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A barbell is the most versatile tool in any commercial or home gym. However, thanks to the exponential growth in both barbell training and home gyms, there are now hundreds of companies producing thousands of different barbells. This is both good and bad. It’s good because you have a plethora of options to choose from; it’s bad because it’s suddenly that much harder to decide what the best Olympic barbell is.
That’s where we come in. In this guide, we want to help you find the best Olympic bar for 2024. We have personally researched more than 150 bars and used close to 100. Our team of expert product testers includes elite-level weightlifters, competitive athletes, powerlifting enthusiasts, and USA weighlifting coaches, and CrossFit L-1 trainers.
We use a multi-point testing methodology as we squat with the bars, deadlift them, snatch them, turn them into landmines, drop them and load them with tons of weight to see how they perform. Additionally, we look at things like their value for the price, warranty, and customer service.
Barbells are at the top of my list of the best home gym equipment, and for a good reason: They are king. So, with these attributes defined, let’s dig into my picks for the top barbells:
The Best Olympic Barbells on the Market
- Best Barbell Overall: Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar
- Best Budget Barbell: Major Fitness Home Gym Barbell
- Best Value Barbell for Weightlifting: Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Bar 2.0
- Best Safety Squat Bar: Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2
- Best Barbell Under $300: Iron Bull Strength Competition Barbell
- Best Multipurpose Olympic Barbell: Synergee Games Bar
- Best Power Bar: Rogue Fitness Ohio Power Bar
- Best Barbell for Weightlifting: REP Fitness Alpine Bar
- Best Hex Bar for the Money: Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar
- Best CrossFit Barbell for Women: Rogue Bella Bar 2.0
Best Olympic Barbell Video Review
Best Barbell Overall: Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar
Good for: Anyone who wants to use a barbell for general purpose training.
Best Barbell Overall
Rogue Ohio Bar
Product Highlights
- 190K PSI tensile strength
- Multipurpose bar with great versatility
- Lifetime warranty
- Bushing sleeves
- Snap ring design
Made in USA
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Made in the USA of US-Sourced Steel
- Somewhat passive knurling
- Grips with chalk
- Great for a variety of training styles
- Dual knurl marks
- 28.5-mm shaft
- Bronze bushings
- Lifetime warranty
- Coatings include stainless steel, Cerakote, black zinc, and more.
- 190K tensile strength
Cons
- Not outstanding for powerlifting or weightlifting in comparison to more specialized bars
- Expensive
- Diameter doesn't meet IWF standards
- No center knurl, which may matter to some
Bottom Line
The Rogue Ohio Bar is one of the most iconic barbells in the world. It's been used at the CrossFit Games by some of the fittest athletes in the world and is just as well suited in your garage gym. The Ohio Bar is priced well despite its features and being made in the USA. Although we prefer the Rogue 2.0 Bar for its price, we don't blame you if you decide to spring for the Ohio Bar, although we'd suggest getting the Stainless Steel or Cerakote version.
Rogue Fitness has grown into the premier fitness equipment manufacturer in the world and a majority of their equipment is still made right here in the USA.
I used to say that the Rogue 2.0 bar was the best bar available, but I think the Ohio Bar has edged it out not because it’s necessarily a better bar, but because there are so many options. In reality, they are basically the same bar, but the Ohio Bar has bronze bushings which I do prefer. The Ohio Bar also comes in more options for finishes, like the cerakote Ohio Bar and the Rogue Fitness Stainless Steel Ohio Bar (pictured above), both of which offer a little more durability and a higher price tag.
RELATED: Rogue Ohio Bar vs Rogue Power Bar.
The Ohio Bar really just has all the makings of an exceptional barbell, getting near-perfect marks from us in almost every category we test: A 190,000 PSI tensile strength (which jumps to 200,000 if you get the stainless steel version), a 28.5mm shaft, dual knurl markings, and a 16.4-in loadable sleeve. You can load it heavily without worrying about bending or warping. You can drop it from overhead repeatedly (which we did), and it performs just as well as it always did.
Really, you can use the Ohio Bar for anything: CrossFit, powerlifting, weightlifting, and general training. There isn’t center knurling, which might annoy some powerlifters, but that’s also what makes it ideal for an all-around barbell. The rest of the knurling, however, is about the medium, or even slightly passive. With chalk, the bar grips great, but it won’t rip your hands to shreds. Also, the knurling goes all the way to the collar, which is ideal for people with long arms/mobility issues or those who otherwise need the full length.
Nearly all Rogue barbells come with lifetime warranties that they stand behind, which is one of the reasons that the brand’s bars usually top my list. Rogue, by and large, makes the best value barbells in the world.
Read my full Rogue Ohio Bar review.
| Bar weight | 20 kg |
| Knurl | Passive |
| Center knurl | No |
| Knurl marks | Dual |
| Shaft coating | Options in black zinc, E-coat, black oxide, cerakote and stainless steel |
| Tensile strength | 190,000 PSI (200,000 in stainless steel) |
| Bushing/bearing | Bushing |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Best Budget Barbell: Major Fitness Home Gym Barbell
Good for: An affordable barbell that doesn’t go cheap on the details
Best Budget Barbell
Major Fitness Home Gym Barbell
Product Highlights
- Multipurpose barbell for home gyms
- 20 kg barbell
- 7’ length
- 750- or 1,000-lb weight tolerance
- 6- and 8-bearing options
- Medium knurling
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No-hassle return policy
- Free shipping
- Made from 45-grade or alloy steel
- Two weight capacity options
Cons
- Weight capacity under 1,000 lbs
- Short 1-year warranty
Bottom Line
The Major Fitness Home Gym Barbell has two distinct offerings: The first option features 45-grade steel, 6 bearings, and a 750-pound weight capacity. The second features alloy steel, 8 bearings, and a 1,000-pound weight capacity. Both options come in black or silver.
