Stretching seems to frequently fall in and out of favor in the fitness world. Much of the discourse surrounding stretching as a viable — or wasteful, depending on who you ask — practice comes from ... Continue Reading
He’s the Visegrip Viking (w/Odd Haugen)
Today I’m talking to strength icon Odd Haugen, who’s decades-long career in strength is the stuff of legend. Originally from Norway, he’s an accomplished champion powerlifter and fitness entrepreneur who’s ... Continue Reading
Iron Biby Breaks Axle Press World Record with 217kg Lift
Cheick Al-Hassan Sanou, better known in the strongman community as “Iron Biby,” made strongman history on July 24th at the 2021 Strongman Classic. Fans in attendance at Royal Albert Hall in London, England ... Continue Reading
Optimized Breathing Is Rich Froning’s Secret Weapon for WOD Performance (Brought to You by AIRWAAV™)
To compete at the highest levels of CrossFit competition, many might think that strength, speed, agility, endurance, stamina, conditioning, form, or a plethora of other physical aspects are most ... Continue Reading
Meet Team USA Olympic Weightlifter Caine Wilkes (+109KG)
Caine Wilkes will be competing in arguably one of the most hotly contested weight classes — +109 kilograms — at the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The Matthews, NC native is making his Olympic debut ... Continue Reading
The Best Lifting Chalk For Sustained Grip, Kettlebells, And More
Whether you’re powerlifting, balancing on a beam, or holding on for dear life off the side of a mountain, lifting chalk provides the much-needed grip security so many athletes desire. Commonly used ... Continue Reading
The 8 Best Plyo Box Exercises for Conditioning and Strength Gains
If you’re looking for a way to spice up your training with a variety of different movements that will leave you hands-on-your-knees tired while still developing some serious power and strength, look no ... Continue Reading
Powerlifter Rae-Ann Coughenour-Miller Sets All-Time Female Bench Press World Record of 274.4 Kilograms
On July 17-18, 2021, the 2021 Metal Militia (MM) National Power Lifting Invitational took place at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, PA. Competing in the +90-kilogram weight class, powerlifter ... Continue Reading
The Best Stair Climbers of 2026 for Budget, Small Spaces, And More
Though many groan when faced with climbing an extra flight of stairs, the act of trudging upwards step by step is a great workout for your legs and glutes. Stair climbing machines mimic this workout (or ... Continue Reading
8 Benefits of Lifting Weights You’ve Probably Never Heard of
One of the most damaging misconceptions surrounding the world of fitness is that lifting weights is simply an exercise in vanity. But an essential lesson to internalize — for both experienced athletes and ... Continue Reading
Best Barbell Collars for Budget, Heavy Lifts, And More
Barbell collars are essential for keeping heavy plates from sliding off your barbell during lifts. They’re a simple tool you can slide onto any barbell to lock your plates in place. If you’ve ever felt a ... Continue Reading
It’s the Biggest Week in Strength History (w/Andrew Gutman)
We’re bringing the podcast in house today, and for good reason. I’m talking to BarBend’s Managing Editor, Andrew Gutman, who’s covered some of the biggest events in strength sports history. But it’s an ... Continue Reading
How to Train Power for Speed and Stronger Lifts
When it comes to performance, athletes of all disciplines have one thing in common — they’re powerful. Whether it’s cranking out an absurd number of bench press reps in the NFL combine or snatching a ... Continue Reading
Russian Kettlebell Swings Vs. American Kettlebell Swings
The kettlebell swing is a ballistic movement seen throughout strength and conditioning realms, functional fitness competitions, and everyday fitness. Two popular variations are the Russian and American ... Continue Reading
Best Rogue Squat Racks For Pull-Ups, Small Spaces, And More
Rogue Fitness makes a wide variety of squat racks that can assist with virtually every lifting-based need. These racks are ideal for both public and home gym owners, but finding the right one can be ... Continue Reading
Egg Health Benefits — Cholesterol, How to Cook them, and Benefits for Athletes
Few foods have endured such a tornado of criticism than eggs. For decades, nutrition researchers and the media have been scrambled over whether or not eggs are good for you or not. On one hand, eggs are ... Continue Reading
The Best Exercise Balls of 2026 for Beginners, Budget, And More
When imagining different ways of staying active and in shape, people often conjure images of barbells, weight plates, and treadmills. But an exercise ball, whether it's one of the best slam balls or a ball ... Continue Reading
The Best Exercise Mats For HIIT, Yoga, And More
When exercising at home, at the gym, in a yoga studio, or on the road, the best home gym flooring can help ensure high-impact exercise doesn't have a negative impact on the integrity of your space. ... Continue Reading
How to Do Burpees: Proper Form & Benefits (CPT-Approved)
Originally called the “squat thrust,” the modern burpee was utilized as early as World War II as a method of determining the fitness levels of enlisted troops. If you’ve ever seen burpees performed in a ... Continue Reading
Grip Strength, Better Posture, and More — 6 Benefits of Farmer’s Walks
One of the best exercises for you may also be one of the most simplistic. The farmer's walk has you pick up a pair of barbells loaded with weight plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, or specific farmer walk ... Continue Reading
From a Broken Neck to CrossFit Journalism (w/ Spenser Mestel)
Today we're talking to Spenser Mestel, a journalist who has written for publications like the New York Times, Buzzfeed, and of course, BarBend.com. Spenser has an insanely interesting athletic background, ... Continue Reading
Nutrition for Bulking — 10 Tips for Intelligent Muscle Gain
Bulking might seem like a simple concept from a nutrition standpoint: You have to eat lots of food and lift heavy weights, and you’ll be able to put on as much muscle as you want, right? At least that’s ... Continue Reading
24 Deadlift Variations for Muscle, Strength, Speed, Grip Strength, and More
You can, in fact, have too much of a good thing — beer, pre-workout, and pizza (though the jury is out on this one). However, you can ball that kernel of wisdom up and chuck it out the window when it comes ... Continue Reading
The Bulldog Grip — Tips, Tricks, & Alternatives for a Better Bench Press
There are plenty of ways to grip a barbell, and not every grip is created equal — so what's right and what's wrong? When it comes to pressing movements, the best grip to use will be the one that is ... Continue Reading