When you start shopping for a new barbell, you can quickly become overwhelmed. With all the different barbells and barbell brands, decision fatigue can set in fast. And if you're like us with a garage gym, you probably only want to buy one barbell, making your decision even harder.
Fortunately, the Hybrid Bar from Fringe Sport is a barbell you can use for powerlifting, Olympic lifts, and your WOD. These one-size-fits-all bars don't always work out, but Fringe Sport has done an excellent job creating a bar that can be all things to most people.
In the guide below, we will review the Fringe Sport hybrid barbell so you can decide if it is right for you.
- Pros & Cons Of The Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell
- Unique Design Features Of The Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell
- Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell Reviewed
- Comparison To Other Hybrid Barbell Alternatives
- How To Take Care Of Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell (Maintenance Tips)
- Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell FAQs
- Conclusion
Pros & Cons Of The Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell
The Fringe Sport Hybrid Bar is a fantastic mix of an Olympic, Power, and WOD bar. However, this bar is intended for more experienced lifters, so if you are just starting out, you might need to look around for a different bar for now.
We love the shaft diameter of the shaft of this Fringe Sport barbell, and they also did a pretty good job with the knurling.
Pros:
Cons:
Unique Design Features Of The Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell
There are a lot of unique features on this hybrid barbell, but one of the first things we noticed is the knurl, especially the center knurl. The knurling in the center is shorter than on a typical barbell by two inches per side. A typical multi-purpose barbell has about 7.25 inches of center knurl. The Hybrid Bar from Fringe Sport has 5.25 inches of knurl from the inner-most mark on each side. This was done intentionally to make it better for heavy deadlifts, so you don't shred your shins during pulls.
Fringe Sport's Hybrid Bar uses four needle-bearing cartridges in each sleeve housing to provide incredibly smooth and noiseless spin, even under load. This is unusual but a good thing for an all-purpose bar. Most barbells made for functional fitness use bushings in the sleeves instead of needle bearings. Fringe Sport is bucking that trend and builds this hybrid bar with needle bearings instead of bushings.
Although this isn't billed as a beginner bar, there's no reason a beginner wouldn't benefit from this bar. You can get a cheaper entry-level bar like the Wonder Bar, but entry-level bars can't do what this barbell can. Entry-level bars work just fine for powerlifting and your average garage gym usage, but if you ever decide to start practicing Olympic lifts, you'll eventually need a better bar.
If you're serious about lifting, get a bar you can grow into rather than one you'll grow out of. The Hybrid Bar by Fringe Sport is a bar you grow into.
Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell Reviewed
Product Specifications
Loadable Sleeve Length | 16.3 inches |
Bar Length | 86.75 inches |
Diameter | 28.5mm |
Bar Weight | 4 lbs |
Tensile Strength | 216,200 PSI |
Warranty | Yes, lifetime |
Quality & Durability
When it comes to durability, the Hybrid barbell is built with a robust 216,200 PSI tensile strength steel. Honestly, tensile strength isn't something many people focus on, but it is still vital.
Your barbell should be at least 180K PSI tensile strength, and this bar covers that easily. If you're pulling 600 lbs or more regularly, you need the added tensile strength.
Design & Finish
The Fringe Sport Hybrid barbell is coated in Matte Chrome. This gives it a nice, smooth look, and it will look great next to the rest of your gym equipment. Matte chrome really should be used more often because it offers a superior grip to polished chrome and zinc finishes.
Knurling
Knurling is always a hotly debated topic. However, we think the Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell has a nicely-done, middle-of-the-road knurling. The knurling on this bar is appropriate for a multi-purpose bar and is really kind of a blessing to people like us who appreciate strong knurling.
Center knurling on a multi-purpose bar is also an uncommon feature. It's kind of surprising that it is so rare because squats should play a significant role in your training program.
However, even a passive center knurl can do wonders to help the bar stick to your shirt. That's why we really appreciate the center-knurling on this bar.
