Manta Ray

by Advance Fitness, Inc.

Product Features

• Manta Ray Barbell Pad

Product Description

Maintain an upright position when performing back squats. Load distribution principle transfers weight across trapezius muscles, reducing neck pain and discomfort.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0017DGBY8
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 4662
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #815 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #53 in Sports & Outdoors > Exercise & Fitness > Accessories

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding. . . but. . ., July 22, 2007

By 

Jonathan A. Long (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This really is an amazing piece of equipment. It holds the bar so effectively that the hands just keep it in place rather than supporting weight. So it feels very secure. And it distributes the weight forward so that there is no so much weight pressing down on the upper back/lower neck area (which I tend to strain if I'm not careful).

Unfortunately, it didn't fit my physique exactly. And you need and exact fit for it to be comfortable. In my case there was a small ridge that pressed down very uncomfortably and sharply on my collar bone. Same with two other guys at my gym. It's so uncomfortable, it's unusable.

The product is so effective that I would gladly pay three times the asking price for a custom fit. The manufacturer might also look at cutting out the collar bone area since this seemed to be where the extreme discomfort was.

UPDATE. . . November 30, 2007

My last review pointed out a problem with the Manta Ray. But I have been using it for the last few months with great results. The only thing needed to make it perfect is a gym towel. Just fold a hand towel over a couple of times and place it around the neck. Then slide under the bar and up onto the Manta Ray. It completely eliminates the sharp spots.

I've gone from squatting 135 pounds on my last post to 315 pounds for the last couple of weeks. I went over to another gym to work out with a friend. No Manta Ray at the new gym. The bar sitting on my traps was excruciating. I stopped on my third set after two reps because it hurt so bad. The Manta Ray is as indispensable as straps are for back work. It allows you to work with significantly more weight for more reps.

Tell your gym to get this piece of equipment!!! It's definitely worth the money if you have to spring for it yourself.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product!!!!, April 16, 2007

By 

F. Garner "bgrnr" (Carlsbad, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This thing is great for doing squats. The shape conforms to the neck/shoulder/trap area nicely and actually distributes the weight across your back more evenly; much moreso than those round pads or the bar alone. Very comfortable on your back so you can focus on pushing the weight. Another thing I really like about it is that once you center the pad on the bar (it pops right on and off) you know for sure your body is centered under the weight, so you're not teetering. The plastic is flexible and soft enough so that it's comfortable and it's super easy to clean.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have For Those Serious About Free Weight Training, December 14, 2010

By 

D. BAKER (Alabama, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Manta Ray (Sports)

My son and I tried the Manta Ray for the first time today after purchasing from Amazon. I've been doing squats for over 20 years but he is a high school freshman who hasn't yet developed sufficient trapezius muscle to protect his upper back from the effects of the weight bar. I've tried to make it more comfortable with commercially available wrap-around bar pads designed for squats but the results have been disappointing. I was skeptical of the Manta Ray's claims and hesitant because of the higher price versus the alternative bar pads. Nevertheless, I decided to give the Manta Ray a try.

This simple device takes away all (and I mean all) of the discomfort caused by contact of the weight bar with that portion of the back that it rests upon.

Here is how it works. The Manta Ray has a slot into which the weight bar fits rather snugly. The Manta Ray is thereafter held securely in place on the weight bar. Upon returning the weight bar to the squat rack, the Manta Ray remains attached to the bar ready for the user's next set of squats. The Manta Ray performs very much like a saddle in that it effectively redistributes the weight across the entire trapezius muscle rather than the very limited area upon which the bar concentrates the weight.

There is enough "play" in the Manta Ray so that, upon positioning one's self under the bar in preparation for the exercise, it swivels and conforms to the shape of the user's back. As another reviewer suggested, I recommend draping a small towel across the area of the back/neck not covered by a shirt to prevent any irritation from contact with the device.

At the conclusion of the routine, reach over the bar and grasp that portion of the Manta's wings designed to fit around the user's neck that point toward the floor. Pull upward and rotate backwards and the device will easily disconnect from the weight bar.

The alternative to the Manta Ray is one of the less expensive pads that wrap around the weight bar and is typically held in place with Velcro. However, those pads do not redistribute weight. They merely cushion some of the discomfort caused by the bar. The weight remains concentrated in that small area where the bar meets the back. Additionally, the pads lose their cushioning effect over time, can tear, and require routine replacement. The Manta Ray, by contrast, is heavy duty, extremely durable and will probably outlast the user.

You'll be amazed at how much more comfortable squats are using the Manta Ray and the added comfort will make lifting additional weight far less daunting. It is worth every penny in my opinion and a far wiser purchase than the alternative bar pad. By the way, the device itself has a shape reminiscent of a manta ray, hence the name.

Say hello to Manta Ray and goodbye to weight bar discomfort forever. Squats will instantly become as enjoyable as any other weight training exercise.