Rogue Echo Bar 2.0

Rogue Echo Bar 2.0

The Rogue Echo Bar 2.0 is a no-frills, budget-friendly Olympic weightlifting bar made in the USA.

This bar comes with a 28.5mm diameter shaft, Olympic knurl marks, 190,000 PSI tensile strength, and a bright zinc finish.

It’s not going to blow the stat sheet away, but for just over $200, it’s a great option for recreational/beginner lifters or for those who are just looking to mind the budget.

Here are some further details about the bar:

Features & Highlights

• Bright Zinc Finish – 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 on the Rogue Echo Bar 2.0 is comfortable in the hands and provides a nice balance between rigid and whippy, making it ideal for a variety of lifts.
• Tensile Strength – This bar offers a tensile strength of 190,000 PSI, which is pretty impressive at this price point. Many entry-level bars will have a PSI tensile strength of ~150,000.
• 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.
• American Made – This bar is made in America.
• Warranty – The warranty on the Echo Bar is only one year compared to other bars, including from Rogue, where the warranty is much longer.

What They’re Saying at Roguefitness.com

The Rogue Echo Bar 2.0 receives good feedback from users. With an average rating of 4.8/5, here are some of the things people are saying at roguefitness.com:

Positive

• “I’ve had this bar for six months now and it has served me well. The knurling is a bit passive but it hasn’t caused any trouble with my lifts. I’ve found no issues with rust so far, I oiled this only once since I’ve had it and I keep it in the garage in California. If you don’t want to spend the extra money for the Ohio bar and still want a decent bar I suggest you check this one out.”
• “I bought this bar about a month ago. I have to be honest, with so many options I did not know what bar to buy. All I wanted is something similar to what I used at the gym. This bar is as if I brought the one from my gym home. I am supper happy with this bar, is exactly what I was looking for and more. Great quality and a competitively priced. If you are looking for a bar this one is basic and great for average exercises etc.”
• “I’m a weekend warrior powerlifter and this gets the job done for me. Materials feel sturdy. Knurling is aggressive enough for heavy (for me) deadlifts. I’m also able to comfortably do some light oly lifting with it. No center knurling, but I’ve maxed my squat with it with no shirt on and never once did I feel like the bar was going to slip. My only issue, and this is more on me not looking closely enough, is that although the bar says multipurpose, the marks in the knurling are for oly lifting. No reason you can’t powerlift with it, but that may present an issue for some. Overall though great bar for the money and perfect for any casual or non-competitive lifter.”
• “Perfect addition to the home gym. I have been very happy with the barbell. The knurling isn’t too aggressive, but gives plenty of grip. The grooves on the sleeves have made it so the plates don’t move once the collars are locked in.”
• “Really happy with the Echo Bar 2.0, great quality, the detail is impressive, I would definitely recommend this bar, if you haven’t decided yet just do it you won’t regret it.”

Critical

• “I oiled it on a monthly (if not weekly) basis. The bar is very vulnerable to oxidation. Aside from the the altered aesthetics, it get the job done. The knurling is very passive, so if you’re doing heavy lifting, you might want to chalk up or use wraps.”
• “Bought the bar during COVID-19 for a garage set up. After using the bar for about a month, it is already showing wear/dirt marks on the grips and streaks whenever I try and clean it. I’m unsure if the marks are due to the bar being chrome in color or just typical wear and tear for the type of bar it is.”

Garage Gym Lab Review

Garage Gym Lab has not yet reviewed this bar.

Other Options

The below barbells were picked as alternatives to the Rogue Echo Bar 2.0: