What is The Backbone?
The Backbone - Bench Press Pad
The Backbone stops your back and shoulders from sliding on any bench press! It provides optimal grip, allowing athletes to focus on repetitions as opposed to focusing on unnecessary movements caused by slipping backwards.
Bar grip shirts can be highly effective for squatting but lack the grip required for bench press. Additionally, most people bench press more than once per week, meaning you'll need to do laundry more frequently; This actually wears down the grip on the shirt.
Using bands or shelf liner for grip? Forget those too. Shelf liner isn't durable and moves too much during bench press set up. Bands only cover a fraction of your back and can additionally make set ups more difficult.
It's time to try The Backbone. It's convenient, portable, and cost-effective.
How do I use The Backbone?
We've iterated The Backbone multiple times from a square, to a rectangle, to a rectangle with straps for more support.
- Place The Backbone down on any bench press in the general area of where your upper/mid back would make contact
- When you're ready, go through your bench press set-up as normal and The Backbone will be in the perfect spot.
- Un-rack your weight and start benching!
How does the velcro work?
Each Backbone comes with velcro attached on the bottom. When you're done training for the day and ready to roll everything up:
- Grab the elongated, double sided velcro strips
- Fasten the velcro together
- Toss it in your gym bag or backpack
What is The Backbone made of?
Each Backbone is made from chemical and allergy free PVC. This material has the ability to stretch to moderate elongations and return to its near original shape creating a longer life and better physical range than other materials.
Our Backbones boast a textured latex-free surface for maximum stability and is a full 1/4 inch thick, making it thick, strong, and comfortable. It truly mimics the grip of a competition-grade bench press.
Other FAQs
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What can I wash my Backbone with?
If your Backbone is soiled from sweat or chalk, we suggest:
- Mix a small solution of two cups of water and four drops of dish soap
- Using a spray bottle, damp sponge, or terry cloth rag to apply solution
- Rub the dirty areas
- Wipe with clean water
- Rub with a dry terry cloth towel
- Use our convenient grommet to hang to air dry
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Which way does The Backbone sit on the bench press?
We suggest placing your Backbone down on any bench press with the label facing up and the strap fastened under the bench where your mid back is normally arched.
Testimonials
The Backbone is an absolute necessity for me; especially when I’m not sure what type of bench I’ll be using. My setup/arch requires me to get a good grip on the bench and that’s just not possible on some commercial benches. Since I’ve gotten it, it’s lived in my gym bag and has come in clutch when lifting at a commercial gym. Way more reliable than chalk or an A7 shirt.
The Backbone is amazing in helping me stay tight on the bench to maintain my arch and to better incorporate leg drive. I’ve tried other methods such as bands and shelf liner to mimic the effect but they have not been as good at sticking to the bench and as comfortable as the backbone is. I also don’t have to worry about slipping while benching at different gyms, nor do I have to wear ONLY tank tops when benching so I don’t slide. Invest in this, it’s totally worth it.
The Backbone is amazing. I’ve always had an issue with sliding around on the bench, and it gets quite annoying when you have to use giant resistance bands to wrap around the bench. #1 it can ruin the bench and #2 bands can ruin the back of your shirt. The backbone takes that problem away. I love it and would recommend to anyone.
Before purchasing The Backbone, my shoulders would slip when using leg drive. The first time I used The Backbone, I was surprised at how sturdy I was attached to the bench and shoulder slippage was never an issue again! 100% recommend!!
This was something I never knew I needed. I have to work out at a commercial gym, and the benches are so slippery. I’ve been using bands to help, but the backbone changed the game entirely. Can’t bench without it! It’s small so it takes up no space in my gym bag. And the best part is that I am GLUED TO THE BENCH with this thing! I love it.
The backbone has made lifting at my school gym 100x better! I don’t slip at all, even when I’m wearing a regular t-shirt that would normally slide all over the place. So happy to have this in my gym back every bench session!