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2021 Black Friday & Cyber Monday Equipment Sales

Gym Equipment Black Friday / Cyber Monday

Every holiday season I keep a list of all the important Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and this is that list. As the information on those sales becomes available I will update this article. I will also frequently have non-holiday sales listed here as well.

Bookmark this page, as the URL does not change from year to year.



Rep Fitness Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

REPs Golden Giveaway will be Rep’s Black Friday Sale this year:

REP Fitness Black Friday Event

 

Rogue Fitness Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

There is no Rogue Black Friday this year. However, some DEALS still exist.

Old Saint Rogue - Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

FringeSport Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

Fringe Sport Black Friday Sales

Nothing announced for Black Friday yet.



 

American Barbell Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Nothing announced for Black Friday yet except for NO SHIPPING on everything. They also have a closeout section here



 

Garage Gyms Store - purchases go towards funding equipment for reviews on garage-gyms.com

All purchases support future Garage Gym equipment reviews on garage-gyms.com.

All Apparel and Flags are 15% off. Use Code: BFCM2020

That’s all tank tops, t-shirts, hats, and flag variants. Shipping is still free with a $50 purchase.



 

Onnit Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

 

10% OFF ALL FITNESS EQUIPMENT
50% OFF ONNIT 6 PROGRAMS
25% OFF SUPPLEMENTS
20% OFF NUTRITION30% (AND UP) OFF APPAREL
UP TO 60% OFF DOORBUSTERS

 



 

Gymway USA Black Friday Sale

 

Black Friday Details Coming Soon.



 

Max Barbell & SABO shoes

Tiered discounts up to 25% when you spend $150. Click here for sale details.



 

Mark Bell's HowMuchYaBench Black Friday Deals

Up to 30% off purchases. Click here.



 

Eleiko Black Friday Deals

Check here for Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.



 

Check here for Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.



 

Intek Strength Black Friday Deals

Check here for Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.



 

Amazon Black Friday Tracker

Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale

If you would like to support Garage Gyms and help fund future equipment reviews, use my Amazon link for any purchases you make any time of year. I get a small kickback and it has literally no impact on your cost. Thank you very much!



 

Force USA Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Sale consists of 0% Interest on purchases.



 

Pioneer Black Friday Sale

No sales [link]



 

Reebok Black Friday Sale

40-50% OFF

Plus loyalty members get to hit the sale early (use code BLACKFRI).
* Some items only eligible for 25% off *



 

 

Adidas Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Check here for Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.



 

Inzer Advanced Designs Black Friday Deals

I’ve yet to see an Inzer Black Friday Sale, but we can always hope.



 

Strength Shop USA Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Check here for Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.



 

GORUCK Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Check here for Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.



 

Bells of Steel Black Friday Sale

 

Check here for Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.



 

{ 190 comments… add one }
  • Joey October 23, 2015, 5:41 am

    Any ETA on the American Barbell Stainless Super Power Bar review? I have their Comp Bearing Oly bar in stainless (it rocks!), and am curious how the knurling compares. It looks like a great power bar and the current sale might make me pull the trigger. Thanks!

    • jburgeson October 23, 2015, 11:20 am

      It’s about half done. I’ve pretty much tested it all I need to, I just have to finish writing it. I’ll tell you a secret though. My Chan has been off to the side since getting the Super. Even after I don’t need to test it anymore, I’m still using it. Pretty damn nice. Knurl is practically the same as the SS Pro. Would be soft with any other “finish”, but works perfectly with the stainless. Only downside for me is that since I was pulling the Chan, I miss the knurl spacing. The Super’s outer knurl is actually closer to the center than a standard Olympic bar. Price is so dumb right now it’s hard to even talk about a downside though.

      • Joey October 23, 2015, 11:34 am

        10-4. Thanks for the response. I noticed the spacing was a bit tight, but think I can live with that. Yeah that pricing is insane right now on that one. Keep up the good work!

  • Matt October 24, 2015, 1:36 pm

    Any thoughts on the American Barbell GHD and its price?

    I can’t seem to find any reviews of it online.

    Thanks!

    • jburgeson October 24, 2015, 2:13 pm

      Yeah someone else was asking that on a different post. I haven’t seen the thing myself, and the shipping is still a bit, but according to the quote the AB website gave me (for Texas), it’s still about $150 less than the Abrams to the door.

      The unit design is very reminiscent of the original Abrams design; frame, pads, wheels, 2X3 and 2×3 11-gauge. The adjustment method is unique though, and I’m sure it works just as well as any other. The only real noticeable difference between this and the current Abrams is that the uprights are further supported by a plate attaching it to the base. Most GHDs don’t have this plate so I’m sure it’s not completely necessary, but it no doubt eliminates some of the shimmy in the unit; though not all of it, as they all shimmy some (I have the 2.0)

      Not having seen or used it, I don’t want to say anything that sounds factual, but I have enough experience with AB that at this price, I would likely buy it over the Abrams. Without this sale, I would go with the Abrams just because I am familiar with it and it actually has a reputation.

      FYI, you likely won’t find any reviews for it because AB has done absolutely nothing to market it. It used to only be seen on the website by actually searching “GHD”. It wasn’t listed in a normal category until recently. So basically, no one owns one.

  • kba October 30, 2015, 2:48 pm

    I am helping a gym look for kg bumper plate sets (for olympic weightlifting). They don’t have to be color.

    seems like this is the lowest price:

    http://www.vulcanstrength.com/Vulcan-Color-Training-Bumper-Plates-in-Kilograms-p/vktrngcol.htm
    and it is coming out to free shipping

    any word on how these are? Anyone else out there know of best bang for the buck on kg bumpers? Thanks

    • jburgeson October 30, 2015, 3:44 pm

      They’re just colored versions of the Vulcan black discs, and in kilos of course. Absolutely nothing wrong with them. They’re not comp bumpers, but it doesn’t sound like that matters. Non-comp kilo plates are tough stateside; not much out there. Everything is in pounds.

  • Michele November 18, 2015, 8:30 am

    Any idea of what Rogue may do a Black Friday sale on? I’m holding off on purchasing some kettlebells, a bumper plate/bar set and the S-1. If there’s a chance I could get a little pricing break on such a big purchase, I’m more than willing to wait.

    Thanks and I appreciate all of your great reviews and time you put into them!

    • jburgeson November 18, 2015, 11:07 am

      Rogue has traditionally given free shipping deals for Black Friday. Alongside the free shipping deal, they tend to run some random price breaks on limited run products. You can’t count on a particular item being on sale, but you can definitely save a ton of money if you’re ordering multiple heavy items.

    • T November 18, 2015, 1:20 pm

      Rogue typically doesn’t do much in the way of discounts, and people always complain. However, if you look at how much you save with free shipping, it’s huge. Sometimes $100+ off. In particular, their kettlebells and dumbbells become a steal with free shipping. They’ll probably discontinue that this year though just because I’m counting on it.

      • jburgeson November 18, 2015, 2:25 pm

        I doubt that they’ll ever cut that deal. I mean I don’t know, but it seems like the whole 5 for $5 thing is about the smartest way to have a huge sale. I’ve yet to need five items. I always had to add t-shirts or something. Pretty smart.

        • T November 18, 2015, 3:24 pm

          Agreed. I think it’s awesome. SealGrinderPT just posted a graphic from Rogue suggesting that the 5 shipped for $5 will happen this year. Couldn’t find any updated info on the Rogue site yet though.

          Planning on replacing some old kettlebells so I would think since they’re priced individually I would get to the 5 items easily. Wish Vulcan’s were going to be available in time for Black Friday because they look amazing, but I’d hate to miss out on the Rogue deal.

          • jburgeson November 18, 2015, 4:00 pm

            I think he knows that it’s a pretty safe bet, or he has an affiliate contact. /shrug. What are you doing over there anyway, hrm?

            • T November 18, 2015, 4:07 pm

              Haha, that site is hard to look at, but it just so happened to come across my FB news feed.

    • Michele November 18, 2015, 3:53 pm

      It appears as though free shipping is available for my “package” purchase (plates, barbell and the S-1 rack). I was just hoping, after that big purchase, I’d find a discount on either the price or the shipping for some kettlebells I’d like to throw in that order. I only want to pick up 3 KBs, so if that 5 for 5 deal holds true, it won’t apply to me.

      Think it’s worth holding out hope for the KBs or just jump in and make the purchase now?

      • jburgeson November 18, 2015, 3:57 pm

        Well, I would suggest pricing out each of those package pieces seperately because the free shipping may not actually be free, but rather worked into that price. If it turns out piece by piece is cheaper, then you’ve got your five and you save some money on BF.

