Top 10 Chains for Weightlifting – 2024

This means you can rely on Ropefit for your lifting chains. This flagship one is galvanized via hot dip. Each chain is immersed in molten zinc at temperatures of over 800 degrees. The result is rust and corrosion-resistant chain that will look and feel fresh after 10 reps or 10,000. You can even use these chains outside, perhaps for your own DIY strongman contest in the woods.

The chains work just fine for a normal trip to the gym as well. When you buy from Ropefit, you get two smaller chains for free. They are four feet long. Their purpose is to intertwine with the main chains and hang from your barbell to add resistance.

The Ropefit chain comes in your choice of 1/2" or 5/8" steel thickness, with lengths from five to seven feet. You can also order custom lengths. Each length is a different resistance, and they come in pairs for use with a bar.

The chains are galvanized, but Valor does not say if they are zinc hot dipped or not. Either way, the result is a chain with links that are clean and smooth, but not too shiny. The galvanization protects from rust and moisture.

Also in contrast to Ropefit, Valor has provided collars of 12-gauge steel. The collar fits tight around any Olympic bar to prevent slippage. They also hold the chains steady, so you don't get shifting, chafing, or tears in your gym shirt. The collar locks with an easy and fast pin twist.

You also have the option of taking the whole collar off to add more chains. As long as the chain is rated to whatever weight you are lifting, it does not have to be Valor brand chain. The chains come in sets of two, with a total weight of 53 pounds. Collars and pins come with. Valor also offers a beefy 5-year warranty on their chains.

The steel in these twin chainsets is forged, and heavy duty. We hear that word "forged" a lot, with lifting chains and with other steel products as well. It means the steel is composed of iron and carbon. They are bonded together at a high temperature and pressure in a foundry, making them ultra strong and long-lasting. This is the pedigree carried by the Ader Fitness chains and any chain that the manufacturer touts as being forged.

The finish on the chains is black oxide. The coating inhibits rust and corrosion, fights moisture, imparts a slick finish, and also lessens the reflection of light off the chains. That last detail sounds almost like an afterthought, but you'll be happy for it when the sun beats down on you during your back alley strongman contest with friends.

The finish is also nontoxic. After finishing, the chains are dipped in oil which adds to the durability without adding greasiness or slickness. The pairs come in 30, 44, and 60 pound total sets. The collars use a finger-friendly T knob to twist and grab hold of your barbell.

Lucky for us, Advantage decided to turn its knowledge and skillset towards the fitness industry by providing these CrossFit friendly 5/8" chains. Since they are a bit of an oddball, the chains are quite reasonably priced while still providing excellent value.

The chains, combined, weigh 42.6 pounds. This is your shipping weight. The twins are five feet long with two extra 6 foot lengths of leaderchain. What's leaderchain? According to our research, you can use it to drag more or less length of chain on the ground to adjust resistance.

This also means the chains are customizable, according to your height. Instead of collars, Advantage gives you hook and carabiner assemblies to secure the chains to the bar. According to Advantage, collars keep the chain affixed in one place and don't compensate for different body types and levels of strength.

The simplicity of this product actually makes it a bit hard to describe. Like the Advantage Rigging chains, TAP offers these at a reasonable price. The chains are five feet long each, with an individual weight of 26.4 pounds. At least one reviewer says they found it less expensive to buy the TAP set, rather than going to a hardware store with weightlifting approved collars.

One thing we noticed is that TAP really wants you to purchase their additional connection chain. Bizarrely, we were unable to find a separate TAP website for more information. The connection chains sound like another name for leader chain--meant to hang from the bar, dragging on the floor for extra controlled resistance during deadlifts or squats.

After our research, we are confident saying that the leader chain is effective but not absolutely necessary. In fact, if you have two sturdy benches, or a kitchen table and countertop, you can do basic dips using the chains to add extra bodyweight. You will still get an efficient enhanced workout.

We love the simplicity of this design. At the end of each unit is a metal loop that easily slips over any standard size Olympic barbell. They secure in place with the simple twist of an L-screw which makes it ideal not only for bench presses but deadlifts and squats as well.

One chain weighs in at 13 pounds, and the pair together weighs 26 pounds. They are made from Q235 steel that boasts a zinc finish that prevents them from rusting, even when stored in slightly damp conditions such as a basement or garage. We also like that you have the option to snap the two together for one long 26-pound chain.

The best part about this option from Happybuy is that it comes in at a super affordable price point that won’t break the bank. It is composed of high-quality materials that hold up well over time, and smart design features allow you to change up your workouts in a snap.

That lack of coating, and also the fact that metal is not forged, is the reason for that rubber coating. We'd be worried that the rubber will peel or crack over time, so we don't suggest constant hard use for this chain. It is better suited to a utility chain, one to use in between more strenuous workouts.

That is why U9 promotes its chain as being good for almost infinite exercises. It is short enough to attach to your barbell when you stand up or sit on the bench and do curls, flys, overhead presses or whatever other dumbbell moves you can think of. Although the blue was the first one we saw, this chain comes in four different colors. Each one corresponds to a different weight, so you can purchase the U9 chain from 6 up to 18 pounds.

Buying these as a set and letting yourself grow to move up the weight table is a cool idea, one that has built-in rewards.

What we loved most about this design is that it is composed of incredibly tough materials. It is made from Grade 80 alloy binder that will not rust or lose strength over time. It weighs in at 70 pounds, making it one of the heavier options on our list.

Unlike some of the bulkier options out there on the market, this design measures to be ⅜ on an inch thick. The slimmer frame not only makes it easy to handle and use in a wide variety of lifts, but it also makes it easier to store without taking up that much space in your home gym.

If you are in the market for something that is built insanely tough, this design from Vulcan is worth checking out. We love that it boasts a strong, sturdy, and slim frame, and weighs in at an impressive 30 pounds. It may cost a little bit more than most, but it is well worth it for serious powerlifters.

This kit includes additional hooks that attach directly to your Olympic barbell. We love that it is super easy to screw these onto the bar, and just as easy to pop off when you are ready to test that new PR. We also like that there is a spring hook in the center of each chain to divide it in half to easily adjust the weight.

This option ships in a set of two, and the combined weight of the chains clocks in at 26 pounds, which is pretty standard when compared to other options out there on the market. This versatile set is able to also be adjusted to sling over your shoulders for supplement lifts as well.

The best part of this design is that it comes in at a price point that is slightly lower than other designs that we have seen so far. It is composed of tough materials that hold up well over time and comes with additional attachments to keep your workouts new and engaging.

You can't order custom lengths online, but you can take your new purchase to Home Depot or a similar store and have the workers cut you four-five foot sections or any other length you want to experiment with.

That's the beauty of DIY. You can adapt to any body shape or height since five feet of chain are not ideal for every lifter.

Koch's chains are galvanized with electroplating. Watch out for weld joints, like usual. The maximum load of this one is 800 pounds, again making it useful for your imaginary strongman Olympics. Once you get the length you want, just add either collars or carabiners and you're in business.