12 Best Lat Pulldown Bars for Your Home Gym

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The lat pulldown bar is used to strengthen the upper back (latissimus dorsi) muscles. These metal bars attach to lat pulldown machines or cables and enable you to perform pulldowns using a wide grip or close grip to target the upper back differently. 

Lat pulldown bars are a great addition to your home gym and add versatility to your upper body workouts.

The 12 best lat pulldown bars are: 

1. Titan Fitness 48″ Stainless Steel Lat Bar – Best Overall Lat Pulldown Bar 
2. Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Multi-Grip Lat Bar – Runner Up  
3. Titan Fitness Multi-Grip Lat Pull Down Attachment – Most Comfortable Lat Pulldown Bar
4. Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Pro-Style Lat Bar – Best Lat Bar for Versatility  
5. REP Fitness Pro Series Neutral Grip Lat Bar – Best Neutral-Grip Lat Pulldown Bar 
6. Rogue Fitness Rogue Stainless Lat Bar – Best Premium Lat Pulldown Bar 
7. Rogue Fitness Rogue Grip Triangle (Standard Grip) – Best V-Shaped Lat Pulldown Bar  
8. American Barbell Revolving Solid Straight Bar – Best Narrow Straight Lat Bar 
9. American Barbell Revolving Solid Curl Bar – Best for Smaller Lifters 
10. REP Fitness 48″ Solid Lat Bar – Best Bar for Smooth Mechanics 
11. Fitness Factory Aluminum Lightweight Lat Bar – Best Aluminum Lat Pulldown Bar  
12. Rogue Fitness Rogue Stainless Straight Lat Bar – Best Mid-Sized Lat Pulldown Bar

In this article, I’ll cover the 12 best lat pulldown bars currently on the market, including their pros and cons, to help you find the most suitable product for your needs. 

How We Chose the Best Lat Pulldown Bar and Why You Should Trust Us  

When trying to find the best lat pulldown bar, it’s important to know what factors to consider. We based our reviews on many essential factors that make a lat pulldown bar great. These include the quality of materials, the grips and handles, and the lat pulldown accessories available with the product. 

Our team of experienced powerlifters, powerlifting coaches, and fitness experts understands the importance of finding the right equipment for your needs and goals. That’s why we’ve used our knowledge and personal experiences to review a range of the best lat pulldown bars and attachments to determine which are worth your money. 

Featured Products 

1. Titan Fitness 48″ Stainless Steel Lat Bar – Best Overall Lat Pulldown 
2. Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Multi-Grip Lat Bar – Runner Up
3. American Barbell Revolving Solid Straight Bar – Best Narrow Straight Lat Bar

12 Best Lat Pulldown Bars 

1. Titan Fitness 48″ Stainless Steel Lat Bar – Best Overall Lat Pulldown Bar 

Rating: 5/5 

Pros 

• Made out of stainless steel for high durability 
• Full length 48” bar for wide-grip pulldowns 
• Comes with ready-to-use carabiner 

Cons 

• Some lifters may prefer rubber grips over knurling  

The Titan Fitness 48” Lat Bar wins first place for the best overall lat pulldown bar on the market. This stainless steel bar is built to last and won’t show signs of wear and tear or rust, even after years of regular use. 

The Titan Fitness Lat Bar has a diameter of 1.1”, which is suitable for most lifters. It’s a full-length bar, so you can get a nice stretch on your lats during each rep to enhance muscle activation and growth. 

The knurling makes it easy to get a good grip on the bar during lat pulldowns. The only downside is that some people might prefer rubber grips instead of knurling. Apart from that, I struggle to find any major negatives with this bar. 

2. Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Multi-Grip Lat Bar – Runner Up 

Rating: 4.5/5 

Pros 

• Angled handles for a more comfortable grip 
• Wide handles to target lats for optimal growth 
• Inner rubber grips for narrow-grip pulldowns 

Cons 

• Chrome finish is prone to wear and tear 

The Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Lat Bar is a close runner up to the Titan Fitness bar, with a heavy-duty solid steel core and chrome finish. It has wide handles on each end, measuring 38” in length. 

