Best Barbells in 2023: The Top 8 Picks

Putting together a good home gym can be an incredibly rewarding project because you would get to design your workout environment to suit your needs.

A central part of this environment is the barbell: a long metal rod with sleeves on both ends for weight plates. Despite its simplicity, a good barbell can be deceptively useful and durable.

However, there are plenty of details to consider before making a purchase. To simplify things, we’ve compiled this list of the best barbells on the market for 2023 and factors to consider.

Ready to learn? Let’s dive in.

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The 8 Best Barbells For Your Home Gym (Summer-Fall 2023)

1. Best Barbell Overall: Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar
2. Best Women’s Barbell: Rogue Fitness Black Zinc Bella Bar 2.0
3. Best For CrossFit: American Barbell Training Bar
4. Best For Powerlifting: Rogue Ohio Power Bar
5. Best Barbell for Deadlifts: Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0
6. Best Barbell for Squats: Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2
7. Best Barbell for Beginners: Titan Fitness Performance Series Olympic Barbell
8. Best Barbell on Amazon: CAP Barbell The Beast (New Version)

1. Best Barbell Overall: Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar

The Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar is the best barbell in 2023, and that is unlikely to change any time soon. Despite the countless great bars from competitors, this one has reserved the top position for several reasons.

The bar is crafted with great attention to detail, ensuring excellent quality and an eye-catching appearance. It looks great, offers a consistent spin for dynamic lifting, the knurling is good but not overly aggressive, and its high tensile strength ensures durability.

What’s awesome about this barbell is that it isn’t ‘best’ in one category and mediocre in all others. It’s a balanced barbell well worth every penny. It works for Olympic lifters and CrossFitters, bodybuilders and powerlifters, and everyone else.

The only real drawback is its price, which, at $370, certainly stings a bit. But hey - you can’t put a price on quality, right?

2. Best Women’s Barbell: Rogue Fitness Black Zinc Bella Bar 2.0

The Rogue Fitness Black Zinc Bella Bar 2.0 is the 15-kilogram sister of the Rogue Ohio Bar and offers many of the same benefits but for women.

As one of the most popular 15-kilo barbells, the Bella 2.0 is a staple in many CrossFit and regular gyms. Its slightly smaller diameter of 25 MM means the bar was designed for lifters with smaller hands, and the more moderate knurling reduces the risk of heavy callus formation or ripped skin.

The great thing about this barbell is that it is versatile enough to be used for general-purpose work, but it can also work for people who want to specialize in one area: CrossFit, powerlifting, bodybuilding, or something else.

Like the Ohio bar, this one offers a little of everything, making it fantastic for many lifters.

Being 15 kilograms and slightly thinner, this bar is easier to handle and move around at the gym. But, despite that, it doesn’t feel flimsy, and its 190,000 PSI tensile strength means the bar is quite durable.

Plus, given its reasonable pricing, we can confidently say this is likely the best women’s barbell on the market.

The only real drawback is that the black zinc coating is prone to fading over time, especially under heavy use.

3. Best For CrossFit: American Barbell Training Bar

The American Barbell Training Bar, sometimes deemed the ‘Rogue killer,’ is not flashy and is unlikely to stand out if you put it next to a few other bars.

That said, its $365.00 price tag is (mostly) justified because this genuinely is a quality bar that will last a long time and help you make great gains in the gym.

The bar comes in two versions: a 15-kilo women’s bar and a 20-kilo men’s bar. Both have a hard chrome finish, 190,000 PSI of tensile strength with just a hint of a whip and no center knurling (which can be good or bad, depending on preference).

This barbell has decent knurling but nothing overly aggressive that will feel uncomfortable in your hands, even after a few heavy sets of deadlifts or shrugs.

While the price might seem a bit high, you’re not sacrificing anything (except for the name) by getting it over a Rogue bar. Sure, you can’t boast to your friends and brag to unsuspecting girls on first dates, but this is as good as the best barbells you can find today.

