The Rep Health PowerSpeed Bar is an influence bar very like some other mid-range energy bar. It has a really sturdy and inflexible 29 mm shaft with a reasonably aggressive knurl, a middle knurl, and bronze bushings.
What makes the PowerSpeed Bar completely different is the entire absence of knurling on the outermost part of the shaft; a function that I’ll talk about in some element under (although I’m sure you already know what that’s about.)
Whereas not the one bar on the market with this intentional lack of knurling, it’s nonetheless an unusual design. Of the handful of bars that I do know of with this design, the PowerSpeed is prone to be essentially the most interesting to non-public health club house owners based mostly on its core specs and low value – however I’ll get into that as nicely.
Talking of the specs, let’s go over these first.
Rep Health PowerSpeed Energy Bar – Specs
- 20 kg energy bar
- 29 mm shaft diameter
- 215k/205k tensile/yield energy
- bronze bushing system (presumably solid)
- aggressive knurl with IPF hash marks
- no knurling on outer 5½” of the bar shaft (either side)
- aggressive heart knurling
- selection of two shaft finishes *
- laborious chrome-finished sleeves; no grooves (each variants)
- loadable sleeve size: 16-3/8″
- $299 for each variants
* The PowerSpeed is accessible in two completely different finishes; laborious chrome and black manganese phosphate. Being greater than accustomed to chrome-finished bars I opted to go along with the black manganese variant for this evaluate.
PowerSpeed Energy Bar Evaluation – That Particular Knurl Sample
The PowerSpeed is knurled and marked to IPF specs identical to some other energy bar, however slightly than the knurl extending all the best way to the sleeves it stops quick by 5½”.
So why would we wish that? As a result of that is the a part of the shaft that makes contact with a rack’s j-cups. By eliminating the knurl from this outermost area of the shaft, one can extra simply slide (to heart) the loaded bar whereas it’s in the j-cups. This absence of knurl additionally has the additional benefit of extending the lifetime of the UHMW in your j-cups (and I suppose safeties.)
Does this modification really make sliding the bar round within the j-cups simpler? In fact it does! Was this actually an issue earlier than? You inform me!
Joking apart; if you happen to actually give it some thought; there actually isn’t any cause for there to be knurl on this outer part of a energy bar’s shaft. The one carry that requires the arms to be to this point out (so close to the sleeves) is the snatch, and snatches aren’t a part of any big-3 applications that I’ve ever heard of. Odds are you’re not snatching as a powerlifter both. In case you are, nicely I assume this bar just isn’t for you if you happen to solely plan to have a single bar.
There are additionally people who take a max-width grip for squats, however I usually solely see this when veteran powerlifters high-bar squat from a stand-alone monolift (the place you’re pressured to take a beginning hand place outdoors of the cups). Nonetheless although, does something however the heart knurl even matter for a again squat?
Both manner, we’re speaking a few very small share of the powerlifting inhabitants to speak about those that want their energy bar to be knurled all of the to the sleeves. Nonetheless, if you happen to merely need your energy bar knurled all the best way to the hilts as a result of that’s simply what you need, nicely that’s a very completely different story. This bar wouldn’t be for you in that case both.
It’s possible you’ll be questioning “if this knurl modification is helpful with out meddling with operate or efficiency, why then do I not see extra energy bars like this?” Properly they’re on the market – they’re simply usually business bars; bars meant for high-traffic gyms or coaching facilities.
Eleiko has the NxG Rack Bar which is kind of the premium model of the Rep Health PowerSpeed Bar. It’s the very same idea. In fact, you’ve seemingly by no means seen or heard of the Rack Bar as a result of at $699 it’s ridiculously overpriced and simply too costly. Who within the hell would spend $699 for an Eleiko XF variant for his or her storage health club? 
There are additionally a lot of business producers that incorporate this shorter knurling sample, however they don’t seem to be very cost-effective both, nor are they even marketed to the house consumer. Firms like Hammer Energy merely don’t care about promoting you a single bar, so that you’ll most likely by no means have one marketed to you. Even American Barbell has a Health club Bar on their website with shorter knurl if you happen to’re prepared to scroll down far sufficient to seek out it.
In any case this can be a intelligent function. I’m personally detached about it because it has no affect on precise efficiency, however I can definitely see the attraction. I believe the place this knurling function would actually shine is in racks with no plastic lining in any respect, and people with non-UHMW plastic, as a budget plastic j-cups shred aside fairly rattling quick.
PowerSpeed Energy Bar Evaluation – Knurl Depth
Rep Health did an awesome job with PowerSpeed’s knurling. Because the product description says, it’s deep and aggressive – nevertheless it’s not fairly Ohio Energy/Vulcan Elite deep and aggressive.
The middle knurl is much less aggressive than the outer knurl nevertheless it’s not fairly as passive as what you’d discover on a WOD / Oly bar. I’m assuming it’s the identical knurl with the sharp factors taken off.
I’m pleasantly shocked with Rep’s knurling choice for this bar, and to provide you an thought of the place precisely the PowerSpeed would fall when it comes to knurl aggressiveness, I’ve listed under a lot of mainstream bars within the order of sharpness from least to most aggressive, and I’ve included close-up pictures of their knurling as nicely.
1. American Barbell SS Elite Energy Bar
2. Rogue Cerakote SS Matt Chan Bar
3. Rep Health PowerSpeed Bar (black manganese)
4. Vulcan Absolute Energy Bar 2.0 (black oxide)
5. Vulcan Absolute SS Energy Bar 2.0
6. Rogue SS Ohio Energy Bar
7. Vulcan Elite Energy Bar (black zinc)
So far as energy bars go the Rep PowerSpeed is within the lower-middle finish of the aggressive class. That’s to say, it’s undoubtedly an aggressive energy bar however you may simply get extra aggressive if you happen to needed. When you ask me, this is excellent place to be within the present market.
