Barbells Buying Guide- A Comprehensive Checklist of Essential Factors

Barbells are the cornerstone of strength training, offering unmatched versatility and value to your fitness regimen. Whether you are beginning your weightlifting journey, mastering deadlifts, or simply perfecting your squats, choosing the suitable barbells is essential to enhance your performance. However, with countless options varying in types and weights, finding the suitable barbell for your home or gym facility can feel overwhelming. 

In the guide below, we will explain everything you need to know to find the perfect barbell tailored to your unique requirements.

Barbells Buying Guide- Factors to Consider

Barbells are essential strength training equipment, with free weights attached to each end. As versatile workout equipment, barbells target and strengthen a wide range of muscles by offering controlled resistance. A suitable barbell can withstand years of use, while investing in the wrong one may lead to discomfort, hindrance in your fitness goals, and even injuries. 

Factors to Consider When Buying a Barbell:

Types of barbells:

When buying a barbell, consider the different types and choose the one that best fits your needs.

1. Standard:

The standard barbell has remained popular because of its versatility and practicality. You’ve probably seen it at every fitness centre you’ve ever visited since it is commonly used and found. Bench presses, squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, hip thrusts, and curls are just a few of the many exercises that may be done with a barbell. It weighs around 45 pounds and measures 5-7 feet in most cases. 

Powerlifting:

Powerlifting barbells are renowned and adored for their stiffness. Despite having the same dimensions as a standard barbell, these have a far higher load capacity than the regular one. The rigidity of the powerlifter bar is achieved through the use of high-strength steel in its formation. They are, thus, typically more expensive. Powerlifters can keep a firm hold on these because they don’t spin. A firm grasp is also made easier by the highly rough knurling.

Olympic Weightlifting:

This barbell is ideal for Olympic-level training because it is common during qualifying and other events. Since the standard barbell resembles the Olympic barbell so closely, you might be tempted to use it for training instead. Nonetheless, a handful of distinctions may impact your training and results. Olympic barbells are 45 pounds and often have a thicker design with a 2-inch diameter. For the Olympians’ protection, the 45-pound barbell has an additional whip and is designed to slide within the hand’s hold, so the knurling is gentler to prevent harm. However, these barbells are significantly more expensive than standard ones due to the high-quality steel used.

Deadlift:

A deadlift barbell with an extra whip allows weightlifters to rapidly raise the bar from the floor. With more knurling for better grip control, these barbells are the same length and weight as a standard barbell. However, this bar is only suitable for deadlifts due to the whip. Using this bar can help you break your deadlift records.

2. Tensile strength:

The barbell’s breaking point is defined by its tensile strength, measured by PSI. The range is from 160,000 to 215,000 PSI for all barbells. Since various barbells have various PSI requirements, a barbell’s lesser tensile strength sometimes indicates lower quality.

3. Knurling:

Barbell knurling, often called knurl, is the groove pattern on the shaft in the shape of a crosshatch. According to the knurl’s kind and degree of aggression, it digs into your palm and makes your hand and the barbell work together more tightly, giving you the optimal grip. The intensity of the knurl will depend on the depth and width of the grooves. More intense knurling and a firmer grip result from greater depth and desirable width. Therefore, a 1.5 mm knurl is considerably more aggressive than a 1.2 mm knurl and a 1.0 mm knurl.

4. Whip:

A whip’s function is to impart forward motion into bar-induced lifts. The barbell bends significantly when the whip is high before snapping back to its straight shape. For the lifter, this can be a strategic asset.

5. Coating:

There are several barbell coatings available, including:

Chrome:

Chrome has a higher oxidation resistivity than oxide and is a more affordable alternative. It lets you feel a mild knurl and has a really bright finish. However, coatings may start to flake off over time, so hard chrome is the superior investment.

Ceramic:

Coating the bars with ceramic makes them stand out in a rainbow of colours, even camouflage, and it also protects them from things like sweat and dirt. Unfortunately, racks with metal J-Hooks or bar rests cannot be coated with ceramic because metal on metal ruins the coating.

Stainless Steel:

Stainless steel barbells are the best option if you live in a coastal area or endure harsh winters where humidity and moisture can cause rust to form on the barbell. Regarding coatings on bare steel, stainless steel offers the best combination of finish and durability among all the options listed above.

6. Bearings:

Weightlifting bars, in particular, are vulnerable to drops; thus, high-quality bearings are essential. Bars of lower quality may become unevenly rotated or even crack.

Buy Barbells that Enhance Intense Training Sessions- Buy at Keystone Fitness

Finally, getting the correct barbell is essential for a safe and productive lifting session for beginners, professional lifters, and commercial training facilities. However, when choosing a suitable barbell, consider the factors mentioned above and always buy from a reputable seller like Keystone Fitness. 

Here at Keystone Fitness, we have a wide variety of barbells perfect for any strength training routine. No matter what kind of strength training you’re into—powerlifting, Olympic lifting, or general strength training—our barbells will provide you with the efficiency, durability, and precision you need. Built to endure rigorous training sessions, our barbells are the perfect choice for commercial gyms and home workout sessions. Some of the best barbells available at Keystone include York Rubber Fixed Pro Curl Barbells Set, York Rubber Fixed Pro Straight Barbell Set, York Rubber Fixed Pro Curl Barbells (Singles) and more. Visit our website to explore a wide range of available high-quality barbells.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What makes a barbell good enough?

Check the barbell’s tensile strength to see how good it is. Tensile strength, expressed as PSI, is the ultimate stress a bar can endure before giving way. The optimum barbell has a tensile strength of around 150,000 to 199,000 PSI for most people.

2. How much weight should a beginner first choose for barbells?

If you’re new to working out or haven’t exercised in a while, 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of dumbbells will be enough to improve your appearance noticeably. However, if you want to continue building muscle, you must raise the weight.

3. How do I know if a barbell can handle heavy lifting?

To determine whether a barbell is suitable for heavy lifting, look for its tensile strength, load capacity, and PSI rating. A good barbell must have a tensile strength of at least 150,000 PSI and a load capacity of around 700 pounds or more for heavy lifting exercises.