On the other hand, the bar is wildly over-specd for a youth bar. More on this later.
The urethane plates Im using are slightly thinner than rubber competition plates, and regular black rubber bumper plates are even thicker than competition plates, so the total weight using rubber bumper plates would be significantly less. Fringe Sport Shorty Bar size comparison to a full size 20kg barbell. It looks and feels like Rogues flagship Ohio bar, just shorter and lighter. I own that bar as well and I love it, but the fact that it doesnt fit on a standard rack limits its usefulness. In my opinion, the American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar has three features that really set it apart from the rest of the test group. Even though it doesnt have enough space between collars to fit on a rack, its the only shorty bar Ive been able to find that is finished in Cerakote. However, I realize that not everyone has enough space to accommodate a rack, so in some cases a good quality 5-foot bar would be a better choice. The biggest drawbacks are that it isnt rackable on a standard full size rack and may be too short for snatches if you use an extra wide grip. The Eleiko XF Short Bar is designed specifically for functional fitness and offers the most loadable sleeve length of all the short bars Ive tested. Eleiko describes the knurling on the XF Short Bar as being their least aggressive, and after working with the bar I would describe it as passive you can definitely feel the knurling cross hatch, but it doesnt have much in the way of a bite. At the time of this writing, an XF Short Bar will set you back $475. Its a very dense cross-hatch pattern with dulled peaks provide excellent traction, and the Cerakote finish adds an extra amount of grip. The one caveat is that snatching with the C-60B will be difficult if you use a very wide grip. However, the bar had a very noticeable bend at this weight and given the inconsistency in ratings I wouldnot recommendusing this bar for any pressing or squatting lifts in excess of 250lbs. The bar length between collars measures 51.75 inches, which is almost the same as a full size bar. Even though the bar has a tensile strength strong enough to hold at least 300lbs, youll need to use steel plates to get there. Very cool. If its basically a rackable version of the C-60B Ive already reviewed then its bound to be a winner. The C-70S is hands down the best barbell to buy if you are short on space and want the fewest compromises in a compact barbell. Everything about this bar feel well made and thoughtfully designed. Theres only so much real estate on a 72 bar (actual measured length is 71.5), so they cut down the sleeve lengths to accommodate the full size bar length. The hard chrome combined with the light knurl make this bar difficult to hold on to during deadlifts once I start sweating. A little bit of climbing chalkhelps the grip tremendously, but I dont like using chalk in my spare bedroom if I can avoid it for the sake of keeping my spare bedroom clean. The knurl pattern on both ends is shifted toward the center, leaving three inches of smooth un-knurled bar at the ends by the collars. For context, Im about 58 tall and 180lbs, and my hands are sized proportionally to my weight and height.
The C-70S Bar is great for Powerlifting, CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, or anything else you want to do with it.
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The Junior Bar is also the only bar in the test group with a black zinc finish. If not rackable (less than 50 of bar width between collars), does it have other features that make it stand out? For reference, I tested all of these bars with a 140kg set of competition bumper plates. Hey, youre very welcome, Im happy my content has helped you! Including the weight of the bar, this adds up to a grand total of 120kg (264lbs) with no room to spare. That may not sound like much but its enough to load a hefty amount of weight on the bar. Use it for slow grinding lifts like bench press, squats, overhead press, and rows. The knurling on theTitan 6 Technique Olympic Barcan best be described as medium-sharp. This bar is good for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Power lifts like squats, bench press, overhead press, etc and will fit any standard squat rack up to 50 wide. Everything else is on par in quality with the rest of American Barbells Performance Training line of bars. Not as bad as the CAP bar, but close.
It would make a good beater bar if you can find one on sale. Everything about it feels well constructed. The C-70S is similar to the Rogue C-60B covered earlier in this article, but with more loadable sleeve length and enough width between collars to fit on a standard sized rack.
Curious how it compares to the Fringesport Shorty. The OB-73UL is a decent bar that I found myself using a lot. So if you typically grip the bar just outside the outer knurl mark when you snatch, youre good!
