Bells of Steel Premium Safety Squat Bar

[ParxPoker]

Any reviews for the Bells of Steel Premium Safety Squat bar? This one looks better than the Titan. Next time it goes on sale for $199, probally going to snatch it up.

bellsofsteel.us/product/premium-safety-squat-bar/

[GamecockLifter]

Any reviews for the Bells of Steel Premium Safety Squat bar? This one looks better than the Titan. Next time it goes on sale for $199, probally going to snatch it up.

bellsofsteel.us/product/premium-safety-squat-bar/

I have one on the way to check out.

[Mizzoutiger26]

Are there any other SSB's on the market with spinning sleeves? I'm not sure that's a benefit, especially if you're squatting significant amounts.

[radrd]

Are there any other SSB's on the market with spinning sleeves? I'm not sure that's a benefit, especially if you're squatting significant amounts.

I wonder that too. Never wished my SSB had them.

[GamecockLifter]

Are there any other SSB's on the market with spinning sleeves? I'm not sure that's a benefit, especially if you're squatting significant amounts.

I don’t think so. I’m not sure it’s a benefit either for traditional squats. I’m curious what it feels like. I could see it possibly being a benefit on certain movements. JM presses, good mornings (?), etc...

[Mizzoutiger26]

... I’m not sure it’s a benefit either for traditional squats. ...

That's true, I'd say it's neutral. I probably should have been more clear. I'm curious if it's a hindrance rather than neutral or beneficial and I would be inclined to think it's the former.

[ParxPoker]

I dont think it's going to be a problem. Olympic lifters, such as Lasha Talakhadze, do their squats with olympic weightlifting bars that have tremendous spin.

[eddiegoodfellar]

I have one.
The sleeves one, mine don't spin with a single 45 plate on them. I cant imagine it will improve with more weight. The handles did not ship with mine, so I have to wait for them to come in still. I did do a couple squats with it and so far it seems like a nice bar, especially for the $$$ in Canada.

[smokinHawk]

Are there any other SSB's on the market with spinning sleeves? I'm not sure that's a benefit, especially if you're squatting significant amounts.

dave Tate has explained why spinning sleeves on a ssb is bad.
You really don't want those sleeves to spin.
Bad move BOS, bad move.

[eddiegoodfellar]

dave Tate has explained why spinning sleeves on a ssb is bad.
You really don't want those sleeves to spin.
Bad move BOS, bad move.

Can you give a quick reason as to why Dave Tate says spinning sleeves are bad on a SSB?
I know its easy to search, just thought it might be nice to have in this thread.
I'm actually busy at work today for a change.

I'm sure I can figure out a way to make them not spin at all.


BOS just sent me an email, they are sending out the handles.
Customer support has been top notch so far.

[eddiegoodfellar]

Found something Dave Tate said about SSB and rotating sleeves

https://www.elitefts.com/coaching-lo...e-ss-yoke-bar/

"9. We also do not offer the bar with rotating sleeves for a reason. This would be easy to do but negates part of what makes this bar work so well. Take the thoracic extension movement (what I’d call an upper back good morning). If the sleeves rolled with the plates, it would change how the muscles are being loaded and where."

[jamesovercome]

Found something Dave Tate said about SSB and rotating sleeves

https://www.elitefts.com/coaching-lo...e-ss-yoke-bar/

"9. We also do not offer the bar with rotating sleeves for a reason. This would be easy to do but negates part of what makes this bar work so well. Take the thoracic extension movement (what I’d call an upper back good morning). If the sleeves rolled with the plates, it would change how the muscles are being loaded and where."

That isn't a good reason to not include spinning sleeves. If anything, it's a reason to own two SSB bars one with and without spinning sleeves.

[radrd]

That isn't a good reason to not include spinning sleeves. If anything, it's a reason to own two SSB bars one with and without spinning sleeves.