The handles have rubber grips that are angled slightly downward for extra comfort. The angle of the handles allows you to keep your wrists neutral to emphasize your lats. However, you can also use this bar as a straight bar for cable bicep and tricep exercises. 

3. Titan Fitness Multi-Grip Lat Pull Down Attachment – Most Comfortable Lat Pulldown Bar 

Rating: 4.5/5 

Pros 

• Four different grip locations 
• Neutral handles for extra comfort 
• Well-spaced handles to prevent you from catching your knuckles  

Cons 

• Heavier than standard straight or curved lat pulldown bars 

If comfort is your top priority, you’ll love the Multi-Grip Lat Pull Down Attachment from Titan Fitness. It has four neutral-grip handles that give you a secure and pain-free hold on the bar during lat pulldown exercises. 

The handles are spaced around 4.75” apart, so you can comfortably grip them without scraping your knuckles on the adjacent handlebars. 

The only complaint I have about this lat pulldown bar is its weight. It weighs 23 lbs, which is much heavier than traditional straight or curved pulldown attachments. Just make sure you don’t take out the pin on the lat pulldown machine before removing the bar; otherwise, it could fall and injure you or damage your floors. 

4. Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Pro-Style Lat Bar – Best Lat Bar for Versatility 

Rating: 4.5/5 

Pros 

• Three grip locations with rubber coating 
• Full length 48” bar for wide-grip pulldowns
• Ideal for lifters with long arms 

Cons 

• Chrome finish, which may show signs of wear and tear over time 

The Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Pro-Style bar is a great choice for a versatile and easy-to-use lat pulldown bar attachment. It has soft rubber coverings at three different points on the bar, enabling you to get a firm grip for optimal lat activation. 

The Fitness Factory Pro-Grip Pro-Style Lat Bar is 48” long, so even those with long arms and a large wingspan can perform wide-grip pulldowns.

The downside to this product is its chrome finish, which could show imperfections after a while. However, these imperfections shouldn’t impact your ability to use the bar. They’re more of an aesthetic issue. 

5. REP Fitness Pro Series Neutral Grip Lat Bar – Best Neutral-Grip Lat Pulldown Bar 

Rating: 4/5 

Pros 

• Comes with ready-to-use carabiner  
• Neutral handles for extra comfort 
• Inner knurling for close-grip lat pulldowns 

Cons 

• Slightly shorter length of 29”, which could be too small for some lifters  

REP Fitness offers this great neutral-grip lat pulldown bar that comes with a carabiner to attach to your machine. The handles enable you to use a comfortable neutral grip to maximize lat and bicep activation. 

Thanks to the strong knurling on the inner shaft of the bar, you can also perform close-grip pulldowns for more trapezius and rhomboid recruitment. However, if you use the bar predominantly for wide-grip pulldowns, note that the bar only measures 29” long. This length is significantly shorter than standard full-length bars that are 48” across. 

6. Rogue Fitness Rogue Stainless Lat Bar – Best Premium Lat Pulldown Bar 

Rating: 4/5 

Pros 

• Made out of durable stainless steel 
• Full-length 48” bar for wide-grip pulldowns 
• Solid but comfortable knurling for improved grip 

Cons 

• Higher price point than other lat bars on the market  

I highly recommend this Rogue Fitness Lat Bar if you’re willing to spend more on a premium lat pulldown bar. Although pricier than other options on the market, this product offers a highly durable, solid bar that will make your lat pulldowns enjoyable and effective. 

It’s a full-length 48” bar made out of stainless steel. No matter how wide your arms are, you can get a good grip at any point thanks to the solid knurling that runs along the whole length of the bar. 

