Searching for the best triceps bar in 2023? I was reviewing some of my posts, when I realized I had written pretty extensively about the pros and cons of triceps bars, but never actually took the time to find the best ones. Well, this article is an attempt to rectify that. After hours of research and comparison, I can say with confidence I have discovered the best triceps bars available in 2023.
I have compiled all of the bars here in list form and will break down all of the specifications of each one, telling you exactly what I like and what I don’t like about them. I won’t hold back. If something about a bar sucks, then I will tell you about it. If I love something about a bar, you will hear about it. First, I will cover the olympic triceps bars which are designed for 2” weight plates, and then I will cover the standard triceps bars, which are designed for 1” weight plates.
Before we get into the bars, what exactly should we be looking for in a high quality triceps bar?
What to Look for in a Triceps Bar
First, you need to figure out if you need an olympic size (2 inch) or standard size (1 inch) bar. The next thing is to look at the construction of the bar. Are the hand grips far apart enough for you? Maybe you want them a little closer together. Think about what kind of exercises you’ll be using this bar for.
Next, see if there are any obvious issues with the bar, such as expected components that might be missing. Is the finish uneven? Do the collars rotate freely? An even, smooth finish and freely rotating collars are important parts of a high quality triceps bar. Are there reports of the bar being unstable or unsafe?
What about the knurling? Do you prefer more or less aggressive knurling? This is highly individual, but most bars have fairly aggressive knurling these days.
As far as size, most bars are a standard 34 inches in length, or else there is a smaller 24 inch version. Do you want a heavier or lighter bar? Check the weight. Then check the weight capacity of the bar. Most bars have a weight capacity of 200 pounds.
Summary:
• Confirm whether you are looking for Standard (1”) or Olympic (2”) size
• Look at construction/layout of bar and determine if it suits you
• Check for any usual components that might be missing
• See how aggressive the knurling is (individual preference)
• Check to see if there is a warranty
Best Overall Olympic Triceps Bar – CAP Barbell Olympic Triceps Bar
Warranty: 30 days (home gym) or 5 years (commercial gym)
Size
Length: 34.25 inches
Width: 6.69 inches
Height: 2.76 inches
Handles: Spaced 7.75 inches apart
Weight: 19.28 pounds
Material
Cold rolled solid steel
Chrome finish
Medium-depth knurling
Features
CAP Barbell’s olympic triceps bar is incredibly sturdy and solid. It has a 200 pound weight capacity with really solid welding all around. The weight of the bar feels perfectly balanced. The sleeves spin freely.
Drawbacks
The knurling is pretty aggressive on this one, and that comes down to personal preference. The collars included are screw-down collars, and those take a lot more time and effort than quick lock clamp collars. There’s also some reports of the collars not being shipped and the chrome finish being a bit uneven.
Bottom Line
The quality for the CAP triceps bar is definitely a step down from the Titan Fitness bar. That being said, this is still an excellent choice. It is a heavy duty, sturdy bar with aggressive knurling and a heavy (200 pound) weight capacity. That is pretty ideal for a home gym.
Keep in mind how aggressive the knurling will be, and make sure to buy a separate pair of clamp collars if you don’t have any already, since the screw-top ones aren’t great and sometimes don’t even get shipped.
2nd Best Olympic Triceps Bar – Synergee Triceps Bar
Warranty: Free replacement for any defective bar guaranteed
Size
Length: 34 inches
Distance between handles: 6.75 inches
Loading sleeves: 6.5 inches
Handle diameter: 28mm
Weight: 25 pounds
Material
High grade steel
Chrome or cerakote finish
Deep knurling
Features
Synergee’s triceps bar is a heavy duty bar built to last for a long time. This bar comes with a classic chrome finish or a cerakote finish. The knurling is nice and deep. The bar feels heavy and solid in your hands.
Drawbacks
There are some reports of the bar arriving damaged in some way: bent, scratched, or dinged up. The bar is a bit pricey as well.
Bottom Line
The heavy duty quality of the Synergee triceps bar cannot be overstated. At 25 pounds, it is a heavy triceps bar and it feels like it. The high quality build should ensure this bar’s durability for a long time.
Be aware that there have been reports of the bar arriving damaged. The good news is Synergee’s customer support is fantastic, and they will offer you some sort of refund and/or replacement.
3rd Best Olympic Triceps Bar – FITNESS MANIAC Olympic Triceps Bar
Warranty: Unknown
Size
Length: 34 inches
Distance between handles: 8.5 inches
Loading sleeves: 7 inches
Weight: 9 pounds
Material
Solid steel
Chrome finish
Diamond knurling
Features
This is a solid triceps bar which has a moderate amount of knurling and a high quality construction.
Drawbacks
Depending on your preferences, the knurling may be a little too weak. There were reports of poor packaging, although the bar was fine. The bar is quite expensive as well.
