Olympic weightlifting is challenging and requires a proper set of equipment before doing any of the Olympic lifts.
That's why having a high-quality, durable Olympic barbell is so crucial.
I conducted a 13-hour thorough research and tested more than 50 different Olympic barbells to find the best ones for the home gym.
After that, I singled out the ones I believe are the best according to our standards and selection criteria.
Hopefully, after reading the article, you will know everything you need about Olympic barbells and potentially find the one that suits your home gym the most.
The Best Olympic Barbells on the Market (September 2023)
1 - Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar (Editor's Choice)
Rogue Ohio power bar is a 20kg multi-purpose barbell that's perfect for Olympic lifting due to its durable material and amazing spin.
In addition, Ohio power bars are manufactured in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty to ensure a long-lasting piece of equipment. It comes with a 28.5 mm shaft diameter, which according to my testing, is a perfect compromise between deadlifts, cleans, and jerks on one side and squats and bench presses on the other due to its grip [1].
It has a total of 190k PSI (pounds per square inch) tensile strength, which is enough for any serious lifter.
However, the Rogue Ohio bar may not be the best option for people on a tight budget since it's a little more expensive.
Product Facts:
- 28.5 mm Diameter
- Black Oxide Shaft
- Black Oxide Sleeves
- 190k Tensile Strength
- It feels great in your hands while lifting
- Doesn't slip when lifting heavy weights
- Great customer service
- The Ohio bar is 100% secure with the rogue hg2.0 collars
- It needs to be maintained frequently
2 - Rogue Fitness Bella Bar 2.0
Rogue Fintess Bella Bar 2.0 has only 15 kg and is one of the best options for women who are serious about Olympic lifting due to its weight [2].
It comes with as much as 190k of tensile strength, which won't bail you on any serious lifts, or when dropping a fully loaded barbell on the floor.
In addition, it is built from highly durable material and according to the highest durability ratings at F6-R.
Furthermore, it will hold up against corrosion and oxidation, and we even tested leaving it outside with no significant changes made to the bar.
However, some may not prefer the passive knurling of this barbell since it misses a bit of texture.
Product Facts:
- 25 mm Diameter
- 190k Tensile Strength
- Black Zinc Coated Shaft
- Black Zinc Coated Sleeves
- Good for women due to its lesser weight
- Arrives in just two days
- The grip feels great
- It tends to wear off after a couple of months
3 - Rep Fitness Sabre Bar
Rep Fitness Sabre bar comes with a 28 mm grip size which is perfect for all deadlift lovers.
In addition, it weighs a total of 20 kg and has a tensile strength of 150k, making it good for the majority of heavy lifts and will be enough to protect it when dropped on the floor.
Furthermore, it comes with a zinc coating, which protects the barbell from excessive corrosion [3]. After testing the knurling I concluded it is on the moderate side, meaning it will fit the majority of lifters since it is neither aggressive nor passive.
However, it may not be the best option for serious athletes due to lower tensile strength.
Product Facts:
- 28 mm Diameter
- 20 Kilograms
- Black Zinc Finish
- 150k Tensile Strength
- Comes in a thick package that handles the delivery’s travel well
- Performs awesome with bigger bumper plates
- It rotates well
- The bar feels heavier than it is
4 - Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2
Titan Safety Squat bar V2 with a chrome finish compared to its previous model, which had a powder coat and clear coat, making it more durable.
This safety squat bar also comes with Olympic-sized sleeves allowing you the use of standard collars and not forcing you to buy specialty collars which will save you some extra money.
In addition, I like the removable safety handles that come with this bar since they allow you to perform certain movements you can't do with long and fixed handles.
However, one of the downsides of the safety squat bars like Titan’s one is that the Vinyl of the padding feels thin and stiff.
Product Facts:
- Alloy Steel
- 1500 Pounds Weight Capacity
- Chrome Finish
- The design and sturdiness of the bar are really nice
- Natural hand position of the safety squat bar puts less stress on your shoulders
- Comes with perfect spacing between the shoulder pads
- Camber doesn't balance well in certain situations
5 - Rep Excalibur Barbell
Rep Excalibur barbell comes with a chrome finish that is excellent for fighting off oxidation.
In addition, it comes with a 25 mm shaft which is excellent for all major lifts and Olympic lifts due to its smaller grip size.
The dial knurl marks of this bar are made according to both IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) and IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) standards.
Also, it has up to 190k PSI of tensile strength, and after testing, we concluded it doesn't break down when you drop it loaded on the floor.
However, it weighs only 15 kg, which is good for beginner lifters and women, but more experienced lifters may prefer a heavier bar.
Product Facts:
- 24 mm Grip Size
- 1500 Pounds Weight Capacity
- 190k Tensile Strength
- Chrome Finish
- Offers just the right amount of spin for serious lifting
- The knurling is great, and the bar doesn't slip from the hands when lifting heavy
- Comes with a 5-year warranty
- Not designed for men due to its size and weight
6 - Synergee Regional Olympic Barbell
Synergee Regional Olympic barbell is built from high-quality alloy steel and comes in different colors [4].
