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For one bar that does everything, the Strength Shop Bastard Bar is a 205,000 PSI all-rounder with a centre knurl and a 3-year warranty, from a UK supplier. If you mainly squat, bench and deadlift, the Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar, sold from its UK store, is the best-value power bar. The Bells of Steel Utility Bar is the lower-cost all-rounder.
- 1Best power bar
Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar
210,000 PSI steel, a 29 mm shaft, IPF marks and a centre knurl, rated to 680 kg, from a Canadian maker with stores in all four markets.
- 2Best budget all-rounder
Bells of Steel Multi-Purpose Olympic Barbell - The Utility Bar
A 28.5 mm multi-purpose bar with 190,000 PSI steel, a centre knurl for squats and a limited lifetime warranty, at a lower price than the premium all-rounders.
- 3Best all-rounder (UK)
Strength Shop Bastard Bar - with centre knurling
205,000 PSI steel, mixed bearings and bushings, a centre knurl and a 3-year warranty from a UK supplier.
from£219.99See details - 4Best budget (UK)
Strength Shop Original 2028 Olympic Bar - Black E-Coat
The cheapest full-size 20 kg bar here, for beginners who will stay under its 250 kg suggested maximum.
| Model | Bells of SteelBells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar | Bells of SteelBells of Steel Multi-Purpose Olympic Barbell - The Utility Bar | Strength ShopStrength Shop Bastard Bar - with centre knurling | Strength ShopStrength Shop Original 2028 Olympic Bar - Black E-Coat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best price | — | — | £219.99 | — |
| Bar weight | 20 kg | 20 kg | 20 kg | 20 kg |
| Tensile strength | 210,000 PSI | 190,000 PSI | 205,000 PSI | 186,000 PSI |
| Sleeves | Bushings, hard chrome sleeves | Bushings | Needle bearing, ball bearings and brass bushing | Steel bushings and needle bearings |
| Knurl | Aggressive, IPF marks, centre knurl | Moderate, dual marks, centre knurl | Medium, dual marks, centre knurl | Coarse, centre knurl |
| Warranty | Lifetime (limited) | Lifetime (limited) | 3 yrs | 0.5 yrs |
| Capacity | 680.39 kg | 453.59 kg | 680.39 kg | 250 kg |
How to choose a barbell
- Bar type: a multi-purpose bar does squats, presses, deadlifts and Olympic lifts. A power bar is stiffer, usually 29 mm, with a sharper knurl and a centre knurl. An Olympic weightlifting bar is usually 28 mm with needle bearings for fast spin on cleans and snatches.
- Tensile strength: most mid-priced and premium bars quote 190,000 PSI or more. Budget bars can sit just under, at around 186,000 PSI.
- Sleeves: bushings are durable and slower to spin, which is fine for power lifts. Needle bearings spin faster, which helps cleans and snatches.
- Knurl: a centre knurl helps a low-bar squat stay put on your back but can scrape your neck on cleans. Power bars almost always have one; many multi-purpose and Olympic bars leave it out.
- Warranty and rating: cover runs from 6 months on some budget bars to lifetime on premium ones. Check the maker's load rating too; some budget bars suggest a 250 kg maximum.
- Local stock: a 20 kg bar is expensive to ship across a border. Every price here is from a store selling inside that country.
Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar: best power bar
Bells of Steel is a Canadian company. It sells this bar from its own Canadian, US, UK and Australian stores. The Barenaked version has a bare steel shaft and hard chrome sleeves on bushings. The 29 mm shaft is 210,000 PSI, with IPF knurl marks, a centre knurl and an aggressive knurl, and a 680 kg (1,500 lb) capacity. Bare steel holds chalk well but needs a brush and a light oil to keep rust off. A black Cerakote version costs a little more.
Pros
- 210,000 PSI steel and a 680 kg capacity at a mid-range price
- Centre knurl and aggressive knurling for squats and deadlifts
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Sold from Bells of Steel's own Canadian, US, UK and Australian stores
Cons
- Bare steel shaft needs brushing and oiling to keep rust off
- Stiff shaft and slow bushings suit power lifts more than cleans and snatches
- Aggressive knurl can be harsh for high-rep work
Bells of Steel Utility Bar: best budget all-rounder
The Utility Bar is Bells of Steel's multi-purpose bar: 20 kg, 28.5 mm, 190,000 PSI, bushings, a moderate knurl, dual marks and a 120 mm centre knurl. It is rated to 1,000 lb (453.59 kg), lower than the power bar, but well above what most home lifters will load.
Pros
- Centre knurl to hold a low-bar squat in place
- 190,000 PSI steel
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Lower 453.59 kg (1,000 lb) capacity than the power bar
- Shorter 410 mm loadable sleeves than the power bar
Strength Shop barbells: best from a UK supplier
Strength Shop is a UK supplier. The Bastard Bar is a 205,000 PSI hybrid with one needle bearing, two ball bearings and a brass bushing in each sleeve, a medium knurl, a centre knurl and a 3-year warranty. The Original 2028 is a cheaper starter bar with a coarse knurl, a 186,000 PSI shaft, a 250 kg suggested maximum and a 6-month warranty. Both were backordered when we checked, but both could still be ordered.
Pros
- Mixed bearing and bushing sleeves for spin on cleans and stability on power lifts
- 1,500 lb (680.39 kg) static rating and 205,000 PSI steel
- 3-year performance warranty from a UK supplier
Cons
- Strength Shop suggests a 120 kg maximum for clean and jerk or snatch, and 250 kg for squats and deadlifts
- Backordered on the check date
- 3-year warranty is shorter than the limited lifetime cover on Bells of Steel bars
What is the best barbell for a home gym?
A 20 kg multi-purpose bar with 190,000 PSI or higher steel and a lifetime or long warranty. In the US, Canada and Australia that points to the Rogue Ohio Bar. In the UK, the Strength Shop Bastard Bar fills that role, and the Bells of Steel Utility Bar is the lower-cost all-rounder in the US, Canada and UK.
What is the difference between an Olympic bar and a power bar?
An Olympic weightlifting bar is usually 28 mm with needle bearings and more whip, for fast spin on cleans and snatches. A power bar is usually 29 mm, stiffer, on bushings, with a sharper knurl and a centre knurl for squats.
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
A men's Olympic bar weighs 20 kg (44 lb) and is about 2.2 m long. Women's bars weigh 15 kg. All the picks here are 20 kg bars.
What is the best barbell in the world?
There is no single best bar, because power bars, weightlifting bars and multi-purpose bars are built for different lifts. For one bar that covers squats, presses, deadlifts and cleans, the Rogue Ohio Bar is the usual benchmark, with 190,000 PSI US steel, an F8-R fatigue rating and a lifetime warranty, though Rogue does not sell it in the UK. For powerlifting only, a stiff 29 mm bar such as the Bells of Steel Barenaked suits better.
Does tensile strength matter?
A little. It shows how much force the steel takes before it breaks, so higher is better. For home use, 190,000 PSI and up is plenty. Look at the maker's load rating and warranty too.
Where can I buy a barbell in Australia or Canada?
In Australia, Iron Edge sells its own bars from Melbourne, and Rogue and Bells of Steel run Australian stores. In Canada, Bells of Steel is a Canadian maker, and Rogue and REP run Canadian stores.
How we chose
We have not tested these barbells. We compared each maker's published weight, tensile strength, sleeves, knurl, load rating and warranty. We did not rely on owner reviews for any claim. We only included bars sold new in each country by the maker's own local store or a retailer that ships from inside that country. Prices are the maker's regular list prices on 9 November 2026; several were on sale for less that day.
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