Best Barbell 2023

Finding the best barbell for your home or garage gym can be a little tricky at times, especially since they can seem nearly identical at first glance. However, the devil is in the details, and there are some barbells that we think really stand out from the crowd for all of your core lifts.

In addition to compound movements like squats and deadlifts, a barbell can be used for some great accessory exercises as well, including what we believe are some of the best shoulder exercises for mass.

An overhead press, for instance, is great for pushing yourself to your absolute weight limit, but for loading up the plates and going heavy, you're going to need a good barbell to accompany your squat rack or power cage.

So, if this kind of sounds like something you need to complete your setup, then our list of top picks has you covered.

We've used price, reviews, and any standout features to inform our selection here to ensure we've picked out only the best to kick off your search.

Whether you're after something built for powerlifting, like this Synergee Rhino Bar, or you're after something designed for beginners, like this Rage Fitness Olympic Training Barbell, then we've got you covered.

We've also answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding barbells to help you decide which bit of kit is right for you. Before that though, let's get into our list of the best barbells...

Best barbell

1. DMoose Regional Barbell
2. Rage Fitness Olympic Training Barbell
3. BodyRip Standard Barbell
4. Sporzon! Olympic Barbell
5. Rogue Ohio
6. Sunny Health & Fitness 60" Chrome Barbell
7. Synergee Rhino Power Bar
8. CAP Olympic Hex Bar

Credit: DMoose

1. DMoose Regional Barbell

Best overall barbell

Introducing first the DMoose Regional Barbell, a versatile and durable bit of kit designed to meet the needs of almost any training programme. It's relatively inexpensive, features a great sleeve length of 16.4", and measures in at 86.75", making it a solid choice for home gyms, Olympic weightlifting, and CrossFit training/HIIT workouts.

Firstly, it's worth saying you won't find many stronger barbells out there for the price. With a tensile strength of 190,000 psi, this thing can hold up to 1,500 lbs, which is almost overkill if anything considering some of the world record deadlifts are not much more than 1000 lbs anyway.

Read More: Best multi-gyms under 500

It's designed to give you all the help you can get while training too, featuring a 1.2 mm diamond knurl pattern to provide the best grip possible, and you get five needle bearings per sleeve to help it deliver that perfect whip, ensuring you maintain momentum during your crucial moments during your lifts.

So, whether you're a powerlifter, weightlifter, or someone engaged in high-intensity workouts, the DMoose Regional bar is a reliable companion that offers versatility and quality for a great price.

Credit: Rage Fitness

2. Rage Fitness Olympic Training Barbell

Best barbell for beginners

The Rage Fitness Olympic Training Barbell has been designed to be a sturdy yet comfortable bar thanks to its medium knurling, suitable primarily for beginners.

The reason for this is sometimes beginners struggle to lift a 45lbs bar by itself, so this barbell might be the perfect alternative as it weighs just 15lbs.

Read More: Best adjustable dumbbells

Also, the bar is just 6ft long rather than the standard 7ft, meaning it saves space and will likely be slightly easier to move around if your home gym is limited in space.

If you are worried about the bar fitting on a power rack then fear not. The space between the collars is 52-inches meaning the bar should fit perfectly.

Ultimately, if you're looking to progress from resistance bands, then we'd recommend checking out this barbell to help get you started.

Credit: BodyRip

3. BodyRip Standard Barbell

Best barbell for home gyms

This BodyRip Barbell looks to be an excellent choice for someone looking for a regular Olympic barbell to complete a range of different chest, and bicep exercises.

BodyRip boasts its bar spins without friction, and the knurling is not overly harsh either, although has been designed to deliver enough grip to keep you firmly in control.

Read More: Best back exercises for mass

It's also made of steel, so should withstand a fair amount of wear and tear, which can be particularly useful when training in a tight garage or compact home gym.

Ultimately, this bar provides a great option for everyday use as it caters to a number of different lifts without being designed to prioritise just one.

Credit: Sporzon!

