For anyone searching for a new barbell that won’t break the bank and can handle a wide variety of workouts, the Rogue Echo 2.0 may be the one you’ve been looking for. Its ability to handle powerlifting exercises, such as back squats and Olympic lifts, like power cleans, make it a viable option for nearly every level weightlifter.
The medium-grade knurling makes it possible to perform high-rep exercises while still providing the firm grip you need for your heavy bench presses. The pairing of bronze bushings in the loading sleeves and the lack of a center knurl also make it ideal for Olympic and CrossFit-style lifts. Since the Ech0 2.0 also features a solid tensile strength rating of 190,000 PSI and a budget-friendly price tag, this barbell could be the next great addition to your home gym.
Main Takeaways
- The Echo 2.0 has a tensile strength rating of 190,000 PSI, meaning it can handle heavy weights and support the punishment that will come its way.
- The bronze bushings and absent center knurl make this an ideal choice for Olympic and CrossFit lifters.
- The medium-grade, volcano-style knurling provides a great overall grip without being too abrasive.
The Echo 2.0 is one of Rogue's most affordable barbells. This multi-purpose bar offers high functionality and versatility, the utilization of bronze bushings create a controlled spin, and the lack of a center knurl makes it ideal for Olympic and CrossFit lifts.
Rogue Echo Barbell Video Review
Our Reviews Writer, Jake, tests the Rogue Echo Barbell during his detailed video review. Tag along as he breaks down everything you need to know about this barbell, from the price tag to the build, and any pros and cons you may experience.
Rogue Echo Barbell Highlights
Due to the bronze bushings in the loading sleeves, the Rogue Echo 2.0 can accommodate nearly every exercise you throw at it. Because it is so versatile and has a respectable tensile strength rating, it’s a good choice for beginners to grow with and can even serve the needs of more seasoned weightlifters. If you don’t already know, tensile strength is how much weight and force a barbell can withstand before it begins to bend or fracture — the 190,000 PSI rating of this bar is a solid rating that will service the majority of athletes.
One thing many CrossFitters and Olympic lifters will love about this bar is that it does not include a center knurling. This means the chances of irritating your skin during movements like a hang clean are obsolete, but that also means you lose out on a little extra grip for back squats.
Since the knurling isn’t too abrasive, your hands won’t get torn up during your lifts, but if your hands are as rough as a farmer’s, you may find this bar to not provide enough grip for you. The grooves in the loading sleeves serve an essential purpose — keeping your weight plates or bumper plates locked into place, but we still suggest using a pair of weight collars for added safety. It’s also worth noting that the Echo 2.0 only comes with a regular zinc finish. This will provide some protection against corrosion, but not as much as a stainless steel bar can. So if you’re not stashing your gear in a climate-controlled room, you’ll need to clean it more frequently, so it can keep that nice shine.
Who Should Buy the Rogue Echo Barbell
- Anyone looking for a high-quality barbell at a budget price may want to consider the Echo 2.0.
- Athletes looking for a versatile barbell will appreciate that this bar can handle both powerlifting and Olympic-style lifts.
- With a tensile strength rating of 190,000 PSI, this bar can accommodate the needs of any level athlete.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Rogue Echo Barbell Barbell
- Powerlifters looking for a bar with a deeper cut knurling will want to look for a different option.
- If you want a barbell that has a center knurl, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
- Customers looking for a lifetime warranty for their barbell may be disappointed that the Echo 2.0 only features a one-year warranty.
Price
Priced around $270 on the Rogue Fitness website, this is a great deal for the quality you are getting. Many barbells that are around this price range tend to be of lesser quality because they typically have a much lower tensile strength rating, and may be made of lower-quality materials. Plus, when you compare it to the rest of the bars Rogue offers, it’s one of the cheapest they have available. When you factor in standard shipping and taxes, your purchase will be around $315 — which is still a low price tag for a bar of this durability and versatility.
We do understand that $300 is still not necessarily cheap, especially since you’ll likely still need to purchase your weight plates, and either a squat rack or power rack. If you need an even cheaper option, they’re out there, but it’s unlikely that you’ll find the same quality. Fortunately, Rogue allows you to split your purchase into four interest-free payments through PayLater from PayPal, or through Affirm for about $80 per payment.
Overall Build and Quality
The Rogue Echo 2.0 is a multi-purpose barbell crafted with the same high-quality steel found in the other (more expensive) barbells Rogue has to offer. The zinc finish can help preserve your barbell by fighting off corrosion, and it has a respectable tensile strength rating of 190,000 pounds. This 20-kilogram bar is 86.5 inches long with a diameter of 28.5 inches and 16.4-inch loading sleeves. The sleeves also feature bronze bushings that allow them to spin, which makes this bar quite versatile. The grooved sleeves can also prevent your weight plates from sliding around as much as they would on a smooth-sleeve bar.
Features
The zinc finish found on this bar may increase the lifespan by fighting off corrosion, but not as well as it would if it was stainless steel. The knurling here is pretty moderate, and it has a volcano pattern, which can provide a better overall grip — since your hands will get four points of contact for each knurl marking. The grooved sleeves are ideal for a barbell like this since they will prevent your weight plates from excessively sliding while performing dynamic lifts (such as power cleans) where the bar slams into the ground.
Knurling
We were surprised that the Echo 2.0 does not feature double knurl markings. Typically, with a versatile bar like this, you’ll find double knurl marks to give you the widest grip possible for both powerlifting and Olympic lifting movements. This may only be an issue for some powerlifters, though, since you have to try a little harder to be as precise as possible with your grip.
