Buying task · Cable bars
Cable bars
Cable machine bar attachments compared by what makers publish: length vs grip spacing, grip diameter, swivel, and the carabiner, eye-bolt or dual-hook connection.
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Short answer
Choose a cable bar by the exercise first, then compare what its maker publishes: the length or grip spacing, the grip diameter, whether it swivels and how it clips on. Makers publish different measures, so compare like with like: REP gives 29 inches between handles for its neutral-grip lat bar, not an overall length.[1] Most bars clip on with a carabiner you may need to buy separately.
What cable bars are
A cable bar is a rigid cable attachment held with both hands. The common types are the lat bar for pulldowns, the straight bar for pushdowns and curls, the V-bar and the close-grip row handle. They differ in shape, length and grip, and in how they connect to the cable.
We do not test bars. Dimensions here are each maker's published figures, and some makers leave out the ones you most need.
The decisions, in order
1. The exercise. Pulldowns call for a lat bar; pushdowns and curls for a straight bar or rope; rows for a V-bar or row handle. See straight and revolving cable bars and triceps V-bar vs row handle.
2. Grip orientation. A neutral grip has the palms facing each other; a pronated grip faces them away. MAG lists close, medium and wide grip models, with the close and medium grips each in neutral, pronate and supinate versions.[2]
3. Length vs grip spacing. These are different measures. REP's Pro Series Neutral Grip Lat Bar lists 29 inches between handles but gives no overall length.[1] American Barbell lists its Revolving Straight Bar as 21 inches long.[3] Bells of Steel's "30 D-Handle Bar" has 25 carabiner holes per side; the "30" appears only in the name, and the page gives no length.[4] See lat bar length vs grip spacing.
4. Grip diameter. REP lists 28 mm handles on its neutral-grip bar,[1] American Barbell a 25.4 mm grip,[3] and Rogue 32 mm handles on its Rotating V-Grip.[5]
5. Swivel or fixed. Rogue's Rotating V-Grip has a 360-degree swivel with bronze bushings and a stainless steel clevis plate.[5] A revolving bar such as American Barbell's is described as a "multi-axis revolving swivel design", though the page does not say which part turns.[3]
6. Connection. American Barbell's bar attaches by an eye-bolt fastener.[3] REP says its attachments use a standard carabiner-style connection,[6] yet its neutral-grip lat bar does not come with a carabiner.[1] Inspire includes a dual-hook curl bar with its FTX trainer.[7] A dual-hook connection clips to two cables, not one.
What grip width does, and does not, show
One 2014 study had fifteen men do lat pulldowns at 1, 1.5 and 2 times shoulder width.[8] The narrow and medium grips allowed slightly heavier 6-repetition-maximum loads than the wide grip, and latissimus dorsi activity across the whole movement was similar for all three widths.[8] That is one small, single-session study. It does not show that any bar builds more muscle. More in lat pulldown grip width and attachments.
How to choose
- Name the exercise and the grip you want.
- Compare the maker's length or grip spacing, and note which one it gives.
- Check the grip diameter against your hands and your other handles.
- Check the connector: one cable or two, carabiner included or not.
Four approved bars publish their length and grip size, and a fifth lets you set handle width in steps.
Picks that fit4 products
REP Solid Lat Bar: choose the 48 in Pro Style for wide pulldowns or the 38 in version for a shorter bar; no carabiner is included.
More on choosing
Synergee Pro-Style Lat Bar: choose the Straight 24, 34 or 38 inch length you want; it clips on with a standard carabiner. Titan Multi-Grip: one version, connects with a carabiner. Bells of Steel D-Handle Bar: one version with two carabiners; D-handles are sold separately. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Lat bar in three lengths, with a center swivel
Multi-grip bar with listed grip intervals
Bells of Steel 30" D-Handle Bar Cable Attachment
For a short pushdown bar, see the revolving straight bar in straight and revolving cable bars.
Picks that fit2 products
Yes4All: choose A. Straight Bar - Chrome for the revolving straight bar alone, not a bundle option.
