The Best Olympic Bar and Barbell

by Matt Wilson
Last Updated: 25/02/2021
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Lifting weights is one of the best things a person can do in the gym (I mean, that’s kind of the purpose, if you think about it).

But if you want to have a gym in your home (a home gym, some would say) then you definitely need to get some weights and a bar or a barbel. If you want to get the best fitness experience you should buy a high-quality barbell or a bar.

This is not just a question of comfort but of safety as well. The best olympic bar, besides its effectiveness, has to be safe and easy to use.

There are many olympic bars on the market but to really know what you’re buying you need to get as much information as you can (before the actual purchase). 

It’s very convenient that you found this article because I am going to do just that – help you choose the best olympic barbell on the market.

Keep reading this list of best olympic barbells to find out which product is best for you!

The 9 Best Olympic Bar and Barbell

1. Olympic Barbell 8kg Aluminium Technique 6ft

Muscle Motion bar

This barbell bar is great for those who are trying to learn many types of lifting. It offers opportunities ranging from beginner to expert level. It’s among the best barbells on the market, ideal for bench press.

It is highly effective for technical lifts of Olympic weightlifting. The Aluminium Barbel is heavy-duty equipment, made especially for those who want to improve their lifting technique. You just need to learn the technique or some bumper plates, and you are ready to go.

The dimensions of this bad boy are 6ft – 1830mm long x Ø28mm shaft size and it weighs around 8 kilograms. Its shaft is 1260 mm long between the internal flange of the end sleeves. 

Its weight capacity is around 50 kilograms which means it’s not intended for heavy lifts! Its end sleeves are well crafted, made specially to provide a smooth spin through its brass bushing feature.

Pros

  • Top quality bar
  • Very cheap
  • Composite bushings
  • Nice spin

Cons

  • There are no needle bearings

To make this barbell safer, the creator of this product made its end sleeves permanently locked by internal circlips, giving you peace of mind when doing your workout. The bar also comes with a composite bushings which gives it a nice and smooth rotation.

The bar has nice knurling that will prevent slipping and ensure a more stable grip. Its durability is guaranteed through its chrome coating on the end sleeves of the barbell. 

2. Muscle Motion 20kg Cerakote Blue Olympic Barbell

Olympic barbell

Muscle Motion Olympic barbell comes wrapped in unique ceramic polymer for longer resistance to corrosion and impact. It has a composite bushing that will withstand powerful impacts.

It has a load capacity of 1500 lbs and includes Cerakote shafts. It is a highly versatile product for beginners but also professional lifters.

The bar weighs 20 kilograms, with a length of 2 meters and 20 centimetres. The shaft diameter is 28 millimetres and its length is around 130 centimetres.

It has nice sleeves (50 x 41 centimetres) and dual knurl marks. Sleeves are coated in black hardened chrome for extended durability and the strength of the tensile is 190, 000 PSI.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Great capacity Nice sleeves

Cons

  • None

3. Morgan Delta 20kg Cerakote Olympic Barbell

Morgan Delta

The Morgan Olympic Barbell is a corrosion-resistant piece of equipment with grippy knurling and rotating sleeves for a full workout experience. It’s an all-around piece of equipment, recommended for athletes, professionals and beginners.

Cerakote polymer coating gives this barbell an additional edge in comparison to other types of barbells. It’s a grip-friendly barbell, fully resistant to corrosion, oxidation and rust.

Pros

  • Very resistant bar
  • Nice chrome finish collars 

Cons

  • Pricey

Don’t worry about your hands because the zinc coating of this barbell works like a charm to prevent the effect of sweating and chalk. Also, this piece of equipment has an 815 kilograms weight capacity.

It has no center knurling and it weighs around 20 kilograms. This barbell has a 100% black hardened chrome finish collars and camouflage Cerakote shaft.

The shaft is 28 millimetres in diameter and comes with 200 000 PSI tensile strength capacity.

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4. Total 66kg – 220cm Olympic Barbell Bar

Total bar

This Olympic Barbell bar comes with weight plates. The weight plate is coated with a hammertoe finish for additional support and protection.

It has a standard 51.5mm hole, suitable for barbells of appropriate dimensions (which means all 50mm diameter barbells).

The bar is 220 cm long and weighs around 16 kilograms. The maximum load capacity is around 250 kilograms (if you need something stronger I am afraid to imagine how strong you are).

Pros

  • Has a much needed weight capacity
  • Strong bar
  • Durable plates

Cons

  • A bit pricey

The material of this barbell bar is a heavy-duty iron that will help you achieve your fitness goals while providing you with the best possible protection (at the same time).

Many professionals will recommend this product for its design and its adjustability to almost all fitness training routines.

5. XIN Total 42kg – 180cm Olympic Barbell

Barbell

This product will be a great asset to your home gym. It comes with a rubber coated weight plate. It’s one of the best barbells on the market.

It has a solid construction and a great design, for users that want to perform olympic lifts or have a casual workout session at home.

It has a 51mm diameter hole to fit almost any olympic bar. It’s embossed with KGs and LBs. The bar comes with a heavy duty structural integrity, built for aggressive knurling.

Pros

  • Anti-slip design
  • Great for powerlifting

Cons

  • The hole could be wider

The great anti-slip design will prevent dropping and ensure a smooth spin for an optimal workout. The rubber coating on the plates offers great plate protection and will keep your floor safe.

It’s made from stainless steel and is great for weightlifting. 

6. XIN Olympic Curl Bar with Weights

Curled bar

This olympic bar is one of the best olympic bars on the market. It comes with steel weight plates, coated with a grey hammertone finish. This great bar is perfect for weight training and has enough power to withstand bending.

