Having been asked by Watson Gym to leave feedback for a recent purchase, and it not being uploaded to their website, I've decided to put my review on my blog instead.
After deciding to add a hex / shrug / deadlift bar to my gym equipment I found only 2 companies who made these bars suitable for home gym / standard 1" weight plates
1: Full Metal Industries (www.fullmetalindustries.com) - 556 Trap Bar 25mm Sleeves £233.33
Full Metal Industries have a UK based company who deals with their equipment - Savage Strength (www.savagestrength.co.uk)
2: Watson Gym (www.watsongym.co.uk) - Shrug Bar £209.88
Having watched a few YouTube videos and done a bit more research I decided to opt for the Watson Gym shrug bar.
A big reason for my selection was the fact that they supply equipment to legendary Strength & Conditioning coach Charles Poliquin.
First the negatives
I placed my order and, even though the website stated '79 in stock', my bar was not in stock and was only made 3 weeks after my order/payment. Another week away at powder coating and delivery was made 5 weeks after I'd paid for the bar. This definitely took the shine off the purchase.
The bar was not at all wrapped adequately, with only a little bubblewrap around the pins and then placed in a cardboard box!
As a result of this poor wrapping, and a day being thrown around a FedEx van, the bar arrived with me slightly damaged.
Having contacted Watson Gym to let them know about the damage, the 2 options were:
1: Wrap it up, have FedEx collect it from me, send it out to powder coating again, then redelivered by FedEx (all of which would have taken approximately 2 - 3 weeks!); or
2: for them to send me a can of matt black spray paint!
I am aware that this is just a single bar order, worth around £200, and that they handle orders in the 10's of thousands of pounds, but this is still a lot of money for a single piece of 'home gym' equipment.
When their website stated 'in stock' I expected the equipment to be with me within 2 weeks and obviously undamaged.
Now the positives
The bar looks great, especially in black powder coating.
Watson give a lifetime guarantee - if you manage to break it they will send you a new one.
I do a lot of Olympic Lifting and Deadlifting in my workouts and this bar has helped a lot; both with increases in my PB deadlift and overall strength.
A bit about the hex bar
This type of bar is an excellent addition to any gym, especially one where people regularly perform Olympic Lifting and/or regular Deadlifts to develop overall strength and power.
The hex bar version of the deadlift is a slightly easer motion than regular straight barbell deadlifts; because with your body positioned through the centre of the bar, the resistance and stress throughout the joints, is more evenly distributed.
It is also ideal for people who, even though they perform in correct technique, find that they still suffer lower back pain during straight bar deadlifts.
@WatsonGymEquip
