You said you liked the knurling on this better than the rogue training bar. Can you please describe the difference? I'm trying to decide between these two bars, which are priced relatively the same. Personally, the idea of having a chrome bar gives me the chills due to the flaking ugly slippery import bars, but nobody seems to complain about the finish on these bars so I'm giving the idea a shot. Ideally I'm looking for the bar with the most agressive knurling, the most whip, the quitest, with the least offensive coating. My current favorite bar is a raw steel ohio power bar (95% perfect, though a tad noisy), but I'm looking for a Olympic style bar so here I am.
The knurling is finer cut, but still provides adequate grip. If you're looking for aggressive knurling, this isn't what you should be looking at - nor are any AB barbells because they all have the same cut. This is definitely the quietest barbell on the block though whereas the Rogue Training is about as noisy as that OPB. I've never run into any flaky chrome coatings on any of my barbells, domestic or import. That's probably something you'd run into with a cheap Big 5 barbell. If you want the most aggressive knurling on a training barbell around this price, your best bet is the Wright Equipment Next Gen barbell, though that one is VERY noisy. The other options would be to go with an import barbell (RepFitness Gladiator, FringeSport WL bar, Bells of Steel BoS Bar), or go with the Rogue Training bar.
Wow, thanks for the great response. The flaking usually happens after a bar is left out in the weather and the rust undercuts the coating. Raw bars can just be brushed and brought back to life, where I've seen chrome that flakes resulting in very sharp edges. Yeah, all those examples I've seen have been big 5 style bars. Damn, it's such a hard decision between the rogue and the american trainers. Btw, I think there's a chance the current AB training bar has recessed welds, where it doesn't appear as though yours does.
Thanks Joel, great review. What are your thoughts of the new Ohio Stainless steel bar (28.5mm)? I was concerned that the composite bushings wouldn't spin during the turnover after reading the Rogue 2.0 reviews from Oly lifters. Any thoughts on Rogue stainless compared to the AB training bar...?
I haven't got to test out the new SS Ohio bar, hopefully they'll have a deal for it on Black Friday. The composite bushings spin just fine in the Rogue Bar 2.0, and just about as good (which isn't amazing) as every other Rogue bar minus the bearing and Training bar. Honestly, not something you're going to have to worry about just so long the bar spins smoothly under load, which they should; albeit it doesn't look as cool when you free spin the sleeves. My main concern with the SS is the whip since they're using a new SS shaft thats rated at 195k. Could be worse, but also could be better than the current Ohio. My 2c is if you don't need superior rust protection, you don't really need to shell out the extra for SS. I think no matter what, the SS Training bar is going to be a superior bar for oly lifting due to the 28mm shaft and whip.
Last year AB had their SS training bar on for $375 on Black Friday. May be I'll wait to see what's on sale.... Your review of rogue's boneyard training bar has me in a pickle. Any suggestions?
At this point, I would wait. The SS american barbell bars are freaking excellent and if they're on sale for that much, really can't be beat. The boneyard Rogue bar is definitely a steal, though the coating will eventually fade.
Hypothetically, if you were to choose one bar for all your workouts and both prices were exactly the same, would you go with the ohio bar (black oxide is my preference), or american barbell training performance bar? Thanks for your time!
I've been looking into purchasing a weightlifting specific barbell. American Barbell has the Performance Training Bar on sale for $275 right now. I have the American Barbell Super Power Bar so I know how high quality this company's bars are. I've also been interested in the Vulcan Elite 3.0 barbell, although I have never tried any Vulcan bars--just the specs on this bar make it seem great. Any advice on choosing between the two bars?
Alex M For $275, the American Barbell is probably the Best Buy in training barbells at the moment. I haven't used the Vulcan Elite but I have used some like it, and based on that it's still a great performer...but I couldn't warrant the price increase over the AB.
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You said you liked the knurling on this better than the rogue training bar. Can you please describe the difference? I'm trying to decide between these two bars, which are priced relatively the same.
Personally, the idea of having a chrome bar gives me the chills due to the flaking ugly slippery import bars, but nobody seems to complain about the finish on these bars so I'm giving the idea a shot.
