Nike Barbell Reviews — How Does Nike’s New Strength Range Compare?

Barbell training has become increasingly popular throughout the health and fitness community as the multiple health and performance benefits are realized. Several types of barbells exist, which change the suitable use and make choosing the correct one a hard decision.

We’ve provided two Nike barbell reviews below, looking at their new range of strength training equipment.

Nike Barbell Reviews Quick Summary 

Founded in 1964, Nike quickly became a market leader in health and sports equipment and apparel. Their range of strength training equipment is a new addition to their huge catalog of sports and health products.

Nike Coated Premium Barbell 20KG

• Item weight: 33 lbs to 44 lbs (15kg to 20kg)
• Bar length: 79.1″ to 86.6″ (2010mm to 2200mm)
• Diameter: 0.9″ to 1.1” (25mm to 28mm)
• Material: Stainless steel
• Shaft length: 51.6″
• Sleeve length: 12.6″ to 16.3″
• Tensile strength: 190,000
• Knurling: Medium volcano knurl with dual knurl marks
• Spin: 8 needle bearings
• Finish type: Ceramic-based coating

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The Nike premium coated barbells are constructed from stainless steel with a PSI tensile strength of 190,000 and finished with a ceramic coating. They have two 15 kg and 20 kg weight options and an overall length of 79.1 to 86.6″ with 12.6 to 16.3″ of loadable sleeve length depending on the barbell weight. The 51.6″ shafts feature medium volcano knurling with dual knurl marks and no center knurl.

The barbells contain eight needle bearings for the sleeve rotation mechanism. Additionally, three aesthetic color options are available to choose from: orange, black, and red. Each color has the black Nike tick logo present in the middle.

Nike Barbell 20KG

• Item weight: 33 lbs to 44 lbs (15kg to 20kg)
• Bar length: 79.1" to 86.6" (2010mm to 2200mm)
• Diameter:  0.9" to 1.1” (25mm to 28mm) 
• Material: Stainless steel
• Shaft length: 51.6"
• Sleeve length: 12.6" to 16.3"
• Tensile strength: 190,000 PSI
• Knurling: Medium volcano knurling with dual knurl marks
• Spin: 8 needle bearings
• Finish type: Chrome; Black chrome

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Nike’s normal barbell versions are constructed using stainless steel, featuring a tensile strength of 190,000 PSI. The barbells come in two weight options: 15 kg and 20 kg. Nike also offers the barbells in chrome and black chrome finish options. The barbells measure 79.1" to 86.6" with 12.6" to 16.3" loadable sleeves depending on the weight, with a 54" shaft.

Both barbells are finished with medium volcano knurling with dual knurl marks and no center knurl. For the sleeve rotation mechanism, the bars use eight needle bearings.

Nike Barbell Review: The Main Characteristics and Features 

We’ve broken down the Nike barbells below and compared them to two popular competitors.

Nike Coated Premium Barbell 20KG

• Durability

Made from heavy-duty stainless steel and finished with a premium ceramic-based coating, the bars are built to last. They can handle repeated impact and be used indoors and outdoors with no issues. 

• Quality

The barbells are constructed using high-quality materials throughout to give them a premium feel. For the materials used, the bars are well-priced and offer good value for money.

• Comfort

The 51.6" shaft length offers plenty of space to grip, with no center knurling to prevent the bars from breaking your skin when performing squatting movements. 

• Coating

The ceramic-based coating protects the bars from the environment and helps them stand up against repeated impact when lifting. The Black, orange, and red finish options look really nice with the black Nike tick in the middle. The overall design is something Nike really has excelled on, with both bars looking great as part of a home gym setup. 

• Spin

The eight needle bearings provide a solid rate of spin when performing explosive lifts such as power cleans and snatches. This allows the barbells to nicely turn through your hands as you lift. 

• Whip

The medium whip offers a little movement for dynamic exercises without taking too much power away from static bar movements. This makes them well-suited for general training for beginner and intermediate athletes as a multipurpose bar.

• Knurling Marks

The medium volcano knurling with dual knurl marks provides excellent grip without being overly coarse on your hands. The dual knurl marks help you with hand placement on the bar. The absence of a center knurl is good if you are using the bars primarily for squats as it helps to reduce the amount of skin damage commonly experienced during heavy squat movements when a center knurl is present.

