Colorado™ Bar - 15kg

Our new line of barbells is our first, in-house, engineered lineup. Every part of these bars was designed by our Colorado-based engineering team to meet our specifications and to perform better than any bar we’ve ever carried.

This bar is for lifters who appreciate the fine details on a bar they intend to use for many years. We’ve tightened up tolerances to minimize sleeve slop, which not only results in a smooth sleeve rotation, but also a quiet bar. The knurl starting termination points are precise. The coatings are applied with care. The internal construction is completely engineered by REP and designed for serviceability. This isn’t just another barbell; we designed this to be the best mixed-use barbell possible – one that you will use and love for years to come. Read more here.

The 15kg Colorado™ bar is available in a hard chrome-coated shaft and sleeves, or with a Cerakote-coated shaft in black or pink. The Cerakote-coated barbells feature Duracoat® sleeves.

Cerakote is a thin, protective, ceramic-polymer coating that increases the durability and corrosion resistance of the steel, while adding the ability to customize color.

The main difference between hard chrome and decorative chrome is the thickness of the chrome application and how that improves durability. Decorative chrome is the shiny surface you see on car wheels, musical instruments, tools, and hardware. It provides good rust resistance, but it is subject to wear and flaking. On the other hand, hard chrome is more frequently found in industrial applications where high wear resistance is needed. As such, it’s much less prone to flaking and other wear issues found with decorative chrome. The finish has a more matte sheen to it, similar to stainless steel in appearance. It’s the most durable finish we offer, beating even Cerakote. Check out our blog on barbell finishes for more information.

Unlike many other finishes that are applied to the outer surface of the steel, Duracoat® is a transformative process. Instead of applying a thin coating on top of the steel, the steel is treated through a multi-stage, chemical process that improves both the steel’s wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The process actually hardens the outside of the steel, making it extra tough. It leaves a nice, smooth, matte black finish after it’s polished. Duracoat® is more corrosion resistant than other finishes, and it won’t wear as easily, since it’s not an actual coating that can chip off.

If it looks like your Duracoat® sleeves are scratching up, wipe them down and they’ll look new again. The Duracoat® is so tough it can actually pull material off the inside of the plates – but those sleeves aren’t going to be scratching or chipping. That’s why REP uses Duracoat® on the sleeves for all Cerakote-shaft bars.

The composite bushings used in the Colorado™ bar allow for highly consistent and smooth rotation, with added durability to withstand high barbell cycling, typically seen in cross-training/HIIT-style workouts. Compared with standard bronze bushings, composite bushings allow for a more consistent rotation and a dampening effect that helps reduce noise when the barbell is dropped. In addition, the specific type of material we use is often found in automotive applications and has a proven track record of high strength and wear resistance.

The knurling on a barbell is the crosshatch pattern on the shaft that increases the grip of your hands on the bar. There are three types of knurl styles that we utilize throughout our barbells: hill, volcano, and mountain. Hill-style knurling is the most passive and won’t dig into your hands for lifts. It is a good option for training bars, but if you’re looking to max out, we recommend a bar with another style. Mountain is the most aggressive knurl style. You’ll see this style with most of our powerlifting barbells to provide the best grip for your one-rep maxes. The most common knurl style you’ll see on a lot of our weightlifting and mixed-use bars is volcano. Volcano knurling has a good amount of grip without tearing up your hands. Learn more about knurling here.

There are two major standards for where to put knurl markings on a barbell: the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The knurl markings allow athletes to set up properly for the lift and provide a visual for even hand placement on the barbell.

REP’s barbells are designed to work with any Olympic plates featuring 2” diameter center holes.

The 15kg Colorado™ bar is rated for 1,500lbs.

This depends on the type of training you do and your goals. If you are not sure how to decide on a barbell, reach out to our team of passionate lifters here and we will help match you and your training style with a barbell. You can also check out this blog that compares REP’s various straight barbells.

When your barbell arrives, there will be a light coating of oil on the shaft and sleeves. This is to protect the barbell from the elements during shipping. After a few uses, this light coating of oil will begin to dissipate. However, if desired, the best way to clean the barbell when it first arrives is to use a durable rag and a disinfecting wipe/cleaner that is free of harsh chemicals (such as bleach, ammonia, alcohol, or peroxide). For even more grip, we recommend using chalk.

This bar is designed to last many years without anything more than 3-in-1 oil added for lubrication. Remove dirt or chalk from the knurling with a brush and oil on a microfiber cloth. If you have any issues beyond that, please reach out to our Colorado-based customer support team here.

Yes, it comes with a lifetime warranty*.