The volcano grip knurling is pretty moderate, making it ideal for CrossFitters and Olympic lifters. A volcano grip may be the best pattern on the market — since every marking on the barbell dips in like a volcano does, you will get four points of contact. This is an improvement compared to a mountain-style grip in which you only get one point of contact from each marking. Since the Echo 2.0 does not feature a center knurl, if you’re performing a lot of back squats in your home gym, this bar may not be for you. However, if power cleans are your thing, you may like that there isn’t a center knurl to irritate your skin as you lift.
Sleeve Design
Just as the overall construction of a barbell varies, so does the construction of the loading sleeves. While you may not think the grooved sleeves play a huge role in performance, it most definitely does. That said, we still recommend tossing on some weight collars for some added assistance in terms of keeping your weight plates in their intended placement.
We found the bronze bushings in the sleeves to provide a solid rate of spin while lifting. This spin reduces torque on your wrists and elbows during explosive movements — such as the clean & jerk. Since bushings don’t provide as much spin as bearings do, though, you can still hit your bench presses without them spinning on their own. Bushings are also a cheaper alternative to bearings and degrade at a slower rate. It was a little odd to find that one of the sleeves on our barbell spun significantly faster and longer than the other, but that may only be the case with our specific bar.
Finish
Unlike some other options from Rogue, the Echo 2.0 only comes in a regular zinc finish, which gives it a nice shine. Zinc is an effective option when it comes to fighting off rust and corrosion, but it won’t protect the bar as well as a stainless steel bar can. This may only be a big deal to those who aren’t working out in a climate-controlled room, though, as you’ll need to clean it more frequently.
Product Specs
In our opinion, we think the Echo 2.0 barbell is a great option to consider due to its versatility and overall build. With a tensile strength rating of 190,000 PSI, this bar is great for beginner lifters to grow with, but is still strong enough to handle weights for a more experienced lifter. Since 230,000 is the highest rating, this bar is in pretty good company. You’ll find the dimensions of this bar are comparable to that of an Olympic bar, at 86.5 inches in length with a diameter of 28.5 millimeters.
Tensile Strength
One of our biggest determining factors on the overall caliber of a barbell is the tensile strength rating. Tensile strength determines how strong a bar is, and how much weight you can load on it. Barbells can have a tensile strength as low as 120,000 pounds, and as high as 230,000 pounds. Since the Echo 2.0 is rated at 190,000 pounds, it’s closer to the higher end of the spectrum and is in pretty good company with barbells that are generally much more expensive.
Materials
The materials used to craft a barbell not only play into the price of the bar, but also the overall quality. This barbell features a regular zinc finish and should help resist corrosion, but not as well as a fully stainless steel bar can.
This means you may need to invest in a kit to provide your Echo 2.0 with the proper care to keep it in your hands for years to come. The bronze bushings in the sleeves allow them to spin — plus, they’re a cost-effective option and will degrade at a slower rate than a bar that features bearings.
Weight Capacity
The actual weight capacity of the Echo 2.0 isn’t listed on the Rogue website, but barbells with a tensile strength like this one can typically handle 1,000 pounds of weight without a problem. This is plenty of weight for most lifters out there, though more elite athletes can find barbells that hold up to 1,200 pounds.
Dimensions and Weight
The dimensions of the Echo 2.0 are pretty standard in terms of length, weight, and diameter. It weighs 20 kilograms (around 45 pounds), is 86.5 inches long, and has a diameter of 28.5 millimeters, similar to an Olympic barbell.
Warranties
The warranty for the Echo 2.0 is only for one year, which was a bit surprising considering Rogue offers a lifetime warranty on some of their other barbells. This may not be a make-or-break factor for everyone, but it’s definitely something to remember.
Places to Buy
You can purchase this barbell directly through the Rogue website.
Company Information
Since 2006, Rogue has offered some of the best home gym equipment on the market. To this day they remain dedicated to producing that high-quality equipment for all athletes. If you want to find out more about Rogue, you can reach out to their support team by calling them at 614-358-6190, or you can provide them with your email address, and they will contact you.
Final Word
The Rogue Echo Barbell is a high-quality, multi-purpose barbell available at a budget-friendly price. If you are a beginner looking for a barbell to grow with, or even an experienced lifter looking for a change, we think this is a great option to consider adding to your home gym. The volcano grip knurling is on the moderate side but still gives you a firm grip for your lifts, and because there is no center knurl on this barbell, it’s ideal for those who want to incorporate movements like the power clean, clean & jerk, or the snatch into their workouts. But, if you’re looking for a bar with that center knurl, or maybe one with a deeper cut knurling, there are better options for you.
No matter what workout you want to hit, the Echo 2.0 is built for the test and can handle the intensity and weight requirements required for most weightlifters. While this bar is not stainless steel, Rogue still makes some of the best equipment you could add to your home gym, and this barbell is no exception. Because it’s available at a low cost, has a high tensile strength rating, and can be used for a variety of exercises, we think this bar is well worth its price tag.
FAQs
Does the Echo 2.0 have a good tensile strength rating?
A 190,000 pound tensile strength rating is a great rating for a barbell at this price point. Most of the time, bars that are this price will feature a tensile strength rating that is much lower, which is why this bar is such a great deal.
What makes the Rogue Echo 2.0 a versatile barbell?
There are a few factors that allow you to implement this barbell into a wide variety of training practices. The medium grade knurling won’t tear up your hands, the bronze bushings will allow the sleeves to spin and take some pressure off your wrists, and the lack of a center knurling decreases the chances of irritating your skin while performing Olympic style lifts.
How much does the Rogue Echo 2.0 cost?
This barbell is listed at around $270, which is a great deal considering the overall caliber. Many barbells out there feature the same tensile strength rating as the Echo 2.0 but will cost you a couple of hundred dollars more. So if you’re looking for a solid barbell at a budget-friendly price, we think this is one of your best bets.
