The 5 Best Trap And Hex Bars On The Market

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A trap bar, also known as a hex bar, can be a valuable addition to your fitness equipment collection. Find out what the best model is for your personal situation.

Best trap and hex bars top picks

1. DAY1 FITNESS Hex Bar (9.75″ = 24.7 cm sleeves, 23″ = 58.4 cm front to back)
2. Bells Of Steel Open Trap Bar / Hex Bar (9″ = 22.8 cm sleeves, open design, bar jack)
3. Titan Fitness Rackable Hex Trap Bar V2 (rackable)
4. Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar (rackable)
5. Kabuki Strength The Trap Bar HD (open design, heavy duty, bar jack)

Trap and hex bar models can vary in a few key features. To help you make a quick decision you can find the most important/unusual ones (both positive and negative) after each of the top picks.

Keep in mind that it is not possible to create one perfect ranking for every individual. Sometimes picks lower on the list will be better for your personal training goals, body size, strength, budget, and preferences.

How we selected our top picks

Our fitness experts spent a lot of time looking at and comparing all the different important factors of trap and hex bars. Some of the things that were taken into consideration when making our selection include:

• Weight capacity, distance between handles, distance from front to back, etc.
• User reviews
• Anecdotal reviews from fitness experts
• Price
• Brand trustability

If a pick seems interesting click it to see the online prices.

5 Best trap and hex bars reviewed in depth

Individuals who know what type of trap and hex bars they want can use the list of top picks to save some time and make a quick decision.

You can also look at each of the best trap and hex bars reviewed in detail to ensure you are making the right choice for your personal situation.

1. DAY1 FITNESS Hex Bar

Our top pick for the best trap/hex bar is the DAY1 FITNESS Hex Bar. The first and important thing to note is that this bar is on the narrow side with a distance of 23″ (58.4 cm) from the front to the back bar.

For bigger individuals and certain exercises this will simply be too small. Something else that is somewhat below average is the length of the sleeves at 9.75″ (24.7 cm) on each side.

If you use 45-pound bumper plates that are 3″ wide, your weight is limited to 314 pounds (142 kg) (weight of the bar included). Stronger individuals who only want to use bumper plates may find this a bit lacking.

That being said, most lifters will not have too much of an issue with these downsides. For these people, the DAY1 FITNESS Hex Bar is a solid pick that comes at a relatively budget-friendly price.

Something that stands out is the two knurled handle heights included. For different exercises and different deadlift range of motions this can be a nice addition. The height of the bar is 5.1″ (13 cm).

Additionally, the length of 55.25″ (140.4 cm) is relatively short which makes it compact to use and store.

In other areas, this bar is somewhat standard but in a good way. The distance between the handles is 24.5″ (62.2 cm) which is about what you can expect from trap/hex bar dimensions.

Similarly, the weight capacity of 750 pounds (340 kg) is more than enough for most people. The bar that can hold this weight is 44 pounds (20 kg) without weight plates.

In short, if you lift heavy with bumper plates and/or want a lot of room from the front to the back, this option is not for you. For other lifters this is definitely one of the best trap and hex bars, especially considering the budget-friendly price/

2. Bells Of Steel Open Trap Bar / Hex Bar

The Bells Of Steel Open Trap Bar / Hex Bar is our top pick for the best open trap/hex bar. Similar to the previous option, the sleeve length is on the shorter side. This time 9.7″ (24.6 cm) long on each side.

Heavy lifters who use bumper plates may find this lack for heavy exercises like the trap bar deadlift. You can use different weight plates if you have this issue but these are not as suitable for dropping on the ground.

Additionally, the weight capacity of 700 pounds (317 kg) is just a bit lower than the previous option. For most people this will still be more than sturdy enough but it is something to keep in mind.

The last thing that can be better is the bar jack. While it is great that loading the bar becomes a lot more convenient, some customers would prefer that this built-in bar jack is more robust.

These potential downsides are important to note but not many people will have an issue with these things.

For these individuals, the Bells Of Steel Open Trap Bar / Hex Bar is a great pick that is budget-friendly when it comes to open-ended trap and hex bars.

