Andreoni Bar Review

The Andreoni bar is a unique cable attachment that connects to a functional trainer or cable machine from both ends.

It reminds me of an open trap bar but for cable machines.

With ends that swivel, multiple grip options, and an open center, I can do pushing and pulling exercises with full range of motion.

In this review, I’ll break down how it performs in real-world use, who it’s best for (and who should skip it), and how it compares to other options.

Let’s check it out!

Unboxing

The bar comes packaged really well and it actually brought other products I wasn’t expecting (rubber grips, wrist straps, and tricep straps).

All products were covered in plastic and the bar is surrounded by foam so it’s not moving around during shipping.

As far as the bar goes, I’m not sure how much it weighs but it feels solid.

I like that it has a swivel on both ends so it should move smoothly but I’m gonna put it through different exercises to get a true feel.

And I like the knurling in multiple areas which tells me I can use it for multiple exercises so I’m getting more out of one piece of equipment.

Specs

• Material: A1 steel

• Diameter: 25mm (1″)

• Weight capacity: 400 lbs

• Length: 49 5/8″

• Knurling: Mild-medium

• Finish: Black powder coat

• Center gap: 19″ wide

• Swivel: Yes, both ends

What Is The Andreoni Bar?

The Andreoni Bar is a multi-purpose cable attachment with an open design in the middle (similar to an open trap bar).

It swivels from both ends so it moves smoothly which is good from an exercise performance standpoint but that also makes it easy on my joints.

And it has multiple grip options so I can use it for a multiple of exercises (push, pull, and even legs).

Top Benefits Of The Andreoni Bar

Versatile

There’s a lot of cable attachments that do just one thing or maybe two if you get creative enough, until recently…

More companies are starting to see the value of multi-functional equipment, especially in home gyms where space is limited.

The Andreoni Bar is one of those cable attachments that gives me a lot of bang for my buck.

I’ve been able to use the bar for pushes, pulls, and even legs.

There are some exercises that I’d prefer to do with a bar or a machine but if you’re limited in space or money, you can accomplish with this bar.

From my hands-on use, I like using this cable attachment for pulls more than presses.

The reason I say that, is because presses start to feel unstable once I start going up in weight which is common to see with cable machines.

So I have to really slow down and control the movement (which I should be doing anyway) or just lighten the load.

Best Features Of The Andreoni Bar

Multi-Grip

The bar has multiple grip options which opens up the possibilities for A LOT of exercises.

I can grip it narrow, wide, and neutral.

And all the grip areas are lined with medium knurling so my hands don’t slip.

I do have to say that the 25mm diameter (1″) feels a bit narrow but they do include their version of fat grips to make up for that.

Here’s what the grips look like.

They’re made out of thick, grippy rubber, and they sent two pairs: a black pair and a red pair.

Open Design

The open center design is what makes this cable attachment unique from others I’ve used.

Most metal cable attachments are straight or have an angled design.

This specific design makes it more ergonomic and also gives me the ability to get more range of motion in some exercises.

Here’s an example when I’m doing a seated cable row.

The open design allows me to drive my elbows as far back as I can without the attachment hitting the back of the bench.

ALSO CHECKOUT: Freak Athlete ABX Bench

Here’s what it looks like from above the bench.

You can see the bench goes into the bar opening giving me full range of motion.

Any other straight bar would hit the bench and I wouldn’t be able to do the exercise correctly.

The open center design also makes some exercises ergonomic.

A prime example of this is when I’m doing shoulder shrugs and I can center my body with the weight distribution on the bar.

This way I don’t have to have the weight in front of my body like when doing barbell shrugs, which places more pressure on my lower back.

Here’s another example where I can get inside the center opening and recreate a seated tricep dip machine.

It’s not perfect (not stable with a lot of weight) but it does give me versatility and doesn’t eat up any additional floor space.

RELATED: Bells of Steel Open Trap Bar Review

Swivel

The 360° swivel ends is what gives the Andreoni bar a smooth, joint-friendly motion.

This has the same purpose as rotating sleeves on a barbell.

They make the exercise flow without restrictions and protect my wrists, elbows, and wrists from torque while I’m moving the bar through space.

Click the play button in the video above so you can see how smooth it rotates.

As long as you have a dual cable setup, this unlocks a bunch of exercises.

READ NEXT: The Beyond Power Voltra 1 Digital Resistance Cable Machine

Exercises With The Andreoni Bar

Lat Pulldowns

Whether I’m doing pullups or doing lat pulldowns, neutral grip feels better on my elbows so I’m glad the Andreoni bar has that option.

