I'm surprised with some of the negative reviews. I was so impressed with the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxMwYg0MOXR4M-oGeyBsNSYe1aPOUoRH6D cage that I got the lat pulldown attachment that goes with it. It is equally outstanding. I don't have one complaint other than putting it together is a job. The instructions and packaging of the parts are very well designed and organized. Also, I stripped and damaged the pull down cable the first day, admitting it was my stupid fault, and they quickly replaced it at no charge. I'm 6'5, 280lbs and fit in the cage just fine. Glenn B
I bought the Elitefts SS yoke over the Titan. I like Dave Tate and I have learned a lot over the years from his UA-cam channel. I prefer to support American companies and I’m willing to pay extra money to do so. Great review as always Coop!
@@muffemod It's funny, usually Americans get criticized for wanting to patronize local vendors. To most Americans (non-corporate) the thought of moving production over seas is a 'sign of the end times".
The Marrs Bar is a totally underrated bar! Not only does it put you in the most perfect position for a squat every time, but you can literally do it hands-free and with any other variation of squat as well (such as front squat, lunges, etc). Yes its a little pricey, but its a small price to pay to have the best multi-squat tool for a lifetime.
I looked everywhere trying to find a gym near me that had one so I could try before I buy but no one had it. Purchased site unseen. It arrives sometime next week, excited to get under it
I bought the Titan SSB V2 back in November 2019 and it still looks as good the day it arrived. It gets used on almost every squat session and I absolutely love it. My buddy I train with occasionally has the Rogue SSB and I don't like it nearly as much, and he spent almost double compared to my Titan. Time for Rogue to step up their game!
This is what I would have imagined, solid picks. Wonder how the new BoS bar compares. I know it's more expensive at $300, but also has a variety of handles available.
I was wondering the same. Curious to hear your opinion, do you think those extra handles would have a practical benefit or are they maybe more of a gimmick?
I don't have their latest, but do have the previous version. The camber was off. If they fixed that, it would be a good option. I actually gave them the idea for the replaceable handles. Thought it would be cool.
We have the Elite FTS. It took a while to get, went on sale before they shipped it and the cover came ripped (which they did not replace). It works fine for us but we probably won’t be purchasing from them again.
wow. surprised they didnt replace. When I got mine a few years ago the box was mangled, the handles were completely missing and the cover's white logo was smeared. They sent out handles and a new cover asap.
@@tap4825 The US has a massive advantage over us Aussies due to many factors, but the main factors are them having 15x our population and having a thriving manufacturing sector. This means US customers can either buy American made, or go down the cheaper import line. They're spoiled for choice because they have such a wide reach of customers who will use them. I'm in Melbourne and it took me a while back in April/May to figure out who the best suppliers are in Australia in terms if value, service and quality of equipment Nearly all of our equipment is imported unfortunately, so research and trial and error is needed to determine who sells the best stuff, UA-cam reviews are handy, but not a lot out there unless you're buying a well known American/European type of brand. I went the cheapest possible option initially just trying to get a few dumbbells in back in early April, that was a bad choice, warehouse mistakes were made and I never saw those dumbbells, after around 2 months I asked for my money back which I got and bought dumbbells at a slightly higher rate off Gumtree in May/June (didn't pay over $5 a kilo though) Since May I've used about 5-6 different suppliers, Sam's Fitness is the best I've used as long as you're happy to wait for them to restock, however some others are reasonable too If you're a crossfitter for example and don't want to pay overs/wait a long time for Rogue stuff, then Verve on the Gold Coast would do the job, alot of their stuff is Rogue inspired and they do westside 5/8s spacing on their racks, so they'd be compatible with Rogue Monster Lite I'd imagine Flex Fitness in Perth is one of the better budget options for all round home gear although Sam's do a lot of budget options too for things like bars, plates, dumbbells etc. But in particular for budget racks and benches, Flex would be worth a look. My squat rack is from them and it does the job, will look at upgrading to a full cage from Rogue or Sam's in due course though And in Melbourne, commercial fitness in Heidelberg is my best local option, they're mid range price on most things, but their stuff is decent Rogue is available too in Sydney, but they seem to have a chronic shortage of stock. Have not seen a rack or barbells on sale all year from them since I started my iso home gym. I have only seen Echo Bikes, plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, some strongman type equipment like sleds and bands available from them and I'd guess all that was made in China too Anyways, hope this helps
Thanks for the review, I ended up getting a Titan. I’m just starting out with it having never squatted and being older I can’t place my hands behind my back right now to hold a standard olympic bar. With stretching I will get there, In the meantime I will build my squat strength up using this.
Coop, you are the man! Nobody does the research that you do and you are straight to the point. In fact you are so on point you hit like an "Ice pick" to the fore head. Your presentation is second to no one. No one explains things as good as you. All of these strength equipment manufacturers should be paying close attention to what you are saying about all of this equipment. Your gym should be called the "Coop consumer strength equipment research institute." You are really like the consumer reports of strength equipment. You approach this with the intensity of a mad scientist except that there is a logical method to your madness. Dude, I absolutely love your channel. It's both entertaining and extremely educational. Please keep up the great work!!! = )
I have the Marrs bar and 2 elitefts ssb, now I feel like I need to buy the kabuki transformer bar. love the honesty in the video it's the only way equipment gets improved
@@thomasbrown7328 Let's say you're squatting twice a week, incorporate the SSB into one of those days. It will give you some variety and a slightly different stimulus
@@thomasbrown7328 Most would use the SSB on the 2nd or 3rd squat slot in a week. Since it is ultimately close to whatever squat style you practice (high bar, low bar, front squat) the carry-over is high. Further, since most people don't front-squat (in my experience), the SSB mimics that pretty well. Due to a short torso and long femurs, I am dang near horizontal in the hole when I low bar, and that is my preferred squat placement, so the SSB is great because it forces more of the weight onto my quads, which drives my overall low bar numbers.
