(Men, feel free to sit this one out): The cramps are crippling. You feel bloated, and you keep running to the bathroom between sets of squats. You’re not sure if it’s the coffee or just period poo, but ... Continue Reading
Best Power Cages
Power cages — also referred to as power racks — are a home gym staple. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a great home gym that doesn’t have a well-equipped power cage in it. At BarBend, we like to ... Continue Reading
4 Great IT Band Exercises for Improving Hip Stability (Ft Jordan Shallow)
The iliotibial band, also known as the IT Band, plays a vital role in performance in and out of the gym.. We recently had Dr. Jordan Shallow in the office to walk us through his favorite IT band ... Continue Reading
We Try the 5 Weirdest Whey Protein Flavors
At BarBend, we're experts on whey. We've tried dozens and dozens of them so we could come up with a list of the best whey protein powders, but what about the weirdest? This supplement is so darn popular ... Continue Reading
Jesse Lanuevo Deadlifts a Monstrous 605 lbs At 145 lbs Bodyweight
If you're in need of some deadlift motivation on this quiet Wednesday, then look for further than IPL deadlift world record holder Jesse Lanuevo. Yesterday, Lanuevo shared a massive deadlift on ... Continue Reading
Op-Ed: When Research Comes Up Short In the Gym
Editor’s note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein and in the video are the author’s and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been ... Continue Reading
Best Speed Chutes
Speed chutes are cloth canopies that attach to a belt or harness on an athlete. When the athlete runs, the speed chute will function similar to a kite or a parachute, filling with air and increasing the ... Continue Reading
How to Watch CrossFit Filthy 150, Full Schedule, Athletes to Track, and More
Today, the first CrossFit Sanctionals™ competition deemed the Filthy 150 kicks off in Ireland. This Sanctionals competition is set to run from Friday, November 22nd through Sunday the 24th and is ... Continue Reading
The Importance of Variation and Four Benefits of the Safety Squat Bar
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that I’ve been using the safety squat bar (actually, the Elitefts Yoke Bar) as my main squatting movement in all of my training. There’s a pretty good ... Continue Reading
Best Barbell Grips
Barbell grips aim to improve a lifter’s grip strength. Barbell grips are thick cylindrical covers, usually made of rubber, that wrap around a barbell. The grips add diameter to the barbell which compels ... Continue Reading
6 Foolproof Ways to Improve Your Grip Strength Today
Grip is something in strength training called a limiting factor. For example, you can have the back strength to deadlift 600 lbs, but if your grip can't hold the weight, then you're limited to what those ... Continue Reading
Fitness Gifts for the Lifter in Your Life
In life and in lifts, there are gifts we give in holiday spirit to those bereft of fitness equipment. The following guide is going to help you navigate the way to the perfect gift for the lifter in your ... Continue Reading
Chad Wesley Smith: 900 Pound Squats and the Ultimate Strength Debate
Chad Wesley Smith has squatted over 900 pounds, started one of the world's most respected strength centers, and built an AI-powered system for training programs. Now, the Juggernaut Training Systems ... Continue Reading
The Surprising History of 20-Rep Squats
"The sphere of physical endeavor might very aptly be grouped into two classifications: those who just naturally seem to excel and those who must depend upon hard work and long training to achieve anything ... Continue Reading
The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Weightlifters | Shoes, Belts, and More
Everyone loves to be spoiled on the holidays. Whether it’s a cookie before dinner starts, an extra serving of your favorite sides, or a not-so-little splash of brandy in your eggnog, the holidays are ... Continue Reading
Bodybuilding Versus Powerlifting Programs: Three Big Differences
Over the past year, I’ve trained for both the world’s most prestigious powerlifting meet (the Kern US Open) and for a national-level bodybuilding competition (the NPC North Americans). It wasn’t the best ... Continue Reading
Best Armband Phone Holders
Exercising with a phone in your pocket is a pretty brutal experience. The phone bang sagainst your leg incessantly during a run or falls to the ground during sit ups or any other ground work. Fortunately, ... Continue Reading
Ultimate Fitness Tech Gift Guide for 2021 | Trackers, Earbuds, Watches, and More
As the fitness industry continues to boom, so does the fitness tech that allows us to perform at our best. This holiday season we've compiled the ultimate fitness tech gift guide for yourself and the ... Continue Reading
Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum: What We Get Wrong About Pain
Jordan Feigenbaum is an accomplished powerlifter and strength coach and the founder of Barbell Medicine. In 2016, Feigenbaum received his doctorate of medicine from the Eastern Virginia Medical School and ... Continue Reading
Best Bodyweight Suspension Straps
Bodyweight suspension straps are an increasingly popular tool used to get a full body, low impact workout. These convenient straps do not take up a lot of space, and most are built to be installed over a ... Continue Reading
Julius Maddox Breaks the All-Time Raw Bench Record with 337.5 kg (744.1 pounds)
The people at Big Tex Gym in Austin, Texas this past weekend were able to witness something that has never been done before and something that has happened twice in the past 60 days. Back in September, ... Continue Reading
Best Plate Storage Racks
When building out your dream home gym, it's easy to get wrapped up in the "fun" pieces of equipment. Squat racks, benches, dumbbells, and pretty much everything else is more exciting than plate storage ... Continue Reading
6 Serious Battle Rope Circuits to Build Your Core and Shoulders
Ah, battle ropes. The simultaneous dread and delight of all my personal training clients — and me! While they may look all innocent, laying there on the ground waiting for a badass like you to pick them ... Continue Reading
The 4-Move Circuit for a Bulletproof Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help to maintain shoulder health and stability. Contrary to popular belief, you don't want a strong rotator cuff, you want a stable ... Continue Reading