4. Sporzon! Olympic Barbell

Best budget barbell

This Sporzon! Olympic Barbell looks to be an excellent bit of kit if you're after a full-size, 7ft and 2" barbell on a budget.

It comes with a maximum weight capacity of 700lbs, which should be more than suitable for heavy squats and deadlifts.

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Additionally, the barbell has a stylish and durable black zinc plating finish, which will likely help prolong its lifespan to keep you training for years to come.

All in all, we feel this budget barbell is well worth considering if you're after a relatively inexpensive bit of kit to complete your home gym setup.

Credit: Rogue

5. Rogue Ohio

Best Olympic barbell

Rogue is one of the leading brands in weightlifting equipment, something we feel is easy to see why through its Olympic barbell.

Although Rogue doesn't confirm the bar's capacity, it will likely remain as straight as an arrow when loaded thanks to its 200K PSI tensile strength shaft.

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Rogue also boasts a 100% original knurl pattern formed via a machine with grip in mind as its main priority.

This is definitely a premium barbell but Rogue is a popular brand among athletes so has a reputation for producing high-quality products.

Credit: Sunny Health & Fitness

6. Sunny Health & Fitness 60" Chrome Barbell

Best threaded barbell

If you're looking for something versatile and highly adjustable, then we think this Sunny Health & Fitness barbell could be for you.

It's 60" in length, meaning it should fit into your home gym with ease, and comes with ring collars so you can quickly adjust the weight on the threaded bar.

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Moreover, it has a maximum capacity of 250lbs so could suit beginners just starting their fitness journey who might not necessarily be loading up on plates just yet.

On the whole, we feel this barbell is hard to look past if you're after a threaded bit of kit.

Credit: Synergee

7. Synergee Rhino Power Bar

Best barbell for powerlifting

The Rhino Power Bar is an impressive piece of equipment that caters to experienced lifters, particularly those involved in powerlifting. Synergee claims that this bar is capable of withstanding an impressive 1500lbs, making it more than suitable for all your powerlifting needs.

Setting it apart from other products, Synergee emphasises that the Rhino Power Bar is designed to be stiffer and less flexible. Additionally, it is crafted without bearings, catering specifically to the powerlifting style.

Read More: Best weightlifting belts under 100

Another notable feature of this bar is its aggressive knurling, which enhances grip and makes it an excellent companion to one of the best weightlifting belts for a lengthy deadlifting session.

With its reasonable price, the Rhino Power Bar presents a great option for powerlifters. Moreover, its sleek black and red design adds to its overall appeal.

Credit: CAP

8. CAP Olympic Hex Bar

Best trap barbell

If you're after something a little different, consider this CAP Olympic Hex Bar. It's perfect for deadlifts since trap bars are designed to reduce strain on your back, while also offering the added benefit of improving grip strength.

Trap bars aren't limited to deadlifting though. They're actually incredibly versatile and can be used for exercises such as farmers' walks, shoulder shrugs, rows, and overhead presses.

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This bar is particularly great for all of these lifts as it has an impressive 750lbs weight capacity, features a 9" loadable sleeve, and combines raised and flush neutral grips to expand the number of exercises it can be used for.

It's also great for a home gym as it's extremely compact, measuring just 56" in length by 24" in width. As a result, we believe this Cap trap bar can seriously upgrade any home fitness space.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

There are a lot of questions and things to look out for when purchasing a barbell, but we're here to clear up some of the more frequently asked queries.

What is a barbell used for?

A barbell is arguably one of the most versatile pieces of gym equipment because it allows you to complete a wide variety of exercises for a comprehensive full-body workout.

Firstly, it's the key ingredient for completing some of the core lifts most people incorporate into their workout routines. These lifts may include squats, deadlifts, chest presses, shoulder presses, and rows.

On top of that, you can use a barbell for some of the more unique, accessory exercises like barbell curls, hip thrusts, or even full-body movements like an Olympic-style clean and jerk.

All in all, a barbell offers a range of new exercises for you to complete, which is why we'd recommend one for your home or garage gym.

