Buying Guide For Barbells: Features, Dimensions, Types

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The barbell is hands down the most versatile tool in any gym to make unlimited gains. However, purchasing a barbell is a sizeable investment that can seem overwhelming because they come in different shapes and sizes.

How do you choose the right barbell for your home gym? Different shapes and sizes of barbells exist to meet the needs for specific goals. Each barbell presents a unique experience based on the features like the knurling, sleeves, whip, durability, and finish.

Keep reading to explore the different types and various features of barbells so you can choose the most suitable one for you.

Table of Contents

Types Of Barbell

There are so many types of barbells! The most common ones are the following five.

#1. Best Standard Barbell

Any beginner or athlete training for functional fitness would find value in an affordable standard barbell. These are typically lighter than barbells that you would find in a commercial or private gym; it’s perfect for a beginner who isn’t ready for competition bars. You can use them for squats, bench, deadlifts, hip thrusts, overhead press. You name it!

The CAP STANDARD BARBELL is an affordable option for anyone looking for an 84″ long, 19-pound barbell with standard knurling and no center knurl. You can pair the 1″ sleeve diameter with any standard weight plates with 1″ center holes.

Get your standard bar on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LOBPYK?tag=homestrengt0c-20

#2. Best Olympic Weightlifting Bar

If you see a future in Olympic weightlifting or already weightlifting, it’s best to invest in a reliable Olympic weightlifting bar.

The ROGUE BAR 2.0 offers self-lubricating, composite bushings to ensure the most fluid dynamic movements. The bar has dual knurling markings for both Olympic and power lifts.

Get your weightlifting bar on Rogue here:https://www.roguefitness.com/the-rogue-bar-2-0

#3. Best Power Bar

The power bar is the best choice for maxing out in the squat, bench, and deadlift of powerlifting.

The ROGUE OHIO POWER BAR is the go-to, trusted power bar whether you’re a beginner learning the squat, bench, and deadlift or an experienced lifter with some space to expand your home gym. The coarse but non-abrasive knurl pattern and little to no whip make this bar an excellent choice for powerlifting.

Get your power bar on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-45lb-ohio-power-bar-black-zinc

#4. Best Trap Or Hex Bar

The trap bar, also known as a hex bar, is a hexagon-shaped bar that is used for deadlifts and shrugs but relieves stress on the lumbar spine for those with back problems. The trap bar forces the arms to be placed by your side and your butt lowered.

The CAP TRAP BAR is a roomy 56″ long, 52-pound trap bar to be loaded with Olympic weight plates.

Get your trap bar on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083R4RMTH?tag=homestrengt0c-20

#5. Best Curl Bar

Another bar that is NOT straight is the curl bar. The curl bar is an angled bar typically used for smaller muscle groups like the biceps and triceps.

The EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS CURL BAR is an affordable curl bar with an angled grip to reduce discomfort from the pressure of the wrists, elbows, and shoulders as you would sometimes find with straight bars.

Get your curl bar on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0868WQ5TL?tag=homestrengt0c-20

Features To Consider When Buying A Barbell

Alright, after deciding on a type of barbell, there’s more you have to consider. Let’s avoid buying the wrong barbell by considering these five features.

#1. Knurling On Barbell

The knurling is the rough, textured pattern that supports grip on the barbell. The texture of the knurling can be aggressive or standard.

Aggressive knurling helps barbell grip for lifters with small hands and powerlifters while attempting heavy weights.
Standard knurling is more suitable for weightlifting to provide a good grip that won’t rip the skin off your hands.

Barbell Center Knurling Or Not?

The center knurling refers to the patch of knurling smack in the center of the barbell. Have you noticed some barbells have a center knurling while others don’t?

The center knurling exists to increase grip for exercises that need grip in the center. The center knurling is leveraged by powerlifters who benefit from the barbell grip on the upper back during back squats or chest during front squats. Although all certified Olympic weightlifting bars for men have a center knurling, there’s no real use for it in weightlifting.
The smooth center will prevent scraping the chest and neck during Olympic lifts. For weightlifters and functional fitness athletes, the choice for center knurling will come down to preference.

What Are Barbell Knurl Marks For?

The knurling usually has rings to help guide your grip on the bar. You can use them for reference to stay consistent in your lifts.

Powerlifting bars have markings 32″ apart to check the maximum hand width on the bench press.
Olympic bars have markings 36″ apart to ensure consistent hand width.

#2. Why Do Barbell Sleeves Spin?