There isnt enough sleeve space for me to load the full 140kg of weight and still use my Lock Jaw collars, but I can definitely fit a spring clip on the end so no worries about safety. I should also note that none of these bars is a perfect replacement for a full size barbell. I would describe the knurling on the Rogue C-60B as medium its not passive or super aggressive, in my opinion its just right. Im a big fan of Cerakote as a barbell finish and Rogue is currently the only company offering shorty bars with this finish. The specs for this bar are very clear that 350lbs is a static weight limit, meaning that this bar is not intended to be dropped. Its a shorter version of the Cerakote Ohio bar, it can be used for any style of training, and its my pick for the overall best compact barbell. It was originally only offered as part of a bar and bumper plate set, which meant you had to spend a minimum of 500 bucks just to get your hands on it, regardless of whether or not you needed the bumpers. Eleiko XF Short Bar size comparison with a 20kg Olympic bar. Rogue is never going to win awards for having the best sleeve spin in their bushing bars, but the spin on the C-70S is good enough for doing Olympic lifts without risking injury. Most commercially available racks like the Garage Series Squat Rack from Fringe Sport (full review), are roughly 50 wide. The measured length is actually only 51.25 so saying its a full-width bar is a bit generous, but its still one of the widest bar lengths of the review group. There is no wobble whatsoever in the sleeves, nor is there any slack that allows me to move the sleeves even a millimeter up or down on the bar.
This bar is perfect for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, and also good for pressing lifts like squats, bench press, and overhead press. This is just over 330lbs for those of you whod rather not do the kilogram-to-pound conversion. Including the weight of the bar, this adds up to a grand total of 341.71lbs. Based on my experience with the American Barbell T-Grip Shorty Bar(which I love by the way) I thought 25mm would be too narrow for me to use effectively for regular lifting, but I was wrong. Thanks! Bumpers slide on and off easily, with very little noise. First, the shaft diameter. However, my motto is Buy Nice or Buy Twice, so buying a high quality barbell like the Eleiko XF Short Bar that will last you for many years is a worthy investment. Short Olympic bars come in several sizes, including 4-foot, 5-foot, and 6-foot versions. Speaking of shorter sleeves, theres only about 6.75 of loadable sleeve length on the Performance Training Bar. CAP OB-73UL size comparison to a 20kg Olympic barbell. In other words, this is a perfect bar for a Stronglifts 55 type workout, at least till you work up to 250lbs in any one lift. The new and improved GetRXd Shorty Bar now fits on all standard squat racks up to 50 wide. This bar isnt geared toward Olympic lifting anyway, so the amount of spin provided by the brass bushings is adequate for powerlifting and the occasional snatch or clean. The sleeves are ribbed, and bumpers slide on and off with a fairly loud zipping noise. If you'd like to build your own home gym, start here.
Im not a fan of black zinc as a barbell finish because it doesnt tend to hold up well over time. The sleeves wobble a bit when spinning and theres a bit of side-to-side play in them, indicative of loose manufacturing tolerances. Third, the sleeve spin is the best of all the short barbells Ive tested. The Rogue Junior Bar is the first true 25mm bar Ive ever owned and trained with. The second is the use of recessed welded sleeves. As long as you dont need a rack, you can do any lift with this bar that you can do with a full size Ohio bar. Obviously tradeoffs have to be made to achieve the shorter length. In fact, the XF Short Bar is so good it has taken the title from the American Barbell 10kg Performance Training Bar as The Bar With the Best Build Quality.
