Olympic Weights

Choosing an Olympic barbell should not be that difficult for the average user, but there are a few things to consider before making your purchase. A standard barbell is 7 foot long and weighs 45 pounds, although there are other lighter(and shorter) options that can be useful for overhead work for example. Even without a weight bench or squat rack, there are still countless exercises that can be performed, such as side press, bent row, deadlifts, push press, and dozens of others. For most people, an average quality bar is sufficient in terms of the amount of weight that can be used with the bar, so beyond that you should consider the comfort of the grip or knurling, which is the texture on the bar that allows for a safe grip when lifting. Next we will talk about a few of your options when considering an Olympic barbell.

Standard And Heavy Duty Olympic Barbell

This barbell is most often seen in commercial gyms and serious home gyms. It is a high strength barbell used for simple movements and is made with a consistent knurling depth to provide a solid grip. The weight restrictions on a standard barbell can be up to 700 pounds depending on the particular products but the heavy duty barbells can go upwards to 1500 pounds, which of course is far above what is needed for the average user. Generally, each are equipped with rubber end caps to protect floors and other equipment.

EZ Barbells and More

These barbells are designed for specific lifts such as reverse grip rows. The bent-bar design provides balance and comfort that are not comfortable on a straight bar. These bars are shorter than standard bars generally ranging from 47” to 53”. There are other bent-bar designs such as the Super Curl barbell which has an even more defined bends to allow for better hammer grip curling and extension exercises. Tricep Barbells or otherwise known as Bomber Bars are specifically designed for tricep extension work and are actually a frame work of bars that allow you to grip each center bar. So as you can see, there are many options outside of the standard straight bar you can use to target specific areas more effectively(and safely).

Olympic Barbell Collars and Clips

Barbell collars/clips keep the weight plates in place. Clips are far less sturdy and through time can wear out and even break. This is not something you want to have happen when your lifting! Most collars and clamps will also slip on you a bit, which is why it’s important to check out your clamps and weight plates before each lift to make sure they have no become lose or off balance. Some collars and clips can be time consuming to remove and for some clips it can be difficult to pinch hard enough to easily remove them, especially for this with smaller hands. Muscle clamps have become a very popular collar because they are easily removed and but still a offer solid hold with minimal sliding. Muscle clamps tend to be more expensive but are a great choice for home gyms where a lot of weight is not required. One more thing to consider when purchasing Olympic barbell collars is the weight. Some are no more than a few ounces while others can be 5 pounds or more, each.