Rogue C-70 Bar
Editor’s Conclusion
A traditional Olympic barbell measures to be 86 inches long, which can take up quite a bit of room if you are working with smaller workout spaces.
The Rogue C-70 Bar hits all of the quality marks of a standard Rogue Barbell, but it is built a little smaller. It’s strong enough to tackle powerlifting weight, but this bar is geared more towards CrossFit and snappy circuits. The quality of materials used for this bar is just as strong as, say, the Ohio bar, but more compact.
This compact design is also lighter than your average bar, and the position of the knurling is slightly more narrow. I love this barbell because it is much easier to move for snappy sets, and a lower weight means that you can train with weights lower than 45 pounds.
It also boasts a sleek black zinc shaft coating that does not chip or corrode over time. This is a bar that will look just as good 5 years into work as it did on day one.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make the Rogue C-70 Bar the perfect addition for cross-trainers working with very limited space in their home gym.
The Rogue C-70 Bar hits all of the quality marks of a standard Rogue Barbell, but it is built a little smaller. It’s strong enough to tackle powerlifting weight, but this bar is geared more towards CrossFit and snappy circuits. The quality of materials used for this bar is just as strong as, say, the Ohio bar, but more compact.
This compact design is also lighter than your average bar, and the position of the knurling is slightly more narrow. I love this barbell because it is much easier to move for snappy sets, and a lower weight means that you can train with weights lower than 45 pounds.
It also boasts a sleek black zinc shaft coating that does not chip or corrode over time. This is a bar that will look just as good 5 years into work as it did on day one.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make the Rogue C-70 Bar the perfect addition for cross-trainers working with very limited space in their home gym.
Rogue C-70 Bar Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Compact and easy to move
Lighter than an Olympic-sized barbell
Great knurling and grip
Black zinc finish won’t chip or corrode over time
Great whip
Ideal for cross-training or circuit training
Cons
Slightly expensive
Not ideal for powerlifting
Key Features
MATERIALS
Whenever I find the lite version of a full-sized product, I become a bit skeptical when it comes to the overall build quality.
What’s great about this “shorty” bar from Rogue is that you can expect the same caliber of materials in the construction of this bar as their full-sized Olympic bars. It is composed of insanely strong steel with bronze brushings that will not warp or corrode over the years.
It also boasts a black zinc sleeve coating that protects the bar from corroding. I’ve used similar Rogue bars with this unique coating and my bar looks just as good as the day that I brought it home.
PERFORMANCE
I would recommend this bar for cross fitters that are short on space. The overall size of this bar is a little bit smaller than your average barbell, which makes it a little bit easier to use when working with a small amount of space.
For instance, some lifters set up their home gym in a storage shed, which might be just a little too small for an 86 inch barbell. Since this barbell is much smaller and compact, fitting it into tight spaces is a breeze.
Plus, it makes it easier to take with you on the go if you want to work out outside or take it over to a friend's house to work out.
What I also love about this bar is that it isn't as heavy as your standard barbell. When you want to work for those smaller muscle groups but don’t want to be locked into a base weight of 45 pounds, the Rogue c-70 bar is a great option.
Skull crushers, for instance, are a great way to work those triceps, but I find that a standard bar is just a little too heavy and unwieldy. With the C-70 bar, I can confidently knock out 20 reps with this bar without putting undue strain on my joints with a heavy base weight and longer bar.
While you can technically use this bar for powerlifting, I would recommend sticking to more CrossFit-inspired workouts due to the overall construction of the bar.
It boasts an overall high weight capacity that is built for heavy weights, but the position of the grips and shallow sleeves are geared more towards lighter weights and snappier sets.
STRENGTH
This barbell provides users with 190,000 PSI tensile strength. Anything between 170,000 and 190,000 PSI tensile strength is considered to be strong enough for commercial use.
The high strength of this bar means that it can comfortably hold whatever you can throw at it without fears of permanently bending or warping the bar. I’ve warped a cheaper barbell before (hold your applause, please!), and it makes every subsequent lift a little dicey to hold confidently in your hands.
If you have even seen a bar jump out of someone’s hands during a lift, that bar was most likely permanently bent. With the Rogue C-70 bar, that will not be an issue.
As far as weight is concerned, this bar can hold up to 400 pounds without the risk of bending or breaking the bar. For powerlifters, this weight capacity may not be ideal, especially if you deadlift well over 400 pounds.
