The Best Olympic Barbells for 2021

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 to improve your squat, deadlift, bench press, as well as Olympic lifts and general training movements. It’s bad because it’s suddenly that much harder to decide what the best Olympic barbell is and which to spend your hard-earned money on.

That’s where we come in. In this guide, we want to help you find the best Olympic bar for 2021. For more specific suggestions, we have a best powerlifting barbell guide as well as a best Crossfit barbells guide.

Why You Should Trust Us

For starters, I’m big into barbells. They’re kinda my thing. I have personally researched more than 150 barbells and used around 85–including specialty bars. Additionally, I have a team of people here at Garage Gym Reviews who regularly use and evaluate barbells according to our multi-point testing methodology.

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 top my list of the best home gym equipment, and for good reason: They are king. Let’s dive into which ones I and my team like best:

The Best Olympic Barbells on the Market

Best Multi-Purpose Barbell: Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar

Best Budget Olympic Barbell: FringeSport Wonder Bar

Best Barbell for Weightlifting: Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Competition Bar

Best CrossFit Barbell for Women: Rogue Bella Bar 2.0

Best Value Barbell for Weightlifting: American Barbell Training Bar

Best Barbell on Amazon: CAP OB-86B Beast Barbell

Best Power Bar: Rogue Fitness Ohio Power Bar

Power Bar Runner-Up: Buddy Capps Texas Power Bar

Best Hex Bar for the Money: Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar

Best Safety Squat Bar: Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2

Best Multi-Purpose Barbell: Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar

Good for: Anyone who wants to use a barbell for general purpose training.

My Favorite Things:

• High tensile strength at 190K PSI
• Rogue’s lifetime warranty
• Made in USA
• Many options for finishes
• Great value at around $300

My Callouts:

• Knurling can feel a bit light on different finish options
• End caps scratch very easily
• Chrome finish version isn’t ideal for multi-purpose use

I used to say that the Rogue 2.0 bar was the best barbell available, but I think the Ohio Bar has edged it out not because it’s necessarily a better bar, but because there’s 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 Rogue Ohio Bar – Cerakote and the Rogue Fitness Stainless Steel Ohio Bar (pictured above), both of which offer a little more durability and a higher price tag.

(So you can keep up with all the Rogue bars, I did an in-depth look at Rogue barbells).

The Ohio Bar really just has all the makings of an exceptional barbell: 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 heavy 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 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 lists. Rogue, by and large, makes the best value barbells in the world.

Read my full Rogue Ohio Bar review.

RELATED: Rogue Ohio Bar versus Rogue Power Bar.

Best Budget Olympic Barbell: FringeSport Wonder Bar

Good for: People who want a multi-purpose barbell for less.

My Favorite Things:

• Priced under $200
• Bronze bushings
• Lifetime warranty
• 205K PSI tensile strength
• Comes in 20kg and 15kg options

My Callouts:

• Black zinc coating on sleeves
• 28mm shaft
• A notably “stiff” bar

If you want something more affordable than the Rogue Ohio Bar, we like the FringeSport Wonder Bar. It comes with black zinc coated sleeves, a slightly smaller 28mm shaft listed at 205,000 PSI tensile strength, and bronze bushings. The Wonder Bar also features one of my favorite end caps out of any barbell we tested (this isn’t a very high bar considering nearly most companies at this price point use stickers.)

Overall, the Wonder Bar is a well-constructed bar from a company with a reputation for making good equipment at great prices. FringeSport also has a Wonder Bar Stainless Steel Barbell that is priced around $300.

One of the standout features of the Wonder Bar is the tensile strength of 205,000 PSI. The fact that you can purchase a barbell for $200 with a tensile strength over 200,000 PSI reflects the current state of the barbell industry: an arms race to have the cheapest bar with the highest tensile strength. Let me remind you that a higher tensile strength does not equate to a “better” barbell. Although a bar with higher tensile strength will often be stronger, it’s also often stiffer.

I will say that the smaller 28mm shaft and black zinc coating on the sleeves are less than optimal for the majority of trainees. The Wonder Bar does feature a lifetime warranty and although we don’t believe FringeSport is as capable of servicing warranties as Rogue Fitness, they are a company we trust.

The Wonder Bar is rated as being “stiff” while the Rogue 2.0 is said to have a “good whip.” This isn’t definitive and most people will never experience whip that is advantageous due to not being strong enough. No matter what, neither I nor anyone else has really been able to quantify whip, and until that time, perceived whip shouldn’t play a huge factor in deciding what barbell to purchase.

