Bells of Steel Barenaked Power Bar 2.0

Bells of Steel Barenaked Power Bar 2.0

The Bells of Steel Barenaked Power Bar 2.0 is one of the best value power bars currently on the market. It has a solid spec profile and good overall feedback from users.

Read more below.

Features & Highlights

• Bare Steel – Bare Steel is the most cost-effective “finish” available because… well… it’s not finished in anything. Because of that, it ranks very highly in the ‘feel’ department. You’ll get a completely raw texture that provides outstanding grip. It also takes chalk very well. The downside to bare steel is that it’s very prone to oxidation. There is no preventing it, although 3-in-1 oil or similar is commonly used to mitigate it. 
• 29mm Shaft – The 29mm shaft on the Barnaked Power Bar is consistent with powerlifting standards, so squats, bench press, and deadlifts will excel with this bar. On the other hand, you won’t get quite the same response on Olympic-style lifts that you would with a 28.5 or 28mm multipurpose bar. 
• Center Knurl – This bar does include a center knurl with the same texture as the outer knurl.
• Narrow Collars –  The collars one this bar are narrower than most. This creates a slightly longer sleeve for additional plates, but it does put the plates closer to the rack. When racking/unracking the bar, you’ll want to be aware of the uprights so you don’t bump them.
• Grooved Sleeves – The sleeves on this bar have fine grooves that help keep the plates on the bar better when you’re not using collars. The downside is that grooved sleeves make an audible zip noise when loading/unloading plates.

From the Manufacturer

The B.o.S. Powerlifting Bar is the best Powerlifting bar you can get for under $200. A bold claim, I know, so here’s why having this bar in your gym will put you on a gainz train to muscleville.

• An aggressive knurl with a bare steel finish gives you a superior grip and will prepare and callous your hands for meet day.
• A thinner block allows for more plates to be loaded onto the bar and less whip, while the ribbed, hardened chrome sleeves help prevent plates from shifting while lifting.
• With a 210K PSI tensile strength, 1,500lb weight capacity and snap ring design, the Barenaked powerlifting bar is tough enough for both novice and world-class powerlifters.

What They’re Saying at Bellsofsteel.us

The Bells of Steel Barenaked Power Bar 2.0 receives positive feedback from users. With an average rating of 4.8/5 at bellsofsteel.us, here are some of the things they have said:

Positive

• “I could not be more impressed with the quality of this bar. The knurl is aggressive and coarse just as advertised. The collars are tight and dont have any side to side play, the sleeves look immaculate, the spin is bang on for a power bar. The packaging the bar came in is super robust which eases concerns of damage during shipping. I would say the centre knurl isnt quite as aggressive as the other areas of the bar which honestly might be a good thing, it’s there for a little extra grip not to claw into your back. The bar came pretty well oiled and completely rust free, you just gotta do a little cleaning.”
• “It’s a great power bar. The knurling is perfect (not too bitey). It’s been great for benching. And the price is so fair and shipping was fast! Highly recommend this company and product!”
• “What drove me to get this barbell was the fact that it’s labeled as a power bar and it’s significantly cheaper than those of the competitors. I can’t say that those other power bars are good or bad as I don’t have personal experience with them. However, I used a lot of barbells in commercial gyms and powerlifting gyms where I didn’t necessarily know the name and still find this one to come out on top. It’s a good bang for the buck, the knurling is really tough which makes gripping the bar feel so much better, what more could you want from that? There requires a little more upkeep since it’s a barenaked bar, but hey there’s got to be some tradeoff. Overall, I love this barbell and would definitely buy or recommend to a friend.”
• “I’m a 43 year old powerlifter who has been training for 27 years. I own several barbells. This bar quickly became my favorite bar to bench with. I love the knurl and small collars. I recommend the barenaked bar to any power lifter looking for a top quality bar.”
• “For the price…this bar is amazing. I like it more than my more expensive bars.”
• “Knurling is sharp, grip is good. Has the narrow ends on it so the plates are closer to the rack. Not a good or bad thing, just something to be aware of.”

Critical

• “My only change would be to have fully smooth sleeves for easier loading for certain plates. I know the reason for dimpled sleeves but good collars will do their job and then some; so I’d prefer an easier time to load and unload the bar.”
• “Some of the knurling is flat in a few places, but not major. One of the sleeves has a big groove in the end, like something carved a piece of the steel out. The packaging was in perfect condition, so I can only imagine it left the warehouse like that.”
• “Some minor cosmetics imperfections but good overall.”

Garage Gym Lab Review

Garage Gym Lab has not yet reviewed this bar.

Other Options

The below barbells were picked as alternatives to the Bells of Steel Barenaked Power Bar 2.0.