MBPC Axle

The MBPC Axle is not your typical axle. Weighing 68lbs empty, our MBPC Axle comes in at more than twice the weight of comparably priced competitors. That means you are getting twice the material for an axle that will last for a lifetime of abuse. The MBPC Axle is made of a very precise & durable, solid TG&P round bar. It features machined power rings at 32” just like a power bar & also at the center. Axles are not just for strongman competitors. Training with large diameter bars will increase grip strength, forearm size & the ability to transfer force from your body into an implement or opponent. If you are like us & plan to train for a lifetime, this is the axle that’s ready to train hard & heavy for as long as you can & beyond.

Buying guide

Best Barbell for Your Home Gym — July 2026

What is a Barbell?

What a barbell is

The barbell is the center of a strength gym — the bar you squat, press, deadlift, and clean with. A men’s Olympic bar is 20 kg (44 lb) and 7.2 ft long (15 kg / 6.5 ft for women). The specs that matter: knurl (the grip texture — aggressive for pulls, milder for high-rep work), shaft diameter (28–29 mm for barbell lifts), sleeve rotation (bushings are fine for slow lifts; bearings spin fast for the Olympic lifts), tensile strength (~190k+ PSI resists bending), and coating (bare steel grips best but rusts; stainless and Cerakote trade grip for corrosion resistance).

Which one to buy

For general lifting, a multipurpose bar (28–28.5mm shaft, dual knurl marks, no center knurl) does squats, bench, deadlifts, and the occasional clean off one bar — this is the right first barbell for most home gyms. Choose a dedicated power bar (29mm, stiffer, aggressive center-knurl grip) only once you know you’re training squat/bench/deadlift specifically and want the stiffest, grippiest tool for that job. A dedicated Olympic weightlifting bar (needle bearings, more whip) is worth it only if you clean, snatch, or jerk regularly.

Beyond your main bar, specialty bars solve specific problems rather than replacing it: a safety squat bar shifts load off sore shoulders, a trap/hex bar takes stress off a cranky lower back on pulls, and a curl bar’s camber reduces wrist strain on isolation work. Add them once you know which problem you actually have.