Read more: The Best Home Gym Equipment for Building Your Very Own Health and Fitness Nirvana Types of Barbell Folks who like to lift alone will love that this one comes with three different self-spotting options.

The bar is topped off with premium metal endcaps with unique designs. This is a powerlifting barbell that stands out from the rest. Is the finish evenly applied? If it’s a bare steel or stainless steel bar are there any blemishes? How about rust?Home strength-training equipment is having a moment. Devoted gym-goers have settled into at-home workout routines as the pandemic continues, and items like adjustable dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands—after gaining unprecedented popularity and, as a result, suffering from widespread shortages—have remained hot commodities. Add a brand-new piece of equipment to the in-demand list: Bowflex’s SelectTech 2080 Barbell with Curl Bar, which debuted in June 2020 and, according to a company representative, sold out in about 24 hours.

You want your bar to be able to flex without bending. That’s important. So some tensile strength is important. But if you make it too high, then the bar stops flexing at all and instead risks breaking. In high school (also in the ’80s), I dated a girl that had a BMW. I remember the very first time I got in that car. Just the sound the door made when closing told me how much better this 3-series was than our crappy Taurus. Everything about the beemer exuded quality.Someone who prefers a more modular design can add additional pieces of equipment, like a lat pulldown or cable pulley system. First of all, we train with them. In the end, that’s the best way to know what’s good and what’s not. But we also look closely at several key areas of each barbell. It’s in those areas where our 3 recommended barbells shine brighter than their competition. Sleeve Tolerances The American Barbell Chewy bar really is the best barbell I’ve ever used. It’s been my main bar for the last 6-7 months and every time I use it, I’m more than happy I spent the money.