This includes deadlifts, which means that 140kg (308lbs) is probably the actual working limit if you dont want to risk breaking this bar. Theres not a lot of spin in the sleeves, and I noted a little bit of side-to-side play in them. Given that this is an Eleiko bar, the build quality is top notch. Before the introduction of the C-70S, the C-60B was the only short barbell on the market finished in Cerakote. The grip provided by the finish on this bar is among the best of all the barbells I reviewed for this article. Hi Steph, great question. However, the Cerakote finish and the bars ability to fit on a standard rack more than make up for it. The XF Short bar is a true 15kg bar, which makes plate math easier for those of you lifting in kilos instead of pounds. Third, the knurling. When describing barbell features, the term Olympic is often used as shorthand to mean the bar sleeve is 50mm (2) in diameter. The Hampton 6 International Bar has only 48 of space between sleeves, so it wont fit on most standard power racks like those sold by Rogue Fitness and Fringe Sport. Most of the plates were tested using a set of Rogue competition plates (full review), although I recently replaced them with a set of Titan Fitness urethane competition plates (full review) after getting a good deal on them during a Black Friday sale. The knurling on the Performance Training Bar is by far the best of all the bars in my test group. For context, Im about 58 tall and 180lbs, and my hands are sized proportionally to my weight and height. Bonus! The GetRXd Shorty can hold over 400lbs of weight if you use metal plates, so it should be usable for the vast majority of home lifters. Ill get this out of the way up front I included this bar because the specs list the inner bar length as 51, but it only measures 49.25. This isnt a bar for use in frequent Olympic lift training.
The original version was not wide enough between collars to fit most standard squat racks, so GetRXd went back to the drawing board and redesigned the bar accordingly! The login page will open in a new tab. Troy Barbell 6 ft Olympic Chrome Bar Review, American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar Review, CAP Barbell Olympic 2-Inch Solid Chrome Bar, American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar, Titan Fitness urethane competition plates, Titan Fitness urethane competition bumpers, http://pinterest.com/http://fitnesstestlab, 1 oversized oil-impregnated bushing per collar, Distance between the inside edge of the sleeves: 52.18, Finish: black zinc shaft + bright zinc sleeves, 72 bar length (14.75 shorter than the Ohio Bar).
The American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Baris the second 25mm bar Ive owned and trained with, after the Rogue Junior Bar. Most of the other rackable short bars Ive tested so far weighed between 30-35lbs. The bar also needs to support at least 300lbs of weight. A bar designated as an Olympic bar will be compatible with other equipment designated as Olympic, like bumper plates and collars. The Eleiko XF Short Bar is great for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, and also good for Powerlifting as long as you use a compatible rack or squat stands. So without further ado I present to you the best short barbells for home use! Rogue Junior Bar size comparison to a 20kg Olympic bar.
This is important because it means theTitan 6' Technique Olympic Bar willnot fit many standard racks from companies like Rogue Fitness or Fringe Sport, which typically have a distance between posts of 50. I mean that literally I submitted a product request for this exact barbell two years ago! Given the narrow dimensions of my gym, Im just waiting on the C-70S to come back in stock so I can snag one to review. You might be asking yourself, howd they do this?, which is a good question. The Buyers Guide has answers to every question I had when first researching barbells, including questions Ive seen asked elsewhere. It has the look and feel of a powerlifting bar, but doesnt have the weight rating to back it up. Will likey sell the odd man out after deciding which 2 will be used the most. I wish there was more to say about this bar, but there really isnt.
I also found the narrower diameter to be good for deadlifting, since Im able to get a better grip on the bar and hold on to it longer. The bar tends to transfer some inertia to the sleeves during cleans, which makes the weights spin a little at the end of the lift. The knurling on the GetRXd Shorty Baris light, which is great for high rep work but not so great for heavy pulls with sweaty hands. Im happy to say I was pleasantly surprised.
You can do any lift with this bar that you can do with a full size Ohio bar. Second, the weight. This bar can also be used for pulling lifts and high-rep sets, just keep in mind that the short sleeve length is going to limit the amount of weight you can load. Hi Greg, Elieko was kind enough to send me an XF Short Bar to evaluate, and my review has been posted! For the purposes of evaluating and rating the bars, Im considering factors such as price, build quality, and usefulness in comparison to a full size barbell. The XF Short Bar was clearly constructed using very precise machining tolerances. When I originally started my research, I focused primarily on short barbells that could be used in a rack for squats, overhead presses, and bench presses.
After months of scouring the internet, reading through forums, and tracking down obscure product information, so far Ive managed to find just ten barbells that met all three requirements: Ive managed to acquire all of these bars and put them all to the test. Rehashing some of my impressions of the Rogue Junior Bar, the Performance Training Bar looks like a toy when placed next to a full size 20kg barbell. I didnt find the shorter sleeves to be a hindrance though.