        Aside from that, I don’t want to tell you not to wait and then have your products miraculously go on sale, I’m just saying don’t expect much beyond the free shipping. It’s how they’ve done it for years, but they do add weird game-type sales in there too.

        • Michele November 23, 2015, 7:38 pm

          Hi there, I posted a question on your squat rack review page. I am curious to know your thoughts.

          If you were buying bumper plates for the first time, would you go Rogue or OFWs at FringeSport?

          • jburgeson November 23, 2015, 7:48 pm

            Did I miss a question? Sorry about that Michele.

            I prefer the OFW plates. They big plates are narrower, the light plates are wider and flatter around the edge for better load distribution (since the light, thin plates are the first to go), and all sizes have a steel insert that’s literally anchored into the rubber which helps decrease the odds of insert separation over the life of the plate. I’ve got plates from half a dozen different vendors and if I had to pick one to switch them all to, it would be the OFW plates. If you plan to snatch/clean with light weight (10’s an 15’s only) then OFW is a must. The innovations of the OFWs get less important as you remove the light plates from the bar, as 45’s don’t break no matter where they come from.

            • Michele November 23, 2015, 8:02 pm

              It’s ok, I posted the question under your “Power Rack Guides” page. I won’t re-ask here since it’s not germane to the topic, but when you get a chance maybe you can take a look? :-)

              Thank you for your input re the bumper plates. As a newbie and someone who is only interested in DL, squats, bench and rack pulls, I appreciate your thoughts.

              Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for all the time you take to put out helpful material!

              • jburgeson November 23, 2015, 9:15 pm

                Oh I answered that.. about the ETE rack? Is it not there? Well just in case, I said that I didn’t have any experience with them, but the unit didn’t look too bad. The spotters are on the site but in a different section; they were $150. The rack will have zero compatibility with other accessories as the hole situation is unique and not the norm. Well, I say norm because of what Rogue does and what everyone else copies, but copying in this situation is a good thing as it leads to the ability to add equipment the original manufacturer doesn’t offer.

                I like the plate storage, but I personally wouldn’t be satisfied with only two pins per side. It’s enough to be neat, but not enough to eliminate the need for an additional piece of equipment for all the other plates that you’ll accumulate. still though, price seems decent, tubing is strong, color choice is nice. I’m a Rogue guy for racks, but they are pricey and I understand why folks look elsewhere.

                • Michele November 23, 2015, 9:58 pm

                  Yes! That’s the rack I wanted to know about. It makes perfect sense that down the road I’d want/need more storage pins and maybe another accessory that wouldn’t be compatible at all.

                  Thanks for your time-as always, you are a great help. :-)

  • Tony November 20, 2015, 9:40 pm

    Did you see the FringeSport sale? 10-20% on all sorts of things. Temptation abounds!

    • jburgeson November 20, 2015, 9:49 pm

      Yeah I just saw that. working on it now. Did you see the local sale? haha practically giving stuff away. I’ll post that too for the .5% of you anywhere near Fringesports warehouse.

      • Tony November 20, 2015, 10:06 pm

        Holy cow that is cheap. I’d be all over those bumpers if I was local.

  • Brandon November 21, 2015, 3:23 pm

    http://www.wright-equipment.com/ has some pretty good black friday deals active right now.

  • scott November 23, 2015, 8:36 am

    Rogue’s Mat Black Friday and 5/$5 has started.

    http://www.roguefitness.com/matte-black-friday?icid=carousel

  • Joe November 23, 2015, 3:42 pm

    If anyone is looking for some specialty bars, Edge is priced right, and with free shipping it is hard to beat: http://www.edgefitnessystems.com/Black-Friday-2015.html

    They get good reviews from the Crossfit Forums and Bodybuilding Equipment forums.

  • T November 23, 2015, 3:45 pm

    Still in the market for a bearing bar. Looks like AB plans to have their SS version on sale. Looking forward to seeing what Vulcan and Eleiko do and whether Rogue might include the Euro as a hot deal (not holding my breath). You really think Eleiko will have a Black Friday sale?

    • jburgeson November 23, 2015, 4:34 pm

      haha I do not expect them too, no. Maybe they may sell off the equipment from Worlds at a deeper discount for the holidays? who knows

    • Joey November 24, 2015, 3:55 pm

      Eleikoshop.com has the Sport Training bar (45lb.) version on sale for $599 shipped (normally $729). I actually picked one up last week. It’s a beauty!! If you can get the AB SS Comp bearing bar for a similar price, I prefer that one, but they are both awesome bars.

      • Brian November 22, 2016, 3:10 pm

        http://www.eleikoshop.com/

        They are advertising one. Hopefully something better than apparel on sale.

        • jburgeson November 22, 2016, 4:55 pm

          Yeah I agree. They’ve never been the best at Black Friday. Usually like you said, Apparel, and used event gear.

  • Zach November 23, 2015, 4:07 pm

    No free shipping on the SS WOD bars?

    • Zach November 23, 2015, 4:11 pm

      Also, would you recommend the Froning parkerized bar ( BF daily deal at 275) over the SS Wod bar?

      • jburgeson November 23, 2015, 4:44 pm

        So that was a sneak peak but I don’t think stuff is finalized yet. I hope they do more free shipping on stuff.

        Regarding the Froning, the closest thing to this finish I’ve handled is manganese phosphate which I’m going to guess is exactly what this bar feels like; or at least close. Manganese feels pretty nice; better than zinc, maybe even better than chrome. It doesn’t last as long as chrome does though, and I don’t think it will feel better than stainless, but until I have one in my hands I’m just speculating.

        • Zach November 24, 2015, 10:37 am

          Thanks for the reply. BTW again faster is also offering Black Friday deals. Have you ever done a writeup on the AF Team barbell? It’s marked down to $160 right now. I’m curious how it would compare to the Rogue 2.0

          • jburgeson November 24, 2015, 10:48 am

            Yeah I have reviewed both the Team and the Klokov; neither of which I recommend; especially the Team. Not my favorite equipment dealer.

  • Greg S November 23, 2015, 8:10 pm

    Seeing this upcoming deal from Rogue makes me regret picking up the original York B&R bar a couple years ago. Rogue taking production in-house is definitely a huge plus, especially since the bar stock is back at 205,000 PSI tensile strength (I’m assuming that the York version was always 195,000 PSI.)

    http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-29mm-burgener-rippetoe-bar-2-0

    • jburgeson November 23, 2015, 9:21 pm

      I’m going to agree that it was probably always not 205k; either a typo, misinformation from York, or who knows… but it was up there for a long time as 205k.

      Only other difference is that Rogue didn’t go with sintered bushings, but rather their cast bronze bushings. Sintered bushings spins smoother and for longer. Longer as in they last longer before needing oiling or cleaning. I don’t think it changes the bar any, just will need more oil.

      I’m curious to discover how the grip compares as the original is pretty solid in that department.

  • scott November 24, 2015, 4:55 am

    Best Buy – Buy an iTunes gift card and the second one is 40% off. There is a limit, so read the terms.

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/itunes-offer-148772

    Good for updating those workout mixes and apps you might want to try.

  • kwheelus November 24, 2015, 7:03 am

    Again Faster and Lynx Barbell also have some great deals going on!

  • Dan November 24, 2015, 7:17 am

    Wow – ordered several things from Rogue yesterday when the 5 for 5 deal kicked off, and it’s being delivered today. C2, flat bench, weight tree, bumpers – some pretty serious shipping items. Amazed that’s being delivered next day. I’m in Ann Arbor, so only a 3 hour drive from Columbus, but that’s still pretty impressive!

    I’m still looking at the AB stainless power bars, even though I don’t need them with the SS WOD bar I got a month ago, but they’re just do damn gorgeous…guess I’ll wait and see what they offer when their Black Friday deal is live.

    • jburgeson November 24, 2015, 10:50 am

      That’s crazy… 24 hour delivery. That’s bad ass though. We should all be so lucky to get our gear in one day!

  • Hector Duenas November 24, 2015, 8:03 am

    The folks at Elite Fitness have also heavily discounted most of their stuff.

  • Geoff November 25, 2015, 5:52 pm

    Check out the Black Friday deals at get rx’d…its 50% off on some stuff. If you can’t wait till February shipping on that stuff use blackfriday2015 for 12% off. Not much but it helps.

    • jburgeson November 25, 2015, 6:02 pm

      Not to sound judgmental, but that’s one silly sale. In order to get the savings on some select items you gotta wait three months to receive the products? Random.

