The Best Cable Attachments for Your Home Cable Machine

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The weighted cable machine is one of the most versatile pieces of fitness equipment you can own. Consisting of a weight stack attached to a cable pulley system, this machine allows for a wide variety of different exercises including chest presses, lat pulldowns, triceps pressdowns, bicep curls, leg curls and cable crossovers to name a few. The power of this machine lies in the pulley system, which is designed to provide constant tension throughout the entire range of motion of an exercise. This continuous tension helps to fully engage the muscles which improves overall muscle activation, and the pulley system allows for smooth and controlled movements regardless of the weight. This makes this piece of gym equipment suitable for beginners and experienced fitness enthusiasts, athletes and bodybuilders alike.

The caveat is that cable attachments are necessary to use a cable machine effectively. These attachments are specialized handles, bars and ropes that attach to the pulley system and allow you to perform different exercises. The attachments vary in size, shape and purpose, and they can be used to target specific muscle groups. If you are a gym owner, or recently purchased a cable machine for your home gym and are looking to learn more about the best cable attachments for your equipment, then this is the article for you. This is our comprehensive guide breaking down our top picks for the best cable attachments on the market, the pros and cons, the different types that are available, why they are beneficial and how to use them properly.

Our Picks for the Best Cable Attachments:

• Best Triceps Rope Cable Attachment: REP Fitness Tricep Rope
• Best Straight Bar Cable Attachment: REP Fitness 20” Straight Bar
• Best Lat Bar Cable Attachment: REP Fitness Lat Bar
• Best D-Handle Cable Attachment: Rogue Fitness Single Handle Attachment
• Best Ankle Strap: REP Fitness Ankle Cuff
• Best EZ Curl Cable Attachment: American Barbell Revolving Solid Curl Bar
• Best V-Handle Cable Attachment: American Barbell VBar

Best Triceps Rope Cable Attachment: REP Fitness Tricep Rope

Key Features:

• The REP Fitness Tricep Rope is a thick braided nylon rope with durable plastic endcaps
• Length: 33.8 inches
• Weight: 1.78 pounds
• Exercises you can perform with this cable attachment include tricep extensions, bicep curls, face pulls, rows, weighted crunches and more
• Price: $19.99

A triceps rope is one of the best attachments for your cable machine because of its versatility. Depending on the angle at which you connect the rope to the cable machine, this attachment is for way more than just working the triceps. The exercises you can perform with this attachment can activate your biceps, forearms, back, shoulders and core, essentially anything upper-body. The added benefit of the tricep rope compared to a metal bar attachment lies in the flexibility of the rope. For example, at the end of a tricep extension you can drive the endcaps out towards the sides of the body which increases the stretch of the muscle at the end of the rep. This manipulation of the rope therefore improves muscle activation if used correctly.

The REP Fitness Tricep Rope attachment is made from high-quality nylon thread and includes plastic endcaps on each side of the rope which prevent your hands from slipping during use. At just under two pounds, this tricep rope is lightweight, compact and easy to store. One reviewer from the REP Fitness website put it simply: “Good quality, great price."

Pros:

• Versatile attachment that allows you to perform multiple upper body and core exercises
• Made from high-quality durable nylon thread
• Consumer rated at 4.9 out of 5 stars on the REP Fitness website
• Fantastic price for a high-quality cable attachment that also comes with free shipping

Cons:

• This product does not come with a carabiner to connect the attachment to the cable machine, so you will need to purchase that separately
• Tricep ropes can be difficult to clean since sweat, chalk and dust can build up in the threads of the rope

Best Straight Bar Cable Attachment: REP Fitness 20” Straight Bar

Key Features:

• The REP Fitness 20” Straight Bar is made from high-quality steel and has a long-lasting hard chrome finish
• Length: 20 inches, Diameter: 25.5 millimeters, Ergonomic Grip Diameter: 30 millimeters, Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Exercises you can perform with this cable attachment include tricep extensions, bicep curls, upright rows, seated rows, close grip lat pulldowns and more
• Price: $39.99

The short straight bar cable attachment is a solid option for targeting muscles of the upper body. Some common uses for this attachment include performing tricep extensions, bicep curls, upright rows and seated rows. The short design of the bar is also great for rooting out any imbalances between muscles on opposite sides of the body. If you fail to apply equal force on the bar with both hands, then you will quickly notice the unevenness of the bar in your hands. This forces the user to focus on stabilizing the bar and performing smooth and controlled reps which enhance muscle activation. The only issue with the short bar is that it’s not as versatile as the other attachments on our list. For the most part, any exercises you can do with a short straight bar can also be done with a different cable attachment.

