10 Best Olympic Barbells (Tested, Reviewed & Compared)

1. Rogue Ohio Bar  

The Rogue Ohio Barbell is one of the nicest barbells I’ve come across. It’s made by one of the most reputable fitness brands globally and is made in the USA. So you know the quality is going to be excellent. 

While its predecessor (the Rogue 2.0) is a brilliant barbell, the Rogue Ohio Barbell has outshone it in every way.  

The Rogue Ohio Barbell has everything you'd want from a barbell, and it’s extremely strong with a 200,000 PSI tensile strength and a comfortable 1-inch diameter shaft. 

The knurling is fantastic, and I didn’t lose my grip while performing heavy deadlifts, which is a massive plus in my books. However, even though the knurling is excellent, you’ll never lose your grip using the Rogue Ohio Barbell. I did find it was uncomfortable for Olympic lifts, and this is because the barbell doesn’t have as much whip as you’d want for some Olympic lifting workouts.  

But as the barbell doesn’t move much, it means you can fully load the barbell without worrying about the weight sliding around mid-set. It also gives you an accurate feel for the weight you’re lifting.  

The Rogue Ohio Barbell has a high durability rating, so I decided to put it to the test. I’m pleased to tell you the barbell survived being dropped from overhead while fully loaded, and it had no signs of damage and worked exactly how it should.  

If you’re still not certain about the Rogue Ohio Barbell, it comes with a lifetime guarantee from Rogue.  

It’s worth noting that this barbell isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a basic barbell to lift moderate weights, you might not want to pay the price the Rogue Ohio Barbell commands.  

But, if you’re looking to lift heavy, it’s perfect for most situations and ideal for home gym setups. There’s a reason why I’ve rated it the best Olympic barbell on this list.  

2. FringeSport Wonder Olympic Bar  

The runner up to our list of premium grade barbells is the FringeSport Wonder Olympic Bar.  

Before we talk about how the barbell performs, firstly, I want to say how fantastic it looks. It has a clean looking all-black zinc finish which is exceptional, and it’s one of the best I’ve seen.  

You have excellent grip when using the barbell, thanks to the medium-grade knurling across the FringeSport Wonder Olympic Bar. Although it doesn't have a center knurling as most Olympic barbells do, this isn’t a bad thing, and it prevents your upper chest from being torn apart during your workout.  

The FringeSport Wonder Olympic Bar is one of the cheaper premium barbells you can buy for your home gym, making it highly sought after by gym-goers. It comes in around $260, which is an absolute steal if you ask me; you’d be hard-pressed to find another barbell of the same quality for less.  

When it comes to the barbell's spin, there are two options you can purchase. The green bearings provide you with a super-fast spin, making it perfect for Olympic weightlifting movements. The yellow bearings have a much slower moderate spin, best suited for bench press and squat exercises.  

It’s a nice touch that you can select a bearing to suit your training needs; FringeSport impressed me with this feature.  

The FringeSport Wonder Olympic Bar has a 205,000 PSI, making it a robust barbell capable of handling heavy amounts of weight.  

But, even though the FringeSport Wonder Olympic Bar is excellent, I have found two issues.  

Firstly, the fantastic black zinc coating is prone to corrosion over time. While a good cleaning schedule should help minimize corrosion, it’s worth noting.  

The only other issue I had was there is slightly more whip than I’d expect from a multi-use barbell. This isn’t a significant issue, and I could efficiently perform movements such as deadlift without noticing it too much. However, some of you might not like this feature.  

Overall, I believe the FringeSport Wonder Olympic Bar to be a brilliant premium barbell for your home gym; it doesn’t lack quality and has an excellent price point. I'd recommend this barbell to most gym-goers. 

3. REP Gladiator Olympic Barbell 

Suppose you're looking for an Olympic barbell for your home gym that's extremely strong and capable of lifting ridiculous amounts of weight. In that case, the REP Gladiator Olympic Barbell is what you’re looking for.  

The REP Gladiator Olympic Barbell has a tensile strength of 230,000 PSI, making it one of (if not the) strongest barbells around. It’s perfect if you’re going to be performing heavy sets during Olympic and power lifts.  

While this barbell is suitable for all levels, I feel it would be overkill for a beginner, and it’s best suited for intermediate to advanced gym-goers or athletes looking to take their training to the next level.  