      • Geoff November 25, 2015, 10:33 pm

        Called them up on it. Basically they are getting their next shipment in on February. I guess they are trying to get $$$ upfront so they can buy more things. I dunno. Speaking of, what is your advice on the guillotine? Looks like you can do a lot of different things with it. Is there something better for around the same price? http://www.getrxd.com/getrxdguillotines.html

        • jburgeson November 25, 2015, 11:26 pm

          That’s the problem with all that stuff coming from China. You need to plan events like Black Friday out like in June; get that stuff ordered. I don’t fault them trying to still generate some sales but it is a silly sale.

          I have only heard things about the Guillotine, never touched it myself. It’s a Chinese unit. It works, but the unit isn’t compatible with other brands for accessories, the holes are punched instead of laser cut, things may not always line up or fit in perfectly, but it functions. You gotta figure that for less than most dealers charge for a bare bones squat+pull-up, this unit also comes with spotter arms, plate horns, double pull-up bar, and four pegs for bands, dips, etc. It’s not that everyone else is ripping you off, it’s that this is just a cheaper unit.

          The closest competing unit is the Fringesport squat+pull-up for about the same price, but you gotta pay for spotter arms; another $100. It’s also Chinese, but it’s 2″x3″ 11-gauge like Rogue Infinity units (S and R) and a little higher up the quality tier. It’s still no Rogue, but you see what you have to pay for Rogue quality. Also you know the Rogue SML-2C is $405 right now for BF? Again, gotta buy spotters, but it’s a 3″x3″ rack with Westside spacing for $400, and in color. Pretty solid.

          • Geoff November 30, 2015, 4:27 pm

            One more quick question and I will leave you alone..promise..maybe lol. The Stealth Bar compared to bars from Fringe? Is there that big of difference? With not having to pay shipping (cause I live in DFW) they take a little more off. Just know the Stealth had good ratings just didnt know what the equivalent with Fringe is…if there is one. Its going to be used for my garage gym (surprise surprise) and CF type workouts.

            • jburgeson November 30, 2015, 5:49 pm

              Fringe doesn’t have an equivalent unless you count the Vaughn, which is a much better bar; even with the bushings. Of course, it’s like $400; unless it’s on sale. Fringe branded bars like the Bomba and Wonder are similar in construction quality to Get bars; both companies import medium-quality bars. Better than a box store, but not as good as a Rogue or pretty much any of the American bars. Again, the Vaughn is kind of the exception with Fringe, though that is not a Fringe branded bar. I don’t have anything negative to say about either brand, though the specs vs price on stuff like the Stealth makes me a little apprehensive about them. A bit much on paper for the price. End of the day, either of these brands make bars good enough to handle WODs. If they didn’t, they’d be out of business.

  • Phil November 26, 2015, 1:16 am

    Still been searching for the right weightlifting bar. Just wondering what your thoughts are on the American Barbell Precision Training bar versus the Vulcan V3.0 Elite. From your posts that I’ve read in the past you are a big fan of Vulcan and AB. If you had a choice between the two, what would they be. As always thanks for your time and information. Look forward to hearing from you.

    • jburgeson November 26, 2015, 1:37 am

      With the current price on the AB Precision SS, it would be that over the Elite. When both are regular price, I’d probably lean on the Elite. Huge price difference, but not a huge performance difference.

  • scott November 26, 2015, 2:59 am

    Amazone code: HOLIDAY30 gets you 30% off any one physical book up to $10. (No Kindle or Audiobooks) It must be a book coming from Amazon itself.

    This means you can get Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength for about $14.50. Practical Programming for Strength Training would be about $12.50.

    I’m going to try and divide my orders up and have them over $35 each. This way each will have free shipping and each one could have a 30% off book added to it.

  • scott November 26, 2015, 7:44 am

    Amazon code: 30BLACKFRI gets you 30% off selected shoes. There are some weightlifting, cross training and wrestling shoes listed. (Unfortunately, the new Nike Metcon’s aren’t.) Here’s a direct link…

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_ex_n_12?rh=n%3A7141123011%2Cn%3A13409227011%2Cn%3A7147441011%2Cn%3A679255011%2Cn%3A6127770011%2Cn%3A679271011%2Cp_6%3AATVPDKIKX0DER&bbn=13409227011&ie=UTF8&qid=1448545427&lo=fashion-mens-shoes

  • Stradivariuz November 26, 2015, 3:19 pm

    I’m having trouble deciding on which SS American Barbell to get (Super Power Bar, SS WOD, Precision Training Bar). I’m not particularly concerned about cost, since they are all similarly priced right now. In what scenarios would you suggest getting each?

    This will be my first barbell for my home gym setup and I’m looking for something versatile, as I train the big 3 compound lifts and clean & jerk, but don’t consider myself strictly a powerlifter or olympic weightlifter.

    • jburgeson November 26, 2015, 5:44 pm

      They aren’t much different really. Precision is 28 mm vs 28.5 of the other two. Stainless shaft is the same, bushings are the same, sleeves are the same. Super has the heat treatment for more rigidity and has IPF marks, the other two have IWF marks. You can big 3 + power clean any of these, but if you are strong in the Olympic lifts probably go Precision for the 28 mm and whippier shaft. If you see yourself with a 500+ DL before a 225+ clean, I’d probably lean towards the Super. All are great and all are steals at the moment. You won’t regret any one of them.

      • Stradivariuz November 27, 2015, 9:40 am

        Thanks for your insight! I’m a novice lifter so stiffness and whip will probably not come into play until I’m much more experienced. As you said, each will probably suit my needs just fine. Given that the Power Bar is on back order and cosmetically I prefer the finish and end caps of the Precision, I opted to get that :)

  • Brian S November 26, 2015, 4:50 pm

    Going to be watching like a hawk at midnight for whatever deal is coming on the OPB. On that subject, there is a $50 difference between the 45lb and 20KG versions of the same bar. I looked closely, and the only difference I could spot is that the 20KG bar has a little less collar width, so slightly more sleeve real estate available for plates. Unless I’m missing something big, it looks like a no-brainer to go with the 45lb bar.

    • jburgeson November 26, 2015, 5:46 pm

      It’s also those friction welded sleeves. A neat technology, but a non-issue for the consumer I’d say. No one cares whether the sleeve is one piece, friction welded, or normal welded. But yeah, I just bought one about a month ago; I went with the $250 raw bar without giving it a second thought.

      • Brian S November 26, 2015, 11:20 pm

        They dropped the price on the black zinc OPB by $30. 60+ bars sold in the first 15 minutes. Guess you won’t need to add them to the list. Wow!

        • jburgeson November 27, 2015, 12:17 am

          Yeah I didn’t get to that stuff fast enough lol. I’ll let it simma down some! No point editing all that with 3 items left =p

  • AL November 26, 2015, 8:25 pm

    Hey can you confirm the distance of un-knurled space between the edges of the knurling on the American Barbell SPB excluding the center knurl. I take a narrow grip on my dead lifts and I’m not sure the WOD bar or the Precision, which I believe is around 16.5″, would work too well for me. I’m looking at the Elite Power Bar to save some $ which I would assume has the same measurement. If you know of any other bars with extra knurled space that would be appreciated.

    Also stuck between the Vulcan and the OFW bumpers, if you had to pick the least smelliest one which would be best? I’m stuck in a small apartment and while i know the smell will dissipate eventually, this is oddly my top concern.

    Thanks in advance, great site, definitely been my go-to site for getting everything I need.

    • jburgeson November 26, 2015, 8:41 pm

      Al it’s 13″. The Super is the only bar I know of that deviates from normal like that; well aside from the Chan that goes in the other direction.

      I don’t think there will be a difference between the two plates for smell. People will say brand x stunk like crazy and brand y wasn’t so bad, but I’m pretty sure the only difference is the length of time that they’ve been in existence. Even then, they don’t really stop smelling until they are un-boxed and handled for a while. Crumb rubber won’t smell as bad, but your choices are limited and the prices are higher.

      Maybe you can put them out on the patio when not in use for a couple weeks? Run a chain through them with a padlock if you’re on the first floor? I dunno, just a thought.

  • T November 26, 2015, 11:48 pm

    Keeping an eye on Eleiko’s page for a formal announcement of their BF deals. Nothing yet but did notice a few more of their bars with discounts. Their Grid Competition Bar is now $545 while the Sport Training Bar 45 lb version is still $599. Any thoughts on the Grid Competition Bar to be used exclusively as an Oly lifting bar? Better bearing bar option out their priced as a steal so far on BF?

    • jburgeson November 27, 2015, 12:16 am

      The Grid is the Sport. Same bar. Yeah use it; only difference is the pounds instead of kilos.

