We have been building and using t-bell’s in our gym since 2018. It quickly became a favourite. The t-bell compacts any load directly between your legs and makes it more convenient and wieldy than a barbell or trapbar with the same load.

This makes the t-bell deadlift a more accessible lift. You could sumo, squat or hinge to pick it up. And we would start with a squatty variation and progress it to a stricter hip-dominant hinge pattern. This gradual progression makes it a favourite in our gym. Not to mention, you add some height on either side or lower the handle down and you can quickly go from the default height down to a floor-level deadlift or a high rack pull and everything in between.

Here’s how our t-bell has evolved over the years in terms of height, weight and features.

V1 2018-2020
4 kgs

15 inches tall with holes at 13,10,8,6 inches for the handle

22 mm handle that rotates and slides side to side (I cringe to list this)

We used a seamless 50 mm pipe that we milled holes into and welded a base circle onto. We made about 35 of these. We sold all of them.

V2, V2.1, V2.2 (2020-2023)

10 kgs - 15 kgs

15 inches tall with versions having one hole at 15 inches or holes at 2 inch intervals throughout the length. I also made two tallboy versions that are 20 and 18 inches tall weighing 12.5 and 15 kgs respectively.

28 and 32 mm handles welded on a 60mm/50mm pipe. We have a long handle for squatting and short handle for swings and deadlifts. And an optional top handle for rows and carries. We also have a 25 mm handle that used a slot and key mechanism that was unreliable.


Takeaway

Part of our entire approach to make lifting accessible has involved embracing or making unconventional lifting tools and improving them over the years to improve lifting comfort and ease of loading. And for those who argue that this can’t scale. We’ve loaded t-bells with 200 kgs for a rack pull. And over 90 kgs for a front squat.

The constraint is not the ability to load it but how to handle the load. A t-bell squat challenges your arms and upper back very distinctly. A t-bell deadlift allows for a very interesting vertical line of pull with a deficit. These make for very interesting lifts that produce strength outcomes and adaptations that are unique and useful in their own right.