REP Health has been making a reputation for themselves for a while now. However when the home gym equipment firm launched a brand new line of barbells in the summertime of 2023, we had been excited to see how they improved upon their predecessors.
After coaching with the Double Black Diamond Energy Bar for a number of weeks, we will actually say that it’s one in all our favourite powerlifting barbells. We accomplished dozens of squats, bench presses, and deadlifts with it and even used it for lifts like overhead presses. On this REP Health Double Black Diamond Energy Bar evaluation, we’ll share our experiences and break down the price, building, knurling, and different particulars of this premium powerlifting barbell.
Key Takeaways
- The Double Black Diamond Barbell retails for round $329.99 to round $449.99.
- As it is a energy bar, it options aggressive mountain-style knurling that will help you get a safe grip for deadlifts.
- The barbell is obtainable in three choices: a Cerakote shaft with Duracout sleeves, a stainless-steel shaft with laborious chrome sleeves, or a stainless-steel shaft with chrome steel sleeves.
REP Fitness Double Black Diamond Power Bar
4.5
- Materials: Metal or chrome steel
- Weight: 20 kilograms (44 kilos)
- Weight capability: 680.2 kilograms (1,500 kilos)
- Tensile power: 200k PSI
- Loadable sleeve size: 16.3 inches
- Knurling: Very aggressive
- Guarantee: Lifetime
REP Health Double Black Diamond Execs
- The Cerakote model of the barbell may be supreme for dwelling gymnasium house owners who prepare in non-temperature-controlled basement or storage gyms. The coating will help stop rust and corrosion from growing shortly.
- The Double Black Diamond Energy Bar comes with a restricted lifetime guarantee. You’ll be able to relaxation assured that REP stands behind the bar’s high quality and can rectify any points which will come up. (For the file, although, we don’t suppose that’s probably.)
- This Olympic barbell has a excessive tensile power of 200,000 PSI. Even for probably the most elite powerlifters, it ought to be capable of deal with any weight you load on it.
REP Health Double Black Diamond Cons
- The Double Black Diamond bar is an influence bar with aggressive knurling and isn’t meant for dynamic lifts like snatches and energy cleans. CrossFitters, Olympic weightlifters, and practical health athletes ought to take into account a multi-purpose barbell as an alternative.
- All of REP’s barbells are made abroad, so lifters preferring to purchase American-made merchandise might need to have a look at different manufacturers.
- The worth of the Double Black Diamond Barbell is cheap for the standard you get. However for athletes on a decent price range, a extra inexpensive energy bar just like the Bells of Metal Powerlifting Bar 2.0 could also be a greater possibility.
REP Health Double Black Diamond Specs
| Value | $329.99 to $449.99 |
| Weight | 20 kilograms (44 kilos) |
| Tensile power | 200,000 PSI |
| Weight capability | 1,500 kilos |
| Loadable sleeve size | 16.3 inches |
| Shaft diameter | 29 millimeters |
| Knurling | Aggressive deep mountain knurling; IPF knurl rings |
| Coating | Cerakote or chrome steel shaft; Duracoat, laborious chrome, or chrome steel sleeves |
| Rotation system | Bronze bushings |
| Guarantee | Lifetime guarantee on the fabric, performance, and workmanship |
REP Health Double Black Diamond Score
Our knowledgeable product testers, who embody licensed private trainers, power and conditioning coaches, CrossFitters, and aggressive powerlifters, have examined over 80 barbells. After coaching with them for every little thing from squats to bench presses to CrossFit Exercises of the Day (WODs), we used a proprietary scorecard system to rank them. Classes that we scored the barbells on embody worth, tensile power, knurling, and sturdiness.
Right here’s how the REP Double Black Diamond Energy Bar scored.
| Issue | Score (out of 5) |
| Value and Worth | 4.5 |
| Supply | 5 |
| Development, Supplies, and Coating | 4 |
| Knurling | 4.5 |
| Tensile Power | 4.5 |
| Rotation System | 4 |
| Versatility | 3 |
| Sturdiness | 5 |
REP Health Double Black Diamond Overview
The Double Black Diamond bar is a newcomer in REP’s barbell lineup. It replaces REP’s Deep Knurl Energy Bar EX. The identify pays homage to the state of Colorado, the place REP’s headquarters are situated, and the state’s sturdy winter sports activities tradition. “Double black diamond” refers back to the most difficult ski slopes and can be consultant of this barbell’s depth and toughness.
