5 Best Barbells 2023

Barbells are the most versatile and important piece of equipment in any gym. With just a barbell, squat rack, weight bench, some weight plates, you can build an incredible physique and stay in amazing shape. If you are just starting a home gym, the barbell should be at the very top of your list of items to get.

Even though a barbell may seem simple, there are a lot of different sizes, shapes, prices, strengths, etc. to think about. To help you navigate this growing market, we took the time to test dozens of different types of barbells to find the best barbells on the market. Whether you are just looking for a decent barbell to get your fitness journey started or a specialty barbell to suit your training, this guide will have the correct barbell for you.

Best Barbells 2023

Every single bar on this list has been tested hands-on by the team of personal trainers and athletes at FitDominium. Aside from testing, the team also compared specs, customer reviews, and pricing.

Rogue Ohio Bar: Best Barbell Overall

Summary

In the world of barbells, there is no bar that is more tried and trusted than the Rogue Ohio Bar. This barbell is the best-selling barbell worldwide, and for good reason. The bar is very versatile and comes in a number of finishes and price points, making it a great budget option for lifters of any level or budget.

The Ohio Bar has a 28.5 mm shaft. This is right in the sweet spot between a power bar and Olympic weightlifting it bar, meaning that you can try any style pretty well. Since the bar has become so popular, Rogue has built an online Zeus Builder, that allows you to customize several aspects of the bar including colors, logos, finish, bushing type, and sleeve coating. The biggest decision you will have to make here that will affect the price is the bar finish. The Ohio bar comes in stainless steel, cerakote, black oxide, and e-coat.

During our use of the Ohio bar, we found that perhaps the best feature was the knurling. The barbell has a volcano knurling that is moderately aggressive. The volcanic shape means that you have plenty of surface area to increase grip strength but no sharp points digging into your skin. Because of the excellent knurling, the barbell is suitable for both heavy one-rep max attempts and higher volume rep work. Something to keep in mind here though is that the finish you get can have an impact on the knurling. Stainless steel will be the best since no additional coating makes the knurling shallower. This bar comes with dual rings but does not have a center knurl.

The sleeves on Ohio Bar come grooved and can be purchased with either a chrome, cerakote or conversion coating. The sleeves spin via bronze or composting bushings, depending on which version of the bar you get. The sleeves spin nice and smooth, making it great for weightlifting. One thing to be aware of is that the Ohio Bar 2.0 removed some of the metal-on-metal contacts that were taking place in the sleeve. The biggest change I noticed with this is that the noise of the 2.0 bar was significantly less than that of the original Ohio Bar, which can be important for a home gym.

Rogue makes great products, but the higher price points, often make it hard to recommend their products. That is not the case with barbells, though. In the world of barbells, Rogue delivers a best-in-class product at a very affordable price. If you are looking for a barbell that can basically do it all, you cannot go wrong with an Ohio Bar.

Rogue Ohio Power Bar: Best Power Bar

Summary

The Rogue Ohio Power Bar is our best power bar recommendation since it combines some great features and customization for a great price. In every home gym that I have owned, the Rogue Ohio Bar has always been present and has served me very well.

The Ohio Power Bar has a 29mm shaft which is the industry standard for a power bar. The bar itself has very little whip or flexion, making it perfect for the squat, deadlift, and bench press. The knurling is a medium-aggressive volcanic knurling. It is not the most aggressive knurling I have ever felt on a power bar but you can certainly tell that this is a bar meant for powerlifting. I have done plenty of heavy deadlifting with this bar and have always found the knurling to be aggressive enough for my needs. That being said, the fact that the knurling isn’t painful to use means that you can also use the bar for other purposes as well. The bar itself has powerlifting knurl marks and does include a center knurl.

The Rogue Ohio Bar comes in various finished including cerakote, stainless steel, e-coat, black zinc, and bare steel. I have personally bought the bar in cerakote and stainless steel since these provide the most corrosion resistance and the best overall feel. You should be aware that if you get a coating such as black zinc, the knurling will not be as aggressive since you will have an additional layer of coating making the knurling shallower.

The sleeves of the Ohio Power are grooved and also come in a number of finishes. The most common option if hard chrome, but you can also get bare steel, cerakote, and stainless steel. The Ohio Power Bar spins via bushing, which is again the industry standard for power bars. The bushing creates a slower, steadier spin more suitable for powerlifting.

Rogue Pyrros Bar: Best Olympic Weightlifting Barbell

Summary

The Rogue Pyrros bar is an IWF-certified barbell that was designed by Rogue in conjunction with 3-time Olympic gold medalist Pyrros Dimas. Since this bar is competition standard and boasts some fairly high specs, it does carry a premium price tag.

