Open Trap Bar / Hex Bar

Overview

The Bells of Steel Open Trap Bar is a highly versatile strength-training tool engineered for deadlifts, rows, carries, lunges, squats, RDLs, presses, and dozens of accessory movements—without beating up your back in the process.

Its open design, integrated deadlift jack, dual handle heights with neutral grip placement, compact and stable build make it easier to use, easier to load, and easier to control than traditional hex bars. Built from high-strength steel with fully knurled handles, it delivers premium quality and performance at a home-gym-friendly price — offering unmatched value compared to competitors' alternatives.

Whether you're brand new, chasing PRs, or getting back under the bar after a "life happened" phase, this bar is a must-have tool in your training arsenal.

Why Choose an Open Trap Bar?

Open trap bars have become the modern standard because they solve problems older hex bars can't:

• Improved movement freedom (lunges, rows, carries, split squats)
• Safer mechanics for beginners learning hinge patterns
• Easier loading due to the built-in jack designs
• Better ergonomics for tall, long-limbed, or mobility-limited lifters
• Full-body use instead of just deadlifts

The BOS Open Trap Bar takes all of these advantages and delivers them with balanced geometry, premium knurling, and durability — without the inflated price tag.

Who It's For

Beginners
The high handles, stable frame, and balanced center-mass make learning the deadlift safer and more controlled. Beginners also benefit from the open design for lunges and split squats.

Intermediate Lifters
Switch quickly between lifts using the dual-handle setup and easy loading. Ideal for accessory work programmed between barbell lifts.

Advanced Lifters & Strength Athletes
Rated for 700 lbs with knurled handles and a rigid frame designed for maximal pulls. Perfect for heavy deadlifts, RDLs, shrugs, and loaded carries.

Small-Space & Garage Gym Users
A single tool that replaces multiple specialty training tools without requiring extra storage space. The open design gives you more movement variety in tight spaces.

Coaches, Trainers & Home-Gym Power Users
One bar supports hinge mechanics, bilateral work, rows, carries, gait patterns, and accessory-strength programming for a wide range of clients.

Ease of Use

Built-In Deadlift Jack
Tilt the bar onto its feet, and slide plates on effortlessly. This drastically reduces setup fatigue and keeps the bar stable while loading heavy weights.

Easy to Maneuver
The open design reduces awkwardness during movement transitions. The centered load path makes every movement feel smoother and more predictable.

Beginner-Friendly Learning Curve
High handles + stable frame + good knurl = ideal for teaching hinge mechanics or returning to pulling after injury.

Value & Cost Efficiency

Buying separate bars for deadlifts, farmer carries, rows, and split squats quickly becomes expensive. The Open Trap Bar replaces:

• Hex bar
• Carry handles
• Row bar
• Farmer carry implements
• Multiple specialty attachments

Durability & Longevity

Premium Build Quality
This bar is engineered to endure years of high-volume training cycles. Welds are strong, sleeves spin smoothly, and the frame is built to maintain alignment under repeated loading.

Improved Packaging
Updated packaging protects your bar during transport, so it arrives shiny and new—the way it should.

Low-Maintenance Finish
Simply wipe down between sessions to resist moisture and sweat buildup.

Engineering & Construction

Balanced, Stable Geometry
The bar's centerline is engineered for balance, reducing forward roll and side-to-side wobble during carries, rows, and heavy pulls. Multiple reviewers specifically highlight how unexpectedly balanced the bar feels compared to cheaper models.

High-Strength Steel Frame
Built from rigid steel designed to stay stable under load. The bar is rated to 700 lbs and maintains its shape even during heavy deadlifts.

Dual Handle Heights
Low handles replicate the standard barbell pulling height, while high handles offer reduced range of motion, easier setup for beginners, and safer pulls for lifters with mobility limitations.

Fully Knurled Handles
Both handle sets are knurled end-to-end for a consistent, confident grip without being overly aggressive. Reviewers frequently call out the knurling as one of the standout features.

Durable, Protective Finish
A reinforced coating helps limit chips, scuffs, and wear from daily use. Improved packaging helps prevent dents and dings during transport.

Sleeves for Standard Plates
Compatible with Olympic-style plates (50 mm sleeves), including bumper plates, steel plates, and change plates.

Full-Body Versatility

Unlike closed hex bars that feel "locked in," the open side unlocks dozens of movements:

Lower Body

• Deadlifts
• RDLs
• Squats & squat variations
• Lunges & reverse lunges
• Split squats
• Step-ups
• Trap-bar jumps

Upper Body

• Seal rows
• Bent-over rows
• Press-outs
• Iso holds

Loaded Conditioning

• Farmer carries
• Suitcase carries
• Marches & gait patterns
• Strongman-style conditioning circuits

The open design dramatically increases the training value of a single bar — making this one of the most cost-efficient specialty bars you can own.