Intro
This review will discuss the (Bare Steel) ISF Power Bar, which is a rugged, aggressively knurled, well-built, and overall high-value option. It’s well suited for anyone looking to get a high bang for your buck power bar that can be used to train for powerlifting or simply get banged around. It will be able to handle a ton of weight and is constructed to take a beating.
Who Is ISF?
I Sell Fitness offers several high-quality and unique products geared towards powerlifters at lower prices. They are based out of New Jersey and, in 2014, started selling pre-owned equipment out of a garage and expanded to what it is today, where it offers just about anything you’d want for a home gym. This list includes racks, kettlebells, dumbbells, and more. Over the years, ISF has also accumulated passionate customers who rave about the products and frequently recommend them.
Rob (owner) is also well known for getting feedback from users before releasing products or going back to the drawing board, and this item is no different. He spent months and worked with some of the strongest powerlifters in the Northeast to bring this bar to life.
Why a Power Bar?
A power bar has a far better feel for movements like the bench, squat, and deadlift. The thicker shaft and aggressive knurl have a great feel, and the bar has a more subtle spin than other bars feels more sturdy when you are under the weight.
If you do a variety of lifts, especially if you’re doing Olympic/Crossfit style workouts, your first bar should be some hybrid bar. If you don’t do these movements or if you are looking for a second bar to bring into your space, a power bar is something to consider strongly. In particular, the ISF Power Bar is a bar that should be on your radar.
Specs/Details
This bar includes all of the primary specs you’d typically find on a power bar.
- The aggressive knurl on this bare steel bar will blast your hands and is extremely easy to grip for those heavier lifts, which is what many prefer. ISF is not joking when they call it “the most aggressive knurl.” It’s as aggressive as any power bar available on the market. There are some minor inconsistincies with the knurl, but overall it is a non-issue. Since it is bare steel, some maintenance will be needed. Other coating options include black oxide where some care will also be needed but so are blue and red ceramic/cerakote options where maintenance should be next to nothing.
- 4.75″ of center knurl that uses the same aggressive knurl as the rest of the bar. This ensures a tight hold on the back for squats.
- Thinner collars are used and there is a loadable area of 16.25 inches.
- A 29mm shaft and a 205-210K tensile strength gives you a stiff and very sturdy bar to settle under. While no weight limit is emphasized, this bar should be able to handle as much weight as you need + more.
Price Comparison
I Sell Fitness aimed to make a “very high performing barbell at a budget price,” and they did exactly that. Below is a price comparison from popular bare steel power bars.
| Brand | Price | Free Shipping? |
| Bell’s of Steel: Barenaked Power Bar 2.0 | $199.99 | Yes |
| ISF: Bare Steel Power Bar | $220.40 | No |
| Rogue: Bare Steel Ohio Power Bar | $280 | No |
| The “Original” Texas Power Bar | $285 | No |
Conclusion
The I Sell Fitness Power Bar is a solid bar, especially for the price. It’s designed for powerlifters but will serve anyone looking to bench, squat, and deadlift well. For anyone needing a bar to bang around, this is a high-value option to consider.
