Does your neck hurt every time you do squats? Is the bar pressing on your hip bones preventing you from working out properly? Invest in the best hip thrust pad, and these problems will be gone.
Also known as barbell pads, hip thrust pads are essential when lifting because they protect your hip bone from bruising, prevent some serious injuries, and keep you comfortable during workouts. Pads for Barbell Hip Thrusts also offer superior comfort throughout the hip thrust movement.
The best barbell pad on our review is the Dark Iron Fitness 15” Extra Thick Barbell Pad. It ensures comfort, is easy to clean, and is highly durable. It also fits 2” Olympic bars perfectly.
We’ll talk about ten of the best hip thrust barbell pads of 2022 and why they top their respective categories.
Best Hip Thrust Pad at a Glance
Because the Dark Iron Fitness 15” Extra Thick Barbell Pad boasts of top-grade, ¾” dense foam, it provides optimal comfort and support during powerlifting training. The foam is covered in durable synthetic leather to ensure that it doesn’t absorb moisture or flatten out.
The Iron Bull Strength Advanced Pad uses an ergonomic design for even weight distribution across the shoulders, relieving neck pain as you perform hip thrusts. It’s made from high-quality thick rubber and has an anti-slip matte surface.
The Elevator Fitness Pad has a well-designed neck groove to help provide comfort and promote good form when doing hip thrusts. This thick foam pad uses rubberized memory foam that molds perfectly to the body.
Dark Iron Fitness 15” Extra Thick Barbell Pad – Best Overall
What we like
- High-quality casing
- Velcro closure allows for easy on and off while keeping the bar in place
- Available in different designs
- Foam doesn’t flatten out easily
What we don’t like
- Doesn’t have a middle groove
- Feels a little too tight when used around Olympic bars
The Dark Iron Fitness 15” Extra Thick Barbell Pad meets all of the criteria we’re looking for in a high-quality barbell pad: comfort, durability, maintenance, and design. This barbell pad ensures comfort because it helps cushion the neck as you use it with 2” Olympic size bars and a Smith machine bar.
The Dark Iron Fitness 15” Extra Thick Barbell Pad is also durable. It features ¾” dense foam with a synthetic leather finish for optimal support that stays in shape even after repetitive use. Unlike other pads, this one’s easy to clean and comes in various designs.
Moving forward, we would like the brand to incorporate a middle groove on the pad to make it more comfortable on the back. Regardless, the other features of the Dark Iron Fitness 15” Extra Thick Barbell Pad can easily compensate for this minor issue.
Iron Bull Strength Advanced Pad – Best Barbell Pad for Hip Thrusts
What we like
- No velcro straps; simply slip the pad on
- Doesn’t slip or move when lifting
- Ergonomic design with a deep middle groove
- Available in different colors
What we don’t like
- The foam shows wear and tear when used with heavier bars
- More ideal for moderate weight lifting
The Iron Bull Strength Advanced Pad deserves the second spot on our review because its ergonomic design provides comfort and safety when you’re doing hip thrusts. Its high-density foam is designed specifically to evenly distribute weight, relieving pain and pressure on your neck. As a result, you can focus on your form when performing hip thrusts.
Unlike other barbell pads, the Iron Bull pad boasts a quick-slip design for easy and fast installation on any barbell. You can use this pad with any bar — simply clip the bar pad on the bar, and you’re good to go. The lesser straps you need to secure, the more time you’ll have to work out!
The casing of the Iron Bull pad is made from a combination of iron and rubber and contains high-quality thick foam rubber. It weighs 0.13 pounds only and measures 16” x 3” x 3”.
Elevator Fitness Pad – Best Budget
What we like
- Fits all Olympic sized barbells
- Ergonomically designed neck groove
- Supports a wide variety of exercises
- High-quality casing and rubberized memory foam
What we don’t like
- Requires two straps to ensure stability and safety
- Straps can be improved
The Elevator Fitness Pad is fantastic for people who want to perform hip thrusts safely and comfortably but don’t want to spend much. This is a good hip thrust pad because it has an ergonomically designed neck groove that promotes good form and provides maximum comfort. It uses a memory foam sponge pad that contours to the shape of your body.
Measuring 19.21” x 4.69” x 4.09”, the Elevator Fitness Pad fits all Olympic-sized barbells. It weighs 0.48 pounds and is made with synthetic rubber. This squat pad enables you to properly perform lunges, barbell squats, hip thrusts, and more.
The only drawback of the Elevator Fitness Pad is that you need to put on two straps every time you use it, to avoid the squat pad from falling off.