With a length of just 6 feet, this bar is perfect for use in my small basement home gym.
It provides a good amount of grip for pulls, but maybe a touch too much for high-rep clean/snatch sessions if thats your thing. Its not super aggressive, but definitely the sharpest of the bars included in this review. I was pleased to see its the same knurl pattern as my American BarbellCerakote Training Bar, which is one of the best barbells Ive ever tested and one of the few I plan to keep till it falls apart or I depart from this earth, whichever comes first. The Troy Barbell 6 ft Olympic Chrome Barhas amedium knurl that extends to within 1 inch of the collar. Including the weight of the bar, this adds up to a grand total of 130kg (286.6lbs) with no room to spare.
American Barbell Performance Training Bar size comparison to a 20kg Olympic bar, This bar is very similar in specs to the Rogue Junior Bar, so many of the same things apply and therefore Im going to indulge in some copypasta.
I think I may have bought mine just after it was introduced, so I was lucky to get one before everyone else jumped on it.
Powerlifting, Olympic lifts, Metcons, you name it! Sleeves loaded with 60kg each and spring clips.
It looks like a beautiful bar and its likely to be extremely well made, but it would need to be head and shoulders above other similar offerings to justify the price point ($475 when I last checked). You can find a good compact barbell for less money, but you will not find a better compact barbell for less money. I dont think the weight difference is substantial enough to matter to the average home gym lifter, but Rogue mentions it so Im mentioning it as well. When I use this bar I find myself having to use chalk when my hands get sweaty, and most of you will know by now I prefer not to use chalk if I can avoid it. Its clear that Fringe Sport didnt skimp on quality to make this short barbell. I like to deadlift and the black phosphate finish combined with a medium knurl make the bar easy to hold on to during pulls. Not a deal breaker, just something to be aware of.
Zinc provides better corrosion resistance than hard chrome, but not as good as Cerakote or stainless steel. I already have the Shorty models from FringeSport and GetRXd. This is the only sub-$100 bar that met my review criteria, and at that price point I wasnt really expecting much from it. On the other hand, thehard chrome finish is great for corrosion resistance, but not so great for maintaining grip during pulls.
As you can see in the pictures below, the collar comes right to the edge of the sleeve with only 120kg of loaded weight. Maybe the shorter sleeves impact the number of bushings used, maybe not, but the spin on this bar is not as good as what I saw with the Rogue Bella Bar, or even the Rogue Training Bar. The C-60B Bar is great for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, and also good for pressing lifts like front squats and overhead press. They all have different tradeoffs, but I think the advantages of having a compact barbell for use in a tight space outweigh the disadvantages. TheTitan 6 Technique Olympic Bar is the dark horse of the test group. This bar can also be used for pulling lifts and high-rep sets, as long as youre okay with using some chalk for adding grip to the light knurling and chrome finish. Ill cover the specs I used to choose the bars I tested in the Requirements section, but the short version (ha ha) is that I chose bars that met the following criteria: The following table is for those that are short on time or just want the TL;DR version. Boo! I do still occasionally have to use chalk with the Performance Training Bar, but it still offers the best grip out of the entire test group. The build quality of the C-70S good, but not as high as the Eleiko XF Short Bar or even the American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar. Second, the weight.
Would you recommend the Fringe shorty over the GetRxd bar? This bar can also be used for pulling lifts and high-rep sets, as long as youre okay with using some chalk for adding grip to the light knurling and zinc finish. What are your thoughts on the Eleiko one? The Fringe Sports Shorty Bar isa true 15kg bar, which makes plate math easier for those of you lifting in kilos instead of pounds.
Rackable, with at least 50 of bar width between collars. Whats even more confusing is their product website still says the bar will hold 300lbs, even though the specs on the same page clearly state 250lb. The biggest drawbacks are that it isnt rackable and may be too short for snatches if you use an extra wide grip.
Sleeve loaded with 70kg weight and Lockjaw collar, should have used a spring clip collar instead. Any wider and youll need to go with one of the other short bar options covered in this review. Not sure why, I guess the thin grooves just grate on the bumper inserts. What is most curious to me about this bar is the weight rating.
