We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
Greatist only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
If fitness is your thing, you’ve probably heard of Rogue Fitness.
They make high end weightlifting equipment for all skill levels — from folks lifting weights in their garage to intense CrossFitters to Olympic-level athletes.
You’ll pay a premium for Rogue products, but fans of the brand say it’s totally worth it for unmatched durability and quality.
And if you’re in the market for a new barbell to *press* forward in your fitness, Rogue Fitness is a great choice. Their barbell selection features more than 100 products, but we’ve narrowed it down to the best 5 so you can get lifting.
Pros
- great reviews and reputable company
- high quality materials and transparent manufacturing process
- variety of bars for beginner to advanced needs
Cons
- more expensive than most other barbells
- number of options may be overwhelming for new lifters
Before we dive in, let’s get some barbell lingo down:
- Sleeves: the portion of the barbell that weight plates are loaded onto
- Knurling: ridges or grooves in the barbell shaft that make it easier to grip
- Whip: how much a barbell flexes when there’s a lot of weight on it
- Bushing: a ring inside the barbell sleeve that allows the shaft and each end of the barbell to spin while keeping the sleeve (and weight plates on the sleeve) stationary
- Bearing: same purpose as a bushing, but made of several smaller components that allow for a smoother spin
- Tensile strength: a barbell’s breaking point, measured in pounds per square inch (psi)
All right, y’all — ready to lift?
- $ = under $200
- $$ = $200–$300
- $$$ = $301–$400
- $$$$ = over $400
Best overall
45LB Ohio Power Bar – Stainless Steel
- Price: $$$$
- Weight: 45 pounds (lbs.) (20 kg)
- Diameter: 29 millimeters (mm)
- Finish: stainless steel
- Whip: no whip
- Knurling: center knurl and powerlifting marks
- Bushing or bearing: bushing
- Tensile strength: 200,000 psi
The Rogue Power Bar is considered the best of the best. It’s got a steep price for sure, but it also has more than 500 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5 stars (and no 1- or 2-star ratings). It’s made for powerlifting, so it’s got some serious knurling to help you get a better grip, and a center knurl to help it stay in place when you’re doing back squats.
Best 20-kg barbell
The Ohio Bar – Cerakote
- Price: $$$
- Weight: 45 lbs. (20 kg)
- Diameter: 28.5 mm
- Finish: Cerakote
- Whip: good whip
- Knurling: dual knurl marks, no center knurl
- Bushing or bearing: bushing
- Tensile strength: 190,000 PSI
This solid bar is made for men’s weightlifting competitions, weighing in at a regulation 20 kg. Reviewers rave about this bar, and it’s a great choice not only for competitive lifters but also for home workout buffs.
It’s coated in a unique superthin, ceramic-based material called Cerakote that gives it serious strength, rust resistance, and durability (and lots of custom color combos). The Ohio Bar is also available in black oxide, black zinc, E-coat (electronically applied automotive-quality coating), and stainless steel.
Best 15-kg barbell
The Bella Bar 2.0 – Cerakote
- Price: $$
- Weight: 33 lbs. (15 kg)
- Diameter: 25 mm
- Finish: Cerakote
- Whip: good whip
- Knurling: dual knurl marks, no center knurl
- Bushing or bearing: bushing
- Tensile strength: 190,000 psi
This barbell is a competition-ready option for women (it’s a staple in the CrossFit Games). It’s slightly smaller and lighter than a men’s competition barbell but is a perfect fit for female competitors or for anyone else wanting a solid bar for home workouts.
It’s made with the Cerakote coating, which allows for mondo durability and a variety of color combos — but it’s also available in black zinc, E-coat, and stainless steel in case you prefer those finishes.
Best curl bar
Rogue Curl Bar
- Price: $$
- Weight: 30 lbs. (14 kg)
- Diameter: 28.5 mm
- Finish: E-coat shaft, zinc sleeves
- Whip: n/a
- Knurling: no center knurl
- Bushing or bearing: bushing
- Tensile strength: 110,000 psi
You can use curl bars for many of the same lifts as a barbell, but they’re easier on your wrists (with the two V-shaped indentations in the bar where your hands go) and can target slightly different muscle groups because of the different hold.
Curl bars are also lighter than standard barbells, so they may be a better option for beginners. This one is a little easier on the wallet than Rogue’s straight barbells but still crafted with the same care and super high quality materials.
Best budget bar
25MM Boneyard Bar
- Price: $
- Weight: 30 lbs. (15 kg)
- Diameter: 25 mm
- Finish: varies
- Whip: good whip
- Knurling: dual knurl marks
- Bushing or bearing: bushing
- Tensile strength: 190,000 psi
Want a Rogue Fitness bar but can’t afford to go rogue on your budget? The Boneyard Bar line is composed of standard barbells that were found to have minor inconsistencies in their appearance (for example, a spot of uneven knurling or a blemish on the finish).
Instead of selling these imperfect models at full price, the brand gives them deep discounts and sells them as Boneyard Bars (thanks, RF!). And as far as the finish type goes… it’s a surprise! It all depends on which barbells get dinged. We recommend this 25MM option, which is ideal for all sorts of workouts and fitness levels.
Erin James, personal trainer and founder of the wellness company SQUAY, is a big fan of barbell workouts. Barbells are good for all fitness levels, she explains, “because they come in various weights and you don’t have to add additional weight if you don’t want to. An empty bar still forces you to balance and use your whole body.”
She says there are four key benefits of using a barbell in your strength workouts:
- Balance. “Barbell workouts force us to balance because one loose move and you can easily fall down or drop the barbell,” says James. High stakes, high reward! (But really — don’t load up with more weight than you can handle, and make sure you have a spotter nearby if needed.)
- Full-body engagement. She explains that deadlifting, squatting, and pressing with a barbell are some of the best full-body moves you can do, because “you have to stay balanced and tighten your core during the entire movement, even in a rest position, because you are still holding the barbell.”
- Strength. “If you aren’t working your whole body, you aren’t going to be able to build muscle as quickly and efficiently. Machines almost let your body cheat the workout, which means you won’t get the full result,” says James. She adds that using a barbell can “add good stress to your entire body at once, in turn building more muscle.”
- Natural movement. “Using the barbell allows you to follow your body’s natural movement patterns,” says James, “which forces your body to get stronger.” She explains that the pushing and pressing movements performed with a barbell are natural movements often used even outside of working out.
Rogue Fitness bars are tough, and RF takes a lot of pride in making them with great materials. While they’re a bit of an investment, they have amazing reviews and are perf for everyone from lifting n00bs to home gym homies, the CrossFit crew, and competitive weightlifters.
Even better, investing in a high quality barbell can allow you to experience the full range of benefits of barbell workouts for years and years to come, adding up to sweet gains in full-body balance and strength.
