It was recommended to me that I keep a running list of all my barbell reviews, and even go so far as to perhaps comment on which bars were kept in the gym and which weren’t. Well I thought that was a fantastic idea, so here is a list of all the barbell reviews found on Garage Gyms along with a brief summary, links to the full review, and links to the product itself.
A couple barbells are missing from this list but I’m looking to restore those reviews and get them added.
Barbell Review Table of Contents
Bars are sorted with the most recent reviews at the top. Bars currently in my review-queue have no links. Subscribe to be notified of these reviews and other new articles (in sidebar).
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- Buddy Capps Texas Body Building Bar
- Rogue Ohio Power Bar E-Coat Edition
- Rep Fitness Deep Knurl Power Bar EX
- Fringe Sport 20 kg Hybrid Bar
- Buddy Capps Cerakote Texas Deadlift Bar
- Bells of Steel Open Trap Bar 3.0
- Fringe Sport Lone Star Power Bar
- Rep Fitness Stainless Steel EZ Curl Bar(s)
- Vulcan Strength Prime Hex Trap Bar
- Vulcan Absolute Stainless Steel Olympic Bar
- Buddy Capps Texas Deadlift Bar
- Vulcan Power Bars Showdown (emphasis on the Elite Power Bar)
- Body Solid Chicago Bar
- Buddy Capps 20 kg Starting Strength Bar
- FringeSport 20 kg Wonder Bar V2
- Rep Fitness PowerSpeed Power Bar
- American Barbell Power Bars Showdown (Mammoth, Elite, & Grizzly)
- Rogue Cerakote Matt Chan Bar 1.2
- Iron Company 5150 Olympic Bar
- Vulcan Stainless Steel Absolute Power Bar
- Strength Shop Bastard Power Bar
- Vulcan Absolute Power Bar V2 (black oxide variant)
- Rogue Stainless Steel Ohio Power Bar (Imperial)
- American Barbell Elite Power Bar
- Eleiko NxG Performance Weightlifting Bar
- Rogue Cerakote Bella/Ohio Bar
- Vulcan EZ Curl Bar
- Vulcan Professional Olympic Weightlifting Bar
- Rogue EZ Curl Bar
- American Barbell Cerakote California Bar
- Rogue Stainless Steel Ohio Bar
- Vulcan Absolute Power Bar (original black oxide)
- American Barbell California Bar (original black zinc)
- Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar
- Eleiko Power Lock Olympic Training Bar
- Rogue Ohio Power Bar
- CAP OB-86B Bar
- American Barbell SS Super Power Bar (discontinued)
- Rogue Euro Weightlifting Bar
- American Barbell SS WOD Bar (discontinued)
- Vulcan Elite Olympic Training Bar
- Again Faster Team Bar 2.0
- Vulcan Standard 28.5 mm Bar
- Vulcan Training Bearing Bar
- American Barbell SS Olympic Bearing Bar
- Dmitry Klokov Weightlifting Bar (original)
- Vulcan One Basic Bar
- Rogue Matt Chan Bar
- Fringesport OFW Wonder Bar 2
- York Burgener & Rippetoe Bar (B&R)
How to Read These Summaries
Overall Value
This rating is how I perceive the bar’s quality, performance, features, and durability relative to the cost of the bar. It is basically how much bang for the buck you’re getting. Ratings can be low, average, or high. In rare cases the value may be very high or very low.
Again, this rating is relative to the bar’s cost; so an inexpensive bar can have a high level of value, and an expensive bar could have low value. Some $200 bars shine while some $600 bars don’t.
Gym Status
This simply lets you know whether or not I kept the bar in question. I either kept the bar and it gets used by someone regularly, kept in anticipation of it being used, or got rid of it. If I got rid of a bar I will briefly explain why I decided to do that.
Noteworthy
This is a list of features that make the bar stand out from the other bars in its class; be them good, bad, or just interesting. You should read the full review for specific information on any of these highlights.
