Original Manta Ray by Advanced Fitness, Squat Load Distribution Device

Several months ago I began weight lifting. I had tried eating low fat, eating less, etc. etc. and I was getting nowhere. I was up to 280lbs, was tired all the time, and most scary of all was starting to lose effectiveness at work and at home. I didn't like where I was headed. Two books helped change that direction. I read The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite and learned why eating right is such an uphill battle. Gaining the knowledge in that book really helped give me the motivation to eat right, as opposed to following fad diets. Then I read The New Rules of Lifting: Six Basic Moves for Maximum Muscle and I thought, YES! Natural movements based on movements we do in nature are very important to avoid injury, and building muscle mass is the only way to improve metabolism, because muscle is so metabolically expensive. One of the major exercises recommended in the "New Rules" is the squat. The squat works BIG muscles, and therefore the metabolic gains you get from building muscle through the squat reap huge benefits. I didn't have a squat rack, so when I began I was doing one dead lift and then lifting the bar over my head to begin the squat. This was fine for the first month or two as I was doing very low weight; I had to start with doing the bar only. However, as my weights have increased through various workouts (the squat or some variation is omnipresent in the "New Rules" no matter what new routine you are on)I began to have problems. Not in my legs or back mind you, but my wrists. I knew I was hurting myself picking the bar up over my head, so I bought a squat rack here at Amazon. Problem solved... for a month or two... Then I began to get more pain. Not in my legs or back (I am VERY careful about form and not overdoing it) but my neck and shoulders. It just hurt like heck to do the squats because of the bar on my neck and I really wasn't looking forward to them. Then I happened upon this little device. I was contemplating buying the very expensive safer squat bar, but this looked so much more reasonably priced and from the reviews I read seemed effective. I had to give it a try. It has only been a couple of days working out with this device but I can tell it is very well made, and my neck and shoulder pain is entirely gone. I am actually comfortable doing squats! I never had pain in the legs or back, but wrist pain and neck and shoulder pain from the bar were really starting to discourage me. This is an awesome and affordable little product and it WORKS. It even changes your form a tiny bit in that it makes it easier to do the squat correctly. Since reading those two books, and putting the ideas into practice I have lost close to 30lbs. I have been lifting the whole time with rest periods built in between phases and have some hard places where I used to have soft and flabby places. That means I have built muscle mass, and that I have put on muscle weight, which means I have lost more than 30lbs of fat off my frame. My pants don't fit and they are falling off my waist. I have had to buy smaller belts. I am putting off buying new cloths for the time being because I know I am not done. It has been about 5 months since I started lifting, and the results have been INCREDIBLE. A big reason for my success thus far has been the squat, and this little attachment for your bar makes the squat MUCH more fun to do, and that is a great benefit. Other things helped as well. If your goal is to get in shape, it helps a lot to get right with God first. There is a book I want to read on the subject that looks interesting: Fit for Eternal Life . I definitely see a connection between getting our souls in order, and getting our bodies in order. Best yet, it is made in the USA (thank God some things still are!) I strongly recommend this product. Squats are a very important part of any lifting regimen. If my experience is any indication you will experience weight loss, an increase in energy, a much easier time going up stairs, and your wife (or husband) will be thrilled with the results. Get a good bar, a decent squat rack (here is mine: Squat Rack and this little device and watch your body change!

Excellent product. I can do low-bar squats without any pad, but I simply cannot find a good bar position for high-bar squats that does not press on my upper back or neck vertebrae. So I use the Manta. It seems perfectly shaped for my upper back region and is very comfortable. Why suffer or damage your back ?!?!? Although it does raise the bar slightly, It seems to make a negligible difference to the squat mechanics. I also have the $12 rubber version of a "Manta" from one of the copycat vendors, and to tell you the truth, it is almost as good. The rubber version is pretty dense rubber, like a basketball or football might be made of, so it is more flexible, but still pretty stiff and functions quite well. Both a virtually exactly the same shape. This real Manta grips the bar much tighter and looks like it will last longer. So it is definitely "better"; but is it enough better to pay 4X the cost ? Tough question. Functionally, they both achieve the same result for me.

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 think this product would've been better to use on a squat rack. Unfortunately, it did not work so well on a smith machine. Because the bar needs to be rotated, it was difficult to position the pad for the initial lift. The positioning cause discomfort and pressure points. I was really hoping that it would work for me.

I'm a former Olympic and Powerlifter who used to LOVE doing squats before two separate neck injuries later in life. After dealing with those injuries and the bone spurs I have on multiple vertebrae, I'm pretty paranoid about doing anything the messes with my neck/upper spine. Anyway, I thought I'd give this a try since I've decided to start doing the Big 3 (squat, bench press, deadlift) to get back into shape at 55 yrs of age. The Manta Ray just came in the mail today, and I LOVED IT as soon as I used it! I'm 5'8" and fairly stocky, and this thing fit my shoulders perfectly! No worries about my neck/spine, comfortable, and helped me focus on the good squat form I've always had. Very effective.