While we don’t recommend going cheap on barbells, we do like when you can get a good deal. The Major Fitness Home Gym Barbell is priced under $300 (with free shipping), so we weren’t sure what to expect when we got our hands on it. The best budget barbells are typically between $200 and $300, so with this being on the higher end we thought it was going to perform just fine.
And it did. “This is a great bar for cross-training,” says expert product tester and avid weightlifter Lindsay Scheele, who rated the overall workout performance a 4 out of 5. “Based on our testing we felt like the knurling is passive enough and holds chalk well enough that it would provide a good fit for CrossFit-style training.”
RELATED: What is Barbell Knurling?
Numbers-wise, this bar has a whopping 1,000-pound weight capacity. That’s a strong bar, right up there with the other more expensive barbells on this list. “We dropped 450 pounds off of a rack…[and] even though it did not fall in unison with that amount of weight, the bar is still solid. There is no evidence of damage from shoulder height.”
It also features eight ball bearings and a smooth Black oxide finish, and it comes with a 35-day return policy. “This coating is holding up very well,” Lindsay adds.
RELATED: Barbell Anatomy
Of course, this isn’t perfect. This bar only comes in a 20-kilogram version, as there is no 15-kilogram option for those who prefer to train with a lighter bar, such as women training for a CrossFit competition (women use a 15kg bar in CrossFit).
| Bar weight | 20 kg |
| Knurl | IWF standard knurling with a depth of 1.2 mm |
| Center knurl | No |
| Knurl marks | Dual |
| Shaft coating | Black Oxide |
| Weight capacity | 1,000 pounds |
| Bushing/bearing | 8NK bearings |
| Warranty | One year |
Best Value Barbell for Weightlifting: Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Bar 2.0
Good for: People looking for a high-quality, affordable bar for weightlifting
Best Value Barbell for Weightlifting
Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Barbell 2.0
Product Highlights
- 20 kg bar with 240K PSI tensile strength
- Dual knurl markings
- Hard chrome sleeve and shaft
- Needle bearings and snap rings
- Limited lifetime warranty
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Whopping 240K PSI tensile strength
- Dual knurl markings
- 1,500+ lb weight capacity
- Needle bearings for spin
- Machine-grooved sleeves
- Priced under $300
- 16.2" loadable sleeve length
Cons
- Hard chrome finish is OK, but not the best
- No center knurl (could be a pro or a con)
- Intended for weightlifting, not powerlifting
Bottom Line
The Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Barbell 2.0 is an affordably priced bar ideal for those who like to snatch, clean, and jerk. Needle bearings, high tensile strength, and dual markings are great for those who enjoy the Olympic lifts.
| Bar weight | 20 kg |
| Knurl | Medium |
| Center knurl | No |
| Knurl marks | Dual |
| Shaft coating | Hard chrome |
| Tensile strength | 240,000 PSI |
| Bushing/bearing | Needle bearings |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
Best Safety Squat Bar: Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2
Good for: An affordable, safe option for those needing this kind of specialty bar.
Best Safety Squat Bar
Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2
Product Highlights
- Affordably priced bar
- Performs well at any weight with athletes of any size
- Great padding and vinyl covering
- 22-degree camber angle
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Imported, cheaper version of the EliteFTS SS Yoke
- Thick padding that holds up well
- Vinyl covering is thick and durable
- 22-degree camber angle
- Max capacity of 1,500 lbs
- Comfortable grips
- Removable handles
- Decorative chrome finish looks good
- Priced affordably
Cons
- No warranty attached to the Titan SSB
- Handles tend to spin
- Decorative chrome gets surface rust rather quickly
Bottom Line
The Titan SSB V2, despite being imported and of slightly lower quality compared to competitors, was chosen as our Top Pick for the Best Safety Squat Bar for most people. And for good reason, its features for the price are outstanding. We love the EliteFTS SS Yoke, but this one gets you 95% of the way there for less than half the price. We have been blown away with just how good this bar is for the price. If you're in the market, we don't see a huge reason to spend more.
When I used the first iteration of the Titan Safety Squat Bar, it was a huge bummer. In fact, I’d call it one of the worst specialty bars I have ever come across.
However, the Titan Safety Squat Bar V2 has totally redeemed the brand, and this solid bar now tops our best safety squat bars list. It has a 22-degree camber angle, thick padding, and thick steel.
Titan Fitness essentially cloned the EliteFTS Safety Squat Yoke Bar, which I absolutely love. However, it is pricier than the Titan version. And Titan actually has even cheaper safety squat bars, but I’m not a fan of cheap bars because they can whip excessively, or use cheap padding, or have a bad camber angle.
The Titan V2 has thick vinyl padding, which should be more resistant to ripping than the cheap stuff. I love that this bar uses an Olympic sleeve that can take standard collars (not all trap bars are like that).