4. Best For Powerlifting: Rogue Ohio Power Bar

The Rogue Ohio Power Bar has become a household name in the powerlifting community, and for good reasons.

It’s of excellent quality, its tensile strength is off the charts, it comes with multiple coating options, and it has a lifetime warranty. As far as barbells go, we really can’t ask for more.

To stay true to its powerlifting roots, this barbell has more aggressive knurling to help you grip as much weight as possible for safe and heavy lifting.

Regarding price, this barbell is truly one of the best options for powerlifters on the market. At $295.00, you get pretty much everything you will ever need.

Could you spend more money on a seemingly better powerlifting barbell like Eleiko’s IPF Powerlifting Competition Bar? Sure, but what more are you getting? The bar costs more than three times the Ohio Power Bar, but does it offer three times the value? No.

The only real drawback (if we could even call it that) is that the bar’s sleeves are not stainless steel.

5. Best Barbell for Deadlifts: Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0

If you’re looking for a quality barbell to primarily do deadlifts, the BoS Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0 is a fantastic option. At just under $220, this is one of the most affordable options on the market and does an excellent job for heavy lifting.

The barbell has 210,000 PSI, which is plenty of tensile strength that ensures durability and safety during heavy training. It meets IPF requirements, though it isn’t certified, and its aggressive knurling is enough to keep the bar glued to your hands, even when pulling 1RM weights.

Now, it’s important to note that this barbell is not manufactured in the US and is bare steel, which is known to rust. Some users have also reported feeling slightly inconsistent knurling on certain areas, but any difference is unlikely to be significant or affect your training experience.

6. Best Bar for Squats: Titan Safety Squat Olympic Bar V2

Unlike the other options on our list, this is a safety squat bar. The primary differences are:

• It weighs slightly more than a regular barbell (27.6 kg instead of the traditional 20 kg)
• It has padding and handles for you to position it on your upper back for squats
• The shaft diameter is more (38 MM instead of the traditional 28-30 MM)

This bar is fantastic for squatting, particularly for people with shoulder issues. Having the ability to grab the handles in front of your body instead of extending your arms back and to your sides can save you some pain and keep your training productive.

As a stand-alone product, this is arguably the best-value SSB on the market. It is priced quite reasonably for an SSB, its weight capacity is 1,500 lbs, which is more than what 99.9 percent of lifters will ever need, the grips are comfortable and removable, the padding feels good on the back, and the bar looks good with its decorative chrome finish.

Some drawbacks are that the chrome finish is known to rust in some conditions, the handles are prone to spinning, and it only comes with a year's warranty.

7. Best Barbell for Beginners: Titan Fitness Performance Series Olympic Barbell

If you’re new to working out and are in the process of building your home gym, finding the right equipment can be a challenge. Even something as simple as a barbell can vary in price and usefulness, depending on the brand and model.

Fortunately, you don’t need to complicate things, as some simple, beginner-specific solutions exist. In the case of barbells, the answer comes in the form of the Titan Fitness Performance Series Olympic Barbell.

Despite its seemingly simplistic appearance, this barbell has everything a beginner needs for general strength training. It:

• Weighs the standard 20 kilograms (45 lbs)
• Has decent tensile strength of 165,000 PSI to ensure durability
• Can hold 1,000 lbs, which means you will never overload it
• Has a chrome finish, which is classic and fits well in most home gyms
• Has decent knurling to support your grip without tearing your skin
• Has a 30mm diameter, which is on the thick side and could help you build grip strength

The barbell also has a decent spin in case you ever want to use the bar for more dynamic training, such as Olympic lifting or CrossFit.

Plus, it’s priced fairly at just $159.99 and comes with a year’s warranty.

8. Best Barbell on Amazon: CAP Barbell The Beast (New Version)

Who says Amazon gym equipment can’t be good? This CAP barbell is the perfect example of stylish, durable, and affordable equipment.

