Marrs Bar and Marrs Bar 2.0 Review
VintageWeightsPGH Experience with Specialty Squat Bars
The Marrs Bar is a specialty squat bar invented by powerlifter, Zac Marrs, and manufactured by Solid Bar Fitness. The Marrs Bar was released in 2019, and they released the Marrs Bar 2.0 in 2024.
For years, I’ve used a vintage Moore’s Leg Blaster, various safety squat bars, and a Primal Armor Appalachian Bar in my training, but never a Marrs Bar. I first used a Marrs Bar at HomeGymCon 2023, and in the time after HomeGymCon 2023, I had Solid Bar Fitness on my podcast, Home Gym History, to speak about the history of their company and their products. For the next year, I used the Marrs Bar, the original 65 lb version, and in this video, I give my full review of it. Read below for a summary and review of the bar.
If you enjoy the video and this article, please consider purchasing your Marrs Bar or Marrs Bar 2.0 by clicking on my Rogue Affiliate Link. The cost is the same to you, and by using my links, you support VintageWeightsPGH.
Basic Specs
(Marrs Bar/Marrs Bar 2.0)
Total length: 89” / 82”
Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.25” / 12.5”
Distance Between Sleeves: 55”
Weight: 65 lbs / 35 lbs
Bar Diameter: 1.5”
Finish: Powder coat shaft, Chrome sleeves
Fully Welded (sleeves do not spin)
Total Weight Capacity: 1200 lbs / 400 lbs
Manufacturer: Solid Bar Fitness
Positive Characteristics
Load placed lower on your back, similar to a low bar position squat
Comfortable, over-the-shoulder pad
Updated removable/replaceable pad allows for longer life and use of the bar
Updated powder coat is more durable and looks better than the previous clear coat
Hard chrome sleeves have beveled edges to make loading easy
Variety of exercises possible in addition to traditional squats to include front squats, good mornings, calf raises, lunges, Hatfield squats, and more
Made in USA
Original designer/inventor, Zac Marrs, still involved with production and manufacturing company, Solid Bar Fitness
Solid Bar Fitness has improved upon the original release several times, a sign of update quality
Possible Improvement & Points to Consider
Load is placed lower than most lifters would commonly adopt a low bar position, which may concern some serious, competitive powerlifters
Powder coat can be scratched and chipped, but mine has only been scratched by my own negligence
Sleeves are aggressively grooved, which can make loading plates noisy
End cap has a sticker and handles are fairly common plastic/rubber covers, both of which seem beneath the level of quality a $650+ bar should maintain
Storage can be an issue due to the width of the bar
Moving the bar in/out of a power rack requires a kayak maneuver that takes some practice
Weight of bar is not 45 pounds, which requires some unusual gym math :)
Who Should Buy the Marrs Bar?
Load placed lower on your back, similar to a low bar position squat will benefit lifters looking for variation in their training program or lifters like myself that have usually used a high bar position in the past
Comfortable, over-the-shoulder pad is ideal for lifters with shoulder and/or upper mobility issues, rehabilitation
Lifters thinking of longevity will enjoy the comfortable feel of the Marrs Bar
Marrs Bar vs. Marrs Bar 2.0
The original Marrs Bar and Marrs Bar 2.0 are identical with the following exceptions: the length, weight of bar, weight capacity, loadable sleeve length, and price
The Marrs Bar weighs 65 lbs due to its solid steel bar and has a total length of 89”
The Marrs Bar 2.0 weights 35 lbs due to hollow piping and has a total length of 82”
The Marrs Bar has a total weight capacity of 1200 pounds; the Marrs Bar 2.0 has a total weight capacity of 400 pounds
The loadable sleeve length of the Marrs Bar is 16.25”; the Marrs Bar 2.0 loadable sleeve length is 4 inches shorter at 12.5”
The Marrs Bar 2.0 is about $100 cheaper than the original Marrs Bar
At Rogue Fitness:
The Marrs Bar is $649 with a total price shipped to Pittsburgh, PA of $803.71
The Marrs Bar 2.0 is $635 with a total price shipped to Pittsburgh, PA of $709.23
VintageWeightsPGH’s Opinion
It’s probably clear from my two year pursuit of this bar: I was very interested in the Marrs Bar. But that also came with high expectations.
Overall, the Marrs Bar has met my expectations and a lot of areas exceeded them. I expected to enjoy the variety of using a Marrs Bar in my training, but I didn’t realize how differently it would feel until I regularly used it. As a longtime high bar squatter, I got hit with some serious DOMS after my first real training session with the Marrs Bar. It was sort of like if you played a particular sport or went skiing for the first time in years. Muscles I hadn’t worked in a long while were coming into play.
The durability of the Marrs Bar also impressed me. After a year of use, the only signs of wear were scratches I’d knowingly inflected by putting the angled portions of the bar on my barbell storage rack. I could store it in a corner, but I just like it on my storage rack. I’ve since used some plastic tape on the rack to prevent further damage. The pad, the rest of the bar, and the sleeves have held up very well after a year of use.
Although I think the handle covers and end caps could be improved, the build quality of the Marrs Bar excels and impresses. Solid Bar Fitness beveled the inner collars, which adds a nice look to them, and I also really like the look of the large bolt on the inner collar. I noted the pad’s consistency early on and continued to enjoy the level of firmness. It’s not too squishy, not too firm. It’s just right for carrying a heavy load on your shoulders and upper back. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using the Marrs Bar for the past year, and I plan to continue using it for as long as I continue to lift. It’s a worthwhile investment for your home gym and your pursuit of strength.
If you choose to purchase a Marrs Bar or Marrs Bar 2.0, please support VintageWeightsPGH by using my Rogue Fitness Affiliate Link.