So if you plan to do specific exercises like walking lunges with the bar or simply prefer a lot of room to move, this model could be the best for you.

Something that is relatively unique when it comes to trap and hex bars is the presence of rotating sleeves. This is not essential but will make your lifts feel just a bit smoother.

Besides that, the total length of 59″ (149.9 cm) is relatively compact which makes the bar compact to use and store. Additionally, you have the choice between two knurled handle heights.

3. Titan Fitness Rackable Hex Trap Bar V2

If you find the sleeve length and/or the space from the back to the front of the top pick lacking but like everything else, Titan Fitness Rackable Hex Trap Bar V2 is likely what you are looking for.

The sleeve length of this model is 16″ (40.64 cm) on each side. This is not quite enough to reach the 800-pound (362.8 kg) weight capacity with bumper plates but this is a lot more capacity than the 9.75″ sleeves.

This trap/hex bar has a total width of 28.5″ (72.4 cm). For bigger individuals who like a lot of space, this will again be a lot better than the top pick.

Another smaller difference between the two models is that the Titan Fitness trap/hex bar is rackable. This could be helpful for exercises like the shoulder press where you preferably start with the weight at the right height.

A similar but valuable feature is the presence of two knurled handle heights for different exercises and individuals. These make it so this trap/hex bar has a height of 7.5″ (19.05 cm).

One thing you do have to keep in mind is that the distance between the handles is somewhat below average at 22″ (55.88 cm).

Some customers do note this looks a lot worse on paper than it feels but you may prefer more room anyway. Another “downside” that says good things about this trap/hex bar is that it is not always in stock.

The Titan Fitness Rackable Hex Trap Bar V2 is priced more average but this can definitely be worth it if you need the extra sleeve space, the extra room from front to back, and the ability to rack the bar.

4. Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar

The Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar is another very solid trap/hex bar. This time the distance between the handles is 25″ (63.5 cm).

Individuals who did not like the smaller distance in this feature from the Titan Fitness model may find this bar from Rogue the right choice.

Many people also love the Rogue Fitness brand and what they are doing with their products made in the U.S.A.

Besides these things, the Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar is another model with longer sleeve lengths of 16″ (40.64 cm) on each side.

Really strong individuals may still hit a ceiling in terms of how many bumper plates they can fit but most people will be fine in this area.

The unloaded Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar has a total length of 85.5″ (217.2 cm) which is above average. This will not influence your workouts too much but this does require some extra usage and storage space.

One thing that would be nice is a specific weight capacity. However, with the somewhat above-average trap/hex bar weight and knowing the Rogue Fitness brand, this model should be fine when it comes to weight capacity.

Additionally, only the upper handles are knurled. Individuals who want to do hex bar deadlifts with just a bit more range of motion may find this annoying. The height of the bar is also somewhat above average at 9″ (22.86 cm).

That being said, the Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar can be a good choice for individuals who value trap/hex bars with a bit more room between the handles.

Good past experiences with the Rogue brand can also give you a more secure feeling about this option.

5. Kabuki Strength The Trap Bar HD

This next option is highly customizable and very heavy-duty, basically all you need when it comes to workout features. However, the Kabuki Strength model comes at an expensive price compared to most trap and hex bars.

That being said, if you don’t care too much about this higher price, one of the many feature combinations will likely make a great trap/hex bar for you.

The first and arguably most important thing you can customize is the distance between the handles. In this feature, you can choose between 23″ (58.4 cm), 25″ (63.5 cm), and 27″ (68.6 cm).

Additionally, you can add extra handles with bigger diameters and even handles with a rolling option. The thicker handles can be helpful for individuals who want to focus more on grip during their workouts or simply prefer the thicker options.

Besides these more unusual features, the Kabuki Strength The Trap Bar HD also does extremely well in more basic but still valuable features.

For example, the weight capacity of this trap/hex bar is 1500 pounds (680 kg). Even very experienced lifters will likely not come close to reaching this limit.

