Veteran Trainer Ranks the Best Cable Attachments to Carve Horseshoe Triceps

Cable machines are one of the best and most versatile pieces of equipment in any gym. With a simple adjustment in pulley height, handle attachment, or weight, you can train multiple movement patterns and muscle groups. The constant tension of a cable machine makes them especially effective for isolation work, especially if your goal is to build bigger, more defined triceps.

The challenge is knowing when to use certain cable tricep attachments, and which actually deliver the arm-building results you’re after. Carl Jeffers, a veteran trainer of over 20 years and brand manager at MuscleSquad, shared his rankings of cable tricep attachments and how to use them to best serve your arm gains.

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Best Tricep Cable Attachments

Good: Tricep Rope

Standard tricep ropes are tried and true, making an appearance at most gyms—no matter how disheveled they’ve become from years of wear and tear. A rope with ergonomic handles for a more comfortable grip is even better, but the traditional rope works either way. The real key to making a standard rope more effective is extending it so you can access a longer range of motion.

“You can either train one arm at a time, gripping one handle and pulling the rest of the rope through the attachment, effectively doubling its length,” Jeffers says. “Or you can attach two tricep ropes onto a single carabiner, grip one end of each, and you’ll have made yourself a DIY long tricep handle to work with.”

Better: Long Tricep Rope

Rather than creating a DIY setup, you can buy a longer rope outright. This is Jeffers’ go-to attachment for bilateral tricep work, as it provides a deep range of motion and allows him to get his triceps all the way behind his body.

“Long handles allow for better alignment with your arm path, which means more focus on the triceps and less strain on the joints,” he adds. “The longer the rope, the deeper the range of motion, the more natural the arm path, the better the activation in your triceps. No-brainer to me.”

Honorable Mention: Tricep Straps

Tricep straps are long, which gives you plenty of range of motion, and they remove grip as a limiting factor when you’re training. Jeffers finds it easier to build a strong mind-muscle connection with these because he’s not distracted by how the grip feels. They’re also highly versatile and can be used for ab work and other muscle groups.

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Best Overall: Individual Ergonomic Tricep Handle

You probably won’t find these just lying around your commercial gyms, and they’re definitely more expensive than most tricep cable attachments. But Jeffers considers them the gold standard option for the best tricep training results, especially when working unilaterally.

“I find it a lot easier to line the cables and my tricep up when training one arm at a time, and these individual handles are ideal for that,” he explains. “I’m able to line the cable up so that it travels in one continuous path with my elbow, which is a great way of reducing pressure on the joint and addresses any muscle imbalances that might have built up over the years.”

Best Budget: Ankle Cuffs

Ankle cuffs and tricep training being in the same conversation may shock you, but they’re a great low-budget alternative that offers many of the same benefits as individual handles. Using an ankle cuff allows you to clearly see how you’re lining your body up with the cable, making it easier to keep the movement smooth, taking pressure off the joint, and removing grip from the equation.

“Ankle cuffs make cross-body cable extensions feel great, which is a move I’m enjoying at the moment,” Jeffers adds. “If you have a pair of ankle cuffs, they can be used to train katana tricep extensions. They’re affordable, versatile, and a must-have for me.”

Best for Heavy Lifters: EZ-Bar

For lifters going heavy with both arms, the cable EZ-bar is the most comfortable option for the wrists. Jeffers’ favorite setup is to pair it with an incline bench for added stability so the triceps do the bulk of the work rather than the core.

To replicate it yourself, bring a bench in front of a cable station. Make sure the cable angle and bench run parallel, then perform the pushdown while lying on the incline. You’ll start to feel the extra focus on your triceps.

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This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Feb 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Fitness section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.