LivingFit Cerakote Barbell Review (2024)

If you’re looking to find one barbell that checks the boxes on quality and reliability, but it won’t break the bank, then look no further! Today on the platter, we have our Living Fit Cerakote Barbell review that will cover all there is to know about this product. 

We’ll be answering questions such as, “Is the LivingFit barbell any good?”, “Can it hold its own against alternatives?”, “What are the pros and cons?”. So, can the LivingFit Cerakote barbell raise the bar among its competitors? 

Let’s cut to the chase and let’s find out!

LivingFit Cerakote Barbell Review Quick Summary

LivingFit Cerakote Barbell

• Bar Use: multi-purpose
• Weight: 20 kg (44.1 lbs)
• Length: 86.61″ (2200 mm)
• Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.3″ (415 mm)
• Shaft Diameter: 28 mm
• Sleeve Diameter: 50 mm
• Bushing/Bearing: 8NK bearings and 2 brass bushings
• Sleeve Style: smooth
• Knurl Style: IWF-standard knurling
• Center Knurl: no
• Knurl Markings: 1.2 mm knurling depth

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Unlike named giants of the fitness industry, such as Rogue, Titan, REP, and so on, LivingFit seems like it packs no significant punch. The reason behind this is because they came to the scene at a later date than the others.

But although they’re relatively new to the market, the brand is backed by a team with about  a decade of experience in the fitness industry. The founder, Jay Perkins, has previously co-founded Kettlebell Kings, which is  a brand known for their high-quality products.

And what makes LivingFit different, is their approach. Instead of focusing and specializing solely in fitness equipment/gear, they also heavily lean into education.

And that detail means that they do, from a professional standpoint, know what they are doing. The only question left to be answered is, “Is the gym equipment that LivingFit offers any good, or is it rubbish?”. While we will cover each piece of significant gear they offer, today, we will be answering that question when it comes to their barbell. 

And? Is it any good? Well, we think it’s excellent. But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s a bit about this bar. The LivingFit Cerakote Barbell combines excellent craftsmanship, innovative technology, and superb durability for athletes to achieve their fitness goals easily.

The barbell features a high-alloy spring steel construction, specifically 42CrMo  material (high-alloy spring steel), vouching for maximum strength and resilience. Which is pretty great considering the price-to-quality ratio. Plus, as the name suggests, the barbell has a cerakote finish which gives it its distinctive (and attractive) black color. 

The Living Fit chrome barbell comes with the IWF standard knurling with a depth of 1.2mm for a secure and comfortable grip. That’s the most widespread knurling used on competition barbells, and there is little reason to deviate from what works (especially if you’re looking to compete). The knurling itself is well-made and it’s not going to tear up your hands as you’re going to do Olympic lifts.

All-in-all, this barbell is really great, considering it comes from a lesser-known name. With the marketplace being flooded with products, sometimes it is hard to know what is good and what’s not. We aren’t saying all of their gear is amazing (you’ll have to read our other Living Fit gear reviews for that – Dumbell, Bumber Plates), but their barbell is definitely something that is worth your hard-earned bucks. Great find, great buy.

LivingFit Cerakote Barbell Review

1. Steel quality

The barbell is made of high-alloy spring steel, namely 42Crmo material, which ensures maximum strength of the item. For better corrosion and scratch resistance, the barbell is covered with the QPQ+ cerakote coating with a thickness of 0.03-0.04mm (and so far, the coating’s proven to be quite durable). 

2. Knurling/Grip

The knurling is perfect for day-to-day training. It has two breaks in the knurling and no center knurling. Good for those who like cleans, because it won’t scratch your neck, but may be a tiny issue for placing the bar in the middle of trapezius when doing squats.

3. Spin

The bearings spin smoothly, making this bar a very versatile piece of equipment. Featuring 8NK bearings and 2 brass bushings, the barbell delivers smooth rotation, reducing friction while performing dynamic and explosive movements. Great for Olympic lifts.

4. Tensile strength

Being made to withstand heavy loads, the Living Fit barbell comes with a tensile strength of 200KPSI. The load capacity of the bar is 1500 lb.  

5. Versatility

Since the bar can withstand intensive drills, it will fit powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, strength training and any other general fitness activity .

6. Value for money

Overall, you'll get a great bar considering the amount you’re paying. Top-class material quality, composition, and versatility is worth choosing this bar for multipurpose use.This is a very versatile bar for training. The quality of the barbell is outstanding for the price.   