@@thomasbrown7328 ive almost completely replaced traditional squat with it. I dont compete and find SSB a lot more enjoyable. I can put up more weight lowbar, but who cares when its in your garage, lol.
I personally use the Elite FTS SSB at my gym and love it, and I totally agree with the chipping. I previously used the rogue SSB, and i hated it. The pad was way too minimal and itd leave so many marks on my shoulder/back, and it just felt cheap as hell compared to the Elite FTS. p.s. Stache looks top notch, Coop!
I think having the Marrs Bar pad shape with the camber of the Titan/EliteFTS would probably be the perfect bar that Rogue can create. The Marrs Bar pad because of how the handles and shafts contour to/around your upper body (looks more comfortable than the straight handles), and the camber of the Titan/EliteFTS because of how it simulates a high bar squat, front squat, or conventional deadlift depending on how you use it.
Literally the video I needed, I'm building my own home gym so thanks a lot and best luck to anyone building their own home gyms, were on this trip together 🤟
I use the Elite FTS Yoke SSB 3X per week. After a year I need to rack it 4” higher because I now stand taller. Alsruhe or Thrall said wherever your weakness, this bar will find and fix it, and in my case this was true. I got it on sale for less than 350. It arrived in a few days in a broken box with a chip in the finish but I figured it would get worse anyway so I just accepted it. It’s as good after two years as when it arrived. I already had axle collars but I don’t always use them. Any outward drift of free plates gives me feedback that my lift is becoming unsymmetric. I haven’t used any others, but the latest Transformer looks interesting. Consider learning this bar through high frequency highly recoverable work. Going heavy right away might substitute compensation for foundation strengthening. Good review, thanks!
Now that Titan has raised the price of the bar to 300, which is pretty close to the B.O.S SS3. What do you think about the SS3? It seemed that they address most of the issues in v1 and v2. I'm curious about how it perform now. Could you do a review about the SS3 bar? Also, do you know what the shaft diameter of the Titan? The online spec said the bar diameter is 1.5in. Not sure if it is the same one. The B.O.S one is 32mm (1.25in). Smaller size, I guess. Thanks
One concern with the Marrs Bar if you use a mono lift. Since the bar sits so low, my crew noticed our heads get VERY close to the cross beam on the mono. We either have to raise the height and shrug OR take it out at a high bar point and then adjust. Always a little bit of a hassle too when re racking. Great bar for low bar squats, good mornings, hatfields, etc. Just a little sketchy with headroom when using a monolift (Elite FTS Mono for those wondering).
Honestly I wouldn't use a mono lift with a ssb anyways, just due to the fact that it's always gonna be harder to tell where the bar is and the angle is going to be weird.
I still have Fred Hatfields SSB Fred gave me 40 years ago i test monlifts with it and drop over 2,000 lb and it dont even twitch its still the best i everseen and as it does not have the handles on the yolk its used as originaly intended with handles on the rack
I purchased my titan squat bar v2 on April 4 2023 and its currently priced at $285 with free shipment. I bought it before watching this video and was really happy when it was your #1 pick. The regular bar bell always felt a little awkward and digged in neck/spinal bone. Looking forward to the new bar and hopes I enjoy squating more.
I bought the Kabuki Transformer Bar and love it! It’s probably not the “best” SSB compared to Elite FTS or low bar SSB like the mars bar but for all the different options you can use it’s worth the money. I have 2 leg days a week, 1 hamstring focused and 1 quad and will rotate between the high bar, low bar and front squat position and it’s amazing. Good mornings are also nice on it
I’ve used many different brands of SSB. Elite FTS is still my winner. Fit and durability is almost impossible to match. Yes, I’m talking to you Rogue and Titan. And Chinese no name knockoffs. If I buy one, I’ll be getting a Fortis Fitness that’s made for low back squatting.
In terms of cost to effectiveness ratio you can't beat the SS Yoke by EliteFTS. They often run sales that bring the bar's price down to 280$. Most comfortable and well-calibrated safety squat bar I've ever used hands down
@@highviewbarbell I wouldn't call them identical. 1. It looks cheap (if you care about equipment aesthetics) 2. It's made in China (if you care about supporting products made in the USA) 3. The padding is much thinner and is nowhere near as comfortable as the SS Yoke 4. The padding is not connected together by stitches and often moves around when you squat, making it less stable 5. The handles are shorter and thinner
I just bought one of these bars. I couldn't tell you what brand it is but when I seen the price at $165.00 for a 700 lb. rated bar I grabbed it. The best thing ever invented for people without ROM in their shoulders. I did take all the pads off it so it rests on my back without pushing me forward. I love these bars. There is a little pressure on the shoulders with the arms but it's on the muscle and I'll get used to it.
I have a Watson SSB which is probably one of if not the best UK option. They're over £400 new with shipping but I got mine second-hand for £150 which was an absolute steal!
