Elevate your strength training – even while nursing an injury – with our specialty Olympic bars! Great variation and performance at budget-friendly prices. All our specialty bars are from ATX and Power Maxx, two gym equipment brands synonymous with durability & performance.
Benefits
Optimal comfort for shoulder & neck
Knurled handles for better grip
Heavy-duty construction
Massive load capacity
Great prices
How much does a Hex Trap bar weigh?
Hex trap bars used to be mostly universal in design. They roughly weighed in around 25kgs. Nowadays there are so many different designs. Now they can be up to 35kgs or as light as the new ATX compact hex trap bar which is only 13kgs.
If you are a personal trainer who has inexperienced lifters as clients, just be careful with the heavier bars. 35kgs vs 25kgs might not sound like much of a difference, but I can tell you moving the heavy ones around is noticeable. Also remember you need to include the weight of your lightest bumper plate. If you only have 10kg bumpers, then your first lift will be 55kgs.
What exercises can be done with a Hex Trap Bar?
Hex Trap Bars are designed for deadlifts. They are excellent when it comes to taking the strain off your lower back and putting some more weight on your quads. The other advantage is they both allow for better body mechanics due to more upright position and are significantly easier to grip.
Other exercises that you can do on your hex trap bar are:
1. Shrugs – hex bar shrugs are a great way to build up your traps. First you can go heavy. Secondly the movement is a bit more comfortable as the handles are located at your sides.
2. Lunges – if you have an open hex trap bar, then you can perform lunges with ease!
3. Farmers Walk – great way to burn calories, strengthen your core and grip.
4. Step Ups – Hex bars can also be used for step ups. Which can do wonders for knee health. The benefit of using hex bar instead of dumbbells is that you can load it up with some serious weight!
How much does a Safety Squat Bar weigh?
Safety squat barbells come in differing weights. Generally, the ones that made from sold steel are heavy than a traditional 7ft Olympic bar. The safety squat bars that are made from hollow tube, like the ATX-LH-SSB, are lighter. They weigh 18kgs.
Are Safety Squats harder?
No, safety squats are widely regarded as easier. They are often used to introduce beginners to barbell squats. Straight barbell squats remain of the most difficult exercises to perform. The safety squat bar does make the movement slightly easier.
First it takes the pressure of your wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Even in elite powerlifting competitions, you will see big units struggle to get the hands around the bar. They have much more muscle mass which has reduced shoulder mobility. Having the handles makes the safety squat bar so much easier to stabilise on your back.
A good quality safety bar that is designed correctly should sit on your shoulders without holding the handles. I do not recommend squatting “no hands”, that is not safe. However, it takes noticeably less effort to keep the bar on your shoulders.
The superior balance of the safety squat bar allows you to get into a more upright position. It also becomes easier to brace your core during safety squat bar squats.
What is a Safety Squat Bar used for?
The safety squat bar (SSB) was designed to make squatting easier. Barbell squats are one of the hardest exercises to master. Introducing an inexperienced lifter to squats requires a lot of guidance. The safety squat bar makes barbell squatting a little less complicated. Plus, more comfortable too.
The safety squat bar does come with a set of built in handles which helps you to stabilize the bar. The grips are extremely useful as they allow you to take the pressure of your shoulders, elbows, and wrists. A beginner make lack the shoulder mobility to support the straight bar on traditional squats.
It also allows you to stay more upright compared to the straight barbell. This takes load from your lower back.
SSB’s can also be quite versatile:
1. Safety Squat Bar Squats.
2. Safety Squat Bar Good Mornings.
3. Safety Squat Bar Seated Good Mornings.
4. Safety Squat Bar Lunges.
5. Safety Squat Bar Bulgarian Split Squats.
6. Safety Squat Bar JM Press
7. Safety Squat Bar Front Box Squats.
Safety Squat Bars are a great way to add variation or to protect/nurse your joints while training legs. That is why they are also popular with experienced lifters.
Can you use a Safety Squat bar in Powerlifting?
Unfortunately, you cannot use a safety squat bar in powerlifting competitions. However, you can use a SSB in your training. It is a great squat variation.
If you are struggling to work through your squat plateau, using a safety squat bar for a training cycle may help you reach a new squat PR. The safety squat bar will recruit different muscles to a barbell squat, while also working the important ones. By training these additional muscles, your barbell squat has the potential to improve.
Even though the safety squat bar may not be allowed on to the platform in your powerlifting competition, there is no rule against using it in training.
Does a Safety Squat Bar improve Ankle Mobility?
The safety squat bar does not directly improve ankle mobility. If your ankle mobility is affecting your traditional barbell squat, switching to a safety squat bar will give you greater range of motion. You will be squatting in a more upright position. Therefore, ankle mobility is less of a factor.
By squatting in an improved range of motion using the safety squat bar, your ankle mobility may improve over time. However, if you specifically want to address ankle mobility, you will achieve better results faster if you address this with specific mobility exercises.
