Colored barbells are becoming a popular item in modern gyms and training facilities. From home gyms and garage gyms to public and private training facilities, it’s not uncommon these days to see Olympic barbells that span far beyond the traditional all-silver color. Blue barbells, orange barbells, red barbells, and so on, they certainly stand out, thanks to being coated in a product known as Cerakote.

But is there any added functional benefit to these color-coated barbells or is it purely decorative? The answer just might surprise you.

This article will provide a rundown on what Cerakote is, its benefits and drawbacks when applied to barbells, and information on specific Cerakote barbells being sold by prominent fitness and strength-based companies who manufacture these new, stylish barbells.

A small request: If you find this article to be helpful, or you appreciate any of the content on my site, please consider sharing it on social media and with your friends to help spread the word—it’s truly appreciated!

Related article: How to Build The PERFECT Home Gym In A Small Garage (Budget Friendly)

What is a Cerakote barbell?

Cerakote is a type of thin-film ceramic coating that can be applied to various objects such as metals, plastics, polymers, and even wood.

As such, a Cerakote barbell (typically an Olympic barbell) is a barbell that has been covered in a ceramic finish. While barbells have traditionally been made from and covered using different decorative finishes such as chrome, zinc, or stainless steel, Cerakote is essentially the “new kid on the block” when it comes to barbell coatings.

This particular barbell coating can be applied to men’s barbells (20kg /45 lbs in weight) as well as women’s barbells (15 kg/30 lbs in weight).

While the Cerakote is always applied to the shaft of the barbell, many manufacturers also provide a Cerakote finish to the sleeves (ends) of the barbell as well. This is typically a black finish, though many companies also sell Cerakote barbells that leave the sleeves uncoated.

Fun fact: When doing some research on the history of Cerakote, I was quite surprised to hear that it has been around since 1984! I’ve likely never heard of it until the past couple of years since it has become a more mainstream finish for barbells.

For a brief rundown on different types of barbell finishes, check out this great video below by Fringe Sport!

Benefits: Why cover a barbell in Cerakote?

The benefits of Cerakote barbells can fall into two categories:

• Durability (corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance)
• Aesthetics

A brief rundown of each benefit is discussed below.

Benefit 1: Corrosion resistance

Since barbells are made from steel (different types or alloys can be used), they are ultimately prone to rusting when exposed to moisture. This moisture can be from sweat left on the bar or from training in humid or damp environments.

Protection against corrosion can come in extra handy for those of us who train in a garage gym, which can be prone to temperature and climate fluctuations, depending on whether the garage is climate-controlled.

Believe me, nothing is more frustrating than purchasing a new barbell and seeing rust quickly build up somewhere on the bar because it was exposed to a bit of moisture that didn’t get wiped off! (see the photo below for what I mean.)

Benefit 2: Barbell aesthetics

While aesthetics do not impact a barbell’s performance (and performance trumps aesthetics), let’s be real here: looking gym equipment is always enjoyable.

These aesthetics can help make equipment look more pleasing to the eye and even allow for colors that align with a company’s branding colours (that’s one of the reasons why I got a red Cerakote barbell).

Colors might not be functional, but they sure are fun!

Colored barbells: which colors are available

There’s really no limitation to colors (or patterns, for that matter) when covering a barbell in Cerakote. Different companies sell different varieties of colors (I’ve listed different companies at the end of this article).

While bright-colored barbells seem to be quite popular (bright red, pink, blue, etc.), there are also more tame colors available as well. Chances are, if there’s a barbell color that you want, it exists.

There are even barbells that have designs on them, such as the Rogue Freedom Bar (an American flag image) and the Rogue Operator Bar (a camouflage pattern).

Drawbacks: Considerations with Cerakote barbells

Sometimes, looks can come at a cost. While Cerakote barbells are just as strong as traditional zinc (or other similar alloy) barbells, some lifters find that buying or using Cerakote barbells isn’t worth it due to the the coating decreasing the effectiveness of the barbell’s knurling (the diamond pattern and texture), making it a more difficult bar to hold onto.

I came across a well-presented video by Basement Brandon, where he addresses this issue, though I’d keep in mind that it’s not an issue that will likely apply to every lifter:

This drawback will likely depend on the lifter’s needs and preferences (some lifters want a very aggressive knurling, while others don’t). Typically, the heavier an individual is lifting, the more aggressive they prefer the knurling to be, ensuring the bar stays locked in their hands.

If you prefer very aggressive knurling, you may want to physically get your hands on a Cerakote barbell to determine if the knurling will be an issue for your lifting needs.

Quick tips: What to be aware of with Cerakote barbells

While you train with a Cerakote barbell the same way you would with a traditionally finished barbell, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• It’s best to avoid metal-on-metal contact, as this can break down the Cerakote finish. Try to avoid resting the barbell on direct metal racks or surfaces (this also preserves the knurling as well).
• If the barbell sleeve is coated in Cerakote (typically a black finish), avoid placing it in a metal landmine attachment sleeve for any landmine work you’re performing, again to preserve the finish on the barbell’s sleeve.

Top Companies: Who sells Cerakote barbells?

Numerous reputable companies these days sell Cerakote barbells. There are certainly more than the ones I’ve listed below. However, the top five companies I’ve listed below are the leaders in the strength training & fitness industry and are ones I would personally put my name behind.

To be as helpful as possible, I’ve included the barbell specs that are listed on each company’s website.

