Jake Herod

We receive free products and receive commissions through our links. See disclosures page. Sure, a barbell is a barbell. But also…is it? Yes, you can use any of the best barbells out there to do your basic powerlifting moves — that’s squatting, benching, and deadlifting, of course — but to really make the most out of your training, you’ll want a bar with some differences than the ones you’d find Olympic weightlifting or doing CrossFit.

We receive free products and receive commissions through our links. See disclosures page. Barbells, generally speaking, are not cheap. In fact, some premium barbells cost upward of $800. And we get it — barbells are absurdly important pieces of equipment. They’ve got to support a lot of weight, and they’ve got to do it reliably. That’s no small task. The thing is, you don’t need the very best barbells to enjoy effective workouts in your garage gym.

We receive free products and receive commissions through our links. See disclosures page. While the best rowing machines can be excellent additions to any home gym, the reality is that not everyone has enough space to house these pieces of equipment. The best compact rowing machines, on the other hand, can help you make the most of your tight quarters with space-saving dimensions that can still deliver low-impact, full-body workout experiences.