I 34;could34; take a harder roller, but why should I? Overall my quads prefer this to a 34;hard foam34; roller, and any tender spots will thank you for this one. I'm a myofascial release therapist by trade. More recent research has shown that tissues actually respond better to softer materials/tools. Not sure why so many people, trainers, etc continue to use or promote 34;harder is better34; for soft tissue therapy. The 34;no pain, no gain34; mindset often lead us into pain in the first place. It rarely helps us out of pain, and a softer tool can be 34;just as34; or even 34;more34; effective. On top of that, if you're one of many (like most of my clients) who stopped foam rolling because it hurts too much, what's the point? Try a softer tool and see how that works for you. Overall, its not 34;too34; soft. It gives on top, and has a firm, foam center. What's also nice, is it can kinda of grab and drag your tissue a bit - just like some myofascial release techniques. It's similar to the Melt roller, but larger diameter, and maybe slightly different material, giving it a slightly different feel (yet more similar than any standard roller). If you use Yoga Tune-up balls (my other/maybe more favorite rolling device), it's softer than new balls, but kinda like very well-worn balls. I like the shorter length, vs Melt or a regular roller, so I'm not bumping into my furniture with it.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]