The shaft is 28mm which is the industry standard for weightlifting bars. The bar has a unique semi-aggressive knur pattern that was selected by Pyrrros and other USA weightlifting team members as well. I would say that during my use the knurling was versatile enough to be used in regular training along with the competition platform.

Similar to the knurling, the type of steel was also handpicked by Pyrros and USA weightlifting team members for the bar to have the ideal amount of whip and versatility.

The sleeves spin via five German needle-bearing for a total of ten bearings. The spin on this bar is very fast and fluid during competition lifts. In terms of public opinion, the sleeve spin on this bar has received lots of praise and attention with good reason. During our use, we found the spin to be incredible. The sleeves are grooved and covered in hard chrome although a stainless steel upgrade option is available as well.

Getting an IWF-certified bar is going to be expensive, but I think that Rogue has done well to deliver a quality product at a somewhat affordable price compared to its competitors. If you are serious or passionate about weightlifting, the combination of value and quality on the Pyrros is hard to beat.

REP Sabre Barbell: Best Budget Barbell

The REP Sabre Barbell is a great, affordable barbell that gets the job done for 99% of home gym owners. With a 28mm shaft diameter, medium knurling, and dual knurl marks you can pretty much do everything you would need to with the Sabre bar.

The bar itself comes in either 15kg or 20kg and with or without center knurling, allowing for a decent level of customization. The sleeves spin via a ball bearing allowing for a decent spin during weightlifting movements.

Since this bar is the budget option, you will need to make some compromises. The zinc coating is not the most corrosion-resistant and will definitely fade over time as with most zinc coating. The tensile strength also is not amazing at 150k. This should be more than enough for most home gym owners but is certainly not up to the premium 190k standard set by the premium barbells on the market. Lastly, the Sabre barbell only has a 1-year warranty. This is very low when you consider that most premium barbells come with lifetime warranties.

Overall, the Sabre can get the job done if you are on a budget. If you can afford to make the step up to the Rogue Ohio Bar, I would simply get the better customization and warranty for just $100-$150 more. If you can’t, the Sabre should still serve your home gym just fine.

CAP Beast Barbell: Best Barbell On Amazon

Summary

Ordering on Amazon has so many advantages, from free shipping and returns to membership rewards, that we understand if you want to look at barbells only on Amazon. Finding quality gym equipment on Amazon used to be a challenge, but nowadays you can get quality options like the CAP Beast Barbell for a great price.

During our use of this bar, we found it to be decent. It is definitely nothing to write home about, but at this price point, it is hard to complain if it does all the basics right.

For less than $150, the CAP Beast Barbell has some good features. The bar has a medium knurling and spins via bushings. The bar is finished in black oxide, which is not the best, but at least it will provide some form of corrosion resistance down the line.

Overall, the CAP Beast Barbell is an average bar that is delivered at a great price. With free and fast shipping, this bar is hard to beat from a value standpoint. Not to mention, the bar is one of the most popular and well-reviewed fitness products on Amazon, so you know most people are satisfied with their purchase.

Types Of Olympic Barbells

Olympic barbells come in three main types:

Multipurpose Barbells

Multipurpose barbells can be thought of as general-use or functional fitness barbells. These types of barbells are the most type of barbell type in home and commercial gyms due to their versatility. CrossFit also commonly uses multipurpose barbells since they are suitable for so many types of movements.

The easiest way to spot a multipurpose bar is by looking for dual knurl marks. This means that the barbell has the knurl marks for both Olympic lifting and powerlifting. The knurling on these barbells will typically be medium/passive and use a volcano or hill knurl pattern. Since the knurling is generally more passive, the bar can be used for both heavier lifting and higher rep work. These bars may or may not come with a center knurl depending on which you get.

Multipurpose barbells will most commonly have a shaft diameter between 28mm and 28.5mm. 28.5mm is right in the sweet spot between powerlifting and weightlifting specialized bars and will be great in terms of versatility. Meanwhile, a 28mm shaft will allow for more whip so it will be better for Olympic lifts. Most multipurpose barbells on the market will also have a women’s option that has a shaft diameter of 25mm and a weight of 15kg. The smaller diameter and lighter weight make the bar easier to grip.

The great thing about multipurpose barbells is that they are some of the most customizable and affordable bars on the market. Since the bars do not have to meet any special needs or competition standards, you can find a good basic multipurpose bar for under $200 while more premium options will cost $600 or more.

For most home gym owners who will likely start out with just one barbell, a multipurpose barbell makes the most sense unless you have some special goals in mind.