One feature of the Wonder Bar that is a drawback is the black zinc coating on the sleeves. Although black zinc is a fine coating for the shaft of a bar, the sleeves experience much more abuse, and after only a few sessions you’ll start to notice ugly marks on the sleeves.

RELATED: My guide to the best budget home gym equipment

Best Barbell for Weightlifting: Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Competition Bar

Good for: Competitive weightlifters who have Gucci money.

My Favorite Things:

• IWF certified
• Great spin
• Needle bearings
• Lifetime warranty
• Comes in 20kg and 15kg options

My Callouts:

• Costs more than $1,000
• Sharp knurling
• Has center knurling

If you compete in the sport of weightlifting, you already know the two things Eleiko means: high quality, and high price.

Eleiko is pretty much the gold standard for all things weightlifting, even weightlifting belts. And by gold standard, I mean you may need some gold to afford this bar. I’m not saying they are overpriced, but they can be expensive compared to some of their competition. However, if you’ve held one, or really any Eleiko product such as the plates on our best weight plates guide, then you know.

However, if you have the money and want, arguably, the nicest International Weightlifting Federation-certified barbell, then the Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Competition Bar is it.

Sure, it has the typical makings of a great Olympic barbell: 28mm shaft, IWF markings, 415mm loadable sleeve and a lifetime warranty.

But what you really need to know is that it’s made of 215,000 PSI Swedish steel. It’s not unbreakable, but you can put some serious weight on it without the bar suffering permanent damage. This barbell also has german needle bearings, which provide increased spin if you compete in the Olympic lifts. Needle bearings are ideal because they provide a smooth spin on the bar–and, if they are packed correctly, they can last a long time.

In addition, Eleiko’s waffle knurl pattern is one of the best in the industry. Most people who lift with an Eleiko end up trying to figure out how they can buy one for themselves.

The biggest issue that I and many other hardworking people have with this bar is the cost: it rings up for more than $1,000. That’s a lot of cheddar. But, you get a great bar, and you get to say that you own an Eleiko.

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

My Favorite Things:

• Endless options for the finish
• 190K PSI tensile strength
• 25mm shaft
• Dual knurl markings
• Made in the USA

My Callouts:

• Knurling is pretty passive
• Black zinc coating will fade over time
• No center knurling

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 an outstanding bar, and you can use it for anything: weightlifting, powerlifting, CrossFitting 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.

The Bella is built specifically as a multipurpose weightlifting 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 by Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 review.

Best Value Barbell for Weightlifting: American Barbell Training Bar

Good for: Weightlifters who want an outstanding barbell at an affordable price.

My Favorite Things:

• Medium-depth knurling
• Hard chrome finish
• About one-third the price of the Eleiko
• Lifetime warranty
• 20kg and 15kg options

My Callouts:

• Subject to corrosion and chrome plating can cause premature damage
• Rotation system is known to take a while to break in
• Knurling will be too passive for some (I personally like it.)

American Barbell doesn’t get nearly as much love as we think it should. Their equipment is nearly all made in the USA, and their attention to detail is outstanding. The American Barbell Training Bar is one of the best Olympic barbells for the value in the world.

It has great, medium-depth knurling that grips well with chalk. And, it’s shockingly quiet. When I first used an Eleiko and realized how quiet it was when dropped, I couldn’t believe it. The American Barbell Training Bar is right up there with Eleiko in terms of noise reduction which shows great attention to detail.

I found this bar does well for weightlifting, barbell cycling if you’re a CrossFit athlete, and is also fine for max effort lifts for powerlifters. It’s also completely made in the U.S. with a lifetime warranty.

We’ve tested and reviewed the AB Training Bar for over three years now and still like it as much as we did on day one. This is an outstanding do-it-all barbell. I will say, however, that the bar did develop some surface rust (which can happen to bars that aren’t kept in climate-controlled environments). However, if you want better corrosion resistance, then we suggest getting the American Barbell Cerakote Mammoth bar version for $25 more.

See my full American Barbell Training Bar review to learn more.

Best Barbell on Amazon: CAP OB-86B Beast Barbell

Good for: A cheap barbell you can order with prime benefits.

My Favorite Things:

• Priced under $150
• Ships free with Prime
• Free returns

My Callouts:

• 30mm grip
• 110KPSI tensile strength
• Black phosphate finish

If you just want a barbell and you want it now, then heading to Amazon and ordering the Cap Barbell OB-86B might be the way to go. It’s nicknamed The Beast, and rightfully so, because it can withstand a lot.

I own this bar, and it’s what I typically use if I’m working out of a power rack. I have used it for other movements, but this definitely isn’t my go-to barbell. That’s partly because I have specialty bars for when I’m squatting or snatching or deadlift.