I stick my head inside the open area and don’t have to worry my nose getting smashed.

Shoulder Press

The setup for the shoulder press is the same as lat pulldowns but the line of drive is low to high.

Again, I don’t have to worry about leaning back to avoid hitting my nose but the downside to a cable attachment, is that going heavy increases instability.

So it’s not as stable as doing military presses with a barbell but I do like the versatility.

I’ve found that moving the trolley closer to the starting position helps to improve the stability a bit.

DON’TMISS: Learn more about the PRx functional trainer I’m using

Tricep Pushdowns

I like to use the inside grip for tricep pushdowns.

This is just like a short straight bar and has the perfect width so I can keep my elbows pinned to my sides.

Here’s what it looks like when my elbows are extended.

Seated Tricep Dips

I can do dips facing away from the center opening or facing it.

The first option mimics a seated tricep dip machine and facing the bar mimics a bodyweight dip.

With both these options I can’t go too heavy because the movement becomes too stable.

But they’re both good regressions for people who can’t do bodyweight dips yet.

Shoulder Shrugs

Here I’m using the Andreoni bar just like an open trap bar.

To me this feels better than using a barbell because my arms are next to my body so it feels more natural on my shoulders.

I can use this same to do squats or deadlifts.

Straight Arm Pulldowns

And straight arm pulldowns are an exercise that make a ton of sense with this bar because of the open design.

I pull the bar straight down with my arms moving past my body so I can get a full contraction on my lats.

These are just some of the most common exercises I do but with a little bit of imagination, there’s many more that are possible with this attachment.

Andreoni Bar Pros & Cons

Pros

• Swivel: The bar doesn’t feel jerky because both ends swivel. This also makes it easy on my joints.

• Grip: I’m able to use a neutral, supine, and prone grip at different widths

• Range of motion: The open center gives me more range of motion than other straight bar cable attachments

• Versatile: I can use it for multiple pushing and pressing exercises

• Cost: For $158, this adds a lot of value to a home gym because of the variety of exercises I can do

Cons

• Presses: Some pressing exercises can feel unstable if I go too heavy (Shoulder press, dips, seated tricep dips). This is common with cable machines.

Andreoni Bar Price

The Andreoni Bar costs $158 (shipping is not included) which I think is fair for a cable attachment that’s in a class of its own.

There’s nothing else like it out there which usually makes things more expensive.

But for much less than $200, I think this is well worth it!

Andreoni Bar Discount Code

As it is, the Andreoni bar is priced fairly for all the value it gives me.

But I’m always looking to pass down discounts whenever I can.

So I’ve been able to squeeze a 10% discount from Andreoni Fitness so you don’t pay full price.

Click the red button below to reveal the 10% coupon code…

Andreoni Bar Alternatives

There are no other cable attachments with an open design like this one, but I’ll drop a few down here that have some (not all) similar functions.

Flex Wheeler Back Widow

The Back Widow is like a Swiss-Army cable attachment so it does provide a lot of value.

With multiple angles at the base of the arms, at the handles, and with the ability to use it for landmine exercises, this does A LOT.

But it’s priced at $300 making it almost double the price of the Andreoni bar which puts a big dent on most peoples’ wallets.

UClips Back Bar

The UClips Back Bar is another versatile cable attachment with landmine capabilities, a built-in barbell jack, and multiple holes for different grip widths.

I’m adding this one on here because I use it for many exercises and the best part….

It’s only $99!

Ironmaster Ultimate Row Handle

The Ironmaster Ultimate Row Handle is one of the first multi-function cable attachments I ever picked up.

It has an angled center to get more range of motion, handles widths can be changed, and also works for landmine work.

Not the most aesthetic bar but it gets the job done and it’s price slightly higher than the Andreoni Bar at $169.

My Hands-On Experience With The Andreoni Bar

This is one of the coolest cable attachments I’ve tested.

It replaces several cable attachments that only do one thing, plus the open design gives me more range of motion than straight bars.

It’s not perfect because it does become stable when doing presses with heavy weight but that happens with any cable attachment.

But I can do a lot of exercises with it that other attachments don’t do so for me, it’s a winner!

Final Verdict: Is The Andreoni BarWorth It?

If you want a versatile cable attachment that’s smooth and easy on the joints, yes it’s worth it!

It won’t replace barbells, but it can add more exercises to your training especially if you workout from home where space is limited.

Most cable attachments do one thing…the Andreoni bar stands out because it does many things well.