

OVERVIEW
Raising the bar. These barbells were over 10 years in the making – the fusion of customer insights, rigorous testing, thousands of reps by different types of athletes, and our decades of experience in both lifting and designing quality, innovative gym equipment. That’s how we know these will be the best barbells you’ll ever put your hands on.
REP’s lightweight Mesa Technique Bar is ideal to help you learn the proper techniques of Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. As a training bar that’s built for beginners, the Mesa weighs just 15lbs. It features light, hill-style knurling to provide enough grip support for lighter loads, but it won’t tear up your hands when you do high-rep training. Dual knurl markings (International Weightlifting Federation and International Powerlifting Federation) help you determine even hand placement on the barbell, no matter the lifts you’re practicing.
The lack of center knurling also allows for comfort during high-volume training. This bar is 72” long in total, so it still fits on standard-width squat and power racks. The Mesa Technique Bar has a brass bushing sleeve design; this produces plenty of rotation, but it spins slower, making it great for perfecting your technique. Although it’s a beginner bar, the Mesa remains high quality, with a bare aluminum shaft and steel sleeves coated with Duracoat, which provides a high level of corrosion and wear resistance. This bar is compatible with regular plates with 2” diameter holes, and the sleeves are ribbed to help keep plates stable and secure during explosive lifts. The Mesa has a standard, 28mm diameter, but a 50lbs external load max. It’s intended only for technique training using light loads. Pair this bar with REP’s special Technique Plates (available in both kg and lbs) to be well on your way to mastering your lifts.
PRODUCT DIMENSIONS

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Bar UseTechnique Training
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Weight15lbs (6.8kg)
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Length72"
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Loadable Sleeve Length9.4"
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Shaft Diameter28mm
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Sleeve Diameter50mm
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Bushing/BearingBrass Bushings
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Sleeve StyleRibbed
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Knurl StyleHill/Light
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Center KnurlNo
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Knurl MarkingsDual (IPF & IWF)
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MaterialAluminum Shaft w/ Steel Sleeves
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Shaft CoatingNone
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Sleeve CoatingDuracoat
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Max External Load50lbs
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Tensile Strength37.5ksi
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Tolerance1%
PRODUCT FEATURES
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LIGHTWEIGHT
At only 15lbs, this bar is perfect for beginners to learn proper technique for Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. -
BUSHING SLEEVES
The bar’s brass bushing sleeves produce plenty of rotation, but they spin slower, making the Mesa great for training technique. -
HILL-STYLE KNURLING
Light knurling provides enough grip for the lighter loads without tearing up your hands from high rep technique training. -
DURACOAT SLEEVES
Duracoat sleeves provide a high level of corrosion and wear resistance. -
DUAL KNURL MARKINGS
Dual knurl markings (IWF and IPF) help you determine even hand placement on the barbell. -
RIBBED SLEEVES
Ribbed sleeves help keep plates stable and secure during explosive lifts.
MEDIA GALLERY
VIDEOS
- Mesa Technique Bar Overview
Mesa Technique Bar Overview
Technique matters. And the Mesa Technique Bar is all about it. It can be hard (and dangerous) to learn how to lift on a full-sized bar. That's why this brand-new bar weighs only 15lbs – specifically to help beginners perfect their weightlifting and powerlifting form. The Mesa was crafted with newbies in mind, with light knurling for grip support without busting up your hands; dual knurl markings to help you remember where to place your hands; and bushing-style sleeves for slower, controlled rotation. But while it’s lighter weight, the Mesa is still a standard length and works with regular-sized weight plates. It’s the real deal – only lighter.
STORIES
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Barbell Comparison Guide: How to Pick the Best Barbell
A barbell is a barbell, right? Not exactly.
read full story -
Choosing the Right Barbell: A Guide for Different Types of Lifts
What's the difference between a powerlifting, weightlifting, mixed-use, and specialty bar?
read full story -
What are the Different Barbell Finishes?
Finish strong! Here’s a closer look at the different barbell finishes, in order from the most basic to the highest end.
