The vertical bar is one of the purest tests in grip sport: a thick steel tube, gripped straight up and down, with nothing to hook and nothing to wrap. Your thumb and fingers hold the load or they don't. The Country Crush Vertical Lift Trainer is a 6" length of 1.90" diameter steel pipe with a welded end cap and lifting tab, sized to the common 2" vertical bar spec so your training numbers carry to the platform. Plate-loadable with any loading pin. Made in the USA.
Why a Vertical Bar
A horizontal handle lets your fingers hook under the bar and your wrist help. A vertical bar takes that away. The load hangs straight down through your hand, so the only things holding it are thumb pressure and open-hand strength. That's why the vertical bar shows up in armlifting and grip contests, and why it carries over to axle deadlifts, stone lifting, and any thick, uncooperative object.
How to Use
- Clip a carabiner through the tab and connect a loading pin. A swivel carabiner stops the bar from twisting under load, which matters more on vertical lifts than any other implement.
- Load plates. Start well below your rolling handle numbers; a vertical bar is dramatically harder than a horizontal one at the same weight.
- Chalk up, wrap your hand around the bar with your thumb locked over your fingers, and stand to full lockout.
- Hold for a one-count and lower under control. Train it as a skill lift: heavy singles and short holds, two sessions a week, with your other grip work on the off days.
Set the tab hole facing you when you grip so the pull runs straight through your palm.
What's Included
- One Country Crush Vertical Lift Trainer
- 1.90" outside diameter (1.5" Schedule 40 steel pipe), 6" tall, approx. 1.7 lb
- Welded end cap with lifting tab; 0.69" hole fits standard and swivel carabiners
- Textured black powder coat that holds chalk; burrs and sharp edges removed
- Loading pin, carabiner, and plates sold separately
FAQ
Is this the same size as the vertical bar used in competition?
It's built to the 2" vertical bar spec common in armlifting and grip sport: 1.5" Schedule 40 pipe, 1.90" actual OD. For comparison, Rogue's Grandfather Clock grips and the Grip Genie Hilt are both 1.875" (1-7/8") by 6", and Gods of Grip's standard bar is 50 mm (1.97"), so numbers transfer between all of them within a few hundredths of an inch. Check the rulebook for the specific event you're entering, since some contests run a 1" bar as well.
Why does the bar spin, and how do I stop it?
Under load, any single-point implement wants to rotate, and on a vertical bar that twist pulls the bar out of your grip. A swivel carabiner between the tab and your loading pin lets the pin rotate without turning the bar. Most vertical bar lifters consider it essential rather than optional.
What's a good vertical bar lift?
Numbers vary by bar diameter and hand size, so compare only on identical implements. As a rough guide on a 2" bar, bodyweight is a strong intermediate lift and 1.5 times bodyweight is elite territory.
Does it work with the Soft Loading Pin?
Yes. Any loading pin with a carabiner attaches to the tab. Our Country Crush Loading Pins are the standard pairing.
How does the finish hold up?
The textured powder coat is built for chalk and daily use and protects the steel from rust. It will polish slightly at the main contact points over years of training, which doesn't affect grip. Wipe the bar down after sweaty sessions and it will last indefinitely.
