The 6 Best Women Barbells In 2023 (Rogue, REP & More)

A barbell is truly one of the most versatile pieces of training equipment you can get.

One barbell plus a few weight plates opens up the door for various compound exercises you can do to strengthen your entire body.

With that said, women's barbells are slightly different than traditional ones. They are slightly lighter (33 lbs or 15 kg) and have a shaft diameter of 25 mm instead of the traditional 28 mm.

Read on to learn about the six best women barbells in 2023.

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The 6 Best Women Barbells In 2023

1. Best Overall Women Barbell: Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 Stainless Steel
2. Runner-Up Women Barbell: REP Fitness Excalibur 15kg
3. Best Barbell For Newbies: Titan Fitness Women’s Atlas Olympic Barbell
4. Best Budget Women Barbell: REP Sabre Barbell 15kg
5. Best Competition-Style: Rogue IWF Olympic Weightlifting Bar
6. Best Women Barbell On Amazon: Synergee Regional Olympic 15kg Bar

1. Best Overall Women Barbell: Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 Stainless Steel

The Bella bar was named after the beloved dog of Bill and Caity Henniger––the two people who stand behind Rogue Fitness.

Like many other Rogue products, the Bella bar 2.0 is incredibly popular in its category and well-regarded by serious lifters worldwide. The original Bella bar came into the CrossFit scene quite early and is still one of the most popular barbells simply because it works great.

The first thing you’ll notice when you head to the Rogue website is the sheer amount of color and finish options for the Bella 2.0. You can pick between five finish types, including zinc and cerakote, and choose a variety of shaft colors (including orange, pink, and purple) to go with a pair of black loadable sleeves.

The bar’s knurling is medium, which is enough for most lifters. It certainly doesn’t feel as aggressive as the knurling you can find on some 20-kilo barbells, but it provides enough support.

You don’t get a center knurl, which might be a good thing or a bad one, depending on what type of training you do.

The loadable sleeves offer an excellent spin, which is great for more explosive exercises, such as the clean and jerk.

Now, a couple of downsides. First, the black zinc coating on the shaft can fade out after years of consistent use. That won’t affect the bar or its knurl in any way, but it might not look as pleasing as it would when it’s brand new.

Second, the bar starts at $235, which is mid-range for women’s barbells.

2. Runner-Up Women Barbell: REP Fitness Excalibur 15kg

If you’re looking for something slightly more affordable that will provide a similar training experience, the REP Fitness Excalibur 15-kilo barbell is an excellent option.

Apart from the 0.4” shorter loadable sleeves, the Excalibur bar is identical to the Bella 2.0. It comes with 190,000 PSI and is rated to hold up to 1,500 lbs, which means the bar is virtually indestructible and likely to last for many years with proper use.

The medium-level knurling on the bar is excellent, and the 25 mm shaft diameter makes the barbell quite grippy during training.

The bar is primarily designed for traditional gym or powerlifting training. Still, it can also work as a weightlifting barbell thanks to the good knurling, decent whip, and loadable sleeves that spin freely.

In terms of design, the hard chrome coating makes the bar look great. Unfortunately, you only get one color option for the 15-kilo version of the bar.

3. Best Barbell For Newbies: Titan Fitness Women’s Atlas Olympic Barbell

Whether you’re a fan of Titan Fitness or not, you can’t deny that the company offers some decent products at an affordable price. The Women’s Atlas Olympic barbell is definitely in that category.

The women’s barbell by Titan Fitness comes at a similar price to the REP Fitness bar we looked at above, offering many of the same benefits. It weighs the same and has identical dimensions, aside from the overall length, which is slightly longer at 87” (221 cm).

This bar has the highest tensile strength of all the bars on our list at 220,000 PSI, which means it will hold up well even after years of regular use. It also has a decent whip and is rated to support up to 1,200 lbs (545 kg).

