The 5 Best Gifts for Powerlifters - 2024

Competitive powerlifters tend to be incredibly particular creatures, but then that makes sense for a sport with a lot of regulations. Luckily, that makes shopping for a powerlifter pretty straightforward. Basically, if it contributes to one of three lifts (squat, bench, or deadlift), there’s a good probability it’s a great gift.  

Looking for somewhere to start? World-record-holding powerlifter Bama Burr recommends how to put together an at-home powerlifting gym in “What You Need to Build a Powerlifting Home Gym.”  You can do a lot with a power rack, bench, barbell, and some weight plates.  

Here are some gift ideas for that Sour-Patch-Kid-eating, singlet-wearing gym rat in your life:  

1. A Power Bar

2. A Specialty Bar (or Two)

Isn't a power bar enough? No. Absolutely not. What kind of ridiculous question is that?

But for reals, there are specialty bars for a reason. A deadlift bar is useful because (this warrants a list): 

• It has very aggressive, deep, mountain-style knurling to provide max grip support for heavy deadlifts. 
• It has not center knurling. You don't need that for deaddies.
• It has a thinner diameter shaft and longer total length, which allows for more flex under heavy loads. This flex lets you pull from a slightly higher position as the weight leaves the ground --> heavier lifts --> happier powerlifter. 
• The Hades Deadlift Bar has a longer loadable sleeve length than most deadlift bars, so there's more space for more plates on the bar. 
• It's black. Sick.

Not convinced? Read on here: What is a Deadlift Bar and Do I Need One?

Then there's a squat bar.

It gets a list of pros, too:

• This bar is longer than a reg bar so the plates don't hit the uprights when you're racking the bar. 
• It's thicker to add rigidity and minimize whip/flex = more stable squat. (Opposite of a deadlift bar, where you like that flex.)
• It's heavier than a power bar. That's due to the bigger size. But if you compete in an association that uses a squat bar, you definitely want to train on one. It's a whole different beast. 
• It has a fully knurled shaft for maximum points of contact/grip to create a secure connection to the bar. You don't want a squat bar rolling down your back.
• It's murdered out in black, too. <Drooling>

Need more drool? Read on: What is a Squat Bar and Why Does This Thing Exist?

3. Change Plates

4. USA-Made Equalizer™ plates

Mmm, the clank of iron. Yes, bumpers are gentle on your floors, but you can fit more irons on the bar, and powerlifting meets use iron plates. Equalizer™ iron olympic plates are the most accurate iron plates, guaranteed to be within a 2% tolerance. Plus, the hexagon cutouts make these plates versatile for other exercises and easy to load and unload.  

5. A Deadlift Jack

Don't make your powerlifting buddy waste energy and strength on loading and unloading the deadlift bar. The REP® x Kleva Built® Genesis Jack® 2.0 is super compact and light enough to throw in your gym bag (2lbs). Slip it under the barbell, crank it toward you to lift the barbell, and effortlessly add weights.

Want more ideas? 

Looking for more gifts for weightlifters (not the Olympic kind; the lifting-of-weights kind)? Shop the whole powerlifting collection here.