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 offer the best bang for your buck. It's well made, it has great specs, it looks...

Oh, what's that? You need a new flat bench? Well, that's good because this Rep Fitness bench is rocking the flat bench world. Yep, this bench is completely awesome. Not only does it offer one of the best designs around, but it has one of the best values of any bench you'll find. I've been using the Rogue Flat Utility Bench for the past...

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...

You know that feeling you get when you realize that you just discovered the best ______ (insert thing) you've ever had/used/tasted/etc...? Feels pretty cool, right? For me, I knew: That my wife was the greatest woman I had ever met when she showed up to take me to the airport after a couple days of knowing me with a bag of...

Fringe Sport is beginning to really make a push into the barbell scene with more specificity in terms of lifting styles. They've recently launched the weightlifting bar, the hybrid bar, and the power bar, and they are doing so at very reasonable prices. In this review, I'll be taking a look at the weightlifting bar, which comes in at under...

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...

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...