Best Barbells – 2024

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Last Updated: May 7, 2023

A barbell is an important and often costly addition to your home gym. When you purchase one, you want to be sure that it’s durable and appropriate for your fitness goals. In our list of best barbells, we’ve included the barbells that we consider to be the best on the market. We’ve also put together some guidelines to consider when choosing the best barbell for you and your home gym.

Why You Should Trust Us

Our team uses all kinds of fitness equipment. We’ve made it our job to know the ins and outs of the latest equipment on the market. When reading our list below, know that we’ve done our homework on determining which barbells we recommend. We’ve also compiled this list with the goal of including a wide variety to appeal to a wide range of fellow fitness enthusiasts.

Our Expert’s Picks Of The Best Barbells

• Best Barbell Overall: Rogue Ohio Bar
• Best Barbell Runner-Up: Fringe Sport Wonder Bar
• Best Women’s Barbell: Rogue Bella Bar 2.0
• Best Men’s Barbell: GetRX’d Stealth Bar
• Best Trap Bar: Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Trap Bar
• Best Mult Grip Barbell: Fringe Sport Multi-Grip Swiss Barbell
• Best Safety Squat Bar: Titan Fitness Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2
• Best Barbell For Beginners: Synergee Regional Olympic Barbell
• Best Power Bar: Rogue Ohio Power Bar
• Best Budget Barbell: CAP Barbell The Beast

Sneak Peek of the Best Barbells:

The Best Barbells Of 2024

1. Best Barbell Overall: Rogue Ohio Bar

Our pick for the best barbell overall goes to the Rogue Ohio Bar. It’s widely used as well as impressive. Most notably, the tensile strength is 190,000 PSI. This is really ideal and indicates that the Ohio Bar should last a long time. Rogue guarantees this with a lifetime warranty, so rest assured, this is a fantastic barbell. The Ohio Bar has a 28.5mm shaft, too.

When you purchase the Rogue Ohio Bar, there are four different coating options to choose from, such as black oxide, stainless steel, black zinc, and e-coat. All of these different coatings are great, durable options. The standard knurling makes it great for a wider variety of use. Plus, there isn’t center knurling so powerlifters might want to look elsewhere, but those looking for all-around use should find a lot of value in this barbell.

The Rogue Ohio Bar is 20 kg (44 lbs) making it great for most users. The sleeves are 16.4” to allow you to load this bar with a lot of weight. The bronze bushings are nice and great for recreational use because of their reliable spin. If you’re looking for a durable, tried and true barbell then the Rogue Ohio Bar is for you.

2. Best Barbell Runner-Up: Fringe Sport Wonder Bar

Another excellent barbell option is the Fringe Sport Wonder Bar. It’s a little bit more affordable than the Rogue Ohio Bar, but it’s really stable and hearty. We like that it has a 205,000 PSI tensile strength that is paired with a 28 mm diameter shaft. Fringe states that it has a weight capacity of 1600 lbs, so even the strongest users should be able to load it up with a lot of weight.

It is an Olympic bar at 7.2 feet long (86”) and the sleeves are 16” long for plenty of loadable space. We really like that you can pick how much spin you want the Fringe Sport Wonder Bar to have. It comes with either bushings or bearings depending on your preference. The Wonder Bar is 44 lbs (20 kg) but it also comes in 15 kg, if you want a lighter option.

No matter which weight option you choose, the Fringe Sport Wonder Bar is stiff. This makes it preferable for heavy bench pressing and squatting. Some users might want more whip, however.

3. Best Women’s Barbell: Rogue Bella Bar 2.0

Now ladies don’t get me wrong, you can use whatever barbell you want, I know I do. However, if you’re looking for one specifically designed for women, then the Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 is one to check out. Men, you can use it too! Rogue Fitness is one of our favorite brands for strength equipment because their stuff is well-constructed, and the Bella Bar 2.0 is no exception.

