We Found The Best Deadlift Bar For Pulling Heavy Weights
There are a ton of awesome barbells out there for any type of lifting.
Whether you’re interested in powerlifting, weightlifting, or CrossFit – you can find any bar you need to improve your performance.
One lesser-known bar that is important for powerlifting, is a Deadlift bar.
There aren’t a ton of deadlift bars available that are ACTUALLY what they’re designed for.
So today, I’ll cover the best deadlift bars on the market so you can lift maximal weights and build a bigger Deadlift.
I’ll also include the pros and cons of each, as well as help you choose the perfect deadlift bar for your needs.
Let’s get started!
Table Of Contents
- 1 What is a Deadlift Bar?
- 2 What Are The Best Deadlift Bars
- 2.1 Best Deadlift Bar Overall – Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar
- 2.2 Top Rated Deadlift Bar – Texas Deadlift Bar
- 2.3 Best Deadlift Bar For The Money – ISF Deadlift Bar
- 2.4 Best Budget Deadlift Bar – Valor Fitness OB-DL Supreme Deadlift Bar
- 2.5 Best Sumo Deadlift Bar – Sumo Deadlift Bar By Strongarm
- 2.6 Best Deadlift Hex Bar – Rep Open Trap Bar
- 3 Types Of Deadlift Bars
- 4 What to Consider When Choosing a Deadlift Bar
- 5 Why Should You Invest In A Deadlift Bar?
- 6 Deadlift Bar vs. Power Bar
- 7 Which Deadlift Bar is Right for You?
- 8 What About The Okie Deadlift Bar?
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions
- 10 Conclusion
What is a Deadlift Bar?
A deadlift barbell is a type of specialty bar that is specifically designed for deadlifts.
Deadlift bars are longer and more flexible than standard power bars, which allows for better whip to improve your starting position.
They also have a very aggressive knurling pattern that provides the best grip possible so you don’t drop your max effort attempts.
The shaft is also going to be thinner at 27mm which is what allows the bar to flex more with heavy weights and provide a better grip than thicker bars.
What Are The Best Deadlift Bars
- Best Deadlift Bar Overall – Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar
- Top Rated Deadlift Bar – Texas Deadlift Bar
- Best Deadlift Bar For The Money – ISF Deadlift Bar
- Best Budget Deadlift Bar – Valor Fitness OB-DL Supreme Deadlift Bar
- Best Sumo Deadlift Bar – Sumo Deadlift Bar By Strongarm
- Best Deadlift Hex Bar – Rep Open Trap Bar
Best Deadlift Bar Overall – Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar
Specs
- Overall Bar Length – 90.50”
- Loadable Sleeve Length – 15.50”
- Distance Between Sleeves – 56”
- Bar Weight – 20kg (44lbs)
- Shaft Diameter – 27mm
- Shaft Coating – Black Zinc, Bare Steel, Black E-Coat
- Sleeve Coating – Bright Zinc, Bare Steel
- Knurl – Aggressive Knurling
- Tensile Strength – 190,000 PSI
- Weight Capacity – 1,300 lbs
- Price – $345-$390
- Warranty – Lifetime
Pros
Cons
Top Rated Deadlift Bar – Texas Deadlift Bar
The Texas Deadlift Bar is perfect for your home gym. This bar has a tensile strength of 190,000 pounds and is made from high-quality materials. It also has three different shafts to choose from - bare steel, black zinc, or chrome - as well as two different sleeves - chrome or bare steel. The 27" diameter shaft makes it easy to grip and the aggressive knurl provides a solid grip. This bar is the official bar of the American Powerlifting Committee, the International Federations, and more!
Specs
- Overall Bar Length – 92.5”
- Loadable Sleeve Length – 18”
- Distance Between Sleeves – 56”
- Bar Weight – 20kg (44lbs)
- Shaft Diameter – 27mm
- Shaft Coating – Bare Steel, Black Zinc, Chrome, Eight Different Cerakote Finish Options
- Sleeve Coating – Chrome, Bare Steel
- Knurl – Aggressive Knurling
- Tensile Strength – 190,000 PSI
- Weight Capacity – 1,300 lbs
- Price – $345-$410
- Warranty – Lifetime Warranty
Pros
Cons
Best Deadlift Bar For The Money – ISF Deadlift Bar
The ISF Deadlift bar is the best option for the money. Offering five different shaft finishes including bare steel, black oxide, and three ceramic-colored variations as well. The cheapest configuration is only around $329 which is the best value you can get for a Deadlift bar. For all the specs they offer, this is a great choice for big Deadlifts!
