The 20KG Men's Bomba Bar V3 is made in the USA and sourced from Alabama steel. It features a black cerakote shaft that is 28mm in diameter with dual IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) and IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) markings, and it has moderately aggressive knurling. The sleeves are black zinc and feature two needle bearing cartridges per sleeve. The bar comes with a lifetime guarantee, and I have found that the sales team and customer support at Fringe Sport are some of the best in the industry.
20KG Men's Bomba Bar V3 Specifications
Bar Type: Men's Bar
Bar Use: Olympic Weightlifting & CrossFit
Bar Weight: 20kg/44lb
Diameter: 28mm
Center Knurl: No
Knurl Marks: Dual
Shaft Coating: Black Cerakote
Total Length: 2200mm (86.6")
Distance between sleeves: 51.5"
Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.40"
Sleeve Coating: Black Zinc
Spin Design: Needle Bearing
Assembly: Snap Ring
Tensile Strength: 201,000 PSI
Whip: Moderate
Guarantee/Warranty: Lifetime performance guarantee
Made in the USA: Yes
I have used this bar for both the snatch and the clean and jerk. The spin is good. The whip is moderate. And the knurling is perfect for my preferences on the Olympic lifts. I worked up to new PR attempts in both lifts on the same day in the August heat and humidity of Tennessee and never had to chalk up. If you have soft hands or prefer a milder knurling for CrossFit or weightlifting, this knurling may be slightly too aggressive for you. But don't expect Ohio Power Bar knurling or Texas Deadlift Bar knurling. This is an Olympic weightlifting / multipurpose bar.
The 20KG Men's Bomba Bar V3 disassembles and has the exact same sleeve constructions as the 20KG Wright Next Gen Bearing Bar, so there is no reason to do a full disassembly with pics here of the Bomba Bar V3. You can check out my tutorial on how to disassemble the bar here: How to Disassemble an Olympic Barbell. Literally, the same pieces and same instructions. In fact, the Wright Next Gen Bearing Bar is manufactured in Alabama, and the Fringe Sport website says the Bomba Bar V3 is "sourced from Alabama steel." I also noticed other similarities in the lathing of the bars under the sleeves, the construction of the snap rings and bearing cartridges, the retaining washers, and the steel end caps. So I would be willing to bet these two bars are made by the same manufacturing partner.
The Final Verdict
This is a good bar with great knurling for beginner to intermediate Olympic lifters on a budget. However, I have been using the 20KG Men's Wonder Bar V2 Olympic Bearing Bar from Fringe Sport for a few months now, and it has quickly become my favorite daily driver for the Olympic lifts. (You can see my full review and disassembly tutorial for that bar by clicking that link.) It is manufactured in China, but the construction quality is outstanding. If I could get the Bomba Bar V3 knurling on the Wonder Bar V2, it might be the perfect intermediate weightlifting bar at that price point!
Great job
Great break doen. I've been thinking of getting a new bar and if I can get a good one made in America? Even better.
Sounds like an awesome bar!