It’s 15 kg (33 lbs) and has a slimmer diameter than others on this list at 25 mm. This way, you can get a good grip. This paired with a tensile strength of 190,000 PSI, has me impressed. At 2010 mm it is about 6.5 feet long, so if you’re shorter like me this one is a nice option.

The Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 is a multipurpose bar that is designed to handle a lot of use. We like that it comes in different coating options like E-coat, black zinc, and stainless steel. The sleeves aren’t terribly long so you won’t be able to load this barbell with an insane amount of weight. So, if you’re a powerlifter, you might want to look into other options. If you’re looking for a slimmer, shorter, and lighter barbell that is durable, then the Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 is one to consider.

4. Best Men’s Barbell: GetRX’d Stealth Bar

We’ve awarded the GetRX’d Stealth Bar as the best men’s barbell, however, women can use it too. The Stealth Bar is available in hard chrome in 20 kg (44 lbs) and 15 kg and black zinc in 20 kg. This way, no matter your gender, you can pick the right size and weight that works best for you.

We really like that whichever size you get, the tensile strength is 216,000 PSI. So, this barbell is a beast and should be very durable. The GetRX’d Stealth Bar is great for more all-around use. It’s an Olympic bar that has a good amount of spin while remaining stiffer when loaded. This way it can appeal to a larger variety of users.

We also love that the GetRX’d Stealth Bar is pretty affordable, considering its high-quality design. The 8 oversized needle bearings and 2 oil-impregnated bushings make for a barbell that is versatile and well-constructed. The knurling extends along the shaft to the collars so you can get as wide of a grip as you need, too.

5. Best Trap Bar: Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Trap Bar

For the best trap bar, our pick is the Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar. This bar is great if you’re looking to perform a lot of deadlifts, carries, bent-over rows, overhead presses, and jump squats. A trap bar is a nice option if you are looking to lessen the stress on your back. So, if you’re looking for a solid trap bar the Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Trap Bar is one to check out.

It weighs 44 lbs unloaded but can handle up to 500 lbs, so it should work well for most users. The chrome coating on the steel makes it easy to slide plates on and off. We love that it comes with dual knurled handles for more versatility and grip options. The handles also sit 6 inches off the floor so you can start exercises with better positioning.

The Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Trap Bar is a closed bar that is 56” long and 28 mm in diameter for the handles. The sleeves are 48 mm and can fit standard 2” Olympic weight plates.

6. Best Mult-Grip Barbell: Fringe Sport Multi-Grip Swiss Barbell

Swiss bars are excellent if you’re looking for a bar to lessen the stress on your wrists and shoulders while lifting. The Fringe Sport Multi-Grip Swiss Barbell is our pick as the best multi-grip barbell because it’s an impressive bar with some nice features. You can use a neutral grip and there are two positions on this barbell for that. The handles are also knurled so you can get a good grip on them.

The Fringe Sport Multi-Grip Swiss Barbell has 60-degree angled handles. This way you have a lot of versatility with your workouts. This swiss bar is 82” long with a 53” long shaft for it to be racked on most squat racks.

This bar is pretty hefty at 46 pounds and can handle up to 1,100 lbs. It’s made of powder-coated steel, so it’s durable as well.

7. Best Safety Squat Bar: Titan Fitness Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2

If you’re in the market for a safety squat bar, then you’re in luck! We’ve awarded the Titan Fitness Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2 as the best safety squat bar on this list because it has some nice features at a good price.

First, it is rated to handle up to 1,500 lbs, while weighing 61 lbs. Not only does it include shoulder and arm pads for comfortability, but it has a 22-degree camber drop to help take the extra stress off your shoulders. This way you can focus on targeting your posterior chain when squatting. The pads have extra cushions to help reduce the risk of wrist, elbow, shoulder, and neck injuries. Plus, you’ll have plenty of control with the 6” long hand grips.

Overall, the Titan Fitness Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2 is designed to allow for better balance and stabilizing. The shaft and sleeves are coated in chrome so you can easily add and remove plates.

