FWIW we have both the Economy bar and Men's bar from Pendlay, (and women's, I guess) with the Hi-temp bumpers. They're holding up well with moderate to heavy abuse. The economy bar got abused a bit (let's just say we have established that Ken doesn't like it when you dump his bar + 120 kg onto the safety bars of the cage).
Also FWIW, Eddie and Lisa Lugo at the Garage Gym Store are coming out with a needle bearing O-lifting bar for about $150, and bumpers are pretty cheap as well. Worth a look, I think.
http://www.thegaragegymstore.storebu...ge/5130789.htm