I’ve used this bar extensively.  It is expensive, but I plan to use it the rest of my life.  Also, get ready to wait a few months if you want one.  One advantage it has over many specialty bars that was not mentioned is it takes regular collars.  I’ve never noticed the sleeves move at all once there is weight on them - never been a problem at all for me.  I do check the sleeves every time I use it to make sure they haven’t rotated and might slip out on me.  This only happens when not loaded on my rack.  They sometimes rotate when I move it around and put it back in my bar stand - not a major problem but something you need to keep an eye on for safety.  Since I’ve had major cervical spine issues in the past, I find this bar is much easier on me for squats than a regular barbell.  If all you want to use is the SSB position, I agree it’s better to get a regular SSB.  Great video.

I’ve had it for a year and a half now, I agree with most of what you said except the part about fixing the sleeves… the different positions change the center of gravity and thus back position so it’s a different effect than just loading more or less weight. Also I really like the goblet position for a very upright, quad dominant squat. Probably not going to be doing 300+ lb goblet squats with a dumbbell, lol.

"a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

First, love this style of video! I had a feeling that your delay in putting this video out was going to lean towards not a glowing recommendation for everyone. I use mine for months at a time to try and get a squat bar off my back and find the variations of settings challenge me in different ways. Appreciate your thoughts on the bar and how you apply it to your training as well.

Great review! Always appreciate your transparency on the reviews, as well as how and why it works in some instances, but not others.

I pretty much agree with your main takeaway here: since I don't compete and have no intention of ever competing, I bought this bar around a year and a half ago and replaced my HB barbell squat with this exclusively. I find this so much more enjoyable to use and seriously use it every session. I also have horizontal barbell holders in my rack up high and just keep my TB up there out of the way. I also agree that the handles are definitely too long, but I've found that this issue can be at least partially mitigated by instead grabbing the handles up higher at the first camber. It's just too bad that there's no knurling up there though.

All your points were valid and exactly the conclusion I came up with. I can do all my lifts with all the equipment I already have. Another thought would be  maybe this bar would be a great investment if I was just starting out building my gym.

Glad you released this review because I was wondering how you felt about this bar. I should be getting this bar delivered in a few weeks. It'll be my first SSB, and the main reason I ordered it was because I'm very uncomfortable with front squats and low bar squats but I want to include them in my routine.

I ordered mine back at the beginning of March. It should be shipping out next week or the week after! I am extremely excited about getting this bar and the anticipation will be well worth it I think. I plan on utilizing this bar for replacing more than just all my barbell squat variations but also because of the hinge position I plan on using it a lot for goodmornings. I understand the gripe with the sleeves, but the reason you want that is because changing how far the sleeves are from the shaft alters the moment/torque on the lifter. Chris is an engineer and wouldn't have included this functionality in bringing this bar to market if it wasn't just as useful as the pop pin allowing you to alter the variation of squat you're able to mimic.

Good to see you buddy. Havent talked in a minute. Glad to see you have the channel still going

Thanks Brandon for your insight, I was looking forward to that one !

i have mixed feelings about mine but i appreciate it overall, especially for good mornings.

I also have a bit of a gripe about the handles lenght, however they do sell screwable knobs which make it a shorter handle bar (for those who have the new updated version with removable handles), doesn't get in the way too much I guess but it's still more money to spend again.

I wish it was easier to switch the difficulty level and between the different settings. it's a pain when you have to remove all the weight to adjust one side and the other. changing a setting even with a minimal amount of weight throws off the balance and causes the other side to be even more annoying to switch to the same setting. nature of the beast though I guess, i don't think that Kabuki could work around it.

Great information. Your insights are always helpful.

I just purchased this bar after I got injured on my left shoulder. I'm 5'7 and I agree that the handles are a little long but after a few workouts I got used to it pretty quick. Maybe an inch or 2 shorter would be perfect. it does what it's supposed to do and I don't have all the mobility to do low bar squat or front squat. This helps me do the movement without learning a new skill.  it is not perfect but I don't need it to mimic the real movements perfectly to make great gains. I never had an SSB before so I'm not sure how this feel compare to one, but I plan to use this for life so it is to me a decent investment. The only complaint is that I have a small frame so it sits on my collarbone in certain movements, I have to lift the bar up a bit using the handle. I can't find a narrower SSB so that's just how SSB are I guess unless I make one just for me. It's great but $700 for a squat bar is still a lot for a bar unless you have some spare money to spend on it. I paid this price thinking it's the best bar for me not because I have a lot of money. So I agree that a regular SSB is still more valuable to most people and recommend it over this unless you cant do the movements without this bar. I think you can do front squat with a regular SSB too but it requires some practice. Great honest review.

I have one. I like the SSB and goblet settings. The high bar is ok but not a fan of the low bar setting, have to really hold it tight because it wants to roll down my back and pull me backwards which only causes me to use lower weight. If someone is looking for a shoulder saver to mimic low bar, I would recommend the Marrs Bar. I have no regrets buying the Transformer Bar and I like it and use it every week but in hindsight I probably would have been better off getting a Marrs and the Titan SSB.

I do agree the long handles get in the way for pretty much every position besides the low bar and hinge setting. I’ve had mine for about a year and would buy it again in a heart beat. I use every setting but the SSB setting

I had the v2 a few years ago. It’s was a great bar but it was very cumbersome to change and after a while I ended up just leaving in the ssb setting and changing it to the low bar squat setting whenever my shoulders were feeling beat up. Eventually got rid of it and went with titan and used the difference towards a pair of iron master dumbbells. The idea is very cool but I don’t really miss it.

Felt the same way

I tend to like to keep things simple and stick to the regular SSB however it’s a fantastic bar and Kabuki is a fantastic company. Chris and the people he employs are always so great to deal with.

Shouts out to Charley she is amazing, sorry if I’m spelling your name wrong!

Working my way through your back catalog. Great stuff—some of the very best videos in the space. Thanks for the effort and information.

Thanks for the video! This answers the questions I had. I have an EliteFTS Yoke Bar and a flat Safety Squat Bar and wanted to see if this would be better for me than a Marrs Bar. Looks like I should go with the Marrs Bar instead of ditching the other two and getting this one. The part at 8:11 was what needed. Great video!

Great review, B!