground for someone else to clean up.

(3) If they break while putting them on and they snap back and pop your hand they hurt many times worse at 30 degrees than they do at 80 degrees.


Your mileage may vary...