8. Best Barbell For Beginners: Synergee Regional Olympic Barbell

The Synergee Regional Olympic Bar is impressive all-around. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re new to lifting. First, it comes in 15 kg and 20 kg options, so you can determine which weight is appropriate for you. Since this is an Olympic barbell, it comes in 7.2 feet and 6.6 feet lengths. Because of this, the Synergee can handle heavier weights, making it great for users looking to increase their strength over time.

What I really like about this barbell is that it is designed for all-around use. It comes with dual knurl markings so you can use it for power lifts like squats and deadlifts, as well as jerks and cleans. The Synergee Regional Olympic Bar also has 10 needle bearings so it has a nice amount of spin and whip for those fast lifts. Plus, considering the build quality, it comes at a good price point.

We’ve named the Synergee Olympic Bar the best barbell for beginners because it’s versatile and durable. We love the 190,000 PSI tensile strength, and that it can handle up to 1500 pounds. Even if you’re not a beginner, there is a lot about the Synergee Regional Olympic Bar to like and find value in.

9. Best Power Bar: Rogue Ohio Power Bar

Powerlifters- this bar is for you! The Rogue Ohio Power Bar has everything you could want in a power bar. That is why we’ve named it the best power bar on this list. It has no whip, aggressive knurling, and a smooth spin with built-in bronze bushings. It’s also from Rogue Fitness so you can expect it to be hearty and durable.

The Rogue Ohio Power Bar is 45 lbs and has a nice 200K PSI tensile strength. It comes in stainless steel, E-coat, black zinc, and bare steel finishes. This way, you have more of a range to choose from to fit your preference and budget. Plus, on top of being coarse, there is also center knurling. The knurling has single powerlifting marks as well so you can get precise hand placement for certain lifts.

The bronze bushings provide a smooth spin as well. The Rogue Ohio Power Bar is great for bench presses, squats, and deadlifts. It’s not only a solid barbell, but it’s durable with an impressive design, too.

10. Best Budget Barbell: CAP Barbell The Beast

Our best budget barbell pick is the CAP Barbell The Beast. We really like that it comes in different options and price points depending on your budget. You can choose between having center knurling or no center knurling, as well as a 30 mm diameter or 28.5 mm diameter. All six options come in 20 kg (44 lbs).

The “Rebel” options have a tensile strength of 190k PSI that we love to see. This indicates it is durable and will last. The “Boss” and “Beast” options have lower PSI but these should still work great as starter barbells, especially if you’re a beginner.

No matter which option you choose the CAP Barbell The Beast is 7 feet long. It’s made of steel to be durable and it has a lot of great reviews on Amazon. Overall, we are impressed with all the options you have at purchase and that this barbell is budget-friendly.

Things To Consider When Buying The Best Barbell For You

It’s important to factor in the following to ensure that you get the right barbell for you and your goals.

Size

You want to make sure that you’re using a barbell that will fit in your space for you to comfortably use. Typically, Olympic bars are barbells that are 7 feet long with 2” diameter sleeves. The shaft usually is 28mm to 32 mm in diameter. Women’s Olympic barbells are 6’6” long and 25 mm in diameter. Standard barbells can be 5, 6, or 7 feet long. If you don’t have a lot of space, you might want a shorter barbell, however, it might not be able to be racked on a squat rack.

Weight

Olympic barbells are 20 kg which is roughly 44 lbs. Some are also 45 lbs. Women’s Olympic bars are 15 kg or 33 lbs. Standard barbells that are shorter can weigh as light as 15 to 25 lbs. Power bars can weigh up to 25 kg (55 lbs). It’s important to pick an appropriate weight for you to lift safely. If you’re just starting out, you might only be able to lift the barbell on its own without added plates. If this is the case, you want to be sure that, that weight works for you. You can always add weight plates as you get stronger.