  • Tony November 27, 2015, 10:11 am

    Amazon has the CAP bar on lighting deal right now for $100.

    • jburgeson November 27, 2015, 10:28 am

      I am not a CAP fan, but I do realize that the OB-86b is like the only CAP product that may be worth owning; that is assuming one simply cannot afford to buy anything better. We’ll see… I grabbed one at that $100 price tag so I can finally take a close look myself. I can recoup most that on CL when I’m done with it

  • scott November 27, 2015, 5:06 pm

    Fitness Factory has some sales up.

    https://www.fitnessfactory.com/Home/Special/CyberMonday

    Of special note: Blemished Kettlebells (Cosmetic issues only)
    They have singles or a Set of 6 (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35) for $144.50.

    • jburgeson November 27, 2015, 5:28 pm

      I let the spam catcher grab this link the first time because these stores are just online versions of Dick’s or Sports Authority; it’s mostly junk. I try to steer folks away from these kinds of vendors because if you don’t know what you’re doing you’ll just end up with trash. Matter of fact that was the whole point of starting the site, to keep people from wasting money the first time around by running into the local sporting good stores and impulse buying cheap, fragile equipment.

      • scott November 27, 2015, 6:28 pm

        Really? I thought this store was above reproach. A lot of people on the bodybuilding.com forums praised their stuff and service. There is another store called Fitness Factory Outlet which I was told wasn’t the same thing. And their website looks a lot like what you’re talking about. The only thing I was interested in was the Body-Solid rack. Which I was told was a safe bet.

        If I’m wrong, sorry about that. This is my first rodeo. ;)

        • jburgeson November 27, 2015, 6:38 pm

          I actually thought it was the outlet one at first glance. I took another look and there are some gems in there, but still lots to avoid. Just read those descriptions. You’re good with the squat stand we were talking about though. Body Solid has stuff on both ends of the spectrum. But yeah it’s whatever, I let the second link post because if it was worth trying again, it was meant to be up there lol.

  • T November 29, 2015, 10:11 am

    My goal is to eventually have a multipurpose bar, a power bar, and a bearing bar at my disposal. Only chrome or SS are acceptable. I’ve got the SS WOD as my multipurpose bar. I plan to add another bar to my arsenal before the end of the weekend. Was planning on picking up a bearing bar, but these AB SS bar prices keeping messing with my head.
    In terms of can’t-miss-out-ability this BF considering current pricing and overall value, how do you rank the AB SS Comp Bear bar ($695 + $20 shipping), AB Super Power Bar ($360 + $20), AB Elite Power Bar ($310 + $20), and the Eleiko Sport GRID Comp Bearing bar ($546.75 + FS)?
    I realize bearing and power bars serve different purposes, so we’re mainly talking about ranking the deals and likelihood that we’ll ever see prices like this again. Not sure that AB will ever have a surplus of SS like this again unless their sales volume has been enough to entice them to continue to offer this type of pricing in the future. Doesn’t look like Eleiko sales come along very often either and may stop once they sell off all their bars in pounds.

    • jburgeson November 29, 2015, 11:49 am

      The Eleiko prices are pretty good, at least on the Grid/Sport. Not too impressed by the rest of the sale, but meh, it’s Eleiko and I’m surprised they discounted anything really. The Grid is discounted deeper than the SS Bearing, and I’m not sure why AB maintained such a high price on that one particular bar. They use nice bearings in it, but the bearings don’t really justify the 100% price increase from the current Precision Bar cost. I suppose if you have been eyeing the SS Bearing, it would be the time to get it, and the same goes with the Eleiko.

      These stainless prices could last until Christmas, but I’m just making that assumption based on the length of time they’ve been on sale already. They could sell out of this stuff and go back to normal pricing as well. About all I can tell you is that the stainless bars; all of them; are at a very compelling price point, and even on the off chance the normal, full-retail stainless prices drop because of this mess, they certainly aren’t going to drop beyond these sale prices.

      In terms of what I think you’re asking, the Super is probably the best deal overall.

      • MJ November 30, 2015, 5:12 pm

        First off, thank you for providing such a great resource; easily the most informative site on the internet on the subject. After watching prices all weekend, I just pulled the trigger on the Eleiko GRID bar. I was hoping AB would come down in price a bit more on their bearing bars, or that Rogue would run a deal on the EU or chrome oly bars, but no dice. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.

        FYI, bumperplates.com has 12.5% off other Eleiko bars, like comp, trainer, and kilo versions of sport/xf; cheaper than the Eleiko site, but don’t know if shipping is free.

        • jburgeson November 30, 2015, 5:51 pm

          Mmm the Grid = Sport and Sport = very nice Oly bar. Good buy.

          Yeah bumperplates undersells Eleiko direct, at least for the time being I hear. I think Eleiko is getting tired of supplying a dealer to undercut their own sales lol… we’ll see!

          I actually thought AB would lower prices again, but I guess they did well enough not to have to. Rogue didn’t put ANY nice bars on sale, just the low-end stuff. Disappointing indeed.

  • Stradivariuz November 29, 2015, 12:30 pm

    The AB SS WOD Bar is now out of stock.

  • Gaylen November 30, 2015, 12:50 pm

    The x training equipment is doing a good sale on DB, and lots of other stuff. Today they are doing a BOGO on their 35lb bumper set. $119 for two sets. Any comments on the Dumbells or Bumpers? They look really tempting.

    • jburgeson November 30, 2015, 1:18 pm

      Yeah so the dumbbells are standard rubber hex. I don’t know which variation they are, but the price is good and it looks like shipping is free. If you’re already in the market, go for it. $1 a pound is a good price; especially on the heavies. They get fairly pricey beyond 50 or 60 pounds.

      With the 35’s, it’s not an awful deal considering shipping is covered. It’s unfortunate that they are 35’s though as they are probably the most useless plate in pounds. If you just need more weight any way you can get it, then snatch them up. Its not too bad if you don’t own any 35’s already, or you only have one pair of 10’s, but if your collection is already decent I think you’ll find that they spend most of their time on the rack, not on a bar.

  • AJ November 30, 2015, 2:03 pm

    Thanks for your insight! Threw down on Rogue BF sale…GHD 2.0 and adjustable bench on its way. Combined order with a buddy to get the 5 items. Wasn’t expecting to spend that much…but hey, its only once a year you get the free shipping.
    Question…is Rogue able to work with customers on custom racks? Basically, I’m hoping to get a SML-3, but with 100 in uprights (like the new Froning rack). I didn’t throw down for the Froning cause of the footprint size.
    Thanks again!

    • jburgeson November 30, 2015, 3:00 pm

      Hey AJ, that’s a good idea of combining with a buddy. I always adds one or two items I didn’t need… which I guess is Rogue’s master plan lol.

      I take it the 108″ is too tall, but the 90″ is too short. Yeah Rogue will swap out upright/crossmember sizes if you order on the phone. You used to be able to see all the upright options in the accessories, but their latest site overhaul made it so they are harder to find, so it’s best to just call that in.

  • RJP November 30, 2015, 4:10 pm

    I just ran across this earlier this afternoon, but take 30% off Adipowers from Amazon today. Use code CYBERMON at checkout

  • T December 1, 2015, 2:20 pm

    I’m not the only one who got an email from Vulcan indicating that their training kettlebells would be 10% off with free shipping, was I? Tried to place an order on Black Friday but the website wouldn’t let you add them to your cart. Emailed Vulcan about it, and they advised that I was wrong and that they were only 5% off. I’m happy to get a discount, but I am positive that they advertised a 10% discount on black kettlebells and 15% on the competition version. Sent them a screen shot of my email twice two days apart and have yet to receive a reply. Surprising because they’ve been very responsive in the past.

    • jburgeson December 1, 2015, 3:19 pm

      That is correct, I have that email. Interesting

      • T December 8, 2015, 7:08 pm

        It took a while, but Vulcan eventually made everything right. They were just pretty backed up after the holiday. They honored the discount as advertised and hooked me up with a Vulcan banner. Big fan of this company.

  • Tony December 14, 2015, 7:45 pm

    Fringe has their black bumpers for 10% off this week.

    • Zach December 16, 2015, 10:31 am

      Just wanted to point out the Fringe decide to raise their prices in the middle of the cyber Monday sale. The 10% discount will now get you back to their original offers. Lame…

  • Zach December 16, 2015, 10:32 am

    I’m looking to round out some of my BF purchases. Is Rogue (or others) known to have a Christmas sale as well?

