Equipment Reviews

This is a review of the infamous CAP OB-86B Olympic bar. The OB-86B is a fairly popular, lower-end import barbell sold at sporting good stores, online fitness outlets, and of course; Amazon. This bar retails for around $150-$160, and it’s the least expensive bar currently reviewed on this site. It’s no secret; I am no fan of the imported [...]

This is a review for the Super Power Bar, a high tensile strength, stainless steel power bar manufactured by American Barbell. Update: the AB Super Power Bar reviewed here no longer exists as a product. It has been replaced by the new Mammoth Power Bar. First I’d like to say that I hope a power bar will be [...]

This is the much-anticipated review of the Rogue Euro Olympic Bar. First let me apologize to those of you who been patiently waiting to read this review. I feel pretty bad about having announced the Euro and XF review a couple months ago only to not get them completed in a timely manner. I won’t get too into it, but suffice it [...]

In the last couple months I’ve been asked about the American Barbell Stainless Steel WOD Bar more that I’ve been asked about any other bar. Why? Simply because the price for this bar is just stupid low. Stainless steel bars are never sold for $299, and people want to know whether this bar is legit or not. Truth be [...]

I think that most of us can agree that Eleiko makes some of the best training equipment in the world, and they are one of the most desired brands by those in the know. Unfortunately most of their barbells, bumpers, and change plates are pretty rough on the wallet, so Eleiko + garage gyms or [...]

The Vulcan Elite is a 28 mm bushing bar designed specifically for Olympic weightlifting. It is the more affordable “training” version of the $600 Vulcan Professional Bearing Bar, with the biggest differences being the use of bushings instead of bearings, and of course, the price. In terms of classification, the Vulcan Elite 3 is much [...]

This is a review for the newest adaptation of the Again Faster Team Bar, the new 2.0. Just a heads up, I have no hands-on experience with the previous Team Bars, so there won’t be any comparisons between the original bar or version 1.2. Just consider this a stand alone review for the 2.0. Update 2016-2017: I highly recommend avoiding this [...]

This is a review for what is now the fourth Vulcan bar that I’ll review here at Garage Gyms; the Vulcan Standard 28.5 mm Olympic Bar; or what I think of as the Box Bar. Previously I reviewed the Vulcan Elite, the One Basic, and the Bearing Training Bar, and I think that it’s safe to say [...]

This is a review for the Vulcan 28.5 mm Training Bearing Bar – which is practically identical to the previous Vulcan bar that I reviewed, the Vulcan One. The primary difference between these two bars is that the Vulcan One Basic is a bushing bar, and the 28.5 mm Training Bar is a needle bearing bar. I strongly [...]

For the last three years or so I’ve had a Rogue R4 power rack in my garage gym (many of you have no doubt seen my glowing review for the R4), and in that time I have had not one issue, problem, or complaint with or about the R4. It has served me well. I even [...]

This is a review of what is now officially the most magnificent and functional Olympic bar in my garage gym, the American Barbell Stainless Steel Olympic Bar. In addition to taking an awfully close look at this stainless steel beast over the last 45-days, I have asked American Barbell a lot of technical questions regarding construction as well. [...]

Before I start this review for the Matt Chan Bar let me start off by saying that I am extremely excited about this particular bar review. I am excited because it looks like this will be one of those rare articles in which I do not need to have a section for listing the negatives; or cons. [...]

I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to test the new Klokov Olympic Barbell before it launches. In the last four weeks I’ve made it a point to use the Klokov any chance I could to get a really good feel for the bar, and a good feel for it I believe I have! In case [...]

This is a review for the Rogue Abrams 2.0 Glute Ham Developer. Rogue Fitness had been teasing us with the redeveloped version of the Abrams GH-1 GHD for what seemed like an eternity. I remember the picture of this beast sitting there in the “New Gear” category for two or three months; no price, no release date, nothing. I wanted one, [...]