Like its predecessor, the Double Black Diamond barbell is an influence bar meant for the three powerlifts: squats, bench presses, and deadlifts. As such, it options aggressive mountain knurling and Worldwide Powerlifting Federation (IPF) knurl markings. You’ll be able to select from a number of finishes, which supply various ranges of sturdiness. And like different respected health gear manufacturers, REP affords a restricted lifetime guarantee on this top-tier barbell.
REP Health Double Black Diamond Energy Bar In-Depth Overview
Whereas we’ve cherished lifting with the Double Black Diamond Energy Bar, we notice that it is probably not the best barbell for everybody. As talked about, the aggressive knurling might not swimsuit all types of lifting, and it’s not the most cost effective energy bar obtainable. Relying on which end you get, it is probably not utterly immune to rust or corrosion. However its excessive tensile power means it will probably deal with tremendous heavy masses, and we predict it’s nonetheless a superb worth contemplating its high-quality building and the way nicely it performs for powerlifting coaching.
Value and Worth
The REP Health Double Black Diamond Barbell prices round $330 for the Cerakote choices, round $400 for the chrome steel and laborious chrome mannequin, and round $450 for the all-stainless metal model. It’s not too far off in worth from the Rogue Ohio Energy Bar, which prices anyplace from about $275 to about $415, relying on the end. Nevertheless, the Double Black Diamond bar is costlier than a solid budget barbell just like the Bells of Metal Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0, which prices round $220.
That stated, REP Health affords free transport on all orders as of this writing. Contemplating that transport a barbell can price $25 or extra, the Double Black Diamond Bar generally is a cost-efficient possibility. Plus, with the sturdiness and wonderful efficiency high quality it affords, we predict it’s a good worth. We rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars for the value.
Supply
I’ve purchased shut to 2 dozen items of dwelling gymnasium gear over time and have additionally acquired complimentary objects as a consequence of my job as a health author. Most merchandise arrived completely packaged with none harm. Nevertheless, I’ve acquired two barbells whose packaging was broken upon supply. The bars had knicks and chips on the sleeves and shaft earlier than I even had an opportunity to make use of them.
I used to be completely happy to listen to from our product testers that the supply of the Double Black Diamond barbell to our warehouse in Springfield, MO, went far more easily. The barbell arrived in a cardboard tube with plastic finish caps that had remained intact throughout transport. The bar was additionally wrapped in foam and plastic to additional shield it from dings and scratches. We scored the supply course of 5 out of 5 stars.
Development, Supplies, and Coating
The Double Black Diamond Bar has a 29-millimeter shaft. This diameter is frequent in energy bars. Some, just like the Unique Texas Energy Bar, have a 28.5-millimeter diameter. However in keeping with our product testers, 29 millimeters is the gold commonplace.
When ordering the Double Black Diamond Bar, you’ll be able to select from three finishes: Cerakote (which is available in black, blue, inexperienced, or crimson coloration choices), chrome steel with chrome sleeves, or chrome steel with chrome steel sleeves. The Cerakote bars have Duracoat sleeves, which makes them tougher, extra corrosion-resistant, and fewer vulnerable to scratches and scuff marks from plate inserts.
No matter which end you select, you’ll get a bar with clean sleeves. I usually desire barbells with ribbed sleeves as a result of I don’t use collars usually, and the ribbing helps preserve my weight plates in place. However after I educated with the Double Black Diamond Bar at our testing facility in Springfield, MO, I did recognize how straightforward it was to slip plates on and off it. I additionally cherished how the tip was beveled. The beveling made loading plates a breeze as a result of I didn’t should completely align the plate inserts with the tip of the sleeve.
One factor I like in regards to the Double Black Diamond Bar is the endcap design. The black endcap boasts raised silver lettering with the REP identify and a double diamond define. It’s a small however distinctive contact that provides the barbell a high-end aesthetic. Equally, REP additionally added etching with its emblem and the bar’s identify to the within of the collars. These traits might not appear to be a lot, however the high quality craftsmanship and a focus to element assist this bar stand out from its opponents.
All in all, this barbell will get 4 out of 5 stars for its building high quality.
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Knurling
As it is a energy bar, the Double Black Diamond Bar options powerlifting knurl marks as specified by the IPF. This implies it has single knurl rings and a small space of heart knurling. The knurl rings act as a reference level for the place to position your fingers when bench urgent, whereas the middle knurl helps preserve the barbell in your again for again squats.
