REP FITNESS Gladiator Olympic Bar - 1500 lb Rated with Needle Bearing Rotation - Elite Barbell for Cross-Training, Olympic Weightlifting, and Power Lifting

Knurling is a little passive, but still sticks well in your hand.Collar band is slightly damaged, which bummed me out a little bit. Ultimately not an issue, but a slight cosmetic defect.Stress-tested the bar with a 650lb rack pull and the bar hardly even flexed. (It can almost certainly hold double or triple that weight, I'm just not strong enough to test it anywhere near full capacity)Spin is better than ANYTHING I've ever used. There is absolutely no strain on my wrists when I bench (even when nearing my 1RM) because the weight spins so freely. I'm incredibly happy with the way it feels.The bar seems slightly heavier and thicker than the ones they have at my gym. I like how solid it makes the bar feel.The shipping container was very sturdy and the bar seemed extremely well protected. So well protected that I'm fully confident that the minor damage to the band occurred prior to shipping.Overall, this may be the best barbell I've ever used. I'd even put the quality slightly above the more expensive Rogue bars I've used, simply because of how amazing the spin feels.I feel obligated to remove a star due to the minor cosmetic damage, but I would also HIGHLY recommend this bar to any lifters looking for a great barbell; especially if you deal with wrist pain during lifts.

This bar is actually a good quality training bar for Olympic weightlifting. It is within tolerance of the technical specifications that defines an Olympic competition bar, except that it doesn’t have the center knurl strip. It also uses needle bearings, which allows it to spin smoothly and with just the right amount of friction. I wouldn’t expect it to compare to the tighter tolerances of certified competition Olympic bars like Eleiko or anything at that level. But, it’s not too far off in terms of feel and performance. Pretty much everything I would expect from a high quality training bar. As far as feel is concerned, this is a lively bar, which means it absorbs all of the bad vibrations that would otherwise take a toll on the body; but not lose the kinitec energy that keeps the bar moving the way it should. Put in another way, a good Olympic weightlifting bar is like a high performance race car suspension. Good race car suspensions are very stiff in order to keep the tires firmly on the road and maintain good handling, but has enough compliance that you wouldn’t feel the small bumps and vibrations caused by the road surface. This bar has that kind of balance to give it a good feel and performance. If it had the center knurl, you could probably use this as an Olympic weightlifting competition bar. So, for the price, it’s a good value for the level of quality that is only marginally less than what a higher end competition bar provides. It’s a great bang for a buck!

I bought the men's 20 kg bar. Love the FACT that it's a legit Oly bar, with NEEDLE BEARINGS! These types of bars usually run for $500. I couldn't pass it up. I happen to be a 73 kg middle aged woman weight lifter. I started on the men's bar, as the women's bar, didn't exist, until the mid 90s, or so. The sound of the bar when it hits the platform, WOW! Very well made. I know this bar will endure quite a bit, with my male lifter wailing on it. Only downside, for the reason why I gave it 4 stars, was for the fact that it had center knurling. NOT ideal for performing cleans. The women's bar doesn't have it. Don't know why it can't be made without it. It's not a power bar. Anyhoo, still love it!

Looks great, spins smooth, and holds up to heavy and vigorous use. For the price I do not believe you can find a better bar.Adding to my previous review. I have used this bar for 1 year now and is without a doubt the best bar I have ever owned. I have used Elieko bars in competition but who can afford those. This bar has held up do drops, missed lifts, and overloads and is still performing excellent. Buy this bar.

Excellent bar. Have been using it for over 5 months. It is still bright and and in good shape. The chrome does not flake or rust. The bearings spin freely. I use it for squats and deadlifts and its stiffness seems good and not whippy. I use it at home with a power rack doing Starting Strength. It has been the perfect bar for this purpose.

I've had this bar for about a year now and I love it. My friend bought a rogue bar for similar price and the difference in spin is huge. His feels slow to turnover on cleans and snatches. I've even had the chance the past few months to train with elieko bars ( one of which is part of an actual competition set) and while the elieko do seem better which is expected considering the price when I train at home with this bar I barely feel a difference in my lifts. Great bar especially for the price.

this bar is FANTASTIC!!! The bar has a nice finish and the sleeves roll fabulously! The knurl is not too aggressive, which I like. I am VERY satisfied with this bar.

LOVE !! This barbell has allowed me to have smooth, quick lifts. I'm only rating 4 stars because the "RepFitness" label/sticker on the end of the sleeve has fallen off after less than a couple of weeks of usage. I feel like it looks cheap without the label.Other than that, GREAT barbell.