My experience with a new B&R Bar from Rogue Fitness

[Audun Runde]

Last week I found myself in Columbus, Ohio for a couple of days as I was taking my youngest boy to a volleyball camp. Since Rogue Fitness is in Columbus, I (being at times a cheapskate Geezer) figured I could save on shipping and just pick up a new B&R Bar. (On a parenthetical note, I am posting this in The Elderly section for a couple of reasons: I could not find another appropriate forum, and we ‘elderly’ at times have a bit more disposable income, so buying a bar like this might be less stressful on the household budget …)

For background, my previous bar and weights were / are a CAP bar that came with a Weider 300 lbs. plastic-covered ‘Olympic’ set of weights. The CAP bar worked, but I had to check the bolts and make sure they were tightened almost between every set. I was ready for something better.

When I unpacked the B&R Bar – it came in a long cardboard tube – the smell of oil gave credence to what Rip has written about ‘old-style’ bars. The bar had a couple of very light rust spots, but some WD-40 and a tender rub cleared that up nicely. Something I noticed immediately was the way I could spin the part of the bar where you load the weights. I had read about this, but the CAP bar I had previously did not exactly spin – rather, when it turned, it just ended up unscrewing the bolts …

Earlier this evening, my oldest son and I have our first session with the new B&R Bar. My first impression was in the knurling. The new bar almost “stuck” to my hands – the knurling pattern makes a huge difference. For our squats this did not matter much, as we were coming off a 10+ day vacation layoff, so we were doing easy weights, but later on this became noticable.

One thing I did notice, however, was that putting plates on the new bar was different. Something about the preparation of the cylinder that holds the plates made them more ‘sticky’. With the CAP bar, I was always afraid of the weights gliding off – so I always used a clamp. With the B&R Bar, there is a very different feel, so we ended up not worrying about the clamps for most of our lifts.

Aside from the lack of need for clamps, Squats and Presses did not feel that much different. Part of that may very well be that we did not lift heavy at all – being beginners and coming off a long layoff.

When I got to Deadlifts, I found that the new bar made a significant difference. First, the knurling ‘stuck’ to my hands much more, making the grip much, much better. Second, the very slight adjustment in where the non-knurling areas are on the bar made the drag against my shins must nicer (I think you know what I mean if you have scraped yourself ...). Finally, there was a very definite difference in ‘feel’ – the B&R Bar just felt much more solid with a different response. It is hard to explain, but it just felt stronger.

Was it worth it? For $300 (or so), I would definitely say yes – if you are lifting at home. The B&R Bar feels better in the hand and looks better in the rack, I do not need to tighten the end bolts after every set, and since Rip somewhere said (I think) that the bar will be OK until I squat 600+ lbs., I think this one is a keeper :-)

Now if I can just get to where I 'bend' this bar because I'm lifting heavy ...

[Carlos Daniel]

Carlos is envious.

[squatyourface]

Nice review. This is my favorite bar probably alongside the Ivanko. Although the latter is much dearer.

Only problem is, That bar is 600+ in Australia when our dollar is stronger than yours. I would have bought one for US300 and pay $130 shipping if rogues US site allowed me to but they have an exclusive distributor so I end up paying shipping to aus, then to my house, then rogue US profit, then the AUS distributors profit and then the governments tax. Pity really, I love my rogue do wins but with this bar their pockets run too deep

[ambivalens]

Thanks for the very nice review! I'd love one of those bars myself, but it's a matter of economy, and shipping costs...

I must say, your name really indicates to me that you're norwegian or atleast somehow closely related to norwegians. Am I onto something here? :)

[Hour of Judgement]

What the OP said wrt this bar. It really is nice to use.

If I look real close, I think it starts to bend a little at about 400 pounds....then I have to take the extra weights off so I can do my sets.

[yorick]

Thanks for the review. I went with the Rogue bar over the B&R, but I might try the B&R next if I ever need an extra or replacement bar.

I work out in my basement, which is a little humid. I was worried the B&R wouldn't oxidize appropriately (i.e. - that it would get rusty instead of aging).

[Audun Runde]

ambivalens

I must say, your name really indicates to me that you're norwegian or atleast somehow closely related to norwegians. Am I onto something here?

Well, my first name is Norwegian, and my last name is from a small island on the west coast of Norway ... so nice catch: born a while ago in Oslo, Norway -- but have now lived in the US for many, many years.

Audun

PS. Still not experienced with posting on this board -- so just trying out different stuff -- need to figure out how to do proper QUOTEs.

[grubinski]

I have their 'Castro' bar, also an awesome bar. I advise you to NEVER lose control of the bar putting a power clean back on the floor. I wasn't hanging on tight enough one time and didn't get out of the way fast enough. I'll have scars on my shins for life from the knurling. :-) I pay *very* close attention to that phase of the clean now.

[Dabs]

After you exceed 600 LBS in the squat, what's a good bar? I heard Westside uses a B&R bar for 800 LBS rack pulls and it is still straight? What's stiffer than this B&R bar? The only one I can find is Ivanko's 29mm powerlifting bar, but it's $1200. (Based on psi yield / tensile strength).

[Tad_T]

I do not have a Rogue or a B&R bar so I can't say anything about them. I do have two Hampton black oxide bars. One is rated at 700 lbs, the other is a 1500 lb bar. I really like both of them.