I have a safety squat bar, which is very comfortable, but it's 20" too long and weighs about 58lbs. For my new rack setup, which includes one standup for my leg extension it no longer works. So I needed a replacement. I took a chance with this attachment, the pads just don't work. It's a definite keeper. Works tremendously well and the plastic contraption sits perfectly on the traps positioned away from the neck. However, my bar is not knurled in the center, so I think it may be a problem for those with knurling in the center. Highly recommend this product. I am very happy.

Of course one can adapt to just about anything, and for those of you who prefer high bar squats, I think this is a great device. It's a bit more secure than the foam pad, and is worlds better than sitting a bare bar directly on top of your spine. There are pros and cons to everything, as there are with this device. As I mentioned, I do like the simplicity of being able to quickly secure the Manta Ray onto any Olympic bar. It's relatively light, and easy to carry in your gym bag too, which is always a good thing. The design of this also allows the weight of the bar to be distributed over your traps, and not directly on the spine, which even with the foam pad is not recommended. After years of powerlifting and using a "low bar" squat technique, I've struggled with shoulder issues, and with age also invites arthritis to join the party; especially in my wrists. Thus, working out with heavier weight can stress my elbows, shoulders and wrists much more than they used to. At least, I feel it a heck of a lot more. Therefore, I was excited to try this in the hopes of eliminating, or at least reducing some of the extra stress holding a bar lower down my back introduces. The two techniques of high and low bar placement for squats are very different, and knowing this, I expected a learning curve. Everything is affected from the way I stand to the way my body mechanics respond to where the bar is placed. I didn't assume I could just slap on the Manta Ray and carry on with my regular squat routine without going through a few changes in both weight and technique. Well, the Manta Ray definitely takes the stress off the elbows, shoulders, and is not uncomfortable at all resting on my traps. The problem I have with it is the amount of teetering that goes on when I have weight on my back. This is most likely attributed to developed trap muscles, not allowing both sides of the device to secure itself soundly to my body. For me, this is something I simply cannot use when the weight starts increasing, as I'm working to stabilize the load. In addition, the high bar position forces your body to become more upright, which in my opinion, makes it that much harder to balance the weight, taking a little from the glutes and hamstrings and putting more stress on the quads and knees. As I know these versions are different, I utilize front squats to work more quads (See the excellent Sting Ray from the same company). For lighter weight, this is fine. I'm not worried about having to stabilize much, and any rolling or teetering does not concern me. Therefore I can honestly say I have mixed feelings about this product, and only use it when I feel I absolutely have to, and still need to squat. However, this does not mean it's an inferior device at all or that it won't work for you. For those of you used to high bar squats, or to people that don't obsess over having huge traps, the price alone makes it worth looking into. It's also good for anyone with pain in their joints or muscles that would otherwise inhibit being able to do squats with an Olympic bar. I also have the Sting Ray, and love it for front squats. It's not perfect either, but it's an inexpensive way to get into front squatting without putting either your wrists or shoulders through hell to enjoy the benefit of doing them. I know ranking a review in the middle doesn't help someone on the fence, but I don't believe in bashing a product just because it really doesn't work out for me. I can honestly say there's more upside to the Manta Ray than negative, and should work fine for most conventional squatters, and even aging powerlifters needing to spell their joints every once in a while. It also implements a nice change up for people doing only low bar squats, forcing the core to pay attention to a new twist. Just be mindful of the limitations and ask yourself which squatting style you're planning on doing first. Good luck, and I hope my review was helpful.

Been using this product for about 6 years now and it has never failed me. I have an issue where my shoulders stick more forward than normal and my neckbone in the back sticks out more than usual so even if I squeeze my traps, the ball part of my neckbone still gets the bar on it and it hurts A LOT. The manta ray stops this by having a generic mold go over your entire trap. If you find youself being one of those guys/girls in the gym that can't do squats properly or can't go heavy because the bar is crushing your neckbone, then I suggest grabbing this since it will fix your issue right away and it will instantly increase your lifts by tens of lbs. They also have one called the Sting Ray for doing front squats but I have never used it however I imagine it's just as good. Cons: If you are a big guy and already have big traps and don't have issues with your neckbone sticking out then this product will NOT fit right and you will hate it. My gym partner is a is a beast and has huge traps and he finds this uncomfortable since it digs into them.

Exactly as expected! Was recommended by my physio to help with neck pain with using bar for squats. Great quality and great product

Product was exactly what I ordered! I used this product years and years ago at my old gym that had it. Now that I have my own Ived used it quiet a bit!! Fits great on the bar. Fits well on my shoulders and neck and distribute weight evenly across the shoulders.

Great product - absolutely recommend it for squats.

This stuff is good. But seems to be bit smaller. I had a neck and shoulder injury from squats. And I just used today for the first time. Saving me a lot from the pain. Not bad though

The Manta Ray really does what it claims. Don't be fooled by the cheaper imitations as they seldom work well (some not at all) and will only discourage you from doing squats or even potentially cause injury. In fact, another cheaper unit offered by Amazon is actually such a unit and had to be returned as being useless (may have worked on a very thin person or a child). Wherever you purchase, ensure that the Manta Ray logo actually appears on the product.