The urethane plates Im using are slightly thinner than rubber competition plates, and regular black rubber bumper plates are even thicker than competition plates, so the total weight using rubber bumper plates would be significantly less. Fringe Sport Shorty Bar size comparison to a full size 20kg barbell. It looks and feels like Rogues flagship Ohio bar, just shorter and lighter. I own that bar as well and I love it, but the fact that it doesnt fit on a standard rack limits its usefulness. In my opinion, the American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar has three features that really set it apart from the rest of the test group. Even though it doesnt have enough space between collars to fit on a rack, its the only shorty bar Ive been able to find that is finished in Cerakote. However, I realize that not everyone has enough space to accommodate a rack, so in some cases a good quality 5-foot bar would be a better choice. The biggest drawbacks are that it isnt rackable on a standard full size rack and may be too short for snatches if you use an extra wide grip. The Eleiko XF Short Bar is designed specifically for functional fitness and offers the most loadable sleeve length of all the short bars Ive tested. Eleiko describes the knurling on the XF Short Bar as being their least aggressive, and after working with the bar I would describe it as passive you can definitely feel the knurling cross hatch, but it doesnt have much in the way of a bite. At the time of this writing, an XF Short Bar will set you back $475. Its a very dense cross-hatch pattern with dulled peaks provide excellent traction, and the Cerakote finish adds an extra amount of grip. The one caveat is that snatching with the C-60B will be difficult if you use a very wide grip. However, the bar had a very noticeable bend at this weight and given the inconsistency in ratings I wouldnot recommendusing this bar for any pressing or squatting lifts in excess of 250lbs. The bar length between collars measures 51.75 inches, which is almost the same as a full size bar. Even though the bar has a tensile strength strong enough to hold at least 300lbs, youll need to use steel plates to get there. Very cool. If its basically a rackable version of the C-60B Ive already reviewed then its bound to be a winner. The C-70S is hands down the best barbell to buy if you are short on space and want the fewest compromises in a compact barbell. Everything about this bar feel well made and thoughtfully designed. Theres only so much real estate on a 72 bar (actual measured length is 71.5), so they cut down the sleeve lengths to accommodate the full size bar length. The hard chrome combined with the light knurl make this bar difficult to hold on to during deadlifts once I start sweating. A little bit of climbing chalkhelps the grip tremendously, but I dont like using chalk in my spare bedroom if I can avoid it for the sake of keeping my spare bedroom clean. The knurl pattern on both ends is shifted toward the center, leaving three inches of smooth un-knurled bar at the ends by the collars. For context, Im about 58 tall and 180lbs, and my hands are sized proportionally to my weight and height.
The C-70S Bar is great for Powerlifting, CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, or anything else you want to do with it.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Junior Bar is also the only bar in the test group with a black zinc finish. If not rackable (less than 50 of bar width between collars), does it have other features that make it stand out? For reference, I tested all of these bars with a 140kg set of competition bumper plates. Hey, youre very welcome, Im happy my content has helped you! Including the weight of the bar, this adds up to a grand total of 120kg (264lbs) with no room to spare. That may not sound like much but its enough to load a hefty amount of weight on the bar. Use it for slow grinding lifts like bench press, squats, overhead press, and rows. The knurling on theTitan 6 Technique Olympic Barcan best be described as medium-sharp. This bar is good for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Power lifts like squats, bench press, overhead press, etc and will fit any standard squat rack up to 50 wide. Everything else is on par in quality with the rest of American Barbells Performance Training line of bars. Not as bad as the CAP bar, but close.
It would make a good beater bar if you can find one on sale. Everything about it feels well constructed. The C-70S is similar to the Rogue C-60B covered earlier in this article, but with more loadable sleeve length and enough width between collars to fit on a standard sized rack.
Curious how it compares to the Fringesport Shorty. The OB-73UL is a decent bar that I found myself using a lot. So if you typically grip the bar just outside the outer knurl mark when you snatch, youre good!