There are two versions of the barbell, a 33lbs and a 44.1lbs. Both versions are created using the same high-quality techniques and have pretty much the same features other than the tensile stress tolerance is slightly lower with the 33lbs barbell, and it’s only 79.1” long, but that’s to be expected.  

I found the shorter version of the barbell to be fantastic for hip thrusts as it allows you to have greater control of the barbell. If you love performing hip-thrusts to develop your glutes, opt for the 33lbs version.  

As the barbell has a 1-inch diameter (28mm) shaft, it gives the barbell an excellent whip which is ideal for explosive movements like the power clean.  

I was a massive fan of the combination of bushings and bearings on the barbell to control the spin. The three-needle bearings provide a fast spin while the bushings make the barbell durable, increasing the bar’s lifespan.  

Combine these factors with the well placed medium knurling, and you’ve got yourself one of the best Olympic barbells on the market.  

Lastly, the REP Gladiator Olympic Barbell has a hard chrome coating that doesn’t appear to crack or peel over time. This allows your barbell to look like new even a few years down the line.  

However, when it comes to faults, I had to be extremely picky. There aren’t many issues with this barbell other than if you’re looking for a stiff powerlifting barbell with harsh knurling, it probably isn’t for you.  

Other than that minor issue, the REP Gladiator Olympic Barbell is an excellent Olympic barbell for home gym setups.  

4. Rogue Pyrros Bar – Top of the Range 

If you want one of the best Olympic weightlifting barbells around and aren’t worried about paying a considerable amount, the Rogue Pyrros Bar is an excellent choice.  

The Rogue Pyrros Bar doesn’t hold back any punches; it’s one of the nicer barbells I’ve had the pleasure of using.  

It’s exceptionally well built and uses a strong stainless steel alloy which is highly resistant to corrosion. You can use this barbell for decades without worrying about its condition degrading.  

Rogue’s barbell comes with IWF Olympic standard knurling and a strong 200,000 PSI with one of the smoothest spins you can get. Combine all of these factors, and you’ve got a competitor for the best rated Olympic barbell around.  

It’s comfortable to use; the knurling isn’t overly harsh and isn’t too smooth either, allowing you to have a good grip on the barbell without shredding your hands to pieces.  

But, the only problem I have with the knurling is that they've included a center knurl on the bar, which can aggravate your upper chest during some movements. I mainly noticed this during front-loaded exercises such as the front squat. While it wasn’t too bad, it’s worth mentioning in this review.  

If you’re going to be performing explosive Olympic lifts, you’ll find the Rogue Pyrros Bar excellent. The spin is fast enough to limit the torque on your joints, and the barbell’s whip is sufficient enough to perform explosive movements without impacting your overall form.  

However, if you’ve been looking for a cheap and cheerful barbell, the Rogue Pyrros Bar isn’t the barbell for you, and it’s one of the most expensive on this list at around $600.  

But, don’t let the price put you off, you get what you pay for, and the Rogue Pyrros Bar is fantastic.  

The barbell is suitable for all lifting styles, but I’d say it’s geared toward anybody wanting to perform Olympic lifts rather than your average weight lifter.   

5. Titan Fitness – Best Budget Olympic Barbell 

The Titan Fitness – Blue City Olympic Cerakote Barbell is a gorgeous looking Olympic barbell available in four colors (red, black, blue, and bronze). It'll look fantastic in any home gym.  

The entire barbell is manufactured in the USA, so you can rest assured the quality of the Titan Fitness Blue City Olympic Cerakote Barbell will be of a high standard.  

The barbell is made using steel with a cerakote finish, which is incredibly hard-wearing, making the barbell withstand a whole lot of use. Cerakote is a tough ceramic coating with a tough 190,000 PSI and distributes strength evenly across the bar.  

While I tested this Olympic barbell, I found it provided a nice amount of whip, which was enough for explosive Olympic lifts but not too much; the barbell would be challenging to use for static weightlifting movements like the squat or deadlift.  

The Titan Fitness Blue City Olympic Cerakote Barbell’s knurling is similar to other premium barbells on this list. Its medium grade is enough to keep hold of the bar without hurting your hands.  

When I used the barbell for Olympic lifts, the lack of a central knurl was greatly appreciated as it remained comfortable during all parts of the exercise.  

