BEAR Strength & Conditioning Next Generation Squat Pad, Comfortable Barbell Sponge for Hip Thrusts, Squats and Lunges

If you are beginning with squats get this. It'll take away the "the bar hurts my shoulders/neck" part of them and actually let you squat comfortably, which means you'll keep at it. If you've been squatting for a while and you are going really heavy get this too it's a life saver. Sometimes I would use the towel wrapped around the bar trick but it's nothing compared to this. It's super comfortable and actually stable. It is thicker than what the pictures let you to believe, when I opened it I thought it was going to get in my way because of its thickness but it doesn't at all. It actually helps me center the bar since the pad doesn't slide and once you set it in the middle you know you are centered in the middle of the bar which helps balance the weight better. I was hesitant to buy it since all the reviews it had where from "discounted prices for reviews" purchase but it's actually a really nice product.

This is my second Bear barbell pad; I stupidly left my first one at the gym. I use the pad for glute bridges, not squats (I have bad hips; squats destroy them). For glute bridges, the amount of padding on this is perfect. I don't feel any bit of hard metal pressing onto my hips. As for squats, the padding is a bit thick (1.5" thick). It'll definitely prevent any pain from the barbell pressing into your back, but I feel like it'll create too much distance between your back to the bar. I'm not saying you can't still do squats with this pad, but it might feel weird with so much padding.The quality is great. I had my first pad for over 2 years, and it never tore or had bits come off of it. Maybe a few indentations formed on the exterior, but nothing happened that affected its usability. The price is a huge plus, too.

i love working out and do consider myself a gym rat. tho i've been lifting since 1997 i haven't been doing much with my legs. just started squatting a year ago and felt that i need better protection on my neck and spine in general. first i bought a straight foam that stick onto the bar, half the thickness of this squat pad, and it worked fine. but after awhile when i added more weight onto the bar, it became painful again, so i bought this pad. i had to say, for what i squat, which is very little, this squat pad makes it so comfortable that i don't feel any pinching on my back at all. i could feel the pressure of the bar and weights, but not the actual pinching on my traps. i should probably work on my traps more too, but still, these made squatting comfortable, and restricts movement of the bar because the pad helps you center the bar as well.

This pad is great! I worried it might be too thick, but it is "just right." I love the indentation in the middle. It is easier to stay centered because of the indentation. I use this for back squats and glute bridges. This is, hands down, the best pad I've used or found for glute bridges. No more tender hips! I rated it four instead of five stars as the pad will come off if you aren't careful. Of you make sure to have the opening in the right place and not placed directly against your neck,it will stay on without any problem. The first time I tried using it, the bar rolled slightly as I was settling in to begin squats and the pad came right off. Once I figured out how to prevent that, it wasn't a problem. I wouldn't let this stop you from purchasing.

Finally added my own bar pad to my bag of goods. Gone are the days of scouring gym floors looking for a biohazard piece of abused thin padding or folding up a stupid mat for that matter. I got clever and bought a fun noodle as a fun cheap experiment, cut it to size and used it for a few months for hip thrusts (works but breaks apart after maybe 2 months of heavy use). I liked it because of the neon color too, which is why I saw this red color and jumped on it. No one can try and claim it, I can easily spot it and use a black markout to write my name on one end. I initially got to try a bear pad out when someone left theirs at the gym, I went after it again but it was gone. It was then that I realized it’s time for my own legit bar pad. Anyway it seems durable, fits a standard barbell and my hips feel no pain at all when thrusting 165+lbs, no marks on them either. I can save the rest of my 75cent fun noodle for the pool this summer...with unbruised hips.

I am loving this BB Squat Pad! Def a must-have for any gym bag (especially if you have sensitive skin or just don't like using the gym-provided squat pads). I was having a hell of a time at the gym when using the squat pads available there. They were thin and pretty much useless, plus everyone and their momma uses them and they seldom saw sanitation (which is a big ewww). I had to switch up my methods until I found THIS squat pad! Man oh man, it is quite awesome. I use it for squats, weighted lunges, hip thrusts, etc. Let me tell you! It is super useful when using a barbell to do bridges. I've been able to comfortably increase my weight ALL AROUND now that I am much more comfortable. Totes recommend it :D#getitgirl

I have disk issues in my neck, and bought this for the neck relief. It works. The material is pretty stiff, and it does take pressure off my neck. That said, this is not a cushy feeling. I have used other squat pads that were more cushy on my shoulders, so if you are looking for that it is possible you will be disappointed. But then, I don't know if you would get neck relief. In other words, stiff padding may be the price to pay to keep that bar off your neck. (Yes, I know not to squat with the bar actually riding up on my neck. Still, with my existing disk issues, this was the direction I needed to go.)

So I bought this brand 1st. It really makes hip-thrusts and squats painless - so much better than trying to use a towel. Liked it so much I decided to buy another for my home gym. That's when I found another band, for about half the cost that works just as well. They've both do a great job and have held up great. I guess I can't complain, because I was willing to buy another at the same price -- just happened to find a better deal. I will say, you might want to measure your gym locker and make sure you get one that fits. I have to bend mine to fit in.

Excelente

This is first squat pad I have ever owned. It is comfortable.