[REVIEW] Duffalo Bar

[skrebs01]

For chains I have a shorter version of these. Cheaper then the ELite FTS collars. They do a great job
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01L3...GgL&ref=plSrch

[MGM711]

For chains I have a shorter version of these. Cheaper then the ELite FTS collars. They do a great job
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01L3...GgL&ref=plSrch

Wow...that's a nice find! Certainly a cheaper route than the EFS version.

[turbolsxstang]

For someone who does not currently have any shoulder issues would you recommend still getting this bar? I've really started to focus on strength training the past few months, would this be something that could help me prevent possible issues down the road or would you recommend putting the money towards a different specialty bar at this point? I already have a fat bar and a trap bar. Currently my bench max is 355lbs if that matters. My squat is down due to fighting lower back issues.

[Kwazer]

A vendor in Calgary, Alberta is selling this Buffalo Bar for $295 Canadian:

http://www.ercanada.com/product-p/bar-buf.htm

With the current exchange rate, this is around $225 USD, which is substantially lower-priced than other ones available to me. I'm not as good at ID'ing qualities in bars as some of you, does this one look like junk?

[urbanlifter]

I don't know much about these bars, but I know you can buy a bolted version here in the states for mid $200's. Being the cheapskate that I am I couldn't see myself buying the real deal Duffalo bar for the price, the one in the pictures seems to be like the TDS version you can get on Amazon.

[MGM711]

A vendor in Calgary, Alberta is selling this Buffalo Bar for $295 Canadian:

http://www.ercanada.com/product-p/bar-buf.htm

With the current exchange rate, this is around $225 USD, which is substantially lower-priced than other ones available to me. I'm not as good at ID'ing qualities in bars as some of you, does this one look like junk?

That's not a Buffalo Bar...more like the cheap Bow Bar made by NYBB. It's a piece of junk compared to either a Buffalo or Duffalo Bar.

[MGM711]

For someone who does not currently have any shoulder issues would you recommend still getting this bar? I've really started to focus on strength training the past few months, would this be something that could help me prevent possible issues down the road or would you recommend putting the money towards a different specialty bar at this point? I already have a fat bar and a trap bar. Currently my bench max is 355lbs if that matters. My squat is down due to fighting lower back issues.

I would say that it couldn't hurt although I don't want to mislead you and say it will prevent a shoulder injury from happening. If you squat long enough with a straight bar, you'll develop shoulder problems, especially when you compound that with benching. I would say that either bar would help more with shoulder pain from squatting more than pressing although the benching allows for a more tucked position which may help with calming down some shoulder pain.

Personally, I'd say one of these bars should be your first specialty bar purchase just because of the upper and lower body usages, but I get that the price can make some people squeamish and may want to defer to another specialty bar first instead.

[Kwazer]

That's not a Buffalo Bar...more like the cheap Bow Bar made by NYBB. It's a piece of junk compared to either a Buffalo or Duffalo Bar.

Thanks! I will stay far, far away.

[cwcmac]

I was planning a hit of about 10K in taxes and it's only about 3K. So I decided to pull the trigger on this. Leaning towards the clear zinc finish; anyone have any thought on this compared the the other finishes?

[IronAbrams]

For chains I have a shorter version of these. Cheaper then the ELite FTS collars. They do a great job
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01L3...GgL&ref=plSrch

Well now I feel like a POS for shelling out $70 for the Spud Looper Straps.

[MGM711]

Played around with the Duff bar again some today. This time with the handle attachment thingy that you either hold or attach bands to or chain.

First off, the handles mounted on the sleeve are odd to me. They do seem to work well with attaching bands, but I'm not sure why you'd attach chain there, just seems like they'd either thrash your rack or come close to hitting your feet. Holding them to do squats or good mornings sort of feels like where you'd hold a rackable GCB but a little further spread out. No issues here for me, but holding the bar didn't feel any worse for me. I guess I can see wanting to use these if your shoulders are really bad though.

While I think the handles could be cool for someone, I can't say that I'd go out of my way to recommend them. If you have money to burn and want them, add them to your order, but I can't see how this really improves much with the bar.