Kate Meier, GGR head of content and competitive weightlifter, used the Titan SSB for months after she had elbow surgery.
“This was a lifesaver when I literally couldn’t hold a barbell,” she says. “I used it for squats, split squats, and lunges, every week, for about 6 months. The padding is extremely comfortable, and the bar is very balanced.”
Also, the bar handles are removable, so you can use this bar for things like presses and curls. You might not end up needing the bar for that, but I think it’s nice to have the option.
For more, check out our Titan Safety Squat Bar review.
| Bar weight | 61 lbs |
| Camber drop | 22 degrees |
| Bar length | 90.5 in |
| Shaft coating | Chrome |
| Sleeve coating | Chrome |
| Weight capacity | 1,500 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Best Barbell Under $300: Iron Bull Strength Competition Barbell
Good for: Those who are looking for a versatile barbell at a budget-friendly price
Best Under $300
Iron Bull Strength Cerakote Competition Barbell
Product Highlights
- Dual knurl marks
- Cerakote coating
- 200K PSI tensile strength
- Free shipping
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Competition-style barbell
- Cerakote coating is durable and will last for years
- Free shipping
- Dual knurl marks
Cons
- No center knurling
- No information on aggressiveness of knurling
Bottom Line
This barbell can be used to train for weightlifting competitions, and the cerakote coating ensures it will last your entire lifting career.
It’s harder and harder to find a quality barbell for a low price; fortunately, I’ve got you covered with our pick for the best barbell under $300—the Iron Bull Strength Competition Barbell. With a tensile strength of 190K or 200K PSI (depending on if you’re using the 15- or 20-kilogram barbell), it’ll be durable enough for a wide range of uses. It earns a 5 out of 5 for its tensile strength.
As the barbell is a multipurpose barbell, our product tester took it through a variety of powerlifting and weightlifting exercises, from benching and squatting to power cleans and snatches. It’s great for barbell cycling, as well as heavy lifting, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 for versatility.
He did have worries on the overall durability of the bar, however, as he loaded the barbell with over 500 pounds at one point, and—albeit slightly—it permanently bent the bar. “That was just with static weight, too. I worry if I loaded that much weight and started to pull against it in a deadlift, it’d take more damage,” our tester says, rating the durability a 3 out of 5.
RELATED: How To Increase Strength
Fortunately, if the bar bends on you, there is a limited lifetime warranty on the Iron Bull Competition Barbell, so make sure to take advantage. Also, the volcano knurling is grippy, and performs even better with chalk.
| Bar weight | 15 or 20 kg |
| Knurl | Volcano |
| Center knurl | No |
| Knurl marks | Dual knurl marks |
| Shaft coating | Black zinc, black chrome, cerakote, or stainless steel |
| Tensile strength | 190K PSI (15 kg), 200K PSI (20 kg) |
| Bushing/bearing | 8 needle bearings |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
Best Multipurpose Olympic Barbell: Synergee Games Bar
Good for: Good for: People who want a multipurpose barbell for less
Best Multipurpose
Synergee Games Colored Cerakote Barbell
Product Highlights
- Versatile for Olympic lifting to powerlifting to body building
- High-grade steel and cerakote composition
- 190,000 PSI
- 1,500 lb weight capacity
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 190k PSI tensile strength
- Affordable at just over $225
- Has a 15kg and 20kg option
- Great for CrossFit exercises
- Great spin on the bar
Cons
- Cerakote sleeves can get scratched up easily
- No center knurling
- Not a versatile bar
Bottom Line
If you want a nice-looking CrossFit barbell with weather-resistant Cerakote (more on that in a second) but don’t want to spend the money on something like a Rogue Ohio Bar, then go for the Synergee Games Cerakote Barbell.
Bench, squats, muscle snatches, cleans, and bent-over rows—if you’re looking for a barbell that can do it all, our favorite multipurpose barbell is the Synergee Games Bar. With dual knurl marks, needle bearings for a solid spin, and a strong tensile strength, this bar is capable of a variety of workouts and exercises. Plus, you get this all for around $200, earning this bar a 5 out of 5 for value.
GGR director of content Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, has used the Synergee Regional Barbell before, which is the same sort of barbell as the Games Bar, but with a different finish—black phosphate or hard chrome. “The Games Bar uses cerakote as its coating, which is much more resistant to oxidation and corrosion,” she says. She rates the finish a 4.5 out of 5.
Kate continues with the bar’s versatility. “The knurling is pretty medium; it won’t chew your hands, which is nice for high-rep workouts. They also spin for days.” When I ask her what they’re best suited for, she replies, “I like them for volume, but they aren’t my go-to for weightlifting in a max-out setting.” Still, they get a 4.5 out of 5 for its versatility.
Customer service is easy to work with, too. Kate explains, “I bent one of their bars at the gym just doing hang power cleans, nothing crazy. We called them up and they sent us a new bar, no questions asked.” It’s good to know that they stand behind their lifetime warranty on the barbell, earning them a 5 out of 5 for customer service.
You can read our Synergee Games Cerakote Barbell review for a closer look at the barbell.
| Bar weight | 15 or 20 kg |
| Knurl | 1.2-mm diamond knurl |
| Center knurl | No |
| Knurl marks | Dual marks |
| Shaft coating | Cerakote |
| Tensile strength | 190K PSI |
| Bushing/bearing | 10 needle bearings |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Best Power Bar: Rogue Fitness Ohio Power Bar
Good for: Powerlifters at any fitness level.