An excellent addition that Titan Fitness has introduced to the barbell is grooved sleeves. These sleeves keep the plates on the barbell, which is incredibly useful during higher rep sets. The only downside to this feature is that putting Olympic plates on the bar produces more noise than smooth barbell sleeves. – It’s not a major problem if you ask me.  

While this barbell is overall brilliant, some users find it’s overpriced. However, I believe this is to be expected with higher-end barbells, especially when they provide you with the high quality the Titan Fitness Blue City Olympic Cerakote Barbell does.  

As the barbell has an excellent whip, I’d say it’s the best Olympic barbell for CrossFit.  

6. Synergee Black Phosphate and Chrome Olympic Barbell 

When the Synergee Black Phosphate and Chrome Olympic Barbell first arrived, I was pleased to see it was extremely well packaged in a tubular box. This might seem trivial, but it’s highly convenient and produces far less waste.  

Once I opened the box, I was pleased to see the barbell looked fantastic, and the phosphate finish gave the barbell a prestigious feel. It's a barbell that'll impress your friends for sure.  

Synergee is so sure you’ll love their barbell that they have a “better than money-back guarantee” if you have any issues with the Synergee Black Phosphate and Chrome Olympic Barbell, they’ll send you a brand new barbell for free. They claim your satisfaction is their number one goal, which is nice to see.  

When I tested the barbell, I found it performed incredibly well for most types of lifts. Deadlifting didn’t cause too much flexion in the barbell, and it immediately returned back to its shape once the barbell was back on the ground.  

The 1-inch diameter shaft is the perfect size to provide an excellent whip, making it a good choice of a barbell if you participate in Olympic lifting, e.g., clean and jerk.  

However, one annoyance I have with the barbell’s shaft is the phosphate coating. It’s not as hard-wearing as stainless steel with a chrome finish, and I feel that it’ll wear away over time. While this isn’t a significant problem, if you prefer a chrome finish to your barbells, this isn’t a good choice for you.  

Another issue I noticed was the low tensile rating. Compared to other barbells, its 150,000 PSI rating doesn’t cut it for me, and I’d like to see it closer to the 190,000 mark to have complete confidence in the barbell during my heavier lifts.  

But, if you’re a beginner looking for a higher-end barbell, the Synergee Black Phosphate and Chrome Olympic Barbell is a perfect choice, and it’s unlikely you’ll be lifting anywhere near enough weight to reach the maximum tensile strength limit.  

Overall, it’s a brilliant barbell with a few minor flaws. While beginners won’t need to worry about these issues, more advanced users looking to lift considerable amounts of weight might want to consider another barbell on this list.  

7. XMark CROWBAR Weight Bar 

As far as barbells go, the XMark CROWBAR Weight Bar is an excellent addition to this list and is ideal for your home garage gym.  

The XMark CROWBAR Weight Bar is constructed using heat-treated alloy steel with an excellent tensile strength rating of 185,000 PSI, and it has a 1500lb weight capacity making it perfect for most gym-goers.  

Its 1-inch steel shaft uses a black manganese phosphate coating for a comfortable yet firm grip. I found that it “glued” your hands to the bar without ripping your skin and causing pain. I’d happily use this barbell for my deadlifts and wouldn’t have to worry about my grip slipping.  

Yet, the black manganese phosphate is susceptible to corrosion if you don’t wipe the barbell down after using it. Don’t get me wrong, it won’t happen right away, but if the XMark CROWBAR Weight Bar requires slightly more care than other barbells.  

When it comes to performance, I found the barbell was fantastic to use. It had a decent amount of whip, ideal for Olympic lifts, and it performed well during traditional weightlifting exercises like bench press and deadlift.  

One feature I almost overlooked was that each chrome sleeve has a series of microgrooves to help prevent the weight plates from sliding and moving on the barbell during use. Sure, placing the weights on the barbell makes slightly more noise, but I can’t help but enjoy working out, knowing the weights aren’t going anywhere.  

When I was looking at the barbell online, I discovered that the XMark CROWBAR Weight Bar had excellent user ratings, and there weren’t many negative comments regarding the barbell. I believe this is because XMark is a highly reliable brand that’s one of the most trusted in the fitness industry.  

