Vulcan Absolute or Elite Power Bar - Comparison

In today's video we take a look at 2 of the power bar offerings from Vulcan. Both could be great, but which one is better?
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[@FitLabb]

Love the level of detail you go into in these comparisons, as it’s educational & very helpful in making an informed decision. The differences between how a bar is made can actually really matter a great deal, so I appreciate the points you made. 💪

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks brother

[@robertloudon4035]

Thanks, this was helpful in understanding the differences as I was deliberating. Changed my mind.

[@BasementBrandon]

Glad to hear it was helpful!

[@GlucksGym]

I love when Brandon talks about his shaft.

[@bmstylee]

Especially after it's been worked on recently.

[@BasementBrandon]

This shaft could be yours, for the right price....

[@GlucksGym]

@@BasementBrandon oh baby

[@Timm129]

A company that voids warranty for removing the ends needs to rethink that decision. That's like telling me I can't open the hood on my new car.

[@BasementBrandon]

True that

[@jimbarnes9222]

Thanks so much for providing a zoomed in view of the knurl. I believe this should be standard practice in barbell reviews.

[@BasementBrandon]

Glad it was helpful!

[@henrymmaung]

love this brutal honest review.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks for taking a look!

[@joecowan3719]

I had a feeling your short layoff from lifting was going to cost us some 💰! Nice review, and I do have some slots lift on my bar rack...I love how I talk myself into these purchases!

[@BasementBrandon]

Haha I'm just trying to work through my backlog of reviews so I can clear out space for other stuff :)

[@extrasmack]

Por El algorithm! Viva Brandon! Great review, Bud 👍

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks dude!

[@wsmoran]

Might have changed since I last looked, but previously the absolute stainless was actually a different bar than the absolute black oxide. Only shared a name, with the stainless being more aggressive, including aggressive center knurl.

[@BasementBrandon]

Good to know!

[@brandonhoover2120]

Gonna comment for Transformer bar and for the algorithm until it happens. Also somewhat excited for an update on the worlds most expensive weight tree. Keep up with the uploads fellow Brandon.

[@BasementBrandon]

Lol soon. I can't lift right now and I don't think I have any transformer bar clips saved but I guess I could pull from my IG content I've posted.

[@sirbrdfrd]

I've been using the Absolute as my daily bar for over a year now. I can't really compare it to other bars, but I really like it. I think the knurling is better than Rogue OPB, but the one I had was ecoat which dulls the feel considerably, so it may just have been that finish. The black oxide on the Absolute feels "dry" and grippy. Agreed on the ribbed sleeves - really it just catches dirt and grime so I wish they were just smooth. The USA labeling is odd, but they do the same on their Alpha bumper plates which are also imported.

[@BasementBrandon]

appreciate the long term feedback!

[@gaberoo9099]

Good to see this review. Thanks for it. Unfortunately I bought my absolute power bar many years ago (It had just come out; I'm not sure that the Elite Power Bar was available at the time), on sale for 299$ and I did so knowing I'd be using for squatting and military pressing. Center passive knurl is great as it does not bite into my lower neck area. Very happy with it even if the sleeves are bare steel.

[@BasementBrandon]

Still a great bar!

[@gaberoo9099]

@@BasementBrandon Yes, very happy with it. What do you use to keep your bare steel bars clean and rust-free? Not a big problem yet (inside an air-conditioned room), but I am starting to see patina on my bare steel bars. Thanks!

[@BasementBrandon]

@@gaberoo9099 Pretty simple on my end with 3 in 1 oil and a stiff nylon bristle brush. I use the Barbell Rescue brush now, it's a bit pricey, but expedites cleaning.

[@gaberoo9099]

@@BasementBrandon Excellent. Thank you. Simple is what I'm after.

[@davidklimas1408]

No comment on the bars but I was wondering what safety straps those are and what looks like a very simple shackle adjustment.

[@BasementBrandon]

Just the rogue ones with an updated pin I got off McMaster Carr

[@davidklimas1408]

@@BasementBrandon thanks!

[@danmartin2980]

How would you compare the Elite Power Bar to the Strength Co Corps bar?

[@BasementBrandon]

Very similar, wouldn't be surprised if it were the same manufacturer...

[@danmartin2980]

@@BasementBrandon that was kinda my suspicion too. Pretty sure the Primal Armor Denali Bar is also the same. Made in MN. Thanks for the reply

[@briand5047]

In response to the roundtable you did recently, a video of your Abmat products might be useful.