I really imagine the Vulcan Absolute Energy Bar in black oxide is knurled precisely the identical because the Rep PowerSpeed Bar. Strive as I’d, I can’t detect any variations in really feel and grip. Even that black manganese end has a comparable degree of tackiness because the black oxide on the Vulcan. I contemplate these two a tie general.
Once more, I’m pleasantly shocked and really happy with the knurl depth of the PowerSpeed. I’ve zero complaints in that division.
PowerSpeed Evaluation – Sleeves & Rotation
The PowerSpeed Bar has sleeves which might be completed in laborious chrome, and these sleeves have actually no texture or grooving in any respect. They’re as easy as might be and they’re very shiny and engaging.
Some folks like bars that don’t have any grooves within the sleeves, and others really wish to have these grooves. Grooves enable rubber change plates for use with out having to take care of collars, however easy sleeves are inclined to put on higher since there’s much less friction between the plate and the sleeve when sliding them on and off. They’re additionally quieter.
That having been mentioned, please do understand that this can be a energy bar and it’s unlikely that many individuals are shopping for costly rubber coated or friction plates for powerlifting.
I usually favor grooves myself, however my favourite bar in my assortment doesn’t have grooves so in the end (and clearly) I don’t really care.
So far as rotation goes the PowerSpeed may be very common. The sleeves aren’t quick and there’s no extreme spin, however I wouldn’t contemplate them to be gradual both. There’s actually nothing outstanding concerning the rotation by some means, and on the subject of energy bars that is completely acceptable. No information is sweet information, as they are saying.
PowerSpeed Evaluation – End Choices
You have got two end choices for the shaft of your new PowerSpeed; laborious chrome and black manganese.
Arduous chrome doesn’t want a lot of a proof, plus I didn’t choose to purchase that model of the PowerSpeed anyway so I can’t actually touch upon end high quality, affect on knurl, or the aesthetics. I’ve no cause to suspect it’s any completely different than some other chrome bar although. It definitely appears clear within the footage.
I did, nonetheless, purchase the black manganese model and I’m fairly pleased with the texture; each of the end itself (it’s grippiness / tackiness) and the depth of the knurl following utility of the end. I’ve solely ever had one different black manganese bar and I didn’t hold it for too lengthy (not due to the end btw), so I’m not assured sufficient about how nicely the end ages to remark simply but. We’ll see as time goes by.
As talked about above, the sleeves of each variants are laborious chrome. Very elegant.
PowerSpeed Bar vs Vulcan Absolute V2 (oxide)
In case you have the PowerSpeed Bar in your quick checklist, then the Vulcan Absolute in black oxide most likely deserves to be on that checklist as nicely. These two bars not solely have a virtually similar knurl depth and general really feel to them, however they price nearly the identical to your door.
The Absolute and the PowerSpeed are each excessive tensile energy, 29 mm, energy bars with pretty aggressive knurling and chrome sleeves. The PowerSpeed after all has that distinctive knurling function on the outer ends of the shaft and two end choices on the identical value level whereas the Absolute has grooved, matte chrome sleeves and a lifetime guarantee. The Vulcan Absolute is simply obtainable with a black oxide shaft at this value level, however there’s a stainless-steel model if you happen to’re prepared to pay considerably extra.
I really like the knurl on each of those bars, and with the costs being about the identical one merely has to weigh the worth of the opposite options. Like for me, I’m a fan of black oxide, however fact be advised the black manganese is almost as grippy whereas additionally being extra resilient. Then once more I additionally just like the sleeve design of the Absolute (the grooves and matte chrome) greater than the PowerSpeed. In fact you will have been drawn to the Rep PowerSpeed due to the sleek outer knurl, during which case that call is way simpler to make.
PowerSpeed Bar vs Rogue Ohio Energy Bar
These two energy bars aren’t all that comparable outdoors of the truth that they’re each energy bars, however the Rogue Ohio Energy Bar is the benchmark bar for comparisons so I’ll indulge y’all.
The Rogue OPB is noticeably extra aggressive than the PowerSpeed; much more so while you examine the middle knurls, because the OPB’s heart knurling is similar to the outer knurl. I personally am not an enormous enjoyable of such an aggressive heart knurling as a result of I believe it’s a serious downside for performing again squats (it’s simply an excessive amount of), however to every her personal.
The OPB is difficult to disregard as a result of it’s obtainable in half a dozen end and weight varieties and might be had for as little as $250. The shaft is powerful and inflexible, the knurl is legit, and the bar is only a actually good worth general. Nevertheless, it isn’t obtainable in both of the finishes that the PowerSpeed is obtainable in, it doesn’t have the sleek outer shaft, and albeit I believe the OPB is extra aggressive than most individuals want and even need.
To place all that one other manner, these two bars actually are solely comparable in that they’re each energy bars. I imagine they each attraction to a very completely different buyer, and whereas they could each find yourself in your quick checklist, one will most likely be a lot simpler to remove than the opposite.
PowerSpeed Evaluation Abstract
The Rep Health PowerSpeed Bar is a powerful energy bar. The energy and rigidity of the shaft is above-average; the manganese end is sticky, grippy, and seemingly resilient; the knurl depth is rattling close to excellent for a powerlifting bar; and the value may be very cheap for the specs and high quality. It’s a stable bar and a particular contender available in the market.
,