ProFitness Barbell Pad – Best Comfortable
What we like
- 18” long
- Available in different colors
- Memory foam ensures comfort
- Easy slide design
What we don’t like
- Has a loose fit on Olympic bars
- Tends to roll while doing hip thrusters
Who says you need to sacrifice your comfort just to perfect hip thrusts? The ProFitness Barbell Pad ensures comfort because it features a tough, dense foam that provides a cushioned pad surface to protect your shoulders and back when performing hip thrusts. Its thick foam also doesn’t flatten even when you use heavyweights!
Another feature we love about the ProFitness Barbell Pad is its easy slide design. Forget about using ankle straps or positioning two straps when you use this bar pad — simply slide it over any barbell and remove once done. This pad is easy to fit and remove and stays in place.
The ProFitness Barbell Pad is 18” long and weighs 0.04 pounds. It’s made from rubber, which means you can easily fit one in your gym bag and bring them anywhere!
Although the ProFitness Barbell Pad has a loose fit on Olympic bars, it still gets the job done of protecting your shoulders and back as you perform barbell squats.
Power Guidance Barbell Squat Pad – Best Anti-Slip Design
What we like
- Lightweight and compact
- Anti-slip design
- 17.5” long
- Affordable
What we don’t like
- The hole is too big for most barbells
- Some users complained that the straps are unnecessary
The Power Guidance Barbell Squat Pad makes it to our review as one of the best barbell pads because it uses an anti-slip material. This advanced material ensures the pad will not roll around or shift from the bar, reducing your risk of injuries. The high grip surface of this squat pad is also ideal for different exercises, such as barbell sits, barbell hip thrusts, and lunges.
The Power Guidance Barbell Squat Pad is 17.5” long, 3.5” in diameter and 1.3” thick. It has two straps to keep the pad in place and prevent injuries. Like most barbell pads, it’s lightweight and only weighs 0.66 pounds. It’s made from high-grade ergonomic rubber with an anti-slip matte finish.
The Power Guidance Barbell Squat Pad hole is too big for most barbells. But even with this flaw, this pad still serves its purpose.
RivalHippo Pad – Best Durable
What we like
- Durable and lightweight
- 17.36” long
- Fits all barbells
- Velcro enclosure helps the pad stay in place
What we don’t like
- The thick foam prevents the pad from wrapping around the bar completely
- Bulky and may not be as comfortable
Your search for the most durable barbell pads for hip will be over once you add the RivalHippo Pad to your home gym. This is one of the best hip thrust pads today because it’s highly durable, thanks to its polyurethane and synthetic rubber materials. It also boasts a super thick foam (3mm) that relieves and absorbs pressure, similar to heavy-duty memory foam.
The RivalHippo Pad measures 17.36” x 3.98” x 3.62” and only weighs 0.73 pounds. This barbell neck pad accommodates all standard, and Olympic barbells yet are slim enough to fit in your gym bag. It also uses a push-pull design with built-in velcro closure to hug the bar tight without breaking. This bar pad allows you to lift more weights without sacrificing your safety.
The thickness of the RivalHippo Pad has become an issue for some users, as they feel that it’s too bulky and doesn’t wrap around the bars entirely. But with all the features mentioned, we still think that the RivalHippo Pad is an excellent investment!
Plan4u Hip Thrust Pad – Best Leather
What we like
- Durable velcro tape for stability and security
- It comes with a D ring attachment so that you can pack the pad easier and faster
- Good value for money
- Anti-slip material
What we don’t like
- Too bulky for gym bags
- Non-washable
If you don’t mind splurging a little to have your own barbell pad made from leather, the Plan4u Hip Thrust Pad is for you. Unlike other pads, the Plan4u Hip Thrust Pad uses an ultra-thick leather foam pad, suitable for 1” to 1.1” Olympic barbells and 1” to 1.26” Smith machine bar. This hip thrust pad is also ideal for most barbells so that you can train your hip muscles, chest muscles, triceps, and hamstrings.
Another thing we love about the Plan4u Hip Thrust Pad is its anti-slip material that prevents the bar from slipping, especially when you use more weight when doing bench power lifts. This material won’t absorb sweat and accumulate odors, ensuring that your workout will always be pleasant. This hip thrust pad measures 15.7” x 5.5” x 5.5” and weighs 1.7 pounds.