The REP Fitness Straight Bar is made from high-quality long-lasting hard chrome and features an ergonomic grip that widens from 25 to 30 millimeters in diameter at the location where you position your hands. The bar also includes a shallow knurling that is enough to provide some extra grip while training without hurting your hands. Priced at $39.99, this attachment definitely provides you with some serious bang for your buck. One user from the REP Fitness website writes, “I’ve owned this 20” Straight Bar now for over two years and it was definitely worth the purchase. It’s a solid bar with great knurling and it is highly recommended.” As long as you take care of this piece of equipment and prevent any rusting, this can easily last you for decades to come.

Pros:

• Made from a durable steel with a high-quality long-lasting hard chrome finish
• Forces the user to focus on smooth and controlled reps
• Consumer rated at 5/5 stars on the REP Fitness website
• Great price for a high quality chrome cable attachment that also comes with free shipping

Cons:

• This product does not come with a carabiner to connect the attachment to the cable machine, so you will need to purchase that separately
• The straight bar design fixes your wrists to the bar which may cause discomfort when performing full ranges of motion for tricep extensions and bicep curls

Best Lat Bar Cable Attachment: REP Fitness Lat Bar

Key Features:

• The REP Fitness Lat Bar is made from high-quality steel and has a long-lasting hard chrome finish
• Length: 48 inches, Diameter: 26 millimeters, Weight: 11.6 pounds
• Exercises you can perform with this cable attachment include tricep extensions, bicep curls, upright rows, seated rows, wide and narrow grip lat pulldowns and more
• Price: $59.99

The long lat pulldown bar is an essential attachment for any cable machine and directly mimics a conventional pull-up. Not only can you perform all of the same exercises as with the short bar, it also allows you to effectively target the lat muscles using a wide-grip lat pulldown. What I really like about the REP Fitness Lat Bar is that it angles downward at each end of the bar. This allows for your wrists to sit naturally while in an overhead position during the extension of a lat pulldown.

This attachment is made from a high-quality steel with a long-lasting hard chrome finish. It features a shallow knurling, enough to provide subtle grip assistance but not too much to hurt your hands. Weighing less than 12 pounds, the bar is lightweight and easy to move. The REP Fitness Lat Bar would be a great addition for any commercial or home gym.

Pros:

• Made from a durable steel with a high-quality long-lasting hard chrome finish
• Allows for a wide variety of different exercises and hand positions during training
• Consumer rated at 4.8 out of 5 stars on the REP Fitness website
• A solid price point for a high quality chrome cable attachment that also comes with free shipping

Cons:

• This product does not come with a carabiner to connect the attachment to the cable machine, so you will need to purchase that separately
• The one inch diameter may feel thin if you have medium to large hands

Best D-Handle Cable Attachment: Rogue Fitness Single Handle Attachment

Key Features:

• The Rogue Fitness Single Handle attachment is made with barbell steel and finished with a black cerakote finish
• Dimensions: Handle diameter: 25 millimeters, Handle length: 5 inches, Width of the nylon webbing: 1.5 inches, Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Exercises you can perform with this cable attachment include single-arm tricep extensions, single-arm bicep curls, single-arm seated rows, single-arm lat pulldowns, single-arm cable lateral raises and, if using the cable crossover machine and two D-handles, you can perform a series of chest and back exercises such as chest flys
• Price: $40

D-handles are best utilized for unilateral exercises in which you isolate one side of the body. This is extremely useful for anyone recovering from an injury and rehabilitating a particular muscle as well as bodybuilders who are looking to maintain balance and symmetry in their physiques. If you do have access to a cable crossover machine then you could also benefit from purchasing two D-handle attachments for exercises such as chest flys and reverse cable flys to target the back.

The Rogue Fitness Single Handle Attachment is a solid option when looking to purchase a D-handle attachment for your cable machine. The main features that differentiate it from other D-handles is that it has a fabric strap and the handle is able to spin independently from the rest of the strap. This makes the Rogue D-handle ideal for any cable crossover exercises since the fabric strap will not dig into the forearms during this wide range of motion exercises. This product costs $40 which isn’t bad for an attachment of this quality. That being said, these attachments are intended for more experienced lifters since isolation exercises require strength, control and optimal form. While these are very effective, if you only have the option to purchase one or two attachments, I would initially skip over the D-handles.