In Canada they have a brand called "Bronson". Basically black coated titan (unsure if camber is the same but looks like it) Bells of Steel V3 SSB bar looks pretty cool with chain handles, could be a cool review
I bought the Titan SSB V2 based on your earlier review. It really is an incredible value and has allowed me to train both of my parents on the squat movement, which would have been impossible with a standard barbell. Thanks for your recommendations, I made notes and they have all helped me make the best decisions for my home gym purchase this year.
I bought a Gopher Cambered Safety Squat Bar from a pallet buyer on Facebook. Pad is awesome and the sleeves spin. Awesome bar and overall very happy with it.
I have been eying the Kabuki Transformer bar for a while. They offered me a 3% discount. I think I’ll use yours instead :) but I’m waiting for them to come down in the shipping prices. Hopefully, Black Friday will be the day.
This. I don't know what's going on with Kabuki and shipping, but I think they need to fix something. I was ready to pull the trigger on a transformer the other day until I saw how much shipping jacked the price (nearly 50% - and I'm in continental US, etc). And shared that feedback when they reached out to me with the cart abandonment of "hey you didn't finish your order". I think they need to work out something logistically to get that more in line with the competition, etc, but then again maybe they don't have to. I haven't ruled them out yet, but for my needs (insurance policy to keep squatting around shoulder injuries/issues and/or vary my squat work a bit), Titan is looking like a pretty hard to beat right now.
So I had to order one since I “needed” one! We’ll see how quick it gets here. I’m still waiting on my Kabuki trap bar that seems like it’s going on month 3 now. That’s the big reason I didn’t order theirs this time around! Thanks for the solid video!
The Marrs bar seems perfect for me. I have a problem of leaning way too far forward even in lowbar squats, so having a ssb bar like the titan do that intentionally is a bad idea but since the Marrs bar keeps you more upright that seems perfect
Can the Tranformer replicate the positioning of the Marrs? I like the way it sits but would likely choose the Kabuki if it can get that low on the back.
Thanks Coop. I just started watching this video and your recommendation for the Titan version has convinced me. I just ordered one. It’s on backorder but I can wait. Your videos are always most educational.
You definitely won't regret it! I've had mine for almost a year now and it's a fantastic product. Gets used at least once a week and it still looks brand new. Super comfortable, and I was training on a friend's Rogue SSB for about a year prior to me getting my own and its not nearly as good as the Titan V2. Enjoy!
I treated myself to the elitefts yoke bar last month.....hard to get hold of in the UK but got one through special order. Also I got one of if not the first of the new version (unsure if its a prototype as I havnt seen them advertised yet on their site) but basically they did me a version with stainless unlaquered sleeves so no clearcoat to flake off.... Also the sleeves are 2inch so no special collars needed.... The end caps are also a metal cap inserts instead of plastic. Pricey bit of kit especially if getting in UK but imo worth it.... Way better than the cheap ssb it replaced
One factor you should consider is the anatomic range of lifters. Titans wider set spacing has been problematic for smaller built women. Additionally, weight of bar should be factored in as well. The heavier the bar the more difficult it can be to maneuver in a home gym space, especially since the bar length is typically longer.
Coop - have you tried the Watson SSB? Would have enjoyed seeing that reviewed with this group but understand that access to Watson equipment is limited in the US . I’ve used the Rogue and Elitefts bar and the Watson SSB is head and shoulders above them both in every aspect.
Hate to be a stickler here but.... Axle bars are usually made from 1.5" sch40 pipe which has an outside diameter of 1.875". 2" pipe that you mentioned would have an outside diameter of 2.375".
Thank you for saying this! Every time he says you need to buy different collars it bugs me. I have them and use them for all my bars, specialty or otherwise, and my loadable DB handles too.
I have the Edge Fitness Systems one and I like it. Granted, powder coated sleeves and 1.9" OD piping, but the shipping was solid and it was affordable at about $300 shipped. Longer handles than most but I'm really enjoying using it!
my ssb bar take sleeves off barbell put 2 black iron tee fittings on the shaft of barbell add 2 black iron pipes 18 inches attach to tee fitting use pool noddles for pads epoxy everything in place put sleeves back on only cost 40$
Rogue doesn’t really care all that much about specialty bars. They do make a awesome Curl bar. And one amazing Stainless steel Lat bar which is one of the nicest bars I’ve seen and that’s about it for any specialty bars
Hey Coop, strongly considering getting a transformer bar at some point but I have a question. I store my bars upright, can the moving mechanism of the sleeve handle being placed in a vertical bar holder for extended periods?
Coop, I am nursing a shoulder injury I think from LB squatting. I really only want to LB squat and wonder which bar you might recommend...KSTB or MB? Thank you for the great channel and Happy New Year!
The chrome started chipping on my titan bar on day one but for the price it was still well worth it. We had a Hatfield bar when I worked out in the football weight room in college in the early '90s.
Solid review! I was thinking EliteFTS SSYoke would be the top but I see what you mean about price and other points. I like the idea of having a standard sleeve, same angles as the ss, and the lower price.
I'm a smaller person (4'11.25") and have heard that the Titan is fairly wide, even on larger people. I was wondering if you felt the same way about it, and would recommend it for someone on the smaller spectrum, or if there is a bar that a bit more narrow that might fit me better. Any advice/input is much appreciated!