7. Rogue Fitness Rogue Grip Triangle (Standard Grip) – Best V-Shaped Lat Pulldown Bar 

Rating: 4.5/5 

Pros 

• Sleek black design  
• 7” long, knurled handles, so will be suitable for the majority of lifters 
• 6” between handles for comfortable grip 

Cons 

• Some lifters might not enjoy using a triangle-shaped lat pulldown attachment 

The Rogue Fitness Rogue Grip Triangle is the only V-bar lat pulldown attachment I’ve included on this list because it’s one of the best, if not the best, on the market. It has an eye-catching, sleek black design that will look great in your home gym. It’s manufactured using solid steel that is built to last. 

The 7” handles have knurling for improved grip strength. Although the handles’ diameter is wider than standard pulldown bars (1.31” vs. 1-1.2”), they should still be comfortable for most lifters. 

This V-bar is a great choice if you have a naturally narrower frame. It will enable you to perform neutral close-grip pulldowns to enhance the activation of your lats, traps, and biceps, which you might find difficult with longer lat bars. 

8. American Barbell Revolving Solid Straight Bar – Best Narrow Straight Lat Bar 

Rating: 4/5 

Pros 

• Ideal for those with smaller hands and narrower shoulders 
• Knurling and black rubber ends for improved grip and protection 
• Made out of solid steel for high durability 

Cons 

• Less versatile than longer lat pulldown bars due to its narrower length 

This next product is a narrow straight bar that measures 17.75” across and 1” in diameter. It’s a better option for lifters with a narrow frame who might struggle to use full-length lat pulldown attachments. It’s also ideal if you use a standard cable machine instead of a lat pulldown machine. 

The bar has knurling to strengthen your grip and enable you to focus on your form and technique. The black rubber knobs protect the ends of the solid steel bar. However, with a chrome finish, it could easily scratch with use. 

9. American Barbell Revolving Solid Curl Bar – Best for Smaller Lifters 

Rating: 4/5 

Pros 

• Ideal for those with smaller hands and narrower shoulders 
• Knurling and black rubber ends for improved grip and protection 
• Curved shape allows you to target the lats from different angles 

Cons 

• Narrow 23.5” length, so might not be suitable for those with wider shoulders 
• Chrome finish may start to show imperfections over time   

The American Barbell Revolving Solid Curl Bar has similar qualities to the Revolving Solid Straight Bar from the same company. It’s the best lat pulldown attachment for lifters with a narrower frame and smaller hands due to its 23.5” length and 1” diameter. 

The solid steel core offers high durability and strength, and the curved shape enables you to find a grip that is perfect for your needs and preferences. There is knurling at two points on the bar, one for a wider grip and one for a narrower grip, so you can target your lats from more than one angle. 

10. REP Fitness 48″ Solid Lat Bar – Best Bar for Smooth Mechanics 

Rating: 4.5/5 

Pros 

• Curved shape with strong knurling at three different points on the bar 
• Smooth, noise-free swivel mechanism  
• Full length 48” bar for wide-grip pulldowns  

Cons 

• Doesn’t come with a carabiner  

If you want a noise-free bar that swivels smoothly as you lift, the REP Fitness 48″ Solid Lat Bar is a great choice. It’s made with stainless steel but weighs just 11.6 lbs. 

Because of the outer and inner knurling, you can perform lat pulldowns of all varieties to change the exercise's emphasis and target different areas of your upper back. It’s a solid lat bar for your home gym.

The only negative point I can say is that it doesn’t come with a free carabiner. 

11. Fitness Factory Aluminum Lightweight Lat Bar – Best Aluminum Lat Pulldown Bar 

Rating: 4/5 

Pros 

• Lightweight bar, despite being full-length 
• Full-length 48” bar for wide-grip pulldowns 
• Smooth, rotating swivel mechanism 

Cons 

• Made out of aluminum, which can corrode over time 

The Fitness Factory Aluminum Lightweight Lat Bar is perfect for wide-grip lat pulldowns with a length of 48” and a standard diameter of 1.1”. This bar weighs just 3.2 lbs, so it’s easy to transport and maneuver or remove from your lat pulldown machine. 

