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Welcome to Home Gym Club! Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
Reviewing the Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Barbell 2.0
Our top picks for the best home saunas
A back and shoulder workout that isn’t for the faint of heart
Plus: Top deals from NordicTrack, Snode, Sole, and Plunge!
Test Drive
Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Barbell 2.0 Review
While some may argue that “weight is weight” and any ol’ barbell will do the trick, we believe the details matter. Things like tensile strength, sleeve construction, knurling, and finish can dramatically impact how a bar feels in your hands—and how well it holds up over time.
The Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Barbell 2.0 proves that you don’t need to spend Eleiko-level money to get premium performance. With a tensile strength of up to 240,000 PSI, smooth-spinning needle bearings, dual knurl markings, and a budget-friendly price hovering just over $300, this barbell is purpose-built for lifters who want quality, durability, and versatility without overspending.
In our Bells of Steel Olympic Weightlifting Barbell 2.0 review, Senior Staff Writer Amanda Capritto breaks down how this bar performs under real training conditions—and why it delivers such impressive value for the price.
Weigh In
What is your top fitness goal for 2026?
Around the Horn
Best Home Saunas
Whether you’re chasing faster muscle recovery, improved cardiovascular health, or simply a daily ritual to unplug and reset, the best home saunas offer more variety and performance than ever—ranging from traditional high-heat steam rooms to cutting-edge infrared and red light therapy options.
After extensive hands-on testing, our team identified a few standouts:
The Sun Home Saunas Equinox 2-Person Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna earned our top overall spot thanks to its premium build, full-spectrum heating, and recovery-focused features.
If you want the classic sauna experience, the Plunge Sauna delivers authentic traditional heat in a sleek, home-friendly design.
For those looking to stack recovery modalities, the Relaxe Caldera Infrared Sauna combines infrared heat with built-in red light therapy.
The Sunlighten Amplify II Infrared Sauna shines as a top-tier two-person option with exceptional temperature control and comfort.
No matter your space, budget, or recovery goals, there’s a home sauna that fits your lifestyle. In our revamped roundup, we break down the best options on the market so you can find the right sweat-inducing sanctuary to help you recover quicker, perform better, and feel your best every day.
Trainer’s Corner
Back And Shoulder Workout
As a competitive weightlifter who took his talents to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Senior Staff Writer Caine Wilkes has always strived for a strong back and shoulders. From the initial pull off the floor to standing with a big personal record overhead, the clean and jerk (his specialty lift) demands a strong back to maintain positions and solid shoulders to support the weight throughout.
Even if you’re not a competitive weightlifter, your back and shoulders are important, both for quality of life and for any general strength training. In the gym, we are all striving for a toned, shredded back and some boulder shoulders. But it takes time (and a bit of know-how) to get the most out of your gym visit.
Lending his strength training expertise, Caine covers the reasons why you can train your back and shoulders together, as well as some great exercises that’ll help you build both muscle groups. Plus, the big man even provides a quick back and shoulder workout for you to try out on your own!
GGR Deal Zone
Welcome to the Deal Zone — where the gains are BIG and the prices are LOW. Each week, the GGR squad tracks down the best sales and promos on everything from strength and cardio equipment to supplements and recovery tools so you can stay on top of your game without breaking the bank.
Let us do the hunting so you can focus on the sweating.
NordicTrack Winter Sale
Save up to $1,300 on smart machines and $2,100 on bundles (plus free shipping!)
Check out our reviews on some of our favorite NordicTrack products:
X24 Treadmill final price:
$4,299.99$2,999.99RW900 Rower final price:
$2,799.99$2,299.99X24 Bike final price:
$2,799.99$2,299.99
Sole New Year, New You Sale
Save up to $300 on treadmills and ellipticals and up to $200 on bikes (plus free shipping!)
🚨 Sale ends February 1 🚨
Here are some of our favorite Sole products on sale:
F63 Treadmill - Up to 15% incline, max speed of 12 MPH, and folds for easy storage
E25 Elliptical - 20 levels of resistance, Bluetooth speakers, and up to 20% incline
F63 Treadmill final price:
$1,299.99$1099.99E25 Elliptical final price:
$1,299.99$1199.99
Plunge More, Spend Less
Take 20% off cold tubs and saunas for a limited time
This promo also includes $1,000 off pro assembly and 50% off extended warranties
Whether you’re trying to chill out or break a sweat, we’ve got you covered with expert insight:
Plunge Sauna final price:
$12,990$10,390The Plunge final price:
$6,990$5,590Plunge All-In final price:
$9,990$7,990
Snode New Year, Stronger You Sale
Take 10% off everything site-wide with the code NEWME10
📦 FREE shipping on all orders over $99
We highly recommend the AD80 Adjustable Dumbbells
Weight range between 10-80 lbs
Drop-proof design from up to 32”
Knurled handle
AD80 final price:
$795$715.50