It weighs a total of 25 pounds and has a 25 mm grip size which is great for deadlifts and Olympic lifts.
In addition, it has 190k PSI of tensile strength and a total weight capacity of 1500 lb, which will be enough for most serious lifters.
One of the things I like about this bar is its black phosphate finish, which protects it from corrosion and early wear-off.
However, the color of the bar tends to wear off rather quickly.
Product Facts:
- 35 Pounds of Weight
- 25 mm Diameter
- 1500 Pounds Weight Capacity
- Black Phosphate Finish
- It has good spin
- The package comes in a hard cardboard cylinder with screw on end caps
- Grippy but not overly aggressive knurling
- The knurling wears down slightly over time
7 - Kitopa Olympic Barbell
The Kitopa Olympic barbell weighs a little more than the rest of the barbells and comes with 34.3 pounds of stainless steel, offering high durability.
In addition, it comes with an excellent chrome finish, which, combined with stainless steel, makes this barbell resistant to easy wear-off and corrosion [5].
Also, it has a medium-depth knurling, and after testing, I realized it is sufficient for serious heavy lifting and won't scratch or hurt your hands.
However, the spin of the bar isn't as good and may not be the best for regular lifts such as bench presses, squats, and deadlifts.
Product Facts:
- Stainless Steel Bar
- 34.2 Pounds of Weight
- 1.18 inch Diameter
- Chrome Finish
- The barbell weight feels balanced
- The knurling is pretty even on both sides
- The clips held the plates pretty tight, so the plates didn't wobble around
- It may be heavy for some beginner lifters
8 - Cap Power Barbell the Beast
Cap Power Barbell the Beast is one of the most affordable barbells built from high-quality steel.
Also, you can choose different Cap barbell models, where the Beast model has only 110k of tensile strength, and the Warrior has up to 230k of tensile strength.
I was a little skeptical about the Beast's low tensile strength, but after testing it with heavy-weight plates, I concluded it was safe and won't break when thrown loaded on the floor.
However, it doesn't come with a central knurling, which may be a downside to some Olympic lifters.
Product Facts:
- Alloy Steel
- 44 Pounds of Weight
- 30 mm Grip Size
- 1200 Pounds Weight Limit
- You can easily load this bar with 315 and have no issues
- It fits perfectly with Cap Barbells FM 905Q squat rack
- It comes with a nice spin for Olympic lifting
- The grip size is too wide for deadlifts
9 - Titan Fitness Olympic Hex Bar
Titan Fitness Olympic Hex bar comes with a unique dual handle design that easily targets and isolates desired muscle groups.
In addition, it fits standard 2" Olympic plates, and the knurled handles improve the grip, so the bar doesn't slip from your hands mid-exercise.
Also, you can switch the bar upside down to switch the grips and make your bar closer to the ground, achieving a bigger range of motion in your hips during extension exercises and when performing lifts from the ground.
However, I found that the bar comes with very short sleeves, limiting the number of weight plates you can put.
Product Facts:
- 60 Pounds of Weight
- 28 mm Grip Size
- 800 Pounds Weight Capacity
- Powder Coated Finish
- The grips are narrower
- Excellent knurl that doesn't shred your hands
- Very affordable
- 800 lb weight capacity may not be enough for more experienced lifters
10 - Fringe Sport Shorty Olympic Barbell
The Fringe Sport Shorty Olympic barbell is an ideal compact barbell that is only 71.6" long and perfect for women due to its weight and size.
In addition, it has a high-quality chrome finish that will protect your barbell and make it more durable.
Also, the 28 mm grip size will be great for all types of lifting, including Olympic weightlifting, regular weightlifting, and top powerlifting exercises.
It has a 216k tensile strength in shafts making it extremely resistant to breaking and wearing off.
However, I noted that the barbell sleeves are too small, and you may not be able to load it with as many weight plates as you want.
Product Facts:
- 15kg of Weight
- 28 mm Grip Size
- Chrome Finish
- 1000 kg Weight Capacity
- Excellent for compact home gym solutions
- The knurl is nice
- The bar has decent spin with little to no real whip
- The end cap is completely different than pictured
What to Look For in a Barbell?
In a barbell, look for a high-quality material, a nice finish, knurling versatility, and weight capacity in a barbell. However, other factors like spin, whip, and size also play a significant role. Your budget will also determine which set of barbells you should look for.
My biggest advice is to determine the budget at the very beginning, so you don't lose much time when looking for the perfect Olympic weightlifting barbell for your home gym.
If you are still unsure which Olympic barbell is the best for your home gym, I prepared a little guide to help you.