Specs
- Overall Bar Length – 91.73”
- Loadable Sleeve Length – 15.75”
- Distance Between Sleeves – 56”
- Bar Weight – 20kg (44lbs)
- Shaft Diameter – 27mm
- Shaft Coating – Bare Steel, Black Oxide, Ceramic Blue, Ceramic Red, Ceramic Pink
- Sleeve Coating – Hard Chrome, Black Oxide
- Knurl – Aggressive Knurling
- Tensile Strength – 190,000 PSI
- Weight Capacity – 1,300 lbs
- Price – $329-$399.95
- Warranty – 1-Year Warranty
Pros
Cons
Best Budget Deadlift Bar – Valor Fitness OB-DL Supreme Deadlift Bar
The Valor Fitness OB-DL Supreme Deadlift bar is the best budget option on the market. It boasts the longest shaft length on the market which gives it even more whip than the competition. Considering its low price tag and solid features, this is the perfect deadlift bar for beginners.
Specs
- Overall Bar Length – 90.5”
- Loadable Sleeve Length – 14.5”
- Distance Between Sleeves – 61.5”
- Bar Weight – 20kg (44lbs)
- Shaft Diameter – 27mm
- Shaft Coating – Black Zinc
- Sleeve Coating – Black Zinc
- Knurl – Aggressive Knurling
- Tensile Strength – 165,000 PSI
- Weight Capacity – 1,100 lbs
- Price – $274.53
- Warranty – Home Gym Usage (3-Year Warranty), Commercial Gym Usage (1-Year Warranty)
Pros
Cons
Best Sumo Deadlift Bar – Sumo Deadlift Bar By Strongarm
The Sumo Deadlift Bar by Strongarm is the best barbell for sumo deadlift specialists. It features a much longer center knurl to hold onto while in your sumo stance, and the outer sections of the bar are smooth so it doesn't drag up your shins and thighs like regular deadlift bars. If you want to get stronger at sumo deadlifts, this is the best option for you!
Specs
- Overall Bar Length – 90.9″
- Loadable Sleeve Length – 15.47″
- Distance Between Sleeves – 56.69″
- Bar Weight – 20kg (44lbs)
- Shaft Diameter – 27mm
- Shaft Coating – Bare Steel
- Sleeve Coating – Chrome Sleeves
- Knurl – Aggressive Knurling
- Tensile Strength – 180,000 PSI
- Weight Capacity – 1200 lbs
- Price – $379.99
- Warranty – Limited Lifetime Warranty
Pros
Cons
Best Deadlift Hex Bar – Rep Open Trap Bar
The Rep Open Trap Bar is the best deadlift hex bar on the market if value and versatility are important to you. Not only does it have multiple handle options that are fully stainless steel, but it also has a built-in jack that keeps the bar balanced while performing trap bar deadlifts. The deadlift jack is also super handy for loading/unloading plates. You can also use Reps open hex bar just like a cambered squat or bench press bar, making it by far one of the best value trap bars by far!
Specs
- Overall Bar Length – 84.3″
- Loadable Sleeve Length – 16.5″
- Distance Between Sleeves – 50.5″
- Bar Weight – 58.4 lbs
- Handle Diameters – 28mm for regular handles, 38mm, and 48mm handles as well with the rotating handles
- Shaft Coating
- Matte Black Powder Coat
- Stainless Steel Narrow, Standard, and Wide Handles
- Hard Chrome Rotating Handles
- Sleeve Coating – Hard Chrome
- Knurl – Aggressive
- Tensile Strength – 200,000 PSI
- Weight Capacity – 1350 lbs
- Price – $399.99-$469.99
- Warranty – 5-Year Warranty
Pros
Cons
Types Of Deadlift Bars
There are actually a couple of different bars you can use to deadlift but they aren’t going to traditionally be known as a “deadlift bar”.
Here are a few of the main types of bars used for deadlifting and what their distinct features are.
Olympic Bar
A lot of lifters in a traditional gym setting are most likely going to be lifting with a regular Olympic bar.
This isn’t the same as an Olympic Weightlifting bar but is instead a blanket term for any straight barbell with 2″ rotating sleeves.
Odds are, the bar you’re lifting with at your gym is either a multipurpose bar if it has dual knurl marks on the shaft, or a power bar if it has a single set of knurl marks
You can definitely deadlift with any generic Olympic bar you have available if you have to, but a thinner bar with more whip will be preferred.
Power Bar
A power bar is another type of Olympic barbell specifically designed for powerlifting. While you might think that means it’s great for the deadlift, it’s actually not.
Powerlifting barbells are 29mm thick which means they do not flex much at all even with the heaviest of loads.
So again, you’re better off with a thinner weightlifting or even multipurpose bar if you want to simulate the feeling of deadlift bars.
Deadlift Bar
A specialty deadlift bar combines a thinner shaft of 27mm for more whip and an easier grip, with a longer overall bar length that adds even more flex to the bar.
This is what you want in a good Deadlift bar so you can start in a higher position before the plates even lift off the ground.
Trap/Hex Bar
A trap or hex bar as it’s commonly known is a specialty barbell designed to do deadlift variations from a neutral grip position.
This allows you to have a more upright torso and bias different muscle groups depending on your setup.
For overall strength and muscle development, I highly recommend a good trap bar over anything else.
What to Consider When Choosing a Deadlift Bar
When choosing a deadlift bar, there are several factors to consider, including:
- Construction – The overall build quality and construction of your deadlift bar are important for longevity. The warranty offered for the bar you choose is a good sign about the quality, as I’ll cover in a second.
