We’ve tested and reviewed many safety squat bars here at Garage Gym Lab.
Having owned and used over ten different SSBs, you could say that I have an addiction.
And I would agree – it’s my favorite specialty bar.
These bars can range in size, materials, handles, and designs.
With so many variations, it’s not easy to know how much a safety squat bar weighs.
To save you the time and hassle of searching through numerous manufacturers, we’ve compiled some of the most popular options for you.
Let’s dig in.
What is a Safety Squat Bar?
A safety squat bar is a unique, comfortable specialty bar that helps build the posterior chain, core, and quads. Its design includes two important features:
- The Yoke: The yoke is a padded section in the center of the bar. Aside from providing comfort to the neck, it extends two pads over the shoulders. At the end are two neutral grip handles. On Olympic straight bars, you have to externally rotate your shoulders to get into a squat position, which can be difficult and painful for some lifters. A safety squat bar eliminates this discomfort entirely, making it one of the most comfortable types of barbells.
- The Camber: An SSB is designed with cambered sleeves that work to pitch you forward. As you fight from being folded over, this forces a more upright position, which improves form and hammers the upper back, quads, and core.
There are numerous benefits of using a safety squat bar, including comfort, strength development, training variety, and more.
You can also use this specialty bar for several exercises, including back squats, front squats, good mornings, lunges, JM presses, etc.
Safety Squat Bar Recommendations
How Much Does a Safety Squat Bar Weigh?
Best For: Quads, Upper Back, General Strength | Weight: 45-70lbs | Length: 84″-92.5″ | Price: $300-$500
Safety squat bars weigh between 45-70lbs or 20-32kgs. Unlike traditional bars with a standard weight, SSBs vary in weight based on features, design, and manufacturer. Refer to the chart below to see safety squat bar weights and length by brand.
| Product | Weight | Length |
|---|---|---|
| REP Safety Squat Bar | 68lbs | 92.5″ |
| Titan Safety Squat Bar | 61lbs | 90.5″ |
| Kabuki Transformer Bar | 55lbs | 90.75″ |
| Elitefts SS Yoke Bar | 65lbs | 92″ |
| Bells of Steel SS3 | 47.5lbs | 86.6″ |
| Marrs Bar | 65lbs | 89″ |
| Rogue Safety Squat Bar | 70lbs | 89″ |
| Vulcan Safety Squat Bar | 55lbs | 91″ |
| Prime Super Squat Bar | 51lbs | 87″ |
| Synergee Safety Squat Bar | 55lbs | 86.5″ |
| Black Widow Safety Squat Bar | 45lbs | 84″ |
How Much Does the Marrs Bar Weigh?
Best For: Low Bar Squats, Front Squats, Good Mornings | Weight: 65lbs | Length: 89″ | Price: $629
The Marrs Bar weighs 65lbs, making it one of the heavier options. It measures 89″ long and offers 16″ sleeves, creating a total weight capacity of 1,200lbs.
The Marrs Bar is a unique adaptation to the traditional SSB. It offers the same comfort benefits, but it’s actually a low bar squat alternative. In this way, it’s unlike any other safety squat bar because it doesn’t pitch you forward.
The Marrs Bar is my favorite specialty bar of all time. It’s fantastic for low bar back squats, Hatfield squats, front squats, and good mornings. Its balance is unmatched because it sits on your shoulders like a backpack.
I recommend the Marrs Bar to anyone who primarily trains the low bar back squat and wants the most comfortable and well-balanced bar out there.
How Much Does the Kabuki Transformer Bar Weigh?
Best For: Versatility, All Lifts | Weight: 55lbs | Length: 90.75″ | Price: $669
The Kabuki Transformer Bar weighs 25kgs or ~55lbs. It measures 90.75″ long and has a static weight capacity of 1,500lbs.
The transformer bar is far and away the most versatile safety squat bar you can buy. Most SSBs have fixed angles and camber drops. The Transformer Bar lets you adjust both.
In terms of angles, this bar lets you adjust along six positions ranging from a goblet squat (quad dominant) to a good morning (glute dominant). In between are settings for front squats, back squats, etc.
You can adjust the camber drop along four positions. Longer camber drops increase the difficulty because it requires more stability.
In total, the Transformer Bar has 24 different configurations.
How Much Does the Spider Bar Weigh?
Best For: Back Squats, Box Squats | Weight: 80lbs | Length: 86″ | Price: $604
The Spider Bar weighs 80lbs, making it the heaviest safety squat bar on the market.
The spider bar is essentially a cambered squat bar with an SSB yoke. It provides all the comfort benefits of a safety squat bar but creates a different stimulus.
Cambered bars have much larger camber drops (see below) than traditional SSBs. This creates more instability and puts a greater demand on the core. The Spider Bar is a very humbling barbell that will build serious strength.
I recommend this bar to advanced lifters looking to train with a cambered bar but with the comfort of an SSB. It’s a very niche barbell.
Factors that Influence the Weight of a Safety Squat Bar
Several factors determine how much a safety squat bar weighs.
Steel
SSBs use solid bar steel or pipe steel, depending on the manufacturer. Generally, bars that use solid bar steel are heavier than those that use pipe steel. This is due to the steel itself and the fact that most solid steel bars have more heavy-duty construction.
Handles
Safety squat bars include a variety of handles, including short handles, long handles, chain handles, and more. In addition to length, they can also vary in diameter and materials. For instance, the REP Safety Squat Bar has solid knurled steel handles weighing 2.3lbs each. The Elitefts SS Yoke handles, which are shorter and thinner, weigh 1.2lbs each.
Most SSBs have removable handles so knowing the weight of your safety squat bar can help determine your total weight if you lift without handles or swap them out.
Length
SSBs typically range from 84″-93″ long. All else equal, a longer safety squat bar weighs more than a shorter one since it uses more material. Longer bars are typically built with solid steel, contributing even more weight.
Camber Drop
The camber drop is the distance from the top portion of the bar to the bottom portion. It’s a critical element in creating an SSBs balance. Most SSBs have camber drops between 4″-6″. Bars with longer drops are typically heavier than shorter ones.
How to Weigh a Safety Squat Bar
Because safety squat bars are big and don’t necessarily lay flat, it can be hard to weigh them on a scale alone.
Many bars will include the weight on the end cap, so always check there first if you’re unsure. Otherwise, the easiest way to determine your safety squat bar’s weight is by following these three steps:
- Step onto a scale and find your body weight
- Step onto a scale while holding the safety squat bar and note the weight
- Subtract #1 from #2
Now you know exactly how much your safety squat bar weighs.
FAQ
Do Safety Squat Bars Weigh 45lbs?
Some safety squat bars weigh 45lbs, but most are heavier depending on size, materials, and design. Unlike Olympic bars that have a consistent weight, SSBs typically range from 45-70lbs.
What Exercises can you Perform with a Safety Squat Bar?
You can use a safety squat bar for back squats, front squats, zercher squats, split squats, good mornings, lunges, JM presses, overhead presses, and even as a thick grip deadlift bar.
How Much Do Safety Squat Bars Cost?
Safety squat bars can range from under $300 to over $650, depending on the manufacturer and features. For instance, the highly adjustable Kabuki Transformer Bar costs much more than the traditional Titan Safety Squat Bar.
Final Thoughts
Safety squat bars are versatile specialty bars that can build strength, improve form, and add loads of variety to your training. They’re also great for lifters with limited shoulder mobility or pain and discomfort in the arms.
An SSB is one of the first specialty bars I recommend if you’re looking to add to your barbell collection.
Knowing how much your safety squat bar weighs will help you progress your training by providing a benchmark and improving tracking accuracy.