Customer Reviews

Manta Ray

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I love this product. I always squated in cage with no smith machine with a bar pad and got up to 635lbs, then the injuries started. After borrowing another weight lifter's Manta Ray I felt no upper back and neck pressure. The downside is that the Manta Ray messes up my center of gravity from where I've always had it using free weights in the squat cage. The upside is that it works beautifully in a smith machine for squating because the center of gravity control is not a factor. I've recovered quite good from the injuries now. I feel great after 3 weeks slowly adding the weight back to where I used to be before the injuries and so far I have not felt the pain, which was my biggest concern. I'm doing something I love again. If this is your story also, then the Manta Ray is a must have.

So I hadn't been squatting regularly for a while (ok, since college many moons ago) when I got the manta. It does make the bar sit more comfortably on your shoulders, but also raises the center of gravity a bit and makes it a little more unstable. After a few weeks of squatting regularly, my back muscles adapted and toughened up. At that point, it became just as comfortable to squeeze my shoulder blades together to create a shelf of muscle on which to rest the bar. This technique also seems to "weld" you to the bar and gives you better control over it. As a result, I haven't been using the manta for a while.

Anything that gets you squatting is good thing as it is an unbeatable exercise for overall body strength. The manta is definitely superior to the foam pads that I've tried. However, if I had to do it over again, I'd save the money and just gut it out for the first few weeks until my back firmed up.

this item is probably the best purchase ever for me as far as the gym.
i'm new to lifting.
never did the squat because i didn't feel i could keep the bar on my neck/traps properly.
i'd hunch over, or grip the thing so tight, i'd cramp up my forearms.
the MANTA-RAY changes EVERYTHING.
it distributes the weight, but more than that, it helps not to have to grip, hold, life the bar at all, so that i can focus on my form, my legs/lower back.
i might eventually graduate to lifting without it, but right now, its basically helping me do something i've never been able to do properly because...i don't think my cervical vertebrae were meant to have a bar of steel rest on them!

DURV

Alright, maybe not quite fun, but definitely not the dreadful experience it used to be.

The Manta Ray arrived in its own cardboard box packaged inside an Amazon box. At first I was surprised by how small and simple it was. The only contents were the Manta Ray and a piece of paper with some basic instructions. Slight dread came over me as I wondered if I paid forty dollars for a piece of plastic.
I'm glad that I did.

The Manta Ray itself is made from a hard plastic that is slightly bendable. It snaps onto the weight bar. Please note that the Manta Ray works fine for both Olympic barbells and Standard barbells (even the ones that come in two pieces). The plastic cowl drapes over the back of your neck and shoulders distributing the weight quite nicely. At first, I experienced some pain with the Manta Ray, but I moved the bar slightly further back away from my neck and the discomfort disappeared.

This device works by eliminating the neck pain caused by the bar, and greatly reduces the effort needed to balance the bar in your hands. The added stability allows you to use a heavier weight safely, while concentrating on your form. I am very happy with this purchase and would recommend it to really anyone who squats.

I cannot believe the difference that the manta ray makes for my workout. It evenly distributes the weight. It is totally comfortable. I haven't had a bruise since I started using this. I also like having my own to use at the gym. My gym has the foam ones that smell pretty bad. You can't go wrong with this device.

I've tried several of the pads before, but they all developed creases and lost effectiveness within 3-4 months. This thing is made of sturdy plastic and I feel confident it will never wear out. I use a pad because I don't have thick muscles on my upper back so the bar sat on my spine - ouch! This spreads the contact point over a greater surface area so no pain. I do double up a towel and place it on my shoulders before getting under the Manta Ray and that helps even more.

It is more costly than the foam pads, but at least I won't replace this again. It is easy to use but does take a short time getting used to, but don't let that stop you from getting one.

I used to use the manta ray all the time, then switched gyms and gave up on squats in favor of a leg press machine. In no way shape or form does that even compare to doing actual squats, when you can leg press way more than double your weight and struggle with a little more than your weight you know the value of a squat. I wouldn't outright say this is life changing, but if you never do squats because of the way the bar feels on your shoulders, then maybe it is.