Star Rating
This is simply how I would choose to rate the bar if I were to leave a product review. Try not to look too far into this rating – read the review if you want to know exactly how I feel about the bar. Only when I leave 3-stars or lower should you be seriously apprehensive about that particular bar. Remember that knurl is subjective and we don’t all like the same finishes.
Buddy Capps Texas Body Building Bar Review
 | Review Date: 09/2020 Application: Bodybuilding / Multi-Purpose Price: $285+ Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Very unique bar with a 27 mm diameter shaft and extra hash marks to aid with hand placement. Good price, lots of pros with only a few cons. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue Ohio Power Bar Review – E-Coat Edition
 | Review Date: 03/2020 Application: Powerlifting Price: $285 Overall value: Average Gym Status: Sold Noteworthy: Another variation of the infamous OPB with an updated e-coat finish. Not my favorite finish, but hardware is still the same. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rep Fitness Deep Knurl Power Bar EX Review
 | Review Date: 02/2020 Application: Powerlifting Price: $379 Overall value: Very High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Fully stainless-steel bar for under $400. Has amazing knurling, textureless sleeves and high tensile strength. Fantastic bar. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Fringe Sport Hybrid Bar Review
 | Review Date: 01/2020 Application: Multi-purpose Price: $399 Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Great knurl for a multi-purpose bar, has wider-set outer knurl and a passive center knurl (like the Chan Bar), and offers great sleeve rotation. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Buddy Capps Texas Deadlift Bar Re-Review
 | Review Date: 01/2020 Application: Deadlift/Powerlifting Price: $384 Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Improved/modified variant of the already amazing Capps Texas Deadlift Bar. More loadable sleeve length, stronger shaft, and multiple Cerakote finish options. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Bells of Steel Open Trap Bar 3.0 Review
 | Review Date: 01/2020 Application: Deadlift/Powerlifting Price: $249 Overall value: High Gym Status: Undecided Noteworthy: Economy trap bar with an open-ended design, built-in bar jacks, brutally short sleeves, and extremely competitive pricing. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Fringe Sport Lone Star Power Bar
 | Review Date: 11/2019 Application: Powerlifting Price: $369 Overall value: High Gym Status: Sold Noteworthy: American-made, has a unique, moderately-aggressive knurl for a power bar, and Oilite-brand bronze bushings. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rep Stainless Steel EZ Curl Bar(s)
 | Review Date: 10/2019 Application: Bodybuilding Price: $129-$259 Overall value: Very high Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Two different variants; standard-length and rackable, with two finish options per size; stainless steel or chrome. Easily the next go-to for quality curl bars. Fantastic product. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Prime Hex Trap Bar
 | Review Date: 10/2019 Application: Deadlift/Powerlifting Price: $379 Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Great trap bar. No weight limitations, solid knurling, the sleeves are 50 mm & chrome finished, perfect dimensions, etc. Cost is competitive with the Rogue TB-1. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Absolute SS Olympic WL Bar
 | Review Date: 8/2019 Application: Olympic Weightlifting Price: $713 Overall value: Average Gym Status: Classy bar, will keep Noteworthy: Fully stainless steel Oly bar; very unique. Features an aggressive knurl and German needle bearings. Aesthetically this is a beautiful bar. Premium, but pricey. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Buddy Capps Texas Deadlift Bar
 | Review Date: 6/2019 Application: Deadlift/Powerlifting Price: $305 Overall value: Average Gym Status: Keeping the ODB, selling the TDB Noteworthy: Many finish options, aggressive knurl, and a beautiful bar aesthetically. Price is competitive with the Ohio Deadlift Bar, but both should be considered. Full comparison in this review. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Power Bar Showdown (Vulcan Elite Power Bar)
 | Review Date: 4/2019 Application: Powerlifting Price: $369 Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Uniquely aggressive knurl; both outer and center; and about as rigid as any power bar could be. This bar is in a class of its own and a must-see for cheese-grater fans. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Body Solid Chicago Bar (Quick Review)