Best Power Bar
Rogue Ohio Power Bar
Product Highlights
- Volcano knurl provides a great grip
- IPF-approved
- Lifetime warranty
- Four coating options: bare steel, black zinc, Cerakote, and stainless steel
- 205K PSI tensile strength
Made in USA
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great value
- Volcano knurl
- Fantastic grip
- IPF-approved
- Lifetime warranty
- Four coating options: bare steel, black zinc, Cerakote, and stainless steel
- Made in the USA
- 205K PSI tensile strength
- F-8R rating
- Self-oiling bronze bushings
Cons
- 205K PSI tensile strength is not the strongest on the market
- Some may feel the knurling is too passive
- Bare steel Version rusts quickly
Bottom Line
The Rogue Ohio Power Bar is the power bar we recommend most often. You cannot spend less and get a better bar. You can spend more, and depending on your preferences get something maybe better, but even then, it's debatable.
We’ve been through our share of power bars, but the instant we grabbed onto the Ohio Power Bar, we knew it would make the top of our list for the best powerlifting barbells. This barbell has become somewhat legendary in powerlifting circles in the short time it has been on the scene since its introduction in 2014. This bar will quickly give you an experience of value and a feeling that you will be able to squat more, bench smoother, and train your deadlift stronger.
Rogue has combined its large manufacturing power, attention to detail, and ability to create industry-leading products at great prices to create, in our opinion, the best power bar for any strength level. Whether you’re a beginner learning the squat, deadlift, and bench, or you’re an experienced lifter, the Rogue Ohio Power Bar can handle whatever you throw at it.
The part of a power bar that should have the most attention applied to it is its knurling, and in our opinion and many we’ve polled, the Ohio Power Bar has some of the best feeling knurlings on the market. It’s aggressive, but not sharp thanks to its volcanic design.
In addition to the great knurling, the Rogue Ohio Power Bar features a 205K PSI Tensile Strength shaft, bronze bushings, and enough shaft coatings to satisfy anyone’s interests. Whether you choose bare steel, zinc, cerakote, or our favorite, stainless steel version, you’ll be satisfied.
Also, if you need a bar for a powerlifting meet, the KG version is IPF-approved.
The Rogue OPB is so well-liked, it won a recent bracket we held on Instagram that had over 100,000 entries. Not only is it us that love this bar, but it’s generally regarded as the best powerlifting barbell by the home gym community.
The shaft of the Ohio Power Bar is 29mm, which has become the standard when it comes to power bars, and for good reason. A thicker shaft creates a stiffer bar. A 29mm shaft will cause much less whip than at heavier weights when compared to a 28mm or 28.5mm barbell (it’s why squat bars are 32mm). Although a 0.5mm larger diameter seems small, it’s not insignificant.
For more, check out my Rogue Ohio Power Bar review.
(If you have the money and want an even fancier power bar, we did an in-depth Kabuki Strength New Generation Power Bar review. It has an insanely high tensile strength, outstanding knurling, and price.)
| Bar Weight | 20 or 15 kg |
| Knurl | Aggressive, volcano design |
| Center Knurl | Yes |
| Knurl Marks | Single IPF markings |
| Shaft Coating | Stainless steel, bare steel, zinc, cerakote |
| Tensile Strength | 205,000 PSI |
| Bushing/Bearing | Bushing |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Best Barbell for Weightlifting: REP Fitness Alpine Bar
Good for: Competitive weightlifters wanting a solid barbell with great value
Best for Weightlifting
REP Fitness Alpine Weightlifting Bar, 20 Kg
Product Highlights
- Weightlifting barbell made within IWF specifications
- 28 mm shaft diameter
- Hybrid needle bearings
- Medium volcano knurling with a passive center knurl
- Hard chrome, black chrome, or stainless steel finish
- Tensile strength of 190K PSI
Pros & Cons
Pros
- IWF specifications
- Hybrid needle bearings
- Medium knurling with a passive center knurl
- High tensile strength
- Affordable Olympic weightlifting bar
Cons
- Not an ideal barbell for powerlifting
- Thinner shaft than most multipurpose bars
Bottom Line
Designed specifically for Olympic weightlifting, the 20-kilogram Alpine Weightlifting Bar from REP Fitness is an affordable Olympic barbell that falls in line with IWF specifications. Available in a hard chrome, black chrome, or stainless steel finish, the sleeves use hybrid needle bearings to ensure a fast but controlled spin on the barbell. Because it’s made for the snatch and clean and jerk, this may not be the best choice for a powerlifting or multipurpose barbell.
When we talk about Olympic weightlifting, we’re talking about a barbell that does two things exceptionally well—the snatch and the clean and jerk. And while most weightlifters love an exceptional barbell like the Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Training Bar, we think a lot of people are sleeping on the value behind our pick, the REP Fitness Alpine Bar.
Made with a chrome or stainless steel finish, the Alpine is made to IWF specifications—although it’s not certified by the International Weightlifting Federation. (That’s one reason that the bar can sell at a lower price than an Eleiko barbell.) With a 28-millimeter shaft diameter and an aggressive volcano knurl, this bar is grippy enough for a wide array of exercises. That said, it lacks dual marks for powerlifting, earning it a 4 out of 5 for versatility.