Powerlifting Barbells

Powerlifting barbells or power bars are designed specifically for the big three powerlifting lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. If you are a powerlifter or want to really focus on your getting your lifts up, the power bar can be a useful addition to your home, Power bars are generally easily identified by their thicker diameter, aggressive knurling, and powerlifting knurl marks.

Typically, power bars use volcano or mountain knurl patterns and be fairly aggressive. The more aggressive knurling can certainly come in handy for heavier lifts. Power bars also come standard with a center knurl to keep the bar still on your back while you squat. The center knurl is usually a bit more passive than the rest of the bar since you are not gripping it but instead using it to keep the bar stable on your back.

The shafts on powerlifting barbells tend to be thicker with the diameter ranging typically from 28mm-30mm. The thicker diameter helps create a rigid bar which is what you want for the three big lifts. The sleeves usually spin via a bushing rotation system. The bushing creates a slower, more controlled spin which adds extra stability during heavy lifts.

You can definitely still use a power barbell as a general-purpose bar, but just be aware that the aggressive knurling may make it uncomfortable for higher rep work.

Power bas can be as little as $190 to $1000+ for a high-quality competition standard power bar.

Olympic Weightlifting Barbells

Olympic weightlifting barbells are designed specifically for training Olympic lifts such as the snatch, clean, and jerk. Similar to the power barbells, an Olympic barbell is really only needed if you are an Olympic lifter or want to get better at Olympic lifts. The distinguishing features of weightlifting barbells are thinner diameter, greater whip, weightlifting knurl marks, and needle bearings.

The most common type of knurling on weightlifting barbells is hill or volcano. These knurling will tend to be on the passive-medium side or training bars and more aggressive for competition bars. The center knurl may or may not be present depending on the bar.

Since Olympic lifts are so fast and explosive, the bar is designed to be frictionless and effectively transfer the force that the lifter is producing. One feature that does this is the thinner shaft at 28mm. The thinner shaft combined with a specific steel selection leads to a whipper bar. The sleeve can spin via bearings or bushing and will generally spin faster than other types of barbells. Again, this is just to keep up with the fast, explosive movements.

Since these bars are often to competition standard and require special materials, they tend to be the most expensive types of barbells. They can range anywhere from $200 to easily $1000+ for a competition-spec bar.

How We Ranked And Compared Barbells

With literally hundreds of barbells on the market, the team at FitDominium established clear criteria that we would use to rate the barbell after using it. We would go barbell part by barbell part and analyze the overall quality.

Here are the key criteria we used to find the best barbells for 2023:

Type Of Barbell

The first thing we look at is what crowd the barbell is meant for to get a baseline for how we will judge the bar on later criteria. For example, a really aggressive knurling may be good for a power bar but not necessarily something you want out of a multipurpose barbell.

This also allowed accounting for the fact that different types of barbells will cost more.

Knurling

Knurling is very important since it will be what you directly interact with while using the barbell. Generally, we tend to rate a volcano knurl pattern higher since it provides a great grip without the pain brought on by a mountain knurling. It is important to remember that a more painful knurling is not necessarily more effective.

Shaft Diameter and Whip

The shaft diameter is an aspect that will depend on what type of bar it is. But the shaft diameter tends to be a good overall indicator of the whip and ease of grip. Generally, with Olympic weightlifting, you want a whipper, thinner bar while power bars are better suited for thicker and more rigid shafts,

Tensile Strength

Tensile strength is a measure of how much force has to be applied to the bar for it to literally break. Generally, this number will range between 130k and 250k. I think that tensile strength is a somewhat overblown barbell spec but I understand why some people consider it to be so important.

Generally, the industry standard is 190k for a good, premium barbell. That being said, most home gym owners can easily get away with 150k with no issues.

Shaft Finish

The shaft finish is the coating that goes on the shaft to provide some level of corrosion resistance if any. Some finished are more corrosion-resistant than others, see our full guide below for more information.

The finish is also important to consider since finishes such as zinc will actually add another layer to the bar and make the knurling shallower as a result.

Sleeve Finish

Just like the shaft, the sleeves come in a number of finishes that affect the look and feel of the bar. The most common finishes on sleeves are hard chrome or zinc but you can also get stainless steel, cerakote, and black oxide depending on the bar.

Generally, hard chrome and stainless steel tend to be the best options as they are very corrosion-resistant and do not scratch or chip easily.

Rotation Mechanism

Barbells can either rotate via bushings or bearings. Bushings are generally better for more general use since they slow and controlled spin of bushings is preferable for most lifts. Bearings produce a faster spin that is really only required for very explosive lifts like the Olympic lifts.