At the same time, Kabuki Strength manages to keep this bar at a reasonable length. There are models shorter than 77″ (195.6 cm) but this total length should be compact enough for most people.

Next, this model has two knurled handle heights for different range of motions and different balances during certain exercises. On top of all these features, this trap/hex bar has a built-in bar jack to make loading plates a lot more convenient.

In short, the Kabuki Strength The Trap Bar HD is a really great model but is on the expensive side.

Most people will be able to get the trap/hex bar benefits at a lower price but individuals with a budget can consider this option for the extra customization options and the heavy-duty open design.

How to choose a trap/hex bar

You may still be unsure about what trap/hex bar is the right one for you. Choosing the right model can become easier by thinking about what you want in a few important features and checking the trap and hex bars for them.

Weight capacity

To be able to use your trap/hex bar it needs to be strong enough for the lifts you intend to do. For most people up to intermediate and somewhat advanced with resistance training, this is generally not an issue.

Very strong individuals do want to double-check the weight capacity of each of the trap and hex bars they are considering.

The weight capacity of the bars is also somewhat of an indication of how strong they are. Choosing a sturdy model can give you a more secure feeling during your lifts.

Sleeve length

To reach the weight you want to use the sleeve length of the trap/hex bar needs to be long enough for the weight plates. This is especially relevant for heavy lifters who will use bumper plates.

For example, our top pick, the trap/hex bar from DAY1 FITNESS, has a sleeve length of 9.75″ (24.7 cm) on each side. If you use 45-pound bumper plates that are 3″ wide, your weight is limited to 314 pounds (142 kg) including the weight of the bar.

Since challenging your muscles enough is so important, you definitely want to make sure you can fit enough weight on the model you are interested in.

Distance between the handles

Another important feature is one of the trap/hex bar dimensions, the distance between the handles. If you plan to invest in a trap/hex bar you likely intend to use it a good amount.

During your workouts you want to avoid the bad kind of discomfort that comes from having handles that are too far apart.

Most bars are somewhere around 24″ to 25″ (60.96 cm to 36.5 cm) in this area. However, there are also models that go as low as 20″ (50.8 cm) and as high as 29″ (73.7 cm).

What distance is ideal for you depends on things like your body proportions and personal preferences. Ideally, you would try out different widths.

However, when in doubt you can choose an average size or for example if you are somewhat smaller a trap/hex bar that is below average in this area.

Open vs closed trap/hex bar

As you may notice, some of the best trap and hex bars have an open design, there is one side removed. This has a few advantages and disadvantages.

The first thing you need to know is that open trap and hex bars are designed to be stable. You don’t have to worry about swinging the weights around more than the regular version.

That being said, one of the main benefits of open trap and hex bars is that they offer more room to move. This can be helpful for exercises like walking lunges.

Secondly, many open trap and hex bars have built-in bar jacks. You can describe these as a way to elevate the sleeves so loading the weight plates becomes easier. Especially strong individuals may know how much more convenient this is.

That being said, while open trap bars do have helpful benefits, they also tend to require a higher investment. Whether this is worth it depends on your budget, strength, and personal preferences.

Handle height

Different trap and hex bars have different handle heights. Some models even have multiple heights or allow you to adjust this feature.

How high the handles are influences how large your range of motion is in exercises like the trap/hex bar deadlift. Things like your body proportions, training goals, and preferences influence your choice in this feature.

Distance from front to back

The distance from front to back is mostly relevant for closed trap and hex bars. This feature is relatively straightforward but important to note.

You want your choice to be big enough for your body and the exercises you intend to do. At the same time, bigger trap and hex bars can feel bulkier and require more storage room.

Price

Investing in your health is often a great idea but sometimes you can get similar or more benefits for a lower price. The same goes for these trap and hex bars.

An open trap bar with a 1000-pound+ weight limit looks good on paper but more intermediate lifters may be able to get a model that is still more than good enough but 3 times cheaper.

Our top pick

If you are still not sure what trap/hex bar would be the best for you, you can choose our best overall pick. The DAY1 FITNESS Hex Bar will be a great choice for most people.

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