[Carlos Daniel]

I do not have a Rogue or a B&R bar so I can't say anything about them. I do have two Hampton black oxide bars. One is rated at 700 lbs, the other is a 1500 lb bar. I really like both of them.

It's not a question of the bar bending permanently at 600 lbs pounds. If it's a quality bar, it just shouldn't bend permanently at this weight, or any weight for that matter. It's the fact that a flexible bar is gonna be very bouncy at this weight and this can be distracting, specially if you're gonna do a walk-out, so a stiffer bar might be a good thing.

[Tad_T]

I am not really sure what your statement has to do with quoting me, Carlos.

My reply was just intended to show that there are other alternatives out there.

Neither of my bars are "bendy" or "whippy." They are both good bars and neither of them cost $1200.

The 700 lb. bar is an IB-86-7B 7' International Black Oxide Bar - 700 LB TEST - 30 mm, 135,000 psi.

The 1500 lb. bar is an IB-86-15B 7' International Black Oxide Bar 1500 LB TEST - 32 mm, 165,000 psi.

[Carlos Daniel]

I am not really sure what your statement has to do with quoting me, Carlos.

My reply was just intended to show that there are other alternatives out there.

Neither of my bars are "bendy" or "whippy." They are both good bars and neither of them cost $1200.

The 700 lb. bar is an IB-86-7B 7' International Black Oxide Bar - 700 LB TEST - 30 mm, 135,000 psi.

The 1500 lb. bar is an IB-86-15B 7' International Black Oxide Bar 1500 LB TEST - 32 mm, 165,000 psi.

In general, bars that are rated with pounds rather than psi are not of great quality. The fact that your bars are 30 mm or more means that the increased stiffness is due to increased diameter, not quality of the steel.

Now, I'm not saying that those are crappy bars that should be sent to the seventh layer of hell to burn in eternal burning. But they would most definitely be of lower quality than Rip's bar.

Have you walked out 700 lbs with those two bars to see if they are stiff or "whippy"?

[Tad_T]

And why exactly should I want to walk out 700 lbs?

[Carlos Daniel]

And why exactly should I want to walk out 700 lbs?

To see if the bar is whippy at weight above 600 lbs, which is the reason Rip's bar is not good for such heavy squats. Rip's bar is a general purpose bar such that it can be used for o-lifting, powerlifting and regular barbell training, it has enough whippyness (sp?) to be of use to o-lifting. But that same whippyness is what makes it unsuitable for squats above 600 lbs squats, because the bar would be bouncing all over the place with 700 lbs or more loaded on them.

[Tad_T]

Mine are both general purpose bars.

I have squatted 400 lbs with the 700 lb bar and deadlifted 500 lbs with the 1500 lb bar.

I didn't have a problem with either bar at those weights. When I get up to 600 lbs, I'll give you an update.

[Carlos Daniel]

Mine are both general purpose bars.

I have squatted 400 lbs with the 700 lb bar and deadlifted 500 lbs with the 1500 lb bar.

I didn't have a problem with either bar at those weights. When I get up to 600 lbs, I'll give you an update.

You're deadlifting with a 32mm bar, how does it compare to the 30mm one? I would assume its harder, I just don't have an idea of just how much harder.

[Tad_T]

I have pretty big hands, I really can't tell the difference.

[Carlos Daniel]

I have pretty big hands, I really can't tell the difference.

Me too. I suspect the bars at my gym are not of regulation diameter but my grip never failed on them, even though their knurling is crappy. However, my deadlift is only in the mid 400.

[Dabs]

Mr. Carlos Daniel,

Is the psi yield strength rating different from whippyness of the bars? The B&R is 215,000 or 205,000 psi. I mentioned Ivanko because their website states their bars are 218,000 psi. I thought that higher psi ratings also correlate to stiffer bars. (assuming the same diameter for comparison.)

[51M0n]

The only one I can find is Ivanko's 29mm powerlifting bar, but it's $1200. (Based on psi yield / tensile strength).

My gym has these Ivanko bars, they are fantastic bars. However I would note that when they hold comps they don't use them for squats (The bar they use is 25kg, 8ft long and stiff as all hell).

[Clint Merrill]

Mr. Carlos Daniel,

Is the psi yield strength rating different from whippyness of the bars? The B&R is 215,000 or 205,000 psi. I mentioned Ivanko because their website states their bars are 218,000 psi. I thought that higher psi ratings also correlate to stiffer bars. (assuming the same diameter for comparison.)

The elastic modulus of all steels are about the same, regardless of yield strength. So, "whippyness" will be almost solely a matter of the bar diameter. 28mm bars are the whippiest, a 29 would be less so, a 30 stiffer still. A higher yield strength means that the bar will withstand a higher load without yielding (taking a permanent bend). So the high-quality oly bars like the Ivanko will be minimum diameter and very high yield.

[Carlos Daniel]

Mr. Carlos Daniel,

Is the psi yield strength rating different from whippyness of the bars? The B&R is 215,000 or 205,000 psi. I mentioned Ivanko because their website states their bars are 218,000 psi. I thought that higher psi ratings also correlate to stiffer bars. (assuming the same diameter for comparison.)

I'm quite sure the psi is related to how much it requires for the bar to permanently bend. I don't think it's related to whippyness, but I can be mistaken.

EDIT: Hadn't seen the above post. Thanks for the clarification.