The sling is a simple design -- just a few nylon straps sewed together and cushioned with a soft lining for the cuffs and neck area. And 2 strips of velcro. That sums up the sling's design.
It's plain, simple and has proven to be plenty sturdy so far.
Materials
The material of the sling is mainly just nylon straps, and the neck pad is of neoprene. Think diving suit. Diving suits are usually made of neoprene, so if you know how those feel, this is similar only a little thicker. The nylon straps are exactly like the straps used to adjust length on a back pack.
Neck Strap
You have the neck sling with a thin foamy material, neoprene sewed onto it to add comfort to the back of your neck while in use. This part of the sling measures 10 1/2" long and a little over 1 1/2" wide. In all honesty, it doesn't look terribly comfortable to me since it looks like it will put a lot of pressure on my neck, but it actually is comfortable for me. Depending on the size/weight of your legs will determine how much or how little pressure your neck will be recieving while in use. Most average sized legs probably won't end up with a crick in the neck after use.
On the outer portion of the neck sling/pad (not the portion that comes into contact with your neck skin) there's a tiny black tag with "Sportsheets" embriodered on it in gold lettering. If you dislike this for whatever reason, you can simply cut it off without it effecting the strap itself.
On either end of this neoprene neck pad, you have a strap and a slider adjuster -- think back pack strap adjusters. That's exactly what this is. If you remember carrying a back pack that had the straps with the plastic slidey adjuster for shortening or lengthening the back pack's straps, that's exactly what the straps and adjusters are on is. The closer you slide the adjusters to the neck pad, the shorter length you have between your neck and legs. In other words, tightening them will bring your legs closer to your chest. Loosening will allow your legs some room to move and loosened fully, the sling won't hold your legs up on its own, unless you're tall. Below is a photo showing placement of and how you'll adjust the sliders.
The length you need will depend on how long you are. For my 5"2 size, I need to slide the adjusters all the way up next to the neck pad in order for it to hold my legs up without any effort from me. In this position, I have to remove the sling from behind my neck or loosen the adjusters in order to bring my legs from the bent-at-the-knee position. Sliding the adjusters just an inch apart from the neck pad allows me room to move my legs freely. But when on the tightest setting, my legs are pretty locked in this position, meaning I'm all exposed, there's no closing my legs or unbending my knees without undoing the adjusters or taking it off my neck. That's the point of this strap. Below is a photo of the strap around my neck and the ankle cuffs in my hands to give an idea of length.
These straps you use to adjust measure 1" wide and on the shortest setting (the one I need in order to "lock" my legs in that position) it measures 16" long from neck to ankle strap.
On the longest setting, there's 46 1/2" of strap between neck and ankle.
So this means the sling is going to accomodate a wide variety of sizes from super short like me to super tall. I doubt anyone would be too long for this, but if you're shorter than 5" you'll have more room to move your legs.
Ankle Cuffs
At the ankles you have the velcro cuffs, which also have a strip of that foamy neoprene material like the neck pad. The ankle cuffs measure 15" long (un-velcroed) but the foamy padding is only 10 1/2" long, then the last 5" is just velcro, no padding. However, most ankles will have the entire ankle resting on the foamy padding.
My ankles measure 7" around, and I'm able to tighten the velcro that tight without trouble. I'd say this will fit most ankles. I'm also able to fit the cuffs around my knees. Doing this and doubling the straps around the knees allow me to use the neck strap around my upper back, but in order for the sling to still hold my legs up, I do have to wrap the straps around my knees. This is due to my being short.
For the 6 months that I've had this sling, it's shown no signs of tearing, although it did come with loose threading where the neoprene strip is sewn onto the neck pad. It's not showing any signs of unravelling though. I expect it to last for a good few years before showing signs of damage.
The neck and ankle padding prevent the straps from scratching against your skin and causing irritation. The width of the neck pad makes an otherwise uncomfortable strap sufficient in not hurting my neck. Had there been no padding, the 1" straps would be irritating and the pull from holding your legs up would put pressure on the neck. The width of the pad makes things plenty comfortable, although I wouldn't go calling it super comfortable or plush. It's soft and foamy. The material is thick & sturdy enough to withstand some serious use.
I haven't experienced any discomfort due to the material or use of the product after long periods of time. It's totally comfortable all over.