Safetly Squat Bar

[MGM711]

i disagree, I prefer the Elitefts one over the crep one by a lot. I like the fact that you can position the handles up or down depending on how you want the weight to feel, your not just locked into one position. The padding on the Elitefts one is nicer, more comfortable also. Comfort is nice, not sure why you would want to strain your neck.

The yolk padding is way better on the SS, and that's one area the Crep could improve. I guess we agree to disagree on which sits better. I feel like I can cheat the positioning on the SS whereas you can't do that on the Crep.

[cwcmac]

I'm getting really frsutarted with MGM and smokinHawk getting me all confused. I was going to buy a Crep then my furnace went. Now that I'm back ready to buy one you guys keep confusing me.

[irongrandpa]

I'm getting really frsutarted with MGM and smokinHawk getting me all confused. I was going to buy a Crep then my furnace went. Now that I'm back ready to buy one you guys keep confusing me.

Buy both and eliminate the confusion yourself. Keep your favorite and sell the other. Or keep both in case your tastes change.

[cwcmac]

Buy both and eliminate the confusion yourself. Keep your favorite and sell the other. Or keep both in case your tastes change.

Edited: No idea why my image isn't showing up.

[Jason2459]

I'm getting really frsutarted with MGM and smokinHawk getting me all confused. I was going to buy a Crep then my furnace went. Now that I'm back ready to buy one you guys keep confusing me.

You can't go wrong either way. I have no experience with the crep but I like my elitefts ss yoke.

[Synthetickiller]

I have a custom built SSB, but I can cheat with the handles.
Does that mean I have to the handles? No. What I do like is that if I am getting too bent over when trying to recruit my upper back musculature, I can grab the handles & safely get back into a proper position or at least easily squat the weight up & rack it. I consider it a "feature" and not a downside.


CWCMAC, I know how you feel. Without having access to both, there's no way to know.
From my training perspective, I'd want to know which one is harder (throws you off balance more). I don't know what your motivations are to use the bar, so that'll determine what you end up getting. $289 is a good price for the Elitefts bar. I'd have a hard time passing that over. Worse case scenario, you hate it & flip it at cost.

[Bench905]

I have a custom built SSB, but I can cheat with the handles.
Does that mean I have to the handles? No. What I do like is that if I am getting too bent over when trying to recruit my upper back musculature, I can grab the handles & safely get back into a proper position or at least easily squat the weight up & rack it. I consider it a "feature" and not a downside.

Exactly how I feel - it's a feature. There was a post a while ago where people were accusing people of cheating if their bar had handles because they assumed that they were driving the bar a certain way. Example below. It's a big leap to assume how people are using their bars. I use the handles as a place to put my hands as I find it more comfortable than cross-armed or handless...although I do go handless from time to time.

You're not supposed to use handles on an SSB bar. Look at old WSB videos. Either use no hands or just prop them over the pads. Using the handles lets you lift the bar further back off your neck and makes the movemement MUCH easier.

[t2lee]

Bit the bullet and purchased EliteFTS SS yoke. Which collars does everyone use for SSB?

[Jason2459]

Bit the bullet and purchased EliteFTS SS yoke. Which collars does everyone use for SSB?

My lockjaw elite and of course my ivanko COC and COTs work on mine as well.

[MGM711]

The yolk padding is way better on the SS, and that's one area the Crep could improve. I guess we agree to disagree on which sits better. I feel like I can cheat the positioning on the SS whereas you can't do that on the Crep.

I don't think there's any confusion, just two sides pointing out differences in each bar. The SSB is supposed to sit high on the traps and push you forward, thats the whole point of the bar, but it's supposed to stay there and even be used with no hands. It's not comfortable and it's hard as hell, at least for me and how I lift. Both Rogue and EFS SSYoke V2 sit back further on the neck than the Crep model and I'd say both are more comfortable, but again, I feel like they can be cheated with a push upward on the handles. EFS Yolk V1 sat more like the Crep, but the handles were cartoonishly long, and I didn't like not being able to hold the bar at the bends like I can with the Crep. I can probably make an argument for a few of these SSBs out right now, but I keep circling back to the Crep as being the best "performing" SSB, all things considered. I guess you just have to decide on the reason why you want the SSB and which factors are most important for you. My preference is for the Crep with either 5inch nubs or 8 inch angled handles.

