Colorado™ Short Bar

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.

This barbell was developed for lifters who are looking for a barbell that is suited for lifting in smaller spaces. The barbell retains all the well-loved characteristics of the 20kg Colorado™ bar, such as a the 28.5mm shaft diameter, volcano-style knurling, and composite bushings, but is about 15" shorter, making it perfect for lifting in tighter spaces.

Like the 20kg Colorado™ bar, this bar also has a 28.5mm shaft with medium-depth, volcano-style knurling. In addition, both bars have the same dual knurl marks and no center knurl. However, the Colorado™ short bar has shorter sleeves (8.9" vs. 16.1"), resulting in a shorter total overall length (72" vs. 86.6") and lower weight (15kg vs. 20kg). 

While this bar does weigh 15kg, it is slightly different than the 15kg Colorado™ bar. The 15kg Colorado™ bar has a 25mm shaft diameter, whereas the Colorado™ short bar has a 28.5mm shaft diameter. The loadable sleeve length is slightly shorter on the Colorado™ short bar (8.9" vs. 12.4").

Yes, the Colorado™ Short Bar is designed to be rackable on any standard 47” and 49” width racks.. The sleeve-to-sleeve distance (51.5") is identical to both the 15kg and 20kg Colorado™ bars.

The Colorado™ Short Bar is available in a black Cerakote-coated shaft with hard chrome sleeves.

Cerakote is a thin, protective, ceramic-polymer coating that increases the durability and corrosion resistance of the steel, while adding the ability to customize color.

The main difference between hard chrome and decorative chrome is the thickness of the chrome application and how that improves durability. Decorative chrome is the shiny surface you see on car wheels, musical instruments, tools, and hardware. It provides good rust resistance, but it is subject to wear and flaking. On the other hand, hard chrome is more frequently found in industrial applications where high wear resistance is needed. As such, it’s much less prone to flaking and other wear issues found with decorative chrome. The finish has a more matte sheen to it, similar to stainless steel in appearance. It’s the most durable finish we offer, beating even Cerakote. Check out our blog on barbell finishes for more information.

The composite bushings used in the Colorado™  short bar allow for highly consistent and smooth rotation, with added durability to withstand high barbell cycling, typically seen in cross-training/HIIT-style workouts. Compared with standard bronze bushings, composite bushings allow for a more consistent rotation and a dampening effect that helps reduce noise when the barbell is dropped. In addition, the specific type of material we use is often found in automotive applications and has a proven track record of high strength and wear resistance.

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.

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.

REP’s barbells are designed to work with any Olympic plates featuring 2” diameter center holes.

With 8.9" of loadable sleeve length, the Colorado™ short bar can accommodate three 45lb bumper plates per side with collars – with room to spare. If you want to use iron plates, the Colorado™ short bar fits six 45lb iron plates per side with collars – with room to spare.

The Colorado™ Short Bar is rated for 1,500lbs.

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.

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.

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.

Yes, it comes with a lifetime warranty*.