More on choosing
Titan Pro-Duty Lat Pulldown Bar: one version; Titan says it hangs from a lateral-bar hook on a revolving hanger, so check your cable end takes a hook before buying. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Yes4All Revolving Straight Bar with Non-Slip Handle (A. Straight Bar - Chrome)
Short lat bar for a hook-type connection
Every page on cable bars
Guides
- Lat bar length vs grip spacing and grip diameter
- Lat pulldown grip width and attachments: what one study found
- Triceps V-bar vs close-grip row handle
- Straight and revolving cable bars: length, grip and connection
- A small cable attachment set: what to start with
- Will my carabiner fit the attachment?
Setups that include a bar
Key terms
Bar length, grip spacing, grip diameter, supinated grip, swivel, eyelet and EMG.
Everything in this topic
Guides
- Lat bar length vs grip spacing and grip diameterHelps you read a lat bar listing correctly so the bar fits your machine and the grip you want.
- Lat pulldown grip width and attachments: what one study foundLets you pick a lat pulldown attachment by the grip you prefer, knowing what the evidence does and does not show.
- Straight and revolving cable bars: length, grip and connectionHelps you choose a straight or revolving cable bar whose connection matches your cable and whose length fits your movements.
- Triceps V-bar vs close-grip row handleHelps you order the right V-shaped or close-grip handle for the exercise you plan to do.
Shortlists
- Lat and row bars with published dimensionsHelps you pick a lat or row bar by its published length, grip size and connection instead of a listing photo.
Common questions
How long should a lat pulldown bar be?
Long enough for the grip you want and short enough to clear your machine's uprights and pulley path. No standard length exists; check the overall length the maker lists against the space on your machine. More in Lat bar length vs grip spacing and grip diameter
What is the difference between bar length and grip spacing?
Overall length is end to end. Grip spacing is the distance between where your hands go. REP's Neutral Grip Lat Bar, for example, lists 29 inches between handles but no overall length, and does not say how the 29 inches is measured. More in Lat bar length vs grip spacing and grip diameter
What grip diameter do lat bars have?
The makers we read list about 25 to 28 mm: REP gives 28 mm handles on a 26 mm bar for its Neutral Grip Lat Bar, and American Barbell gives a 25.4 mm grip for its revolving straight bar. More in Lat bar length vs grip spacing and grip diameter
Does a lat bar come with a carabiner?
Some do not. REP states that its Neutral Grip Lat Bar comes without one, while Bells of Steel includes two carabiners with its D-Handle Bar. More in Lat bar length vs grip spacing and grip diameter
Is a wide-grip lat pulldown better?
Not in the one study we found. In a 2014 study of 15 men, overall lat EMG was similar at 1, 1.5 and 2 times shoulder width, and the narrow and medium grips allowed slightly heavier 6-rep loads than the wide grip. More in Lat pulldown grip width and attachments: what one study found
Does a neutral grip work the lats differently?
The 2014 study used a pronated grip only, so it does not answer that. We found no study in our sources comparing neutral and pronated grips on the lat pulldown. More in Lat pulldown grip width and attachments: what one study found
Which attachment gives a close grip?
A close-grip handle or a double D handle. MAG, for example, lists close-grip models in neutral, pronate and supinate versions. A multi-grip bar or a bar with handle holes lets you set several widths on one attachment. More in Lat pulldown grip width and attachments: what one study found
Does EMG show which grip builds more muscle?
No. A 2018 review concluded that surface EMG measures excitation, not force, and has not been validated as a predictor of long-term strength or muscle growth. More in Lat pulldown grip width and attachments: what one study found
Questions
What lat bar length do I need?
Compare the measure the maker gives. REP lists 29 inches between handles on its neutral-grip lat bar but no overall length, while American Barbell gives 21 inches overall for its straight bar. See lat bar length vs grip spacing.[1][3]
Does grip width matter on lat pulldowns?
In one 2014 study of fifteen men, narrow and medium grips allowed slightly heavier 6-repetition-maximum loads than a wide grip, and overall latissimus dorsi activity was similar across the three widths.[8]
What is a revolving bar?
A bar whose grip or hanger turns as you pull. American Barbell describes its Revolving Straight Bar as a multi-axis revolving swivel design that attaches by an eye-bolt fastener, without saying which part rotates.[3]