Pros:

• The handle is knurled similar to a barbell
• The fabric strap ensures no metal will dig into the forearms during exercises
• Rogue’s design allows the handle to spin independently from the rest of the strap

Cons:

• This product does not come with a carabiner to connect the attachment to the cable machine, so you will need to purchase that separately
• The one-inch handle diameter may feel small for individuals with medium to large hands
• This single handle cable attachment is not sold in pairs, so be sure to order two if you are looking to do cable chest flys with this attachment

Best Ankle Strap Attachment: REP Fitness Ankle Cuff

Key Features:

• The REP Fitness Ankle Cuff is made from a nylon strap with a high-quality Neoprene foam padding
• Dimensions: Cuff length: 25 inches, Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Exercises you can perform with this cable attachment include single-leg hamstring curls, single-leg hip abduction and adduction, single-leg kickbacks (donkey kicks), lateral lunges, leg extensions and more
• Price: $19.99 per attachment (each cuff is sold separately)

The cable machine, and the attachments that come with it are primarily used for upper body exercises. This is why the ankle strap is a must have if you are also looking to perform lower body focused movements. This attachment provides a number of different exercises to add to your workout routine including weighted hamstring curls, lateral lunges, donkey kicks and both hip abduction and adduction movements. These movements are great for targeting the muscles of the leg including the quads, hamstrings and glutes.

The REP Fitness Ankle Cuff attachment is made from a nylon strap with a high-quality neoprene foam padding to ensure optimal comfort during use. One consumer writes that the ankle cuff is, “Super simple and very comfortable”, while others commented that they would prefer if the ankle strap wasn’t one size fits all to accommodate individuals with smaller ankles.

Pros:

• The ankle cuff includes high-quality neoprene foam padding for enhanced comfort
• Adds a wide variety of different lower-body exercises to your workout routine
• Consumer rated at 4.9 out of 5 stars on the REP Fitness website

Cons:

• One size fits all ankle cuff
• This product does not come with a carabiner to connect the attachment to the cable machine, so you will need to purchase that separately

Best EZ Curl Cable Attachment: American Barbell Revolving Solid Curl Bar

Key Features:

• The American Barbell Revolving Solid Curl Bar is made from heavy duty solid steel with a hard chrome finish
• Dimensions: Grip diameter: One inch, Grip length: 23.5 inches
• Exercises you can perform with this cable attachment include varied grip bicep curls, tricep extensions, rows, upright rows and narrow lat pulldowns
• Price: $49

The EZ curl bar, in my opinion, is an upgraded version of the short straight bar. This is because the slight angling of the bar allows for a more ergonomic hand positioning which helps to both reduce wrist strain and forearm involvement during an exercise. The angled bar also offers a variety of different grip options compared to the standard straight bar including both wide and narrow as well as overhand and underhand positions. These subtle variations on some of your favorite exercises allow you to isolate and target specific muscles.

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The American Barbell Revolving Solid Curl Bar is constructed from chrome-plated solid steel and provides a hefty feel that helps balance out your hand positioning. The wide grip length of this bar at 23.5 inches long, compared to most competitor models at 20 inches, allows for multi-knurling grip positions on the bar and the ability to use it for exercises like seated rows and shoulder-width grip lat pulldowns. The precision knurling on both the inner and outer angles of the bar provides a secure and comfortable grip and the plastic end caps prevent your hands from sliding off the bar during workouts. This EZ curl bar would definitely be an asset to have for any cable machine workouts.

Pros:

• Features a multi-axis revolving swivel design for smooth fluid movement
• Precision knurling on both the inner and outer angles of the bar
• Consumer rated at 4.8 out of 5 stars on the American Barbell website
• A great deal for an attachment of this quality

Cons:

• Some consumers prefer rubber grip sections instead of knurling for a gentler feeling on the hands
• This product does not come with a carabiner to connect the attachment to the cable machine, so you will need to purchase that separately

Best V-Handle Cable Attachment: American Barbell V-Bar

Key Features:

• The American Barbell V-Bar is made from solid steel and comes with a hard chrome finish
• Dimensions: Grip diameter: 25.5 millimeters, Weight: five pounds
• Exercises you can perform with this cable attachment include bicep curls, tricep extensions and narrow lat pulldowns

The V-bar can come in a wide array of different styles, with some including D-handles while others are just the bar with end caps. The V-bar has a much steeper angle than the EZ curl bar making it a less versatile attachment but excellent for performing tricep extensions and bicep curls. This more extreme angle is designed to maximally stimulate the triceps on pushdowns and when flipped, the biceps when performing cable curls.