 | Review Date: 3/2019 Application: Multi-purpose Price: $329 Overall value: Low Gym Status: Undecided Noteworthy: It’s a nice multi-purpose bar with no red flags, it just happens to be a little more expensive than it should be in today’s market. American-made. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Buddy Capps 20 kg Starting Strength Bar
 | Review Date: 1/2019 Application: Powerlifting Price: $305 Overall value: Average Gym Status: Undecided Noteworthy: Raw steel, great knurl, and fantastic grip. The SS Bar is fantastic but the price is a bit on the high side for lacking a warranty. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Fringe Sport Wonder Bar V2
 | Review Date: 1/2019 Application: CrossFit/multi-purpose Price: $199 Overall value: Above average Gym Status: Not keeping; just no need for a WOD bar. Noteworthy: The Wonder Bar V2 is an economy WOD bar with an above average construction, solid performance, and an extremely reasonable price. It’s also very quiet. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rep Fitness PowerSpeed Bar
 | Review Date: 11/2018 Application: Powerlifting Price: $299 Overall value: High Gym Status: Undecided; will likely keep for comparison purposes. Noteworthy: The PowerSpeed Bar is a rack bar. It has no knurl on outermost portion of shaft; two finish options; fairly aggressive knurl; and a reasonable price. View: Full Review | Product Description |
American Barbell Power Bar Showdown
 | Review Date: 10/2018 Application: Powerlifting Price: $250-$550 Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept all; AB bars are gym favorites. Noteworthy: Full comprehensive comparison of AB’s three famous power bars: the SS Cerakote Mammoth, SS Elite, and economical Grizzly. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue Cerakote Matt Chan Bar 1.2
 | Review Date: 9/2018 Application: Multi-purpose Price: $395 Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Update to the famous Matt Chan Bar; now with a 200k PSI stainless steel shaft and Cerakote finish. Same unique knurling features as the original. Fantastic barbell overall. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Iron Company 5150 Olympic Hybrid Bar
 | Review Date: 5/2018 Application: Weightlifting/WOD Price: $299 shipped Overall value: High Gym Status: Sold; just have better WL bars. Noteworthy: 28 mm, 195k PSI hybrid (bushing/bearing) bar with hard chrome finish. Low price, quiet, solid construction. Minus ½-star for containing a ball bearing. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Stainless Steel Absolute Power Bar
 | Review Date: 4/2018 Application: Powerlifting Price: $550 shipped Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: 100% stainless steel bar – shaft, sleeves, and even bushings. Indestructible, aggressive, and beautiful. Hash marks are incorrectly placed on current gen; costing the Absolute a star; but aside from that it truly is a 5-star bar. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Strength Shop Bastard Power Bar
 | Review Date: 3/2018 Application: Powerlifting Price: $275 + shipping Overall value: Below average Gym Status: Sold; Not impressed. Noteworthy: Fantastic knurling, extra wide center knurl, and nickel phosphorus finish. Stiff and grippy, but brass bushings offer no spin. Lower performance bar than Ohio Power Bar, yet more expensive. The lack of rotation kills the Bastard’s overall value. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Absolute Power Bar V2.0 (Black Oxide)
 | Review Date: 3/2018 Application: Powerlifting Price: $339 + shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: Very high tensile strength; grippy black oxide shaft; perfectly knurled knurl with ideal center knurl depth; great, competitive price. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue Stainless Steel Ohio Power Bar Review
 | Review Date: 10/2017 Application: Powerlifting Price: $395 + shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Kept Noteworthy: High tensile strength, stainless steel shaft with highly aggressive knurl & center knurl; great price for stainless. Review is for the Imperial variant. View: Full Review | Product Description |
American Barbell Elite Power Bar Review
 | Review Date: 10/2017 Application: Powerlifting Price: $450 + shipping Overall value: Average Gym Status: Still own; used regularly Noteworthy: Stainless steel shaft and industrial chrome sleeves; impressive assembly tolerances. The only premium power bar with moderate knurling. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Eleiko NxG Performance Training Bar Review
 | Review Date: 9/2017 Application: Weightlifting (professional) Price: $729 + shipping Overall value: Average Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Priced well for a professional-grade bar, but still out of most buyer’s comfort zone. NxG bars are feature-heavy when being compared to the previous gen Eleiko bars though. View: Full Review |
Rogue Cerakote 15 kg Bella Bar Review