    Thanks

    • T December 16, 2015, 10:49 am

      I doubt Rogue will do anything again until next Black Friday. Vulcan has their “Holiday Load Up” sale going on which looks like 10-17% discounts based on how much you spend. Depending on what you’re looking for, could be better than Black Friday in some cases. AB still has their SS bars discounted although $10-15 higher than they were at BF. Fringe may have a few offers, but in general, their prices have generally gone up over the past year, making them basically comparable with everyone else as opposed to the bargain they used to be IMO. MD USA has been doing 15% off site wide off and on throughout the holiday if you need a few small accessories or something.

      • Zach December 16, 2015, 10:52 am

        Thanks for the quick reply! Looking to pick up a set of jerk blocks and possibly another bar.

        • T December 16, 2015, 11:06 am

          No problem. I’m kind of in the same boat. My garage gym is only lacking jerk blocks, a GHD, and a true power bar. Been keeping my eye on the sales just in case. Will probably wait on the blocks and GHD until next year, but those bars are just so hard to pass up right now.

          • Zach December 16, 2015, 11:13 am

            Anyone with any experience/reviews of jerk blocks available?

            Rogue, Xtraining, Pendlay (metal)

            • T December 16, 2015, 2:42 pm

              No expert here but figured I’d give you my 2 cents until John or another true weightlifter chimes in. If I was buying jerk blocks today, I’d go with Rogue, Monster Blocks, or Rhode Blocks. I’ve used the Rogue blocks in one of my training partner’s garage gym several times and used the Monster Blocks a lot at my old CF gym. No experience with the Rhode Blocks but they look solid and well made.

              The Rogue offering, of course, wins in looks and cool factor. Very solid and well built. Minimal shaking or play between the various levels. I think John may have briefly mentioned these in his pulling block DIY article.

              The Monster Blocks are awesome as well. Due to unique construction, much lighter to move around than other options. Not sure if he still does this, but Sam used to customize the blocks with any logo you wanted. Cost is similar to Rogue but not sure what shipping runs. Breathlaterfitness.com is the web site. The blocks in the picture are actually the exact set from my old gym.

              I’ve seen the X Training blocks on sale for as low as $599 shipped, but I just don’t know much about this company. I believe Fringe has also released a set that fits on top of existing plyo boxes. Plenty of DIY plans out there or you can check your local CL or FB buy/sell/trade pages for used.

              • jburgeson December 16, 2015, 4:14 pm

                Yeah jerk blocks are one thing I don’t get exposed to enough to say who makes a better set. I’d personally buy the Rogue’s if I was going to and that’s only because one of the biggest complaints is the bouncing around of older blocks, and Rogue is said to have handled that. Also everything in theirs just looks so clean. All that machine cut lumber fits together so well.

                Of course, if I was going to make that purchase I’d likely dig deeper. They’re just too expensive for me to be buying them for comparison purposes, if you know what I mean.

      • jburgeson December 16, 2015, 4:08 pm

        lol don’t say MD here. Crooks

        • T December 16, 2015, 4:26 pm

          Haha! I know, I know. I never use them, but OSO collars at 15% just doesn’t happen anywhere else. Picked up a few pairs as gifts. Don’t think they were supposed to be included in the sale so they’ve probably caught on by now.

    • jburgeson December 16, 2015, 10:52 am

      Generally no. Cyber Monday is the end of them. although Vulcan has a discount based on order total right now.

      Can you tell me one item that was raised during the FS sale, from what $$ to what $$.

  • GW December 23, 2015, 7:14 pm

    Does Rogue ever have any after Christmas sales?

    • jburgeson December 23, 2015, 10:02 pm

      No. Only sale Rogue typically has it the normal Black Friday, and the closeouts section on the site. They aren’t one for sales I guess because they don’t need to run them.

  • RandyR January 27, 2016, 12:45 pm

    Sales update:
    Rogue Burgener & Rippetoe Men’s Bar $225 was $295
    American Barbell Super Power Bar is sold out
    American Barbell Power Bar $299 was $345

  • Matt Pierce November 7, 2016, 5:02 pm

    Any thoughts on buying a GHD this Black Friday? I want to buy one and figured that would be the best time.

    • jburgeson November 7, 2016, 5:30 pm

      I’m sure someone will include a GHD as part of their Black Friday sale, and even if the best you can do is get it shipped for free that’s still fairly substantial savings. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Abrams on sale during the holidays, but the American Barbell GHD usually is. Unfortunately it’s so expensive to ship that the savings still don’t make it any better of a deal than the Abrams or Vulcan GHD. Oh yeah, maybe Vulcan will have them on sale – theirs is solid too.

      • Tony November 17, 2016, 12:15 am

        Looks like Fringe will have one of their GHD’s on sale, among other things. They’ve been running sales weekly lately, so looks like a lot of the deals we’ve been seeing weekly will happen all at once for Black Friday. The GHD stood out though as a steeper than normal discount, but I don’t know much about it.

        • jburgeson November 17, 2016, 11:43 am

          I don’t follow them so much anymore. Everything is kind of meh over there lately. I’m sure there will be some discounts though. There is a lot of margin in that Chinese equipment… lots of wiggle room for deep discounting.

          • Tony November 21, 2016, 12:17 pm

            While I understand your reasons, they currently have a lightning deal for their Vaugh Bar package for only $239. If I were in the market for an oly bar I would be allll over this. My understanding is that the quality of this particular line is quite good.

            • jburgeson November 21, 2016, 1:08 pm

              Yeah I’m thinking that their partnership with Chad is over and they are clearing that stuff out. I could be wrong – I don’t stay in contact with them anymore ever since they started going the economy, box-store route with their new equipment – but that’s my guess. Be that as it may, the Vaughn alone for $239 is a good deal.

              • Tony November 21, 2016, 1:53 pm

                Yeah that would make sense. I will say, I have no need for a bar whatsoever right now but my finger keeps twitching thinking about it. Seems like a steal.

  • Rob Brueshenko November 23, 2016, 11:08 am

    Have you seen any Black Friday deals that are steal yet or eye popping? Looks like Fringe Sport is the only one with amazing deals. Again Faster has some good deals but I’m not particularly a fan of their quality. Sounds like they’ve been cutting corners the last year or so.

    • jburgeson November 23, 2016, 11:33 am

      Not yet. It’s very low key so far this year. Rogue will blow up tomorrow probably. Again Faster is garbage. Fringesport is much the same save for their bumpers and that deal they have/had on Vaughn bars. American BB hasn’t announced yet, but that’s almost always underwhelming. I’ve been looking, but I expect tomorrow will be when most deals show themselves. Couple things I need so I’ve got my fingers crossed too haha

      • Jordan November 23, 2016, 11:49 am

        Do you think Rogue will keep the current deals up through Sunday night (ie. on power racks)? I see a few ‘quantity’ sales, but the racks aren’t posted that way. Hoping they don’t disappear tomorrow or something. I have a big order, but am being patient to see if I can score a few other items as the sale grows.

        • jburgeson November 23, 2016, 12:00 pm

          I don’t know, but last year racks stayed up the whole time. The timer/quantity is usually a pretty good indicator of that, but hell, they make a game out of this so who knows for sure.

          • Jordan November 23, 2016, 12:04 pm

            Thanks for the reply. I am eyeballing the RML-690 and the Fortis RM-4. Storage and the extra stability are slowly swaying me. I may jump on it, and keep the rest of my cash ready to see if they discount some HG 2.0 bumpers and maybe the GHD 2.0. Speaking of….have you seen the new GHD? It’s cheaper, but I am not sure I want to skimp. The 2.0 looks superb.

            • jburgeson November 23, 2016, 1:59 pm

              Are you talking about the GH-1. I have the 2.0 and yeah, it’s great. the only real difference is the swing arm – it’s a little easier to use. Hard to say if that’s worth $100 (you want the wheels.)

  • Tony November 24, 2016, 8:30 am

    AB sale hit today. There are some exciting new products, including a rework of the super power bar with some type of finish on stainless (strange but I’m intrigued) and gold zinc California bars and a bunch of multigrip bar variations. Great to see them trying to stay innovative.

    • Tony November 24, 2016, 8:47 am

      Also, Happy Thanksgiving folks!

    • jburgeson November 24, 2016, 9:03 am

      A golden barbell – cute. I had heard the rumor about six months ago but I didn’t really believe it, but here it is…

      The Cerakote Power Bar absolutely confuses me so I’ll just leave that one alone for now.

      Oh and Happy Thanksgiving! =)

      • jburgeson November 24, 2016, 9:06 am

        I gotta say though, I’m not thrilled that they just re-worked the Super Power Bar product page for this new Mammoth bar. It left all of the old reviews intact, but those reviews are for a completely different product.

