Basement Brandon's Reviews (222)


(3.33)
1/16/2026
The concept of this bar is cool, you pick your handles and put them where you want. However building out these bars gets expensive and even though this is the narrower version, you still get a lot of instability while in use. Granted, this is the case with most cambered bars, but for the price it just leaves you wanting more.
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(4.67)
1/16/2026
The best bang for your buck squat bar on the market. You get a fully knurled, stainless steel, 32mm squat bar. The knurl is similar to what you'll find on an Ohio Power Bar, so it's grippy without being sharp. The price point here being sub $500 is a steal considering other name brand squat bars are similarly priced, if not more expensive, and not offered in stainless. This also doubles as a great bench bar.
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(4.33)
1/16/2026
American Barbell makes some of the highest quality barbells in the world. Their attention to detail and build quality is second to none. Their big knock has always been passive knurling, but the Chewy looks to rectify that. You'll find there are several versions of this bar out there. These versions relate to the knurled density (TPI) and shape. The normal retail version tends to be a 20 TPI volcano knurl, which is very good, but it's not Texas Power Bar aggressive. There was a small run of 20 TPI Mountain which has a lot more bite. Lastly there is a 25 TPI Volcano which was a Home Gym Discord special. It was similar to the legendary Kabuki Power Bar knurl, but much better build quality. Great bar overall, but the high price tag is a huge turn off.
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(3.67)
1/16/2026
I've owned this bar for 5 years and haven't found I use it too often. It has a nice build quality, is rackable, and made from stainless steel. I've seen a few people mention they've had oxidation issues with REPs stainless, but I've never ran into that issue.
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(4.00)
1/16/2026
These are great for what they are, at the price. This style of DB is made overseas and many brands have ones that are extremely similar. REPs have a clean look and include free shipping, which makes them one of the more affordable options for urethane. The knurling here is somewhat passive, but most don't want super sharp knurling on DBs. Overall they're solid, but no real difference between a handful of other brands.
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(5.00)
1/15/2026
While the EliteFTS bar had been the standard for years, it wasn't without faults. The REP SSB improves on those things in almost every way except being made in the USA. The bar is very well finished and isn't overly expensive (and has free shipping), so it's really the top SSB on the market currently in my opinion.
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(4.00)
1/15/2026
I've owned my HLP Single Stack for several years now and it still performs like it did on day 1. I like the fact that you can position this in a corner and there's no wasted space. You get a heavy stack of 350lbs and the ability to add band pegs or a loader pin easily. It's not overly tall, so will fit in most places with normal ceilings. The downsides here is that the low row uses the adjustable column which is only a 2:1 ratio, so max weight before bands or loader pins is only 175. The lat pull down seat sucks and wobbles while in use. Prime also won't let you change the green accents which for something this expensive is annoying. Lastly their lead times suck. These days there are a lot more options for similar things (including Voltra). I don't know if I'd buy this again even though it's a solid piece.
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(5.00)
1/15/2026
This thing is awesome, but it is not for everyone. The value on this is subjective due to the amount of things the Voltra can do and its high price tag. If you use it for at least half of its functionality, it's a bargain. If you're just using it in place of a traditional cable set up, it's over priced. The coolest thing about this piece is that it offers unmatched usability in the smallest footprint. They continue to update and innovate without charging any type of fees or subscription model.
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222 total