 | Review Date: 9/2017 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $275 + shipping Overall value: Average Gym Status: Sold; knurl just too passive. Noteworthy: Cerakote finish is pretty and durable, and many colors are available; sleeve finish will not last long though. The Bella is also kind of loud. The Original Bella is still ‘Very high’ value at $215. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan EZ Curl Bar Review
 | Review Date: 8/2017 Application: Curl bar Price: $139 includes shipping Overall value: Very High Gym Status: Still own; used regularly Noteworthy: Extremely comparable to other premium curl bars such as Rogue and American Barbell, but priced much lower. Great buy. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Professional Olympic Weightlifting Bar Review
 | Review Date: 7/2017 Application: Weightlifting (professional) Price: $599 includes shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Highly reflexive, high tensile/yield strength shaft that’s comparable to the IWF bars, but at a much lower price point. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue EZ Curl Bar Review
 | Review Date: 7/2017 Application: Curl bar Price: $195 + shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Rogue undercut American Barbell, Ivanko, and Eleiko with their curl bar. It’s a great product, although it is still not cheap. View: Full Review | Product Description |
American Barbell Cerakote California Bar Review
 | Review Date: 2/2017 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $335 + shipping Overall value: Average Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Available in a black or green Cerakote; it has very high assembly tolerances; very quiet. 28 mm shaft instead of normal 28.5 mm found on most dual-marked bars. Knurl is quite mild though. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue Stainless Steel Ohio Bar Review
 | Review Date: 2/2016 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $350 + shipping Overall value: Very High Gym Status: Keep for review comparisons. Noteworthy: Above average tensile strength, stainless steel shaft with impressive knurling; chrome sleeves; great price for stainless. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Absolute Black Oxide Power Bar Review
 | Review Date: 10/2016 Application: Powerlifting Price: $339 includes shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: High tensile strength, black oxide shaft with aggressive knurling; bare steel sleeves. It’s a great value and a true power bar, but it does oxidize easily. View: Full Review | Product Description |
American Barbell Black Zinc California Bar Review
| Review Date: 5/2016 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: Was $275 + shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Sold; replaced with new Cerakote California. Noteworthy: This is the same bar as the current Cerakote California Bar, only with a black zinc shaft. This zinc version is discontinued. ½ star removed because zinc with mild knurl was nothing to write home about. Cerakote is much-improved. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar Review
 | Review Date: 4/2016 Application: Deadlifting Price: $295-$355 + shipping Overall value: Very high Gym Status: Still own; used regularly. Noteworthy: Aggressively knurled, 90.5″ long, 27 mm bar designed exclusively for deadlifts. Price on the ODB cannot be beat; especially in bare steel. This is a great bar for the money. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Eleiko Power Lock Olympic Training Bar Review
 | Review Date: 3/2016 Application: Weightlifting (professional) Price: $989 + shipping Overall value: Low Gym Status: Sold Noteworthy: The Power Lock is a very niche bar, and too pricey for a niche bar. It’s even a lower value today since it did not receive NxG upgrades. It is however an IWF Trainer at its core. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue Ohio Power Bar Review
| Review Date: 2/2016 Application: Powerlifting Price: $250-$275 + shipping Overall value: Very High Gym Status: Sold Noteworthy: High tensile strength shaft with highly aggressive knurl & center knurl. Unbelievable price for such a feature-rich powerlifting bar. Review is for the Imperial variant. View: Full Review | Product Description |
CAP Barbell OB-86B Bar Review
 | Review Date: 12/2015 Application: Powerlifting Price: $165 + shipping Overall value: Low Gym Status: Sold; inferior to all other bars in collection. Noteworthy: Low tensile strength, poor sleeve rotation, improperly named as an Olympic bar, but decent knurling for powerlifting and a half-decent “I’m so broke” option. View: Full Review | Product Description |
American Barbell Stainless Steel Super Power Bar Review
 | Review Date: 11/2015 Application: Powerlifting Price: Was $550 Overall value: Average Gym Status: Still own; used very regularly Noteworthy: Discontinued View: Full Review | Product Description (N/A) |