When I was researching all these Olympic barbells and also while I was testing them, I had certain parameters and factors I would evaluate each barbell.
Many factors play a significant role in choosing the perfect Olympic barbell for your home gym, and the most important ones are to be found below.
"Barbells are commercial and home gym essentials. Out of all the pieces of equipment, you can find in a gym, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more versatile tool than the barbell for building strength."
- Jake Boly, Certified Personal Trainer
Steel
In my opinion, stainless steel is the number one factor you should look out for when purchasing a barbell.
Two factors mainly determine the quality of stainless steel: tensile strength and yield strength.
However, you shouldn't look for the product sections where it says the barbell was 1000 or 1500-pounds tested because it doesn't matter if the previously mentioned factors are low.
The power bar is still going to wear off or potentially even break.
To simplify, a general rule when purchasing a barbell is that you should never buy a good powerlifting barbell with tensile strength below 150k.
All barbells below this threshold can be damaged when thrown on the ground.
Also, all barbells are usually tested through static and dynamic testing.
From my experience, dynamic testing is much more reliable, and it tells you how the bar reacts when dropped on the floor while loaded with weights.
Knurling
Knurling is what allows your hands to efficiently grip the power bar without it slipping off when lifting.
Usually, it is combined with the chalk to increase the friction between the barbell and your hands. You should know that there are power bars with passive, moderate, and aggressive knurling.
Passive knurling is usually better for beginners with soft hands, whereas aggressive knurling is better for more experienced lifters with rougher hands.
Spin
The spin of the sleeves is primarily determined by the rotation system used in the barbell.
Also, there are two main types of rotation systems you should know.
The first one is the bushing system, and the second is a needle-bearing system.
Bearing systems generally spin quicker and are, in my opinion, better for exercises such as cleans and jerks.
However, they also tend to be a little pricier.
Whip
The load of the power bar is what determines the whip.
However, the whip is also determined, by the materials used, the method of steel processing, and the diameter/grip size.
For most lifters, it is desirable to have a certain amount of whip.
Finish
Generally, you can never go wrong with the bare steel bar since it is susceptible to oxidizing quicker and, therefore, will wear off and break quicker too.
The finish I would recommend is black oxide since I believe it is the most durable and will protect your barbell from corrosion and bad weather if you leave it outside.
"Generally, the barbells used in powerlifting are rigid and not particularly bendy — though there are exceptions, such as the bars specifically designed for deadlifting."
- Jake Dickson, Certified Personal Trainer
Who Should Buy an Olympic Barbell for a Home Gym?
Everybody looking to stay fit at home with Olympic weightlifting should buy an Olympic barbell for a home gym.
In addition, if you are experienced or even a professional Olympic lifter, you can benefit from having a power bar at home.
You won't need to go to the gym on crowded days or when there is a traffic gym, meaning you can potentially save time.
Related posts:
- Best Barbells For Your Home Gym
- Best CrossFit Barbells For Your Home Gym
- 16 Best CrossFit Equipment For a Home Gym
- 10 Best Barbell Exercises
- Beginner Olympic Weightlifting Program You Should Start Now
Who Shouldn’t Buy It?
Everybody still a beginner at Olympic weightlifting shouldn't buy an Olympic barbell for a home gym.
If you are still a beginner lifter, there is no need to buy an Olympic barbell when you can buy the regular one and still have the same benefits.
Also, if you plan to use the barbell only a few times a month, there is no need to waste extra money on it since you can get the same results from going to the gym.
FAQs
What Size Olympic Bar Do Gyms Use?
Gyms use 20kg/45lbs for men, 15kg/35 lbs for women size Olympic bar. Also, these power bars are usually long, up to 7 feet, and 5ft 6 inches for women's Olympic lifting.
What Is the Best Length of an Olympic Bar?
The best length of an Olympic bar is 7 or 8 feet. That is because they fit in almost any squat rack and allow you to squat and deadlift with heavier weights.
Do Olympic Bars Rust?
Yes, Olympic bars rust. The only Olympic weightlifting bars that don't rust have some special coating or are made from stainless steel.
What Is the Best Olympic Weightlifting Barbell for a Home Gym?
The best Olympic barbell for a home gym is the Rogue Fitness Ohio bar.
The Ohio power bar is made from the highest-quality steel and has a diameter of 28.5 mm, which is a perfect compromise for deadlifts, squats, and bench presses.
I concluded from my testing that the Rogue Ohio bar doesn't break even when you load it with the maximum number of plates and throw it on the ground from a high position.
Also, our testers claim it has an amazing spin, which is what you essentially need from Olympic weightlifting bars.
Let us know which one of the Olympic barbells is your favorite and why.
Our #1 Recommendation
Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar
- It feels great in your hands while lifting
- Doesn't slip when lifting heavy weights
- Great customer service
- The Ohio bar is 100% secure with the rogue hg2.0 collars
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of September
- It needs to be maintained frequently
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