The knurling itself could be very aggressive. It’s a mountain-style knurling, which means it has a diamond-shaped sample with sharp, pointy peaks. Mountain knurling is frequent in energy bars as a result of it affords a superior grip for deadlifts. Nevertheless, energy bars with mountain knurling aren’t probably the most snug to raise with, particularly for brand spanking new lifters, due to how aggressively they dig into the fingers.
However, should you’re already used to lifting weights and have calluses constructed up in your palms, the knurling on the Double Black Diamond Bar might not hassle you as a lot. I’ve calluses on my fingers from years of lifting weights and doing pull-up bar workouts in CrossFit WODs. After I educated with the Double Black Diamond Bar, I positively observed the stickiness and grippiness of the knurling, however I wasn’t in a ton of discomfort.
As well as, REP makes use of larger enamel per inch (TPI, the variety of seen enamel per inch on the barbell) than different firms use on their energy bars. The mountain sample can be much less pointy than what you’d discover on different energy bars. Basically, you get a strong grip however don’t have to fret about tearing your pores and skin throughout each deadlift exercise. For these causes, we rated the knurling 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Tensile Power
Tensile power refers to how a lot weight a barbell can maintain earlier than it fractures. It’s measured in kilos per sq. inch (PSI). A excessive tensile power is vital in an influence bar, particularly for lifters who can squat, bench press, and deadlift a whole bunch of kilos. Generally, the upper the tensile power, the extra abuse a barbell can deal with.
REP’s Double Black Diamond Bar has a tensile power of 200,000 PSI. Different barbells we’ve examined and reviewed have larger tensile strengths. As an illustration, the Rogue Ohio Energy Bar has a 205,000 PSI tensile power. However, the tensile power of the Double Black Diamond Bar is larger than extra economical barbells, just like the Efficiency Sequence Energy Bar from Titan Health. Titan’s energy bar solely has a tensile power of 165,000 PSI.
For these causes, we rated the Double Black Diamond Bar 4.5 out of 5 stars for its tensile power.
Rotation System
The rotation system refers back to the mechanism a barbell makes use of for its sleeve rotation. Some barbells use bearings to rotate their sleeves, and others use bushings. Bushings are extra frequent in powerlifting bars as a result of they don’t spin as shortly or easily. For slower, extra grindy lifts just like the squat, bench press, and deadlift, slower rotation is useful as a result of the barbell will really feel extra secure.
The Double Black Diamond Bar makes use of bronze bushings. The bushings provide some spin, but it surely’s not as important as what you’d discover on an Olympic weightlifting bar, like REP’s Alpine Weightlifting Bar. However since a low quantity of spin is precisely what we’d hope for in an influence bar, we scored the rotation system 4 out of 5 stars.
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Versatility
As talked about, the Double Black Diamond bar is an influence bar. It’s not a multi-purpose bar like REP’s Colorado bar or Rogue’s common Ohio bar. Whereas it’s nice for powerlifting, it wouldn’t be appropriate for the dynamic actions you’d discover in CrossFit. The aggressive knurling received’t be snug in your palms throughout actions the place the barbell might rotate in your fingers steadily, like thrusters or push presses.
Additionally, as a result of the barbell solely has single IPF knurl marks and doesn’t conform to Worldwide Weightlifting Federation (IWF requirements), it’s not supreme for Olympic weightlifting (snatches and clear and jerks). We solely gave it 3 out of 5 stars for versatility since we don’t advocate utilizing it for something apart from powerlifting. A high-quality, all-purpose bar with medium knurling and twin knurl marks could also be extra appropriate for power sports activities that make the most of extra explosive barbell actions.
Sturdiness
We’ve solely had the all-stainless metal Double Black Diamond Bar at our testing heart for a few months. Thus far, it has held up nicely. However in our expertise, REP’s chrome steel bars are likely to rust shortly. We’ll should let extra time move to see if the Double Black Diamond Bar begins to rust or if it continues to look pristine.
Even so, we rated the bar 5 out of 5 stars for sturdiness. As talked about, the barbell can be obtainable with a Cerakote end. Different Cerakote barbells we’ve examined, like Rogue’s Cerakote Barbell, have lasted for greater than six months with out rusting. That is regardless of each day use and being saved in non-temperature-controlled rooms. Plus, REP additionally affords a restricted lifetime guarantee on all of its barbells. An organization wouldn’t provide such a assure if it didn’t really stand behind its merchandise.
