Marrs Bar -- New Type (?) of Safety Squat Bar (SSB)

[mathtcha]

Like the idea of the Marrs bar (given its concept and reviews)...too bad they don’t ship to Canada. Morning lifter’s review of it mentions a version for smaller athletes in the works! Will definitely figure some way of getting one if it comes out in 2021..

[Mech6]

Like the idea of the Marrs bar (given its concept and reviews)...too bad they don’t ship to Canada. Morning lifter’s review of it mentions a version for smaller athletes in the works! Will definitely figure some way of getting one if it comes out in 2021..

https://www.marrs-bar.com/faq

Do you ship internationally?

We DO ship to Canada - send an email to Matt at mjones@marrs-bar.com and include 1) shipping address, 2) phone number and 3) whether it is residential or commercial. We will get back to you asap with a quote.

[zoom008]

Like the idea of the Marrs bar (given its concept and reviews)...too bad they don’t ship to Canada. Morning lifter’s review of it mentions a version for smaller athletes in the works! Will definitely figure some way of getting one if it comes out in 2021..

They will ship to Canada. I bought mine in July 2019. They said it was the first one they shipped to Canada. I used crossborderpickups.ca to take care of the shipping from across the border.

[mathtcha]

Thanks Mech and Zoom for the help! I have a smaller frame (Acromion to Acromion = 19”) and feel that the smaller Marrs Bar might be worth the wait! Any idea what the distance between ‘shoulder pads’ is? And how wide the ‘shoulder pads’ themselves are?

[Deep-Voiced-One]

The Crep is a great choice, it balances the best of all the traditional SSBs on the market. It's the best in terms of anything Hatfield style, very balanced, never fear of that bar moving off my upper back. The downside though is that the yolk is inferior in terms of comfort compared to both Marrs and SS Yolk. In my reviews of the various SSBs, I have a theory that part of what makes the Crep a great balancing bar is the not so comfortable yolk padding which allows the yolk to dig into your upper back more so to speak. As far as training effect goes, the Crep likely yields the best results, it just comes at a comfort cost. At this stage in my training, I prefer the better quality yolks now over greater training effect which is why I personally prefer the SS Yolk to the Crep these days.

How are the Crepinsek and Marrs Bar coated? I lift outside in the garage and from what I heard the SS Yoke doesn't have the best coat on the bar portion. The only other issue I could foresee (that Cleveland posted a while ago above) is moving one around in my power rack considering I'll have my barbell and Mech's belt squat which I pull forward in there as well, so moving it around and out of the way could be a potential pita.

[urbanlifter]

I'm not a fan of traditional SSB's, being pulled forward isn't beneficial to my style of lifting but he Marrs Bar is more intriguing. I'll be watching closely if they do launch one built for people with smaller frames, I'd like to see a bar that could realistically replace straight bar squats but without the elbow/shoulder stress. A bar like that would get ALOT of use in my gym...

[zoom008]

Thanks Mech and Zoom for the help! I have a smaller frame (Acromion to Acromion = 19”) and feel that the smaller Marrs Bar might be worth the wait! Any idea what the distance between ‘shoulder pads’ is? And how wide the ‘shoulder pads’ themselves are?

I have a small frame as well and the bar is very comfortable.

[urbanlifter]

I have a small frame as well and the bar is very comfortable.

Is that the width on the regular Marrs Bar?

[zoom008]

Is that the width on the regular Marrs Bar?

yes

[GamecockLifter]

Small frame here and the yoke has been great. Not sure I would want it to be narrower.

[urbanlifter]

SS Yoke didn't feel all that great to me, the Edge Fitness was a little better on the shoulders IMO.

Looking at the price of the Marrs Bar I think I'll pass, shipping kills the deal.

[vhd16]

The Crep is a great choice, it balances the best of all the traditional SSBs on the market. It's the best in terms of anything Hatfield style, very balanced, never fear of that bar moving off my upper back. The downside though is that the yolk is inferior in terms of comfort compared to both Marrs and SS Yolk. In my reviews of the various SSBs, I have a theory that part of what makes the Crep a great balancing bar is the not so comfortable yolk padding which allows the yolk to dig into your upper back more so to speak. As far as training effect goes, the Crep likely yields the best results, it just comes at a comfort cost. At this stage in my training, I prefer the better quality yolks now over greater training effect which is why I personally prefer the SS Yolk to the Crep these days.