Rogue Euro Olympic Weightlifting Bar Review
 | Review Date: 8/2015 Application: Weightlifting (professional) Price: $695 including shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Priced well for a professional-grade Oly bar, and even competitive with Eleiko in terms of both pricing and specs, though it is still a very pricey bar for not being IWF certified. Knurling is more moderate than the Swedes. View: Full Review | Product Description |
American Barbell SS WOD Bar Review
 | Review Date: 7/2015 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: Was $299 Overall value: Very high Gym Status: Sold. Honestly just one too many SS bars in the gym. Noteworthy: Discontinued View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Elite 3.0/4.0 Olympic Training Bar Review
 | Review Date: 4/2015 Application: Weightlifting (professional) Price: $369 including shipping Overall value: Very high Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Highest elasticity and most reasonably priced bushing-based Olympic training bar on the market. The Elite is unrivaled in its class. Tensile and yield are insane. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Again Faster Team Bar 2.0 Review
 | Review Date: 4/2015 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $229 + shipping Overall value: Very low Gym Status: Sold; absolute garbage. Noteworthy: History of seized sleeves, bent shafts, knurling issues, and problems with returns. Again Faster even removed all traces of negative reviews. Unethical and unforgivable. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Standard 28.5 mm Olympic Bar Review
 | Review Date: 4/2015 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $286 includes shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Low cost, high performance, very high durability bar designed to withstand high-traffic use. Bright zinc finish is resilient. Great alternative to the Ohio-line. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Vulcan Training Bearing Bar Review
 | Review Date: 3/2015 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $319 includes shipping Overall value: Average Gym Status: Sold it; have better options in gym. Noteworthy: A decent entry-level bearing bar for those who feel like that’s necessary. Replacing the black zinc with chrome was a nice touch by Vulcan. Solid specs, low price. View: Full Review | Product Description |
American Barbell SS Olympic Bearing Bar Review
 | Review Date: 12/2014 Application: Weightlifting (professional) Price: $675 + shipping Overall value: Very high Gym Status: Still own and use regularly. Noteworthy: Best built bearing bar I’ve handled. Quiet, smooth, and features industrial bearings that won’t slow under any load. New, low price makes it an even better value (was $799). View: Full Review | Product Description |
Dmitry Klokov Olympic Bearing Bar Review (Again Faster)
 | Review Date: 11/2014 Application: Weightlifting Price: Was $319 Overall value: Very low Gym Status: Donated (poor soul) Noteworthy: The Klokov was marketed as a much nicer bar than it turned out to be. Even fooled people for a little while. You can buy the new, much-improved, non-AF Klokov Bar here. View: Full Review | Product Description (N/A) |
Vulcan One Basic Bar Review
 | Review Date: 6/2014 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $249 includes shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: No longer own (mine was the previous gen black zinc.) Noteworthy: While designed to be an economical bar, the included shipping and full-chromed finish makes this a very good value when compared to the Rogue Bar 2.0 and California Bar. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Rogue Matt Chan Bar Review
 | Review Date: 10/2014 Application: Multi-purpose Price: $295 + shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Still own Noteworthy: Unique knurling pattern favors pulls; especially for taller athletes. Chrome was discontinued, but Cerakote is available off and on (in the Boneyard). View: Full Review | Product Description |
OFW Wonder Bar 2 Review
 | Review Date: 3/2014 Application: Multi-purpose / WOD Price: $219 + shipping Overall value: Low Gym Status: Sold; black zinc + loud bar + own better. Noteworthy: Entry-level bar, no whip, loud end caps. Fringe leaves their own reviews which has always bothered me, but their bars are technically better than a CAP or other box-store bars though. View: Full Review | Product Description |
York Burgener & Rippetoe Bar Review
 | Review Date: 1/2014 Application: Multi-purpose, but predominantly powerlifting. Price: $295 + shipping Overall value: High Gym Status: Still own; will keep forever. Noteworthy: Bare steel featuring sintered bronze bushings. It was discontinued as a York bar but is now produced [slightly differently] by Rogue Fitness. View: Full Review | Product Description |
Great idea. I like it!