There isnt enough sleeve space for me to load the full 140kg of weight and still use my Lock Jaw collars, but I can definitely fit a spring clip on the end so no worries about safety. I should also note that none of these bars is a perfect replacement for a full size barbell. I would describe the knurling on the Rogue C-60B as medium its not passive or super aggressive, in my opinion its just right. Im a big fan of Cerakote as a barbell finish and Rogue is currently the only company offering shorty bars with this finish. The specs for this bar are very clear that 350lbs is a static weight limit, meaning that this bar is not intended to be dropped. Its a shorter version of the Cerakote Ohio bar, it can be used for any style of training, and its my pick for the overall best compact barbell. It was originally only offered as part of a bar and bumper plate set, which meant you had to spend a minimum of 500 bucks just to get your hands on it, regardless of whether or not you needed the bumpers. Eleiko XF Short Bar size comparison with a 20kg Olympic bar. Rogue is never going to win awards for having the best sleeve spin in their bushing bars, but the spin on the C-70S is good enough for doing Olympic lifts without risking injury. Most commercially available racks like the Garage Series Squat Rack from Fringe Sport (full review), are roughly 50 wide. The measured length is actually only 51.25 so saying its a full-width bar is a bit generous, but its still one of the widest bar lengths of the review group. There is no wobble whatsoever in the sleeves, nor is there any slack that allows me to move the sleeves even a millimeter up or down on the bar.
This bar is perfect for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, and also good for pressing lifts like squats, bench press, and overhead press. This is just over 330lbs for those of you whod rather not do the kilogram-to-pound conversion. Including the weight of the bar, this adds up to a grand total of 341.71lbs. Based on my experience with the American Barbell T-Grip Shorty Bar(which I love by the way) I thought 25mm would be too narrow for me to use effectively for regular lifting, but I was wrong. Thanks! Bumpers slide on and off easily, with very little noise. First, the shaft diameter. However, my motto is Buy Nice or Buy Twice, so buying a high quality barbell like the Eleiko XF Short Bar that will last you for many years is a worthy investment. Short Olympic bars come in several sizes, including 4-foot, 5-foot, and 6-foot versions. Speaking of shorter sleeves, theres only about 6.75 of loadable sleeve length on the Performance Training Bar. CAP OB-73UL size comparison to a 20kg Olympic barbell. In other words, this is a perfect bar for a Stronglifts 55 type workout, at least till you work up to 250lbs in any one lift. The new and improved GetRXd Shorty Bar now fits on all standard squat racks up to 50 wide. This bar isnt geared toward Olympic lifting anyway, so the amount of spin provided by the brass bushings is adequate for powerlifting and the occasional snatch or clean. The sleeves are ribbed, and bumpers slide on and off with a fairly loud zipping noise. If you'd like to build your own home gym, start here.
Im not a fan of black zinc as a barbell finish because it doesnt tend to hold up well over time. The sleeves wobble a bit when spinning and theres a bit of side-to-side play in them, indicative of loose manufacturing tolerances. Third, the sleeve spin is the best of all the short barbells Ive tested. The Rogue Junior Bar is the first true 25mm bar Ive ever owned and trained with. The second is the use of recessed welded sleeves. As long as you dont need a rack, you can do any lift with this bar that you can do with a full size Ohio bar. Obviously tradeoffs have to be made to achieve the shorter length. In fact, the XF Short Bar is so good it has taken the title from the American Barbell 10kg Performance Training Bar as The Bar With the Best Build Quality.
This includes deadlifts, which means that 140kg (308lbs) is probably the actual working limit if you dont want to risk breaking this bar. Theres not a lot of spin in the sleeves, and I noted a little bit of side-to-side play in them. Given that this is an Eleiko bar, the build quality is top notch. Before the introduction of the C-70S, the C-60B was the only short barbell on the market finished in Cerakote. The grip provided by the finish on this bar is among the best of all the barbells I reviewed for this article. Hi Steph, great question. However, the Cerakote finish and the bars ability to fit on a standard rack more than make up for it. The XF Short bar is a true 15kg bar, which makes plate math easier for those of you lifting in kilos instead of pounds. Third, the knurling. When describing barbell features, the term Olympic is often used as shorthand to mean the bar sleeve is 50mm (2) in diameter. The Hampton 6 International Bar has only 48 of space between sleeves, so it wont fit on most standard power racks like those sold by Rogue Fitness and Fringe Sport. Most of the plates were tested using a set of Rogue competition plates (full review), although I recently replaced them with a set of Titan Fitness urethane competition plates (full review) after getting a good deal on them during a Black Friday sale. The knurling on the Performance Training Bar is by far the best of all the bars in my test group. For context, Im about 58 tall and 180lbs, and my hands are sized proportionally to my weight and height. Bonus! The GetRXd Shorty can hold over 400lbs of weight if you use metal plates, so it should be usable for the vast majority of home lifters. Ill get this out of the way up front I included this bar because the specs list the inner bar length as 51, but it only measures 49.25. This isnt a bar for use in frequent Olympic lift training.