I would LOVE to see actually innovate again. I can't remove last time they innovated something new for the regular garage gym owner. Disappointing... Kabuki gets their shipping in order and I'm in, but like others have said, it's just rough right now
I have most of those bars. Top picks are: 1. Marrs 2. Elite FTS Yoke 3. Kabuki Transformer Bar Pricing was not considered but rather quality and performance only. Titan, Bells of Steel and the Rogue are poor versions of the others.
I guess that's where the saying you get what you pay for. Budget considerations and amount of time you'll use it factor in for most of us. I have the titan, it works well for me, but doesn't mean i'm not slightly jealous. :)
Marrs Bar feels the best for both regular squatting and flipping it around and using it for front squats. I had a few issues with it though. 1) Huge disconnect between price and value. 2) Poor quality control and customer service. I received one that was damaged and nothing was done to remedy the situation (even after paying $190 for shipping) 3) The yoke is too wide for many smaller trainees and makes it so they can’t even use the bar. I know Zac has a smaller version for youths and women but it’s impractical to have to buy another bar just to accommodate a small subset of people.
I would love to have a Transformer Bar but the current price of $670 plus shipping and California tax would have been $934 plus a 2 month wait... ouch!! I bought a SSYoke from EliteFTS today and it will be here in 5 days. When I win the lottery, I'll buy a Transformer Bar and a Marrs Bar... and maybe more of the cool stuff that Coop has! :-) Great review but I had to go with American made.
Kabuki is awesome but still waiting 4 months for delivery for another transformer bar. Their manufacturing process and access to all goods needed to finish and distribute their products is severely limited. These are challenging times, yes, but their logistics should cause people to look elsewhere.
Only thing with Kabuki is wait time. I ordered the transformer bar July 20th and still haven't received it. That was a with lead time of 8-12 weeks now the lead time is 18-19 weeks. I'm still very excited for it. Buy once cry once as coop says
I love Rogue, BUT you were spot on regarding your comment (17:55).
I'm surprised with some of the negative reviews. I was so impressed with the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxMwYg0MOXR4M-oGeyBsNSYe1aPOUoRH6D cage that I got the lat pulldown attachment that goes with it. It is equally outstanding. I don't have one complaint other than putting it together is a job. The instructions and packaging of the parts are very well designed and organized. Also, I stripped and damaged the pull down cable the first day, admitting it was my stupid fault, and they quickly replaced it at no charge. I'm 6'5, 280lbs and fit in the cage just fine. Glenn B
I bought the Elitefts SS yoke over the Titan. I like Dave Tate and I have learned a lot over the years from his UA-cam channel. I prefer to support American companies and I’m willing to pay extra money to do so. Great review as always Coop!
What's more American than outsourcing jobs overseas?! 😂😂😂
@@muffemod It's funny, usually Americans get criticized for wanting to patronize local vendors. To most Americans (non-corporate) the thought of moving production over seas is a 'sign of the end times".
Same.
You like to support America companies I'm guessing ou didn't vote for creepy Joe Biden then 😂😂
The Marrs Bar is a totally underrated bar! Not only does it put you in the most perfect position for a squat every time, but you can literally do it hands-free and with any other variation of squat as well (such as front squat, lunges, etc). Yes its a little pricey, but its a small price to pay to have the best multi-squat tool for a lifetime.
It's also out of stock everywhere I looked :(
I'd say it's much more than "a little pricey." It's a LOT pricy.
I looked everywhere trying to find a gym near me that had one so I could try before I buy but no one had it. Purchased site unseen. It arrives sometime next week, excited to get under it
@@matthewmurphy5543How'd it go...?
I bought the Titan SSB V2 back in November 2019 and it still looks as good the day it arrived. It gets used on almost every squat session and I absolutely love it. My buddy I train with occasionally has the Rogue SSB and I don't like it nearly as much, and he spent almost double compared to my Titan. Time for Rogue to step up their game!
Yep, it's one of my favorite things they make.
This is what I would have imagined, solid picks. Wonder how the new BoS bar compares. I know it's more expensive at $300, but also has a variety of handles available.
I was wondering the same. Curious to hear your opinion, do you think those extra handles would have a practical benefit or are they maybe more of a gimmick?
I don't have their latest, but do have the previous version. The camber was off. If they fixed that, it would be a good option. I actually gave them the idea for the replaceable handles. Thought it would be cool.
@@GarageGymReviews Have you tried any of the sorinex bars yet like the ox bar
@@GarageGymReviews Hey Coop, any update on that BOS steel SSB?
@@GarageGymReviews not that it is any of my business, but if you don’t mind my asking did they credit you for giving them the idea?
We have the Elite FTS. It took a while to get, went on sale before they shipped it and the cover came ripped (which they did not replace). It works fine for us but we probably won’t be purchasing from them again.
wow. surprised they didnt replace. When I got mine a few years ago the box was mangled, the handles were completely missing and the cover's white logo was smeared. They sent out handles and a new cover asap.
Support Kabuki and Elite FTS they are good companies.
5mo lead time for Kabuki, nah fam, nah.
Super high prices , 19-20 weeks, no thanks!! My legs what no the diffrence from titan or kabuki!!!
Still would buy the yolk bar, Dave has put out so much knowledge for free. Just for that. He gets my dollars.
Lol true
U.S has so many gym equipment company!! Australia doesn't have that many....and shipping to Australia is an arm and a leg.