LivingFit Cerakote Barbell Alternatives

1. LivingFit Cerakote Barbell vs REP Colorado Bar

REP Colorado Bar

• Bar: UseMixed-Use
• Weight: 20kg (44.1lbs)
• Length: 86.6"
• Loadable Sleeve Lenght: h16.1"
• Shaft Diameter: 28.5mm
• Sleeve Diameter: 50mm
• Bushing/Bearing: Composite Bushing
• Sleeve Style: Smooth
• Knurl Style: Volcano/Medium
• Center Knurl: No
• Knurl Markings: Dual (IPF & IWF)
• Material: Steel
• Shaft Coating: Hard Chrome or Cerakote
• Sleeve Coating: Hard Chrome or Duracoat®
• Whip: Medium
• Static Rating: 1,500lbs
• Tensile Strength: 190ksi
• Tolerance: 1%

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The REP Fitness Colorado Bar is a premium 20-kg flagship bar and needs little to no introduction. It comes in different Cerakote colors, e.g., black, blue, green, red, or white, also with Duracoat sleeves. Duracoat is a specific chemical process that hardens the steel outside and changes it to a smooth black finish. It’s also available in a hard chrome finish, both shaft and sleeves, making it resistant to corrosion.

Alike the Living.Fit barbell, this is a highly versatile barbell, which will be great training equipment for cross-training/HIIT workouts, powerlifting, and Olympic weightlifting. It also has dual knurl markings IPF and IWF approved to help you pinpoint where to place your hands when setting up. 

Considering the knurling pattern, the bar features medium-depth, volcano-style knurling for improving grip support that won't tear up your hands during vigorous workouts. 

The Colorado Bar comes with a 28.5mm diameter shaft and smooth sleeves for easy loading and unloading of the weights. When it comes to the bar's spin, the composite bushings provide a smooth rotation with added durability. These bushings provide a dampening effect reducing the noise when dropping the barbell. 

The Colorado Bar is finished with premium, metal end caps with a unique design and laser-etched branding on the inner sleeves. 

2. LivingFit Cerakote Barbell vs Eleiko Performance Weightlifting Bar

Eleiko Performance Weightlifting Bar

• Knurl Style: 1.0 Knurling
• Warranty: 12 year
•  Loadable Sleeve Lenght: 415 mm
• Weight: 20 kg
• Shaft Diameter: 28 mm

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Eleiko is another well-known name in the lifting world. So, how does the Eleiko Performance Barbell compare to the LivingFit bar? Well, it's made from strong yet flexible steel making it perfect for any athlete serious about high performance in strength and conditioning sports. 

The Eleiko performance bar features precision needle bearings, an inner race and a dustproof seal ensuring smooth movement of the weight under the load and at high speeds. While the knurling provides a grip suited for high-performance training.

An unnecessary, but yet very welcome and thoughtful addition is that every bar is delivered with a brush to clean chalk from your bar after use. Very nice!

FAQ

Tell Me More About the Cerakote Finish Please. Is It Scratchable by Plates? 

So far, in 2 weeks of testing, the cerakote coating hasn’t been scratched.  It gives a nice look to the bar and does not negatively impact the grip and feel of the bar.  

Compare the Product With Other Prominent Alternatives You Have, Maybe Rogue, Eleiko, or Other Bars.

Comparing such brands as Eleiko, Uesaka, and Werksan barbells, this will perform as well as any of those for day-to-day training.  For experienced weightlifters who can feel the bar whip at the bottom of a clean or jerk dip, the bar whip feels sluggish in comparison to the Eleiko/Werksan/Uesaka bars.  

Conclusion

So, what can we take away from all of this? Is the Living Fit barbell any good? Yes, it definitely is. But, can it hold its own against other well-known brands? Well, it turns out that it can. LivingFit might not be the top of the line when it comes to every aspect reviewed (steel quality, knurling/grip, spin, tensile strength, versatility), but it is definitely up there, and the Living Fit Cerakote Barbell stands tall when it comes to value for money. 

It fits different training styles, has lots of benefits, namely smooth and consistent rotation under the load, and is also made of top-class material. If you’re looking for something versatile and of a good quality at a quite moderate price rate, this one’s got our vote!

What do you think of it (in case you’ve used it)? Leave all your comments and questions in the comments section below. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Also read:

• Ligving Fit Bumper Plates Review
• Ligving Fit Resistance Bands Review
• Ligving Fit Gym Mat Review
• Living Fit Dumbbells Review
• Titan Performance Series Olympic Barbell Review
• Nike Barbell Reviews — How Does Nike’s New Strength Range Compare?

References:

1. Cerakote, "Industrial Coatings Solutions," https://www.cerakote.com/cerakote-industries/industrial-coatings-solutions, accessed April 25, 2024
2. International Weightlifting Federation, "Technical Competition Rules & Regulations," January 2020, https://iwf.sport/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2020/01/IWF_TCRR_2020.pdf, accessed April 25, 2024
3. Otai Steel, "BS EN 42CrMo4 | 1.7225 Alloy Engineering Steel," https://www.astmsteel.com/product/42crmo4-alloy-steel/, accessed April 25, 2024
4. Photos made by Torokhtiy Media Team.