Best Powerlifting Barbell

If you are an aspiring lifter, buying your first powerlifting barbell is a memorable occasion. But choosing the right type of barbell can be an overwhelming experience as one size does not fit all. There are different types of bars, weights for genders, and many features to consider before making your final decision.

For instance, if you are in a group exercise class, want to lift lightweight, or are just starting your weightlifting journey, generic barbells are useful. Yet, if you are serious about lifting, opt for a powerlifting barbell that will not snap during a lift. It is also best to invest in high-quality barbells to avoid serious injury. Remember, when it comes to strength training, safety should be a top priority. 

If you’re interested to know more about the Powerlifting Barbell, keep reading. This powerlifting barbell guide will help you choose the right powerlifting barbell for your fitness needs.

Best Powerlifting Barbell – The Top 7 Products

1. WF Athletic Supply “THE BEAST”

Amazon.com : WF Athletic Supply "THE BEAST" 7 ft. Olympic Bar for Weightlifting and Power Lifting : Sports & Outdoors

Product Description

“The Beast” is designed by CAP, a leading provider and distributor of fitness equipment in the market, for super heavy workloads. It has even been a top choice for club owners and professional weightlifters. This CAP barbell sold by WF Athletic Supply is ideal both for powerlifting and weightlifting. 

This product is not just a painted bar but built from solid cold-rolled steel with a black phosphate finish.  These speciality coatings are rust resistant with proper care and use, exceptionally durable, and are high in performance. What makes this unique from other power bars is that it measures 2,185 millimeters in length and 44 pounds (20 kg) in weight. For a secure grip during a lift, the Beast also has snap clips and features a medium depth diamond.

Feel confident to own and use these bars to complement your gym or any professional or institutional setting.

Pros 

  • Great Quality Bar
  • Durable
  • Black Oxide Finish
  • Sleeves with Snap Clips

Cons

  • Pound away from standard bar weight
  • The bar gets scratched quickly
  • Spin is weak

Amazon Ratings

To let you know how other buyers felt about this power bar, it has been rated really good on Amazon. It has earned high scores for most of its features. 

2. Synergee Games 

Synergee Games Barbell | Synergee Fitness USA

Product Description

The Synergee Games is like the budget-friendly version of the Rogue Ohio Power bar. It uses various components, such as thinner bearings and shaft rather than bushings. However, for its price point, it is already a great alternative for those wanting a unique looking bar rogue.

Built to handle even the toughest powerlifting workout, this power bar can be used not only in powerlifting but for Olympic lifting and bodybuilding too. It is made of cerakote (ceramic coating) composition and high-grade steel. To has a high PSI tensile strength steel of 190,000, 10 needle bearings, 1.2 mm knurl, and 1,500 lb weight capacity.

This power bar can also carry heavy loads. With its 16.4 inches sleeve length, it can carry 20 kg of weights and 15kg of weight for 13 inches of sleeve length, helping lifters like you to reach their maximum potential.

Pros

  • Cerakote Finish
  • Comes with Complementary Wrist and Lifting Straps
  • The bar is Pink or Red, Ideal for Women
  • Superior Construction
  • 190,000 PSI Tensile Strength Steel
  • Loadable Sleeve Length of 16.4 and 13 Inches
  • Budget-friendly

Cons

  • No chrome sleeve option
  • Coatings in the sections that hold weights may gradually fade

Amazon Ratings

This power bar is Amazon’s top choice for Women’s Barbell, with a very high average score. This is a good sign of trust. 

3. XMark Voodoo 7′ Olympic Powerlifting Barbell

Amazon.com : XMark Voodoo Commercial 7' Olympic Powerlifting Bar, 185, 000 PSI, 1500 lb. Weight Capacity, Ultimate Performance for Olympic and Power Lifting Routines, Olympic Barbell, Weight Lifting : Sports & Outdoors

Product Description

The XMark Voodoo 7′ Olympic Powerlifting Barbell is made of good quality materials that will hold up against wear. It is more affordable than other Olympic barbells. The bars only use black manganese phosphate shafts, which are durable and provide abrasion protection and unbeatable corrosion.

What’s also great about this power bar is that it has a hard chrome sleeve with brass bushing, which makes it an ultimate finish. Since the bumper plate could easily damage the sleeves after constant dropping, the hard chrome sleeve guarantees that the power bar has a very hard outer shell.

This power bar has a 28mm grip shaft and 1,500 lb. weight capacity. To make sure this barbell lasts a long time, wipe down the bar regularly with a light coat (3 in 1 oil).

Pros

  • 28mm grip shaft
  • Trusted Brand
  • Snap Ring Lock System
  • Affordable
  • Built for Performance
  • Superior Tensile Strength

Cons

  • 90 Days Warranty Only
  • May Develop Rust After Years in Area of High Humidity

4. PAPABABE Olympic Barbell

Amazon.com : PAPABABE Olympic Bar 7-Foot Solid Chrome Barbell Weights Lifting Power Lifting (2-inch) : Sports & Outdoors

Product Description

With its cerakote and anti-corrosion coating, the PAPABABE Olympic Barbell is an excellent piece of equipment to add to your home gym. This feature serves as an effective barrier against corrosion and oxidation, so the bar won’t need regular cleaning even when used in the most extreme conditions.

