The 6 Best Rogue Barbells for Your Home Gym

• Best overall: Ohio Bar Black Oxide
• Best for powerlifting: Rogue 45LB Ohio Power Bar Cerakote
• Best for deadlifts: Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar Cerakote
• Best for beginners: Rogue 10K Junior Bar
• Best women’s bar: Bella Bar 2.0 E-Coat
• Best affordable: Rogue Bar 2.0

An essential part of any weightlifting routine, the barbell is a long bar with “sleeves” on either end to accommodate weight plates.

While you may have used a barbell at the gym, it can be a great addition to any home workout setup.

Based in Ohio, Rogue Fitness is a well-known manufacturer of home gym equipment, specifically weight training items, including kettlebells, dumbbells, and weight plates.

The company’s barbells are a favorite among weightlifting enthusiasts thanks to the bars’ steel construction.

What’s more, Rogue makes it easy to find the bar that best fits your strength training needs, as you can sort by diameter size, tensile strength, bar weight, bar use, and more.

To help you decide which Rogue barbell is right for your home gym, we rounded up the best options using the following criteria:

• Price. We included bars at a variety of price points.
• Function. As the best barbell varies depending on your intended use, we included options to suit a variety of weightlifting needs.
• Customer satisfaction. All of the barbells on our list have mostly positive online reviews.
• Vetting. All the products included have been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthline’s business standards.

Keep reading to see our picks of the 6 best Rogue barbells for 2022.

When it comes to selecting a barbell, you’ll want to consider the type of weightlifting exercises you plan on doing, as well as how heavy you want to lift.

Additional factors to take into account include the diameter size, tensile strength, whip, knurling, weight capacity, and budget.

Diameter size

There’s some debate in the fitness world over whether a thick or thin bar is best.

Generally, a thick barbell has a 2-inch (50.88-mm) or larger diameter.

One study including golfers found training with a thick bar resulted in greater improvements in grip strength over 8 weeks compared with a standard barbell. However, much more research is needed (1).

At the end of the day, choose a thickness that’s most comfortable for you.

Tensile strength

While needs vary from person to person, tensile strength is the maximum stress (or weight) a barbell can withstand before breaking.

In general, a bar with 150,000–180,000 PSI is considered a good option for most weightlifters.

Bars with a rating under 150,000 PSI are targeted more for beginners, while over 180,000 PSI may be necessary for serious lifters.

Rogue barbells range from 92,000–215,000 PSI.

Whip

Whip refers to how easily a barbell will flex or bend when loaded with weights. Barbells with high whips are more flexible, while those with low whips are more ridged.

The best whip depends on the type of lifting you plan on doing, as well as your preferences.

While being able to flex or bend allows Olympic and CrossFit lifters to add momentum to their moves, a high whip generally isn’t ideal for slower powerlifting moves.

That said, for most home gyms, a bar with a “good” or “normal” whip is the way to go, as it offers more versatility.

Knurling

When it comes to barbells, knurling — or the bar’s grip — is of the utmost importance, though what you’re looking for may vary.

Rogue uses the terms “standard” and “aggressive” to describe the grip of its barbells.

Standard knurling means the bar has a diamond pattern, which is meant to increase your ability to grip it, though the etches shouldn’t be uncomfortable to hold.

For heavier lifts, you’ll want to choose a bar with “aggressive” knurling, meaning the etching is deeper and coarser. You may also want to consider a pair of lifting gloves or grip tape to protect your hands from the rough surface.

Weight capacity

Make sure to choose a bar that can support your desired weight load.

Most Rogue barbells are designed to carry up to 1,000 pounds (435.5 kg) or more. However, the company’s website doesn’t list the exact weight capacity for all of its barbells.

Budget

As Rogue Fitness barbells range in price from $195–$605, you’ll want to consider how much you’re willing to spend.

One great way to save money is checking out the company’s Boneyard Bars, which are discounted due to minor cosmetic flaws.

Best overall

Ohio Bar Black Oxide

• Price: $320
• Diameter: 1.12 inches (28.5 mm)
• Length: 86.75 inches (220.3 cm)
• Weight: 44.1 pounds (20 kg)
• Knurling: standard dual knurl marks with no center knurl
• Whip: “normal”
• Tensile strength: 190,000 PSI
• Warranty: lifetime warranty

With nearly 900 five-star reviews, the Ohio Bar is considered Rogue’s flagship bar.

The bar offers 190,000 PSI tensile strength and moderate to average knurling. It’s also described as having a “normal” whip that’s stiff enough for heavy powerlifting yet also works well for faster Olympic moves.

