Rep Fitness Sabre Bar

REP Fitness Sabre Bar

The REP Fitness Sabre Bar is a basic multi-purpose barbell designed for those on a budget or for those who are beginner/recreational lifters.

It has a no-frills spec profile that will get the job done without costing an arm and a leg. It uses a bushing sleeve design, offers dual knurl rings, and it doesn’t have a center knurl. As such, it’s a good bar for general purpose lifting.

This exact bar is also sold with a center knurl.

Here are some further details about the bar:

Knurling

The Sabre Bar’s knurl has a moderate feel to it that’s great for higher rep, higher frequency, and/or lower weight workouts. The grip is very good according to many users, but just keep in mind that you may need to reach for the chalk or strap if you’re attempting heavier PR-like lifts.

This particular version of the bar does not offer a center knurl, which some will prefer if they’re looking for a more comfortable bar, especially in the front rack position. Dual knurl marks make it easy to perform powerlifting movements as well as Olympic Style lifts.

Shaft

This bar has a 28.5mm shaft, which is a very common diameter for a multi-purpose bar. This creates a shaft that isn’t too rigid and also not too whippy, making it a good hybrid between powerlifting and weightlifting. The tensile strength on the bar is on the lower end of the spectrum at 150,000 PSI. If you’re an advanced lifter or someone who is lifting a significant amount of weight, a higher tensile strength option will be more suitable. A good example within the REP Fitness family would be the REP Gladiator MX Bar.

The bright zinc shaft will provide a good-not-great feel and you’ll get the same when it comes to oxidation resistance.

Sleeves

The sleeves on the REP Sabre Bar are smooth, which some people will prefer, myself included. While grooved sleeves do tend to keep the plates on the bar a little better when not using collars, smooth sleeves are much quieter when sliding plates on and off.

The sleeves are also coated in bright zinc and they utilize bronze bushings to spin the bar. Bushings are very common in a multi-purpose bar since they create a spin that’s smooth, controlled, and capable of handling a variety of lifts. They are also a less expensive part, which helps to keep the price down compared to bearings. 

Aesthetics

The REP Sabre Bar overall has a clean look to it, but it’s not one that’s necessarily going to stick out. Bright zinc has a nice polish in its early life, but it’s recommended that you oil it with 3-in-1 or something similar to protect against oxidation. Eventually, you may see some spots and some degradation of the look, but this is purely cosmetic and it won’t have any effect on the performance of the bar.

The sleeves also use a bright zinc finish, which is fairly common. Again, use some oil on it every once in a while and you’ll keep them looking good for a longer amount of time.

The end cap uses a simple design, which is consistent with the REP branding.

Features & Highlights

• Bright Zinc – Bright Zinc is a cost-efficient plating that does an OK job at fighting off rust. You won’t get the same feel as you would with a non-plated finish like bare steel, stainless steel, etc… but you get a good blend of feel and rust resistance without the larger price tag.
• 28.5mm Shaft – The 28.5mm shaft is common in multi-purpose bars. You’ll be able to perform a variety of lifts, but you won’t get the same whip or the same rigidity as you would with a dedicated Oly or power bar.
• Smooth Sleeves – The smooth sleeves will generally create less noise when loading/unloading plates compared to a grooved sleeve.
• No Center Knurl – This version of the Sabre Bar does not offer a center knurl, which is useful on high rep training sessions and/or in cases where a lifter wants a more comfortable bar.

What They’re Saying at Repfitness.com

The REP Sabre Bar receives very positive feedback from users. With an average rating of 4.9/5 at repfitness.com, here are some of the things they have said:

Positive

• “I have had this bar for two weeks now and I think it was a solid choice and has definitely exceeded my expectations. The bar arrived strongly packaged and undamaged. The bar feels well built and looks great! Its been holding up nicely; I have already put it through Power Cleans, Push Jerks and some heavy deadlifts at 445lbs. The bar has a good whip, and collar spin. This is my first bar for my home gym, but I’m sure it’ll be here for the long haul. Great bar for the price!”
• “Purchased one of these barbells on clearance at the store and couldnt be happier with it. Knurl is just enough to help with grip without tearing up your hands. Bar feels incredibly solid even when squatting 300lb.”
• “This is a great Olympic bar, an extremely solid and well built addition to the home gym!”
• “This is an excellent bar at the price point. This does most things well.”
• “Excellent barbell,very happy with the barbell, especially for the price. Good solid clean bar feels great revolves nice and smooth. Happy with the purchase.”
• “Great bar. No frills. This bar definitely lifts!”
• “The bar is fantastic! It’s my second Sabre bar from Rep Fitness. The knurling is perfect, not too coarse.”

Critical

• “The only reason I give it a 4 star is I would like slightly more aggressive knurling, but that’s just a personal choice.”

Garage Gym Lab Review

Garage Gym Lab has not yet reviewed this bar, but stay tuned!

Other Options

The below barbells were picked as alternatives to the REP Sabre Bar.