[t2lee]

Wondering if oso mighty collars will work, which I have

[buddy0329]

EliteFTS has their SS Yoke bar listed on sale again for $289 + shipping. I’m tempted to order it just try it out and if it doesn’t work out, to just flip it.

Any point to waiting for Black Friday or is this as low a price as it gets?

[MGM711]

EliteFTS has their SS Yoke bar listed on sale again for $289 + shipping. I’m tempted to order it just try it out and if it doesn’t work out, to just flip it.

Any point to waiting for Black Friday or is this as low a price as it gets?

If memory serves me right, this is as cheap as it gets since the fiasco years back when it was advertised at $275 with free shipping even though it was a mistake and EFS wouldn't honor the price for the ones that ordered.

[vhd16]

I'm getting really frsutarted with MGM and smokinHawk getting me all confused. I was going to buy a Crep then my furnace went. Now that I'm back ready to buy one you guys keep confusing me.

Given the weights you pull and push I would get Crep. I only got Yoke because it was less than 1/2 the price and v2 and my numbers are not as much as your's are.

Smokinhawk, Chadsalt and others use Yoke and are very happy with it.

Mech , C123C, MGM and bunch of others are with Crep. But Crep is one man show. So I would go with Crep

[Jason2459]

The SS Yoke will manage just as much weight as the crep. Many videos of it being abused/used on EliteFTS youtubes.

[boody22]

Edge Fitness has their bar on sale for $289 and that includes shipping.
http://www.edgefitnessystems.com/yoke-ss-bar.html

Just purchased one from them yesterday before this deal too, but I live 25min away so I am able to pick it up and paid $250

[MGM711]

Edge Fitness has their bar on sale for $289 and that includes shipping.
http://www.edgefitnessystems.com/yoke-ss-bar.html

Just purchased one from them yesterday before this deal too, but I live 25min away so I am able to pick it up and paid $250

That's a really good bar minus those silly handles...it's basically SS Yolk V1 which was a really good bar. For the price, really good deal here. I would just recommend sawing down the hands to 5-8 inches max.

[C123C]

I don't think there's any confusion, just two sides pointing out differences in each bar. The SSB is supposed to sit high on the traps and push you forward, thats the whole point of the bar, but it's supposed to stay there and even be used with no hands. It's not comfortable and it's hard as hell, at least for me and how I lift. Both Rogue and EFS SSYoke V2 sit back further on the neck than the Crep model and I'd say both are more comfortable, but again, I feel like they can be cheated with a push upward on the handles. EFS Yolk V1 sat more like the Crep, but the handles were cartoonishly long, and I didn't like not being able to hold the bar at the bends like I can with the Crep. I can probably make an argument for a few of these SSBs out right now, but I keep circling back to the Crep as being the best "performing" SSB, all things considered. I guess you just have to decide on the reason why you want the SSB and which factors are most important for you. My preference is for the Crep with either 5inch nubs or 8 inch angled handles.

Just some added data that might be useful for you as we may have different proportions and different effects. I'm a 6'3" guy with shorter torso - meaning natural puller and max squats will often be back driven through sticking point (love OLs but not the best catching the low lifts and certainly not a natural squatter). The Crep bar makes the squat feel natural for me. Once acclimated I feel zero issue or strain on my back. Movement feels totally natural with everything centered and driving like a unit.

Recently I had a few friends over. Both taller guys, 6'4" and 6'9" former collegiate rower. Similar lever proportions all around and none of us weigh a ton (210, 230 - me, and 255) - I include this as a normal back squat starts to feel like a more natural movement for me as I reach 260-275. I keep my weight at 220-230 now.

Anyway the 6'9" guy tried the Crep bar and after his second set said, "Now I know what it feels like for a natural squatter. I've never felt that before." Note that I didn't preface our training session with my own impressions as I just wanted to see what they felt to see if my experience was unique. In the past I tried some SSBs and was never really wowed. That could just be my memory/timing etc but the second I tried the Crep (bought on your and others' recommendations here) it was a WOW moment. Both of the other guys feel like the bar (Crep certainly but maybe all SSBs) makes for a much more natural squat for taller, longer limbed lifters. This past training cycle I started doing 2:1 sessions of SSB and back squat with back squat being lighter reps just so I didn't totally ignore and lose it. Carry over is very strong so far such that I'm going to do it all over again this next cycle (just getting over heavy travel/work now) and see where that leaves things.