Overall, the XMark CROWBAR Weight Bar is the perfect barbell if you’re looking for a reasonably priced superior quality barbell. It performs as well as it looks and is suitable for most gym-goers ranging from Olympic lifters to CrossFit.  

8. CAP Barbell Olympic Barbell 

The CAP Barbell Olympic Bar, aka “The Beast” as it’s known amongst its users, has rightly earned this nickname. It may be relatively cheap to purchase, but it still remains an excellent entry-level high-end barbell for your home gym.  

Overall it has 3000+ reviews on Amazon and holds a staggering 4.7/5 stars, which says a lot about what its users think of the CAP Barbell Olympic Bar.  

When I used the barbell for my powerlifting workout, I had zero complaints, it handled the weight I was deadlifting with ease (400lbs+), and it didn’t deform or show any weaknesses. I even managed to drop the barbell from shoulder height to test its durability... again, there was no issue.  

The CAP Barbell Olympic Bar has excellent aesthetics and will look the part in your home gym. I was impressed by how nice the barbell looked when it arrived, especially since it was not too expensive to purchase (around $150).  

If you’re looking to use this barbell for your Olympic lifts, the spin on the barbell is adequate, but there are faster options out there. If you like barbells with a high spin rate, then the CAP Barbell Olympic Bar might not be the barbell for you.  

One issue I have encountered with this barbell is the early signs of surface corrosion, although I expect this from a barbell in that price range. You can easily avoid any corrosion by wiping down your barbell at the end of each workout, ensuring there’s no moisture left on the barbell.  

Overall, I was impressed by this barbell. While it wasn't my favorite on this list, it would be a fantastic barbell for beginners and those of you not wanting to spend a fortune but want a quality barbell.  

9. Valor Fitness - Best Olympic Barbell For Women 

The Valor Fitness Women’s Olympic Barbell is as heavy-duty as they come. It has a strong 165,000 PSI tensile rating, and the slightly thinner shaft provides a brilliant whip. The barbell has a fair amount of whip; it’s perfect for explosive movements and is best suited for CrossFit and Olympic lifting.  

With a maximum load of 500lbs, it makes an ideal barbell if you’re performing WODs, Metcon’s, and other high-volume training sessions where huge amounts of weight aren't necessary.  

While using the barbell, I found the knurling comfortable, making the barbell comfortable to hold while I was deadlifting and performing higher rep exercises. Thanks to its high-quality bearings and brass bushings, the Valor Fitness Women’s Olympic Barbell had excellent whip and spin. The combination of the two works perfectly, allowing you to get under the barbell faster during Olympic lifts.  

However, as the barbell has a black zinc coating, you are required to oil the bar to ensure it doesn’t corrode. While it’s not a huge problem, it requires more maintenance than many other chrome barbells.  

If you’re a woman looking to purchase a high-end women’s barbell for working out in your home gym, the Valor Fitness Women’s Olympic Barbell is ideal. It doesn’t have any significant flaws and is a pleasure to use.  

10. PAPABABE Olympic Bar  

The PAPABABE Olympic Bar is a well-constructed barbell built from robust cold rolled steel with a hardened chrome finish. It can withstand the usual wear and tear a barbell goes through during its lifespan.  

The barbell is incredibly well made, and I was impressed by its performance. It withstood the overhead drop test, remaining completely intact with no damaged bearings or bushings. This makes it ideal for Olympic lifters looking to work out at home with a strong barbell.  

While I used the barbell for heavy deadlifts, I found the knurling to be satisfactory; it didn’t hurt my hands but provided enough grip to maintain a tight hold of the barbell even with sweaty hands.  

As the PAPABABE Olympic Bar has a 1-inch diameter shaft, I found it had enough whip to make it useful for most types of lifting. Whether you’re performing traditional weight lifting movements or Olympic-style lifting, it’s suitable for your needs.  

However, I did find two issues with the barbell that other users had reported. One user reported the chrome sleeves are susceptible to chipping, which isn’t brilliant. And another user said the barbell deformed after several months of use.  

While I haven’t encountered these issues myself, it’s worth noting. But, keep in mind that not all users will use barbells correctly, and the deformation could be due to overloading (which is more common than you think).  

Overall, I found the PAPABABE Olympic Bar to be satisfactory and is ideal for anyone looking for an entry-level premium barbell.