It was opposite for me. SS yoke would dig in and was not comfortable. May be difference in neck sizes. I am 16" or 16.5" neck size for dress shirts . But crep one no issues . Ralph does send extra covers . Key is after few workouts initially, it is quite comfortable in not using the 5" stub handles.

[urbanlifter]

It was opposite for me. SS yoke would dig in and was not comfortable.

Agree, I'm one of those weirdos with a pointy acromion on top of my shoulders, if I bought another SSB I'd just contact Rick at Edge Fitness and have him take in the width another 2-3" so that the pads rest directly on your traps. Past that point there isn't anything to dislike about his bar, decent price too.

[mathtcha]

I have a small frame as well and the bar is very comfortable.

Thanks tons for the pics...seems like it would not be a problem on fit or balance. Lastly, how is it on lat engagement when squatting?

[MGM711]

How are the Crepinsek and Marrs Bar coated? I lift outside in the garage and from what I heard the SS Yoke doesn't have the best coat on the bar portion. The only other issue I could foresee (that Cleveland posted a while ago above) is moving one around in my power rack considering I'll have my barbell and Mech's belt squat which I pull forward in there as well, so moving it around and out of the way could be a potential pita.

The Marrs is zinc coated and the Crep is just your basic powder coat. I would say that the Marrs appears to have the better finish although I've only only owned it for about 4 months and can't tell you how it will do over time.

[MGM711]

It was opposite for me. SS yoke would dig in and was not comfortable. May be difference in neck sizes. I am 16" or 16.5" neck size for dress shirts . But crep one no issues . Ralph does send extra covers . Key is after few workouts initially, it is quite comfortable in not using the 5" stub handles.

It could be a size issue, not sure, for years I trained with the Crep with zero issues, but there also wasn't really any other options to make any comparisons either. I just find the padding on the SS Yolk more comfortable by comparison, my son does as well, but it does come as a trade off as the SS Yolk does not balance nearly as well. I think that if I was still competing, I'd probably think differently, but my reasons are different now.

[bean438]

They will ship to Canada. I bought mine in July 2019. They said it was the first one they shipped to Canada. I used crossborderpickups.ca to take care of the shipping from across the border.

So..... you,didn’t order straight to Canada?

[Stinkape]

It’s a different feeling bar to be sure. True to its claims of being a low bar alternative. Love it on front squats too. Balance is excellent.

If you’re in the market I would think of waiting to see the new Prime bar too. They’re finishing up their testing after making a couple of minor adjustments and it should be coming out in the next few weeks.

I think they said it would be out shortly 8 months ago. I sold my SSB in anticipation of getting the Prime but have since bought the Duffalo and Kadillac bars, cant see myself dishing out more money for the prime now, unless its priced right.

[MGM711]

I think they said it would be out shortly 8 months ago. I sold my SSB in anticipation of getting the Prime but have since bought the Duffalo and Kadillac bars, cant see myself dishing out more money for the prime now, unless its priced right.

Hoping it's priced right and Prime are two things that are not synonymous. The Prime SSB will almost certainly be in the 1K price range with tax and shipping (probably more), but so is the Transformer Bar now with their inflated shipping prices. Marrs could take a massive chunk out of this potential buying market if they could just figure out to ship the bar reasonably and not on a pallet through freight. I think if they could change the design somehow to detach the sleeves, you'd think they could ship it in a smaller and more shipping friendly box.

[mathtcha]

Called FedEx to get a quote on shipping the bar here to my part of the GTA, Ontario. When all is said and done, I was looking at $1400-$1500CAD. The shipping, taxes brokerage etc. would cost just as much as the bar.... needless to say, I’m holding off on it for now..