Senior staff writer and Tokyo Olympian Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1, tested out the REP Alpine Bar, where he lifted 451 pounds over his head before dropping it to the ground. “It felt very good in use, although the barbell is a bit stiff,” he says. The tensile strength gets a 5 out of 5 for its score, but be aware: If you prefer a bit more bar whip, you may not get it from this barbell.
The knurling is a volcano knurl, although it’s a fairly aggressive knurl according to Caine. “I want that aggressive knurl while I’m lifting so I know I have a strong grip,” he explains. “That said, I know that’s not what everyone wants.” He rates the knurling and grip a 4.5 out of 5.
The best part about this bar is its price. While most higher-end weightlifting bars are several hundred dollars or more, the stainless steel 20-kilogram Alpine Bar is right at $450—$330 if you go with the hard chrome option.
| Bar weight | 15 or 20 kg |
| Knurl | Aggressive, volcano knurl |
| Center knurl | Yes on the 20-kilogram bar, although it’s passive |
| Knurl marks | Olympic weightlifting marks |
| Shaft coating | Hard chrome, black chrome, stainless steel |
| Tensile strength | 190K PSI (20 kg), 200K PSI (15 kg) |
| Bushing/bearing | Hybrid needle bearings |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Best Hex Bar for the Money: Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar
Good for: The budget-minded deadlifter looking for a good trap bar.
Best Hex Bar for the Money
Titan Hex Trap Bar
Product Highlights
- Rackable
- Matte black finish
- Priced well for those on a budget
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Priced affordably
- Matte black powder coating
- Good knurling
- Heavy duty
- Rackable
Cons
- 1-year warranty
- No knurling on the bottom handle
- Some reviewers say it isn’t rackable
Bottom Line
If you're on a budget and looking for a hex trap bar, this one from Titan is hard to beat.
The Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar is on our best trap bars list because it’s affordable and a quality bar. We’ve used it for a few years – used and abused it, I should say – and I would still recommend it for most people. This trap bar looks a lot like the higher-end bars, but the Titan model is a lot more affordable at less than $270. With a matte black powder coating, it should withstand some wear and tear as well as premature rusting.
Unfortunately, the sleeves are also powder-coated, which means they will get pretty dinged up from loading Olympic plates. I would say that the knurling on the high handle is slightly aggressive. Other people who have used it have commented that they like the knurling. Unfortunately, the lower handle is not knurled, which is a little odd considering that it will get used often. Another small gripe is that this isn’t a trap bar that is rackable in a majority of squat racks. But, you could use it with safety straps or safety bars.
| Bar Weight | 44 lbs |
| Loadable Sleeve Length | 9.75″ |
| Weight Capacity | 500 lbs |
| Shaft Coating | Chrome |
| Knurling | Medium Diamond Texture |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Best CrossFit Barbell for Women: Rogue Bella Bar 2.0
Good for: Women and anyone else who need a smaller grip on a great barbell
Best CrossFit Barbell for Women
Rogue Bella Bar 2.0
Product Highlights
- High-performing multipurpose 15KG barbell
- Versatile; can be used in weightlifting, for CrossFit, and for powerlifts
- 190K PSI tensile strength
- 25-mm shaft diameter
Made in USA
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Endless options for the finish
- 190K PSI tensile strength
- 25mm shaft
- Dual knurl markings
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Knurling is pretty passive
- Black zinc coating will fade over time
- No center knurling
Bottom Line
The Rogue Bella Bar is a top-of-the-line 15-kilogram bar ideal for people who need a multi-purpose barbell.
If you like the Rogue Ohio Bar for a 20kg option, then may I present the 15kg version: The Bella Bar 2.0.
CrossFit gyms around the world have the Bella stocked, and for good reason: It’s one of the best barbells for CrossFit and you can also use it for weightlifting, powerlifting, and more!
I say this bar is the best “for women,” but really, it’s great for youth athletes or men who prefer a smaller grip. Most 15kg bars have a 25mm shaft, which is skinnier than 20kg bars. The smaller design also means less loadable room on the sleeve length, but for most of us, that really isn’t an issue.
Kate Meier, GGR head of content and competitive weightlifter, has two Bella Bars in her home gym. She has been using them for more than a year, training her clients with them as well.
“They are in great shape, though my garage isn’t climate controlled, and you can see the zinc coating fading a little,” she says. “I use these to train the Olympic lifts. I think the knurling is a little passive, but I appreciate that on days when I’m living in hook grip.”
The Bella is built specifically as a multipurpose bar, and the specs show that: It has dual knurl marks for Olympic and powerlifting, no center knurl, bronze bushings, and 190,000 PSI tensile strength. You can drop the Bella Bar (with bumper plates) without concern.
I think one of the draws to the Bella is that it comes in so many different finishes: E-coat, black zinc, and stainless steel. The cerakote finish also comes in a bunch of colors, as well as “sponsored” bars that CrossFit superstars Tia Clair-Toomey and Katrin Davidsdottir stand behind.
When it comes to drawbacks, some people might find the knurling to be a little too passive (but it works just fine with chalk). Also, powerlifters may not love that there is no center knurling.