I'm not even sure I believe it tbh. Would squatting with a straight bar that doesn't have spinning sleeves hit muscles differently? Olympic bar with more spin hit muscles differently than power bar? Sounds like broscience.

[GamecockLifter]

That’s a pretty obscure reason to not offer spinning sleeves. I too don’t really buy it. It almost feels like a convenient excuse to not manufacture them with spinning sleeves. The way it’s worded indicates it has been created and tested. Otherwise it’s just an assumption. If it loads the muscles differently on that movement, why wouldn’t it on others? Why just list that movement? Even if it were true and the reasoning was limited to an upper back good morning, that’s a reason that would seemingly impact a very small population of users.

For what it’s worth, I absolutely love my Elite bar. It’s my favorite bar. I just don’t buy into this reasoning... yet, at least. My BoS bar arrived tonight. Looking forward to comparing.

[eddiegoodfellar]

That’s a pretty obscure reason to not offer spinning sleeves. I too don’t really buy it. It almost feels like a convenient excuse to not manufacture them with spinning sleeves. The way it’s worded indicates it has been created and tested. Otherwise it’s just an assumption. If it loads the muscles differently on that movement, why wouldn’t it on others? Why just list that movement? Even if it were true and the reasoning was limited to an upper back good morning, that’s a reason that would seemingly impact a very small population of users.

For what it’s worth, I absolutely love my Elite bar. It’s my favorite bar. I just don’t buy into this reasoning... yet, at least. My BoS bar arrived tonight. Looking forward to comparing.

Can you let me know the following when you receive your bar:

1) did the screw in handles ship with yours (mine did not)?
2) will the sleeves spin on yours freely?
3) can you see any bushings on the sleeves?
4) is the "play" in the sleeves even between the two sleeves?

[MGM711]

For what it’s worth, I absolutely love my Elite bar. It’s my favorite bar. I just don’t buy into this reasoning... yet, at least. My BoS bar arrived tonight. Looking forward to comparing.

Have you owned or used a Crep to compare your other SSBs with? The balance on the Crep is hands down the best, but the yoke padding is fairly disappointing for how good the rest of the bar is. But lately, I'm wondering if part of the good balance has to do with the lack of nice yolk padding? The Crep seems to push down and sit better than the EFS which has noticeably more thick and denser padding (it also sits further back as well and possibly due to the padding but not totally sure now). The lack of standard handles of the Crep is a hassle as well, but that's a whole separate issue.

[GamecockLifter]

Have you owned or used a Crep to compare your other SSBs with? The balance on the Crep is hands down the best, but the yoke padding is fairly disappointing for how good the rest of the bar is. But lately, I'm wondering if part of the good balance has to do with the lack of nice yolk padding? The Crep seems to push down and sit better than the EFS which has noticeably more thick and denser padding (it also sits further back as well and possibly due to the padding but not totally sure now). The lack of standard handles of the Crep is a hassle as well, but that's a whole separate issue.

I used a Crep for a couple of years at the Fitness Factoey. Joe Kenn from the Panthers donated it. It was excellent. Overall I see it as being in-line with Elite but I do think it offered better balance as you say. Padding was definitely the downside.

When I say “my favorite bar”, I mean that I personally own.

[Recidivst]

Can you let me know the following when you receive your bar:

1) did the screw in handles ship with yours (mine did not)?
2) will the sleeves spin on yours freely?
3) can you see any bushings on the sleeves?
4) is the "play" in the sleeves even between the two sleeves?

Call them up,odds are that the owner Kaevon himself will talk to you and it will be an interesting conversation he will talk in circles maybe even mention a train hell I have had the talk with him twice with only placing two orders.
Best of luck to you myself I will be shopping elsewhere for my cheap equipment fix in the future.

[GamecockLifter]

Can you let me know the following when you receive your bar:

1) did the screw in handles ship with yours (mine did not)?
2) will the sleeves spin on yours freely?
3) can you see any bushings on the sleeves?
4) is the "play" in the sleeves even between the two sleeves?