[@BasementBrandon]

I've been meaning to!

[@javiersgym]

Yeah, interesting design choices on the absolute bar. Never really considered anything Vulcan besides there bumpers. I’ll have to check out there bars. Appreciate the knowledge bomb as always. 👍🏽

[@BasementBrandon]

I think they have potential. They offer a mix of made in USA and import. However what's really holding them back IMO is their customer service and website.

[@javiersgym]

@@BasementBrandon oh yeah, customer service is a big one for me personally. One of the biggest selling points of why I went with my RM-6.

[@MacStrengthCo]

Another great review. "Removal of cap voids warranty" is interesting. Should you not be able to service those sleeves if you wanted to? This came up in my custom end cap video recently. What's your take on this rule from Vulcan?

[@BasementBrandon]

I think it's ass TBH, I don't think legally it would hold up, but the question is, would anyone challenge it to that point?

[@garyjouvelakas2475]

Vulcan makes some really nice equipment, but not sure what your customer support experience has been with them. Mine have been a mixed bag. Btw, can you apply to get a discount code from them so I can go and order their deadlift platform and curl bar from with your code? I know I know you have just an affiliate link. 😂

[@BasementBrandon]

Prob the same as their marketing team. Their communication is so spotty and I can't tell you the last time we talked.

[@Doggomorph]

Hi broooo, for someone who only uses elekio, will it be easy to adapt to a Vulcan bar?

[@BasementBrandon]

One of their Powerlifting bars?

[@Doggomorph]

@@BasementBrandon yes bro hopefully it is am still trying to find out if it is a powerlifting bar Jsut wondering how different would it be from an elekio

[@BasementBrandon]

@@Doggomorph I think the biggest difference is the thicker collars would make it easier in a wider rack (like rogue).

[@Doggomorph]

@@BasementBrandon ahhhh appreciate it bro

[@Chrontard]

which bars are better? vulcan or american barbell ?

[@BasementBrandon]

I do not own any AB bars but have heard some really good things about them.

[@reginaldchesterfield8110]

Lol on the whole USA sleeve choices hahah

[@BasementBrandon]

Not in marketing, but I know you shouldn't do that.

[@meisdetermined]

Ok so now I have to throw out a question while boosting that algorithm: when it comes to knurl, how do you compare the vulcan elite bar to the Luxiaojun mastery power bar? Which feels better in your hands? Which is sharper? Always enjoy the content sir. Hope you and your family have a great weekend. :)

[@BasementBrandon]

So with just feel, they feel pretty similar to me right now. I'd have to pixel peep to see the differences. I think one of the reasons the LXJ bar felt sharp to me was b/c the cuts were all over the place, so it was almost jagged. The Vulcan bar has clean cuts all around but still has great feel.

[@AApril261992]

sounds like a bells of steel naked power bar with the ribbed sleeve

[@BasementBrandon]

Def looks similar to it! The bells bar even has the laser etching on the back. Main difference is this ones collars are much thicker.

[@_dybaIa]

Brandon Campbell, love your name.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks!

[@bmstylee]

Any chance you get some of their comp iron plates for examination? It would be interesting to see build quality and whatnot. Also who's roller cups are those? Ghost?

[@BasementBrandon]

I don't but can't imagine they're much different (outside of look) than everything else out there.

[@kozmo7]

Really glad you made this one, I feel like Vulcan isn’t represented as much as they deserve Thank you

[@BasementBrandon]

I feel like they have some good offerings, but they don't have a great social media presence and their site is outdated.

[@kozmo7]

@@BasementBrandon Yeah I agree. They need to catch up with the times. I don’t like their warranty policy on us trying to clean our own bars. It’s a cool brand but they need to update their stuff. Not their look or anything just how they interface with its customers on their website, their warranty policies and their social media presence.

[@evancook6155]

If it is phosphate on the first bar that’s a terrible choice for as a corrosion inhibitor. Manganese Phosphate itself doesn’t actually protect the underlying metal with any reliability, it creates a pocked surface that allows for the oil treatment to adhere to. I worked for a decade as an engineer in oil and gas and we used it a ton, but always understood that it was never meant to be a long term protection due to the need for the oil treatment.

[@BasementBrandon]

Oh for sure, phosphate is doo doo for that!

[@TheValuablepainter]

That’s Nice!

[@BasementBrandon]

appreciate it!

[@TheValuablepainter]

Brandon , can you make more workout videos

[@BasementBrandon]

@@TheValuablepainter Will be doing one per week!

