I was doing shrugs last night and it made me think about this thread. My Maximuscle straps are old and solft but a new pair would be firm and rigid like card. You have to break them in like a new pair of leather shoes.

If it helps you Marky_G I can send you my current straps as I have a new pair in the drawer at home. They are a bit threadbare where they go through the loop but have lots of life left in them and are pre-broken in.