Here is a list of barbells that are designed for powerlifting as well as Olympic lifts. These are both versatile and affordable. They are what the casual lifters want to have for their gyms.
So, review their features here and choose for yourself the best barbell for the home gym.
Just because the mentioned barbells are not specified for a certain type of lift doesn’t mean that their quality suffers. Each of these barbells is manufactured with great attention to detail, from the variable knurling depths to the finish type.
1. 20 kg Rogue Bar 2.0
Highlights
- 7-foot bar
- Color: black zinc
- Bushing on the sleeves
Key features
- Aesthetically sleek
- Dual knurl marks
- No center knurling
- Olympic style knurling
- Reasonable price
- Made in the USA
- Has a lifetime warranty
Bottom line
The barbell is version 2.0 which can be seen in its quality and design detail. It looks very sleek looking and is tested to the highest standard. It will be perfect for all sorts of strength exercises. It is also the best barbell 2020.
2. American Barbell California bar
Highlights
- 15 Kg and 20 Kg models
- Hard chrome sleeves
- Designed for functional fitness
- Bushing sleeves
Key features
- Made in San Diego
- Dual knurling on the black bar
- Shiny chrome sleeves
- Suitable for Olympic lifting
Bottom line
This California bar is similar to the rogue barbell. It is well-designed with high whip factor. It is ideal for heavy lifters. This barbell is an optimal choice for people who plan to make use of it in a tough, functional workout, such as CrossFit.
3. 15 Kg Bella 2.0 – The Women’s Rogue bar
Highlights
- All-purpose barbell
- For female athletes
- Weighs 33 pounds
- Bright chrome finish
- No center knurl
Key features
- Same specifications as Rogue Ohio Bar
- Weighs 5 Kilos less than Rogue Ohio Bar
- Suitable for intense CrossFit sessions, powerlifting, and Olympic exercises
Bottom line
This barbell has received dozens of excellent reviews from a wide range of gym owners and other customers. It is masterfully crafted and looks great. It is highly affordable as compared to other barbells available on the market.
4. 20 Kg Rogue Ohio Bar
Highlights
- Friction welded sleeves
- Tested to 205,000 psi
- Bright zinc sleeves and black zinc shaft
Key features
- Suitable for the heaviest workouts
- Higher quality
- More expensive than others
- Center knurls
- Higher psi
- Friction welded sleeves
- Multi-purpose barbell
Bottom line
This 20 Kg barbell has a number of nuanced advantages which will be appreciated by hardcore bodybuilders. Its aggressively engraved center knurls will be suitable for people who have a lot of squats incorporated in their routine.
For people who need a bar that is even stronger than several other great powerlifting bars and doesn’t have a care for the extra cost, this 20 Kg Rogue Ohio Bar maybe right for them.
5. Burgener and Rippetoe 20 kg Men’s Bar by Rogue
Highlights
- Bronze sintered bushings
- Bare steel which consistent-prevention
- Medium depth powerlifting and dual knurling
Key features
- Improved old school barbell
- Formerly by York
- Bare steel
- High PSI rating that is 205,000
- Fair price
Bottom line
This bar is bare steel so your living environment will certainly be a major concern. Humidity will rust in a rather quick fashion unless you are regularly brushing it with oil.
Otherwise, this bar is quite well crafted in all aspects and brings back a lot of memories of gyms from the past decade. That said, this barbell does not have a lifetime warranty, so only buy it if you have the intention of doing proper maintenance for the prevention of rust.
6. The Matt Chan Bar
Highlights
- Passive center knurling
- 190,000 PSI
- Designed by CrossFit
Key features
- Has the personal touches of Matt Chan
- Tampered down knurling to avoid back and chest irritation during squats
- Excellent for bench pressing
- Fine-tuned for the requirements of CrossFit athletes
Bottom line
This barbell is pricier than other similar bars, but is comparatively more detailed. It will certainly have a special value among a CrossFit community. It has several unique specifications which make it a great purchase for people who are very much into CrossFit and need a barbell, for their home gym, with passive center knurls.
7. OFW Wonder Bar 2
Highlights
- Tensile strength is 205,000 PSI
- Weight capacity is 1600 pounds
- Medium knurling
- Black-zinc color available
Key features
- Excellent beginners bar
- One of the least expensive barbell
- Has a stiff whip
- Medium, dual depth knurling
- High quality
- Excellent price
Bottom line
For people who have price as a top concern, you will be hard-pressed to search and find a high-quality, solid bar that is meant for multi-purpose use and has a low price. Many barbells of similar quality cost well over the price of OFW Wonder Bar 2, so for this barbell, the price very much sticks out, especially if you don’t have a problem with its stiffness.
8. Rogue Olympic WL Bar
Highlights
- 5 variations
- Colors available are polished chrome or bright zinc
- Center knurling available
- Olympic barbell
Key features
- Has a perfect amount of whip
- Customizable in terms of finish and center knurl
- Has complete specifications for Olympic weightlifting
- Only barbell needed for a competition
- Lifetime warranty
- Expensive
Bottom line
This a top-quality Olympic bar which is customizable in 5 different ways. This Rogue Olympic WL Barbell boasts a superb whip, excellent bearing, and the perfect knurling in all the suitable places. If you are hesitant dropping more than 500 dollars on an Olympic barbell, know that rogue offers a lifetime warranty of this barbell. This will make it easier for you to make a decision.