J Bryant Fitness Hip Thrust Pad – Best for Serious Weightlifters
What we like
- Ideal for users who are starting to add more weight to their hips
- High-quality casing
- One of the thickest barbell hip thrust pads in the market
- Value for money
What we don’t like
- Doesn’t properly support squats
- Expensive
Looking for a good hip thrust pad that can support your powerlifting regime? Then the J Bryant Fitness Hip Thrust Pad is an excellent option for you. This barbell pad for the hip is ideal for weightlifters because it features a super thick filling and high-density sponge, allowing you to safely perform hip thrusts, bench presses, and other workouts.
This hip thrust pad measures 16.65” x 6.89” x 6.54” and weighs 1.6 pounds. It comes with a leather casing that prevents absorbing moisture and sweat, making it very easy to clean. Its casing also prevents slipping, so you can remain safe as you lift some heavy weight.
Some users of the J Bryant Fitness Hip Thrust Pad mentioned that its thickness is ideal for hip thrusts but not for squats. But besides squats, you can still use this hip thrust pad to perform various lifting workouts.
FitGirl Hip Thrust Pad – Best Pad Designed for Women
What we like
- Comes with a soft casing and thick foam cushion
- Stylish designs
- Perfect for women with average shoulder and hip dimensions
- Thick enough to absorb pressure
What we don’t like
- Tends to move when used with heavy weights
- Expensive
The FitGirl Hip Thrust Pad is designed specifically for women and uses thick foam cushion material that’s soft yet strong enough to prevent bruises. Its dimensions (17.8” x 3.9” x 3.9”) are designed according to the female body composition, making it easier for the ladies to use this pad.
The FitGirl Hip Thrust Pad will take your fitness to a new level because it brings comfort, protects your skin, and allows you to lift more weights. You can also purchase this bar pad along with the brand’s ankle straps and resistance bands to add more versatility to your workouts.
Gladiator Strength Pad – Best Protective Pad
What we like
- Ergonomic design provides optimal comfort
- Two straps ensure security and stability
- Almost 18” in length
- Effective barbell neck pad
What we don’t like
- Velcro straps have to be attached separately
- Some users find it a bit thin
All of the best barbell pads provide protection, but the Gladiator Strength Barbell Pad stands out because it comes with two straps, allowing you to secure its foam sponge pad in place. This pad can also be used with a wide array of exercises, from lunges, squats to hip thrusts. The Gladiator Strength Pad also boasts an odor-resistant material that absorbs impact and reduces neck and shoulder pain.
The Gladiator Strength Barbell Pad measures 17.5” x 3.9” x 3.9” and weighs 0.70 pounds. It’s made with high-density, thick foam that’s durable and long-lasting. This is definitely one of the best barbell pads today as you can easily install and remove it from all 2” Olympic and Smith machine bars, which is very useful if you’re always alternating workouts.
Our Verdict
So what’s the best hip thrust pad? After comparing different hip thrust pads, we confirm that the Dark Iron Fitness 15” Extra Thick Barbell Pad is the hardest to beat. It’s comfortable to use, ensures durability, is very easy to clean, and comes in different designs. If you are looking for an excellent hip thrust pad that won’t let you down, then this one should be at the top of your list!
The Iron Bull Strength Advanced Pad lands second on our review because it’s easy to install and remove, stable when used, and compatible with different bars. Choosing this pad provides comfort while relieving pressure and pain on your neck.
Buying Guide: What To Look For In A Hip Thrust Pad
Barbell pads come in different brands and specs today, making it challenging for someone to choose which one to buy. You’ll likely see yourself in this situation if this is your first time selecting a good hip thrust pad.
Let the buying guide below help you find the best hip thrust pad suitable fast.
Material and Thickness
The best barbell hip thrust pads use nylon, leather, or synthetic leather outer casing with high-density foam inside. This outer casing doesn’t get damp even if you sweat excessively when performing hip thrust. On the other hand, the high-density foam doesn’t easily flatten out, which means that the pad will continue to serve its purpose after prolonged and heavy use.
Ergonomic Design
The definition of an ergonomically designed foam barbell pad varies from one person to another. While some people are comfortable using a thick pad, others invest in a hip thrust barbell pad with thinner, low-profile padding.
Look into the best hip thrust pads and choose one that works well for you. Make sure that the bar pad doesn’t hurt or get in the way of your shoulders.
Slip Resistance
Find a squat pad that features a non-slip inner and outing casing. This can keep the barbell squat pad in place even when you’re sweating. This feature is crucial to ensure your safety and the effectiveness of your workouts.
Securing Feature
The best barbell pads have different securing features: slip-on, velcro straps, or straps. All of these securing features are effective — you just need to determine which one you’re most comfortable in using.
The securing feature of the squat pad is an important consideration, especially if you use more weight when lifting.
