Overview and review of the REP fitness Gladiator MX bar

This is an overview of the REP fitness Gladiator MX barbell including the pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally posted in which barbell to buy from REP Fitness. Follow the links for more information.

Rep Gladiator MX $299

The REP Gladiator MX barbell is REP fitness's premium barbell to tailor to the masses. This barbell decides to be a bit thicker in diameter than a regular weightlifting barbell while still having bearing sleeves. This makes it a good hybrid across powerlifting, weightlifting, and CrossFit. The full specifications are:

28.5mm diameter
Length: 87.4"
20 kg (45lb)
1500 lb static rating
5 needle bearings
Hard Chrome coating - most rust-resistant available
Ribbed sleeves to keep weights from sliding while training
No Center Knurl - Ideal for doing high rep clean workouts without tearing up your neck
MildDepth Knurl
Single Knurl Markings - Weightlifting - move faster on lifts
230k tensile, 200k yield
5-year warranty

This is a solid design to cover all you could possibly need in a home gym or professional gym. The only drawback is that this bar is not stainless steel. But there is an option if that is what you wish for from REP fitness.

Pros of the Rep Gladiator MX

The Pros of the GLadiator MX barbell are:

Clear "one size fits all" design
Reasonable price

This is a clear design for all purposes which is well thought out. If you are looking for a balanced barbell for your home gym without being cheap, look no further. This is the right choice for you from REP fitness.

Cons of the Rep Gladiator MX

The cons of the Gladiator MX barbell are:

Not 29mm
Not 28mm
No Aggressive knurling
Imported
No color options
No stainless steel

When you decide to make a design that is tailoring to all needs, you will not cover the specific needs of the subsets. A powerlifting bar would ideally be 29mm and have aggressive knurling. A weightlifting barbell would ideally be 28mm and also have a center knurl. These options are also out there, just not the approach of the MX

To get bearing at this price point from REP fitness you are giving up stainless steel as a material. You can upgrade to the Gladiator Stainless steel barbell if you want both for a higher price.

The biggest cons of the Gladiator MX are the limited color options and that the barbells are produced and shipped from China. That is, of course, only if you are strictly patriotic and want to keep your dollars in the USA.

Alternatives to the Rep Gladiator MX

Alternatives to the Gladiator MX bar are:

The REP Gladiator Stainless steel model has the same specifications as the Gladiator MX with one exception. You are upgrading the material of the barbell to stainless steel for higher longevity and fewer problems with rust for some extra cash.

The REP Gladiator WL is very similar in price to the Gladiator MX with a few exceptions. The diameter is 28mm which complies with weightlifting standards. You will also get a center knurl for more grip when performing front squats or clean and jerks. In return for the center knurl the sleeves are a mix of bushing and bearing to keep the cost of this barbell under $300. A solid choice for the home gym warrior who will mainly do Oly lifts.

The Rogue Chan bar is in my opinion the best all-around barbell you can get from Rogue. It works for oly lifts and powerlifting while also giving you a more interesting design which you currently can not get out of the REP fitness portfolio. If you want to feel badass and do everything, I think the Rogue Chan bar is absolutely worth a look before checking out at REP fitness.

The TITAN blues city weightlifting barbell is the approach of the low-cost provider TITAN to a weightlifting barbell. If you want to keep as many of your hard-earned dollars as possible while building a home gym, TITAN fitness is a good address. Just be prepared that minor quality issues a lot more likely to happen with TITAN than with REP fitness or Rogue.

Conclusion for the Rep Gladiator MX

The REP Gladiator MX barbell is a solid mixed barbell and therefore does what it says on the tin. If you want something nice for your home gym and you are doing everything this is a great barbell to get. Also good for buying in bulk for a commercial gym, unless you want to keep the cost down as low as possible. Then the sabre bar might be a better choice for you.