The Best Barbells for Powerlifting: Eleiko, Rogue, CAP

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SPY asked two professional powerlifters and gym owners which barbells they prefer.
“Elieko is just the premium,” Brown says. “The builds that they have are a lot more durable and are so finely tuned.” Wilson-Hill also corroborated that the XF is paramount in this space. The devil here is in the details. This 28-millimeter bar was built with needle bearings and bushings, which offer superior spin without compromising durability. It’s a premium example of a power barbell, which is built for multi-purpose use between the three big lifts: deadlift, squat, and bench. This style of barbell is designed to make these lifts a little easier through better whip (when a barbell bends slightly and makes the weight easier to lift) and tougher knurling (the rough texture on the bar that helps with grip). The knurling and grip patterns subtly support both Olympic and powerlifting styles. All of this comes in a gorgeous chrome build that would look amazing on the ‘gram. However, this full-on premium bar has a price tag to match, though, at just over $700. Most barbells fall within a range of $200-$600, but Eleiko’s quality can’t be matched — and for elite lifters, it’s worth every penny.
Why it stands out: “The Ohio Bar will do everything well,” Brown says. Wilson-Hill agrees and uses it for his business: “For the average Joe lifter this multi-purpose bar that you can do anything with is probably what you want,” he says. “For 95 percent of people, that bar will do the job and get it done. The bearings are super smooth, the knurling feels really good in hand.” Differentiation: On top of subtle crowd-pleasing details like a 28.5 mm diameter and middle-of-the-road knurling, Rogue uses friction welding — not standard in barbell creation — to make a more precision weld that is proven to stand up to the rigors of tens of thousands of heavy lifts. Price Point: While certainly on the pricey side, we’d call it on the high side of mid-range after researching the blush-worthy Elieko above. “They are a little expensive but you get what you pay for — you won’t regret that decision,” Wilson-Hill said.
Why it stands out: Wilson-Hill’s preferred budget barbell is the REP Sabre. It shares smart features with more expensive bars like middle-of-the-road knurl to accommodate Olympic and powerlifting styles, a zinc finish, and it comes in 15-kg or 20-kg versions to suit different lifters’ needs. All this at $150 less than the Ohio Bar, above. Differentiation: This barbell will make a large swath of serious lifters happy while coming in at a nice price point. Price Point: At nearly $200, it is still an investment, but entrusting safety to an object requires spending a bit more.
Why it stands out: “Titans just last. We got a bunch of Titan barbells at Iron Mile, where I coach, and they haven’t seen them break down in years,” Brown says. “You are going to get at least five years of solid use out of them.” (FYI, Olympic barbells are a separate category of barbells entirely, made for Olympic-style lifts that are popular in Crossfit and more dynamic lifting. The size and weight of Olympic barbells are also standardized for competition. The men’s Olympic barbell measures 7.2 feet and weighs 44 lbs, with a shaft diameter of just over 1 inch. The Olympic barbell is one you’ll find in most gyms, and a good baseline to compare to.) Differentiation: The price point of $150 for a barbell that’ll last at a powerlifting gym can’t be beaten. Price Point: Extremely reasonable when spread out over usable life.
Why it stands out: This beloved bar has over 3,300 five-star reviews on , a stellar slate given its price point. Credit its premium features like 110,00 tensile strength, Japanese cold-rolled steel build, and black phosphate finish coupled with a bargain price. Tensile strength is largely an indicator of a barbell’s quality. It’s measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), and while a rating over 180,000 PSI signals the highest-quality bar you can get, 110,000 is nothing to scoff at. Differentiation: It is loved by many and has a price that most home gym enthusiasts can afford. Price: The most price-conscious barbell on our suggestion list.
A plain barbell can serve as a great warmup, but eventually, the addition of bumper plates becomes necessary. Coated with a protected rubber exterior, bumper plates are much safer than exposed cast iron plates, both for the user and the floors. Dropping the weight on the floor after a big set is common, and weights that bounce inflict less damage. This 160-pound set from AMGYM which features three pairs of plates at 10, 25, and 45 pounds, a great selection for beginners.
Sliding weights isn’t just a nuisance during a tough lift, it also alters the stability of the barbell and can lead to accidents quickly. A set of barbell clamps should be the next purchase after bumper plates, and these have quick-release levers that make them easy to put on and take off.
Heavy squats on leg day usually mean the shoulders take quite a beating from the barbell. A barbell pad can help cushion the weight, and this one from ProFitness uses high-density foam to ease the pressure. It’s small enough to store in a gym bag so it can be used at home or on the road.

The Best Barbells for Powerlifting: Eleiko, Rogue, CAP

The Best Barbells for Powerlifting: Eleiko, Rogue, CAP

Nys Powerlifting Records, Certificates for recently set American Records are available upon request.

The Best Barbells for Powerlifting: Eleiko, Rogue, CAP