It has a smooth rotating swivel that reduces noise during your lifts and knurling along most of the bar, so you can find a grip width suitable for your needs and preferences.

However, it’s made with aluminum, which is more prone to corrosion than stainless steel or solid steel. You’ll need to be extra careful with the storage and cleaning of this bar. 

12. Rogue Fitness Rogue Stainless Straight Lat Bar – Best Mid-Sized Lat Pulldown Bar 

Rating: 4/5 

Pros 

• Full-length knurling for easier grip at any point  
• Made out of stainless steel for high durability 
• Available in two lengths – 40” and 20” 

Cons 

• Swivel mechanism could be smoother 

The Rogue Fitness Stainless Straight Lat Bar is available in two lengths (20” and 40”), so you can customize the bar based on your needs. 

The stainless steel shaft offers longevity and durability. There are three sections of knurling, so you can practice wide-grip, mid-grip, and narrow-grip pulldowns to target your lat muscles from multiple angles. 

The swivel mechanism could be smoother, but I wouldn’t let this put you off if you’re searching for a great medium-sized lat pulldown bar. It’s also pricey, so it might not be great if you’re building a home gym on a budget. 

If you’re looking for a combination squat rack and lat pulldown machine, check out the IFAST Fitness Power Cage With Lat Pulldown.

Buying Guide: What To Look For in Lat Pulldown Bars 

Choosing the best lat pulldown bar attachment for your needs depends on several factors, including your height, arm length, and fitness goals. For this reason, the best lat pulldown bar for one person might not be the best for another. 

Here are some important factors to keep in mind when searching for a new lat pulldown bar attachment for your home gym. 

Bar Shape  

There are a number of lat pulldown attachments and shapes, the most common being the curved bar and the straight bar. Both bars enable you to use a wide grip that isolates the lats and helps you to build a wider upper back. 

You can also use a V bar, wavy bar, and lat pulldown bar with two hooks to target your lats from different angles and recruit the biceps, trapezius, and rhomboids more. 

Bar Length 

If you’re using a straight lat pulldown bar attachment, you’ll notice that they come in various lengths. Bar length is arguably one of the most important factors when it comes to your muscle movement during the lat pulldown exercise. 

You should choose a bar length that enables you to comfortably use a grip that is slightly wider than shoulder width, as this position will recruit your lats the most. You can perform close-grip lat pulldowns with a long straight bar, but a V-bar attachment or short straight bar is best for a narrower grip. 

Avoid choosing a bar that’s too wide for your wingspan, as you could struggle to keep control of the bar and use proper form. 

Handles and Knurling 

Every lat pulldown bar attachment will have an area of knurling or a rubber or plastic knob at each end. V-bar attachments will have knurling or rubber along the shafts of the handles, where your hands grip the bar. 

To find the best lat pulldown attachment for your needs, consider whether you prefer knurling or rubber or plastic handles. They're all designed to improve your grip on the handle, but you might find that knurling is rough on your hands. In that case, a rubber- or plastic-ended lat pulldown might be a better choice. 

If the knurling of a lat pulldown bar irritates your hands, you can also try wearing pull-up gloves. 

Material and Price 

Most lat pulldown bars are made of solid steel or chrome. The former is more durable and long-lasting but costs more. The latter is more prone to wear and tear but is less expensive. 

When choosing the best lat pulldown bars for your home gym, factor in your budget. You might prefer to spend a little more on a higher-quality solid steel bar that will last for years.  

How To Perform the Lat Pulldown Properly 

The lat pulldown is one of the most effective exercises for targeting the lats. But it’s only effective if you do the exercise properly. 

With great form and technique, you can engage the lats and build a strong and powerful upper back, which will transfer to other lat pulldown alternative exercises, like pull-ups, deadlifts, and barbell rows. A strong upper back will also improve your posture. 

Here’s how to properly use a lat pulldown machine properly:

1. Adjust the thigh pads so that you can sit comfortably with your thighs underneath them.

2. Set the weight of the machine appropriately using the pin. 

3. Sit in the seat with your thighs under the pads and reach up to grab the lat pulldown handles or bar using a slightly wider grip than shoulder-width. 

