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Rogue Ohio Bar vs Ohio Power Bar

The Ohio is the mixed-training choice. Ohio Power is the choice for a gym organised around squat, bench and deadlift.

How I choose equipment About buying links

MY VERDICT

For a one-bar gym with cleans and mixed lifting, I’d buy the Ohio. If squat, bench and deadlift made up most of my week, I’d choose Ohio Power for its coarse grip and centre knurl. I’d choose the exact finish after settling which bar suited those lifts.

Barbells

Rogue Ohio Bar 20 kg — E-Coat

Ohio combines dual grip marks and a smooth centre for varied strength sessions.

Mass
20 kg
Shaft diameter
28.5 mm
Overall length
86.75 in
Loadable sleeve
16.40 in per side
Finish
Black E-Coat shaft; bright-zinc sleeves
Rotation
Bronze bushings
Knurl
Dual marks; no centre knurl
Steel tensile strength
190,000 psi, manufacturer specification
Full profile

Photo: © Rogue.

Barbells

Rogue Ohio Power Bar 20 kg — stainless/chrome

Ohio Power has powerlifting marks, centre knurling and a thicker 29 mm shaft.

Mass
20 kg; stated tolerance ±0.1%
Shaft diameter
29 mm
Overall length
86.52 in
Loadable sleeve
16.875 in per side
Finish
Stainless shaft; chrome sleeves
Rotation
Bronze bushings
Knurl
Powerlifting marks and centre knurl
Steel tensile strength
200,000 psi, manufacturer specification
Full profile

Photo: © Rogue.

The useful differences are in your hands

Ohio’s 28.5 mm shaft, smooth centre and two sets of grip marks give it the broader brief. Ohio Power’s 29 mm shaft and coarse, knurled centre put its priorities on the three powerlifts. For a garage gym with one straight bar, the Ohio is the more versatile choice; a dedicated powerlifting space has a clear reason to choose Ohio Power.

Named listingOhio Bar 20 kgOhio Power Bar 20 kg
Shaft28.5 mm, black E-Coat29 mm, uncoated stainless
SleevesBright zincChrome
Grip marksWeightlifting and powerliftingPowerlifting
Centre knurlNoneIncluded
RotationBronze bushingsBronze bushings

The stainless finish is part of this comparison

The quoted products differ in coating as well as bar design. This Ohio is E-Coat with bright-zinc sleeves; this Ohio Power has a stainless shaft and chrome sleeves. If a sale listing uses another finish, its price is a different configuration. Keep that distinction when deciding whether the premium buys a design you want or chiefly a finish.

Rogue Australia lists the stainless Ohio Power linked here. The E-Coat Ohio source is Rogue US. Use those exact listings to establish the package and delivered cost. Rogue’s published tensile-strength figures do not establish which bar fits your training, and neither bar needs to replace a suitable one you already own.

Before you decide

01

How often does the bar pass through a front-rack position?

02

Do you want a knurled centre for your back squat?

03

Which shaft and sleeve finishes are included in the offer?

Product sources

Specifications are for the packages described in the linked profiles. How I compare equipment.

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