Experienced Chain user size preferences

[Spartan1414]

My question is I'm setting up my first set of chains and I'm torn between 3/4" or 5/8". It seems like you never see anyone using a single pair of 5/8's. And that 3/4's would be more useful to avoid being the guy with 19 sets of chains on the bar. Also throwing a single 3/4" over the bar for deads rather than piling on sets of 5/8's would be more convenient.

I pause bench about 335 1RM totally raw and when I throw my slingshot on I'm hitting 365 for sets of 8.

3/4"-6' 42lbs with leader per pair
5/8"-6' 67 lbs with leader per pair


I workout in a commercial gym that doesn't have chains available and confirmed it was acceptable to bring my own chains in. Though I'd prefer the simplicity of a single heavy set in my bag than multiple sets and bulk of the smaller chains. I'm 6 months out from my first meet and I recently added bands into my training. It's really helped my strength increase. I'm sold on Accommodating resistance and ready for a chain cycle next month.

[coachdeez]

Go for 3/4". I have some I can sell you if you don't already have a good source.

[Spartan1414]

I must be way more excited about training with chains than your average bob.com guy. I see 1 vote for each size. It appears to a noob like me that all the recommendations would have me using multiple pairs of 5/8's for my current strength level which seems a bit annoying when I could just be using a single 3/4". Are the smaller chains in multiple sets just more prevalent due to their cheaper cost?

[coachdeez]

5/8" are 40 lbs per pair and 3/4" are 50 lbs per pair. Don't over think it too much...just get whatever makes the most sense depending on how much accommodating resistance you want, how much you feel like carrying, and how much you can spend.