Strength Shop Bastard Squat Bar Review

Today we take a look at a new squat bar from Strength Shop. Previously I probably would have not recommended a squat bar to most people, but after having used them in training, I now own two! Let's take a look at what this bar has to offer and if it's worth picking up.
StrongArm Squat Bar: • StrongArmSport Squat B...
StrengthShop Power Bar: • Strength Shop Bastard ...
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[@freakied0550]

I flash some images on the screen so you can see how awesome my camera is, peasants.

[@BasementBrandon]

TFW my camera is actually like 5 years old and the company doesn't even make cameras anymore b/c no one bought them lol.

[@NickWright]

"Bastard Bar" sounds like some real Westside shit

[@BasementBrandon]

StrengthShop can be quite cheeky

[@sammy1995]

Great point. I have a Rogue Squat rack SM 2. The J cups were too wide. When squatting the bar would clip the uprights unracking and get dangerously close to J cups re racking. Spent another 150 bucks on the narrow J cups which gives me more room for the bar. That being said, I can see the advantage of a squat bar with the extra length.

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on appreciate the first hand feedback.

[@garageworkouts1]

Another great review Brandonn.....

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks Tim, just like talking shop!

[@bobankhead4200]

Great content, brother. Keep it up!

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks man!

[@jayc8442]

Great review! I was hoping you would review this bar, I been looking at it since it came out. Now I’m seriously thinking I need to get this around the holidays. I see it go for 20% off sale a lot any idea if strength shop does big holiday sales normally? Don’t get me wrong $330 shipped is a good deal for that bar

[@BasementBrandon]

I think they do sales quite frequently, just have to keep your eye out!

[@rickyshah3080]

SS have a Black Friday 20% sale on this bar (on the EU store).

[@tomstclair3927]

Really great review. Thanks!

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks for taking a look!

[@bengoodhart6290]

May have to look into that. My rogue bar has no center knurl and it can slide if I have it too low on my back. The giant horizontal shoulder bruise is not enjoyable. How about a cambered multi grip bar review?

[@BasementBrandon]

If someone wants to send me one I'd do a review, but TBH I don't see a use for one in my training so unlikely to purchase. Never say never though as the EliteFTS bar looks pretty awesome.

[@strongnerd4638]

I want this bar ... I have a strength shop belt and sleeves and I like their products

[@BasementBrandon]

It's solid!

[@kouchiseiyaku]

You going to review the REP Deep Knurl Power Bar EX by any chance?

[@BasementBrandon]

Yes, that's my next bar review!

[@mikevoebel4141]

Brandon Campbell Diamond when are you going to do the review?? I’m debating getting one

[@BasementBrandon]

Mike Voebel this upcoming week

[@Uncle_Tijikun]

Brandon, I'm considering buying a strength shop 2032, which is a 32mm power bar. I like thinner bars usually (my favorite bar being the eleiko competition bar) but strength shop uk has it on offer at a great prize (just shy of 115£). What's your opinion on using a 32mm power bar as an all around bar? I don't do oly lifts and I don't plan to compete anytime soon. Thanks!

[@BasementBrandon]

Personally not a big fan of 32mm "regular" length bars. usually make them thicker b/c the steel isn't as good. For instance this bar has a max weight rating of around 280kg/617lbs. Not to say you might be lifting that much (but maybe you are!), but you'll be lifting much more to max loads compared to if you had a normal 29mm bar rated at much higher.

[@epvplatin]

You shouldve benched with it just to troll YT

[@BasementBrandon]

Never say never...

[@scarycloud]

They do have a deadlift bar. I had a buddy that used it in a competition last weekend and he hated it. He said it performed like a stiff bar. I'd be interested in seeing a review of their deadlift bar

[@BasementBrandon]

Interesting, wonder if it's the case where he's used to a TDB, which seems to give the most whip given the thicker collars.

[@scarycloud]

@@BasementBrandon the bar he trains on is an Rogue Ohio deadlift bar. I guess other competitors didn't like the strength shop bar either.

[@BasementBrandon]

TheScarycloud interesting take as usually the rogue deadlift bar is considered too stiff by most

[@phillipcarr879]

The Strength Shop Bastard Deadlift bar is more similar to an Ohio DL bar. The Texas DL may have more flex, but so does there squat and power bars when compared to competitors

[@antoniovalencia1831]

I've used the strength shop deadlift bar and found it had a pretty good amount of whip to it personally. I've not used a rogue deadlift bar so couldn't compare though.

[@danielkimball3037]

So if cost was not a factor, do you think the rogue squat bar is the best option available?

