LET'S GET FAT (FAT BARBELLS THAT IS)
Strongman (and strong woman) competitors have been using "Axle" bars for years. Axle bars have thick grips- 2" vs the 1 1/8" shaft of a normal barbell. These axle bars make lifting harder as most people cannot close their hand fully around the bar. Working an axle bar into your routine will result in stronger grip, thicker forearms, and a stronger back.
Axle bars are most well-known for deadlift movements and for shoulder-to-overhead presses, but are also great to work in to your routine for bench press, farmer's holds, zercher squats, bicep curls, and more.
However, axle bars are not the greatest choice for a primary barbell since their collars do not rotate, making them a poor choice for Olympic weightlifting or similar lifts.
WHAT MAKES EL GORDITO SPECIAL?
Bought in to Axle Bar training? Great! Here's why El Gordito is the perfect fat bar for you.
- Short Length gets you all the axle bar benefits... in less space
- The powder coat and rings make El Gordito a joy in the hand (and a strain on the forearms)
- 1000 pound weight capacity means that you never have to worry about outgrowing the bar
- Rackability means easy loading and easy versatility
- Use your standard collars- no special equipment needed!
Quantity
1 - 22lb Short Axle "Fat Bar" Barbell by FringeSport
Weight
22 pounds
Weight Capacity
1,000 pounds
Dimensions
Just under 6 feet long (70 3/4") and 2-inch diameter throughout entire bar.
Sleeve Dimensions
9 inches long with 2 inch diameter.
Material
Powder Coated Steel
Warranty
Lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects
Product ID
9136
What is a Stubby Axle bar?
YOU'RE WONDERING.
WE GOT YOU.
The Mammoth works out of the box with the lever arm and the belt, which comes free. That said, most owners add the Kickstand. It holds the arm up so you start every rep standing instead of picking the weight up off the floor.
That's why we sell it bundled. Pick + Kickstand & Magpin, or go all in with + Kickstand, Dual Mounted Weight Horns & Magpin. Bundling at checkout costs a lot less than adding the pieces later.
We'll be straight with you. Every lever arm moves in an arc, so you feel less than the full weight of the plates loaded. The fix is length, and the Mammoth's lever runs 39" to 48.75", one of the longest you can buy. A longer lever means a flatter arc and less forward pull.
In our recommended setup you feel about 80% of the load, and up to about 90% with the horn moved closer to you. Most lever belt squats top out around 60%. A standalone machine costs $2,000+ and eats floor space. The Mammoth hangs on your rack. See the full felt load breakdown.
Yes, and watch it before you start. It covers the belt squat and the kickstand. The bolts are big, so have a large wrench or socket set handy.
One tip owners have flagged: don't skip the big washer that goes under the weight horn.
It fits 2x2, 2x3, and 3x3 uprights with either 5/8" or 1" holes. Just pick your hole size at checkout. The one thing to check is that your upright has holes on the side, since that's where the Mammoth mounts.
No side holes? The Wall-Mount Accessory gives you a dedicated belt squat station without tying up your rack. And if it still doesn't work out, you're covered by our 365-day no-drama returns.
Wall-Mount Accessory View Yes. The arm has about 10" of length adjustment, the horn moves, and you can mount it at different heights on your rack. Mount height matters most, especially for shorter lifters who need to clear the kickstand. Our mount height guide walks you through it.
Sharing with someone a lot taller or shorter than you? Dial in a setup for each of you, then switch mount height and arm length between users.
The Mammoth is rated to 900lbs, so the frame isn't your limit. Plate space on a single horn is. Add the Dual Mounted Weight Horns for more room, and they double as handles mid-rep.
Worth knowing: dual horns sit farther back, so felt load drops to about 65%. That's great for big numbers, but run the math before you chase a plate count.
Dual Mounted Weight Horns View The lever arm has a lifetime warranty, and the whole unit is rated to 900lbs. Check that your hardware is snug after the first few sessions.
The belt comes free with every Mammoth. It's padded so it doesn't dig into your hips, and it has 3 sets of D-rings on each side for a small, medium, or large fit. It's covered by a 1-year warranty, and plenty of owners use it for weighted dips too.
Yes. It sits at an angle when it's down, and a spring-loaded lever locks it firmly in place. It's 17" tall, so you start every rep standing and set the weight back down when you're done.
Kickstand View You can, and plenty of people start there. Here's what you get with the Mammoth: a 900lb rating, a kickstand so you start standing, a long adjustable lever, a lifetime warranty on the arm, and a padded belt. It mounts and comes off in seconds. No lumber runs, no guessing if it'll hold.
The horn takes Olympic plates and gives you 14" of loadable space. Iron or thin plates fit the most weight and give your knees the most clearance. Thick bumpers work, but they fill the horn fast and can crowd your stance. Standard 1" plates won't fit.
No rack? The Wall-Mount Accessory turns any solid wall into a belt squat station. Mount it into studs, never just drywall.
Can't drill? Owners also run the Mammoth on squat stands and yokes, as long as the uprights have side holes in 5/8" or 1".
Wall-Mount Accessory View Lookalikes can copy the shape, not the lever. The Mammoth's 39" to 48.75" arm is what gets you up to about 90% felt load. You also get a lifetime warranty on the arm, a real support team behind it, and hundreds of owner reviews. Garage Gym Reviews named it the best budget belt squat for a reason.
At 32lbs, one person can handle it. Hold it in two spots when you lift it off so it doesn't flop to one side.
Want to skip that step entirely? The Swan Neck adds swivel mid-rep and lets the arm store vertically, and the Wall-Mount Accessory gives it a permanent home. Either way, it never has to come off.
It's OK to Get Short with Us and "El Gordito"
Fringe fanatics love our axle bar with gusto, so they asked us to give them the short end of the stick. Now our favorite couple in the Fringe Family have delivered a new addition to the "Gordo Family." We're happy to introduce to you our height restricted axle bar, El Gordito.
The little boy of El Gordazo and La Gordita, he completes the Gordo family. Like his dad, he probably sneaks an extra taco or two when no one is looking. But who are we to complain? He's just as beefy and rugged as the rest of the family.
If you're into strongman or if you just want to blast your forearms and improve grip strength, you're going to be crushing hard on this bar in no time.
- Improve grip strength with 2in diameter shaft, great for strongman workouts.
- Collars are 2in diameter so 2in Olympic Barbell collars fit perfectly.
- Powder-coated matte black finish.
Life is Short, Live it to the Strongest
We took our popular regulation axle bar and cut it down to size. The short version we created, looks like a section of black iron, outdoor drainage pipe the Hulk ripped off the wall for you. Your strongman goals won't be pipe dreams with the shorty though. Don't hesitate to employ the shorty for functional fitness, overhead presses, Zydrunas presses or the dreaded continental clean. After a short stint of axle training in your garage, you'll be slaying job interviews, business meetings, dates and negotiations in no time.
There are a few things to note for the Short Axle Barbell.
- This is a true strongman axle / fat bar - there is no knurling on the bar.
- The 2" diameter includes the shaft of the bar, explaining the "fat bar" nickname.
- This is one, solid bar. The collars do not rotate.

Required By California Law - WARNING: This product may have materials, which are known to the State Of California, that can cause Cancer and Reproductive Harm. For more information, California Prop 65: https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/