For powerlifting, this bar falls a little short in terms of weight capacity. However, for cross-training, this bar hits that sweet spot between performance and weight capacity.
GRIP
What I really appreciate about this bar is that Rogue took the time to measure the appropriate knurled grips that are the exact same distance apart as the Ohio Bar.
While the overall length of this bar is far shorter than your standard Olympic-sized barbell, the knurled grips are exactly the same. It has no central knurling and dual knurl markings that make it easier for lifters to place their hands in the ideal position every time that you walk up to the bar.
So, how does this Rogue-style knurling feel in your hands? What I love most about Rogue knurling is that it’s aggressive without ripping your hands to shreds. With this bar in my hands, I feel I have a confident grip on the bar, but the grooves in the bar don’t dig into the palm of my hands.
When knocking out higher reps when cross-training, this design in the knurling is ideal. It allows you to maintain proper control of the bar but doesn’t set your hands on fire like bars with aggressive knurling have been known to do.
WHIP
The whip of this bar gives users a little bit of bend, but not much. When compared to Olympic-style barbells, the C-70 feels much more stiff and rigid and doesn’t bend as much under heavy weights.
For powerlifters, this may be a bit of an issue. For CrossFitters, however, a lower whip will allow for more speedy and snappy sets.
The whip built into this bar makes it more geared for cross-training, and less for high volume, low rep powerlifting sets.
PRICE
The price tag of the Rogue C-70 bar is a little expensive, but it is far from the most expensive barbell that Rogue has to offer. I was a little reluctant to invest in an expensive barbell from Rogue, but I am so glad that I did!
Even after 5 years of continued use, my bar looks and performs just as well as the day that I received it in the mail.
Plus, this barbell comes with a lifetime guarantee against bending. The build quality of this bar paired with the lifetime guarantee gives you little reason not to make the investment in this far superior barbell.
Whenever I find the lite version of a full-sized product, I become a bit skeptical when it comes to the overall build quality.
What’s great about this “shorty” bar from Rogue is that you can expect the same caliber of materials in the construction of this bar as their full-sized Olympic bars. It is composed of insanely strong steel with bronze brushings that will not warp or corrode over the years.
It also boasts a black zinc sleeve coating that protects the bar from corroding. I’ve used similar Rogue bars with this unique coating and my bar looks just as good as the day that I brought it home.
PERFORMANCE
I would recommend this bar for cross fitters that are short on space. The overall size of this bar is a little bit smaller than your average barbell, which makes it a little bit easier to use when working with a small amount of space.
For instance, some lifters set up their home gym in a storage shed, which might be just a little too small for an 86 inch barbell. Since this barbell is much smaller and compact, fitting it into tight spaces is a breeze.
Plus, it makes it easier to take with you on the go if you want to work out outside or take it over to a friend's house to work out.
What I also love about this bar is that it isn't as heavy as your standard barbell. When you want to work for those smaller muscle groups but don’t want to be locked into a base weight of 45 pounds, the Rogue c-70 bar is a great option.
Skull crushers, for instance, are a great way to work those triceps, but I find that a standard bar is just a little too heavy and unwieldy. With the C-70 bar, I can confidently knock out 20 reps with this bar without putting undue strain on my joints with a heavy base weight and longer bar.
While you can technically use this bar for powerlifting, I would recommend sticking to more CrossFit-inspired workouts due to the overall construction of the bar.
It boasts an overall high weight capacity that is built for heavy weights, but the position of the grips and shallow sleeves are geared more towards lighter weights and snappier sets.
STRENGTH
This barbell provides users with 190,000 PSI tensile strength. Anything between 170,000 and 190,000 PSI tensile strength is considered to be strong enough for commercial use.
The high strength of this bar means that it can comfortably hold whatever you can throw at it without fears of permanently bending or warping the bar. I’ve warped a cheaper barbell before (hold your applause, please!), and it makes every subsequent lift a little dicey to hold confidently in your hands.
If you have even seen a bar jump out of someone’s hands during a lift, that bar was most likely permanently bent. With the Rogue C-70 bar, that will not be an issue.
As far as weight is concerned, this bar can hold up to 400 pounds without the risk of bending or breaking the bar. For powerlifters, this weight capacity may not be ideal, especially if you deadlift well over 400 pounds.
For powerlifting, this bar falls a little short in terms of weight capacity. However, for cross-training, this bar hits that sweet spot between performance and weight capacity.
