Lu Xiaojun Men's Weightlifting Training Barbell Review - BEST BAR FOR SERIOUS LIFTERS UNDER $400?
This is an in-depth review of the new Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell. This bar is offered as premium, less expensive alternative to the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Competition Barbell for the sole purpose of training the Olympic lifts.
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell is functionally no different than the competition barbell, however does have some slight modifications to it that lifters should be aware of. It features the same PSI chrome shaft, same type and quantity of needle bearings, same chrome finish, and same IWF certification. It only differs in that is lacks the standard knurling depth of a competition barbell. This barbell is $200 less than the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Competition Barbell and $300 less than my personal favorite barbell, the Rogue Pyrros Competition Weightlifting Barbell (stainless steel).
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell is probably the best barbell you get find for under $400 that is designed for serious weightlifting, hard training sessions, and heavy PRs.
With that said, let’s dive into the full barbell review, which we will discuss:
Barbell Specifications of the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell
Overall Rating of the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell
Full Review (Categorical Breakdowns) fo the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell
Who Should Consider Purchasing the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell
My Final Verdict of the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell
Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell Specs
Barbell Type - Men’s Olympic Weightlifting
Barbell Use - Training and Competition
Weight - 20 KG
Diameter - 28 MM
Length - 220 CM
Knurling - IWF Standard
Center Knurl - Yes
Shaft - Hard Chrome
Sleeve Coating - Hard Chrome
Loading Capacity - 680 KG / 1500 LBS
Loadable Sleeve Length - 320 MM
Bushing / Bearings - 10 Bearings
Tensile Strength - 230,000 PSI
Warranty - 3 Years
Overall Rating: 87/100
Price - 8
Construction - 9
Aesthetics - 9
Knurling - 7
Bar Spin - 8
Bar Whip - 9
Performance - 9
Shipping - 10
Customer Service - 10
Compared to Other Training Barbells - 8
Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell - Full Review
Every barbell I review I hold to the same grading scale to keep a level of consistency and reliability within my review process. The below ten (10) categories are analyzed and scored on a 0-10 scale, with the sum of all ten categories awarding the highest possible score of 100 out of 100.
Price: 8/10
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell is priced at $395. This is $200 less than the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Competition Barbell (made of chrome), and $200-400 less than the Rogue Pyrros competition barbell.
When compared to other training barbells, the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell comes in towards the middle to higher end of the scale ($100 more than the Rogue 28 MM training barbell). While it may be more expensive than other training barbells in its class, it is noticeably higher quality and a great in-between for a lifter who has lifted with a high-quality competitions barbell (Rogue Pyrros Barbell, Eleiko Competition Barbell, Uesaka Competition Barbell) yet does not want to go back to a lower-end barbell for training.
I choose to give this barbell an 8 out of 10, despite it being $100 more expensive than the Rogue training barbell simply because this barbell fell more in line with a higher-quality barbell made specially for Olympic weightlifting (rather than the Rogue training barbell with was made for weightlifting and hybrid fitness). If you are someone who has lifted with a really really nice barbell, yet cannot afford one to train with daily, this could be a good option for you.
Construction: 9/10
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell is constructed of hard chrome, and meets the IWF standards.
Unlike stainless steel, chrome barbells tend to be more affordable yet do oxidize at quicker rates, which could impact the integrity of the barbell if not cared for properly or if subjected to moisture or humidity. With that said, I have had my barbell now for a few months, store it on my barbell gun rack on the back wall in my weightlifting gym, and have had no issues.
Aesthetics: 9/10
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell is sharp looking, and is said to be designed, used, and approved by the GOAT himself. The site also states this barbell is also used by Chinese professional weightlifters and different teams, giving it some credibility among the world's most elite lifters.
The barbell is well crafted and has two main features that stand out to me. The first feature is that every barbell is stamped with Lu’s signature, making this kind of a unique homage to one of the best weightlifters of all-time. Secondly, the barbell is made with an anti-bounce ring around the sleeves to avoid damaging the barbell when it is thrown down in an empty state.
While this may not be something you look for in a barbell (and hopefully you aren’t dropping empty barbells on the floor in the first place), it is a great feature to help preserve the integrity of this barbell for years to come.
Knurling: 7/10
The knurling on the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell meets the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) specifications, which is a gold-standard for any high end barbell. The knurling measures 0.2-028 MM, which is less aggressive than the competition barbell ($595).
The knurling itself is on the modest side, and is a good in-between for individuals who may be getting this barbell to suit the preferences of a number of lifters. Having slightly less knurling on the training bar does make sense, as this can minimize the harshness on the hands during hard training cycles.
