Any folks on here have recommendations for a quality bar? Would prefer a multi bar. I will invest in specialized bars down the road but at the moment just need basics. I’m currently considering Elitefts multibar as they’re on sale right now unless someone gives horrid negative feed back. Thanks in advance all.
Have had a texas power bar since 2011 or so and it has been a great all around bar.
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I’m considering the Texas as well it’s a little higher priced at the moment but not horrible. Like 40-50 dollars more I think
I would get a nice power bar and a beater bar.
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I also have a Texas power bar and it’s top notch.
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I’ll give a third vote for the Texas Power Bar. It is something I’d really like for my home gym too, but I don’t work out at home enough to really justify it.
When I lifted at a high-end powerlifting gym they had a pair of Texas Power Bars, Texas Bench Bars, Texas Squat Bars and Texas Deadlift bars (among other specialty bars).
The specialty bars were all nice, especially the deadlift bar, but I didn’t think any of them were leagues ahead of the power bar at all. It is just a great all-around barbell with the best knurling pattern I’ve ever put my hands on.
I actually preferred the smaller diameter Power Bar over the Texas Squat bar for my raw low-bar squats. It just locks in better into the groove I make with my traps and I wasn’t squatting super-heavy with it. I could see how the larger squat bar becomes useful at loads above 600 or 700 pounds, the really strong guys there seemed to prefer it, especially in squat suits. The most I was loading on it was only 500 and the power bar was perfectly fine for that load.
It’s probably not ideal for Olympic lifting, but I don’t really know much about that and this is the powerlifting forum.
I’m sure the Elite FTS bar is good, but I’d shell out the extra for the Texas.
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On that note, I used a Texas Squat bar at my 5th strongman competition, for a tire squat for reps event, and it blew my mind how sharp the knurling was. It basically cut right through my shirt and dug into my skin. I can definitely see wanting something like that if you’re wearing a thick poly/multi suit.
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My gym has all sorts of bars. The Texas Squat Bars we have aren’t too bad with the knurling, but the Kabuki Squat bar is aggressive as hell.
My wife likes to wear tank tops or backless shirts to the gym, and didnt realize that on squat days! So we usually have her with a Texas Squat or Power bar - the Kabuki squat bar messed her up. She also likes the Ohio and Eleiko power bars too.
I like the Ohio and Texas Power bars since they’re so multipurpose - the Ohio and Eleiko ones are much narrower though.
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Yeah I personally don’t like the deep knurling bars. They’ll rip you up. Thanks for the feed back guys for sure. Texas seems to be a safe buy and way to go.
I also have a Texas Power Bar. Unfortunately I currently don’t ever get to use it as I am training at a commercial gym which doesn’t allow you to bring your own equipment (I tried to sneak it in and hide it there but it didn’t go over to well).
I enjoy my TPB a lot, however I could see how one would not like that aggressive of knurling. My hands get torn up when doing high volume or frequency deadlifting. I do really like it for everything else though. Great all around option, but I am sure there are plenty of other options out there that will do just as well.
The Rogue Power Bar is pretty good. It’s a clone of the Eleiko.
I prefer the Rogue Deadlift Bar over the Texas Deadlift Bar as well. I’ll fight yaz all!
The only negative is I dislike the black shaft (no homo).
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I like the Rogue power bar. Deadlift bar I prefer the Texas but only just.
I have TX power bar too. Good bar. Worth the $
I was going to say the same thing, the Rogue power bar is good and if you get the 45lb one (as opposed to the 20kg IPF approved version) it is fairly cheap compared to other options. The only time I ever used one was at a meet but I had zero complaints. I have the DL bar, the knurling is a bit sharp but nothing crazy.
Edit: I would go with whatever power bar you can get from a reputable brand for the best price. As long as they are made to comp. specifications and decent quality then they are all basically the same.
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That sounds ridiculous. It would suck to use that in training, the skin would peel off your back.
I have the Ohio power bar and the B&R bar. Happy with both. The 45 lb. Ohio power bar is like $275 or something, and the quality is similar to power bars that cost twice as much or more. I prefer the B&R for most of my deadlift volume because the knurl is milder and does not turn my hands into hamburger meat. Use the Ohio power bar for everything else. The B&R is bare steel though, so requires some upkeep and even with that you will see some oxidation.
Definitely end up developing upper back calluses. I’ve got a few from the yoke too.
The ladies love the back calluses though.
I bought a TPB second hand in 2009. It’s in great condition and remains our go to bar. It has definitely spoiled me for other bars whenever I venture to a commercial gym.
The rogue ohio powerbar (black zinc) coated. This is great for squats, presses, and deadlifts and the black zinc makes it so you don’t have to worry about rust or really take care of it. Mine is in a garage with no climate control and it is still good as new.
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