Wow, awesome collection you have there! I’m impressed you still own so many bars, especially considering many are overlapping. I’ve also owned a Lot of bars (many of the same you have), but I usually sell to “upgrade” or try something new. I Definitely regret selling a few of mine over the years..
Honestly I keep many of the better ones for future reviews so I don’t have to go off memory for comparisons and such. The cheap bars like CAP, AF, FS are the ones that get sold immediately, and those funds applied to something else. I’m sure I could stand to dump some of these but I think I’m just a bar hoarder haha.
Nice! I knew you handled a lot of bars but it’s still quite impressive to see these all in one place.
I didn’t know it was that long either. It doesn’t feel like I’ve had that many – yet some are still missing from that list and some bars never even got reviewed. I have a problem lol
I feel like there may be a cable series in this for you…. Bar Hoarders. My MIL is a hoarder, but nothing cool like WL bars. Life isn’t fair.
Excellent guide. Thanks!
lol thanks. You know only like 12 people would watch that, unless bar hoarding could somehow be made to be super dramatic or hostile.
I’m looking at buying a barbell from rogue the B n R, but was wondering throughout the years I there are any deals like black Friday for pricing or does it stay the same typically?
Black Friday/Cyber Monday has typically been your only chance at a deal, and frankly when it comes to bars they aren’t huge deals anyway – even if the bar you want is part of the sale. Other than that finding bars in the Boneyard is the only way to avoid full price – at least with Rogue.
Out of curiosity I just bought the B n R barbell and love it but weighed it and it weighs 46lbs, is that normal? or is it my scale?
It’s not the kind of bar that would have been calibrated, but a pound is a bit so it could be a combination of your scale and the bar being slightly heavy. It’s not unusual though – wouldn’t worry about it.
Have you ever used the legend fitness power bar? I ask because I’m getting no quote on some other equipment to start a home gym and the rep is claiming they have a bar much like the Ohio power bar in stainless steel. He is quoting me a lower price though.
I haven’t touched a Legend bar, but it’s my understanding that they have nothing to do with production of their barbells. In my opinion, a commercial equipment (machine) manufacturer is not the place to buy a barbell. It is not their area of expertise.
In any case, according to their site, the specs of their power bar aren’t at all similar to the Ohio Power Bar specs, and therefore should be priced lower. I also don’t see any mention of stainless for that particular bar. I think this rep is just trying to increase his order size for his commission.
For some kids, technique bars could be useful.
I just started using a York “Ultra-Light” 15 pound 28mm aluminum technique bar. It is well made, $99 after shipping and tax. It lets me start at 26 lbs and keep adding plates until I’ve reached the ends of the sleeves at 126 (Vulcan Alphas). I can go all the way to 165 by starting with 10 lb bumpers instead of 5.5 lb technique plates. The knurl is moderate, with bigger teeth, less sharp and not so closely spaced. Uncoated, it’s grippy enough for these low to moderate weights. It would be nice to have longer sleeves.
I’ve used the Rogue 5kg 25mm aluminum technique bar for a year. It’s beautifully made, $255 after shipping and tax. The bar plus 2.5kg technique plates starts at 22 lbs and maxes out at 56. The knurl is sharp, but the teeth are so closely spaced that it’s comfortable, especially at these low weights. The sleeves are way longer than needed.