The bar’s design is nothing to write home about, but certain details show how much Titan Fitness cares for its product’s designs. For instance, the barbell comes with a cap on both sides with the logo. There is also a letter F on the base of the barbell sleeve that makes it easier to tell it’s a women’s barbell.

You get medium knurling, which offers good support, especially considering the 25 mm shaft diameter. The sleeves also rotate freely, which makes the bar ideal for explosive barbell training.

The only potential issue is that the knurling could have been slightly more aggressive.

4. Best Budget Women Barbell: REP Sabre Barbell 15kg

The 15-kilo Sabre bar is the second one from REP Fitness on our list, and for good reasons. It is one of the best women’s barbells, especially considering the price.

First, the zinc finish looks great and protects the bar from corrosion. Second, the bar has a decent weight limit of 1,000 lbs (454 kg), which means average loads will likely never cause it to deform.

Third, the bar comes with decent knurling, which provides proper support when combined with the 25 mm shaft diameter.

Some people worry that the 15-kilo version of the barbell doesn’t have center knurling, but that shouldn’t be an issue. Even for squats, setting yourself up correctly will allow you to keep the bar in a sturdy position.

One thing that’s not as great about this barbell is the tensile strength: 150,000 PSI. It’s certainly not bad, and most trainees will never find an issue with it, but it doesn’t exactly compare to the tensile strength of the other women’s barbells on our list.

5. Best Competition-Style: Rogue IWF Olympic Weightlifting Bar

Now we are getting into premium barbell territory. The Rogue IWF Olympic weightlifting bar is pretty much the gold standard and is primarily designed for weightlifting and explosive barbell training.

Like most of the bars on the list, this one weighs 15 kilograms and is 79.1” (200.9 cm) long. Its loadable sleeves are an average length of 12.5” (31.7 cm), and the knurling offers excellent grip support, even for trainees with sweaty hands.

The bright zinc finish makes the bar look great, and the impressive tensile strength of 215,000 PSI means the barbell can handle a ton of beating and still perform at its best. Plus, the whip is excellent, and it really starts to show on more dynamic exercises and when lifting more weight.

The bearings on both loadable sleeves ensure a seamless spin, leading to a great workout experience on dynamic barbell lifts.

What sets the bar apart from other women’s barbells is that it covers all the IWF requirements and is approved, which means it is the perfect fit for serious lifters who aspire to compete in weightlifting.

The only real downside of the bar is the cost - $545 at the time of writing. You can get a perfectly fine women’s barbell by Rogue for less than half of that: the Bella 2.0. 

6. Best Women Barbell On Amazon: Synergee Regional Olympic 15kg Bar

Last but certainly not least, we have the Synergee Regional Olympic 15-kilo women’s bar. This is a fantastic option for more casual trainees and those trying to fit inside $200. A notable benefit is that you can pick this bar up from Amazon and enjoy next-day delivery (depending on the region).

The Synergee bar is similar to all others on our list. It weighs 15 kilograms, is 79.1” (200.9 cm) long, has a shaft diameter of 25 mm, and its tensile strength is a respectable 190,000 PSI.

On top of that, the bar has 13” (33 cm) of loadable sleeve length and is rated to hold up to 1,500 lbs (681 kg). In other words, no matter how much you load the barbell in your training, you can rest assured that it will likely never deform, even slightly.

Its medium knurling is ideal for most trainees, as it provides decent support without feeling harsh or tearing into the skin. Coupled with the 25 mm shaft diameter, it is undoubtedly one of the grippier barbells on the market.

What’s also great is that you can get the barbell in black, which is certainly a perk, especially in this price range.

7 Things to Consider When Purchasing a Women’s Barbell

1. Weight

A standard women’s barbell weighs 33 lbs or 14.96 kilograms. In contrast, a standard barbell weighs 45 lbs or just over 20 kilograms.

2. Shaft Diameter

The shaft diameter of women’s barbells is 25 mm, whereas that of a standard barbell is 28 to 30 mm, depending on the quality.