The original version was not wide enough between collars to fit most standard squat racks, so GetRXd went back to the drawing board and redesigned the bar accordingly! The login page will open in a new tab. Troy Barbell 6 ft Olympic Chrome Bar Review, American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar Review, CAP Barbell Olympic 2-Inch Solid Chrome Bar, American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar, Titan Fitness urethane competition plates, Titan Fitness urethane competition bumpers, http://pinterest.com/http://fitnesstestlab, 1 oversized oil-impregnated bushing per collar, Distance between the inside edge of the sleeves: 52.18, Finish: black zinc shaft + bright zinc sleeves, 72 bar length (14.75 shorter than the Ohio Bar).
The American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Baris the second 25mm bar Ive owned and trained with, after the Rogue Junior Bar. Most of the other rackable short bars Ive tested so far weighed between 30-35lbs. The bar also needs to support at least 300lbs of weight. A bar designated as an Olympic bar will be compatible with other equipment designated as Olympic, like bumper plates and collars. The Eleiko XF Short Bar is great for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, and also good for Powerlifting as long as you use a compatible rack or squat stands. So without further ado I present to you the best short barbells for home use! Rogue Junior Bar size comparison to a 20kg Olympic bar.
This is important because it means theTitan 6' Technique Olympic Bar willnot fit many standard racks from companies like Rogue Fitness or Fringe Sport, which typically have a distance between posts of 50. I mean that literally I submitted a product request for this exact barbell two years ago! Given the narrow dimensions of my gym, Im just waiting on the C-70S to come back in stock so I can snag one to review. You might be asking yourself, howd they do this?, which is a good question. The Buyers Guide has answers to every question I had when first researching barbells, including questions Ive seen asked elsewhere. It has the look and feel of a powerlifting bar, but doesnt have the weight rating to back it up. Will likey sell the odd man out after deciding which 2 will be used the most. I wish there was more to say about this bar, but there really isnt.
I also found the narrower diameter to be good for deadlifting, since Im able to get a better grip on the bar and hold on to it longer. The bar tends to transfer some inertia to the sleeves during cleans, which makes the weights spin a little at the end of the lift. The knurling on the GetRXd Shorty Baris light, which is great for high rep work but not so great for heavy pulls with sweaty hands. Im happy to say I was pleasantly surprised.
You can do any lift with this bar that you can do with a full size Ohio bar. Second, the weight. This bar can also be used for pulling lifts and high-rep sets, just keep in mind that the short sleeve length is going to limit the amount of weight you can load. Hi Greg, Elieko was kind enough to send me an XF Short Bar to evaluate, and my review has been posted! For the purposes of evaluating and rating the bars, Im considering factors such as price, build quality, and usefulness in comparison to a full size barbell. The XF Short Bar was clearly constructed using very precise machining tolerances. When I originally started my research, I focused primarily on short barbells that could be used in a rack for squats, overhead presses, and bench presses.
After months of scouring the internet, reading through forums, and tracking down obscure product information, so far Ive managed to find just ten barbells that met all three requirements: Ive managed to acquire all of these bars and put them all to the test. Rehashing some of my impressions of the Rogue Junior Bar, the Performance Training Bar looks like a toy when placed next to a full size 20kg barbell. I didnt find the shorter sleeves to be a hindrance though.
With a length of just 6 feet, this bar is perfect for use in my small basement home gym.