The American Barbell V-Bar is a rotating solid chrome steel bar with a multi-axis swivel that allows your wrists to move naturally during tricep and bicep exercises. The precision knurling on the bar ensures a secure and comfortable grip and the swivel feature allows you to train the entire range of motion to fully engage the working muscle group. The v-bar also includes black plastic end caps to prevent your hands from slipping from the bar during workouts. This attachment is not a necessity for the cable machine but can be a useful tool if looking to focus on developing the bicep and tricep muscles of the arm.

Pros:

• Features a multi-axis revolving swivel design for smooth fluid movement
• Precision knurling ensures a secure and comfortable grip
• Consumer rated at 4.9 out of 5 stars on the American Barbell website

Cons:

• This product does not come with a carabiner to connect the attachment to the cable machine, so you will need to purchase that separately
• Not the most versatile cable attachment

How To Choose the Best Cable Attachments For You

When looking to purchase your first attachment for your cable machine or looking to increase the variety of your attachment arsenal, start by looking at your goals and what you are trying to accomplish. Certain attachments like the triceps rope and EZ curl bar are extremely versatile and can be used for a wide array of different exercises. On the other hand, the V-bar and ankle cuff are made for specific workouts and movements to target specific muscles and full ranges of motion. In my opinion, it’s smart to choose a versatile attachment like the EZ curl bar or lat bar as your main attachment and purchasing the more specific attachments as you progress in your fitness journey.

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How We Chose the Best Cable Attachments

The cable attachments we chose to include on our list are made from high-quality materials and are at price points that we feel provide excellent value to our readers. We also tried to include both versatile and specific attachments for individuals with different fitness levels and goals. Lastly, we analyzed both positive and negative consumer reviews to see what other individuals feel about the attachments and the companies who make them.

The Benefits of Using Cable Attachments

Cable attachments provide a number of benefits when looking to add the use of a weighted cable machine to your workouts.

• Variety of Exercises: Cable machines in general provide a wide range of exercise options, and cable attachments add even more variety. For example, the attachments on our list allow you to target muscles of both the upper and lower body.
• Better Isolation: Certain cable attachments also provide different angles to target specific muscle groups that are difficult to isolate with conventional barbells, kettlebells and dumbbells alone. For example, the angled V-bar places the wrists in an optimal position for tricep pushdowns to isolate the three heads of the muscle in a way a straight bar just can’t match.
• Increased Resistance: Cable machines are different from weights because they provide resistance in both the eccentric and concentric phases of the movement. This forces the muscles to stay engaged throughout the entire range of motion of an exercise which helps build strength and muscle.

Best Cable Attachments FAQs

Do I have to have cable attachments for my cable machine?

Yes, cable attachments are necessary to use the cable machine effectively. While it is possible to do a few exercises with just the cable alone this is not recommended to prevent the cable from slipping through your hand and perhaps injuring yourself. If you have the money to purchase a cable machine then grabbing one or two cable attachments shouldn’t be an issue. The attachments also enhance your ability to target specific muscle groups, improve your technique and build both strength and muscle mass.

What cable attachment should I use for cable curls?

Hence the name, the best attachment for cable curls would be the EZ curl bar. These bars are made specifically to optimize your wrist position and target the biceps as effectively as possible. That being said, a number of attachments from the list can be used for cable curls including the tricep rope, v-bar, D-handle, lat bar and short straight bar.

What cable attachment is best for cable rows?

On this list, either the EZ Curl Bar or the wide lat bar would provide the best engagement for targeting the back muscles during rows.

Final Thoughts

Cable machines are an ideal piece of equipment for personal trainers, athletes and bodybuilders who are looking to improve strength and build muscle. In order to use these machines effectively you need to have the right attachments for the job. From our list you can see that some attachments are incredibly versatile and allow you to perform a variety of different exercises, while others are more targeted and isolate specific muscles of the body. We hope that our list helped to clarify which attachments are best for which exercise and muscle and you can make an informed decision when purchasing equipment for your cable machine.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.