4. Retract your shoulders by squeezing your lats and push your chest slightly forward as you breathe in.

5. Staying upright in the seat, pull the bar down to lightly touch your sternum.

6. Squeeze for a short second before returning the bar to the starting position under control.

7. Repeat this for the number of reps and sets specified in your program. 

Can You Use Other Attachments for Lat Pulldowns? 

There are several different cable attachments available for lat pulldown machines. The most common type of pulldown attachment is the lat bar, available in various lengths, diameters, and materials. However, you can use several other lat bar attachment options to add variety to your workouts, including the V-bar and handles. 

V-bars are sometimes called triangle bars or just triangles. The V-bar is a popular choice for  

neutral-grip lat pulldowns. It enables you to target your lats from a narrower angle than a traditional wide-grip pulldown and incorporates your biceps and rhomboids. 

In the V-bar lat pulldown, your elbows are positioned in front of your body. This promotes lat activation while making it difficult for your elbows to flair out. The narrow, neutral grip that you can achieve with the V-bar also enables you to get more of a stretch on your lats than a traditional wide-grip bar, increasing your range of motion during the lat pulldown exercise. 

Lat pulldown handle attachments provide a neutral-grip lat pulldown variation, increasing lat activation and range of motion. You can get straight lat pulldown bars with handles on the outer parts of the bar, which enable you to use a wider grip while keeping your wrists neutral. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is the Best Lat Pulldown Handle? 

The best lat pulldown handle is a full-length curved bar with solid knurling. A 48” bar enables you to achieve a wide enough grip to fully activate your lats during the exercise, even if you have a wider frame. The knurling enhances your grip, so you can lift as much as possible without compromising your form. 

How Much Does the Lat Pulldown Bar Weigh? 

On average, a lat pulldown bar weighs between 3 and 15 lbs. However, the total weight of lat bars depends on the bar’s material, length, thickness, and handle type. For example, a short aluminum lat pulldown bar could weigh as little as 3 lbs, whereas a full-length solid steel bar could weigh 15 lbs. 

What Is a Lat Pulldown Bar?  

Lat pulldown bars are straight or curved bars that are attached to lat pulldown machines or cables to target the upper back (latissimus dorsi) muscles. They are usually made out of stainless steel, aluminum, or chrome. 

How Wide Should a Lat Pulldown Bar Be? 

Lat pulldown bars come in a range of widths. A full-sized lat bar measures 48” long, but you can get shorter bars that measure as little as 18” long. Both long and short lat pulldown attachments are effective for muscle building. 

How Do You Hold the Bar for Lat Pulldowns? 

To perform a standard lat pulldown exercise, hold the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. However, you can use a narrower or underhand grip to target different areas of your upper back and biceps. 

Do I Need Several Different Lat Pulldown Bars? 

You don’t need several different lat pulldown accessories to perform a lat pulldown. A standard straight or curved bar will enable you to target your upper back effectively. However, V-bars, lat pulldown handles, and other attachments will enable you to target your upper body muscles in additional ways. 

Final Verdict: What Is the Best Lat Pulldown Bar? 

Lat pulldowns are a staple exercise to add to your upper body routines if you want to build your upper back. To get the most out of your lat pulldowns, you need to use the best pulldown attachment to comfortably grip the bar and pull as much weight as possible. 

The best lat pulldown bar is the Titan Fitness 48″ Stainless Steel Lat Bar. It’s durable, comfortable, and has solid knurling for a strong, non-slip grip. It’s a great option to invest in for your home gym.

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About The Author

Athina is a Biochemistry and Genetics graduate, and a qualified personal trainer with a passion for women’s health and fitness. She is passionate about helping women to learn more about the importance of the menstrual cycle and how to balance their hormones. She is the host and producer of Fertility and Freedom podcast, which covers all things women’s health and hormones.