Construction, Performance & Strength
Almost every mainstream multi-purpose bar uses bushings. However, the Hybrid bar is a bearing bar with four needle bearings per sleeve. Rotation is good on the bar and precisely what you'd expect of a bearing bar. We found that the turnover was reliable, consistent, and smooth.
We really like the bearings in the hybrid bar and have no complaints there.
The bar offers an average level of whip for a 28.5 mm barbell. It's not overly stiff or especially elastic. If you pull, bench, squat, clean, and row with the Hybrid, you might notice that it performs more like a power bar than an Olympic bar. But you would probably notice the same thing about all 28.5 mm multi-purpose bars.
If you want a multi-use barbell suited for the big three, but you also want to dabble in Olympic lifting, this is the bar for you. The Fringe Sport Hybrid bar is a great multi-use barbell that you can use for pretty much everything. However, we found that it performs best in slower lifts.
Comparison To Other Hybrid Barbell Alternatives
The Fringe Sport Hybrid Bar falls into the same category as many other well-known multi-purpose bars like the Rogue Ohio Bar and Vulcan Standard. Just about every bar in the 'multi-purpose bars' space is dual-marked, 28.5 mm bars with a pair of bronze or composite bushings for sleeve rotation. They also usually have a reasonably mild or moderate knurling without a center knurl. They also tend to have an average tensile strength right around 190k PSI or so.
However, the Hybrid Bar is built a little differently. The bar by Fringe Sports has a moderately whippy, 28.5 mm shaft with dual marks like most other multi-purpose bars.
However, instead of utilizing bushings for rotation, the Hybrid has four needle bearings per sleeve. And instead of the average 190k PSI shaft, it has a solid 216k PSI rated shaft with a 206k Yield.
The Hybrid barbell by Fringe Sports also has a premium (and pretty unique finishes. This bar sports a passive center knurling with outer knurling that starts further away from the center, so you don't bang your shins around doing deadlifts. It's a very unique multi-purpose barbell for sure.
As far as pricing goes, they are all about the same price, with the Vulcan barbell being the cheapest. The Vulcan is just over $300, while the Rogue is over $450, and the Fringe Sport is just under $450.
How To Take Care Of Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell (Maintenance Tips)
Maintenance is essential for every piece of gym equipment in your home gym, and the Hybrid Barbell is no exception. Fortunately, maintenance on a barbell is pretty straightforward.
First, use a plastic bristle brush and a mild detergent to clean the knurl. Then wipe down the bar with 3:1 oil and brush into the knurl with a plastic bristle brush. The bar will soak the oil to stay healthy. Be sure to wipe off excess oil with a dry rag. The last thing you need during your lifts is a slippery barbell.
Once your bar is clean, you also need to store it properly. It's best to store your bar horizontally if you can and store it up high, not on the ground. If you have to store it vertically, be careful when you put it away.
And never store your bar with weights on it or at an angle.
Fringe Sport Hybrid Barbell FAQs
What is A hybrid barbell?
The Hybrid barbell is very unique. It's a conventional 20kg men's bar designed for a strong lifter. It's made with steel with a tensile strength of 216,200 psi. The diameter of the shaft is 28.5mm, slightly bigger than the standard Olympic diameter of 28mm. It can be used for Olympic lifts, powerlifting, and CrossFit.
Are fringe sport barbells good?
Fringe Sport was founded in 2010 by brothers with a passion for no-nonsense, muscle-aching workouts that make most people break out into a cold sweat.
Fringe Sport produces tools and equipment of elite fitness within reach, allowing anyone to build a genuinely world-class home gym. Their barbells are extremely popular and a worthy investment for your garage gym.
Conclusion
It can be tricky deciding what equipment you need for your home gym. However, the barbell is one of the most essential pieces of equipment you will buy, so it's vital to make an informed decision.
Fortunately, the Hybrid Bar from fringe Sport is a barbell you can use for powerlifting, Olympic lifts, and your WOD, making it a great addition to your home gym.
Last Updated on December 29, 2025
