Donnie Thompson Formal Bowtie

Donnie Thompson Formal Bowtie

Developed by powerlifting legend Donnie Thompson and Spud Inc., the Formal Bowtie is a simple but effective accessory for helping athletes train and maintain superior posture. In a time when the average person spends much of their day working at a computer, looking at a cell phone, or stuck driving in traffic, the problem of slouching—and the shoulder pain that comes with it—is all too common. The Bowtie attacks this issue by applying firm compression to the pectoral tendons and reducing strain on the muscles behind the shoulders. When worn during warm-ups or as you move through your squats, bench, deadlifts, etc., the Formal Bowtie not only helps limit some of these aches and pains, but also trains more consistent form. Along the way, your muscle memory is rewired, as the brain encourages better posture in your day-to-day life.

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Donnie Thompson Formal Bowtie Reviews

Based on 8 reviews from Gym Radar users, the Spud Inc. Donnie Thompson Formal Bowtie have an average rating of 4.17 out of 5. They're currently the #1 most-owned Stretching on Gym Radar, with 30 home gyms reporting ownership.

8 Reviews

4.17 / 5
Performance
3.88 / 5
Build Quality
4.88 / 5
Value
3.75 / 5

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BIGDADCHAD
ALLEN IRON CITADEL
194 reviews
2082 points
(3.00)
3/13/2026
I feel like it ended up being a waste of money and a baby crutch for weaknesses that just needed to have more work so it hangs in my closet and I fixed my posture the hard way
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JGratty
The GGG
71 reviews
997 points
(4.33)
3/9/2026
Feels great when I’m really locked up. Gives an immediate sense of relief for my back whether it be from benching or squatting.
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Basement Brandon
Basement Barbell
500 reviews
4294 points
(4.00)
3/6/2026
These are good for posture, more stiff than the casual so it's hard to wear for long periods of time.
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LC2 at Thick Rick and Sons
LC2 at Thick Rick and Sons's Gym
221 reviews
2137 points
(5.00)
3/4/2026
Game changer for my posture and shoulders. I often wear this product while sitting back and relaxing.
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The Barn Barbell
The Barn Barbell's Gym
290 reviews
2402 points
(4.00)
2/27/2026
Fits into the “when I remember it” category which is probably pretty telling overall. That said, well built and does help - I just have to be smart enough to remember to use it!
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Big Ashley
The Storage Room
56 reviews
691 points
(3.67)
2/27/2026
As a female, it took a couple tries to get the right size. I forget I have it most of the time but I like it when I remember I have it. High quality and will last a long time so no complaints there.
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Iron Chaplain
Iron Chaplain Gym
116 reviews
1555 points
(5.00)
2/26/2026
I wear the formal bowtie most days when I am training and it helps keeps my shoulder locked in and healthy. Highly recommended, especially for Masters athletes!
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Big Matt B
Matt’s Stall Mat Stall
161 reviews
1729 points
(4.33)
2/22/2026
I had a shoulder impingement that I couldn’t shake, even with PT. The bowtie helped a lot. The tension on the shoulder during warmups, and the cue to retract the shoulders were both very helpful. It’s helpful to add a cord to the back handle to pull it down into place for better tension.
Performance
Value
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