You have ATX, don't you? Their SSB is pretty decent for the price.
Then you can just get a smith machine and do unilateral training, saves you cash in the long run
Sam's Fitness for ATX bro
I don't mean just for the SSB, but for all equipments in general, U.S have so much more equipment/variety.
@@tap4825 The US has a massive advantage over us Aussies due to many factors, but the main factors are them having 15x our population and having a thriving manufacturing sector. This means US customers can either buy American made, or go down the cheaper import line. They're spoiled for choice because they have such a wide reach of customers who will use them.
I'm in Melbourne and it took me a while back in April/May to figure out who the best suppliers are in Australia in terms if value, service and quality of equipment
Nearly all of our equipment is imported unfortunately, so research and trial and error is needed to determine who sells the best stuff, UA-cam reviews are handy, but not a lot out there unless you're buying a well known American/European type of brand.
I went the cheapest possible option initially just trying to get a few dumbbells in back in early April, that was a bad choice, warehouse mistakes were made and I never saw those dumbbells, after around 2 months I asked for my money back which I got and bought dumbbells at a slightly higher rate off Gumtree in May/June (didn't pay over $5 a kilo though)
Since May I've used about 5-6 different suppliers, Sam's Fitness is the best I've used as long as you're happy to wait for them to restock, however some others are reasonable too
If you're a crossfitter for example and don't want to pay overs/wait a long time for Rogue stuff, then Verve on the Gold Coast would do the job, alot of their stuff is Rogue inspired and they do westside 5/8s spacing on their racks, so they'd be compatible with Rogue Monster Lite I'd imagine
Flex Fitness in Perth is one of the better budget options for all round home gear although Sam's do a lot of budget options too for things like bars, plates, dumbbells etc. But in particular for budget racks and benches, Flex would be worth a look. My squat rack is from them and it does the job, will look at upgrading to a full cage from Rogue or Sam's in due course though
And in Melbourne, commercial fitness in Heidelberg is my best local option, they're mid range price on most things, but their stuff is decent
Rogue is available too in Sydney, but they seem to have a chronic shortage of stock. Have not seen a rack or barbells on sale all year from them since I started my iso home gym. I have only seen Echo Bikes, plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, some strongman type equipment like sleds and bands available from them and I'd guess all that was made in China too
Anyways, hope this helps
currently doing “squat everyday” with my ssb yoke bar.... i love it
Thanks for the review, I ended up getting a Titan. I’m just starting out with it having never squatted and being older I can’t place my hands behind my back right now to hold a standard olympic bar. With stretching I will get there, In the meantime I will build my squat strength up using this.
Finally the one i`ve been waitin` for. Thnx Coop!
So glad someone is making reviews without making dumb faces, stupid sounds, and just overall not being gimmicky. Good job.
Coop, you are the man! Nobody does the research that you do and you are straight to the point. In fact you are so on point you hit like an "Ice pick" to the fore head. Your presentation is second to no one. No one explains things as good as you. All of these strength equipment manufacturers should be paying close attention to what you are saying about all of this equipment. Your gym should be called the "Coop consumer strength equipment research institute." You are really like the consumer reports of strength equipment. You approach this with the intensity of a mad scientist except that there is a logical method to your madness. Dude, I absolutely love your channel. It's both entertaining and extremely educational. Please keep up the great work!!! = )
I have the Marrs bar and 2 elitefts ssb, now I feel like I need to buy the kabuki transformer bar. love the honesty in the video it's the only way equipment gets improved
I’m deciding between the marrs bar and the elitefts, which one do you recommend if you could only have one? Thanks!
@@philipportolano948 I’d go with the Marrs bar or the new kabuki transformer bar by rogue.
I'm not surprised. The titan SSB is a real game changer. Its fantastic. Get it.
How has it helped you, please? I’m still not sure how to incorporate my SSB into my programing.
@@thomasbrown7328 Let's say you're squatting twice a week, incorporate the SSB into one of those days. It will give you some variety and a slightly different stimulus
@@thomasbrown7328 Most would use the SSB on the 2nd or 3rd squat slot in a week. Since it is ultimately close to whatever squat style you practice (high bar, low bar, front squat) the carry-over is high. Further, since most people don't front-squat (in my experience), the SSB mimics that pretty well. Due to a short torso and long femurs, I am dang near horizontal in the hole when I low bar, and that is my preferred squat placement, so the SSB is great because it forces more of the weight onto my quads, which drives my overall low bar numbers.
Review coming soon ;-)
@@thomasbrown7328 ive almost completely replaced traditional squat with it. I dont compete and find SSB a lot more enjoyable. I can put up more weight lowbar, but who cares when its in your garage, lol.
I personally use the Elite FTS SSB at my gym and love it, and I totally agree with the chipping. I previously used the rogue SSB, and i hated it. The pad was way too minimal and itd leave so many marks on my shoulder/back, and it just felt cheap as hell compared to the Elite FTS. p.s. Stache looks top notch, Coop!
I think having the Marrs Bar pad shape with the camber of the Titan/EliteFTS would probably be the perfect bar that Rogue can create. The Marrs Bar pad because of how the handles and shafts contour to/around your upper body (looks more comfortable than the straight handles), and the camber of the Titan/EliteFTS because of how it simulates a high bar squat, front squat, or conventional deadlift depending on how you use it.