I think that this Cap bar is one of the best options out there that’s under $150. It has a medium knurling to it and the rotation system is 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.

Honestly, it’s an average barbell, but the price is what makes it the best one on Amazon. You also get the benefit of free shipping and free returns, and that’s pretty great when it comes to a bar. Also, there are more than 3,000 reviews on Amazon, and it still holds a 4.7/5 stars. That says something.

Best Power Bar: Rogue Fitness Ohio Power Bar

Good for: Powerlifters at any fitness level.

My Favorite Things:

• Some of the best volcanic knurling out there
• Bronze bushings and snap ring design
• Multiple shaft coatings to choose from
• 29mm shaft

My Callouts:

• 205K PSI tensile strength (not the highest, but still good)
• Chrome plated sleeves
• Prefer stainless steel to black zinc and raw steel versions

We’ve been through our share of power bars, but the instant we grabbed onto the Ohio Power Bar, feelings of being able to lift heavier weights ensued. Perhaps this is why 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 knurling 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 the 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.)

Power Bar Runner-Up: Buddy Capps Texas Power Bar

Good for: Anyone who wants a power bar used by legends

My Favorite Things:

• Legendary barbell in the powerlifting world
• Aggressive knurling
• Great value
• Made in the USA

My Callouts:

• 28.5mm shaft
• Slow delivery times
• 10-year warranty

The Buddy Capps Texas Power Bar is one of the most legendary barbells ever made. It’s broken more world records and has been used in more gyms than probably any other bar. If you want to start an argument, just say that there’s a better power bar than TPB (we do this often).

As stated in its name, the Buddy Capps Texas Power Bar is produced in the great state of Texas. They have been around since 1980, and have quite the history associated with them. In all actuality, it could be reasoned that more world records have been registered using the Buddy Capps Texas Power Bar than any barbell ever fabricated. That’s crazy to think about, but it’s one of the reasons that the TPB is still considered one of the greatest barbells available, despite its construction and steel being more or less the same as it was when it was first introduced.

The knurling quality of the Texas Power Bar is detailed and focused; each little “knurl” will remind you of the Matterhorn. The Texas Power Bar utilizes the “peaky mountain” style of knurling that we would describe as being aggressive and assuring. Many lifters prefer this style of knurling due to this feeling of precise sharpness that just seems to work when held across your back or wrapped tightly with your fingers.

We chose the Texas Power Bar as our runner-up because it has just 190K PSI tensile strength, so bars with higher tensile strength have passed it. The Texas Power Bar is also 28.5mm in diameter, which at one time was the standard, but has since been replaced by 29mm barbells.

Check out my comparison of the Rogue Ohio Power Bar vs. Texas Power Bar.

Best Hex Bar for the Money: Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar

Good for: The budget-minded deadlifter looking for a good trap bar.My Favorite Things:

• Priced affordablyMatte black powder coatingGood knurling

My Callouts:

• 1-year warrantyNo knurling on the bottom handleSome reviewers say it isn’t rackable

The Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar is on our best trap bars list because it’s affordable and a quality bar and can even get great deals during special sales like the best exercise equipment labor day sales event. 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.

Best Safety Squat Bar: Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2

Good for: An affordable, safe option for those needing this kind of specialty bar.

My Favorite Things:

• Valued well at around $300
• Great thick padding
• 22-degree camber angle
• Good thick steel
• Removable handles

My Callouts:

• Titan Fitness sometimes has customer service issues
• 1-year warranty
• Basically a clone of the EliteFTS bar

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 a 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).

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.

The Competition

Vulcan Strength Standard Bushing Barbell: Vulcan is producing some outstanding equipment, but the bar 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.

FringeSport Hybrid Barbell: We’re actually big fans of this bar. 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 FringeSport’s more budget-friendly Wonder Bar.

FringeSport Bomba Barbell: Although FringeSport’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.

FringeSport 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 our top picks list. 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: We’ve reviewed the Synergee Games Bar in-depth. The 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.

How We Picked and Tested the Barbells

To compile our list for the best Olympic barbells for 2021, we researched all of the major manufacturers as well as reaching out to industry experts and various forums such asr/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. Similar to if you were to choose between adjustable dumbbells orkettlebells, an Olympic weightlifting barbell is simply different from a powerlifting barbell.

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

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 the National Institute of Health, weight training is best for your bones and can actually decrease the 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 good.

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 with have 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 the knurling. Knurling is what allows your hands to grip to the bar, especially when combined with chalk. For most people, a 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.

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.

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

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.

FAQs About the Best Olympic Barbells