Hex bar or straight barbell? Choose a hex bar if your main aim is to add a deadlift variation with handles beside your body. Choose a suitable straight barbell if you want one bar for a wider mix of presses, squats, rows and deadlifts. The right purchase depends on the lifts you plan to do, your rack and plates, and the room available.
A hex bar is also called a trap bar. It is a type of barbell, but its frame and handle arrangement make it different from the straight Olympic bars most people picture when they hear “barbell”. This guide compares both, using six products from the Peak Foundry range.
Hex bar vs straight barbell: the main differences
| Buying question | Hex / trap bar | Straight barbell |
|---|---|---|
| Where do you stand? | Inside the frame for a typical hex-bar deadlift | Behind the bar for a conventional floor deadlift |
| How do you grip it? | Handles beside the body, with palms facing inward | Hands on a straight shaft; grip depends on the lift |
| Which lifts are the priority? | Hex-bar deadlifts and compatible carrying or shrug variations | A broader programme of suitable squat, press, row and deadlift variations |
| What should you measure? | Frame space, handle spacing, sleeve length and room around the loaded bar | Overall and internal shaft lengths, sleeve length, rack spacing and loading clearance |
| Does the bar name establish compatibility? | Check the exact model, plates and handling instructions | Check the exact model, plates, rack and intended use |
1. What a hex bar adds to a training space
With a conventional closed hex bar, you step inside the frame and hold the handles at your sides. This changes the relationship between your body and the load compared with a straight-bar deadlift. On a dual-handle model, the handle choice also changes your starting position.
The Rival 20kg Olympic Hex Trap Bar with Dual Handles has two handle heights and 28mm knurled handles. Its listing gives an overall length of 1,425mm, 555mm between the handles and 255mm of loadable sleeve length. It is listed for plates with a 50mm centre hole and includes spring collars.
A hex bar can complement a straight-bar setup when you specifically want this lifting position. It does not provide the same setup for conventional straight-bar bench presses or back squats. Choose it for the movements it supports rather than expecting every barbell exercise to transfer unchanged.
2. Why a straight barbell may be the first purchase
A suitable straight barbell can work across several parts of a strength programme. If your planned sessions include rack-based squats, bench presses, rows and floor deadlifts, it is a practical place to start your comparison. Check the bar’s stated use and the compatibility of the complete setup.
The Rival 20kg Chrome Olympic 7ft Barbell is listed at 2,200mm long, with a 28mm shaft, 415mm loadable sleeves and four needle bearings. Its 50mm sleeves are intended for compatible Olympic plates. These details distinguish it from the shorter sleeves and side handles on the Rival hex bar.
For rack work, check the usable shaft length between the sleeves against the spacing of your J-cups and safeties. The label “7ft” alone does not confirm that every rack and accessory combination will work.
3. Deadlift feel: different mechanics, different choice
Research has found differences in deadlift mechanics when experienced lifters use hexagonal and straight bars. For example, a study of 19 male powerlifters reported different joint moments and performance measures between the two variations. That supports treating them as different exercises; it does not establish that one bar prevents injury or suits every lifter. Read the study abstract.
Handle height, plate diameter, technique and your individual build all affect the setup. Record which bar and handle position you use when tracking training. A load lifted with one arrangement is not automatically a like-for-like comparison with another.
If you are choosing a bar to practise a particular lift or prepare for an event, select equipment that matches that movement and check the relevant requirements. If you need help choosing a lifting variation, a qualified coach can assess the setup with you.
4. Straight barbells also vary: grip, weight and rotation
Once you have decided on a straight bar, compare the specifications rather than choosing on appearance alone. Empty-bar weight, shaft diameter, knurling and sleeve rotation all deserve a place on your checklist.
The GymGear Elite 7ft Olympic Bar is listed as a 20kg bar with a 30mm grip and eight bearings. Compare that with the Rival bar’s listed 28mm grip. A different shaft diameter changes what you hold; neither figure is a universal recommendation for every user.
The GymGear Ladies Olympic Lifting Bar provides another specification to compare: 15kg empty weight, 201cm length and a 25mm grip. Despite the product name, the useful buying questions are whether its weight, dimensions and intended use meet your requirements.
5. Room size and plate space can decide the purchase
Measure the loaded bar’s working area, including space to add and remove plates. A shorter overall bar can still need significant room around it. For a hex bar, account for the frame as well as the sleeves and the route you use to step in and out.
The GymGear Premium Olympic Bar is listed in 5ft/13kg and 6ft/15kg options, both with a 30mm grip. Shorter bars may be worth comparing for a smaller space, but confirm the selected option’s usable shaft length and rack compatibility before ordering.
Plate thickness matters too. The Rival hex bar’s listed 255mm sleeves and the Rival straight bar’s 415mm sleeves offer different amounts of loading space. Allow for collars and confirm the chosen plates fit. A sleeve-space comparison is separate from the manufacturer’s load rating.
Plan appropriate storage and flooring for the actual equipment. For the wider room layout, read our home gym beginner’s guide. For flooring choices, see our rolls versus tiles guide.
6. Where a Swiss bar fits
If your interest in a hex bar comes mainly from its inward-facing grip, compare the movement you want to perform before buying. A Swiss bar provides neutral or angled handle choices for suitable pressing, rowing and curling variations, while a hex bar surrounds the lifter for its typical deadlift setup.
The GymGear Olympic Swiss Bar has four grip positions and a listed empty weight of 30kg. It is a specialist option with a different purpose from both a straight bar and a hex bar. Check its compatibility with your rack, plates and planned exercises.
Which bar should you choose?
- For a broad barbell programme: compare straight bars that suit your planned lifts, rack and plates.
- For a specific deadlift variation: compare the hex bar’s frame, handle heights and loading space.
- For a smaller room: measure the complete working area and verify rack compatibility before choosing a shorter bar.
- For alternative pressing grips: investigate a suitable Swiss bar as a separate option.
Common questions
Is a hex bar the same as a trap bar?
The names are commonly used for the same style of bar. Designs vary, so check the frame and handles of the exact model.
Do all hex bars weigh 20kg?
No. The Rival model featured here is listed at 20kg. Check the empty weight of any other model before calculating the total load.
Can I use the same plates on both?
The featured Rival hex and straight bars both list 50mm sleeves. Use plates and collars specified as compatible, and check available sleeve space. Other bar types can use different diameters.
Is one automatically safer than the other?
Bar design alone cannot establish that. The exercise, load, technique and individual requirements matter. Choose the setup for your intended training and get appropriate coaching where needed.
Explore Peak Foundry free weights or compare the six linked products above. Check current product specifications, selected options and availability before ordering. If you need a product detail clarified, contact Peak Foundry.