Could not find Element Fitness online for some reason making this a not-so-informed purchase. I would have preferred more info about the product but taking the risk of purchasing it online seemed to pay off. Shaft is made of Nickel which is more durable than the more common bar material chrome. Knurling seems to be a somewhat aggressive volcano type knurl which is also pretty decent. Workmanship is very good. Knowing it was designed in Australia is nice to know. Bearing type Barbell with good spin. Overall, this is a great option for someone looking to start a home gym setup focusing mainly on the four major lifts (bench, squat, deadlift, press). However, this is not the bar for you if you plan on using this for CrossFit or Olympic style movements wherein the bar is constantly dropped to the floor, as it says this bar is “not made to be dropped during workout” on the website. Also, if you are serious about your gym setup, have the budget for a proper investment, and patience for importing, I suggest to best look at the more tried and tested brands such as Rogue or Eleiko. Bottomline, I am pretty happy with this product.