For more on the Bella Bar, check out our Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 review.
| Bar Weight | 15 kg |
| Knurl | Passive |
| Center Knurl | No |
| Knurl Marks | Single IWF markings |
| Shaft Coating | black zinc, cerakote, e-coat, stainless steel |
| Tensile Strength | 190,000 PSI |
| Bushing/Bearing | Bushing |
| Warranty | “Construction” warranty |
Other Barbells We Have Tested
Vulcan Strength Standard Bushing Barbell: Vulcan is producing some outstanding equipment, but the Standard Bushing barbell that we tested features a bright zinc finish that hasn’t fared too well against the elements. It spins decently and isn’t overpriced, but its lack of corrosion resistance kept it from being in our top picks.
DMoose Regional Barbell: This barbell is pretty versatile, and very inexpensive. However, in our DMoose Regional Barbell review, we do note that it’s less suited for powerlifting and better for bodybuilding, general fitness, or even Olympic lifting.
Buddy Capps Texas Power Bar: The Texas Power Bar was, in our minds, the best barbell until Rogue came out with the Ohio Power Bar. If you want to learn the differences between the two, check out our comparison between the Rogue Ohio Power Bar vs. Texas Power Bar.
REP Colorado Bar: This bar is REP’s flagship barbell, and it shows. Durable and made for versatility, this is a solid bar, but there are some versatile bars with just a bit more value.
CAP Barbell “The Beast”: I think that this Cap bar is the best barbell on Amazon that’s under $150. It has medium knurling to it and the rotation system is the bushing. The finish is black oxide, which isn’t the highest quality, but it also does offer some protection against corrosion. Sure, it has some dings and a little surface rust, but that’s to be expected at this price range.
Fringe Sport Wonder Bar: The Wonder Bar used to be priced under $200, but now sits north of $260. We had it as our best budget pick but had to give it the boot when the cost increased. It’s a good bar, but there are other better bars in this price range.
PRx Men’s Olympic Elite Bar: We used this bar for Olympic lifts, power lifts, and CrossFit, and we felt it performed well. However, the powder coat on the sleeves scratches very easily. For $300, this bar just doesn’t match up to other similarly priced barbells.
Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell: We’re actually big fans of this bar, but it’s not made anymore. It’s very similar to the Chan Bar from Rogue, although it’s imported. For the price though, we prefer the Rogue Bar 2.0 and Fringe Sport’s more budget-friendly Wonder Bar.
Fringe Sport Bomba Barbell: Although Fringe Sport’s lower-priced barbell made it into our top picks, the Bomba Barbell has similar features but with a higher price tag. It’s a great bar, just not worth the extra cost in our opinion.
Fringe Sport CeraColt Cerakote Olympic Barbell: A great bar at a great price, but still more expensive than our other picks.
Rogue B&R Bar 2.0: The B&R 2.0 Bar from Rogue Fitness came very close to being in our top picks, but due to the slightly thicker shaft, cost, and more of a powerlifting focus, it did not make it. That said, if you don’t really desire whip, enjoy a thicker barbell, and don’t mind providing extra maintenance to a raw steel bar, then the B&R 2.0 is a great choice.
Rogue Chan Bar: The Chan Bar by Rogue Fitness was another bar that barely made it off the list of our top picks. Featuring some innovative ideas like a light center knurl and an increased distance between the outer knurling, the Chan Bar is pretty unique. Unfortunately, Rogue no longer offers the bar in different finishes and charges extra for nothing that really costs them extra; the Chan Bar will have to remain an honorable mention (we still love you, Matt!)
Synergee Regional Olympic Bar: The Synergee Games Bar has a cerakote finish, and that’s the only real difference between the two. The Regional Bar comes with a 190,000 PSI tensile strength as well as needle bearings, which make the bar spin really fast.
Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Training Bar: The only problem with this premium weightlifting bar is its price. If you’re OK with dropping about $1,000 on an Olympic lifting barbell, then this is a superb barbell.
How We Picked and Tested the Barbells
To compile our list for the best Olympic barbells for 2024, we researched all of the major manufacturers as well as reaching out to industry experts and various forums such as r/homegym (quick plug: I’m a mod of this subreddit, so I suggest you subscribe.)
In addition to this, we went to Garage Gym Reviews HQ to rank and test what we have on hand (around 20 bars currently). After researching around 55 barbells worth your time and money, we narrowed it down to our top picks, all of which we acquired to test out in the house.
There is an overwhelmingly large amount of barbells available for purchase today. Due to the various specializations of training, each category will have barbells that hit every price point from $100 all the way up to $1,000 plus.
Due to this, we stuck mainly to barbells that were more situated toward general training. If you want to use these bars for powerlifting, they’re stiff enough to do so. If you want to use many of these for Olympic weightlifting or add them to your CrossFit equipment, go for it. The spin, knurl, and whip will work for the movements within those sports.
Most of the bars we picked to test could all be considered great for general-purpose training and at prices worth considering and to be included in some of the best home gyms. Ultimately, after some deliberation, we narrowed down our specifications to the following list of features ordered in no particular order.
- Overall Construction: Although the barbells we recommend are not the most expensive you can find, they need to be constructed well to provide a reliable experience over its lifetime. A barbell should last a LONG time; attention to detail provided by the manufacturer will aid in reliability and consistency.