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More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Barbell Knurling
You’ve noticed different barbells feel different in your hands. So, what’s the deal?
read full story -
11 Rules of Barbell Etiquette
Treat your barbell right, and she'll love you back. You don't want to learn these rules the hard way.
read full story
FAQS
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How does this bar differ from bars you’ve sold in the past?
Our new line of barbells is our first, in-house, engineered lineup. Every part of these bars was designed by our Colorado-based engineering team to meet our specifications and to perform better than any bar we’ve ever carried.
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How does this bar compare to others on the market?
The Mesa Technique Bar is a high-quality bar to help you learn the proper techniques of both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, so it features dual knurling marks (IPF and IWF). It features the same width and length as a standard bar, so it fits on a normal power rack, and it works with regular weight plates. Load it with up to 50lbs to practice your technique. Light knurling supports your grip, without being too aggressive for high-volume training. And super tough Duracoat-coated sleeves provide a high level of corrosion and wear resistance – at a level you won’t typically find on a beginner bar.
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Can I use the Mesa Technique Bar for my regular lifting, too?
This is a technique training barbell, not meant for heavy loads. If you're able to lift more than 65lbs (the weight of the bar plus a 50lbs load), it's ideal for the life of your Mesa Technique Bar to move to a heavier barbell.
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Will this bar fit on my rack?
Yes, the Mesa Technique Bar will fit on 47” and 49” width racks.
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What coatings are offered for this bar?
The Mesa Technique Bar is available in an aluminum shaft with Duracoat sleeves.
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What is the difference between bushing and bearing sleeves?
Both bushing and bearing sleeves produce sufficient sleeve rotation, but ball or needle bearings allow for a faster, smoother, quieter spin and have a more reliable turnover for maximum loads, which is a better fit for Olympic-style lifts. By comparison, a bushing sleeve is more efficient for powerlifting movements, which are slower and more strength focused.
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What does “knurl style” mean?
The knurling on a barbell is the crosshatch pattern on the shaft that increases the grip of your hands on the bar. There are three types of knurl styles that we utilize throughout our barbells: hill, volcano, and mountain. Hill-style knurling is the most passive and won’t dig into your hands for lifts. It is a good option for training bars, but if you’re looking to max out, we recommend a bar with another style. Mountain is the most aggressive knurl style. You’ll see this style with most of our powerlifting barbells to provide the best grip for your one-rep maxes. The most common knurl style you’ll see on a lot of our weightlifting and mixed-use bars is volcano. Volcano knurling has a good amount of grip without tearing up your hands. Learn more about knurling here.
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What is the purpose of knurl markings on a barbell?
There are two major standards for where to put knurl markings on a barbell: the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The knurl markings allow athletes to set up properly for the lift and provide a visual for even hand placement on the barbell.
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Are your barbells compatible with other branded plates?
REP’s barbells are designed to work with any standard plates featuring 2” diameter center holes.
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Which barbell is best suited for me?
This depends on the type of training you do and your goals. If you are not sure how to decide on a barbell, reach out to our team of passionate lifters here and we will help match you and your training style with a barbell. You can also check out this blog that compares REP’s various straight barbells.
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How do I clean the protective oil on the barbell shaft?
When your barbell arrives, there will be a light coating of oil on the shaft and sleeves. This is to protect the barbell from the elements during shipping. After a few uses, this light coating of oil will begin to dissipate. However, if desired, the best way to clean the barbell when it first arrives is to use a durable rag and a disinfecting wipe/cleaner that is free of harsh chemicals (such as bleach, ammonia, alcohol, or peroxide). For even more grip, we recommend using chalk.
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How do I take care of my barbell?
This bar is designed to last many years without anything more than 3-in-1 oil added for lubrication. Remove dirt or chalk from the knurling with a brush and oil on a microfiber cloth. If you have any issues beyond that, please reach out to our Colorado-based customer support team here.
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Does the Mesa Technique Bar have a warranty?
Yes, it comes with a 1-year warranty.