While the original version of the bar is made with a black oxide treatment, giving the knurl a more “naked” feel, the barbell is also available in chrome, stainless steel, and Cerakote finishes.

Best for powerlifting

Rogue 45LB Ohio Power Bar Cerakote

• Price: $355
• Diameter: 1.14 inches (29 mm)
• Length: 86.52 inches (219.7 cm)
• Weight: 45 pounds (20.5 kg)
• Knurling: aggressive single powerlifting knurl marks and center knurl
• Whip: low
• Tensile strength: 205,000 PSI
• Warranty: lifetime warranty

With virtually zero whip and 205,000 PSI of tensile strength, it’s no surprise that the Rogue 45LB Ohio Power Bar Cerakote has over 600 mostly 5-star reviews online.

In addition to a zero-flex steel shaft, the bar features powerlifting knurls along the shaft and center knurling for added grip.

The bar also includes a Cerakote finish — a ceramic-based coating that’s designed to be more resistant to corrosion and wear than standard black zinc oxide.

Best for deadlifts

Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar Cerakote

• Price: $410
• Diameter: 1.06 inches (27 mm)
• Length: 90.5 inches (230 centimeters)
• Weight: 44 pounds (20 kg)
• Knurling: aggressive powerlifting dual knurl marks with no center knurl
• Whip: high
• Tensile strength: 190,000 PSI
• Warranty: lifetime warranty

Available in three Cerakote color finishes, the Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar is a must-have if deadlifts are an essential part of your routine.

For optimal grip, the bar features a narrower diameter and more aggressive knurling than the Ohio Power Bar. It also has a relatively long loadable sleeve length and high whip to increase the amount of weight you can load onto it.

Plus, you don’t have to take our word for it. The Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar Cerakote has 179 reviews on Rouge’s website, with an average 4.9-star rating.

Best for beginners

Rogue 10K Junior Bar

• Price: $195
• Diameter: 0.98 inches (25 mm)
• Length: 66.8 inches (170 cm)
• Weight: 22 pounds (10 kg)
• Knurling: standard dual knurl marks with no center knurl
• Whip: “normal”
• Tensile strength: 190,000 PSI
• Warranty: lifetime warranty

With short, loadable sleeve lengths, the Rogue 10K Junior Bar is designed to help keep the weight low, allowing beginners to focus on learning proper weightlifting forms and techniques.

It also has a smaller diameter, making it easier for smaller hands to grip, and a “normal” whip for versatility.

What’s more, as it’s priced under $200, it’s a more affordable option for occasional lifters.

Best women’s bar

Bella Bar 2.0 E-Coat

• Price: $235
• Diameter: 0.98 inches (25 mm)
• Length: 79.13 inches (201 cm)
• Weight: 33 pounds (15 kg)
• Knurling: standard dual knurl marks with no center knurl
• Whip: “normal”
• Tensile strength: 190,000 PSI
• Warranty: lifetime warranty

Recommended for female lifters, the Bella Bar 2.0 has a “normal” whip and standard dual knurl, making it a great multipurpose bar.

Featuring a smaller diameter and lower weight than many of Rogue’s “men’s” bars, the Bella is designed to be easier to hold.

Reviewers particularly appreciate the black E-Coat shaft finish, which is known for being reliable and corrosion-resistant. It’s also available in black zinc and stainless steel.

Best affordable

Rogue Bar 2.0

• Price: $290
• Diameter: 1.12 inches (28.5 mm)
• Length: 86.75 inches (220.3 cm)
• Weight: 44 pounds (20 kg)
• Knurling: standard dual knurl marks and no center knurl
• Whip: “normal”
• Tensile strength: 190,000 PSI
• Warranty: lifetime warranty

Looking for a versatile barbell at a decent price? The Rogue bar 2.0 is a great choice.

Thanks to its standard dual knurl and “normal” whip, this bar is a great multipurpose option, enabling you to perform Olympic, CrossFit, and powerlifting moves.

As with most Rogue barbells, the Rogue Bar 2.0 is highly rated for being durable and reliable.

Here’s a quick look at how our top picks compare:

While a barbell may seem like a straightforward purchase, there are several factors to consider when selecting the bar that’s best for you.

Rogue Fitness offers a wide variety of barbells to suit a range of fitness needs. Not only are the bars durable, but they also come with a lifetime warranty.

Still, Rogue is far from the only fitness equipment brand on the market. As barbells aren’t cheap, be sure to shop around to find the option that best fits your lifting needs and budget.