This power bar also uses two brass bearings and 8 precision needle bearings to deliver a stable controlled rotation, which is the most important aspect of bar sleeves. This allows faster movements, such as snatch or clean and jerk, and reduces the impact on your shoulders and wrists too. Its shaft length is 28 mm in diameter and it uses standard knurling to help you keep a grip on the bar, stiff enough for presses, squats, and deadlifts.

Pros

  • Bar Maintenance-Free
  • 190,000 PSI – High Tensile Strength
  • Great for all Workouts
  • Standard Knurling
  • Stable Controlled Rotation
  • Secure Grip
  • Anti-Corrosion Material

Cons

  • Quite Expensive

Amazon Ratings

This powerlifting bar gained stellar reviews on Amazon. For example, Amazon user Musiqtechnique reviewed that although the barbell is expensive, it is a high-quality item, and “the grips in the center are perfect.”

5. RAGE Fitness Olympic Training Barbell for Powerlifting

Product Description

Perfect your weightlifting basics with this power bar made out of aluminum and weighs 0.1 kilograms. The rotating sleeves are durable and come with bushings that fit between the bar and the sleeve.

This Olympic Training Barbell for Powerlifting is one of Rage Fitness’ superior training bars in terms of durability and quality. It is also more affordable than other stainless steel or aluminum power bars, which made it more accessible to those in strength sport. The barbell can also be used as a scaled-weight bar. You can spin this freely so it is ideal for full-throttle exercises.

Pros

  • Olympic Size
  • 15 lb Bar Weight
  • Durable
  • Comfortable Knurl
  • One Year Warranty

Cons

  • Limited Length for Bumper Weights
  • Wobbles at Weight Close to 200 lbs.

6. Titan Fitness Yukon Bar

Yukon Bar

Product Description

If you want the best-priced power bar, then you won’t be scared buying and lifting this Titan Yukon Bar. It is longer than other curved barbells available in the market today. Aside from its 96-inches overall length, it also has a loadable sleeve length of 17.5-inches. There’s also a 6-inch curvature that allows you to rest the bar across your shoulders for squats.

The power bar’s stunning finish of black oxide coating ensures that it is resistant to corrosion and rust. Other power bars can only carry up to 500 pounds but Yukon Bar maxes to a whopping 2,000-pound weight capacity. It can even fit Olympic weight plates.

Barbell knurl is also quite important in lifting and Titan Fitness understood this when designing the Yukon Bar. Its high-quality crosshatch pattern on the barbell is intended to increase the friction between the bar and your hands, thus improving the grip. 

Pros

  • High-quality knurling
  • Durable construction
  • The overall length of 96-inch
  • 6-inch power bar curvature, ideal for squatting
  • Stunning finish (Black Oxide Coating)
  • Allows a great range of motion

Cons

  • Bend near the sleeves pretty aggressive
  • Loading plates can be a challenge

7. Popsport Olympic Barbell for Weightlifting and Powerlifting

Amazon.com : Popsport Olympic Barbell 1500 lb Rated Olympic Bar for Weightlifting Powerlifting and Crossfit(15kg Gray) : Sports & Outdoors

Product Description

Give yourself a better workout with Popsport Olympic Barbell for weightlifting and powerlifting. Among the great effects that this power bar provides are that it increases muscle strength, increases bone density, burns calories, and reduces muscle soreness and back pain.

Made of spring steel and has a capacity of 1,500 lbs (680 kg), this power bar is made of alloy steel and has an electroplating surface, which means that it is resistant to abrasion, corrosion, and rust. If you have limited space in your workout room, this power bar is your best choice. It is 2.2m/7.2ft long and has a PSI tensile strength of 190000.

Pros

  • Comfortable knurled grips
  • Anti-skid belt
  • Useful guard band and buckles
  • Alloy steel build quality
  • Wide application

Cons

  • None

Honorable Mentions: Rogue Ohio Power Bar and Texas Power Bar

Rogue 45LB Ohio Power Bar - Stainless | Rogue Fitness

The Rogue Ohio Power Bar and Texas Power Bar are also great powerlifting barbells that are also worth mentioning. Factoring availability, performance, warranty, and price, these power bars also stand out just like the other powerlifting bars listed above.

Powerlifting Barbell – Buying Guide

After some deliberations, we have come up with the specific features to help you choose the right powerlifting barbell.

1. Size of Bar 

Both the diameter and length of the barbell vary to suit your desired amount of whip. Squat bars tend to be 29mm for an adequate whip while for Olympic bars 28-28.5mm.

2. Yield Strength/ Tensile Strength

The amount of weight it takes to deform and bend the power bar is called the yield strength while the tensile strength is the breaking point of the bar. A good minimum tensile strength is 165,000 PSI.

3. Whip of the Bar

This is the end of the bar bouncing as the lifter stops and the momentum of the power bar continues. While whip is difficult to measure quantitatively, skinner bars usually have more whip. The thickness of the plates could likewise affect the whip that a lifter can generate. 

4. Spin

The powerlifting bar of your choice should have a rotation system to help reduce the force produced by the inertia of weight plates. Rotating sleeves play a significant role in improving the quality of lifts and preventing injury.

5. Load Capacity

The width of the plate is the biggest determining factor of the barbell’s load capacity. Competition powerlifting weightlifting plates are thinner compared to Olympic Bumper plates or gym plates.

Final Verdict: Which One is Better?

Because of its superior construction and other high-end features, our top pick is the PAPABABE Olympic Barbell for powerlifting

The knurl of this bar has been patterned that is coarse and deep enough to ensure a secure grip and its sleeve is re-engineered to specifically deliver a more controlled rotation.

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