        • clay November 24, 2016, 11:28 am

          I am not a fan of AB. Not only did I sell my green Cali., I junked my Super. It had a slight bend that gradually got worse. If you want an AB bar, BF is the time to order, overpriced IMHO.

        • Tony November 24, 2016, 11:52 am

          I noticed that too. Hoping it’s a temporary placeholder and not a permanent decision as it is pretty confusing for potential buyers (the specs don’t quite line up with the new description yet either – 29mm vs 28.5mm). Do let us know if you figure out the whole finish on stainless thing.

          • jburgeson November 24, 2016, 12:23 pm

            I’ve never had an issue with an American Barbell bar, and the number of complaints I’ve heard are very few, but these two new bar additions are curious indeed. A golden bar is just whatever to me. I have literally zero interest in having a golden barbell. The new Super is more interesting, but very expensive. It’s a stainless steel bar without the one major benefit of it being a stainless steel bar. Well, that is to say this bar won’t rust, and it may have a good grip (I don’t know anything about this finish), but that would have been the case without the finish added. So, if you’re going to use that finish on a barbell, why not use carbon steel for the shaft instead and save as all $200+. There is no performance advantage to stainless over standard steel, so without access to the natural feel/grip, why bother..

            That said, there may be a perfectly good, non-gimmicky reason for this combination of materials, but that should definitely be explained (somewhat scientifically) in the product description. But hey, it’s on sale – closer to what it should cost, so now is the time if it appeals to you. If you do, share with us because I’m not buying it! =p

            • gontama December 3, 2016, 3:54 pm

              Hello Jburgeson, first thank you very much for the information you provide on this site. Since I began weight training several months ago, this site has greatly helped me get educated about the products used in this sport (e.g., difference between power and olympic bars), and has made me purchase AB’s SS bearing bar which I am very happy with. As you say, whip / spin won’t be that important for novices like me. I fully understand this. I am just practicing 30-40 kilo power clean and 25-35 kilo power snatch using technique plates on this bar. At this point, there is no benefit for me to use this high-end bar. That is fine with me because I chose this bar so I won’t need to get another oly bar when I get stronger.

              In addition to the SS bearing, I have wanted the (original) super power bar that had been talked about on this site. When I contacted AB, I was told that it would be available shortly, likely in this calendar year. When I noticed on 11/23 that the bar emerged as mammoth power bar with 29 mm shaft diameter and cerakote on stainless steel, I had no hesitation to place an order. The bar was delivered yesterday.

              This bar looks really cool to me. I have no regret and would have bought it even without the discount. It is not like any bar I have seen. It is not like shiny chrome, raw stainless, or black zinc. It is with mat finish like some sport cars or firearms. I can not compare the grip/knurl of this bar to the original super because I do not have it. But I can say that it is noticeably firmer than that of SS bearing. Though subjective, I think it has a very good grip/feel. Because I am no expert, I could be wrong, but I think there is no regression in grip due to cekote finish. Overall this too is a very nice bar. Now I am waiting for the new golden cali bar to be delivered. It will be mainly used outside for WOD.

              Thank you

              • jburgeson December 3, 2016, 4:00 pm

                You’ve got a nice bar collection going there. Thanks for the feedback on the Mammoth. It will be helpful to those considering that bar. I’m hopeful that someone with both (Super and Mammoth) eventually comes forward for a little comparison. I do have the Super, but currently I have no intention of picking up the Mammoth. I will also be curious to know how long the gold on that Gold Standard bar actually stays gold – maybe you can report back on that if and when you see that color going away. Thanks again!

                • gontama December 4, 2016, 3:18 am

                  Yes I will follow up with the longevity of the gold finish.

                  I just did 5 sets (3 reps) of 40 kilos hang power snatch with the mammoth. You may not believe easily but the grip is fantastic. I do not have the rack yet so that is what I can do at home.

                  Is the knurl deeper? I do not know. I am afraid to say that contrary to the common belief that any finish degrades the raw feeling of the grip, cerakote thing may actually improve that.

                  Again I am no expert, the original super may feel better, but I can hardly think anyone with this bar could possibly regret for whatever.

                  Let me close with my poor review with saying that I would purchase another AB oly bar with this finish when/if available.

                  With the introduction of ‘gold’ cali bar, I am almost 100% positive that AB would come up with many colors of cerakote on their bars (I did research this coating technology and may colors are indeed possible).

                  I will be getting their urethane disks and the squat stand. I will post the feedback here.

  • Rob Brueshenko November 24, 2016, 8:16 pm

    Has anyone seen Titan Fitness’s new GHD for $315 and free shipping? It looks like Titans attempt to knock off the ROGUE ABRAM GHD 2.0. Same look with the ‘swing arm’. Titans quality is suspect and it doesn’t even tell you what gauge steel its made from. Thoughts?

    • jburgeson November 24, 2016, 8:50 pm

      I don’t mess with their stuff personally. Buyer beware.

  • Tony November 25, 2016, 9:24 am

    Onnit has some pretty good discounts going. The werewolf kb is 50% off (if you’re into that sort of thing)

  • Curt Vote November 25, 2016, 7:58 pm

    Are the Vulcan Alpha bumper plate sets already a great price or should I wait and hope for a sale?

    • jburgeson November 25, 2016, 8:15 pm

      It is unlikely you will find those on sale anytime soon. MAYBE when inventory is restored, but they are and have been back-ordered for some time now. Simply more orders than plates – makes no sense to put them on sale.

      That said, I don’t know this for a fact, but it seems like a reasonable assumption since they aren’t included in the BF sale

  • JWallace November 25, 2016, 10:29 pm

    I’m getting my garage gym started and was hoping to walk away with a deal on a bar (power or multi-function) or sled. So far, rogue has some discounts on the echo sled and 1.2 dog sled. Spud inc. has 30% off on the straps as well and I can save about $40 on the sled/strap package. Are there any current BF bars that you would consider for someone just starting out?

    • jburgeson November 25, 2016, 10:31 pm

      Yeah, American Barbell California Bar, any of the Rogue dual-marked bars (Ohio, Rogue Bar 2.0), Vulcan 28.5 mm Standard is great too. I think all of these are on sale right now (or were and sold out.)

      • JWallace November 27, 2016, 11:34 am

        Thanks, I’m going to go with the Vulcan 28.5 mm Standard. This will be my first REAL bar and I can use my old box store zero knurling bar on the landmine.

  • Chad F November 26, 2016, 2:21 pm

    I prefer the SML-2 with spotter arms but I havent seen it come on hot sale yet, whereas the R3 is on hot sale right now. Decisions, decisions. Will Rogue generally keep adding racks/stands before the sale’s conclusion?

    Are there any other center knurl barbells that compare well to the B&R 2.0 and are at an unbeatable price right now?

    • jburgeson November 26, 2016, 2:24 pm

      If there are more rack additions it’ll be only a couple probably.

      Vulcan bars are all on sale – a lot of them have center knurl. Nothing that is like crazy cheap though.

      • Chad F November 27, 2016, 12:19 am

        What’s your experience been with the color painted SML-2? Does the paint hold up well? Or do you think the standard black powder coat is the more durable option?

        • jburgeson November 27, 2016, 1:16 am

          I actually have no first hand experience with their new colored racks. However, I’ve heard that while it is surprisingly resilient for paint, it’s still not as tough as the classic powder coating. But again, all second-hand information in this case.

        • Andrew November 28, 2016, 12:49 pm

          I recently received my satin clear RM-4 rack. I love the satin clear, for what it is worth. You can see the welds and grain of the steel… looks bad ass. Haven’t had experience with other coatings or colors. RM-4 has been one of the only products I have ever purchased where I was like, “oh sh$t”… in a good way, when I unpacked it. It is so overbuilt for my needs and such high quality it is stupid. I got drop in safeties after sending back the pin and pipe system (way to difficult to deal with on a rack as deep as the 4 series – may be ok for the 3 series racks).

          • jburgeson November 28, 2016, 1:41 pm

            Yeah you did the right thing with those safeties. The pin/pipe is horrible!

  • Forrest November 28, 2016, 11:15 am

    Have been reading your guides/reviews and staying tuned for the Black Friday deals. I used Rogue as my one stop shop. Very impressed with their customer service and for quality equipment their pricing is not bad. Made a rather large purchase but it was needed as I am just starting my home gym. I placed my order on 11/21 and was browsing the Rogue site today to see the RML-490 rack I ordered was ~$110 cheaper. I hopped on chat to see if they would help me out (not expecting them to as I purchased a ton of stuff that got shipped for $5) and they refunded my account the money. It is stuff like this that earns a loyal customer base. Feeling like they have my back makes be confident in purchasing from them.

