If you have used a hex barbell or a trap barbell you might have noticed that it is heavier than a normal Olympic barbell and want to know how much does a hex bar weigh?
Below is the quick answer but as you will notice the weight can vary depending on a few factors.
The Quick AnswerThe most common types of hex bar will weigh between 45 to 54 lbs (20.4kg to 24.5kg). But depending on the manufacturer and the type of hex bar you are using the weight can vary from 30lbs to 70lbs.
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But what makes the weight of a hex bar vary? We will look at what factors contribute to the weight and look at a few popular brands so you can accurately calculate the weight you are lifting.
What is a Hex Bar?
For those who are unsure of what a hex bar is, it gets its name from the word hexagon, which as you might know, has six sides. You may also hear it called a trap bar.
It's a unique piece of weightlifting equipment. In general, when most people do exercises like deadlifts, they use a regular barbell.
However, a regular barbell doesn't have your body in a completely natural position, whereas a hex bar does.
This is because with a hex bar, due to the shape of it, you're standing right in the middle, with the weighted plates on either side of you, right on the side of your body.
This allows for a natural body position about the weights because they're beside you instead of slightly in front of you, like with a barbell.
A hex bar is a great tool to use for farmer’s walks, shrugs, deadlifts, and more.
With an Olympic barbell, you hold your hands perpendicular to your body with the bar in front of your shins. But with a hex bar, you hold your hands at the side with palms facing each other or a neutral grip position.
The Average Weight of a Hex Bar
Of course, hex bars have to be made out of very strong and durable materials so that they can handle hundreds and hundreds of pounds of weight plates. This means that a hex bar itself will generally have a significant weight.
Generally speaking, you can expect a regular hex bar that is made out of solid metal to weigh anywhere between 45 and 54 pounds, but that's just the average.
Based on a variety of factors, such as length and thickness, materials, sleeve length, and the type of hex bar, it could weigh anywhere between 30 and 70 pounds.
Factors That Affect Hex Bar Weight
There are a few different factors that affect exactly how much the hex bar weighs, so let's take a quick look at each of them.
The Material
One of the most obvious factors that affect how much a hex bar weighs is what material it is made out of.
Hex bars can be made out of titanium, aluminum, steel, and other materials as well.
For the most part, aluminum bars will be the lightest, titanium will sit in the middle, and steel bars will be by far the heaviest of all.
Length and Thickness
Another factor that determines how much a hex bar weighs is how long and thick it is.
For instance, there are hex bars out there that are shorter than 60 inches and weigh barely over 45 pounds, whereas there are also hex bars that are nearly 90 inches long, and weigh close to 90 pounds.
Yes, we know that 90 pounds is well above the maximum that we listed above, although this is just an extreme example, not the average.
The Sleeve Length
Another factor that many people don't consider is how long the sleeves are.
For those who don't know, the sleeves on any kind of weightlifting equipment, such as on a barbell or a hex bar, refer to the sections on the ends, where you load on the weighted plates.
Of course, the longer those sleeves are, the heavier the hex bar will be.
The Type of Hex Bar
The other factor that will determine the weight of a hex bar is the type. There are two main types of hex bars, the open hex bar and the closed hex bar.
The open hex bar has one of the sides missing, so you can easily step in and out of it.
For some people, this is beneficial, because it allows for a wider range of motion as far as your legs are concerned, and it also allows for more types of exercises.
However, open hex bars sometimes cause trouble with balance because they're heavier on one side than on the other.
We then have the closed hex bar, which has all six sides, and this is the more traditional version.
As you can probably guess, the closed hex bar that has all six sides will weigh a little bit more than the open hex bar that has one of the sides missing.
Related: Calculate how much a barbell weighs.
How Much Weight Can a Hex Bar Hold?
An average hex bar should be able to hold around 500 pounds, although some much larger and heavier-duty versions may be able to hold up to 1,000 pounds, and in some cases even more.
Should I Count the Weight of the Hex Bar in My Lifts?
Just like with any other piece of workout equipment, whether barbells or machines, many people wonder whether or not they should count the actual weight of the hex bar along with the plates.
The answer here is a resounding yes!
There's absolutely no reason why you should not count the initial weight of the hex bar out the plates.
After all, this is still a real and legit amount of weight that you are lifting, and there's nothing that can change that.
For instance, if you have two plates on there that are each 45 pounds, together they would weigh 90 pounds.
That is already a fairly impressive feat on its own. However, if you then add another 45 pounds from the hex bar itself into the equation, the total then rises to 135 pounds, a 50% increase from the plates alone, which is very significant. There is no reason why you shouldn't count this.
Related: Find out how much a squat bar weighs.
Rounding Up
The bottom line is that your average hex bar weighs around 45 pounds to 54 pounds, although the exact weight depends on a few factors.
What it really comes down to is that each pound that the hex bar weighs is still legitimate weight that you are lifting, and you should count this.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Rogue Hex Bar Weigh?
The Rogue Fitness hex bars are the TB-1 and TB-2 Trap bars which weigh 60lbs plus or minus 2lbs.
How much does the ACFT hex bar weigh?
The hex barbell used in the US Army Combat Fitness Test, ACFT must weigh 60 pounds to be approved.