The barbell doesn’t have the best tensile strength (110,000 PSI), but that is still enough for everyday trainees who lift around 500-600 lbs at most. This is still a ton of durability, and the barbell will likely last for years without bending.

Its shaft diameter is 30mm, which is a bit thicker than the standard 28mm, but the difference isn’t noticeable. If anything, this could help you build grip strength, especially when handling heavy loads.

The knurling is also noticeable enough and supports your grip well, but it doesn’t feel overly harsh in your hands.

Plus, the bar comes with a superb black phosphate finish, which instantly sets it apart from what we are used to seeing: chrome and steel.

All of this only costs $104.95, which is a steal, even if the bar’s finish fades and it doesn’t last as long as a Rogue or EliteFTS barbell.

The only real drawback is that there isn’t much information on the warranty, which could be worrisome.

What to Look For When Purchasing a Barbell

1. Type of Barbell

Most barbells will work well enough for most activities. That said, bars come in different forms, so it’s important to get clear on what you want to use one for.

For instance, Olympic barbells are generally best for more dynamic training, whereas power bars are better suited for powerlifters primarily doing the big three and close variations.

There are also safety squat bars, which are mostly useful for squats but could work for other exercises.

2. Weight Capacity

The average trainee rarely needs to worry about a barbell’s weight capacity, as even the cheapest models will comfortably hold 400-500 lbs.

That said, weight capacity can become more critical for stronger lifters who routinely lift 500+ lbs.

Good capacity can also indicate that a barbell is more durable and likely to last many years of heavy lifting without bending.

3. Knurling

Knurling refers to the textured pattern on the barbell shaft. A medium knurl will do fine for most people because it will provide enough friction to support grip without feeling too harsh or tearing the skin.

Center knurling can also be beneficial, especially if you do a lot of back squatting. It can keep the barbell in position and prevent it from slipping down. However, folks primarily interested in CrossFit and Olympic lifting might do better without a center knurl, as it can sometimes get in the way.

4. Price and Warranty

As you saw from the list above, barbells come in quite the price range. Some of the cheapest ones are around $100 (I don’t recommend getting anything cheaper than that), whereas more high-end models can easily go beyond $300. Pick one that makes sense for your budget.

Additionally, a warranty can give you peace of mind. Even cheap barbells tend to come with a year’s coverage, but it’s always best to contact the seller or manufacturer before placing an order.

5. Brand Reputation and Reviews

Lastly, a brand’s reputation and online reviews can tell you a lot about the barbell you’re looking to buy and what you can expect from it.

Established brands like Rogue, Bells of Steel, and Titan often have plenty of reviews on their products, which should give you a good idea of what you’re getting.

Best Barbells Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What type of barbell is best for a home gym?

For the average trainee looking to use one barbell for many exercises, a multi-purpose barbell like the Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar (more expensive) or Titan Fitness Performance Series Olympic Barbell (cheaper) will be ideal.

2. How important is the barbell’s finish?

The barbell’s finish is important for aesthetics, resistance to rust, and grip, which means it matters greatly. Chrome is a widespread finish that works well and protects the barbell from rust.

3. What does tensile strength mean?

Tensile strength, measured in PSI (pounds per square inch), refers to a barbell’s ability to withstand external pulling forces without deforming or breaking.

4. Do I need a specialty barbell for my home gym?

A specialty barbell, such as a multi-grip or safety squat bar, can be a fantastic addition to your home gym setup. However, if budget is a big factor, I recommend getting a standard barbell first because it will be more versatile.

Conclusion

There you have it: a list of the 8 best barbells on the market in 2023.

As you can see, there are plenty of factors to consider, so don’t rush into a decision straight away. Examine all the factors and consider your long-term training goals to get the best possible barbell for your needs.

Also, I generally recommend spending a bit more if possible because a quality barbell will come with lifetime coverage, and it should last for decades with no issues. However, cheaper options can also be quite good if you’re building a home gym on a tight budget.

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