Literally the video I needed, I'm building my own home gym so thanks a lot and best luck to anyone building their own home gyms, were on this trip together 🤟
Everyone at Coop's Gym the day of the review: Well, I could have sworn there were like 5 safety bars the last time I checked...
I use the Elite FTS Yoke SSB 3X per week. After a year I need to rack it 4” higher because I now stand taller. Alsruhe or Thrall said wherever your weakness, this bar will find and fix it, and in my case this was true.
I got it on sale for less than 350. It arrived in a few days in a broken box with a chip in the finish but I figured it would get worse anyway so I just accepted it. It’s as good after two years as when it arrived. I already had axle collars but I don’t always use them. Any outward drift of free plates gives me feedback that my lift is becoming
unsymmetric.
I haven’t used any others, but the latest Transformer looks interesting.
Consider learning this bar through high frequency highly recoverable work. Going heavy right away might substitute compensation for foundation strengthening.
Good review, thanks!
Now that Titan has raised the price of the bar to 300, which is pretty close to the B.O.S SS3. What do you think about the SS3? It seemed that they address most of the issues in v1 and v2.
I'm curious about how it perform now. Could you do a review about the SS3 bar?
Also, do you know what the shaft diameter of the Titan? The online spec said the bar diameter is 1.5in. Not sure if it is the same one. The B.O.S one is 32mm (1.25in). Smaller size, I guess.
Thanks
Awesome review Coop. I agree with you 💯. Going to get me a Titan 💪
One concern with the Marrs Bar if you use a mono lift. Since the bar sits so low, my crew noticed our heads get VERY close to the cross beam on the mono. We either have to raise the height and shrug OR take it out at a high bar point and then adjust. Always a little bit of a hassle too when re racking. Great bar for low bar squats, good mornings, hatfields, etc. Just a little sketchy with headroom when using a monolift (Elite FTS Mono for those wondering).
Honestly I wouldn't use a mono lift with a ssb anyways, just due to the fact that it's always gonna be harder to tell where the bar is and the angle is going to be weird.
I still have Fred Hatfields SSB Fred gave me 40 years ago i test monlifts with it and drop over 2,000 lb and it dont even twitch its still the best i everseen and as it does not have the handles on the yolk its used as originaly intended with handles on the rack
I purchased my titan squat bar v2 on April 4 2023 and its currently priced at $285 with free shipment. I bought it before watching this video and was really happy when it was your #1 pick. The regular bar bell always felt a little awkward and digged in neck/spinal bone. Looking forward to the new bar and hopes I enjoy squating more.
I bought the Kabuki Transformer Bar and love it! It’s probably not the “best” SSB compared to Elite FTS or low bar SSB like the mars bar but for all the different options you can use it’s worth the money. I have 2 leg days a week, 1 hamstring focused and 1 quad and will rotate between the high bar, low bar and front squat position and it’s amazing. Good mornings are also nice on it
I’ve used many different brands of SSB.
Elite FTS is still my winner. Fit and durability is almost impossible to match. Yes, I’m talking to you Rogue and Titan. And Chinese no name knockoffs.
If I buy one, I’ll be getting a Fortis Fitness that’s made for low back squatting.
4:05 You can just buy 2$ clamps from Home Depot, guarantee you those plates aren't going anywhere
I thought I was the only one 😂 that's what I use on my log lol
Got some orange ones from Lowes. I use them on my elite fts American bar too. They're extremely effective
In terms of cost to effectiveness ratio you can't beat the SS Yoke by EliteFTS. They often run sales that bring the bar's price down to 280$. Most comfortable and well-calibrated safety squat bar I've ever used hands down
the titan one is identical though at half the cost
@@highviewbarbell I wouldn't call them identical.
1. It looks cheap (if you care about equipment aesthetics)
2. It's made in China (if you care about supporting products made in the USA)
3. The padding is much thinner and is nowhere near as comfortable as the SS Yoke
4. The padding is not connected together by stitches and often moves around when you squat, making it less stable
5. The handles are shorter and thinner
Titan is better. How does the FTS bar not look cheap with all the chips and scratches in the chrome lol
@@NaturalHypertrophy i think we're both just defending the ones we have and use lol
@@highviewbarbell probably lol
I'm 15 idk why I'm looking for a safety squat bar.
I bought my first SSB at 16. Not like you only need an SSB when you’re old 😂
@@Applefanatic1000 yeah they are pretty useful regardless of age
Dont be a slave to the straight bar. Does the most versatile piece of equipment likely lead to the best results in each specific area?
Start saving money and buying parts of your home gym now! Then when you get your own space, boom you have a gym lol
I was looking at it for my pregnant wife.... Well that's what I'm telling her any ways.
I just bought one of these bars. I couldn't tell you what brand it is but when I seen the price at $165.00 for a 700 lb. rated bar I grabbed it. The best thing ever invented for people without ROM in their shoulders. I did take all the pads off it so it rests on my back without pushing me forward. I love these bars. There is a little pressure on the shoulders with the arms but it's on the muscle and I'll get used to it.
Love your energy Coop. You keep it real and I appreciate that
I have a Watson SSB which is probably one of if not the best UK option. They're over £400 new with shipping but I got mine second-hand for £150 which was an absolute steal!
Thank you Coop. Lots of great detailed info ! Wonderful job Thank you Ed
Bought my Titan SSB because of your review a while back, absolutely love it!