    Thank you for your reviews and especially for your Rogue recommendation. This site has been extremely helpful while planning and purchasing. Great job!

    • jburgeson November 28, 2016, 11:19 am

      That’s awesome to hear. Thank you Forrest!

  • Jordan November 28, 2016, 12:42 pm

    Thanks for all your help. This website is a GREAT resource!! I use it frequently. I am new to fitness, but have used your site to help get my garage gym going. I guess you’d have to call me a Rogue fanboy at this point. I bought a like new Rogue SML-1 Squat Rack for $250 locally this past summer. Seeing the build quality sucked me right in. I bought the safety spotter arms, an Ohio Power Bar (bare steel), flat utility bench 2.0, and a few other odds and ends (OSO collars, jump ropes, etc.).

    Well, seeing that this sale was around the corner I sold off some extra stuff around the house and got ready.

    I was able to buy one of the RML-6100 racks. I opted for the safety straps and for all 8 storage posts to be full length (not 1/2 short, 1/2 long). I asked for bright zinc hardware too for a little contrast from all that black. I am 6’2” and I wanted the extra height to do pullups/chin-ups without touching the ground. My ceiling height is 112″, so it should work out nicely. I went back and forth for a long time about getting a more compact rack (or one without storage) and the king size, but I wanted a solid rack that won’t budge without bolting it down. I believe it says that it weighs 580 lbs before I add any plates on the back. Should be solid. I know, I know….the storage isn’t necessary. Thought about the Plate Tree 2.0 for a long time, but I figure if the rack is too big, then I can always take off the storage posts or order shorter crossmembers.

    I was also able to get the Abram 2.0 GHD, 250 lbs of HG 2.0 bumper plates to get started with OLY lifts (10,25,45,45), ML Matador, ML Multi Grip Crossmember, Post Landmine, Straight Landmine handle, Parallel Landmine handle, 35 and 53 LB kettlebells.

    Anyway, consider me a subscriber!

    PS – what happened to your OLY platform? I saw in a comment that you got rid of it. Any info on why is appreciated. I need to take some time to build a little platform (mostly deadlifting). Insight welcomed.

    kind regards,
    jordan

    • jburgeson November 28, 2016, 12:53 pm

      You’re gonna have a nicer gym than me.. if you don’t already now haha. That’s a nice haul though – badass.

      Moisture happened. Actually it got wet once.. very wet. Was all downhill from there. Had to be cut apart and trashed.

      • Jordan November 28, 2016, 1:09 pm

        Haha, I doubt it!

        Darn, sorry to hear about the platform getting trashed! I guess that explains why those expensive platforms cost what they do (since they won’t warp, swell, rot, etc.). That stinks though…I am still planning on a very basic deadlifting platform (maybe one or two sheets of plywood with stall mats on each end).

        Thanks for the nice words. All told, I’ve totaled everything up to be $5100 (not including stall mats and a floor fan). I bought the C2 Model D for $700 locally and it was only two months old. The SML-1 was only $250. Still keeping that for a dedicated bench station! : ) I even found a Fringe Sport Bomba bar (V1) for $20 locally and its in great shape. Wanted to buy a Castro bar for non-powerlifting, but funds were limited. Maybe someday I’ll get one. I am still using cheapo plates that I bought when I was a teenager (CAP steel plates – 255 lbs). Would have loved to pick up some of the calibrated steel plates, but they are painfully expensive in spite of being a good bargain in relation to Ivanko, Eleiko, etc.

        Going to get into the DIY stuff next. Plyo box, pulling blocks, maybe a battle rope if I can, Lat pulldown with Rogue loading pin, etc.

        Looking forward to your next article.

  • Andrew November 28, 2016, 12:45 pm

    any thoughts on the cerakote coated power bar from ABB? Would you buy that one for $450 on sale or the $485 SS one?

    • jburgeson November 28, 2016, 1:08 pm

      Well, I have to say that I don’t quite understand that new bar. I think even on sale it’s a bit expensive. I realize that it’s stainless steel, but that’s kind of the issue. You don’t put a finish on stainless steel. It should be alloy steel finished with that stuff, not stainless. It’s redundant to put an oxidation resistant coat on an oxidation resistant metal (an expensive one at that). I don’t mean to dog on it, it may be an amazing feeling finish. Even if it is though, it’s still pretty expensive.

  • Chad F November 28, 2016, 11:17 pm

    Jburg, I was reading your reviews on the Alpha bumper plates and Vulcan/Rogue change plates and have a couple questions for you:

    Did you say that Vulcan typically does a weight plate volume % discount around Christmas?

    And does Rogue’s colored lbs change plates ever go on sale?

    • jburgeson November 28, 2016, 11:26 pm

      Vulcan tends to discount plates when they are out of stock as a way to continue to generate revenue on a product that would otherwise probably not generate any sales (ppl need motivation in order to order something that they’ll have to wait for). It’s not necessarily something that you can count on, and it’s even less likely to happen again with Alpha bumpers as they have never stayed in stock. They just sell too quickly. Why discount something that you sell at full price all day long, you know?

      Rogue sales are a mystery. Most of what you can expect throughout the year from Rogue is happening right now for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Have they been on sale before? I want to say they have, but that does mean much going forward.

      There’s far less consistency here than you’d imagine when it comes to the sales these guys put on.

      • Chad F November 28, 2016, 11:44 pm

        Thanks for clarifying. Sounds like I should just bite the bullet and get my ticket in line for the Alphas.

        Btw, the black VLock lbs prices are now just as expensive as Rogue’s colored change plates. Guess the word is out on those.

        • jburgeson November 29, 2016, 12:39 am

          I’m not 100%, but I think the price on those went up from the factory. Rep had them and stopped selling them altogether probably cause the margin became too thin. /shrug. I have a set of those in pounds and kilos and I love them. I was worried they’d slowly deteriorate around the inner hole from sliding on and off, but nope, still a nice snug fit.

  • Sean G December 2, 2016, 10:17 am

    Is there typically any additional Christmas/Holiday Sales before Christmas typically? Rogue still has their “hot deals” but no more 5 items for $5 shipping deal. I’m assuming not many. Fringe Sport probably the biggest Black Friday sale and were running sales for months ahead of that and now pretty much nothing on their site is on sale anymore.

    Do you think there will be anymore sales before Christmas roles around?

    • jburgeson December 2, 2016, 10:23 am

      It’s usually just Black Friday/Cyber Monday. I can’t tell you definitively that there won’t be additional sales, but I wouldn’t expect anything.

  • M November 12, 2017, 4:05 pm

    Hey John:

    Pretty cool t-shirt — hoping I can get myself to buy something to support your site soon.

    Just from my experience I prefer all-cotton t-shirts in the gym — all get soaked sometimes and cotton feels better once any sweating starts. Silk screen does not come out as crisp, though. I usually wear black ones but dark blue is OK.

    For synthetic gym shirts, mesh is highly preferred so sweat can evaporate much better — either the wide mesh like football first-layer garments or the smoother mesh with smaller holes that sometimes also as more stretch and would take silk screen better. I tend to prefer close-fitting tank tops for this for yet better ventilation and reduced interference.

    In hats, I usually don’t put on a trucker cap but find pretty frequent need for the watch cap style and those can carry logos.

    • jburgeson November 12, 2017, 4:43 pm

      I’ve got a military green version in queue for printing which I expect in about 10 days, as well as a different shirt altogether in charcoal heather. I’ll put the watch cap on the list of things to look into. Hadn’t thought of that yet.

      • M November 14, 2017, 2:33 pm

        That green sounds interesting. Probably “olive drab” which is the usual dull medium green from the old days. I like the weathered lettering you chose there and olive drab sort of goes with that idea.

        • jburgeson November 14, 2017, 4:10 pm

          Yeah it’s OD. Sorry the manufacturer decided to call it military green and I’ve gotten used to typing that.

  • Marc November 13, 2017, 1:55 am

    Looks like Rogue has started their “Countdown to Matte Black Friday” sales of some items (posters, clothing, etc) with limited quantities and each sale item eventally ‘times out’

    https://www.roguefitness.com/hot-deals

    • jburgeson November 13, 2017, 9:30 am

      I’m fairly certain that particular page is live all year with miscellaneous sales and final items. It was up last month too. It’s basically a second closeouts page until they actually do start all the BF excitement.

