This is the roller to get. These foam rollers soften and torque and change shape over time. This one is hard enough that it remains fairly firm and straight and this is critically important to get the benefits from such rollers. Physical Therapists all use this one but it is true that they may have the cheaper softer ones for people just starting out on the roller and are struggling through the initial stages of inflamation or injury. Otherwise, THIS is the roller to get and I would suggest you ignore the few complaints about it being "too hard". You want these rollers hard for several reasons: 1. To do what they are intended to do, 2. To remain rigid and straight longer than a week.If you are using the roller properly, yes - you will have some discomfort and even what some might describe as "pain" which is why you don't get on these things and roll on them quickly; they are meant to work with slowly as you gradually use them to help to bring order to traumatized muscle and connective tissue. Your body will adapt if you use the roller regularly and what seems "hard" today re this roller will in 3.5 weeks of rolling everyday or every other day seem almost soft and a pleasurable nice gentle massage after that.So stick with it, don't go get a cheaper softer roller, and use it AS DIRECTED - yes even you, the non-expert, who thinks you know just exactly how hard or soft these things should be.The roller is for massage as well as stability (strengthening) work and again, in my professional experience in the trade, this is the best one out there. The only better one I've experienced is one I made by using plastic pipe from plumbers supply and glued sticky mats to the outside of the pipe. This one is slightly softer than using my home-made pipe one; this one is the perfect consistency of hard enough to do the job but soft enough not to break anything.
