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Gear Education

The Hydra Seal Row Pad: The Ultimate Strength Building Attachment

When it comes to strength training, having the right equipment can make all the difference in achieving your fitness goals. 

One essential piece of equipment is the seal row pad, which provides a comfortable and secure platform for performing rows, preacher curls, and chest-supported movement while making the setup for hip thrusts a breeze.

The Hydra Seal Row Pad is a Bells of Steel fan favorite. It’s secure yet easy to move, has seven adjustable angles, and plenty of headroom to appeal to lifters of all shapes and sizes. It’s also compatible with non-B.o.S. racks with true 3″ x 3″ uprights with 5/8″ holes.

In this post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the Hydra Seal Row Pads, including benefits, features, and the types of workouts you can complete with this must-have gym accessory.

What is the Hydra Seal Row Pad?

The Hydra Seal Row Pad is an attachment that’s compatible with true 3″ x 3″ uprights with 5/8″ holes. If you already purchased a non-B.o.S. rack with true 3″ x 3″ uprights (76.2mm x 76.2mm), you can add the Hydra Seal Row Pad (and any other Hydra attachments).

The Hydra Seal Row Pad has seven adjustable angles and 2.25″ of padding, so you can target your muscles with precision and find a position that’s comfortable for your build. And hey, we’re not saying it’s a great place to lean and chill between sets, but we’re not not saying that either. 

With a burly 500lb weight capacity, you don’t have to worry about outlifting your investment. And thanks to the intuitive, user-friendly design, you can adjust the Hydra Seal Row Pad in a matter of seconds. It drops into the uprights and secures with a pin for ease of use without sacrificing safety. The plastic inner lining also protects your rack when you’re feeling fickle about placement.

Do Hydra Seal Row Pads Fit a Non-B.o.S. Rack?

Hydra Seal Row Pad Display

One of the most common questions about the Hydra Seal Row Pad is whether it will fit a non-B.o.S. rack.

As mentioned before, Hydra attachments are compatible with true 3″ x 3″ uprights with 5/8″ holes. 

So if you have a competitor’s rack that matches the true 3”x3” (76.2mm x 76.2mm) specs, the Hydra Seal Row Pad will fit. You can see many examples on Reddit and the socials (that’s what the kids refer to them as, right?). We’re all about the open ecosystem, pal.

Of course, you should always confirm the compatibility, measure your rack, and do the bare minimum your due diligence. A lot of cheap, lesser-known brands market their uprights as 3″ x 3″ but are off by a few millimeters (typically 75mm). And yeah — it makes a difference.

Benefits of Using the Hydra Seal Row Pad

hydra seal row pad front side angle view

The Hydra Seal Row Pad perfectly sums up our mission to bring you the best value for your hard-earned money. It offers a TON of benefits at a reasonable price point, which is why users love it (and our inventory team hates it 🤭).

Here are some of the top benefits of using the Hydra Seal Row Pad:

Increased comfort and stability during row exercises

Seal rows take a bit of… McGyvering to set up. And while we appreciate ingenuity as much as the next guy, there’s something to be said for working smarter instead of harder.

With the Hydra Seal Row Pad, there’s no more risky human Jenga setup to do seal rows in your home gym. Rather than stacking boxes, bridging your bench, pausing to get an engineering degree, and invalidating your life insurance policy, you can just drop the attachment in place and do your thing.

Many users also find this setup more comfortable than straddling an adjustable bench. If you’re too tall, you have to bend or lean awkwardly to fit on the average bench. If you’re too short or a bit chesty, something is getting smooshed. With the Hydra Seal Row Pad, you can easily adjust the angle and yourself for maximum comfort.

Reduced risk of lower back fatigue

It’s not that bent-over rows hurt your back, per se; it’s that your low back is tired and doesn’t want to deal with any more of your drama. 

Low back fatigue is a form killer on bent-over movements. As you get tired from slamming your lats, they tend to check out and put more strain on your lower back. The low back compensates for your upper back’s shortcomings, and it basically becomes a classic group project situation.

Enhanced muscle activation and engagement

The rear delts are like oxygen: you can’t see or feel them, but you know they’re there. 

These elusive muscles are notoriously difficult to target. You have to channel your inner swoledilocks and get your positioning just right to hit the rear delts. Then you have to be careful to avoid momentum, and then the low back fatigue kicks in… it’s all very technical.

The Hydra Seal Row Pad takes these issues out of the equation. Adjust the angle to find the perfect position, rest your chest to avoid fatigue, and limit your momentum. Papa and mama bear would be so proud. 

Quick to move between exercises

Doing a crazy superset with a bunch of upper-body movements? No problem. Quickly move and adjust your Hydra Seal Row Pad to move between exercises without interrupting your workout or position it to the side so you have room for barbell work.

Folds away for compact storage

Hydra seal row pad back angle view

If you need more room to move around or want to keep your personal lifting paradise tidy, just tuck your Hydra Seal Row Pad on the back of the rack or fold it down for a simple storage solution.

Versatile exercise options

Don’t let the name fool you — you can do so much more than just seal rows with this attachment.

Many users love this product for hip thrusts. It’s easier to set up, more secure, and more comfortable than balancing on a bench.

You can also use the Hydra Seal Row Pad for preacher curls, pec flys, chest presses, and more.

You can see some of these movements in action in the video below:

Final Thoughts

Incorporating a Hydra Seal Row Pad into your strength training routine can provide numerous benefits and help you achieve your fitness goals. 

It’s compatible with many non-B.o.S. racks, offers versatile exercise options, and is easy to use. Get yours to take your home gym training to the next level.

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