  • Roscoe November 16, 2017, 8:43 pm

    I just ordered your Garage shirt and looking forward to the OD one being ex-military I’m partial to that color, watch caps are tits on a Ritz cracker this time of year. Have some bread burning a hole in my pocket in hopes Vulcan will further discount their Comp bumper sets but am doubtful that will happen so I may pull the trigger now while in stock. Purchased their Comp KB’s and am good with that buy, thanks for the review.

    • jburgeson November 16, 2017, 8:51 pm

      I see that Ron, thank you very much. It’s much appreciated. That’ll go out tomorrow morning. Those are good plates. Did you know they are working on powerlifting discs? They have a couple progress pictures buried in their blog – they’re gonna look nice I think – has that big eagle on them.

      • T November 16, 2017, 9:25 pm

        I’ll be picking up one of those shirts soon too. Think about a 3×3 or similar sized banner eventually or at least a sticker for the gym fridge.

        Why won’t Vulcan just give in and make me a set of Lb comp plates? I’ve asked several times and they’ve hinted they may come eventually but no luck so far. All my plates are Vulcan and want to keep it that way.

        • jburgeson November 16, 2017, 9:52 pm

          haha I think because they don’t have Rogue’s budget to spawn every product at once. I’m quite certain Cyrus would love to have Rogue’s selection tomorrow =p

          • T November 17, 2017, 7:46 am

            Yeah, I try to support Vulcan when all things are equal. Their curl bar and SS power bar came out just a little late or I might have gone with those over the Rogue equivalents. I’ve been really happy with their Alpha and standard black bumpers plus the V locks though that I’m willing to wait. Their comp plates look a step above a lot of the other options out there.

  • jordan November 20, 2017, 12:36 pm

    Rogue’s website is crashing like crazy. Not working well at all. Doesn’t look like they’ve been able to list much stuff yet either.

    • jburgeson November 20, 2017, 12:40 pm

      Yeah I saw that. I actually managed to get an order though, but I had to be a guest. Signing in just wasn’t happening. And in the process of trying to sign in my cart was dumped twice. Pay that GoDaddy bill, Rogue!

  • Tony November 23, 2017, 8:47 am

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Do you know if Ironmaster ever has a Black Friday sale?

    Nice new shirts btw.

    • jburgeson November 23, 2017, 8:51 am

      Thanks, Happy Thanksgiving to you. Oh snap I totally forgot about Ironmaster haha. You know, I don’t think so, but I’m on the mailing list so if I get anything at any point today I’ll add it.

      Thanks!

      • Tony November 24, 2017, 12:52 pm

        Looks like Ironmaster is offering a 12% off coupon code when you visit the site, and Kettlebell Kings is offering a 20% off coupon code.

        • jburgeson November 24, 2017, 12:56 pm

          Where do you see that KK code? I don’t see one hint of a special or sale on the site… am I blind? haha

          • Tony November 24, 2017, 12:58 pm

            Ah good point. I got the coupon code in an email since I’m a prior customer. Are you not on their mailing list? It’s 20% off equipment orders and 50% off of apparel.

            • jburgeson November 24, 2017, 1:02 pm

              I thought I was. Well I guess it doesn’t matter if it was targeted towards previous customers; they are obviously not doing anything on the website. Maybe they will do something Cyber Monday. Vulcan Comps are 20% anyway, and ship for free so I guess if one needs kettlebells, they can go that route.

  • Roscoe November 23, 2017, 12:09 pm

    I just used Rogue’s website and was able to log into my account. Took advantage of their 5×5 shipping deal, picked up the Assault Airbike and used their Hundo Pricing were the price goes down the more weight you buy on the Dumbbell Bumpers (branded Crossfit) to use on our IronMind Rolling Thunders, got some change plate pairs to get the order up to 5 items.

    Rogue’s website is up to speed.

  • Roscoe November 23, 2017, 12:53 pm

    Vulcan has a “Discount Tier’ going on; Spend More, Save More. I suppose the phrase speaks for itself, do you think this is it for their sale?

    • jburgeson November 23, 2017, 1:01 pm

      I think there will be more based on what I’ve heard. I’m still waiting on details though – they may not come through until Black Friday starts, doesn’t seem like Vulcan wanted to jump the gun like some of the others.

      • T November 23, 2017, 1:14 pm

        There should be an “inside email” that alerts when their sale has officially begun. If memory serves, I think Vulcan generally waits until closer to actual Black Friday. Unlike the other companies, I think they purposely avoid following Rogue’s suit. I like to think of Vulcan as Indian to Rogue’s Harley. I mean that as high praise.

        • jburgeson November 23, 2017, 1:17 pm

          I just got that email actually. I made an update, though it’s still semi-mysterious and I think certain items will go on sale later. I’m about to step away for obligatory festivities so if anyone makes any discoveries, feel free to comment away!

  • Brian S November 23, 2017, 2:59 pm

    Received the weirdest message when trying to sign up for Rogue hot deals. “Email Address is on a suppression list”. Must be my thousand-plus dollars total in past purchases somehow pissed them off.

    • jburgeson November 23, 2017, 9:03 pm

      huh. I have never heard of a suppression list. Sounds technical and fancy, but bad at the same time.

  • Roscoe November 23, 2017, 8:43 pm

    Just my opinion, GORUCK.com sells the toughest sandbags on the market. They currently have a bundle package Black Friday Sale for just over $100 off. I just purchased my second set.

    • jburgeson November 23, 2017, 8:44 pm

      That’s a good idea. I’ll add them.

    • T November 23, 2017, 8:51 pm

      Agreed. 40, 60, & 80 are incredibly versatile to have. I love mine. My GR0 goes along anywhere I travel. I can attest to their SCARS warranty being the best in the business as well.

      Have you done any events?

      • Roscoe November 23, 2017, 10:50 pm

        No events but I recently discovered their weighted backpacks. The weight plates slip in and out as needed and can be replaced with a hydration bladder. I ride a bicycle everywhere I go in town rain or shine and have a variety of backpacks including a trailer when needed. My EDC is GORUCKS Bullet pack when I don’t have a specific need for a bigger pack. It caries everything I might need for getting from here to there and back in a tight high ride that makes me forget it is there, (on sale as well). As tough as the sandbags.

        • T November 24, 2017, 10:39 am

          I dabble in a little bit of everything fitness-related and have done all of their standard events – Heavy, Challenge (now called a Tough), Light, and Scavenger (just a fun event). They have a lot of specialty events as well. I would highly recommend them. They have a huge and very dedicated community. Rucking really is becoming its own fitness niche. I have a GR0 ruck and a bullet ruck that I use for various things along with my sand bags. All of them are tough as nails and they’ll repair or replace any damage at no charge for life. I’ve used their warranty and can attest to that.

  • Chris November 25, 2017, 8:18 am

    Kettlebell Kings is running a Black Friday sale this year for 20% off all equipment, using code “BLACK”. They didn’t go on sale at all last year, so definitely worth a look, and addition to your running sale list.

  • Md November 18, 2018, 7:09 pm

    What about titan fitness?

    • jburgeson November 18, 2018, 8:46 pm

      I’ll watch for what they do come Black Friday.

  • dunkman November 21, 2018, 7:35 am

    Hey, sorta OT, what do you think of the Vulcan Pro Hex bar? I have a hex bar now and I like its uses, but it’s a Cap someone gave me and I’m not thrilled with it.

    • jburgeson November 21, 2018, 8:23 am

      I haven’t personally used it. I do have Vulcan’s Safety Squat and EZ Curl from that same line of specialty bars and I am completely happy with both of those so I wouldn’t be apprehensive about the trap bar, but I have not actually laid hands on it. It would be on my list if I was in the market for one though.

      • Dunkman November 21, 2018, 1:09 pm

        Thanks! Very helpful

  • JuRiel November 25, 2018, 2:18 pm

    Have you come across any sales on dumbbell/kettlebell racks? I’m leaning towards getting the rogue universal 2.0 rack and taking advantage of the 5 for 5 shipping. The rack is about $610 and is more expensive than I’d like but seems to fall into the “buy once, cry once” saying.

    • jburgeson November 25, 2018, 4:15 pm

      No I haven’t seen any of those make the sales. The best you’ll probably do on quality is indeed rogue’s, and not paying that shipping. Definitely not something you want to be cheap on if you intend to load it up.

      • JuRiel November 25, 2018, 4:38 pm

        Yeah, I started looking at Titan since they are “inexpensive” but when I compared the two (how I wanted modified), the final price was minimal. I’ll go with rogue. I bought a set of the Vulcan hex dumbbells and my wife has some kettlebells that we will use to load up the universal 2.0.

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