Farmers Carry Barbells

The short of it: really really cool idea, however, I can see most home gym owners struggling to find the space to use these properly

What are these weird looking contraptions? Plate loaded farmers carry handles. These are a great tool if you like farmers carrys but don’t like having the dumbbells/kettlebells banging against your legs. The common uses for these are:

-Farmers carrys

-Shrugs

-Grip strength training

-Can be used as mini axle bar (admittedly, a bit awkwardly)

Most often you’ll see these at CrossFit or strongman style lifting facilities

Pros:

-Plate loaded so you can add as much or little weight as you need, using the same plates you already have for your other exercises

-Plate loaded meaning you can load it unevenly. For example, put 5 more pounds on the front or back and you’ll have to do more with your wrist and stabilizing muscles to balance the bar

-Long bar meaning the weights won’t bang against your legs

-Very wobbly when turning with them (some people may see this as a con)

Cons:

-Awkward to use unless you’re in a larger area

-Very wobbly when turning with them (some people may see this as a pro)

-Large handle means it can be a bit awkward to store in your barbell holder

-Limited use case (does a few things very well)

So, what does JEV think of these? If you have a large space, are looking for some fun outdoor workout tools, or want to work on your grip strength, I think these are a phenomenal tool. That being said, with such a specific use case, I don’t see these being beneficial for a majority of my customers