Hey bud.

1) mine did ship with the handles.
2) the right sleeve does. The left sleeve spins freely for about 10ish rotations and then gets completely stuck. To the point I have to really force it to move again. It’s very weird. I’ll probably try to remove the sleeve and look at it.
3) not visible.
4) there is lateral sleeve movement, but it seems to be even on both sides. Probably around 1/8th of an inch.

[eddiegoodfellar]

Hey bud.

1) mine did ship with the handles.
2) the right sleeve does. The left sleeve spins freely for about 10ish rotations and then gets completely stuck. To the point I have to really force it to move again. It’s very weird. I’ll probably try to remove the sleeve and look at it.
3) not visible.
4) there is lateral sleeve movement, but it seems to be even on both sides. Probably around 1/8th of an inch.

Thank you sir.

[cwcmac]

Have you owned or used a Crep to compare your other SSBs with? The balance on the Crep is hands down the best, but the yoke padding is fairly disappointing for how good the rest of the bar is. But lately, I'm wondering if part of the good balance has to do with the lack of nice yolk padding? The Crep seems to push down and sit better than the EFS which has noticeably more thick and denser padding (it also sits further back as well and possibly due to the padding but not totally sure now). The lack of standard handles of the Crep is a hassle as well, but that's a whole separate issue.

My thought about the Crep is that the softer pads help ensure that there aren't spots on you causing it to roll. Soft pads 'fills the gaps' to form around your body, the EliteFTS one maintains it's shape so it's going to be more prone to slide a little.

As far as balance, I've had no issues with balance with the FTS one going without handles (or not using them)
As for handles on the Crep, they do offer a number of handle options as upgrades (longer straight and angled ones).

I really like the EliteFTS one I have but kind of wish I had bought the Crep if for no other reason than to support someone that sounds like an awesome guy.

[BDiamond]

FWIW, they sent me their original bar and made a video on why it wasn't good. I suggested to them to update their original bar and basically told them if they can clone the Elite bar like Titan did then they'd have a winner. Not wanting to just copy what was out there they mentioned they could add spinning sleeves to differentiate themselves. So I don't believe they did it for functionality, more of just a feature to say they're different.

Interesting note their V1 bar also had knurling on the main shaft as well.

[eddiegoodfellar]

Call them up,odds are that the owner Kaevon himself will talk to you and it will be an interesting conversation he will talk in circles maybe even mention a train hell I have had the talk with him twice with only placing two orders.
Best of luck to you myself I will be shopping elsewhere for my cheap equipment fix in the future.

My replacement handles came in today and I had an opportunity to use the bar. Functionally, it has exceeded my expectations. With my recent shoulder pain I see this getting lots of use.
For the price I am definitely happy for the purchase ($320 "all in" in Canada is very good). I wasn't expecting extremely high quality for the price. I'm sure BOS will continue to improve and I like to support a Canadian company (even though it imports from China).

At first I was annoyed with the sleeves, but I don't think it really matters for the movement. They need to have better sleeves or make them non rotating.

[eddiegoodfellar]

FWIW, they sent me their original bar and made a video on why it wasn't good. I suggested to them to update their original bar and basically told them if they can clone the Elite bar like Titan did then they'd have a winner. Not wanting to just copy what was out there they mentioned they could add spinning sleeves to differentiate themselves. So I don't believe they did it for functionality, more of just a feature to say they're different.

Interesting note their V1 bar also had knurling on the main shaft as well.

That makes sense

[Mizzoutiger26]

I dont think it's going to be a problem. Olympic lifters, such as Lasha Talakhadze, do their squats with olympic weightlifting bars that have tremendous spin.

That's not really the issue I'm concerned with though. The weight can swing front to back when squatting with an SSB, especially if you're squatting near max effort. That doesn't really happen with an oly bar. At least in my perception, I don't want to add any more potential instability/impulse to the movement. This is all speculative on my part but I'd love to see someone hitting 500ish on this SSB and hear their thoughts on the spin.

