Of course, the bar It gets a lot of praise for its strength-building benefits, but in some scenarios, it’s just not the right tool for the job. Especially for those new to barbell exercises like deadlifts and rack pulls, barbells can force you into awkward postures that can lead to potential injury and therefore less training time and more time. Recovery. Fortunately, however, there are other options that allow efficient strength training without the necessary experience.
Hex bars, for example, put more emphasis on the quads to get the weight off the ground, relying on more muscle groups to move the weight and making things a bit easier than a traditional bar. Combine that with the yoke-style grip, where your hands are parallel to your toes, and the hex bar, also known as a trap bar, can be a great tool when you’re looking to add deadlifts or other lower-body exercises. to your strength training. routine.
There are a handful of these special hexagonal bars, but not all bars are up to the task. Before we jump on the platform and dive into the best hex bars on the market, here are a few things to consider.
What to consider when choosing a hexagonal bar
knurled
Like any bar, the hex bars feature a knurled pattern on the grip to help facilitate better handling during lifts. Diamond-style engraving is designed to dig into the palms of the hands or weight lifting gloves, creating a feeling of friction that allows you to better grip the bar throughout the movement. Knurling can vary in terms of intensity. While some hex bars may feature a subtle pattern that offers some stickiness, others may boast a more aggressive tread designed for maximum grip. These high-octane knurled pattern styles can be a bit abrasive for newcomers, so they’re worth checking out before you make a purchase.
weight capacity
While hex bars can be used for a multitude of exercises, the two main modalities where these specialty bars come into play are the deadlift and the barbell row. These lower-body moves employ a variety of muscle groups, which means you’ll likely be moving a lot of weight once you get used to the structure of the lift itself. For this reason, it is vital that you choose a trap bar that is up to the task at hand. Hex bars can range in weight capacity from 500 to 1,000 pounds. Think about your training goals and strength potential to ensure your specialty bar can handle the loads you’ll be placing on it, or at least expect to be placing on it in the future.
interior dimensions
A hexagonal bar gets its name from the hexagonal shape it displays in the center. This is where the athlete stands when using the bar, so it helps to have adequate space to work. Most trap bars have an inside diameter of between 25 and 30 inches, which should be enough for most athletes. For larger athletes or those who don’t want to feel constrained inside the bar, I recommend going for a travel setup. This basically removes half of the hexagonal shape, allowing for an open front or back.
Handle Placement
Similar to the inside diameter, your hands should not feel constricted or enlarged when working with a hex bar. Most trapeze bars should have handles on the sleeves, which should provide a comfortable lifting experience, as long as the inside diameter is adequate enough for your posture. However, this feature is down to personal preference and may require some experimentation to really find the right grip setting for your personal needs.
How we test
During my years in strength training, I’ve gotten my hands on several hex bars, including some listed in this roundup. When looking for a hex bar to use for training, I often look at visible features, including the perceived strength of the bar, grip placement, and how much room I have within the deck. Additional features, such as whether the trap bar can be placed inside a power rackor if you can stand up to facilitate plate fix, are also considered. If you are looking to add a hex bar to your home gym setupIt’s critical that you choose equipment that you’re comfortable with from the start, as there’s nothing worse than buying fitness equipment that you hate using week after week.
Now, let’s find our clamp, lock, and get down to the best hex bars available today.
Force USA Walkthrough Trap Bar
- Inner diameter: 29 inches
- Weight capacity: 661 pounds
Functional, stylish, and ready for any new PR, the Force USA Walkthrough Trap Bar is a perfect addition to any home training facility. I really like the built-in bar jack profile, which makes adding and removing plates a breeze, and the open back allows for additional exercises like frame carry and more. Keep in mind, though, that this hex bar weighs 65 pounds unloaded, which can be cumbersome at times, especially for those just starting to weight train.
Eleiko Öppen deadlift bar
- Inside diameter: 25 inches
- Weight capacity: 1,102 pounds
If you want to update your bar options at home, why not trust? one of the most reputable brands in strength sports? Eleiko’s Öppen Deadlift Bar features an open back design for easier entry, and when you’re pulling heavy weight, the knurling that appears on the neutral handles is top notch. While I’d like to see additional handle placement for an added sense of grip variety, there’s no denying the power exemplified in this quality piece of fitness equipment.
CAP Barbell Olympic Trapeze Bar
- Inner diameter: 29 inches
- Weight capacity: 500 pounds
Taking the traditional hexagonal shape, okay, octagonal, the CAP Barbell Olympic Trap Bar can be a great inexpensive addition to your home workout space. The 500-pound weight capacity should be enough for most enthusiasts, and I especially like the roomy 29-inch interior that can accommodate a large number of athletes. I would recommend marking with chalk or tying up however, when using this hex bar. The grips don’t feature a knurl pattern, leaving you with a weakened connection to the weight, especially if you’ve already broken a sweat a few times. RPE exercises 9.
Rep Fitness Trap Bar
- Inner diameter: 28 inches
- Weight capacity: 500 pounds
Learning the ropes of barbell training? The Rep Fitness Trap Bar features a simple design that creates better weight distribution as you adjust your kinetic chain for serious pulling action. I have trained with a handful of Rep Fitness Trap Bars over the years and have always appreciated the simple and easy to digest nature of these specialty bars. However, you can get past the medium knurling, which requires some chalking if you plan on getting anywhere near this deck’s 500-pound weight capacity.
Titan Fitness Rackable Hex Trap Bar v3
- Inside diameter: 22 inches
- Weight capacity: 800 pounds
I have always liked this hex bar for the simple fact that it can be securely mounted to J-Hooks inside a power frame for presses and other modalities. The medium knurl feels great in the hands, and I really like the extended sleeves, which can be great when using thicker skid plates while chasing new PR. While the coating can be prone to chipping with extended use, this can be a great specialty bar for anyone building their dream power rack setup on the confines of your garage.
Valor Fitness Hex Trap Bar
- Inside diameter: 22 inches
- Weight capacity: 500 pounds
Grip strength is critical to any barbell movement, and you can train grip strength using bars of different thicknesses and angles. Instead of loading your home gym with a multitude of bars, Valor Fitness OB-HEX includes four grip varieties that vary in diameters for a huge amount of training potential. I would recommend, however, that you use this hex bar with traditional cast iron plates. While this can be noisy, it will pair nicely with shortened plate sleeves, especially if you’re moving loads over 300lbs.
