Rogue Russian bar vs Davidsdottir bar
This is a comparison of the Rogue Russian bar and the Davidsdottir bar including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview and review Rogue Bella bar Davidsdottir
This overview of the Davidsdottir 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 375$
What else to consider from Rogue
Overview of the Rogue bella bar Davidsdottir
The Rogue Bella Davidsdottir edition pays tribute to two times female Crossfit champion
Katrin Davidsdottir. It comes with her sledge dog logo and has the
Rogue logo imprinted. The effects are achieved by
Rogue's cerakote finish which they have adjusted from the gun industry.
The
bar base is derived from the
Bella bar, the "female" version of Rogues flagship
Ohio bar. It is made to IWF standards and comes in at 15kg. The diameter is 25mm and the loadable sleeve length comes to 13.00. The sleeves rotate via bushing and the
bar withstands 190K Tensile strength. The whip is good to accommodate its versatile use.
Pros of the Davidsdottir
A nice design which inspires you to think of
Katrin Davidsdottir's wins in the Crossfit games. It might be bought is a package with the
Thor power bar so that a couple can train in the home gym. It is an all-around
bar which is up to the task.
Cons of the Davidsdottir
The
Davidsdottir bar is currently only available with Cerakote sleeves. These are more likely to show wear and tear from the plates. If you use it at home and want to keep it crisp consider getting
bumper plates instead of
steel plates with this
bar. You can also wait until
Rogue offers it with chrome sleeves like the
chan bar. The design might not flow as nicely then.
Conclusion
If you need a 15kg barbell which looks good and has been built on the solid foundations of the Rogue Bella bar this is the one to go for. On top of that you also get to connect to champions mind whenever you lift. If you do not want to invest the few extra dollars for the Cerakote design there is still the bella bar is a more cost effective alternative.
Overview & Review of the Rogue Russian bar
This overview of the Rogue Russian 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: 769$
Overview of the Russian bar
The
Russian bar became popular in the 1960s and was used at the Olympic games in 1980. It weighs 20kg and uses a diameter of 28mm. It withstands 200.000 PSI and has a chrome finish with 16.25 of loadable sleeve length. The design is unique and optimized fur multiple reps. To achieve this
the bar has special sleeves combined with special collars. These enable you to do multiple repetitions on the Olympic lifts
without having to reset the bar.
Rogue took the old model of the
Russian bar and applied their modern knowledge and technology to bring
the bar into the 21st century.
The bar has a
centre knurl and Olympic knurl marks. It also comes with bearing for a better spin off the sleeves.
This high quality and special manufacturing make it the
highest priced Rogue bar to date. You ultimately get what you pay for and this is the top end.
Pros of the Russian bar
You get the best of the best with added functionality for weightlifters. The shaft is made of stainless steel while the sleeves are made of chrome. This is combined with extra functionality through the click and tighten mechanics.
If you have Olympic weightlifters who want to fully focus on multi-rep sets this is the bar to go for. This is the right bar for serious athletes who are subsidized by the state to win gold medals. Put this bar into an environment where this is big respect for the sport of weightlifting and the equipment used.
Cons of the Russian bar
The high price tag makes it not really a feasible option for a home gym or Crossfit box. If you have to buy many barbells, the price will get unacceptable compared to the
Ohio bar as you can get twice as many barbells for the same budget. If your gym is mainly powerlifting focused you might also
want to look into other barbells.
As the collars are specialized the
Russian bar might also not be the right choice for a commercial gym or military facilities where there are a lot of people. Collars tend to get lost in those environments and they are an essential piece of the functionality and price of
this barbell.
Conclusion
The Russian bar is a great addition to an already existing weightlifting gym which honors the past. You get some extra functionality which seasoned weightlifters will appreciate and respect. This piece of equipment would be wasted on beginners or people who do care little about the sport of weightlifting.