Strength Shop SSB Bar

Regular back squats can cause too much compression on my lower back meaning my recovery, rest period and even training plan has to be tailored around them. I frequently switch out back squats for other alternatives, but I won’t give up squatting.

A gym I frequent, The Luminary Fitness Suite, had recently purchased a new Safety Squat Bar (SSB) by Strength Shop called the Riot Olympic SSB. ‘The 50mm diameter shaft makes this Safety bar incredibly sturdy. Matt black finish. If you do not have a safety squat bar than you are missing out on one of the best training bars there is. Training with this bar is ideal for upper back, lower back, and leg work. The Safety Squat Bar is also great for addressing weak points in the squat.‘ (strengthshop.co.uk)

That is how Strength Shop describe their bar. I find that SSBs support me in maintaining a more upright position throughout the squat. I don’t look to load these bars too heavy in relation to my regular back squat weight as I utilise this bar for working on my weakenesses and strengthening them.

So to the bar itself. The first thing I did realise is that this bar is lighter than most SSB I have used in the past. It weighs in at just 20kg and can hold a weight of up to 350kg. As I prepared for my working sets I warmed up initially with just the bar, I wanted to get a feel for it. It felt a little snug around the shoulders/neck but I felt secure. It didn’t even feel the 20kg but this bar came to life as I worked through my working sets. The bar just felt great on the back, there was not the usual pressure I sometimes feel on the upper back even with other SSBs. It may sound strange but the weight felt so well distributed throughout the bar meaning I could work on my weak area of maintain that upright posture and focussing on keeping that brace. As I did increase the weight the bar was never uncomfortable and gave me confidence throughout the workout – I have been apprehensive at times with squatting, I love them, they hate me.

Moving forward I will continue to use this bar to continue to address my weak areas as some SSBs I have used feel overbearing and that they want to crush me into the ground taking my focus away from working/improving other areas of my squat. A very good piece of kit that I would highly recommend putting into your regular training.