Ideally I'm looking for the bar with the most agressive knurling, the most whip, the quitest, with the least offensive coating. My current favorite bar is a raw steel ohio power bar (95% perfect, though a tad noisy), but I'm looking for a Olympic style bar so here I am.
The knurling is finer cut, but still provides adequate grip. If you're looking for aggressive knurling, this isn't what you should be looking at - nor are any AB barbells because they all have the same cut. This is definitely the quietest barbell on the block though whereas the Rogue Training is about as noisy as that OPB.
I've never run into any flaky chrome coatings on any of my barbells, domestic or import. That's probably something you'd run into with a cheap Big 5 barbell.
If you want the most aggressive knurling on a training barbell around this price, your best bet is the Wright Equipment Next Gen barbell, though that one is VERY noisy. The other options would be to go with an import barbell (RepFitness Gladiator, FringeSport WL bar, Bells of Steel BoS Bar), or go with the Rogue Training bar.
Wow, thanks for the great response.
The flaking usually happens after a bar is left out in the weather and the rust undercuts the coating. Raw bars can just be brushed and brought back to life, where I've seen chrome that flakes resulting in very sharp edges. Yeah, all those examples I've seen have been big 5 style bars.
Damn, it's such a hard decision between the rogue and the american trainers.
Btw, I think there's a chance the current AB training bar has recessed welds, where it doesn't appear as though yours does.
I got my cerakote training barbell for $250 this Black Friday :)
Thanks Joel, great review. What are your thoughts of the new Ohio Stainless steel bar (28.5mm)? I was concerned that the composite bushings wouldn't spin during the turnover after reading the Rogue 2.0 reviews from Oly lifters. Any thoughts on Rogue stainless compared to the AB training bar...?
I haven't got to test out the new SS Ohio bar, hopefully they'll have a deal for it on Black Friday. The composite bushings spin just fine in the Rogue Bar 2.0, and just about as good (which isn't amazing) as every other Rogue bar minus the bearing and Training bar. Honestly, not something you're going to have to worry about just so long the bar spins smoothly under load, which they should; albeit it doesn't look as cool when you free spin the sleeves.
My main concern with the SS is the whip since they're using a new SS shaft thats rated at 195k. Could be worse, but also could be better than the current Ohio. My 2c is if you don't need superior rust protection, you don't really need to shell out the extra for SS. I think no matter what, the SS Training bar is going to be a superior bar for oly lifting due to the 28mm shaft and whip.
Last year AB had their SS training bar on for $375 on Black Friday. May be I'll wait to see what's on sale.... Your review of rogue's boneyard training bar has me in a pickle. Any suggestions?
At this point, I would wait. The SS american barbell bars are freaking excellent and if they're on sale for that much, really can't be beat. The boneyard Rogue bar is definitely a steal, though the coating will eventually fade.
Hypothetically, if you were to choose one bar for all your workouts and both prices were exactly the same, would you go with the ohio bar (black oxide is my preference), or american barbell training performance bar?
Thanks for your time!
Joseph Pallante Performance training bar. Better whip and 28mm
The bronze bushings aren't enough of a pull for the ohio bar?
Joseph Pallante Nah, the American Barbell uses really thick composite bushing different than the ones found on Rogue bars. Spin is the same though.
Besides the cerakote, is there any difference between this one and the American Barbell Cerakote training bar? Thanks in advance!
I've been looking into purchasing a weightlifting specific barbell. American Barbell has the Performance Training Bar on sale for $275 right now. I have the American Barbell Super Power Bar so I know how high quality this company's bars are. I've also been interested in the Vulcan Elite 3.0 barbell, although I have never tried any Vulcan bars--just the specs on this bar make it seem great. Any advice on choosing between the two bars?
Alex M For $275, the American Barbell is probably the Best Buy in training barbells at the moment. I haven't used the Vulcan Elite but I have used some like it, and based on that it's still a great performer...but I couldn't warrant the price increase over the AB.
Excellent! Thanks for the input. I'll have to order that soon then before the deal's over.
Alex M awesome man, you won't be disappointed!
How's the noise when dropped on this bar?
Just bought this bar so if anyone has any question, feel free to comment below
Does the chrome on the shaft feel as slick as the sleeves?