- Tensile Strength of Steel: The tensile strength of the steel used should be a minimum of 130K PSI and preferably much higher (around 190K). A barbell with 130K PSI should only be used if you don’t plan on using over 500 lbs on the bar. This is much higher than the average lifted by most people.
- Knurling: The knurling should be consistent and not overly aggressive. A medium knurl will grip well when chalk is used. A center knurl, although great for powerlifting, is not needed for the majority of people. The reason is due to how it will rough up the neck and chin area of the body when used for power cleans and front squats.
- Spin: The rotation system should be a bushing system due to cost and for use on lifts like the squat and bench where excess spin isn’t always desired. The spin should be consistent and slow to a stop, not an abrupt halt.
- Finish: The barbell should have some sort of finish to prevent against oxidation such as surface rust.
- Price: The price should be in accordance with the features offered. Value is more important than a low sticker price, and what we’ve found is that for general purpose barbells, there isn’t a reason to spend over $400 on a barbell. If you want a specialized Olympic weightlifting barbell or powerlifting barbell, then spending above $400 may provide a better value, but not for the general purpose category.
- Warranty: A lifetime warranty has come to be the standard offered by barbell manufacturers. The company servicing the warranty must be considered, however; a lifetime warranty is of little use if the company offering it is no longer around to service it.
During testing, we performed all of the major barbell movements including squat, deadlift, bench, overhead press, clean and jerk, and snatch. We blind tested the feel of the knurling, observed the spin of the sleeves using a 25 lb bumper plate, weighed and measured the diameter of the shafts for accuracy, and tested the oxidation of the bars over 3 weeks while left in an often opened garage in the midwest. Finally, we asked for the opinion of others on what barbell they view to be the best value for the majority of trainees.
Benefits of Barbell Lifting
First of all, lifting with a barbell makes you look totally badass. There’s nothing like throwing some bumper plates on a bar and pushing it overhead. It’s such a Hulk-ed out feeling.
Superhero fantasies aside, however, there are actual, tangible benefits to putting a barbell into your training:
Build Muscle
According to a 2012 review1, inactivity can result in a 3% to 8% loss muscle mass per decade. However, resistance training for 10 weeks can add 1.4 kilograms of lean mass, while losing 1.8 kilograms of body fat.
It goes without saying that lifting weights builds muscle. Working out with a standard barbell a few times a week can target several types of muscle gains, like muscle endurance, muscle size, and muscle power. It just depends on what type of workouts you do.
If you want to develop and grow muscle, then the barbell is king. You can hit just about every muscle group with compound movements: squats, deadlifts, presses. Unlike machines in a commercial gym, which often isolate just one muscle group, the barbell can be used to hit many at once.
Protect Bones and Joints
When you build muscle, you protect your bones and joints. Muscles give you a stronger body that is less likely to fall, and less susceptible to damage. Not only that, but according to a review from Aging Clinical and Experimental Research2, weight training is best for your bones and can improve bone mass and density, actually decreasing your risk of bone loss.
Pride
Lifting a barbell over your head with huge plates on the chrome sleeves just looks awesome. But also, it’s motivating to literally see yourself get stronger as you are able to load more weight (over time and with good form) on the barbell.
Accessible and Affordable Equipment
Relative to other strength training tools, like large machines, a barbell is pretty accessible. It, and the plates that go with it, don’t take up too much space. I have people on my team who live in apartments and they still have a barbell, portable squat rack, and Olympic plates.
Also, and again relative to the equipment you’d see in a gym, a barbell is fairly affordable. Many of the ones on this list are priced under $400. You can essentially get a bar, some plates, and a rack for under $1,000, and that’s just about all you need to get a full-body workout.
Versatile Training Options
Barbells are much more than simply strength training. You can use a barbell for:
- Building explosive strength in Olympic movements
- Building power through lifts like squats and deadlifts
- Building endurance in volume training
- Building capacity in HIIT workouts
You can also use your barbell to roll out sore muscles. I’ve done it. It hurts. But it hurts so well.
What to Look for in a Barbell
There are five physical characteristics of an Olympic barbell that will cause distinctions between the wide array of bars available today. Those are:
- Steel
- Knurling
- Spin
- Whip
- Finish
Steel
The steel is the most important part of the bar and is more than just looks; it is the essence of the barbell. To determine the quality of steel used, two of the most telling specifications are the tensile strength and yield strength.
Do not listen to anyone who tries to tell you that a bar is 1,000-pound tested or 1,500-pound tested. This is a made-up fantasy designed to take advantage of buyers’ limited amount of knowledge and is more often than not seen on very cheap bars.
Companies assess the tensile and yield strength of the barbell steel through static and dynamic testing. To give a simple example, a static test would load an enormous amount of weight (upwards of a ton) on each side of the bar and then slowly take the weight off to see if the bar returns back to being straight.
A dynamic test is much more telling and involves tracking how the bar bends when dropped with a certain amount of weight. There is much more variance in this sort of test than the static test between manufacturers.
All that being said, every bar will bend if handled improperly. I don’t care if you’re using a $1,000 Eleiko, if you drop it on a pin with 400 pounds, it’s going to bend.
The general rule of thumb is that a high-quality barbell has a tensile strength upward of 180,000 PSI (pounds per square inch) or higher. You can certainly get by with less, but the best durability in the business will be around there. When it comes to yield strength, most companies don’t list a number (this is how much the bar can be loaded with before it can bend). You can use the tensile strength number as a good idea of weight capacity.