Personally speaking, my favorite knurling on a barbell is that of the Rogue Pyrros competition weightlifting barbell, which is on the more aggressive side of the knurling spectrum, but that is 100% my preference.
If you are someone who is dead set on an aggressive knurling, then this may fall short in this department, however if you are not hell bent on having that be a deciding factor, the knurling is still enough to be noticeable, even for a lifter like me who enjoys the feeling of an aggressive knurl.
Lastly, it is important to note that this barbell does have center knurling, which may be a pro or con based on your preference. Personally speaking, I prefer a barbell without a center knurling, as I find it harsh on my neck during cleans and front squats, however I have found the center knurling to be less aggressive than other barbells, so I dont think it is too much of an issue for those out there with good front rack technique and are not consistently having cleans crash down on them.
Bar Spin: 8/10
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell boasts an impressive 10 needles bearing (5 per sleeve) giving it a smooth rotation that will please most lifters. The barbell spins smooth and silently, making lifting enjoyable and safe when compared to cheaper and not as well constructed barbells.
When looking at bar spins, I personally do not like a barbell that spins excessively, which I have found to be the case in some of the Pendlay barbells I have used in the past. This barbell spins similarly to that of my favorite barbell, the Rogue Pyrros weightlifting bar, making it a good middle ground offering that spins smoothly yet still lacks some backbone.
Whip: 9/10
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell is a responsive barbell that offers a good amount of whip yet holds rigidity well.
Unlike cheaper training bars, this barbell held its rigidity nicely in heavy cleans and jerks, yet still gave me the necessary whip and feedback to maximize performance with heavier loads.
Performance: 9 / 10
The Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell performs exactly how I would expect a high-quality barbell to perform in training. The barbell spins smooth, has a good whip (but not too much), and maintains its original shape session after session (I only say this because I have had $200 training barbells that have bent over the course of a few months).
I have not only found this barbell to exceed in training, but I have also really enjoyed lifting heavy on it during block jerks, heavy full lifts (snatches and clean and jerks), and squats (which I do notice a bit more whip on these, simply because I am using more weight).
Shipping and Packaging: 10/10
At the time of my purchase, shipping on this barbell was free, which looks to still be the case at while writing this review. This can be a huge money saver as some companies charge and arm and a leg for shipping.
One of the main reasons I also went with this barbell was that I was sick and tired of waiting for companies like Rogue and Eleiko to restock, which I understand was due to COVID-19, however my training was taking a hit. I was really surprised at how quickly these barbells were shipped and delivered (at my door within one week from purchase)
The barbell was packaged in a long cardboard tube, surrounded by styrofoam and wrapped in plastic; pretty standard for barbell deliveries. At no point was I concerned with damage to the barbell during the shipping process.
Customer Service - 10/10
LuXiaojun Barbell is a newer company formed to provide high-quality barbells, plates, and shoes to support the training and competitions of serious Olympic weightlifters.
Their website is mobile-friendly akd easy to navigate, making it super straight-forward to shop.
The main reason why I gave them a 10 here is not because of their website (all other websites have this too), but because they were super responsive to me on Instagram (both in the DMs and sharing / reshaping videos).
I had no issues with my barbell and have not had to use the 3-year warranty, which is GOOD thing!
Compared to Other Training Barbells: 8/10
This category is custom to training barbells, as comparing this to a competition style barbell is not comparing apples to apples. Therefore, when rating this barbell, I took into consideration all of the above specifications and compared it to training barbells from Rogue, Eleiko, and other training bar brands.
This barbell offered great specs at a price range that I felt matched it’s performance.
Who Should Consider Purchasing the Lu Xiaojun Men’s Weightlifting Training Barbell?
This is a legit barbell for weightlifters who can tell the difference between a $200 barbell and one that is designed for actual Olympic weightlifting.
Personally, I feel this is one of the best training barbells I have lifted on in a while. Yes, it’s $100 more than other training barbells, but to me that $100 difference is 100% noticeable.
If you are someone who is a beginner to weightlifting and are not sure if this is something you would notice, I recommend maybe opting to purchase a cheaper barbell to first determine if you are fully vested in the sport.
Additionally, this is NOT a barbell I would bench press and do curls with (however you can, but I have cheaper barbells I do those with). If you are looking for a barbell for your home gym however, and are serious about weightlifting, then I would go ahead and get this bar… just be smart to not abuse it.
Final Verdict
I would 100% recommend this barbell to my serious weightlifting friends and community. I have found this barbell to be a great value as it provides me a higher-quality training barbell, yet not fully break the bank like a competition style barbell ($600-1000). The design and special features of this barbell also gave me confidence that they got real feedback from real weightlifters!