Riot Training Bastard Power Bar, 20 kg - Calibrated - Stainless Steel (Square Knurl) IPF approved

Riot Power Bar – Calibrated Stainless Steel (Square Knurl)

Overview

The Riot Power Bar in Calibrated Stainless Steel Square Knurl brings the same IPF-legal ±50g calibration and uncoated stainless steel shaft as our competition stainless steel bar, paired with a finer, shallower KP1.0 square knurl instead of the sharp 1.2 mm diamond pattern used on the rest of the range. It's built for lifters who want a grippy, skin-friendly knurl for high-volume training that's still precise and durable enough to compete on.

Stainless Steel Powerlifting Barbell with KP1.0 Square Knurl

Part of the in-house design is the sleeve collar: an angled, faceted shape that reads as an Olympic torch from one side and a blade from the other. On the power bars it's kept slim — the narrowest sleeve collar in the range — while the weightlifting, hybrid, squat, and deadlift bars each get a wider version scaled to their own proportions.

The shaft is bare stainless steel with no plating at all. On coated bars, the knurling is cut first and a layer of chrome or nickel is then deposited on top, which softens and slightly rounds the sharpest edges of every knurl. Since nothing is plated onto this shaft, the knurling stays exactly as sharp as it was cut. This is the sharpest grip in the range while stainless steel's natural chromium-oxide layer still gives it excellent built-in corrosion resistance.

This bar uses a KP1.0 square knurl instead of the 1.2 mm diamond pattern on our other power bars — finer and shallower (0.3–0.4 mm cut depth), with a wider 140 mm center section. A square knurl cuts a grid of small, flat-topped ridges rather than sharp diamond points, so it spreads grip across more of your palm instead of concentrating it on widely spaced peaks. In practice, that means less skin irritation during high-volume sets while maintaining a secure grip for heavy singles. It is a practical choice for lifters who want to train with the same knurl they will use on the competition platform, so there is no sharper pattern to adjust to on meet day.

29 mm Power Bar for Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift

Rotation comes from graphite-infused bronze bushings. A solid bronze sleeve bearing with graphite particles embedded directly into the metal, acting as a permanent, built-in lubricant that can't dry out, wash out, or need re-greasing; it lubricates itself for the working life of the bar. Bushings rotate more slowly and with greater resistance than bearings, producing a calmer, more controlled sleeve rotation. This helps prevent the loaded plates from swinging or over-rotating during squats and bench press, where faster sleeve spin can reduce stability.

The 29 mm shaft stays stable and predictable under heavy squats and bench presses while retaining enough flex to feel responsive in the hands. Its stiffness sits between the pronounced whip of the Deadlift Bar and the near-zero flex of the Squat Bar.

Every Riot bar uses the same clear identification system. Its name, weight and shaft diameter are laser-engraved on the inner face of the sleeve collar, keeping the specifications visible throughout the life of the bar whether it is hung, stacked or stored sleeve collar-first. The end cap repeats the key information at a glance: it is colour-coded by weight, blue for this 20 kg bar, and shows the weight directly on the cap. This makes it easy for anyone on the gym floor to select the correct bar for the relevant discipline without checking a separate label.

FAQ

Is this bar IPF-legal?
Yes. It's calibrated to ±50g and uses an IPF-approved stainless steel finish, making it legal for IPF competition. The square knurl doesn't affect its competition status.

What's the difference between this and the standard Calibrated Stainless Steel bar?
Both share the same shaft, calibration, and finish. The difference is entirely in the knurl: this bar uses a finer, shallower KP1.0 square pattern (0.3–0.4 mm depth, 140mm center width) instead of the sharper 1.2 mm diamond pattern (120 mm center width) on our other powerlifting bars. Choose this one for a grippier, more skin-friendly feel; choose the diamond version for the sharpest possible bite.

Why is the knurling finer and shallower, and how can it still be grippy?
A square knurl spreads grip across a wider contact area on your palm instead of concentrating it on sharp, spaced-out points, so it feels secure without being as aggressive on the skin.

Why stainless steel instead of a coated finish?
Stainless steel has no plating at all, so the knurling keeps the exact edge it was cut with and there's no coating to wear down over time — a low-maintenance finish with strong natural corrosion resistance.

Can I use this bar for squats, bench press, and deadlifts?
Yes. It's built for all three competition lifts, just like our other power bars.

Bushings or bearings — which does this bar use, and why?
Graphite-infused bronze bushings. They give slower, more controlled spin than bearings, which is what you want for stability during squats and bench press.

What's laser-engraved on this bar, and where?
The name, weight, and shaft diameter are laser-engraved on the inside face of the sleeve collar, so they stay legible for the bar's whole life. The end cap repeats the weight and is colour-coded blue for this 20 kg bar.

Why does the sleeve collar look like that?
It's part of Riot's in-house design language: the angled, faceted sleeve collar is drawn to suggest both an Olympic torch and a double-edged sword. Sleeve collar width is slimmest on the power bars, mid-width on weightlifting and hybrid bars, and widest on squat and deadlift bars.

Powerlifting Barbell Finishes Compared

All Riot Power Bar variants share the same core specifications: a weight of 20 kg, an overall length of 220 cm, a 29 mm shaft, 50 mm sleeves, 81 cm IPF markings and a recommended maximum load of 680 kg. Most variants also use the same sharp 1.2 mm diamond knurl with a 120 mm centre knurl. The variants differ in their finish, weight calibration, knurl pattern and approval for IPF competition.

The finish affects both surface protection and how directly the knurling is felt in the hands. Bare stainless steel has no plated layer, so the knurl retains the exact edge produced during machining and gives the sharpest feel in the range. Black chrome forms a thin, very hard coating that follows the machined profile closely. This preserves almost the same sharpness while adding a dark, wear-resistant surface. Black chrome is not included on the IPF's approved finish list, so these models are not legal for IPF competition.

Nickel is applied in a slightly thicker, softer layer, which reduces the sharpest edge of the knurl compared with black chrome. The finish is approved by the IPF, making nickel and stainless steel the two competition-legal options in the range. Hard chrome is used on the shaft of the Power-Chrome training bar and on the sleeves throughout the Riot range. It provides a durable surface for regular commercial gym use, but is not used for the calibrated or IPF-approved models.