Knurling
The next characteristic of a bar is knurling. Knurling is what allows your hands to grip the bar, especially when combined with chalk. For most people, medium knurling is best due to it being sticky enough to grip, yet smooth enough for comfort. Although there are great bars with more aggressive knurling, for the majority of training purposes, it’s less than desired.
RELATED: Best CrossFit Grips
If you have yet to experience what a volcano knurl feels like, you’re missing out. The reason a volcano knurl is superior (in our opinion, again, the feel of knurling is subjective) to the traditional “peaky mountain” knurling that dominated the industry for so long is that it gives you more contact surface area with the epidermal layering of your hands or with the various fibers on the back of your favorite squat shirt.
Essentially, because there are more peaks to grip your hand (four times as many as would be if the tops of the peaks weren’t chopped off) you don’t need as “sharp” of a knurl. This leads to a greater grip and less ripped calluses and blood on the platform. This is why we feel, for a power bar, this is the best type of knurling. In the CrossFit world, if you’re doing a lot of reps and you go from moving the barbell to doing something on a pull-up bar, your hands are experiencing a lot of friction. Because of this, a barbell with a light knurling pattern would most often be the best for CrossFit to prevent immature rips of the hands.
Also, consider where the knurling is. Powerlifting bars come with center knurling so you feel the bar better as it rests on your back. However, center knurling can annoy and bother people who are using the bar for more of a general-purpose.
Lastly, there are often notches in the knurling. These are either IWF or IPF markings for competition reasons (though I just use them so I know where to put my hands when I snatch).
Spin
The spin is determined by the rotation system used in the barbell. There are two main types of rotation systems used in barbells today – a bushing system or a needle-bearing system. Bearings will spin quicker overall, but they also cost more and will likely not stand up to abuse as well as bushings.
For this reason, we recommend most people purchase a barbell with a bushing system that either uses brass or nylon bushings. A bushing rotation system will provide a smooth and consistent spin that will require little maintenance and should last for many decades.
Whip
Whip is determined by the load on the bar, the materials used, the method of steel processing and the diameter of the shaft. For most people, some whip is desired for the occasional Olympic lifts, but overall the bar should be relatively stiff. And even on those Olympic lifts, if you aren’t lifting really heavy weights, odds are you won’t feel the whip anyway. Due to this, the bars we recommend are going to be made of carbon steels and not molybdenum alloys.
Finish
Finally, the finish of the bar comes down to personal preference and the environment it will be used in. Although a bare steel bar is generally regarded as the best ‘feeling’ barbell, it will oxidize quicker than if a finish was applied. For the price range we recommend, more often than not, the bar will feature a black oxide as it is middle of the road in terms of oxidation and is cheaper to apply than hard chrome.
How to Take Care of a Barbell
While a barbell can be a relatively low-maintenance piece of gym equipment, it still needs some love in order to stay in good condition (i.e. looking and performing the way you want it to).
Whenever you use chalk, BRUSH the chalk off. Don’t use a wet cloth, because that will just ingrain the chalk into the knurling even more. Use a brush and move in a circular motion around the bar until the chalk is off. The Hybrid Athletics steel barbell brush is one of the best around. Eleiko makes a great brush, but you can’t buy it separately. In order to get it, you have to buy an Eleiko barbell. Go figure.
On a much less regular basis, you should oil your barbell. After you brush off the bar, use a 3-in-1 oil or WD-40 to lightly coat the bar. Then, use your brush to lightly brush the oil into the bar. That’s it. There is no need to wipe off the oil, you can simply let it dry.
The type of finish on your barbell determines how often you should oil it. A bare steel bar may need oiling every few months. A higher-grade finish, like stainless steel, may do well with getting oiled just twice a year.
Best Olympic Barbells FAQs
What does tensile strength mean in barbells?
In short, tensile strength refers to how much weight you can load onto a barbell before the steel suffers a permanent deformation. The higher the tensile strength (measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI), the more a barbell can withstand. If you don’t lift heavyweight, you can get by with a barbell that has 100-130K PSI. But if you lift heavy, you really want something in the 190K+ range.
Does whip matter in a barbell?
This really just depends on how you plan to use your barbell. If you’re a recreational lifter who just likes to squat and press with light to moderate weight once in a while, then the whip of the bar doesn’t really matter.
However, if you are serious about your lifting, you may want to consider the whip. I will say that you won’t really feel the whip of the bar unless you can lift heavy weights.
What is a good Olympic barbell?
Generally speaking, a good barbell is one that meets your needs in terms of tensile strength, knurling, whip, and spin. For most people, I like the Rogue Ohio Bar the best for a 20kg option and the Rogue Bella Bar for a 15kg option.
What is a good price for an Olympic barbell?
Most of us shouldn’t have to pay more than $400 for a barbell. The Rogue options I like are between $200-$300, just depending on the type of finish you want. There are very few barbells I would recommend that are less than $150, simply because at that point, you start sacrificing the quality of steel, bearings, and construction.
References
- Westcott W. L. (2012). Resistance training is medicine: effects of strength training on health. Current sports medicine reports, 11(4), 209–216. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e31825dabb8
- Suominen H. (2006). Muscle training for bone strength. Aging clinical and experimental research, 18(2), 85–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327422
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