[Stinkape]

Called FedEx to get a quote on shipping the bar here to my part of the GTA, Ontario. When all is said and done, I was looking at $1400-$1500CAD. The shipping, taxes brokerage etc. would cost just as much as the bar.... needless to say, I’m holding off on it for now..

Yes most things ordered online from the USA to Canada will cost twice the price and sometimes more when all is said and done.

[mathtcha]

Yes most things ordered online from the USA to Canada will cost twice the price and sometimes more when all is said and done.

True...but Im hoping the company can work something out with UPS and get the price lower...and if we are super lucky, take care of all the taxes, brokerage fees as well...like Rogue does!

[zoom008]

Called FedEx to get a quote on shipping the bar here to my part of the GTA, Ontario. When all is said and done, I was looking at $1400-$1500CAD. The shipping, taxes brokerage etc. would cost just as much as the bar.... needless to say, I’m holding off on it for now..

Not sure where in the gta you are, I mentioned before that I used crossborderpickups.ca

Here's a link to their rates page https://www.crossborderpickups.ca/ra...-33717881-41f1

I received mine back in July of 2019. I think I ended up paying around $100 for taxes and $50 to have it shipped (that's ontop of what Marrs Bar charged for shipping)

I asked them not to ship it on a skid because the fee for a skid is $100. When the package arrived crossboarderpickups informed me that the item was on a skid. I asked them if they could remove it from the skid so I would be charged less for delivery and they said that's not a problem. There are other services you could use where you could cross the border to get it yourself (once the borders reopen)

[mathtcha]

Not sure where in the gta you are, I mentioned before that I used crossborderpickups.ca
I received mine back in July of 2019. I think I ended up paying around $100 for taxes and $50 to have it shipped (that's ontop of what Marrs Bar charged for shipping)
I asked them not to ship it on a skid because the fee for a skid is $100. When the package arrived crossboarderpickups informed me that the item was on a skid. I asked them if they could remove it from the skid so I would be charged less for delivery and they said that's not a problem. There are other services you could use where you could cross the border to get it yourself (once the borders reopen)

I’m in Georgetown, On. Cant thank you enough for the help and response!
Will definitely go the route of crossborderpickups once the borders open up or just end up biting the bullet if that takes too long! My patience is truly being tested right now...

[mathtcha]

I see in a lot of videos that the Marrs Bar throws a few of people forward when coming out of the hole! Any thoughts on this?
Also, I’ve asked this before, but how is lat/upperback engagement when using the Marrs bar? I definitely need to have that proper/tight upper back/lat engagement for a proper squat and I could never quite get that with my SSB.

[MGM711]

I see in a lot of videos that the Marrs Bar throws a few of people forward when coming out of the hole! Any thoughts on this?
Also, I’ve asked this before, but how is lat/upperback engagement when using the Marrs bar? I definitely need to have that proper/tight upper back/lat engagement for a proper squat and I could never quite get that with my SSB.

A lot of ME squats or GMs will cause the same sort of thing, but anything with a forward loading pitch when loaded heavy will cause the same result, that said, the Marrs does seem to produce an interesting mini max.

[mathtcha]

I’ve had my Marrs-bar for close to 2 months and absolutely adore it. It’s my only squat variation.
Does anyone know if they made the harness on the ‘new’ version narrower?

[radrd]

I’ve had my Marrs-bar for close to 2 months and absolutely adore it. It’s my only squat variation.
Does anyone know if they made the harness on the ‘new’ version narrower?

I don't know what the old one measured, but I have the new one and wouldn't want it any narrower. It's hard for me to get an exact measurement, but there's roughly 6.5" or so of clear space for your head.

[mathtcha]

I don't know what the old one measured, but I have the new one and wouldn't want it any narrower. It's hard for me to get an exact measurement, but there's roughly 6.5" or so of clear space for your head.

Yes..it is about 6.5” on mine too! If I’m not careful, it knocks the earbuds out of my ears when I setup….and here I was thinking it would be too wide for my narrow frame.

[mathtcha]

For those of you that have the Marrs bar, what is the approx. ratio of your Marrs bar squats to your High bar back squat OR Low-bar back squat? Thanks..