- Knurling – The best deadlift bars should have an aggressive knurling that isn’t so sharp as to tear your hands up. But you should accept that to get the best grip on your deadlift bar, the knurling is going to get some bite into your hand. As you get stronger and build more calluses up, you’ll complain less and lift more luckily.
- Load Capacity – Get a Deadlift bar that can handle at least 1,000 lbs. This is a good rule of thumb for any weight-bearing equipment as the majority of you are going to be covered.
- Price – Quality barbells aren’t always going to be cheap. In general, a lot of great barbells can be found in the $200-$400 range. Any less or more than this might not be worth the investment. Luckily, all of the deadlift bars I recommend in this list are very close to this price range. It’s also worth noting that specialty barbells like a deadlift bar are just going to cost more overall.
- Shaft Finish – There are a bunch of different shaft finishes you can find for Deadlift bars. The best options for a deadlift bar in my opinion are either going to be a bare steel or stainless steel barbell. These two will have the best overall knurling compared to other coatings that can fill in the knurling and dull it. Other good options include black zinc and E-coat. Try to stay away from cerakote barbells unless they don’t chip easily, as they often do.
- Warranty – A 1-year warranty for a piece of equipment is nice, and 10 years is great, but to ensure the quality is there, I recommend you get at least a limited lifetime warranty. This will protect against any defects with your deadlift bar but not against negligence. If you like throwing deadlifts around on concrete don’t expect them to cover it.
- Whip – The whip of a deadlift bar is probably the most important feature other than the knurling. The whole point of deadlift bars being thinner is to have an easier time holding onto them with heavy weights, and to allow the barbell to flex. This gives you a higher starting position and helps you break the weights off of the platform easier. The larger the distance between the collars will also affect the whip as well.
Why Should You Invest In A Deadlift Bar?
You might be wondering why you should even invest in a deadlift bar in the first place. Here are a couple of reasons that make it a nice option if you can afford it.
Shorten The Range Of Motion
The longer overall bar length and thinner 27mm shaft will cause a deadlift bar to flex under heavy loads.
This will actually shorten the range of motion and allow you to actually break the plates off of the ground from a slightly higher position than a power bar.
Plus in powerlifting, finding the best leverages to lift the most weight is the name of the game. So if you want to build a bigger deadlift, training with a deadlift bar is a great idea.
No Center Knurl
Most power bars have a center knurl to grip onto your upper back while squatting. However, this can be an issue while deadlifting depending on your stance.
Deadlift bars don’t have a center knurl for this very reason which will prevent any knurling from rubbing against your shins, knees, and thighs.
This will slow the lift down and can actually cause you to miss it with super heavy loads.
Better Grip Overall
The thinner shaft of a deadlift bar is much easier to hold onto than a thicker 29mm power bar.
They also tend to have very aggressive knurling to bite into your hands and hold on much easier.
The better your grip is during the deadlift, the safer you’ll be and the more weight you’ll be able to lift.
Deadlift Bar vs. Power Bar
While deadlift bars and power bars may look similar, they have several key differences.
Deadlift bars are longer and thinner to provide better grip and whip. They also don’t have a center knurl so your legs aren’t making contact with the knurling.
Power bars are stiffer and have a thicker shaft diameter, making them better suited for exercises like bench presses and squats.
You really don’t want a lot of whip while squatting or benching so a 29mm powerlifting bar is a much better choice for those lifts.
Which Deadlift Bar is Right for You?
Ultimately, the best deadlift bar for you depends on your personal preferences and strength training needs.
If you’re looking for a high-quality bar with excellent grip and durability, the Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar is an excellent choice.
If you’re on a budget, the Valor Fitness deadlift bar is a great option that still provides excellent performance.
If you have mobility issues or struggle with conventional deadlifts, specialty deadlift bars like the sumo deadlift bar from Strongarm are a great choice. Or, you can get something more versatile like the Rep Fitness open hex bar.
Regardless of what you decide, just know that a quality Deadlift bar is a solid investment if you want to build a bigger Deadlift.
RELATED – The Ultimate Deadlift Bar Comparison – Choosing the Right Bar for Your Lifts
What About The Okie Deadlift Bar?
The Okie Deadlift bar, also originally known as the Oklahoma deadlift bar, is another legendary barbell that is just as renowned as the Texas deadlift bar.
While it still holds up just fine and will get the job done, they haven’t made any modifications to the original design.
The Okie deadlift bar is basically the same bar that it’s always been. It doesn’t even have bushings in it, it’s just a basic barbell sleeve wrapped around the shaft of the bar.
The knurling is super aggressive which is awesome if that’s what you’re looking for.
However, there are too many modern options to recommend the Okie deadlift bar over them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Now I turn it over to you!
Which deadlift bar on this list are you interested in getting for your own home gym?
Are there any bars you think should have made the list?
Let me know in the comment section below, right now!
Until next time,
-Dante