How much does a barbell weigh?

Barbells come in various sizes and lengths, making it difficult to assign a fixed weight to them.

Consider a standard Olympic barbell, commonly found in most gyms, measuring 7 feet in length and weighing approximately 44 to 45 pounds. On the other hand, there are shorter and lighter barbells designed for less experienced lifters which can weigh much less, sometimes less than half the weight of an Olympic bar.

The weight of your chosen barbell depends on several factors, including the available space, equipment, and your experience level. If you have sufficient space, an Olympic barbell is an excellent option. It can accommodate a significant amount of weight, allowing you to make consistent progress and avoid hitting a plateau that lighter, thinner barbells might cause.

How much should you spend on a barbell?

How much you spend on a barbell will vary depending on several factors, including the brand, quality, and intended use. Generally, barbells can range in price from around $100 to several hundred dollars or more.

For beginners or those on a budget, there are inexpensive barbells available in the $100 to $200 range that can provide a decent starting point for various exercises. These barbells may have a lower weight capacity and might not be as durable or have the same level of precision as higher-end options.

If you're serious about weightlifting, powerlifting, or CrossFit, investing in a higher-quality barbell can be beneficial. High-quality barbells are typically made from better materials, have better spin and whip, and can handle heavier loads. These barbells often cost between $200 and $500 or more, depending on the specifications.

Ultimately, the amount you should spend on a barbell depends on your fitness goals, budget, and level of commitment. It's essential to consider factors like the intended use, weight capacity, durability, and the reputation of the manufacturer before making a purchase.

Can you build muscle with just a barbell?

Barbells are key to weight training and can be great for building muscle when accompanied by weight plates. However, using just a barbell has its muscle-building limitations.

For example, the 44lbs weight of an Olympic barbell may be heavy enough for a beginner at first, but you should soon outgrow the 44lbs for most core lifts if you train regularly.

With that being said, if the question you're asking is whether you need any accessories to accompany your barbell, then we'd say you can complete an extremely effective full-body workout using only a barbell and weight plates.

Is a barbell easier than dumbbells?

Barbells typically allow you to lift heavier weights so, in that sense, barbell exercises are harder as you're lifting more.

However, dumbbell exercises require you to use more muscle fibres in order to stabilise each arm individually. In turn, this can actually cause your body to work harder using lighter weights.

In fact, research by Saeterbakken et al. found participants could load up 17% more weight on a barbell during one rep max. chest press compared to dumbbells, thus demonstrating that dumbbells are harder to go heavy on.

It all depends on what you define as hard though. That said, we'd argue that because you can lift heavier weights with a barbell, this bit of equipment might be slightly easier to use out of the two.

Should you clean a barbell?

A good gym barbell should be able to withstand a lot of punishment which, in turn, means it should have a long lifespan.

However, a barbell will develop some rust and corrosion over time that will need to be removed in order to maintain its grip and spin.

To ensure you get the most out of your barbell, we'd recommend using a plastic bristle brush to clean the knurling from time to time, plus wiping away any excess dirt as well.

Moreover, you will need to clean the loading sleeves as chalk, dirt, and dust can cause the spin rate to decrease, and the bearings to feel sticky.

We'd also recommend lubricating the sleeves from time to maintain the spin. Simply apply to where the bearings come into contact with the bar.

How do you use a barbell safely?

The key to using a barbell safely is not actually related to the barbell itself but the equipment you have around it.

Firstly, make sure you have enough space to perform the lifts through a full range of motion. As Olympic barbells can measure 7ft long, you may need a little more space than you might think for this.

Then, if you're using a squat rack or power cage, make sure you have safety arms set to provide a little extra protection if you're not able to successfully complete a lift.

For bench press, set the arms slightly lower than your chest so you can leave your bar to rest and roll it off you if you don't finish the rep.

Our final recommendation on using a barbell safety is to simply ensure you've nailed your form. Injuries are most likely to occur through bad form when weightlifting, so keep this in mind when training with a barbell at home.