If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best barbell squat pad for Bodypump is, then I’d recommend the Dark Iron Fitness Barbell Pad as the best one.
While some people may think that squat pads are cheating, maybe a waste of money, or just for women and weak men that simply isn’t true.
If you’ve ever tried to load a barbell up with some weight and put it on your hips or back, you may have found that it quickly becomes very distracting, painful and bruise-inducing.
Well, I’m here to tell you that may not be the case.
Let’s get into what makes the best barbell squat pad so great, and how and why you may be missing out on something that can take your workouts to the next level.
Here are the top barbell squat pad we’ll be reviewing:
- Elevator Fitness Barbell Squat Pad
- Reehut Barbell Squat Pad
- Fit Viva Barbell Pad for Standard and Olympic Barbells
- Dark Iron Fitness Barbell Neck Pad
- Bear Squat Pad
Why Use A Squat Pad for Bodypump?
Bodypump classes are commonly taken by women but that doesn’t mean they exclude men!
It’s a quick-paced class that generally encourages you to use light to moderate weights.
While light to moderate weight may not sound too bad at first, it can become cumbersome after awhile.
When you’re doing a ton of repetitions for about 45 minutes to an hour you quickly learn how uncomfortable a barbell can get.
I work out regularly and can squat more than my body weight, but after having that bar on my back and hips repeatedly I started questioning my life choices.
Using a squat pad during a Bodypump class, or even just for squatting and hip thrusting can really be a gamechanger.
They’ve saved me from the pain of hip, shoulder and neck bruises a few times since I tried one out and got hooked.
The Advantages of a Barbell Squat Pad
Not Just For Squats!
One of the big benefits of barbell squat pads is that they’re versatile!
You can use a barbell squat pad for squatting, hip thrusts, good mornings, lunges and any other exercise that requires holding a bar on your back or hips.
Pain Relief
Another huge perk of using the best barbell squat pad, and not just any old piece of crap you find lying around a gym, is that they provide pain relief.
Instead of trying to ignore having a heavy bar digging into your neck and shoulders while training, a barbell squat pad will relieve most if not all of that tension.
This will allow you to focus more on your workout, and ultimately experience more muscle activation which will lead to better results from whatever exercise you’re doing!
Avoid Germs
Speaking of any old piece of crap laying around the gym, wouldn’t it be nice to use a relatively clean barbell squat pad that you personally own, instead of one saturated with gym floor dirt and who knows who else’s sweat?
Perform Better
I can tell you from personal experience that using a barbell squat pad has allowed me to go heavier on my lifts!
If you’re planning to increase your weight over time then investing in the best barbell squat pad that you can find might be one of the most beneficial investments you can make as far as gym gear goes.
What Makes the Best Barbell Squat Pad… the Best?
I’m so glad you asked! It really comes down to 4 things: thickness, material, closure method, and length.
Thickness
This is going to sound like a Goldilocks knock-off but you don’t want your squat pad to be too thick or too thin, but somewhere in the middle where it’s just right.
Seriously.
If it’s too thick it can be too bulky for squats and change your center of gravity which could lead to poor squat form.
If it’s too thin, you’ll still feel the bar too much and possibly sustain some gnarly bruises.
They generally range from 0.75 inches to about 1.2 inches thick, with 1.2 inches being pretty standard.
Material
For the best barbell squat pad to be most effective it needs to be made out of a sturdy material that won’t start cracking right away.
It also helps if it’s sweat-proof because that will also contribute to its durability.
Sweat tends to break down materials pretty quickly.
A good material to look for will be high-density foam. If it’s covered in nylon or some kind of leather or leather substitute then that’s even better.
Closure method
A lot of barbell squat pads will come with velcro straps to hold them on the bar.
However, some are also made with a piece of velcro that runs along the length of the squat pad.
This may be better if you’re worried about losing the little velcro straps, which is easy to do.
Length
Squat pads are commonly 16-18 inches long. 17 inches is usually long enough for most people.
However, if you have a larger frame then you may want to aim for an 18-inch barbell squat pad.
That way you can ensure it’ll protect you across your whole back, neck, and shoulder area.
What’s the Best Way to Use a Barbell Squat Pad?
The best way to use a barbell squat pad is as a lift-enhancer. Basically, if it makes you feel more comfortable and prevents you from being in pain, then use it.
Research has shown that discomfort or pain not related to muscle soreness during an exercise can decrease the amount of muscle activation achieved.
Less muscle activation means fewer results so if you want to get the most out of your workout, it would help to be as comfortable as possible.
With that being said, you may also want to make sure that it fits the bar you’ll be using it on the most.
Barbell Squat Pad Product Roundup
Elevator Fitness Barbell Squat Pad
The Elevator Fitness Barbell squat pad is 18 inches long and 3.5 inches in diameter. It fits Olympic sized barbells very well.
Plus, it’s 1.2 inches thick which is pretty standard.
The ergonomic design provides comfort, which is mostly facilitated by the neck groove that helps to keep the barbell properly placed across your upper back and shoulders without pressing against your neck too much.
This product is made from “high-quality rubberized memory foam” which I like because it’s durable and won’t immediately start breaking down after a few uses.
There are velcro straps included. These are nice because they prevent the pad from slipping off of the bar during use.
Pros
- easy to get on and off of the bar
- very cushioned
- hugs the barbell tightly
Cons
- the pad doesn’t fully wrap around the bar, there’s about a ½ inch gap
- the straps are cheaply made
- thin part of the pad wears out quickly
Reehut Barbell Squat Pad
While the Reehut Barbell Squat Pad may be the lowest-priced item on this list, it’s actually a well-made option with lots of the same features as higher-priced squat pads.