I got a Titan and I love the bar. The only complaint I have is that I wish I was much stronger haha
Safety squat bar is basically like the trap bar for deadlifts because of how it's safer
Except the trap bar is more dangerous due to instability at the top
In Canada they have a brand called "Bronson". Basically black coated titan (unsure if camber is the same but looks like it)
Bells of Steel V3 SSB bar looks pretty cool with chain handles, could be a cool review
I bought the Titan SSB V2 based on your earlier review. It really is an incredible value and has allowed me to train both of my parents on the squat movement, which would have been impossible with a standard barbell. Thanks for your recommendations, I made notes and they have all helped me make the best decisions for my home gym purchase this year.
Way to support intellectual property theft! Go China!
I bought a Gopher Cambered Safety Squat Bar from a pallet buyer on Facebook. Pad is awesome and the sleeves spin. Awesome bar and overall very happy with it.
Spot on, Coop. I’ve used the EliteFTS SS Yoke quite a bit and own the Kabuki v4. Agreed on all points made.
Titan is up to $300.
Right now it’s about a 40 dollar difference before tax…went with the EliteFTS myself.
I agree with your assessment of Rouge specialty bars.
Paid $160 for my Titan SSB. Used some points and it was on a discount day. Saved like $60 overall.
Titan bar is now $300
Pro tip you can use a SSB backwards for front squats and it makes life so much easier for those lacking mobility in the front rack position.
Check out titans front squat harness
Swiss bar round up, including cambered!
I like the Crepinsek SSB over the Titan and EliteFTS models. The Marrs bars looks interesting.
Where can we get the crep? The web site gives an error.
I read the article long before I made my recent SSB purchase. Thanks for that.
Next one: buffalo, duffalo, Bow bar
I have been eying the Kabuki Transformer bar for a while. They offered me a 3% discount. I think I’ll use yours instead :) but I’m waiting for them to come down in the shipping prices. Hopefully, Black Friday will be the day.
This.
I don't know what's going on with Kabuki and shipping, but I think they need to fix something. I was ready to pull the trigger on a transformer the other day until I saw how much shipping jacked the price (nearly 50% - and I'm in continental US, etc). And shared that feedback when they reached out to me with the cart abandonment of "hey you didn't finish your order".
I think they need to work out something logistically to get that more in line with the competition, etc, but then again maybe they don't have to. I haven't ruled them out yet, but for my needs (insurance policy to keep squatting around shoulder injuries/issues and/or vary my squat work a bit), Titan is looking like a pretty hard to beat right now.
3% lol
No mention of the Bells of Steel SSB eh? Would be interested in you reviewing the SS3
I bought the Kabuki Transformer Bar and it is really a great specialty bar!
So I had to order one since I “needed” one! We’ll see how quick it gets here. I’m still waiting on my Kabuki trap bar that seems like it’s going on month 3 now. That’s the big reason I didn’t order theirs this time around! Thanks for the solid video!
The Marrs bar seems perfect for me. I have a problem of leaning way too far forward even in lowbar squats, so having a ssb bar like the titan do that intentionally is a bad idea but since the Marrs bar keeps you more upright that seems perfect
Just wish shipping wasn’t 300$
Can the Tranformer replicate the positioning of the Marrs? I like the way it sits but would likely choose the Kabuki if it can get that low on the back.
Great video as always. Can you do a review on how to best use the ROGUE slinger?
Thanks Coop. I just started watching this video and your recommendation for the Titan version has convinced me. I just ordered one. It’s on backorder but I can wait. Your videos are always most educational.
You definitely won't regret it! I've had mine for almost a year now and it's a fantastic product. Gets used at least once a week and it still looks brand new. Super comfortable, and I was training on a friend's Rogue SSB for about a year prior to me getting my own and its not nearly as good as the Titan V2. Enjoy!
Hey Coop, please do a review on a front squat harness such as from Rhyno Power. Curious on your thoughts
I have the titan. It's great. Bought it a little over a year ago (pre-covid). I see it's $35 more now and they're backordered until Dec.
I treated myself to the elitefts yoke bar last month.....hard to get hold of in the UK but got one through special order. Also I got one of if not the first of the new version (unsure if its a prototype as I havnt seen them advertised yet on their site) but basically they did me a version with stainless unlaquered sleeves so no clearcoat to flake off.... Also the sleeves are 2inch so no special collars needed.... The end caps are also a metal cap inserts instead of plastic. Pricey bit of kit especially if getting in UK but imo worth it.... Way better than the cheap ssb it replaced
One factor you should consider is the anatomic range of lifters. Titans wider set spacing has been problematic for smaller built women. Additionally, weight of bar should be factored in as well. The heavier the bar the more difficult it can be to maneuver in a home gym space, especially since the bar length is typically longer.
Coop - have you tried the Watson SSB? Would have enjoyed seeing that reviewed with this group but understand that access to Watson equipment is limited in the US . I’ve used the Rogue and Elitefts bar and the Watson SSB is head and shoulders above them both in every aspect.
That's good to know.
Excellent comparison video, man !
5 months later and the titan bar is almost the same price as the others.
Hey Coop, show example of good way to store store multiple specialty- bars (Transformer, Marrs- Bar, etc)
Hate to be a stickler here but.... Axle bars are usually made from 1.5" sch40 pipe which has an outside diameter of 1.875". 2" pipe that you mentioned would have an outside diameter of 2.375".