It comes with a standard 51.5mm hole, suitable for most barbels (just make sure they are 50 in diameter). The two plates have triple grip handles for additional safety.

XIN powerlifting bar is also perfect for olympic lifts and has a black zinc shaft. It’s available in many sizes or weights, like 1.25, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20kg.

Pros

  • Great for powerlifting
  • Has a warranty
  • Well designed
  • Cheap

Cons

  • Prone to corrosion

The curl bar is 120cm long and made for everyday use. It has a solid construction and evidently is well designed, ensuring smooth rotation in your workouts.

The maximum load is around 100 kilograms and the weight of the bar itself is around 6 kilograms. The two spin lock collars come with the bar as well.

This product has a heavy duty structural integrity and is made to be quite durable. There is also a warranty from the manufacturer. 

7. XIN Total Olympic Barbell Bar

Xin

This is another powerlifting bar from XIN. The length of this barbell is 180 cm and it also comes with weight plates. The weight plates come in pairs of 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kilograms, which makes this a very versatile bar.

It has a black zinc shaft and its plates are coated with a grey hammertone finish. The standard hole of this bar is suitable for many barbells.

Pros

  • Nice grip
  • Steel plates
  • Well designed bars

Cons

  • None

Plates come with triple grip handles and a bright zinc sleeve. It has an Excellent tensile strength, whose medium-knurl won’t shred your hands. The effective design of the XIN bar will give you much needed power in your workouts.

Its steel construction and heavy duty integrity along with premium spin lock collars are enough for giving you a reason to buy this product. 

8. HCE Olympic Triceps Barbell Bar with Spring Collars 

Barbell Bar
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HCE is a well known brand that distributes its products throughout Australia. Their fitness products are well crafted and nicely built. Their olympic triceps bar is a solid steel product, with heavy-duty structural integrity. 

It’s made from hard chrome stainless steel, which will ensure its longevity. 

Apart from its futuristic design, the bar is very easy to use and is among the best barbells out there. The medium-deep knurled grip will prevent your hands from slipping, allowing you to have a decent workout experience. 

HCE Olympic Triceps Barbell Bar, as its name suggests, is intended primarily for building triceps. We all know that it’s really hard to develop strong biceps but this piece of equipment will help you to achieve just that. 

Pros

  • Great design
  • Easy to use
  • Nice tensile strength
  • Very cheap

Cons

  • None

You can do deadlifts, squats, rows or presses on this olympic barbell. It’s ideal for home users and those who want to do barbell lifts occasionally. Also, its solid chrome hammer curl weight bar is perfect for bodybuilding or Crossfit training.

It comes with a one year warranty and has adjustable handles. Apart from security, comfort is the most important thing in a workout (if you have difficulties while doing your reps, you are not going to achieve everything you can and want in the first place). 

This bad boy is a standard hard chrome stainless steel bar with dimensions of 95 x 20 x 20 cm. Its weight is around 10 kilograms and its colour is silver. 

9. Hce 145kg Olympic Adjustable Hammertone Barbell Set 

Hammertone
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Best HCE olympic bar, with a center knurling of high quality, perfect for bench press and powerlifting. 

Its knurling will allow you to improve your form and the hammertone barbell weighs will help you achieve strength, speed and endurance gains in your workouts.

Many professional athletes and powerlifters are using this product because of its chrome cast iron coating that is specifically designed to withstand corrosion.

Pros

  • Cast Iron Plates
  • Amazing design
  • Great psi tensile strength
  • Ideal for a home gym

Cons

  • Pricey

Plates are available in various sizes and it comes with very strong, heavy-duty collar spring locks. It also has a hard chrome plated bar, which many users find very satisfying and pleasing.

This product will help you with many training routines such as squats, snatches or twists. You are able to work on your biceps, shoulder, legs and much more.

FAQ

What Size Olympic Bar Is for Me?

For an optimal whip, you need a bar with approximately 28 millimeters in diameter. 

The shorter the bar the less likely it is that it will bend. If you need more flexibility you’ll go with a longer bar.

Be careful not to buy anything longer than 2 meters (you will have troubles moving around, the bar will probably be very hard to handle and they can’t hold as much weight) or shorter than 1.5 meters to ensure it has enough power.

If you’re a beginner, you want a bar with a spin or a standard barbell, with a nice grip. Usually, you can find them in the gym.

Difference Between Bearings and Bushings

Barbels can be made with bearings or bushings. Bearing barbells are for faster lifts or olympic lifts. If you want to have clean and fast workouts you will need bearings or bearing bars [1].

For slower lits, which powerlifting is all about, you will want bushings. Bushing barbels are used for squats, bench or deadlifts, exercises where you don’t need much speed.

How to Measure a Barbel Strength?

There are two measurements: yield and a tensile strength.

Tensile Strength is the breaking point of the bar. The way it’s measured is by using a pounds per square inch measurement scale (PSI) [2]. Usually, you’ll find barbels with tensile strength between 190 and 215 000 PSI.

Yield strength will measure the permanent damage or what kind of damage will permanently deform or bend the bar. It’s measured by adding weight to both ends of the bar evenly.

Best Barbell on the Market?

My pick is Muscle Motion Olympic Barbell.

The Bottom Line

In this article, I’ve talked about some of the best barbels on the market. Also, you learned how to choose the best barbell and what kind of bar you need. 

It all depends on the type of workout and your capabilities and goals. If you are doing power lifts, you’ll go with a smaller bar, etc. If you want faster workouts, then choosing a longer barbell is the right choice for you.

References

  1. http://www.differencebetween.net/object/difference-between-bearing-and-bushing/
  2. https://www.sensorsone.com/psi-pounds-per-square-inch-pressure-unit/ 
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