Related article: Building Your Home Gym On A Budget (Get Stronger For A LOT Less)

Iron Bull Strength: Competition Bar

This is the Cerakote barbell that I use in my home gym. The folks at Iron Bull Strength know how to make quality gear for dedicated lifters who like to break personal bests but not their bank account, which is one of the reasons why I snagged this thing the moment I saw it.

Here’s the scoop on the specifics of their Cerakote Competition Bar:

Feature	Value
Diameter	28.5 mm
Weight	20 kg / 44 lbs
Material	200,000 PSI Tensile Strength Steel
Finish	Cerakote Coating
Length	2.2 m (86.6″)
Knurling	Dual Marks With No Center Knurling
Bearings	8 Needle Bearings
Sleeves	16.4″ Loadable Length

Rogue Fitness: The Ohio Bar

Rogue Fitness can easily be seen as a top fitness supplier for the strength and conditioning community in North America; these folks manufacture every piece of fitness equipment imaginable, and their quality is outstanding.

The folks at Rogue Fitness have the largest variety of Cerakote barbells on the internet to choose from. You’ll get what you pay for, though, with most Rogue gear, which means you are paying a premium to ensure this type of quality.

Here’s what you get with Rogue’s Cerakote Ohio Bar (their most popular barbell):

Feature	Value
Guarantee/Warranty	Lifetime Warranty*
Loadable Sleeve Length	16.40″
Bar Length	86.75″
Diameter	28.5 mm
F RatingTM	F8-R
Bar Type	Men’s bar
Bar Use	Multipurpose
Bushing/Bearing	Bushing
Bar Weight	20 kg
Knurl	Multi
Center Knurl	No
Knurl Mark	Dual
Shaft Coating	Cerakote
Sleeve Coating	Chrome or proprietary matte black
Tensile Strength	190,000 PSI

Bells of Steel: Cerakote Utility Barbell – Multipurpose Bar

Bells of Steel is an outstanding strength and fitness company that manufactures gym equipment for home gym enthusiasts and light commercial usage. Much of my gear in my garage gym comes from these folks, as their equipment quality-to-price ratio is outstanding.

Their Cerakote Utility Barbell comes in two colors:

• Blue
• Orange

Here’s the rundown on these barbells:

Feature	Value
Weight	44 lbs / 20 kg
Diameter	1″ / 28.5 mm
Total Length	86.6″ / 2,200 mm
Loadable Sleeve Length	16.1″ / 410 mm
Knurl	Medium
Knurling Marks	Weightlifting & Powerlifting
Center Knurl	Yes
Shaft Finish	Orange or Blue Cerakote
Sleeve Finish	Black Cerakote
Sleeve Assembly	Bushings & Snap Rings
Max Capacity	1,000 lbs / 454 kg
Tensile Strength	190,000 PSI

Texas Power Bar: The “Original” Texas Power Bar

The folks at Texas Power Bar are as serious as it gets when it comes to making the highest quality barbells possible. I’ll never forget the first time I got my hands on a Texas Power Bar — I instantly loved it. That knurling…wow.

With a wide variety of Cerakote barbells to choose from, ranging from all-purpose to powerlifting, CrossFit, and bodybuilding, their selection is only rivalled by Rogue. And since the folks at Texas Power Bar only manufacture barbells, many avid lifters claim their bars to be the best in the world.

Here are the specs for their “Original” Cerakote Texas Power Bar:

Feature	Value
Bar weight	20 kg / 44 lbs
Shaft Coating	Cerakote
Shaft Length	52″
Bar Length	86″
Sleeve Type	Chrome
Loadable Sleeve Length	15″
Shaft Diameter	28.5 mm
Knurling	Aggressive Knurling
Knurl Marks	Single Powerlifting Knurl Mark
Center Knurl	4″
Minimum Tensile Strength	190,000 PSI
Hand-Space Rings	32″
Center Space	17″

Kabuki Strength: The 250K power bar

The folks at Kabuki Strength are as hardcore (and smart) about the pursuit of building quality strength equipment as any other company in the world. Their equipment is unbelievably top notch, and many of the top lifters in the strength world prefer their equipment over any other.

If you opt for their Cerakote barbell (or any other of their barbells or equipment, for that matter), you’ll be receiving some of the highest-end equipment in the game.

Here’s what you get with their Cerakote 250K Power Bar:

Feature	Value
Bar Type	Competition Power Bar
Manufactured	Oregon, USA
Tensile Strength	250k PSI
Hardness	51 Rockwell
Weight	20 kg
Diameter	29 mm
Length	86.5″ Total Bar
Sleeve Length	16.375″ Loadable Area
Knurl	Proprietary, Aggressive Kabuknurl
IPF & IPL Spec	Yes
Knurl Marks	Powerlifting + Center
Hardware	Oil-impregnated Bushing
End Cap	Stamped Steel Squat Face + Bar Details

Other companies

If none of the above brands tickle your fancy for Cerakote barbells, there are still plenty of other other companies out there selling Cerakote barbells. I’ve included links to each of their websites below, where you can find further information or specs covering the details of their bars or other equipment.

Just keep in mind that I haven’t used any equipment from these brands (and am therefore much less familiar with their quality and craftsmanship), so I can’t necessarily put my personal recommendation behind any of them, though that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not a quality company.

Other companies selling various colored Ceracote bars include:

• Hero Barbell Co.
• Maxum Fitness
• Great Life Fitness
• PRx Performance

Final thoughts

Purchasing or using a Cerakote barbell isn’t necessary, but it sure can be nice. From the improved lifespan of the bar (less corrosion, rust, and abrasion) than traditional barbells, many companies and lifters advocate that there can be numerous benefits to Cerakote barbells.