Type

Another thing to consider is the different types of barbells. On this list, we include Olympic weightlifting bars, trap bars, swiss bars, safety squat bars, power bars, and hybrid bars. Trap and safety squat bars are for specific movements. They are designed to reduce stress on certain parts of your body because of their designs. Swiss or multi-grip bars allow you to lift with a neutral grip where both palms face inward to each other. This helps reduce stress on the wrists and shoulders.

Olympic weightlifting bars are best for Olympic lifting movements like power and squat cleans, power and squat snatches, and jerks. This is because they offer more whip or flex in the shaft and spin freely in the sleeves. They often have bearings in the sleeves to accommodate the spin. Power bars are for powerlifting and are best used for bench presses, squats, deadlifts, and bent-over rows. Power bars have less whip and spin and have bushings in the sleeves. These bars also have different knurl marks that indicate what kind of bar they are. Power bars have singular knurl marks that are 32” apart versus the 36” apart on Oly weightlifting bars. These marks help you get the correct placement for your hands so you use both sides of your body evenly when lifting.

Hybrid or standard bars are a combination between power and Olympic weightlifting bars. They often have dual markings, and more moderate whip and spin. These are best for Crossfit and functional lifters.

Tensile Strength

The tensile strength indicates how durable a barbell is. This is how much tension it can take before breaking. It is rated in pounds per square inch or PSI. Typically, 180,000 PSI to around 220,000 PSI means that the barbell should last a long time because it’s well built. 150,000 to 180,000 PSI suggests that the barbell is good for most users. Under 150K PSI can be fine for a beginner, but it most likely won’t last as long as barbells with higher PSIs.

Material And Coating

Most barbells are made of steel. Stainless steel is used to make higher-end barbells, usually. In addition to the material, the coating is also something to consider. The coating is what can help your barbell last longer by making it more or less resistant to corrosion.

Bare steel is the least resistant to corrosion and often has more aggressive knurling, while stainless steel is the most resistant. Black oxide is a step up from bare steel, while chrome is more in the middle. Chrome provides protection against corrosion while having a slightly less aggressive-feeling knurling. Zinc comes in bright and black and it’s more resistant. E-coating (electrocoating) is an electrically applied paint coating known to be great for corrosion resistance. Cerakote is a step up from E-coat to provide better corrosion resistance.

The material and coating tend to dictate price as well as durability, so it is something to take into consideration when choosing a barbell.

Knurling

When it comes to using your barbell, you want to be sure that you can get a good grip on it. The knurling is the texture on the shaft of the barbell and it comes in a variety of options. Knurling can feel sharper or softer depending on the type of bar and the coating. Power bars tend to have more aggressive knurling to help users keep a good grip while lifting heavy. Power bars also have center knurling for when you need extra grip things like back squats. Hybrid and Olympic weightlifting bars usually have no center knurling so you don’t have to worry about scraping your neck and chin during cleans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Finish For A Barbell?

Stainless steel is said to be the most resistant to corrosion. It is considered the best finish for a barbell.

Is A Barbell Better Than A Dumbbell?

Neither is better than the other. Ideally, you should try to incorporate using both into your strength training routine. Dumbbells can allow you to have more range of motion during exercises and they allow you to do more unilateral exercises. Barbells however allow you to lift more weight. They’re easier to add the progressive overload principle into your lifts too because you can more easily increase the weight being used over time.

Should I Buy An Olympic Or Standard Barbell?

It depends on how heavy you want to lift and also the size of your home space. Olympic bars are 7 feet long whereas standard bars can be 5, 6, or 7 feet in length. A shorter bar might work better if you have a small space. Olympic bars however are rated to handle heavier weights and might be the better option if you want to be able to lift heavier weights.

What Is The Best Barbell?

We have rated the Rogue Ohio Bar as the best barbell overall on our list of best barbells. It is tried and tested, has a 190K PSI tensile strength, 28.5 mm shaft, comes in four different types of coating, and has 16.4” loadable sleeves to handle a lot of weight without bending. Plus, it is backed with a lifetime warranty.