Sleeve Type

Barbell sleeves can either be grooved or smooth. Grooved sleeves have a slight texture which improves the friction between the sleeves and plates. The result is that plates stay on better if you do not use barbell collars.

The trade-off is that grooved sleeves make significantly more noise when taking plates on and off. Smooth sleeves are quieter.

Maintenance Requirements

Depending on the finish and build, some barbells will require some more active work to keep them in their best shape possible. For example, bars that are bare steel usually more work to keep them rust-free and looking good.

Warranty

Warranties can vary from as little as a year to as long as a lifetime. You should be aware that these warranties only apply to the original buyer. So secondhand purchases on Craiglist or Facebook Marketplace are not eligible for a warranty claim.

These warranties also tend to have rules and stipulations stating that thing such as dropping the barbell on safeties or removing the endcaps voids the warranty. Some companies are known to be more stringent than others with other companies like Rogue being known for great warranties and customer service.

Price

For most people, the price will be the largest factor they consider when purchasing a barbell. In our rating criteria, a more expensive or cheaper was not necessarily better, We instead looked at how the features of the bar compared to the price. Barbells that offered incredible features for a lower price, provided the best value ranked higher.

Barbell Knurling Explained

The barbell knurling is the pattern on the barbell designed to help increase friction and improve your grip. There are tree main types of knurling that you should be aware of: hill, mountain, and volcano.

Hill Knurling

Hill knurling is the most common type of knurling seen on multipurpose bars. This type of knurling has a series of small rounded points that provide very little bite. It tends to be flatter and more shallow which makes it better for higher rep or volume workouts.

You can still lift heavy with this type of knurling just be aware that you may need to use straps or something else to help with your grip.

Mountain

Mountain knurling is the most aggressive type of knurling. It is similar to the hill pattern but instead of rounded points has sharp points that dig into your skin. You will most commonly see this on power bars but weightlifting bars will sometimes have a more passive mountain knurl as well.

This type of knurling is best suited for heavy, low-rep training. If you never used a bar with mountain knurl before, be aware that he sharp points can be painful if you are not used to it.

Volcano

Volcano knurling is a more modern knurling pattern that is beginning to pop up on all types of bars. It can be thought of as a mountain knurl with the top cut off to leave a crater of sorts. The impact of this is that now you have more points of contact to improve your grip but also less pain since the share point is gone.

Overall, I think that volcano knurling provides the best balance between comfort and grip.

Barbell Finishes Explained

The finish of a barbell can impact the look, feel, and durability of a bar. With barbell finishes, you either have no coating (bare steel, stainless steel), an applied coating (chrome, cerakote), or a conversion coating like black oxide.

Finishes that do not require a coating will feel the best in your hands since they are not putting an additional layer on top of the knurling. Any sort of applied coating will make the knurling shallower to some extent.

The other large factor to consider is that different finishes provide different levels of corrosion resistance. Stainless steel and cerakote tend to be the best while bare steel and black oxide are the most vulnerable to rust. Other finishes like chrome, zinc, and e-coat tend to fall somewhere in between.

From a look standpoint, finishes like cerakote allow you to have different colors which I know many people think is a cool customization feature.

How To Maintain A Barbell

Since barbells are just steel at the end of the day, they will be fairly durable even if you fail to take care of them properly. However, since barbells are also expensive, you want to do your best to ensure that you keep your barbell in great shape. Here are a few key tips on barbell maintenance, that will keep your barbell in good shape for a lifetime:

• Limit Empty Drops: You really never want to drop an empty barbell. When you have plates on, the plates will take most of the load. But with no plates, you can damage the internal sleeve components of your barbell.
• Brush Your Barbell: Every so often, especially if you use chalk, use a brush to get all the chalk and moisture off your bar. Do not use a wet cloth as this will only make things worse, instead opt for a quality nylon or deck brush.
• Oil Your Barbell: Every month or so apply some 3-IN-ONE oil to every surface of your barbell and inside the collar. The oil will help with oxidation resistance and keep the internal components running smoothly. YO can generally just use a shop rag or paper towel and be good to go.
• Store Your Barbell Off The Ground: The best option here is a storage rack or platform of some kind. By limiting contact with the ground, you limit the amount of dirt and water exposure.

FAQs

Final Verdict

After extensive testing, we selected the Rogue Ohio Bar as the best overall barbell for the money. It offers great value at an affordable price and great features.

We also recommend the Rogue Ohio Power Bar as the best powerlifting barbell. The fact that it is the most common power bar in the world says enough, it is hard to beat the features and specs of this bar.

The Rogue Pyrros Bar is our pick for the best Olympic Weightlifting Bar, This bar is up to competition standards and really shows that Rogue took the advice of weightlifters when building this bar.