If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best multi grip barbell for barbell chest presses is, then I’d recommend the Valor Fitness OB-Multi Multi Grip Olympic Weightlifting Bar as the best one.
Specialty barbells can help you change your workout routine and accommodate an injury, if you have one.
Multi grip barbells in particular can offer many benefits not found in straight bars.
To help you get the best multi grip barbell, we reviewed five top-rated products and came up with an in-depth buying guide to offer more assistance.
Here are the top best multi grip barbells we’ll be reviewing:
- Titan Fitness Multi Grip Barbell | V2
- Valor Fitness OB-Multi Multi Grip Olympic Weightlifting Bar
- Yes4All Multi Grip Barbell
- HulkFit 2in. Multi Grip Olympic Bar Barbell
- Xtreme Monkey Black Steel Swiss Bar Straight
Multi Grip Barbells for Chest Presses – Buying Guide
Multi grip barbells offer you a chance to train with a neutral grip.
It gives you various widths as well as various hand position opportunities.
If you’ve never used one or are still a bit unfamiliar with them, the following should offer enough information about the barbells and what features to look for to help you find the right one for your workout needs.
What is a Multi Grip Barbell?
You may also see these barbells described as football barbells or the Swiss barbell.
No matter what you decide to call it, the bar is a specialty version of the traditional straight barbell.
Instead of it being in a perfectly straight line, however, the multi grip bar has a handful of smaller bars in the middle to give you wide and close grips.
Benefits of Using a Multi Grip Barbell
One of the main reasons you may turn to these types of specialty barbells is to help alleviate your shoulder pain.
Because a straight bar doesn’t offer a natural movement depending on your anatomy, multi grip barbells gives you a neutral hand position rather than a pronated one.
In turn, your shoulders are better positioned, which can help ease tension around the area. It can be more useful if you’re coming off of a previous shoulder injury.
Additionally, multi grip bars don’t have the same amount of stability as straight barbells.
So, this can compel you to develop better balance and stabilization since you have to make use of more muscles to stay locked into the movement.
Depending on the grip you decide to use, this type of barbell can have you use your triceps more.
Doing so may have you pushing out more powerful movements.
If your focus is just on improving your shoulder strength, there are numerous of exercises you can add to your routine specific to multi grip barbells to help in that department.
Reliability of the Bar
As with any exercise equipment, the material it is made of helps to determine how reliable it is. For instance, does it have durability or will it fail after a few sessions?
When you’re shopping for the best multi grip barbell, consider checking the steel. 12 gauge steel, for example, is known to be durable for long-term use.
To better increase the bar’s durability, some may feature an anti-rust coating.
Ease of Use
“Challenging” and “difficult” are two different things; one can provide you with an intense workout that you can reap the benefits from down the road, while the other can make it near-impossible to do the workout in the first place.
It may benefit you more if your multi grip barbell is actually user-friendly so you get all the joy of a challenging workout without suffering while you’re doing it.
The knurled grip handles play a major role in this.
Quality bars feature powder coated knurled grip handles that provide much-needed texture to give you a more secure grip.
Amount of Versatility
It’s a given that not all barbells are built the same.
With multi grip barbells, it helps to consider the different grips offered as well as what type of plates, and how many, you can load.
For the grips, you’ll find multi grip bars offering a variation.
Some have two neutral sets and one angled set so you can switch up your workout in a number of different ways.
When it concerns the plates, check that your multi grip barbell of choice is made for the plates you want to use.
Some offer the ability to easily apply all types of Olympic weight plates, while others can only support specific sizes.
There are even some multi grip barbells that have a long sleeve, usually around 14in., so that you can utilize more plates.
Like with standard barbells, always keep in mind the weight limit load before you apply your plates.
Best Multi Grip Barbell – Top 5 Reviewed
Titan Fitness Multi Grip Barbell | V2
The Titan Fitness Multi Grip Barbell V2 can support Olympic weight plates as well as sitting on the typical power racks.
Along with the two sets of neutral grips and the single set of angled grips, you have a good chance of performing a number of different exercises beyond the standard chest presses.
There’s a good amount of space between the grips so that you’re never too close or too far apart.
The angled grips are just 10in. apart, while the neutral grips sit at 20in. and 28.5in. apart. This may help you feel more comfortable as you work with various holds.
As for the build, this multi grip barbell feels rather sturdy.
There does seem to be some issues with the welding on the ends, which might make it difficult to apply the plates at times.
Also, there’s a chance for the finish to start to chip away, but the overall integrity of the barbell seems to remain secure.
Pros
- Grips are spaced well
- Feels sturdy overall
- Easy to rack on standard power racks
Cons
- Chance for the finish to chip and wear off
- Rough welding job
Valor Fitness OB-Multi Multi Grip Olympic Weightlifting Bar
If this is the first time you’ve ever used a specialty bar, the Valor Fitness OB-Multi Multi Grip Bar can make the process easy on you.
For one thing, it’s lightweight in spite of being able to handle up to a 300lb load.
