Reviews

Some people say "weight is weight," but I kinda disagree. Sure, the point in all this lifting stuff is to load up weight and lift it repeatedly, and you can certainly get strong regardless... But not all weight is created equal. There are, among others, different sizes, different materials, different bounces, and different weight tolerances. All of these variables have an impact to...

Squats, and bench, and deadlifts, oh my! Whether you're a competitive powerlifter, an aspiring powerlifter, or just someone who wants to build total body strength centered around the main three lifts, having the right equipment is paramount if you want to make real progress. A great way to do that? Build a powerlifting gym at home. The problem that arises for powerlifting-minded people...

Picking a power rack... it's overwhelming, right? There are just a ton of options out there, which I elaborate on in The Ultimate Guide to Building a Powerlifting Home Gym. When I was first in the market for a rack, I did an exhaustive amount of research trying to find the perfect balance between price, performance, and footprint. I got googly-eyed looking at...

True of False: The Rogue Ohio Power Bar is the best value power bar currently on the market. While there are some really nice power bars being introduced, some of which provide excellent value, it's hard to argue that the Rogue Ohio Power Bar doesn't at least belong in the conversation. It's well made, it has great specs, it looks awesome,...

Mammoth mam·moth  ˈma-məth  Noun: Something immense of its kind Example: American Barbell is a mammoth in the barbell industry. I don't think I'm alone when I say that American Barbell makes some of the finest barbells around. Their craftsmanship is exceptional, their bars have a true uniqueness, and they offer something for everyone at multiple price points. A few months ago I posted my...

When it comes to buying a safety squat bar, there’s really only about a handful of options that are worth your money. The EliteFTS SSB is one of those options, and it’s arguably the best and most popular safety squat bar on the market. When selecting an SSB, the most important factors to consider are general construction (duh), balance/camber angles, padding...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're reading this review and you're looking for a buffalo bar, odds are you have shoulder mobility issues, elbow pain, or possibly some wrist problems. Maybe you're just looking for some additional variety in your training, deeper range of motion on bench, etc... Either way, the buffalo bar is an excellent choice. Historically, mainstream "bow...

"You get what you pay for." I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy buyer's remorse. When I make a purchase, I hope to extract enough value from it to justify the price tag. The level of remorse is magnified of course when the price tag is higher, the psychological attachment is stronger, the perceived benefit is greater, etc... Does...

You've seen it, right? Chris Duffin gnawing away at a competing power bar... Not literally, as in Chris himself, but rather his ever-so-awesome Kabuki Strength power bar. In case you missed it, you can catch the video below, but the cliff notes are a follows: Chris puts the Kabuki power bar on the lathe. Chris turns on the lathe. Chris firmly presses...

Let me ask you a question... When was the last time you trained your neck? Last week? Last month? Longer? Maybe never? Let's face it, neck training isn't high on the priority list for a lot of athletes, and certainly not your every day Jimmy and Joe. It's not really a "sexy" muscle group like the abs, pecs, etc... Why even bother, amirite? Well... no. Neck...