Barbells might just be the most common workout equipment for fitness enthusiasts.

But with various types of barbells available in the market, it can be hard to choose one. Every bar serves a distinctive function when you train with it.

Selecting the right bar to train

Before choosing the right barbell, the first requirement is to define one’s goal. It means which body part you want to train, like the upper or lower body, chest muscles, or shoulders.

These are some of the barbells available in the gym. You can choose one of them as per your requirements:  

Standard bar: It is one of the most common bars available in squat racks. It typically weighs 35 to 55 pounds. It is also one of the most versatile bars. You can perform squats, deadlifts, bench press, and overhead press with this.  You can perform beginner to advanced-level exercises with this.

Olympic barbell: Although this one resembles a straight bar, it has collars at both ends, which help at the period of weightlifting. It weighs between 33 and 44 pounds. You can perform explosive exercises with this bar, such as jump squats and push press. 

Safety squat bar: This bar comes with safety padding and is also called a yoke bar. A person suffering from upper-body injury can also perform squats with this bar, as it reduces pressure on the shoulders. This bar is suitable for lunges and squats and usually weighs around 70 pounds. 

Curl barbell:  This is the most suitable bar for training your arms and biceps.  It is bent in the middle and allows less stress on the wrists, and allows a closer grip during movements. It has a zig-zag shape.

Log bar: Log bars are used for lifting heavy weights and are designed for advanced lifters. It reduces extra pressure on your shoulder and typically weighs 50 to 130+ pounds. It is also known as a strongman log bar.

Some tips to follow when choosing a barbell rod

• Define your goal or aim, like you want to perform powerlifting, weight lifting, or general strength training. Based on your goal, the diameter of the bar will be chosen, such as 29mm, 28mm, or more.
• Have a fixed budget, as these rods come with a hefty price tag, so take a rough idea about the estimated cost. 

• As a beginner, you can choose a verstitle bar, but if you are a professional lifter, then you need some specific bars and equipment.

• Keep in mind where you are going to use the bar, like at home or the gym. Based on this, the bar and equipment must be selected. For high-humidity areas, a Chrome finish or a stainless steel rod is suitable. On the other hand, for personal and home use, you can choose bumper plates as they are made of dense rubber. 

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar