Rogue Fitness has recently launched its Ohio 2.0S barbell. The manufacturer claims that it is the best option for home gyms because it is the quietest possible barbell being sold in the market as of now.
Rogue Fitness has used a patent-pending bushing system that eliminates all metal-to-metal contact and reduces the noise by 50%. It has also used a specialized coating on the shaft, which according to the manufacturer, can last for years of rough use.
These features definitely sound incredible. Knowing that you have a quieter barbell, you won’t mind dropping it or using it during odd hours. And, there is nothing like owning a barbell that won’t scratch up after years of use. However, these extra and not-so-necessary features could cost you an extra $60-$100 more than the other Ohio barbells.
Since we are building a new home gym for one of our teammates on the second floor of his house, we thought of giving it a try to see if it is actually worth paying that extra money for the sake of his kids’ comfort.
In this blog, we will provide you with our honest review of the Rogue Ohio Bar 2.0S and how it is different from the basic Rogue Ohio bar that we have featured in our list of the best mid-range barbells.
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Quick Review Summary
The Rogue Ohio Bar 2.0S is almost the same as its original version, the Ohio bar. There are two noticeable differences; the bushings and the shaft finishing. The bushings use Rogue’s patent-pending design that minimizes the metal-to-metal contact. The shaft finishing helps protect the bar against damages. Both these features together help minimize the noise generated while using a barbell. It is a good product, provided you are willing to pay extra for those two newly added features.
Pros
- Quietest possible barbell so far
- Corrosion and scratch-proof product
- Can be used for almost all types of weight training exercises
- Comes with lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not sure if the two newly added features are needed at all
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.
Full Review
Now on to our full review.
Features and specifications of the Rogue Ohio Bar 2.0S
- Total Length- 86.75”
- Loadable sleeve length- 16.3″
- Shaft diameter- 28.5mm
- Weight- 20kg
- Tensile strength- 190,000 PSI
- Uses a patented bushing system for the rotation of the sleeves
- Has dual knurl marks and no central knurl marks
- The shaft has Rogue’s typical cerakote finish and the loadable sleeves has matt black finish
- Warranty- Lifetime
It is indeed the quietest barbell we have used so far
If you have ever used a low-cost bar such as the Titan Fitness Economy Olympic Bar or the Cap Barbell’s “The Beast” 7ft Olympic Barbell, you must have got an idea of how noisy they can be. Even though you are not going to drop them, they can get pretty noisy because of the rotation of the sleeves and the rattling noise that is generated while loading and unloading the plates.
They are good for garages but if you are building a home gym in a spare room or on the second or any other floor of your home, it is worth investing in a quieter barbell, especially during this pandemic when all of us including the kids are working/studying from home.
This is precisely why Rogue thought of coming up with a bushing design that minimizes the metal-to-metal contact. Plus, it also coated the sleeves with its proprietary coating that is also known for minimizing the rattling sound.
Overall, the Rogue Ohio bar 2.0S is 50% quieter than the other barbells from Rogue and could be around 70% quieter than the most affordable barbells. Further, the noise that you get is more of a thud sound rather than the sound that you get in metal-to-metal contact.
Wondering if it is worth an extra $100?
To be honest, we don’t think ‘noise’ is actually an issue that needs to be fixed by spending a lot of money on R&D.
Most of us have home gyms in our garages and basements, so noise is not a problem. Even if you have created a gym on the second floor of your home, you would have covered the floor with a proper weightlifting platform. Plus, you must have used the necessary home gym flooring products below the platform to protect the floor. We have even added a pair of Yes4All Silencer Drop Pads to further minimize the noise.
These flooring products, especially the horse stall mats are quite thick and dense. They do a good job in terms of absorbing the noise and vibration created during weight training. So, you don’t actually need a ‘silent barbell’ such as the Rogue Ohio Bar 2.0S.
But, if you live in apartments, or if you have babies at home who might get scared at the slightest thud noise, or if you train during odd working hours, you may want to create a quieter training area by investing in quieter products such as the Rogue Ohio bar 2.0S.
The matte black coating on the shaft can actually last for years
The shaft of Rogue Ohio bar 2.0S has the same cerakote coating that is used in the other products of the Ohio barbell range. The difference is in the finishing.
As per the manufacturer, it has used a proprietary black finish over the cerakote coating. Together, they make the barbell rust-proof as well as scratch-proof.
Look at the image above. As you can see, it isn’t just an ordinary coating/finishing. Rather, it doesn’t even look like a coating and we bet it won’t scratch off any time soon.
Does it matter?
Well, it depends on personal preference.
Weight training equipment are meant for rough use. They are not the products that you buy for decorating a corner of your home. They are meant to be dropped, thrown, and used by many people for almost every day of the week. So, don’t worry about scratches. Just make sure the product is functionally good.
If we have to pay $60 extra for a scratch-resistance bar, we would rather spend that money on a post-workout recovery tool such as RAD Roller Rad Helix Myofascial Release Tool or KOA Elite Fascia Massage Tool.
The knurling of Rogue Ohio 2.0S is even more passive than the Ohio bar
Just in case you don’t know; cerakote coating has received a mixed response from the users. It does help improve the longevity and aesthetic appeal of the barbell. But, the coating reduces the depth of the knurl marks. That's because the knurl marks are made on the steel and then, they are coated with cerakote.
Now, the Rogue Ohio Bar 2.0S has two layers on the steel; the cerakote coating and the matte finishing. So, the knurl marks have become shallower than what we would have loved. Nevertheless, knurling is a subjective thing. So, maybe it is exactly what you are looking for.
The build quality of the Rogue Ohio 2.0S bar is the same as its parent Ohio bar
That means, it has a medium amount of whip and spin, which are common features of all the multipurpose barbells that Rogue Fitness manufactures. You can use it for performing almost all types of weight training exercises at home except the Olympic weightlifting exercises such as clean & jerk, etc. For them, you need a proper Olympic barbell that has excellent spin and whip.
It has a tensile strength of 190K, which is an industry-standard for good-quality barbells. It is rust-proof and comes with a lifetime warranty. So, its durability should be your last concern.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.
Wrap Up
Rogue Ohio Bar 2.0S is a fantastic product for home gyms, especially for people who want to create a quieter workout space. However, we would want to go with its parent product, the Ohio bar. We don’t really want to spend $60-$100 more for the 2.0S version because we don’t think we need those features.
If you are looking for cheaper options, you can go with Rogue Echo Bar 2.0 or Titan Regular Bar.
Need more options to compare or decide? Check out our detailed guides of best affordable barbells, best mid-range barbells, and best high-end barbells.
Have a query or need help selecting a product? Get in touch with us!