Let’s break down the sleeve spin. The sleeves refer to the ends of a barbell where you load the weights. These sleeves rotate from the mechanisms that sit between the sleeve and the bar – called the bearings and bushings.

Bearings provide the least friction for a faster and smoother spin. This feature makes it favorable for weightlifting because the movements require quick rotation of the bar during certain parts of the lifts. There are three types of bearings – ball, thrust, and needle. Ball bearings tend to be the cheapest, followed by thrust and needle bearings.
Bushings provide moderate rotation to reduce the friction between the sleeve and the bar. Bushings are often best for recreational lifters and powerlifters because a rapid rotating barbell isn’t needed. You can typically find bushings in brass or bronze – bronze is considered the better material.

#3. Barbell Whip Or No Whip?

If you’ve watched an Olympic weightlifter snatch or clean and jerk in competition, you’ve seen the barbell bend and whip through the movement. The whip of a barbell refers to the elasticity or flex of the bar.

With whip, the flex is useful for lifts that would benefit from the momentum of the bend like in weightlifting.
No whip is preferred for slower powerlifting movements like squat, bench, and deadlift because a whippy bar can cause balance and stability issues when the weight goes beyond 500 pounds.

#4. Barbell Strength

You can assess barbell strength using two properties, tensile and yield strength. You can often find specifications on tensile, but yield strength is less common.

Tensile strength is the breaking point of the barbell, rated in pounds per square inch (PSI). The higher the tensile strength, the more durable the barbell. According to BarBend, the following scale provides a guideline to a barbell’s tensile strength.

<150,000 – Decent for beginners, but spend extra to make the investment last.

150,000-180,000 – Good, suitable for most athletes.

>180,000 – Well constructed barbell that should last a long time.

Yield strength is the amount of weight a barbell can be loaded with until it becomes permanently deformed. Reaching the point of permanent deformation is different from elastic deformation, often referred to as whip.

#5. Finish On Barbell

We ranked the finish based on the protection against rusting (#1 having the best protection against rust, #6 having the least protection against rust).

Ranking	Finish	Price	Pros	Cons
1	Cerakote	$$$	✓ Most protection against rust and corrosion ✓ Comes in colors (green, orange, etc.)	✗ Relatively more expensive
2	Stainless Steel	$$$	✓ Highly corrosion resistant ✓ Bare steel feel	✗ Relatively more expensive
3	Hard Chrome	$$$	✓ Relatively more protection against rust and corrosion	✗ Slippery compared to bare steel, but knurling can compensate
4	Black Zinc	$$	✓ Relatively lower cost ✓ Stands up better to rust and corrosion than black oxide	✗ Knurling less aggressive ✗ Black wears over time (lasts longer than black oxide)
5	Black Oxide	$	✓ Relatively lower cost ✓ Bare steel feel	✗ Mild protection against corrosion ✗ Black wears over time
6	Bare Steel	$$	✓ Nice grip ✓ Natural feel	✗ Rusts quickly ✗ Regular maintenance required

Dimensions Of Barbell

If the specifications are unclear to you, the following will provide some clarity to the dimensions and weight of the barbell through ranges and guidelines from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and International Powerlifting Federation (IPF).

#1. What Length Barbell Do You Need?

Range: 48 – 96″ (1,219.2 – 2,438.4 mm)
Most common: 86.6″ (2,200 mm)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for men: 86.6″ (2,200 mm)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for women: 79.1″ (2,010 mm)
Official powerlifting IPF bars: 86.6″ or less (2,200 mm)

#2. Diameter Of Barbell Bar

Range: 1 – 1.3″ (25 – 32 mm)
Most common: 1 & 1.1″ (25 & 28 mm)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for men: 1.1″ (28 mm)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for women: 1″ (25 mm)
Official powerlifting IPF bars: 1.1″ (28 – 29 mm)

#3. Diameter Of Barbell Sleeve

Range: 1 – 2.2″ (25 – 52 mm)
Most common: 2″ (50 mm)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for men: 2″ (50 mm)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for women: 2″ (50 mm)
Official powerlifting IPF bars: 2″ (50 – 52 mm)

#4. Weight Of Barbell

Range: 20 – 45 lbs (9 – 20.4 kg)
Most common: 44.1 & 45 lbs (20 & 20.4 kg)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for men: 44.1 lbs (20 kg)
Official Olympic weightlifting IWF bars for women: 33.1 lbs (15 kg)
Official powerlifting IPF bars: 44.1 lbs (20 kg)