For 3 years I’ve used Hudson Steel 25 pound 25mm 5 foot bars. They’re well made, $80 for either bearing/chrome or bushing/black, and max out at 1,000 pounds. The collars are 37”, too narrow for snatch but okay for clean and jerk. I originally got one for deadlifting to avoid having a full length barbell underfoot. With Hudson Steel rubber coated iron plates and aluminum collars the sleeves will fit 405, with spring clips they’ll fit 495. The knurling is mild but well-tracked. The black/bushing bar seems grippier than the chrome/bearing bar. The company is local, and serves the lower Hudson River area. I’ve only bought from them at their local showroom in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Get a light, strong bar. Kids like a light bar because it’s fun to add plates! Remember that full-sized bumpers can set a bar pretty high off the ground for a kid. A pair each of rubber coated tens, fives, and 2.5s might be all a kid needs to get started.
For a lot of families, I think the York Ultra-Light would be a great start for the kids and an Olympic learning opportunity for the grown-ups. Our Dad started us with a kid’s bar in 1969. He really enjoyed teaching us and 50 years later I’m glad that he did.
Hello,
I am currently planning to purchase Force USA’s Gunner barbell. It is a $499 bar but they lowered the price to $199 due to the current situation. Do you have any thoughts about the barbell?
Best,
Derek
That bar is not worth $499 ever. There is literally nothing about the specifications of that bar that lead me to believe it’s worth anymore than the $199 they currently want for it.
Honestly, I don’t have any problem with Force USA but I have to admit I’m a little disappointed they have a ‘compare’ price of $499 for that. You can buy a stainless steel, IWF-certified Olympic weightlifting bar for $499.
Hello,
I am looking at purchasing a new barbell as I have grown out of the bar that came with my setup. The knurling on my current bar is just too passive with any type of weight on the bar.
I was originally between the rogue 2.0 and rogue ohio SS but have also added the Vulcan standard to the list. One reason I think id prefer an ohio or the Vulcan is because I wont have to deal with the black zinc.
I see there are two different Ohio Bars, which both appear to be rated highly but getting into the tech specs I’m not sure which one is the better value. One of the Ohios can be switched to bare steel, but I see the oxidation isn’t great then. The main use will be bench, squat, dl. One bar is 45 lbs, the other 22kg, the 45lb version is 29mm while the other is 28.5, and the 22kg version also comes with dual markings.
My question is which version of the ohio would you recommend? Or should I skip that altogether and go with a Vulcan. Pricing between the three is similar at 395, 350, and 325(vulcan).
Thanks in advance.
Hey Jeff, avoiding black zinc is something I’m completely behind you on. I also think most people should avoid bare steel unless they know what they’re getting themselves into in terms of maintenance. The 45-lb Ohio is the Ohio Power Bar, which is an extremely aggressively knurled, very stiff power bar. The standard Ohio (20 kg) is just Rogue’s general-purpose bar. The Ohio Power Bar is actually also available in a 20 kg version; which may just complicate things even more, but it’s helpful to know so you don’t end up picking the wrong bar based on weight.
Honestly, the big difference between the Ohio and Ohio Power bar is the knurling. There are spec differences; the Ohio is 28.5 mm diameter versus 29 mm; but in terms of function for someone benching, presses, squatting, and deadlifting, they both get the job done. If you told me you have a 600-lb squat and needed a very rigid bar, I’d tell you to get the Ohio Power Bar. If you wanted a bar with knurl that bites back I’d again tell you to get the Ohio Power Bar. If you just want a versatile, comfortable (moderately aggressive) bar for a good price, I’d say go standard Ohio.
In terms of the Vulcan Standard, it’s comparable to the standard Ohio, which would do you just as well. If you like the price or some other feature of the Vulcan more than the Rogue Ohio, go that route. They’ll feel very similar so it matters little. It’s the Ohio Power that stands out in this group of bars.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for the quick reply. I will probably end up going with the standard Ohio then as long as its back in stock soon. If not I may opt for the Vulcan as it appears to be available right away.
The last question related to the two would be the knurling, which is more aggressive? Reading the reviews the Vulcan Standard is noted as having an ideal knurl for multi purpose. The SS Ohio also got a 10/10 like the chan while being slightly less aggressive than the chan. This is my main focus now as I had mentioned my current bar is just too moderate.