Nike Barbell 20KG

• Durability

The Nike barbells are constructed from stainless steel and can be purchased with a chrome or black chrome finish. Two weight options are available which are 15kg and 20kg giving you a range to choose from. While not as resistant as the ceramic-based coating, this offers great protection against the environment and repeated impact. 

• Quality

The barbells use a mix of quality materials, making them a good investment if you are looking for a higher-level bar for non-competition lifting. They are set at a slightly lower price point compared to the coated barbells but use a slightly lower-quality finish. 

• Comfort

The 51.6" shaft length provides plenty of space for a comfortable grip, with the 0.9" to 1.1" (25mm to 28mm) bar diameter making the bar easy to grip and giving you two different options depending on your hand size and bar weight preferences.

• Coating

Chrome and black chrome finish options are available for both bars, providing good bar protection against scuffs and scrapes. This means that both bars can be used indoors and outdoors if needed without you having to worry about added damage.

• Spin

The eight needle bearings offer a solid rate of bar spin which is great when you need the barbells to rotate through your hands during dynamic lifting movements.

• Whip

The medium whip offers a little movement for dynamic bar movements without taking too much away from more power-based, static movements. It makes the bars suitable for beginners and intermediate athletes performing normal barbell exercises. 

• Knurling Marks

The dual knurling marks provide good reference points for barbell hand placement. The medium volcano knurling offers extra grip without being overly harsh against the skin.

Who Are Nike Barbells For?

Barbells are versatile pieces of gym equipment that are usually one of the first things included in any new gym design. They are great for any fitness level and can be used for multiple forms of lifting, including strength and conditioning, general fitness, powerlifting, and Olympic weightlifting.

Popular barbell exercises include:

• Barbell deadlift variations (normal, Romanian, stiff leg, single leg)
• Barbell squat variations (back, front, Bulgarian, split squats)
• Barbell lunges
• Barbell presses (chest, shoulder)
• Barbell rows
• Olympic lifts (cleans, snatches, clean and press)

Nike Barbell Alternatives

We’ve compared the Nike barbells to two popular competitors below:

Nike Barbells vs Rogue Fitness Echo Bar

Compared to the Nike barbells, the Rogue Fitness Echo Bar uses bushings instead of bearings and has single Olympic knurling marks. It has a bigger loadable sleeve length of 16.4" and comes in a bright zinc finish. 

In terms of similarities, all the bars are constructed from stainless steel with a tensile strength of 190,000 PSI and feature no central knurling.

Nike Barbells vs Titan Fitness Power Bar

Compared to the Nike barbells, the Titan Fitness Power Bar is designed for static powerlifting movements, with an aggressive diamond knurling pattern and no center knurl. It has a higher tensile strength of 200,000 PSI and uses bushings instead of bearings. Additionally, it has a slightly larger bar shaft diameter of 1.12” (28.5mm).

The Titan Power bar uses a ceramic-based coating, which is similar to the premium Nike barbells.

FAQ

Are Nike Barbells Good for Bench Press?

With a medium whip, the Nike barbells are suitable for bench press. If you’re a competitive lifter who is solely focused on performance, you might be better off going for a barbell with no whip. 

Are Nike Barbells Worth It?

Nike barbells are constructed using high-quality materials and are designed for general use among beginner and intermediate athletes looking to improve their health and fitness. For the price point, they offer good value for money and are worth purchasing. 

Conclusion

All of the Nike barbells reviewed below offer excellent durability with smooth sleeve rotations and a variety of bar finishes and colors to choose from. They are well-suited to normal use for a variety of athlete abilities and offer good value for money compared to comparable options already on the market. If you want a multipurpose bar that looks great and performs nicely, the Nike ones are great options. 

What do you think of the new barbell strength range from Nike? Have you purchased any of them yet? Let me know in the comments below.

Also read:

• Nike Kettlebell Reviews
• Nike Squat Rack Review
• Best Nike Barbell
• Nike Dumbbell Reviews

References 

1. Joe Holder, “11 Barbell Exercises: Benefits of Doing Barbell Exercises,” Masterclass, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/barbell-exercises# (Accessed November 19, 2023)
2. Isaac Williams, “Barbell Exercises for Every Muscle Group,” Men's Health, https://mensfitnesstoday.com/workouts/best-barbell-exercises/ (Accessed November 19, 2023)