You may be surprised at how much you can gain simply by hoisting a barbell in the air in strength training. We all know that the barbell, as a longer version of the dumbbell, is often used for free weight training and competitive sports, such as powerlifting, Olympic weight lifting, and CrossFit.
Now that you know why you'd want to use barbells, you might be wondering how heavy a barbell is. That leads to our topic today.
How much does an Olympic barbell weigh?
Knowing how much you’re lifting is quite important, especially when you are using more than one bar, or exercising at different locations. It is crucial for you to know the weight you’re lifting. This article will unveil the weight and functions of different types of barbells, which may be of some help for you to select the right bar.
Standard Bar v.s. Olympic Bar
Standard barbells are about 5 to 6 feet long and weigh between 15 to 25 lbs. Regular barbells often have a load capacity of 100 to 200 lbs.
A standard Olympic bar weighs 20kg, or about 45 pounds, and is typically 7.2ft long. The Olympic bar is designed to meet the IWF's (International Weightlifting Federation) competition criteria. It has more aggressive knurling since both the clean & jerk and snatches require an athlete to have a strong grip. The center knurling is often smooth, so there’s not a hard catch on the neck during the clean & jerk, front squat, and clean variations. The rotation is another reason why some prefer an Olympic bar. Since the sleeves rotate, the amount of torque produced by the plates is reduced, resulting in a more stable grip and less stress on your wrists and elbows. This is especially important when performing fast movements like the clean & jerks, snatches, and so on, where the barbell must rotate quickly. It's also useful for exercises like squats and deadlifts where your grip needs to rotate slightly.
For men, the standard barbell weighs in at 44 pounds while for women, it only weighs 33 pounds. The Olympic bar is designed for weightlifting purposes. If you’re a weightlifting athlete or train a heavy weightlifting style, you'll want to invest in an Olympic bar.
Bar Weight: 40±3lbs
Weight Capacity: 500, 700, 1000 lbs
"The Olympic bar is of excellent quality. Great balance and perfect for my entire exercise routine."
How much does an EZ curl bar weigh?
The EZ curl bar, which has a W-like shape in the middle, usually weighs around 10 to 40 pounds, much shorter and lighter than a standard barbell. EZ curl bar is a weightlifting bar variation typically used for biceps curls, triceps workouts and rowing movements to work smaller muscle groups. It’s ideal for those who lack wrist mobility or suffer pain when performing the straight bar curl.
Bar Weight: 17.5lbs
Weight Capacity: 350 lbs
"Great knurling, good angles, smooth bearings. Highly recommend!"
Bar Weight: 17.5lbs
Weight Capacity: 350 lbs
"Bar weight is good. Grip is good. I've used it a lot since I got it and haven't had a problem."
How much does a hex bar weigh?
The hex bar, also known as a trap bar, typically ranges from 35 to 65 pounds. The bar is shaped like a hexagon with two weight sleeves on both sides, allowing users to lift in the middle of the weight. It is mainly used for squats, deadlift variations, farmer carries and shrugs. The hexagon is welded in the center with two handles, allowing you to stand in the middle and pick up the bar by the handles, which provides a linear bar path and keeps the weight centered with the body’s mid-line during lifts. That means the weight is closer to one’s center of gravity, and the bar puts less shear force on the lumbar spine, thus reducing pressure on your lower back and targeting your quadriceps.
Tired for looking at trap bars with a weight capacity of 500lbs, this RitFit 47'' Black E-Coat EZ Curl Bar has a weight capacity of 750lbs.
Bar Weight: 47lbs
Weight Capacity: 750 lbs
Bar Weight: 47lbs
Weight Capacity: 750 lbs
"Exactly as described. Packaged well. The knurling is great and provides an excellent grip."
How much does a safety squat bar weigh?
You’ll need a durable bar that can maintain its integrity when you want to squat a few hundred pounds. The average squat barbell weighs around 44 pounds. Compared to the traditional back squat, using a safety squat bar enables you to increase your maximum working weight. A safety squat bar can alleviate shoulder strain, and you won’t have to worry it will bend when using heavier plates.
Bar Weight: 43.5lbs
Weight Capacity: 700 lbs
Lifting a barbell, for starters, can be a fast track to your fitness goals. RitFit presents various bars and plates for you to choose. Purchasing a quality barbell can be pricey. If you want to make it right the first time, click the link below to find some barbells you can trust when you load hundreds of pounds over your chest or back.
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