I still really like the bar. I especially like the feel of the knurl both on the back and in the hand. I really want one of these bars, but even with the sale on right now, I still think they're priced about $100 too high. If it had some cool finish, maybe I'd spring to get it, but not for a bare steel version, no way. I'm at the point now where I think putting the bend in the bar must be tough or else why would both Buff and Duff bars be so expensive?

[rlundregan]

I'm at the point now where I think putting the bend in the bar must be tough or else why would both Buff and Duff bars be so expensive?

Mech mentioned this somewhere, either in this thread or in your comparison thread. He said something about using a press brake to make several bends adding to the cost, and I would imagine that there is a level of precision required to get the bends just so.

I can't disagree with you on the price, it's a freakin' expensive bar.

I'm not even sure that I see the need for the attachments for bands.....it seems to me like it would be just as easy to cut a couple of pieces of PVC pipe to put on the collars either inside or outside the plates as desired. I haven't tried bands with mine yet, but I know that Synthetickiller said that they were awkward to use. I assumed that he meant that they tend to bunch up or get pinched due to the sleeves being angled.

[skrebs01]

Well now I feel like a POS for shelling out $70 for the Spud Looper Straps.

The spud ones definitely look nice. They are thicker then the ones from amazon. You didn't do bad!

[Synthetickiller]

I was planning a hit of about 10K in taxes and it's only about 3K. So I decided to pull the trigger on this. Leaning towards the clear zinc finish; anyone have any thought on this compared the the other finishes?

Unless stated, it seems that the bare bar is the best option. They seem to coat the bar after it's assembled, basically ruining the bushing. At least this is how it sounds.
The best thing you can do is call them, ask about this, & state your concern.

Well now I feel like a POS for shelling out $70 for the Spud Looper Straps.

Good call. Thanks for the link!

Played around with the Duff bar again some today. This time with the handle attachment thingy that you either hold or attach bands to or chain.

First off, the handles mounted on the sleeve are odd to me. They do seem to work well with attaching bands, but I'm not sure why you'd attach chain there, just seems like they'd either thrash your rack or come close to hitting your feet. Holding them to do squats or good mornings sort of feels like where you'd hold a rackable GCB but a little further spread out. No issues here for me, but holding the bar didn't feel any worse for me. I guess I can see wanting to use these if your shoulders are really bad though.

While I think the handles could be cool for someone, I can't say that I'd go out of my way to recommend them. If you have money to burn and want them, add them to your order, but I can't see how this really improves much with the bar.

I still really like the bar. I especially like the feel of the knurl both on the back and in the hand. I really want one of these bars, but even with the sale on right now, I still think they're priced about $100 too high. If it had some cool finish, maybe I'd spring to get it, but not for a bare steel version, no way. I'm at the point now where I think putting the bend in the bar must be tough or else why would both Buff and Duff bars be so expensive?

This is what I figured. For bands, the set up looks incredible. But chains, man it even looks dicey for a monolift. I agree 100%. It will trash your rack.
Just to reference, we discussed this issue here and your response below: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...post1482230891
I'm glad that you confirmed this to be an issue for chains. I'll be using my setup for chains or the accessory IronAbrams linked us to.



For some reason, I thought you owned one. I guess you went to a gym with both bars? That's how you did your comparison?

[MGM711]

For some reason, I thought you owned one. I guess you went to a gym with both bars? That's how you did your comparison?

No, I don't own one. I just use my buddy's Duffalo Bar at his gym every so often. I bought a Buffalo Bar for a screamin deal a couple years ago and have just been using that, but the Duff Bar has always been on my mind the whole time. I brought in my Buffalo Bar when we did the comp.

[Duplicitous]

Great review, Synthetickiller. Now that I've snatched up all but 2 of the machines I'd like to eventually get for my home gym, I've started looking at adding some specialty bars. The Buffalo/Duffalo bars have definitely piqued my interest and I'm thinking probably the Kabuki or the Vulcan.

[matrix563]

im jus happy i have an ironmind buffalo bar. i can avoid all this nonsense.

😁