Buying a Good All-Purpose Bar

Bigger Stronger Leaner Powerlifting & Strength Sports
1

I’m in the process of setting up a garage gym and I want a good all-purpose bar for the big lifts. I’m pretty spoiled when it comes to barbells after training with Eleiko bars in my gym, so I definitely want something of quality. Money’s not a huge concern, but it’s got to be something that’s good value. I’m thinking that I’d be willing to spend a few hundred on a bar, but cheaper is always good.

I was thinking of getting a Texas Power Bar. I’ve used one before in a meet and liked it, but I’d appreciate it if you guys could chime in and let me know if it’s a good pick and give me some recommendations if you think there’s a better choice out there.

Thanks!

2

Texas power bar (Cap welding) is great, tensile strength is not that high and I’ve seen 2 bend, great bar nonetheless, you can’t go wrong.

Rogue sells 2 great bars, the York B&R and the westside power bar, they both are 29mm, are stiff and have great tensile strength, I personally love the knurling on the B&R for training, it is less harsh but still very grippy. We have 4 of them at my gym all super straight after years of use (abuse). The westside power bar has very aggressive knurl like the eleiko PL bar.

Ivanko OBX-20 is a good bar but I personally dislike the multiple rings pattern and narrow unknurled section in the middle.

I never used one the the Q-Bar from Quest looks like a great bar and was once approved by the IPF.

York makes the 32004 model, it is a powerlifting bar, very high tensile strength but chromed. I know there was a bare steel model of this bar a few years back.

Eleiko PL comp bar feels great and all but price is ridiculous. They have a powerlifting training bar which is the same shaft/sleeves but with less aggressive knurl and chromed, I don’t know the price.

3

I also have a Texas Power Bar. Like it a lot.

4

This is just my opinion, and I know that it may suck, so please just spare me the flaming.

I haven’t used a lot of “power bars” because the gyms I train at suck, but I do own a Texas Power Bar.

I am extremely happy with it.

I haven’t seen one bend terribly yet (they do bend if abused). I have pretty much come to accept the fact that over time, everything will bend.

I have not used the elitefts bars, but I believe those are good. I think the Mastodon bar will probably be my next purchase.

As others have said, York, Capps, Eleiko/Ivanko (or other Nameko “IPF approved” gear if you can afford it), Rogue, Troy, and EliteFts would probably be the names I would stick with.

I am probably missing a few companies, but you get the point…

Powerlifting is not a super popular thing that companies try to cash in on, and these companies have either been there from the beginning and survived, or they are specialty companies that don’t make money on mass production and thus quality is key.

Since I am a broke college kid, I knew I had less money to buy a quality bar. I knew that I had to get a “cheap” one, but one that would be no better than what I was already using (breaks/bends/underperforms/etc).

With all things in life, after a certain point, you are spending money on names alone. I personally cannot see how buying Eleiko can possibly be much more cost effective than a good old York Barbell for every day training and use.

You want to run a competition, or are at the point where you need to “practice how you play?” Then fine, shell out some cash, because you are not going to get exactly the same experience as you will with the actual equipment you will use in competition.

BUT, ALL OF THAT BEING SAID…the bottom line is that you will need to get stronger. Everyone uses the same equipment on game day, and the strongest man will win, regardless of the equipment he used, or the training he implemented. I would get one that is DURABLE, and is in the MIDDLE GROUND for just about everything. That way if you train with it day in and day out, and (for example) you go to a meet and the bar is super stiff, you will not have to worry about it being wildly different because you are used to deadlifting with a super flexible specialty deadlift bar.

That is why I picked the Texas Power Bar. It fit the bill of an inexpensive/durable/vanilla powerlifting bar that would literally be good at everything.

When I get a job and have a disposable income, I will try out some smaller brand’s bars for sure. But, for now, the safe choice is a tried and true company.

5

I havetrained with Eleiko competition bar, Ivanko (formerly IPF approved) and of course they’re great, but I’ve also put my hands on a Xenios Pro-Bushing Olympic Bar…not bad at all: good grip (halfway between Eleiko and Ivanko) and by far cheaper than “IPF-enko”.

6

Jesup power bar is another option. 1500# rated and is $165. a buddy of mine who squats in the 700’s has one. works well for him.

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[quote]StrengthDawg wrote:
Jesup power bar is another option. 1500# rated and is $165. a buddy of mine who squats in the 700’s has one. works well for him. [/quote]

For the price its a damn good bar, and it is enough bar for most lifters. If on a budget this is what I would go with, and typically what I suggest.

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Is the Jesup power bar from Jesup Iowa? If so, how do you know if it is the 1500 lb one? Reason I ask is I have two from the actual store in Jesup, close to where I live, and one is getting bent already after about 7 months of use on squats and bench only. I squat low 500s.

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[quote]dzirkelb wrote:
Is the Jesup power bar from Jesup Iowa? If so, how do you know if it is the 1500 lb one? Reason I ask is I have two from the actual store in Jesup, close to where I live, and one is getting bent already after about 7 months of use on squats and bench only. I squat low 500s.[/quote]

I have no idea. The Jesup site shows several bars currently for sale. Every bar I’ve ever owned doesn’t have the weight rating on it anywhere. If my Texas PB didn’t have the little texas state stamp in the ed of the sleeve, one wouldn’t know what bar it was.

I would recommend you call Jesup and ask them. They should be able to better answer this question.

10

Well, the receipt is hand written I remember, so I don’t think they keep much of records haha, but I looked online and I have the 1000 bar, so I don’t recommend that one as it is bending. I remember I purchased this bar because it is smaller in diameter, probably shouldn’t have, but I did.

Side note, their rack for 200 dollars works well, although I am going to upgrade it, seems to move a lot when I load it up with weight / scary.

11

Another vote for the Texas Power Bar. We’ve got a couple of them in our gym and they must be at least 15 years old, but they hold out as though they were brand new.

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I bought a Sorinex Naked bar a few years ago (called in in and ordered with center knurling). I prefer it over the TPB because the knurling is finer and sharper (similar to Rouge knurling). The flange diameter is wider than any bar I have seen so far, which reduces plate wobble if you have good collars. Great smooth spin but it’s not bearing bar. Raw finish helps improve grip, too.

One thing I really like about it is the bull nose sleeve ends. Very easy to get plates on the bar even if it’s on the floor. Not critical but it’s a nice touch.

I clean and oil it 2-3 times per year. It has acquired a nice patina.

I wouldn’t recommend it for 500+ squats but it’s great for everything else. Just another option. $329.

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Texas Power Bar for Squats and Benches
Ivanko OBX-20 for Deads.

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[quote]JonathanByrd wrote:

[quote]StrengthDawg wrote:
Jesup power bar is another option. 1500# rated and is $165. a buddy of mine who squats in the 700’s has one. works well for him. [/quote]

For the price its a damn good bar, and it is enough bar for most lifters. If on a budget this is what I would go with, and typically what I suggest. [/quote]

I have one and love it.