It has a diameter of about 3.6 inches, which means it’s a little thicker than most pads.
This would work really well for hip thrusts since they usually require slightly more cushion than a squat would.
It’s also about 17 inches in length which should be sufficient for most people.
One of the great features about this barbell squat pad is that it fits most standard and Olympic bars, and also comes with velcro straps to keep it securely attached during use.
The 1.2-inch thickness provides extra comfort and is supposed to reduce your risk of injuring your spine.
This might be a good option for beginners to try out because they offer a 100% satisfaction warranty, which means you can get your money back within 60 days if you’re not happy with the product.
They also offer a replacement warranty for up to 18 months.
Reehut designed it ergonomically to relieve pressure on your neck, which should make using it for squats a lot more comfortable.
It also meets the best barbell squat pad criteria by incorporating a non-slip surface to keep the pad in place.
Plus it’s made from high-density durable foam, which is something you may want to look for when investing in the best barbell squat pad.
Pros
- great padding for hip thrusts
- the notch in the middle helps you to find comfortable placement on your back/neck
- the red color option makes it easy to recognize as your personal squat pad and not a generic one at the gym
Cons
- might be too thick for back squats
- too bulky to fit into gym bag well
- have to use the velcro fastening straps which can be annoying
Fit Viva Barbell Pad for Standard and Olympic Barbells
Fit Viva’s barbell pad is the thickest on this list at 1.3 inches. However, it has a protective layer that makes it more sturdy and durable.
It’s made to be non-slip so it won’t absorb sweat and odor like an unprotected foam cushion would.
This barbell squat pad is 17 inches long and 3.5 inches wide, which is a common size among this type of product.
The Fit Viva barbell pad will fit standard and Olympic barbells and boasts a quick-slip feature for simple application and removal.
If you’re looking for something to stand out from the commonly black squat pads, they have three other color options in blue, pink, and red.
They’ve also included 2 velcro straps for extra security and 2 free workout plans!
If comfort is important to you then this is a great option. The ergonomic design decreases pressure across your neck and shoulders to allow you to fully focus on your exercise.
Pros
- easily adjustable for different sized barbells
- great customer service
- design of the pad provides great placement and even distribution across the neck and shoulders without all the extra added bulk
Cons
- straps may get lost easily since they aren’t connected to the foam pad
- the cushion makes barbell harder to control
Dark Iron Fitness Barbell Neck Pad
Dark Iron Fitness makes one of the thinnest barbell pads you’ll find.
It’s only about 0.75 of an inch and made of dense foam material which helps to maintain its form and prevent it from flattening.
Another feature that’s quite helpful is the cover that protects the underlying dense foam.
It should fit nicely around 2-inch Olympic barbells.
One of the features that differentiate it from the others on this list is its velcro closure that extends from one end of the 17-in long pad to the other.
The built-in velcro is a significant feature if you’re worried about the pad staying on the bar.
This velcro component is attached to a durable cover made of synthetic leather that prevents moisture accumulation and dirt build-up. It’s easy to wipe off, and won’t retain odors.
I personally prefer this feature for squats because it’s more comfortable than trying to maneuver around the gap that most other barbell pads have.
You also get to choose a plain black design with no logo or 8 different custom designs with motivational phrases on them.
Pros
- doesn’t slip or pop off of bar during use
- very comfortable to use
- really durable
Cons
- hair may get caught in the velcro
- velcro may not be very strong
Bear Squat Pad
The Bear barbell squat pad is perfect for hip thrusts because of its 1.3-inch thick rubber-foam, which is covered by a protective layer.
It’s also ergonomically designed to keep your upper back and neck free of pain during squats and lunges.
If you’re looking for a really durable barbell squat pad, then I can personally attest to its longevity and staying ability during exercises.
The non-slip material does its job well. It will also fit Olympic-style barbells with ease and is very simple to put on and remove.
This barbell squat pad comes in 4 colors: black, blue, pink, and red. It’s quite supportive and will definitely protect you during lifts. Plus it’s lightweight and easy to throw into your gym bag.
The length and diameter are 18 inches, and 3.5 inches which should be sufficient for any body frame and exercise you’d need a barbell pad for.
Pros
- very cushiony and keeps shoulders from hurting
- feels like it has more support than other brands
- great customer service
Cons
- might be too much padding for squats
- takes a bit of maneuvering to make sure pad doesn’t fall off of the bar
- rolls around a bit as you’re lifting
Winner of the Roundup
After assessing the options and comparing them based on the specifications you’d want in the best barbell squat pad, I’d say the Dark Iron Fitness Barbell Neck Pad is the winner of this product roundup!
It has the most features for one of the most affordable prices and is thick enough to protect you from damaging yourself while working out, but not so thick as to impede proper form.
As I mentioned earlier, if the pad is too thick it may be uncomfortable to use for squats because it can create too much bulk.
The Dark Iron Fitness Barbell Pad is also made to last plenty of Bodypump sessions.
Since these classes tend to make you sweat, the best barbell squat pad to use would be one that’s made of a high density and durable material.
The protective cover is one of my favorite features because it keeps the foam from getting saturated, and is easy to clean.
You also don’t have to worry about losing tiny velcro straps because it’s built into the pad!
Convenience, durability, and functionality make this the best barbell squat pad, especially for Bodypump.
