Looking for the best barbells with center knurl? The barbell knurling is the criss-cross pattern on the shaft of the Olympic barbells that are critical for improving grip. This pattern might be present throughout the bar or only at the center.
A barbell with a center knurl is ideal for those who regularly squat heavyweights. So, how do you know when to choose a barbell with a center knurl or not? Keep reading.
In a hurry? For those who just want to know the top picks on our list, here you go.
- Body-Solid OB86B Olympic Bar with Center Knurling—Best Budget
- Rogue Ohio Power Bar—Best Reviewed—My Best Choice
- Yaheetech Olympic 7 Feet Weight Bar
Table of Contents
When Should You Choose a Barbell with Center Knurl?
Every barbell has a sturdy piece of bar/shaft that’s cut and processed to set the length and diameter right. These rock-solid design constructions guarantee years of durability and come with longer warranties.
It is usually seen that these bars have knurling on them—while you might think this as an act of adding elegance to the equipment, individuals knowledgeable with fitness equipment call it knurling—a rough criss-cross pattern you see on the bar, which is intended to increase friction between your hands and the bar.
The knurl could be smooth or rough, varying between products, and it is 100% upon the user to decide his/her preferred bar.
Barbells generally have knurls, but the primary difference lies in where the knurling is present. Some bars have knurling that goes up to their sleeve, some have a gap where the bar and the sleeve meet, some bars come with center knurling, and some don’t have center knurling.
Smooth center knurling protects the neck from jerks and presses, while a rigid center knurling enhances the barbell’s grip. If you love to do weightlifting, it’s best to choose a weightlifting barbell with a smooth center knurl.
It is ideal to choose a barbell with center knurl if you regularly squat heavyweights, which needs you to get the right grip on the back. If you love CrossFit training, then it is OK to choose one without a center knurl.
Top 3 Best Barbell with Center Knurl
Barbells are an expensive piece of equipment that guarantees durability. But several criteria define the worth of this equipment. Given below are the three best budget barbells with center knurl.
#1. Body-Solid OB86B Olympic Bar with Center Knurling
Here comes a barbell that can withstand up to 600 pounds of plates taking your weight workouts to the highest level possible.
Body-Solid promises excellent workout equipment that satisfies your daily exercise needs. Standing by this principle, the OB86B Olympic bar is made from high-quality materials.
It has a black oxide finish safeguarding the shaft against rusting, peeling, or chipping off.
The bar weighs 44 pounds and is 7 feet long, making it a great choice for bench press, powerlifting, weight lifting, and CrossFit exercises.
The bar has center knurling making it a good choice for squats. Single-tabbed side knurling helps you perform jerks and many other Olympic movements with ease.
The bar is 30mm in diameter and has a shoulder bolt collar bolt.
Pros
- The first choice for bodybuilders and championship lifts
- Ideal product for weight lifting and CrossFit training
- Supports extremely heavy workouts
Cons
- Rusts after a few months
#2. Rogue Ohio Power Bar
Barbell experts consider the Rogue Ohio bar to be the best powerlifting barbell that stands tall among others in this price range.
This 29mm Rogue bar comes with a Cerakote finish (polymer-ceramic coating), similar to the material used for manufacturing guns.
You can choose from ample color choices, which makes it pleasant to exercise. At the same time, this finish offers up to 100 times corrosion resistance to black zinc.
The bar consists of a 205,000 PSI steel shaft with bronze bushings and a snap ring design.
It has single powerlifting knurl marks with the center knurling, deep and rough but not too sharp or dangerous. Getting the perfect knurl pattern is no coincidence, but it is an art that has to be mastered.
The shaft (29mm) diameter and its weight (45 lbs) offer intense tensile strength making it the perfect barbell for bench pressing, deadlifts, and squats.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Excellent rigidity and negligible whip
- Volcano knurl pattern that offers superb hand grip
- 205K PSI makes it the most durable barbell on this list.
Cons
- The sleeves are grooved, which creates a zip noise when loading and unloading the plate
Here is a video that gives more details about the Rogue Ohio Power Bar (starts from 2:19)
#3. Yaheetech Olympic 7 Feet Weight Bar
If you experience space crunch in your home but wish for a versatile quality bar, the Yaheetech bar should be your ideal choice.
The 7 feet bar has a maximum weight capacity of 330 lb, weighs around 40 lb, and is provided with spring collars.
This is the ideal equipment for performing deadlifts, rows, bench work, and overhead press, giving users the perfect blend of value for money, construction, knurl, spin, and sleeve space.
Use this weight bar for complete upper body workout training (specifically snatch and jerk), especially when you are not satisfied with your dumbbell set.
The center knurling design is commendable as it provides the right grip—not too sharp, not too abrasive, nor too painful on the hand.
This is an excellent choice for a home gym as you can use the bar with/without weights, helping the user perform versatile arm exercises such as bicep/tricep extensions, wrist curls, wide grips, and more.
Pros
- Dual knurl marks provide the right grip
- High-quality material with anti-rust silver finish
- Provided with a spring collar at either end
Cons
- It will produce noise while lifting
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