Anyone that grabbed one willing to run a test with some Hatfield squats for science? That's one of my favorite SSB variations for overload and I think if it did present an issue, that movement would definitely make it apparent.

[MGM711]

That's not really the issue I'm concerned with though. The weight can swing front to back when squatting with an SSB, especially if you're squatting near max effort. That doesn't really happen with an oly bar. At least in my perception, I don't want to add any more potential instability/impulse to the movement. This is all speculative on my part but I'd love to see someone hitting 500ish on this SSB and hear their thoughts on the spin.

Anyone that grabbed one willing to run a test with some Hatfield squats for science? That's one of my favorite SSB variations for overload and I think if it did present an issue, that movement would definitely make it apparent.

First off, not really sure why anyone would prefer to have spinning sleeves on a SSB outside of being able to use regular collars, and in that case, you could just weld the sleeves on and not have them spin at all. Spinning sleeves would only add to the lift being tougher than it already is...I could see one hitting a mini max spot, rounding forward, causing the sleeve to spin which then makes the act of going forward worse than it already is. A regular, fixed sleeve SSB is already tough as it is, not sure why it needs to be made tougher, but that's just my opinion.

Hate to say this, but we need more heavy trial reviews of all these new bars and equipment, and I've made this point known to Coop on multiple times calling out some of his reviews. Watching a review of someone swinging a Reverse Hyper with 25s on each side doesn't give me any idea of the build quality and how stable it is. Same goes for a Squat Bar with anything less than 500, SSB is in the same category, most any bar made with two plates on each side will function just fine, it's when it's loaded heavy where you see all the downfalls.

[Mizzoutiger26]

...I could see one hitting a mini max spot, rounding forward, causing the sleeve to spin which then makes the act of going forward worse than it already is. A regular, fixed sleeve SSB is already tough as it is, not sure why it needs to be made tougher, but that's just my opinion.

This was the exact scenario that I pictured in my mind. Just seems like at best, the sleeves would be a net-neutral and at worst could be disastrous.

[bennder]

I found a helpful video review where the sleeves are removed

can't link:

youtube.com/watch?v=XNnWLx_tXes

- Bar claims to have bushings but it doesn't
- Bar claims 1500lb max, but sleeves are only 13", not standard 16", so can't add that many plates
- Spacer in sleeve not drilled in center so sleeves don't spin well
- Bar doesn't sit flat on j-cups of 3x3 Rogue rack
- Stitching on pad frayed after 2 days

[martyanderson]

dave Tate has explained why spinning sleeves on a ssb is bad.
You really don't want those sleeves to spin.
Bad move BOS, bad move.

looks like junk all around from review i saw on youtube from someone that has nothing to profit from unlike coop etc...

[martyanderson]

First off, not really sure why anyone would prefer to have spinning sleeves on a SSB outside of being able to use regular collars, and in that case, you could just weld the sleeves on and not have them spin at all. Spinning sleeves would only add to the lift being tougher than it already is...I could see one hitting a mini max spot, rounding forward, causing the sleeve to spin which then makes the act of going forward worse than it already is. A regular, fixed sleeve SSB is already tough as it is, not sure why it needs to be made tougher, but that's just my opinion.

Hate to say this, but we need more heavy trial reviews of all these new bars and equipment, and I've made this point known to Coop on multiple times calling out some of his reviews. Watching a review of someone swinging a Reverse Hyper with 25s on each side doesn't give me any idea of the build quality and how stable it is. Same goes for a Squat Bar with anything less than 500, SSB is in the same category, most any bar made with two plates on each side will function just fine, it's when it's loaded heavy where you see all the downfalls.

hes worth a watch but he profits alot from his reviews, ...and hes' clearly not a serious lifter of any sort by any stretch of the imagnination...im being generous calling him a lifter.