Rep Fitness Stainless Steel Power Bar v2
- Manufacturer: Rep Fitness
- Purpose: Powerlifting
- Bar Weight: 20kg
- Gender: Men
- Tensile Strength: 200,000
- Yield Strength: N/A
- Knurl Type: Medium
- Center Knurl: Yes
- Knurl Marks: Powerlifting
- Shaft Finish: Stainless Steel
- Shaft Diameter: 29mm
- Sleeve Finish: Stainless Steel
- Sleeve Type: Smooth
- Rotation System: Bushing
- Made In: China
- Warranty: Lifetime
Read below to get a detailed look at the Rep Power Bar including product details, features, a full Garage Gym Lab review, real user feedback, and more.
$429.99
Rep Stainless Steel Power Bar v2
The REP Stainless Power Bar v2 is a high-quality power bar that offers several nice features, especially at its price point.
I have owned this bar since the beginning of 2018 and I’ve been able to put quite a few miles on it.
Opposite the other the Power Bar EX, which is aggressively knurled, this Stainless Power bar v2 is much more medium in feel.
Here are some further details about the bar:
Knurling
As mentioned, this bar offers a knurl that is much milder in comparison to REP’s other power bar offerings. It has a flat knurl that offers ample grip, but one that is far from aggressive.
While it’s capable of handling each of the big 3 powerlifting movements, heavy attempts may be accompanied by straps or chalk. There isn’t much bite with this bar. If, on the other hand, you want a bar that you can use on higher rep/volume training sessions, this one fits the bill very nicely.
I have used the bar the most on bench press, high-bar back squats, and high-rep deadlifts. Anything between 1-3 reps, I’m using another barbell with more aggressive knurling.
The bar does include a center knurl in the same pattern as the rest of the bar. As you would expect, the bar also includes single powerlifting knurl marks.
Shaft
The Stainless Power Bar v2 has a 29mm shaft with a tensile strength of 200k PSI. Both of these are in the power bar wheelhouse, creating a rigid bar that is spec’d to meet powerlifting federation guidelines.
The stainless steel shaft feels nice in the hands and it takes chalk well. Again, it’s not aggressive, but the raw feel of stainless contributes to an overall grip that’s suitable for the squat, bench, and deadlift.
Generally speaking, I love that REP is only offering their power bars in stainless steel. The blend of feel and rust prevention is unmatched compared to other finishes.
Sleeves
The sleeves on the Stainless Power Bar v2 are very nice indeed. They’re both stainless steel and smooth, which are two qualities I appreciate.
The smooth sleeves are something that’s generally personal preference. Some prefer grooved sleeves. The benefit of smooth sleeves is that they’re generally quieter, whereas the benefit of grooved sleeves is that they keep the plates on better. Of course, if you’re using collars, the plate benefit is a moot point.
I can confirm that these sleeves are quieter than grooved sleeves and they’re on par with most smooth sleeves. That said, they aren’t as quiet as the Power Bar EX or PowerSpeed bars from Rep Fitness.
When I first bought the bar, I, along with some others noted some slight lateral movement in the sleeves. Since updating to the new version in 2020, my new copy does not have this issue.
The bar utilizes bushings to spin, which is very customary for a power bar. They offer a smooth, slow, and controlled, which is exactly what you want with this type of barbell. It also uses two heavy-duty snap rings to keep everything in place, unlike the single snap ring that most other bars use.
Aesthetics
Aesthetically, this bar looks great. Stainless steel offers a beautiful aesthetic, and with both the shaft and the sleeves coming in stainless, this bar really shines. It looks much more expensive than the actual price. The end cap is a very simple design and it looks good overall.
Features & Highlights
- Stainless Steel – Stainless steel is excellent at preventing rust and it provides a true raw feel. While it is one of the more expensive options, it is arguably the best one available. Aside from the oxidation resistance and excellent feel, stainless steel also looks fantastic. This bar offers stainless steel on both the shaft and the sleeves.
- Medium Knurl – The knurling on this bar provides a medium feel that is well-suited for non-PR attempts, everyday training, and/or higher rep/volume sessions.
- Smooth Sleeves – These smooth sleeves are quiet and beautiful to look at.
- Strong Warranty – The REP Power Bar v2 comes with a lifetime warranty from Rep Fitness.
What They’re Saying at repfitness.com
The REP Stainless Steel Power Bar v2 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 opted for the Rep SS Power Bar V2 for two reasons. First, I workout in a garage in super humid conditions, and SS would reduce the amount of maintenance and rust. Second, I was ordering a bunch of stuff from Rep already, so the shipping was negligent. I’m very happy with my choice and am confident this will last for many, many years. Knurling is grippy, but not aggressive—on the softer side of medium. And it just looks amazing. I happily use it for all my barbell moves.”
- “This bar is awesome for the money! Knurl feels perfect to me. The spin is really nice and did I say it was stainless?! The sleeves are really smooth and easy to load and unload. Go ahead and pull the trigger if you are considering this bar!”
- “I’ve had the SS standard knurl bar for 1.5 years, used it multiple times a week, and it still looks new (beautiful). Knurl is grippy but not sharp/painful. I especially enjoy it for pressing movements – wouldn’t trade it for any other! There is slight side-to-side play in the sleeves, which I’m guessing Rep has corrected by now, but it has 0 impact on lifting regardless. Would purchase again without a doubt.”
- “This bar feels very good in the hands. The knurling feels good, not overly aggressive. I’ve had no issues with weight capacity. Some people complain about there being some slop in the sleeves. I found mine to have minimal play. The spin is what I would expect from a power bar. In my opinion this is the best value bar for a garage gym that focuses on powerlifting, especially for humid climates such as here in southwest Florida.”
- “Overall, this is a great all around power bar, with minimal whip, best available corrosive resistant finish at an unbeatable price. We like this one so much we’re likely going to replace one of our other bars with a second Rep SS Power bar.”
Critical
- As other reviewers have stated, there is definitely side play in the sleeves. Hasn’t affected my lifts, but I honestly just find it annoying.
Garage Gym Lab Review
Garage Gym Lab has reviewed this bar. You can read the full review here or see the synopsis below.
[letsreview postid=”2167″]
Other Options
The below barbells were picked as alternatives to the REP Stainless Power Bar v2.