POWERED BY:

Welcome to The BarBend Newsletter! Here’s everything fit to print in today’s edition:

• How dynamic warm-ups can help your main workout

• Trap bar deadlifts vs. using the conventional barbell

• The 10 tastiest protein powders

Warm-Ups

Be the Dynamo That You Are

Warming up has a complex relationship with the in-crowd in strength and fitness. Nobody wants to be the dude in bicycle shorts foam rolling and cat-cowing for 45 minutes before hitting the Nautilus circuit, but even fewer people want to rely on the old-fashioned warm-up of plate, plate, plate, plate, working set.

The more athletic option is to include short bursts of movement into your routine before chalking up and hitting the barbell hard. Don’t know where to start? You could do a lot worse than these 15 dynamic warm-ups.

Some of these are a mini-workout in themselves, really reinforcing the “warm” in warm-up. By doing all 15 of these, you get a truncated full-body workout before you do your heavy stuff. Alternatively, you can focus on the movements that hit hot spots in your body and focus your pre-workout energy on correcting issues you know limit your performance. However you choose to utilize them, it’s a good idea to get on a first-name basis with these dynamic warm-ups.

A Message From Nike

Nike Metcon 9s for $90 👟

Your back-to-school wardrobe needs a revamp. Great news - Nike's got you with all the fresh drip, where you can find savings up to 50% with code "SPORT."

You'll find men's and women's sizes on sale in different colorways, but act now because they're going fast.

Complete your look and kit yourself out - you'll find lots of deals on apparel as well - shorts, tees, hoodies, socks, and Metcon 9s - it's time to stock up.

• Plus, get free shipping on orders over $50

New season, new goals, new gear. Snag some now before it's all gone.

Shop the Nike sale now -->

Exercise Selection

For a New Deadlift Experience

Trap bar deadlifts are a different kind of animal than the extremely popular and doted-upon barbell deadlift (hereafter simply referred to as “a deadlift”). Sometimes reviled, sometimes used only out of physical necessity, the trap bar offers a different take on the old-fashioned concept of picking weight up off the ground.

When deciding on the best way to use weights to build a strong back and grip, it would be a mistake to discount the unique uses of the trap bar. So much so, in fact, that we wrote a whole article about it.

In a modern-day irony fit for a Greek parable, the same sectors of the internet that will doubt the trap bar will opine wistfully about the farmer’s walk. Don’t let this humongous blind spot shield your eyes from the obvious; it’s, uh, kinda the same thing. Since absolute weight can sometimes be the perfect antidote to lagging muscles and boring training, the trap bar’s ability to be loaded heavier than a barbell (for most people) really allows for some significant work to be done. Saddle up and ride or die with a new deadlift brother.

Supplements

Palate Cleanser

Long gone are the days of buying baggies of unflavored protein powder that smelled like really bad meat or really good cheese. The protein industry has come a long way, and unlike the tobacco industry, manufacturers' efforts to make their products taste like long-gone childhood treats have not been looked down upon.

These 10 protein blends are the pick of the litter when it comes to exciting your taste buds and helping you keep on track with your macronutritional goals. You’ll have your delicious pick between classic whey blends, vegan options, traditional brands, and all-natural options. Missed meals are missed opportunities for more muscle and a leaner body.

With these protein blends, you’ll never want to leave the house without a shaker bottle again.

Quick Hits

📺 Watch This: The CrossFit Games looms ever closer, which means it’s time for you to set up your viewing schedule to allow for maximum consumption of the Fittest on Earth. Find out how to watch every kip, snatch, and carry with our guide to watching the 2025 CrossFit Games.

💪 Extend This: Quixotically known as a Roman Chair, the hyperextension machine has somewhat been eclipsed by other posterior chain developers in the 20th century (including by its Bizarro World cousin, the Reverse Hyper). Get back to the old times and do as the Romans do by flexing up all the muscles of your backside with the hyper.

🦵 Squat This: Ever heard of a slant squat? Learn all about this move, courtesy of “The Knees Over Toes Guy,” and find out how it can help your overall fitness.

Sign Up