A bench mat is a grip surface you lay on a bench press pad under your upper back. Its job is to give your back something to hold onto so the setup you build before the lift stays where you put it. If you have never seen one, the idea sounds small. Anyone who has slid up a slick vinyl pad mid-set knows why it exists.

What it does

On most commercial benches the pad is smooth vinyl. When you drive your legs, the force pushes your body toward your head, and if the upper back is not anchored you drift. A bench mat adds traction between your back and the pad, so leg drive goes into the bar instead of into moving you.

Who it is for

• Lifters who train in different gyms. The same mat gives you the same surface on every bench.
• Anyone who slides. Especially in slick shirts or on worn pads.
• Lifters building a repeatable setup. Consistency is what makes the arch and leg drive usable.

How the Odyssey Bench Mat is used

Lay it on the pad where your upper back lands. Build your normal setup: shoulder blades down and back, then feet. Press. That is the whole routine, with no chalk, towel or band setup required. It works on flat barbell bench, incline dumbbell press and flat dumbbell press, and it packs flat into a gym bag.

What it is made of

The Odyssey Bench Mat is made of Advanced Grip Polymer construction. It is a thin, flat mat, exactly the width of a bench pad, edge to edge with no overhang. It is available as the Bench Mat V2 with the white wing artwork, and there is a final run of the original Noir V1 while stock lasts.

Does it work?

It is tested by 700 lb+ benchers and rated 4.98 out of 5 across 207 verified reviews. One customer described being able to maximize her leg drive without sliding. What it will not do is replace a tight setup; it makes a good setup stay put.

What comes with it

Every mat ships with one free Odyssey Liquid Chalk for your hands, fast international shipping, and a 30-Day guarantee, from Odyssey Products in Ottawa, Canada. Trusted by 6,000+ lifters.

See the Odyssey Bench Mats