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REP Health Double Black Diamond Energy Bar vs. Rogue Ohio Energy Bar
By way of specs, the REP Double Black Diamond Bar and the Rogue Ohio Energy Bar are comparable. They each have a 29-millimeter shaft diameter, a middle knurl, and IPF knurl marks. Their whole size and loadable sleeve size are practically equivalent. The chrome steel variations of each bars boast a 200,000 PSI tensile power, however a few of the Ohio Energy Bar variations have a 205,000 PSI tensile power.
The Ohio Energy Bar is barely extra inexpensive. The most cost effective model begins at round $295, whereas the Double Black Diamond Energy Bar begins at slightly below $330. REP affords free transport on all purchases whereas Rogue doesn’t, however relying on the place you reside, the Ohio Energy Bar should find yourself being cheaper.
Like REP’s energy bar, Rogue’s Ohio Energy Bar is available in a number of finishes. There’s a Cerakote shaft coating (which is obtainable in black, blue, crimson, or inexperienced), black zinc, naked metal, chrome steel, or e-coat. In our expertise, Rogue’s chrome steel doesn’t rust as shortly as REP’s. In the event you need a stainless-steel energy bar, it’s possible you’ll need to go together with the Ohio Energy Bar.
However, if knurling is extra vital to you, we’d advocate the Double Black Diamond Energy Bar as an alternative. One among our knowledgeable product testers, who’s examined a whole bunch of items of gymnasium gear, says he prefers the knurling on the Double Black Diamond Energy Bar. For him to say that may be a massive deal. Up till lately, the Ohio Energy Bar’s knurling was his favourite out of all the facility bars he’s educated with.
Rogue Ohio Power Bar
- Materials: Metal or chrome steel
- Weight: 20 kilograms (44 kilos)
- Weight capability: 680.2 kilograms (1,500 kilos)
- Tensile power: 200k to 205k PSI
- Loadable sleeve size: 16.25 inches
- Knurling: Very aggressive
- Guarantee: Lifetime guarantee towards bending
REP Health Double Black Diamond Energy Bar Buyer Evaluations
For the reason that REP Health Double Black Diamond Bar was simply launched this previous summer time, there aren’t many critiques on it but. The purchasers who’ve left critiques have been happy with the development high quality. Those that purchased Cerakote variations of the bar famous how vibrant the colours look in particular person. Clients are additionally happy with the knurling; many have stated that it’s grippy and sharp however not overdone.
Consumers who selected the chrome steel barbell left feedback about points with corrosion. Nevertheless, it seems that REP has fastened these points and supplied to exchange these barbells.
Ultimate Verdict: Is the REP Health Double Black Diamond Energy Bar Value It?
All in all, we take into account the Double Black Diamond Energy Bar one of many prime energy bars available on the market. In the event you’re a powerlifter who has some further money to spend and also you’re searching for a top-notch barbell, this one could possibly be for you. It’s made to IPF specs and boasts IPF knurl marks and a 29-millimeter diameter. We cherished the sensation of the knurling, as we discovered it sharp and grippy however not as uncomfortable as different energy bars we’ve examined. That stated, we nonetheless wouldn’t advocate it for CrossFit or Olympic weightlifting. For extra of an all-purpose barbell that may deal with extra explosive and dynamic lifts, you’ll must look elsewhere.
FAQs
Energy bars just like the REP Health Double Black Diamond Bar are wonderful for squats. They’ve a middle knurl that helps preserve the barbell in your again. Plus, their low whip (which means they don’t bend or flex a lot below heavy masses) means they received’t wobble a lot as you come out of the outlet when squatting.
REP Health’s Double Black Diamond Bar is a superb barbell for bench presses. It has IPF knurl marks to behave as a visible reference for the place to position your fingers. As a result of it makes use of bushings as an alternative of bearings, the sleeves received’t rotate as a lot. The lowered spin will help the barbell really feel extra balanced in the course of the bench press.
The Eleiko IPF Powerlifting Competitors Bar is usually utilized in powerlifting competitions. The IPF dictates the specs for competition-grade powerlifting barbells.
You probably received’t see the REP Double Black Diamond Energy Bar at a global powerlifting meet as a result of it’s not IPF-certified. Nevertheless, it does conform to IPF requirements. In the event you prepare with this barbell, it ought to really feel much like a barbell you’d use in a contest.
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