GRIP
What I really appreciate about this bar is that Rogue took the time to measure the appropriate knurled grips that are the exact same distance apart as the Ohio Bar.
While the overall length of this bar is far shorter than your standard Olympic-sized barbell, the knurled grips are exactly the same. It has no central knurling and dual knurl markings that make it easier for lifters to place their hands in the ideal position every time that you walk up to the bar.
So, how does this Rogue-style knurling feel in your hands? What I love most about Rogue knurling is that it’s aggressive without ripping your hands to shreds. With this bar in my hands, I feel I have a confident grip on the bar, but the grooves in the bar don’t dig into the palm of my hands.
When knocking out higher reps when cross-training, this design in the knurling is ideal. It allows you to maintain proper control of the bar but doesn’t set your hands on fire like bars with aggressive knurling have been known to do.
WHIP
The whip of this bar gives users a little bit of bend, but not much. When compared to Olympic-style barbells, the C-70 feels much more stiff and rigid and doesn’t bend as much under heavy weights.
For powerlifters, this may be a bit of an issue. For CrossFitters, however, a lower whip will allow for more speedy and snappy sets.
The whip built into this bar makes it more geared for cross-training, and less for high volume, low rep powerlifting sets.
PRICE
The price tag of the Rogue C-70 bar is a little expensive, but it is far from the most expensive barbell that Rogue has to offer. I was a little reluctant to invest in an expensive barbell from Rogue, but I am so glad that I did!
Even after 5 years of continued use, my bar looks and performs just as well as the day that I received it in the mail.
Plus, this barbell comes with a lifetime guarantee against bending. The build quality of this bar paired with the lifetime guarantee gives you little reason not to make the investment in this far superior barbell.
Comparisons to Olympic Barbells
So, what exactly is the difference between a standard Olympic-sized barbell and the shorty C-70? The most important thing to note when comparing these two styles of barbells is that they are still built with the same quality of materials. The C-70 may be smaller, but it is built just as tough. It’s basically the bite-sized version of the Rogue Ohio Bar.
The biggest difference between the C-70 and the Ohio bar boils down to weight and size. The Ohio Bar weighs in at 45 pounds, while the C-70 weighs in at just 33 pounds. Lower weight means that your base training level is 11 pounds lighter than a standard barbell, which is great for circuits.
The other biggest change lies in the overall size of the bar. This bar measures to be only 70 inches long, which is much smaller than a standard 86-inch Olympic bar. It’s easier to wield and works better in smaller spaces.
The biggest difference between the C-70 and the Ohio bar boils down to weight and size. The Ohio Bar weighs in at 45 pounds, while the C-70 weighs in at just 33 pounds. Lower weight means that your base training level is 11 pounds lighter than a standard barbell, which is great for circuits.
The other biggest change lies in the overall size of the bar. This bar measures to be only 70 inches long, which is much smaller than a standard 86-inch Olympic bar. It’s easier to wield and works better in smaller spaces.
Verdict
The majority of the barbells on the market are designed specifically for powerlifters, with few designed with CrossFit in mind. While you can technically use a powerlifting bar for CrossFit, you may find that the heavier base weight and longer frame to be a little less than ideal.
If you are in the market for a great barbell that doesn’t take up as much room in your home gym and is geared more towards CrossFit than powerlifting, the Rogue C-70 bar is a great choice.
Users love this bar because the shorter design works incredibly well in small spaces, and it has a lower base weight when compared to larger Olympic-size bars. While it may be smaller than other Rogue bars, the quality of construction is just as durable as resilient.
Even after 5 years of continued use, the black zinc finish will not chip or crack, and it’s also resistant to rusting and corroding.
Overall, I would recommend this barbell to those that need a barbell that can keep up with your snappy circuits or CrossFit routines.
If you are in the market for a great barbell that doesn’t take up as much room in your home gym and is geared more towards CrossFit than powerlifting, the Rogue C-70 bar is a great choice.
Users love this bar because the shorter design works incredibly well in small spaces, and it has a lower base weight when compared to larger Olympic-size bars. While it may be smaller than other Rogue bars, the quality of construction is just as durable as resilient.
Even after 5 years of continued use, the black zinc finish will not chip or crack, and it’s also resistant to rusting and corroding.
Overall, I would recommend this barbell to those that need a barbell that can keep up with your snappy circuits or CrossFit routines.
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