[@BasementBrandon]

It still depends. I think having a SS option is the best way to go, but you could get a thicker diameter bar (35mm) that may end up being stiffer. The downside is most feds in the US have a limit of 32mm.

[@almondtiger8144]

Are you wearing mark bell’s x knee sleeves? If yes .Did you make a review on them?

[@BasementBrandon]

These are Stoic Knee Sleeves.

[@rockman7503]

Knurl on the Strongarm is soooo purdy... but full length kurl and nickel plate is good too. Tough call. Still think I'd go SAS.

[@BasementBrandon]

agreed, the knurl on their squat bar and deadlift bar are awesome.

[@rockman7503]

@@BasementBrandon I really like the passive knurl on their buffalo too. My DL bar Knurl isn't as clean as yours thoughm. Still very grippy doh.

[@rudyrich9817]

Hi, would you review this one WEIGHTLIFTING WL28N BASTARD BAR? Thanks

[@BasementBrandon]

I've never heard of it, but if they sent me one I would :)

[@danielkimball3037]

What are you seeing most of these squat bars weigh? More than 45lbs/20kg I assume?

[@BasementBrandon]

55lbs. USPA doesn't allow for heavier bars IIRC

[@miamidolphinsfan]

By the way did you ever get to taste the Sweet Baby Ray's Cola flavored BBQ sauce ? I they discontinued it a while back

[@BasementBrandon]

Hah never made it up north man!

[@miamidolphinsfan]

@@BasementBrandon awwwww man that's too bad Brian !!! I bought some extras so I had it for about 7 or 8 months

[@johanjonsson6504]

What's it like deadlifting with it? Thicker bar should work your grip more while still being a "powerlifting" bar and not an axle. :)

[@BasementBrandon]

Haven't tried TBH

[@MJA89]

Dear Brandon, I know this is an older review, so I hope you read this! I live in Austria and setting up a home gym. I'm thinking of buying a bastard power bar, but i'm not sure which finish i should get. Therefore, i wanted to ask, if you are sure this is Electroless Nickel plating like on the Kabuki New Gen bar? It says on the strength shop page that they are using a "nickel-phosphorus" plating on both the squat bar and their power bar and at least according to Chat GPT those two finishes are not the same and the finish on the Kabuki should be of higher quality. Strength Shop now offers a stainless steel version of the power bar, so I'm not sure which one to get. Thanks for all the great content, Max ps: GET TO THE CHOPPER!

[@BasementBrandon]

So it's tough to say b/c things change over time (including Kabuki's own offerings). I will say when given the choice I tend to go for SS as a preferred finish. Was not available at the time of this video though, so can't compare.

[@MJA89]

​@@BasementBrandon Thanks, I really appreciate your response! Yeah, I'll probably go with stainless steel. By the way, the reason I'm ordering from strength shop is because after months of research, they apparently sell the best cast iron plates here in Europe. In Europe we have really limited options when it comes to iron plates. There are no machined plates to my knowledge. Rogue Europe only sells the barbell standard and the calibrated plates, but the strength shop riot cast iron plates have a weight tolerance of +/- 2 % and cost just as much as the barbell standard plates sold by rogue. They look better too imo. Oh and by the way, the bastard power bar now comes with bronze bushings. I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on the riot cast iron plates and the new bastard power bar, in case you get your hands on one!

[@BasementBrandon]

@@MJA89 Sounds like a pretty sweet set up is coming your way!

[@MJA89]

@@BasementBrandon Perhaps you remember my original question whether Strength Shop's nickel plating is the same coating as the electroless nickel plating on the Kabuki New Gen Power Bar. So if you're curious, I found out that yes, nickel phosphorus and electroless nickel (sometimes referred to as NiP Chrome) are all the same thing. So at least in theory they are both using the same technology. Electroless nickel, however, is not the same as hard chrome. So I was wondering whether you would prefer a power bar with a nickel or a hard chrome plating? I'm asking because now I'm thinking of getting a mid-range PB in either nickel or hard chrome plating for a start and then later getting an OPB in stainless steel. Because I'm thinking if I'm dropping money for a stainless steel bar, it might as well be the big daddy. 😎 (for reference: bastard power par N/P 330 €, ATX hard chrome power bar 400 €, bastard power bar SS 450 €, OPB SS 560 €).

[@BasementBrandon]

@@MJA89 appreciate the insight, in my experience i will always take nickel over chrome.