It provides a good amount of grip for pulls, but maybe a touch too much for high-rep clean/snatch sessions if thats your thing. Its not super aggressive, but definitely the sharpest of the bars included in this review. I was pleased to see its the same knurl pattern as my American BarbellCerakote Training Bar, which is one of the best barbells Ive ever tested and one of the few I plan to keep till it falls apart or I depart from this earth, whichever comes first. The Troy Barbell 6 ft Olympic Chrome Barhas amedium knurl that extends to within 1 inch of the collar. Including the weight of the bar, this adds up to a grand total of 130kg (286.6lbs) with no room to spare.
American Barbell Performance Training Bar size comparison to a 20kg Olympic bar, This bar is very similar in specs to the Rogue Junior Bar, so many of the same things apply and therefore Im going to indulge in some copypasta.
I think I may have bought mine just after it was introduced, so I was lucky to get one before everyone else jumped on it.
Powerlifting, Olympic lifts, Metcons, you name it! Sleeves loaded with 60kg each and spring clips.
It looks like a beautiful bar and its likely to be extremely well made, but it would need to be head and shoulders above other similar offerings to justify the price point ($475 when I last checked). You can find a good compact barbell for less money, but you will not find a better compact barbell for less money. I dont think the weight difference is substantial enough to matter to the average home gym lifter, but Rogue mentions it so Im mentioning it as well. When I use this bar I find myself having to use chalk when my hands get sweaty, and most of you will know by now I prefer not to use chalk if I can avoid it. Its clear that Fringe Sport didnt skimp on quality to make this short barbell. I like to deadlift and the black phosphate finish combined with a medium knurl make the bar easy to hold on to during pulls. Not a deal breaker, just something to be aware of.
Zinc provides better corrosion resistance than hard chrome, but not as good as Cerakote or stainless steel. I already have the Shorty models from FringeSport and GetRXd. This is the only sub-$100 bar that met my review criteria, and at that price point I wasnt really expecting much from it. On the other hand, thehard chrome finish is great for corrosion resistance, but not so great for maintaining grip during pulls.
As you can see in the pictures below, the collar comes right to the edge of the sleeve with only 120kg of loaded weight. Maybe the shorter sleeves impact the number of bushings used, maybe not, but the spin on this bar is not as good as what I saw with the Rogue Bella Bar, or even the Rogue Training Bar. The C-60B Bar is great for CrossFit-style WoDs and MetCons, Olympic lifts, and also good for pressing lifts like front squats and overhead press. They all have different tradeoffs, but I think the advantages of having a compact barbell for use in a tight space outweigh the disadvantages. TheTitan 6 Technique Olympic Bar is the dark horse of the test group. This bar can also be used for pulling lifts and high-rep sets, as long as youre okay with using some chalk for adding grip to the light knurling and chrome finish. Ill cover the specs I used to choose the bars I tested in the Requirements section, but the short version (ha ha) is that I chose bars that met the following criteria: The following table is for those that are short on time or just want the TL;DR version. Boo! I do still occasionally have to use chalk with the Performance Training Bar, but it still offers the best grip out of the entire test group. The build quality of the C-70S good, but not as high as the Eleiko XF Short Bar or even the American Barbell 10KG Performance Training Bar. Second, the weight.
Would you recommend the Fringe shorty over the GetRxd bar? This bar can also be used for pulling lifts and high-rep sets, as long as youre okay with using some chalk for adding grip to the light knurling and zinc finish. What are your thoughts on the Eleiko one? The Fringe Sports Shorty Bar isa true 15kg bar, which makes plate math easier for those of you lifting in kilos instead of pounds.
Rackable, with at least 50 of bar width between collars. Whats even more confusing is their product website still says the bar will hold 300lbs, even though the specs on the same page clearly state 250lb. The biggest drawbacks are that it isnt rackable and may be too short for snatches if you use an extra wide grip.
Sleeve loaded with 70kg weight and Lockjaw collar, should have used a spring clip collar instead. Any wider and youll need to go with one of the other short bar options covered in this review. Not sure why, I guess the thin grooves just grate on the bumper inserts. What is most curious to me about this bar is the weight rating.