Rogue Pyrros bar vs Squat bar

This is a comparison of the Pyrros bar and the Squat bar including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview and review of the squat bar

The Rogue squat bar is a 32mm long sleeved version of Rogue bars to maximize what you can squat. Here are the pros and cons.

The Rogue squat bar is a special design that focuses on squatting at $445. The main differences to regular bars are

Bigger circumference 32mm
Longer shaft
Fully knurled
Longer sleeves

This makes it a bar that is aimed at big, heavy squatters. It could also be interesting for some deadlift experiments as the elephant bar from the Arnold has not gone into mass production yet. The specifications of the bar are:

Made in the USA
Weight: 25 KG
Diameter: 32mm
Stainless Steel Shaft - 200,000 PSI
Aggressive Knurl Pattern along full length of shaft + powerlifting and center knurl marks
Bar Length: 94.488
Distance Between Sleeves: 56"
Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.795"
Chrome Sleeves
Bronze Bushings

Pros of the squat bar

The pros of the squat bar compared to other bars are in the name. The design features are inbuilt to maximize big squats.

Longer sleeves
Longer shaft
Full knurling
32mm

Longer sleeves will enable you to put more weight on the bar with rubber or steel plates. If you see Ray Williams squatting you can get an idea of why he might run out of space on the sleeves.

32mm stainless steel will keep the whip at bay. While you want whip in an Olympic barbell to make use of momentum to get the bar overhead, it is not a desirable feature in a squat bar. You want to minimize 1000 pounds taking a life on their own on your back.

The full knurling will provide more grip to your back. There are other bars out there with center knurls which does almost the same thing for you.

The longer shaft will make it less like for you to bump into the rack when oh are walking out very heavy weights. Depending on your setup this can be annoying. I injured myself twice because of twisting my upper body when walking out of a setup and touching off the j cups.

Cons of the squat bar

The cons of the squat bar are

No IPF / IWF approval
Space requirements
Limited use
Price

If you are considering the squat bar because you want to break records, keep in mind that it is not approved for the IPF or IWF. You will still earn respect for posting the first 500kg raw squat, which this bar is basically built for, but it won’t count in these federations.

If you are setting up your home gym in a very crammed place, keep in mind that this bar will protrude even further to the sides. If you have already cut it very thing with the distance of your bar to the wall or another rack, the squat bar might just push it over the edge.

The squat bar is mainly limited to squats. As it has bushing and knurling all across the bar it might not be the best option for Olympic lifts, the bench press, and deadlifts.

For the price you are looking at you can get more versatile barbells for your home gym with a cooler design. If you are setting up your home gym the squat bar might not be the go-to option.

Alternatives to the squat bar

Alternatives to the squat bar are

The Rogue Chan bar is a good alternative for mere mortals who don’t squat 400kg. It is cheaper than the squat bar, has a poppier design and can also be used for Oly lifts. If I was to spend $400 on a starter barbell for my home gym it would be this one.

The duffalo bar is an interesting bar for people who squat 800 pounds plus on a regular basis. This bar has been invented at Kabuki strength which is headed by Chris Duffin. The design is aimed at relieving stress on the shoulder while bench pressing and squatting. This is a very interesting second bar to buy instead of the squat bar, even though it costs $200 more.

Summary for the squat bar

The squat bar is a great bar for someone who actually needs it. This would be people who squat more than 300kg on a regular basis. There are not that many of them around. I personally think for a second barbell in your home gym you are better off going with safety or duffalo bar.

Overview and review of the Rogue Pyrros bar

This overview of the Rogue Pyrros bar was originally published in my comprehensive guide on which Rogue barbell to buy. If you are currently considering to buy a Rogue barbell it is worth a read to get input on the latest models. I update the guide on a yearly basis depending on Rogue's new releases.

Price: 595$

Overview of the Pyrros bar

The rogue Pyrros bar was designed by Rogue in cooperation with Pyrros Dymas. Pyrros Dymas is one of the greatest legends in weightlifting. He won three gold medals in 1992, 1996 and at the 2000 Olympic games. He now works in the US as a trainer.

The Pyrros bar weighs 20kg, resists 200K Tensile strength and comes with a Diameter of 28mm. The sleeves spin via bearing which makes it a barbell which is ideal for weightlifting. Due to Pyrros specifications, the lubricant and knurling have been further optimised for weightlifters.

The shaft is made of stainless steel while the sleeves are made of Chrome. The loadable sleeve length is 16.30. There is no 15kg version of the Pyrros bar. Rogue might want to consider a Christine Girard version for gender balance and to appeal to their Canadian clients.

Pros of the Pyrros bar

The Pyrros bar is made of the best material available and built to the highest specifications. If your weightlifting team wants to connect with one of the greatest of all time this is the bar to go for. You will get the perfect spin, grip and material deserving of a champion. Do not underestimate the psychological effect this can have for your athletes especially in the last few weeks before the competition. Connecting with the greatest helps visualisation and might give the deciding edge in competition.

This bar is the crown jewel addition to any gym that is focused on weightlifting. Get it to make your athletes or members feel special when you have competitions or test their one repetition maximum.

Cons of the Pyrros bar

The most obvious reason against it is the price tag. At 595$ it is almost twice as expensive as the Ohio bar. If you have to equip a military facility, university gym or commercial gym it is not really an option unless you are flush with cash. For powerlifting gyms, it also might not be the best choice as it has been optimised for overhead lifts, not for deadlifts and bench presses. If you want a bar for your powerlifting gym which has great whip you might be better off going for the Ohio deadlift bar.

Conclusion

The Rogue Pyrros bar is a fine tuned tool for champions by a champion. Have one in your weightlifting gym to invoke inspirational goals in your athletes. Have little games to earn the right to train with it. Treat it with respect and be happy that the Olympic spirit is still alive and well.

Learn more about the specs of the Pyrros barbell and purchase on the Rogue website