[@alejandroolivares-nunez7896]

Hey - I just purchased this bar as there wasnt any other bars left online. Due to the coronavirus out break everything everywhere is sold out here in the uk. Perfect time to make a start on my garage gym. Obviously its a squat bar but its still more than suffice for deadlifting and benching?

[@BasementBrandon]

It'll test your grip on deadlifting for sure, but I've used mine for bench when I'm lazy and don't feel like changing bars between exercises.

[@alejandroolivares-nunez7896]

Cool thanks for that. Look forward to my new bar!

[@Gomez4_]

Alejandro Olivares-Nunez I’m in exactly the same position as you, how are you finding its performance so far?

[@richwashington4738]

Alejandro Olivares-Nunez same question man, how is that bar holding up for bench? No power bars available at all in the US right now. I have a deadlift bar but I’m not using that whippy beast for squats and bench.

[@richwashington4738]

@@BasementBrandon Brandon, could I get by using Mike's Strong Arm Squat bar for benching until Rogue, Vulcan, or BoS re-stock their power bars? I compete USPA so it wouldn't be a total waste but I need a bar to bench with ASAP!

[@robbyybt]

The only issue is the bar still whips a lot, you can see it in the video they use of Tom stoltmans 300kg squat. At the top of the reps the bar is flexing a lot! Squat bars need to be 35mm not 32mm otherwise they always have whip issues.

[@HazedLiqz]

yeah 34-36mm is standard. Shouldn't have any whip will 950+ lbs

[@BasementBrandon]

In my experience almost all squat bars are 32mm. There are a few out there closer to 35, but they're not as common IMO.

[@robbyybt]

@@BasementBrandon True, but among top lifters all 32mm are seen as inferior. They took Kabuki's 32mm bar to the american open which was supposed to have superior hardness and the whip was so bad it was dangerous and almost injured the bigger lifters! I think Goliath are the only current company who do 35mm I believe (AOA and sportkraft are both out of business), but texas, strength shop, kabuki and rogue are all 32mm sadly.

[@BasementBrandon]

robbyybt mastodon from EliteFTS is also at 35!

[@homeofstrength]

That's actually a different bar in the video of Tom. The steel used to make this bar is completely different and much stiffer. We will upload a pdf to the product page with more information regarding the qualities of the steel. And remember, squat bars cannot exceed 32mm in diameter in USPA competitions. We are currently testing a 35mm bar that could be released in 2020 ;)

[@kevlovesnoodoh]

please review the squatty potty next

[@BasementBrandon]

Can't poop to depth.

[@zbgbszbgbs8914]

Nice video! What is the loadable sleeve length? Cheers!

[@BasementBrandon]

46cm!

[@zbgbszbgbs8914]

@@BasementBrandon Wowzers - Over 1.3" longer than the Rogue one! Bumpers for everyone! LOL - Thanks, man. Appreciate the response. Cheers

[@sammy1995]

Have you done any reviews on American Barbell power bars?

[@BasementBrandon]

I haven't, don't own any! Have heard good things about build quality, but also have heard most knurling is on the medium side (i prefer aggressive for power bars).

[@sammy1995]

@@BasementBrandon I purchased American Power bar for 295 in 2018. It's the one up from the entry level Grizzly bar which was 250. The power bar is 190k psi, stiff bar without whip, nice smooth sleeves that you can easily slide weights on. Knurling is smooth and not aggressive. The most weight I've put on it is 375 for squats and its solid. Of course now with covid their out of stock on All equipment and the price went up to 350.

[@bmstylee]

But how does it work doing forearm curls?

[@BasementBrandon]

IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF THE BAR, IT'S WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.

[@bmstylee]

@@BasementBrandon that's what she said.

[@2080bop]

Look at that hip drive

[@BasementBrandon]

lol

[@Lightman741]

What is a good bar to buy for benching from strength shop?

[@BasementBrandon]

The bastard power bar is a good all around bar.

[@NoahTeohZhengYi]

Is it just me or does Brandon look like a bald Ryan Reynolds?

[@BasementBrandon]

I look like the disfigured Ryan Reynolds from deadpool

[@Xplora213]

No dirty joke about negating the length? 😞

[@BasementBrandon]

Never :)

[@MagnumMuscle1000]

Lol. That fat old powerlifter warms up with your max.

[@BasementBrandon]

I would hope so, he weighs twice as much as me and has on twice the gear lol.

[@thunderstrikkk]

@@BasementBrandon you on gear?

[@BasementBrandon]

Bulgarian Squat School nah, you?

[@thunderstrikkk]

@@BasementBrandon I wish. I'm too scared.