I just got the Titan SSB for 249.00 last week on sale. I love it!
Thanks to your review Coop I bought a Titan SSB. I love it.
You can use Rogue HG collars on the SSYoke
Thank you for saying this! Every time he says you need to buy different collars it bugs me. I have them and use them for all my bars, specialty or otherwise, and my loadable DB handles too.
I have the Edge Fitness Systems one and I like it. Granted, powder coated sleeves and 1.9" OD piping, but the shipping was solid and it was affordable at about $300 shipped. Longer handles than most but I'm really enjoying using it!
my ssb bar take sleeves off barbell put 2 black iron tee fittings on the shaft of barbell add 2 black iron pipes 18 inches attach to tee fitting use pool noddles for pads epoxy everything in place put sleeves back on only cost 40$
I'm all in on Kabuki... "buy once, cry once."
same!
Can't argue with anything you said. I've got the Titan SSB and the Marrs bar.
which one is better?
another amazing job Coop!!!!
Bought the Titan V2 on your recommendation and it has been great. Excellent video
Lol i just paid 840 for my transformer bar with shipping. Can't wait to give it a test drive.
Can’t go wrong with Titan. Honestly, I think their products aren’t half bad as people say.
Their quality is getting better. It used to be serious garbage.
Rogue doesn’t really care all that much about specialty bars. They do make a awesome Curl bar. And one amazing Stainless steel Lat bar which is one of the nicest bars I’ve seen and that’s about it for any specialty bars
The trap bar is A1 though
Hey coop, rogue did buy the kabuki bar lol. You must’ve had a idea you dirty dog 😉
Hey Coop, strongly considering getting a transformer bar at some point but I have a question.
I store my bars upright, can the moving mechanism of the sleeve handle being placed in a vertical bar holder for extended periods?
Yes, it can. It locks into the sleeve camber attachment. Great question.
I have version 3. I store it vertically no problem. It does take alot of room though.
Now I know what was holding me back in my barbell squats! Now to get a decent power cage or squat rack!
Coop, I am nursing a shoulder injury I think from LB squatting. I really only want to LB squat and wonder which bar you might recommend...KSTB or MB? Thank you for the great channel and Happy New Year!
The chrome started chipping on my titan bar on day one but for the price it was still well worth it. We had a Hatfield bar when I worked out in the football weight room in college in the early '90s.
I'm a big fan of my Black Widow Training Gear SSB. I'd love to see you a review on some of their products.
Same here!!!
Solid review! I was thinking EliteFTS SSYoke would be the top but I see what you mean about price and other points. I like the idea of having a standard sleeve, same angles as the ss, and the lower price.
So glad I purchased the Titan SSB 2.0 when it first came out on sale for $160.
Surprised you didn't mention the Titan 1.0 failure
If they don't rip off other company's ip that's what you get from them.
I'm a smaller person (4'11.25") and have heard that the Titan is fairly wide, even on larger people. I was wondering if you felt the same way about it, and would recommend it for someone on the smaller spectrum, or if there is a bar that a bit more narrow that might fit me better. Any advice/input is much appreciated!
I would LOVE to see actually innovate again. I can't remove last time they innovated something new for the regular garage gym owner. Disappointing... Kabuki gets their shipping in order and I'm in, but like others have said, it's just rough right now
I have most of those bars. Top picks are:
1. Marrs
2. Elite FTS Yoke
3. Kabuki Transformer Bar
Pricing was not considered but rather quality and performance only.
Titan, Bells of Steel and the Rogue are poor versions of the others.
I guess that's where the saying you get what you pay for. Budget considerations and amount of time you'll use it factor in for most of us. I have the titan, it works well for me, but doesn't mean i'm not slightly jealous. :)
Marrs Bar feels the best for both regular squatting and flipping it around and using it for front squats. I had a few issues with it though. 1) Huge disconnect between price and value. 2) Poor quality control and customer service. I received one that was damaged and nothing was done to remedy the situation (even after paying $190 for shipping) 3) The yoke is too wide for many smaller trainees and makes it so they can’t even use the bar. I know Zac has a smaller version for youths and women but it’s impractical to have to buy another bar just to accommodate a small subset of people.
Wow, this video aged well. Rogue is definitely attempting to step up their game with their specialty bar offerings currently.
I would love to have a Transformer Bar but the current price of $670 plus shipping and California tax would have been $934 plus a 2 month wait... ouch!! I bought a SSYoke from EliteFTS today and it will be here in 5 days. When I win the lottery, I'll buy a Transformer Bar and a Marrs Bar... and maybe more of the cool stuff that Coop has! :-) Great review but I had to go with American made.
Gopher makes a bad ass bar, everyone should google that bar. Its got good padding too.
Kabuki is awesome but still waiting 4 months for delivery for another transformer bar. Their manufacturing process and access to all goods needed to finish and distribute their products is severely limited. These are challenging times, yes, but their logistics should cause people to look elsewhere.
Coop getting big this year
Do you think the newer startups (Griffin, Strength Co, etc) will be around for a while?
I have the Titan bar, which is excellent and waiting for the Kabuki Transformer bar to arrive.
Only thing with Kabuki is wait time. I ordered the transformer bar July 20th and still haven't received it. That was a with lead time of 8-12 weeks now the lead time is 18-19 weeks. I'm still very excited for it. Buy once cry once as coop says