Bottom Line
The triceps bar from FITNESS MANIAC is a well-built, solid triceps bar. The quality of the build is quite high and you cannot go wrong with this bar.
The knurling may be a bit on the soft side, but whether that is a good or bad thing depends on your preferences. The biggest downside is the hefty price tag.
Best Overall Standard Triceps Bar – CAP Barbell Regular Solid Triceps Bar
Warranty: 30 days (home gym) or 5 years (commercial gym)
Size
Length: 36 inches
Width: 7 inches
Height: 2.5 inches
Handles: Spaced 8.25 inches apart
Weight: 15 pounds
Material
Steel construction
Black powder coat finish
Features
CAP Barbell’s solid regular triceps bar just has that high quality feeling to it. It has the industry standard 200 pound weight capacity and excellent welding. The knurling on this bar is not overly aggressive and hits the sweet spot. The jet black finish is sweet.
Drawbacks
The drawbacks with this bar are that no collars are included and there are some reports of the finish being uneven.
Bottom Line
CAP’s solid tricep bar is a dream come true for those looking to escape the monotonous chrome, heavily knurled bars that have become standard. Beyond the non-aggressive knurling, this bar has excellent welding and overall construction.
It’s hard to go wrong with this bar as it doesn’t have many flaws. One thing to note is that collars are not included, so be sure to pick up some clamp collars. Seriously, if you have standard size plates, you should go with this bar, especially since it’s on the cheaper end cost-wise.
2nd Best Standard Triceps Bar –
CAP Barbell Standard Threaded Triceps Bar
Warranty: 30 days (home gym) or 5 years (commercial gym)
Size
Length: 34 inches
Width: 7 inches
Height: 2.5 inches
Handles: Spaced 9 inches apart
Weight: 14 pounds
Material
Steel construction
Black powder coat or chrome finish (you can choose either version)
Features
The CAP Barbell threaded triceps bar has a really high quality, solid feeling. The bar has the industry standard 200 pound weight capacity and excellent welding. The knurling is overly aggressive; it is just right. This bar also has the bonus of including star lock collars.
Drawbacks
There are some reports of rough/sharp edges around the handles. Also, some report problems with the finish peeling off.
Bottom Line
The CAP Barbell threaded triceps bar is excellent and quite similar to the solid CAP triceps bar. The welding and construction are top notch and the bar feels solid and sturdy. The knurling doesn’t cut too deep either.
Only thing to watch out for with this one are possible rough edges around the handle and the finish peeling off over time. Outside of that, this is an excellent choice for a triceps bar that’ll likely last you awhile.
3rd Best Standard Triceps Bar – Sunny Health & Fitness Threaded Solid Chrome Triceps Bar
Warranty: 1 year structural frame, 180 days other parts and components
Size
Length: 24 inches
Distance between handles: 5 inches
Handle diameter: 12mm
Weight: 11 pounds
Material
Solid steel construction
Solid chrome finish
Features
The Sunny Health & Fitness triceps bar is a solid, sturdy bar with just the right amount of diamond knurling on the grips. It comes with star lock collars and threaded ends to keep the weights locked into place.
Drawbacks
The bar is pretty short at only 24 inches long, and this may cause issues with your forearms bumping against the plates, especially while doing hammer curls. One trick you can do to remedy this is to use smaller (2.5 lb) weights on the inside and put the larger weights outside.
Bottom Line
The Sunny Health & Fitness Triceps bar is a solid, sturdy little bar with which should last for a while. The cheaper price tag makes it especially attractive.
Keep in mind that the bar length is short, so if you are planning on doing hammer curls, you may be disappointed. However, If you are buying this for standard triceps work, it definitely fits the bill.
FAQ
Q: Are triceps bars any good?
A: Of course! Triceps bars can be an extremely useful addition to your home gym. While not a suitable replacement for a barbell or dumbbells, they can allow you to hit muscles in different ways. The grip handles on a triceps bar are completely different from a normal barbell, and allow you to do normal exercises, like a bench press, with a neutral grip.
This gives you the added advantage of being able to challenge your body in ways you aren’t used to. Plus, this bar is just fun to use to shake up your training routine!
Q: Can you use a triceps bar for curls?
A: Yes! In fact, the alternative name for this bar is “hammer curl bar”. Usually, hammer curls are only possible with dumbbells since you need to use a ‘neutral’ grip with thumbs pointing away from you. The triceps bar makes the hammer curl possible. It’s one of the best exercise to perform with this bar!
You can also use the sides of the bar (connected to the handles) and curl the bar using those as handles, although it’s a little unstable because of the weight distribution of the bar.
Q: What other exercises can you perform with a triceps bar?
A: Don’t get fooled by the name! You can use this bar for so many exercises beyond just your triceps. Some of the best exercises to perform with a triceps bar include (but are not limited to):
- Hammer curls
- Overhead presses
- Close grip bench press
- Bent over rows
- Front raises
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