[@martystrasinger3801]

Great review! I think it’s important to (as you do) talk about the bar feel, and how certain qualities may appeal to one person but not another, and not just do a dry recitation of the specs.

[@BasementBrandon]

Hah yeah it's just super tough b/c everyone wants to know what I think is the best bar (or top 3). I could give a list of what I like, but I know not everyone has the same preferences.

[@aghoover]

The internet needs to stop worrying about what is the best. I’m not the best, you aren’t the best, we don’t need the best. What we need is a minimum standard or better. Having said that, I watch all of Brandon’s videos of equipment I’ll never buy.

[@BasementBrandon]

Lol appreciate it. I figure if someone is looking up reviews on KZbin they appreciate the context.

[@reginaldchesterfield8110]

Knurl shots!!!!!

[@BasementBrandon]

oh baby

[@aaronzhang7168]

When I got a bar from Vulcan, the colour just came off to my hand. All my hand were black after training. I will never buy anything from Vulcan again.

[@BasementBrandon]

Which bar?

[@aaronzhang7168]

@@BasementBrandon the Vulcan curl bar. I wanted to get a budget choice on curl bar so I went to the Vulcan recently. My hands were all black even just after the opening the box and holding the bar. I wiped the bar multiple times but it still blacked my hands. It seems the black oxide coating has some issues. Now that bar is sitting at the corner and I don't want to even touch it.

[@michaels1828]

Do you write out a script and read it from a teleprompter? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you trip over words or have unusual pauses. Or your team of editors does an amazing job of splicing all the takes together seamlessly. I can’t do a board presentation at work without some sort of disruption in my flow.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks! I'm pretty good at BSing around when it comes to equipment. Usually aim to do these in a continuous take b/c a bunch of jump cuts get annoying. But I def trip over some words here or there lol.

[@GavinBrown]

2 bars a day now you have a week off from lifting?

[@stephennolan219]

gonna get so many reviews this week with those bawls on the mend

[@BasementBrandon]

Trying to work through some of the things on my to do list

[@GavinBrown]

@@BasementBrandon We really appreciate it. Plus we're all jealous of your basement. Spare bedrooms are great and all, but...

[@learnallican3627]

At what point do you think you'll stop looking for new bars? I ask because I go to a pretty nice gym and the bars are are pretty okay. I don't know high quality bars. What do you look for in high quality bar? What is a perfect barbell for you?

[@BasementBrandon]

So I think my scenario is unique. Some of these bars I get sent, others I buy. Mostly take them on in either case for the sake of review/comparisons. A lot of this also depends on preference, for me, an ideal power bar would be: 29mm, around 200kpsi, aggressive knurling (slight volcano), larger center knurl length, 1-1.5" collars, ribbed sleeves.

[@TheFarrOutpost]

Elite all the way 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@BasementBrandon]

facts.

[@charlesmcguffy]

Those mattress tags are an instruction to the retailer, not the customer, as they demonstrate fire retardation of the material.

[@BasementBrandon]

right on

[@vicenteochoa6498]

Wait… wouldn’t it be *more* shallow? 4:36

[@BasementBrandon]

I think shallow was probably not the best word choice lol.

[@JC-ms8kr]

Alright watching this video at a decent volume made me check the baby monitor twice. Dad probs

[@BasementBrandon]

Hah no time is a good time to film videos.

[@ClarksvilleBarbellClub]

Another great review, B! Keep spreading the gospel. 🙏

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks Brad!

[@pleton80]

if removing the endcap voids the warranty i wouldn't buy either one of them

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah kind of off putting.

[@R32R38]

@@BasementBrandon Imagine if cars were like that

[@pleton80]

@@BasementBrandon well when you see what a few of the reviewers had to do with the first shipment of the midas i think it was called bar you have to be able to take the ends off to fix some issues

[@bawlsmcthaniel5549]

weird was just looking at these

[@BasementBrandon]

I know, I was looking at your browsing history.

[@markandersen154]

Finally. They are the best powerlifting bars for the price.

[@bmstylee]

It's hard to beat Rogue's Boneyard. You can snag some pretty good deals there. It's a daily check for me to see what's in stock there.

[@BasementBrandon]

I do think they're quite nice, but that's a pretty big claim!

[@eh5522]

1st

[@eh5522]

Seriously need a rust resistant power bar recommendation

[@meisdetermined]

Congratulations you won! :)

[@BasementBrandon]

My man