With it being lightweight, weighing only 26lbs, you can have a variety of different exercises. This can help users of different fitness levels can all make use of the bar as well.
The knurled, 6in. grip handles offer a good texture so that your grip is secure throughout. There are six ergonomically designed grips, angled and neutral.
However, the middle neutral grips seem to be too close together. This might make it difficult for some users to grip well, in particular if you have wider shoulders.
This bar is built to handle 2in. Olympic plates with each sleeve measuring 10.5in. There’s a chance for the end caps to pop off, but it seems to be more of a cosmetic issue than anything that will affect the sturdiness of the bar.
In fact, the bar is made from 12 gauge steel with chrome-plated sleeves, which can make it the best multi grip barbell with long-lasting durability.
Pros
- Lightweight design can help provide versatile exercises
- Easy for beginners to handle
- Made slim to allow for more comfortable pressing movement
Cons
- Some grips may be too narrow for some users
- End caps may pop off
Yes4All Multi Grip Barbell
The Yes4All Multi Grip Barbell is an affordable option when you need something simple to get the job done.
There is no bulk to the bar, and it only weighs a comfortable 22lbs while managing to support up to 400lbs.
This lack of bulk can make it both easier on you to use and simple to store out of the way.
However, when it comes to racking, it claims to fit standard power cages, but it needs precision in order to rack it.
Meaning, it seems too easy to rack it improperly, which may lead to damage or injury.
Also, the hollow design, even with it being made from steel, can make it more susceptible to damage.
Still, the bar is rather user-friendly considering it gives you a secure hold. The knurled grips are comfortable and light, and there is an adequate amount of spacing between the grips.
There are even six different grips, neutral and angled. The included barbell collars help keep the weights in place while you work.
Pros
- Lacks bulk and width for easier use and storage
- Good amount of spacing
- Comfortable and light knurled grips
Cons
- Hollow design may make it easier to damage
- Barely fits a standard power cage for racking’
HulkFit 2in. Multi Grip Olympic Bar Barbell
The HulkFit Multi Grip Olympic Bar Barbell features ends that measure 2in. in diameter to suit plates that have 2in. holes or less.
With a 14in. long sleeve, you may be able to load up more plates in comparison to other multi grip barbells.
This can help you increase your weight load, perhaps even reach the maximum 1,000lb capacity, as your skills and strength improve.
There are multiple grips offered, neutral and angled. They seem to be spaced well so you don’t feel awkward when pressing.
Also, the knurled grips aren’t as rough as other barbells. This can help them go easier on the hands so you don’t have to resort to the likes of using weightlifting gloves.
What can make things difficult is some measurements being off. It may be too large to rack properly.
Even though there is a claim that the barbell is made from solid steel in addition to being black zinc plated, the bar feels like it’s actually hollow and not as high in quality.
Also, the black zinc plating doesn’t seem as though it will hold up long either.
Pros
- Comfortable grip diameter
- Extra long sleeve to load more plates
- Knurled grips are easy on the hands
Cons
- Some measurements seem inaccurate
- Made out of hollow steel
Xtreme Monkey Black Steel Swiss Bar Straight
The Xtreme Monkey Black Steel Swiss Bar Straight offers a handful of neutral grip options.
This might be the best multi grip barbell for those who have a good deal of shoulder pain and need something that will focus on reducing that tension while you put in a solid workout.
It’s only 22lbs too with a 400lb weight limit, so you can use it for moderate exercises without straining yourself.
This is made from hollow steel, which wouldn’t always be a problem, but the overall craftsmanship doesn’t appear that high in quality.
It may be a quality control issue as well as there can be some welding mishaps and some measurements that might be slightly off.
Also, the plastic ends can make for removing or applying the collars a time-consuming task.
With that said, this multi grip barbell is still simple enough to use.
There is a good amount of texture found on the knurled grips so you may not have to worry about losing your hold.
Also, it can manage to fit standard Olympic weight plates so you have more options in your workout routine.
Pros
- Quality texture on the grips
- Good lightweight feel for moderate exercises
- Can fit all standard Olympic weight plates
Cons
- Craftsmanship seems low in quality
- Plastic ends can make it difficult to apply and remove collars
Final Thoughts
Multi grip barbells, Swiss barbells, football barbells, or you whatever you wish to call them, provide less tension and strain to your shoulders so you get a good strength training workout in without harming yourself.
From our reviews, we feel like the Valor Fitness OB-Multi Multi Grip Olympic Weightlifting Bar is the best multi grip barbell for chest presses.
It’s made with quality knurled grips that offer a good texture to give you a secure hold throughout your exercise routine.
There are multiple grip options too as they feature angled and neutral bars. It’s slim as well compared to other multi grip barbells so that you have an easier time pressing, especially for beginners.
Weighing only 26lbs, it’s lightweight enough for a variety of users to handle.
This multi grip barbell is also designed with 12 gauge steel that’s solid and feels reliable enough to withstand numerous of workouts.
