Barbell Diameter Poll

[Lishnik]

Hey guys!

I posted a poll in the "Workout Equipment" section about barbell diameter preference. I'm equipping a gym I'm setting up and one of the things I've noticed is the range of barbell diameters available which range from about 28 mm to 30 mm. I understand there are reasons i.e. standards for Olympic lifts, power lifting, cheapness of steel, more power with smaller diameter, larger diamater works forearms more, etc. Just curious what people like, find comfortable, use, etc. I"m purchasing about 15 bars. Appreciate feedback on your experience.

Thanks for your time brahs and brahsettes!

[Corbi]

Hey guys!

I posted a poll in the "Workout Equipment" section about barbell diameter preference. I'm equipping a gym I'm setting up and one of the things I've noticed is the range of barbell diameters available which range from about 28 mm to 30 mm.

Those sound awful small, 28 mm is 1.10" and the 30mm is 1.18", you sure you typed that correctly?

[NorwichGrad]

I will give you my BIASED opinion.. 28mm is best.. If you ever have gym members who want to get into Olympic lifting, 28mm is the standard for men. For women, for future reference, it is 25mm, 15kg (33-lbs).

Even with 28mm bar, one can still do benchpress, squats, deadlift, and curling in the squat rack while standing one foot on a bosu ball, with no problem.

[drudixon]

I like thin. Thinner the better, even with squats, for me anyway.

[ironwill2008]

28mm. Good ones aren't cheap though.

[DuracellBunny]

28mm. Good ones aren't cheap though.

What he said. Cheap bars have to be replaced far more often, so not only are they worse to use, they don't save you any significant money over time either.

[Corbi]

I'm confused, Olympic lifts utilize skinny 1" bars?

[ironwill2008]

I'm confused, Olympic lifts utilize skinny 1" bars?

Yes. Dimensions are spec'ed at 28 mm or 1.1" for Olympic lifting. In order for a bar that thickness to be strong, it has to be manufactured of very high-quality (read, expensive) steel alloy. There's also a certain amount of 'whip' or 'give' built into bars built for Oly lifting.

What you'll see in most fitness centers is usually bars that are a little thicker, so that they'll still be strong, but made of cheaper steel, thus costing less to make.



Some of the different powerlifting feds will specify slightly thicker bars, like 29mm. I'm not a powerlifter, but I'd assume the larger legal diameter is simply to accomodate the often huge loads lifted with that equipment.

[NorwichGrad]

I'm confused, Olympic lifts utilize skinny 1" bars?

Yessir.. We use hook grip, as you know. Imagine a relatively small lifter with small hands, say from China, whipping a bar from the floor into the overhead position in less than 2 seconds, and he has girly hands.. He is gonna lose the bar if the diameter is 30mm or more..


BTW, OP. If you consider 28mm, these guys sell them. They offer the best value, imo. Not quite $1200 Eleiko bars, but good enough for training.

http://www.roguefitness.com/weightli...lates/bars.php

[richr85]

Took me awhile to get used to them, but I prefer 28 and 29mm bars.