3. Length

A women’s barbell is just over 6.5 feet long––roughly 201 cm or 79.1”. In comparison, a standard barbell is 7 feet long, or 213.3 cm (83.9”).

4. Knurling

Knurling refers to the texture of the bar shaft, which affects your grip. More aggressive knurling allows for a firmer grip but can also tear your skin and create calluses. In contrast, less aggressive knurling doesn’t affect your skin as much but doesn’t provide the same support.

In general, knurling comes in three categories (patterns):

• Hill - the individual diamonds that make up the texture have rounded corners. It feels more comfortable but doesn’t help much.
  
  
• Mountain - the individual diamonds are sharper and more pronounced, which allows for a stronger grip but can also hurt your hands.
  
  
• Volcano - the individual diamonds are a combination of what you get with heel and mountain knurling. The diamonds are sharper but not to the point where the bar rips into your skin. Volcano is generally best for most people.

You can learn more about barbell knurling in the following video:

5. Tensile Strength

Tensile strength, measured in PSI (pounds per square inch), measures the strain a barbell can handle before it gets permanently deformed.

A tensile strength of 150,000 PSI or less means the barbell is likely cheaper and cannot handle as much tension. I recommend avoiding these unless you’re trying to fit in a small budget.

Tensile strength between 150,000 and 180,000 PSI is generally enough for most trainees and means the bar can handle a lot of abuse and maintain its integrity.

Anything over 180,000 PSI means the barbell is of incredibly high quality and will likely last a lifetime with proper care.

6. Finish

Finish refers to the barbell’s coating and can have a significant impact on appearance, longevity, and grip. For instance, a good finish can protect your bar from corrosion.

The two primary finishes are zinc and cerakote. Zinc is more common and affordable, but it also feels and looks plainer. In contrast, cerakote is a type of ceramic coating that’s become popular for barbells in recent years. It looks good, provides a solid grip, and is durable.

Stainless steel coating is the third most popular kind. It is the premium option for coating and works great because it is highly resistant to damage and protects the bar from rust.

7. Sleeve Length

Most decent women barbells will come with standard 12.6” (32 cm) sleeves, but be mindful before purchasing.

Short sleeves would result in a shorter and more compact bar, but they won’t be able to hold onto as much weight, especially if you only have the thicker bumper plates at your disposal.

Women Barbell Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why do women need a different barbell?

Women don’t necessarily need a different barbell but could benefit greatly from one in their training. A traditional olympic bar could be slightly more challenging to handle because of its overall length, weight, and shaft diameter.

Women’s barbells are slightly lighter, thinner, and shorter, allowing for a more comfortable training experience. For one, weighing less means these bars are easier to move around.

Second, women generally have smaller hands, which means a slightly thinner shaft allows for a firmer grip.

2. How much does a women’s barbell weigh?

A good women’s barbell will weigh 33 lbs or 14.96 kilograms.

3. What is the best women’s barbell?

Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 Stainless Steel is undoubtedly an excellent women’s barbell, but other great options include the Rogue IWF Olympic Weightlifting Bar and Titan Fitness Women’s Atlas Olympic Barbell. A good budget pick is the REP Sabre Barbell 15kg.

4. How to tell if a barbell is 15 kg or 20 kg?

There isn’t a surefire way to tell; it mostly comes down to seeing enough barbells to gain enough experience.

With that said, a 20-kilo barbell will generally be longer, with a longer shaft and sleeves and slightly thicker. In contrast, women’s barbells are slightly more compact and have a thinner shaft that allows for a more comfortable grip, even if you have smaller hands.

Women’s Barbells: Final Words

If you’re looking for a high-quality women's barbell, you cannot go wrong with the Rogue Bella Bar 2.0 Stainless Steel and Rogue IWF Olympic Weightlifting Bar.

The REP Sabre Barbell 15kg is an excellent budget pick, and you can even get a fantastic barbell on Amazon: the Synergee Regional Olympic 15kg Bar.

Each of these works well, and you should pick the one that fits your budget.

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