9. Rogue “Euro” 28 mm Olympic WL Bar
Highlights
- Tensile strength 215,000
- Manufactured from European steel
- Ten quality needle bearing sets
Key features
- Rigorously tested
- Superior whip
- Above average tensile strength
- Both Olympic and center knurling
- Medium depth knurling
- Made of top-tier European steel
- Spin, strength, and whip values have been tested
- Verified to world’s top standards
- Lifetime warranty
Bottom line
This barbell is possibly the very best on the market. The Rogue “Euro” 28 mm Olympic WL Bar goes through the strictest testing to make sure it meets the IWF-standards. It offers free shipping and a lifetime warranty. It also has a polish chrome finish. This Euro barbell is arguably the best barbell with the highest quality that you can have for less than 700 dollars.
10. Ivanko OB-20KG Olympic Bar
Highlights
- Meets IWF specifications
- Black oxide finish
- 200,000 PSI tensile strength
Key features
- Developed with an exclusive technique
- High levels of strength
- Meets all the standards for an Olympic competition
- Highest quality cross training bar
- Center knurl
- Suitable for hardcore competition
Bottom line
Whether you want a high-quality barbell for competitions or for some shine in your home gym, the Ivanko OB-20KG Olympic Bar is just right for you. It is strong and levels up to IWF standards. It is both X-ray and ultra-sonic tested and surely has what it takes to endure decades of tough workout practices.
Unlike a few other Olympic bars available on the market, Ivanko OB-20KG Olympic Bar is both multi-purpose and top-quality, as it proves perfect for casual training and Olympic competition.
11. Eleiko Sport Training Bar – 15 and 20 kg
Highlights
- 215,000 PSI tensile strength
- 10 precision bearings
- Manufactured with Swedish steel
Key features
- An Olympic bar
- Numerous World record setter
- Uses proprietary design methods
- Top-quality all-around
- Most expensive
- 10-year warranty from Eleiko
Bottom line
In comparison with other highest quality barbells available on the market, the Eleiko Sports Training Bar – 15 and 20 kg is more costly than most. It is known for its incredible excellence as well as its meticulous building process.
Its combination of grip, spin, and whip develops a unique feeling which is specific to the designs created by Eleiko. Its price is about 200 dollars more than the comparable Olympic bars. The Eleiko Sports Training Bar – 15 and 20 kg would surely be a choice for the absolute best.
12. CAP OB-86B Power Bar
Highlights
- 86.6 inches barbell length
- Weight capacity is 1000 pounds
- Black phosphate finish
Key features
- Strong and affordable
- Suitable for heavy lifting
- Rather than caps, features snap rings
- Medium depth diamond knurling
- No center knurling
- Grooved sleeves to prevent plates’ slippage
- Low price
- One of the least expensive barbell
Bottom line
While its 1000 pound weight lifting capacity is less than several powerlifting bars, the cost too is significantly lower. Ultimately, if your plan is doing bench presses, squats, and other workouts on a barbell with weight less than 1000 pounds, then with its low price, the CAP OB-86B Power Bar is an excellent choice.
13. Rogue Ohio Bar – Stainless Steel
Highlights
- Corrosion resistant
- Bronze bushing
- Stainless steel
Key features
- Made in the USA
- Expensive
- Offers the feel of a raw steel bar
- Knurling same as Rogue bar 2.0 and Ohio Bar
- No coating applied after knurl cutting
Bottom line
This American barbell is made with stainless steel and offers the industry’s best warranty. It is also corrosion resistant and gives the feeling of raw steel. Since it doesn’t have a coating applied to it, it feels more aggressive in your hands. These barbells made according to the American Health Association for fitness and healthy life.
14. FringeSport Wonder Bar
Highlights
- Black-zinc coated sleeves
- Slightly smaller shaft
- Tensile strength 205,000 PSI
- Bronze bushing
Key features
- Features the best end caps
- Well-constructed
- Low price
- Stiff whip
- 28 mm shaft diameter
Bottom line
This barbell is well-constructed but it is not better than Rogue Bar 2.0. it has high tensile strength but its shaft diameter is less than the standard diameter, which is 28.5 mm, used for Olympic weightlifting. Its whip is also stiff.
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FAQs
[su_spoiler title=”Is exercise at home effective?” open=”yes” style=”fancy”] Yes, providing that you are ready to put some time and effort. This will make workout at home as effective as a workout at a gym.[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Is it better to use barbell or dumbbell?” open=”yes” style=”fancy”]It is said that barbell exercises must always be done before any dumbbell moves. Barbells are better for working your legs. You can do, deadlifts and squats with dumbbells, but eventually the weight that you are using will become too heavy or difficult to hold. Barbells allow you to use big weights more comfortably.[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”What exercises can you do with a barbell?” open=”yes” style=”fancy”]You can do a number of exercise with barbells. Some of them are listed below:
- Barbell squats
- Barbell Lunges
- Stiff-legged barbell deadlifts
- Standing barbell calf raises
- Standing military press
- Bent-over barbell rows
- Lying bent-arm barbell pullover
- Lying barbell bench press
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[su_spoiler title=”How do you lift a barbell?” open=”yes” style=”fancy”]Start with placing the barbell on the floor. Hold the bar with a shoulder-width grip. To lift it off the ground, drive through your foot heels. Then rise up as it crosses your knees. Use the momentum to help you pull it to up to your chest height and catching it on your chest.[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”How do you do a barbell deadlift?” open=”yes” style=”fancy”]
- Here is the correct deadlift form. For a standard deadlift, always start with the weight resting on the ground.
- When using a barbell, begin by standing with your feet hip-width apart. They should be just below the bar. And the bar should be near your shins.
- Then bend down and use overhead grip to grab the bar, with your arms a little outside of your legs.
- Slightly bend your knees so that your shins are slightly touching the bar.
- The, with your spine straight and chest lifted, lift the bar by engaging your glutes. Keep the bar close to your legs.
- Once you are upright, avoid leaning back.
- Then return the weight back to the floor by pushing your hips back and once more engaging your glutes.
- This will complete one rep.
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