Olympic Barbell
BklynFitGuy
Posts: 712 Member
Can anyone recommend a decent Olympic barbell? Not looking to break the bank price wise. I went to my local sporting goods store and they had a 300lb set for $200. I didn't want to get all the plates I won't be using anytime soon. Just looking to start a 5x5 so I only want to start with a bar for now. Possibly will grab some 2.5 or 5 lb plates as well.
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If you have a play it again used sports store. I got a set there. Expect to pay @ $1 per pound anywhere big box. Craigslist has good deals just gotta search.0
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Hell, Walmart sells CAP barbell stuff cheap. Standard 7' Oly bar will only set you back $65 or so. Hard to beat that. If you want good stuff it is going to cost a whole lot more. After I bent my beginner bar I upgraded to a decent York bar but it was more like $300.0
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could you just buy the whole set and then you have a good bar and a decent amount of plates to work up to???
just curious…
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Cool, I'll check Walmart.
As for buying the whole set, it comes with larger weight plates. As a beginner starting with the 5x5 I think i need a variety of the smaller weight plates.0 -
On a per pound cost you'd do better getting the 300 lbs set. You'll be surprise how quickly your lifts will progress, especially deadlifts and squats. Or go the CL route.0
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You’ll be working up in weight relatively quickly. I’d go with the 300 lb set. You’re worth the investment.0
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On a per pound cost you'd do better getting the 300 lbs set. You'll be surprise how quickly your lifts will progress, especially deadlifts and squats. Or go the CL route.
Absolutely. I believe the 300lb sets come with a pair of everything from 2.5 to 45lb plates. You will need them all soon.0 -
Go for the set. I am a 5'0" woman, and I am deadlifting 165 lbs less 10 weeks in. you will need them soon enough.0
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Wow, sounds like everyone is doing great and progressing quickly. Thanks for the advice and I think I will go the route of the set.0
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I was surprised that Walmart was actually cheaper than Play it again. The website has more selection, not to mention you can have UPS deliver it to your door, instead of trying put that heavy crap in your car and carry it yourself.0
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MikeDee_ny wrote: »Possibly will grab some 2.5 or 5 lb plates as well.
male?
you're not going to need the 2.5's for a while- you're going to need the 10's and 25's sooner than the cookies.
You'll be squatting- outside medical injuries 135 (which is a 45 on each side) within the first month or two.0 -
I would get the set. Buying plates a la carte is hella expensive.0
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MikeDee_ny wrote: »Possibly will grab some 2.5 or 5 lb plates as well.
male?
you're not going to need the 2.5's for a while- you're going to need the 10's and 25's sooner than the cookies.
You'll be squatting- outside medical injuries 135 (which is a 45 on each side) within the first month or two.
^This. Even my wife, at 4'11'' 115lbs and with a bunch of hip injuries, low back and shoulder problems, was squatting 135lbs after just a couple months of training.
I got all of my weights off of Craigslist for almost nothing. A Craigslist bar will work for now and you can find them for $20 a lot of the time. Down the road, if you start getting pretty strong, you'll want to get your hands on a power bar though because the "multi purpose" type bars that most people have will bend if you lift anything heavy with them or drop them from overhead, etc...0 -
Get the set. You'll be adding 5 pounds every workout.0
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Get the set. I got a 300 lb set in january, and the heavier plates became useful quickly. I am also doing 5x5. The set was a lot cheaper than buying individual plates so you will thank yourself later if you buy them now
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It just depends. If you think you're going to be lifting for a while then you may want to invest in a good bar at least. I went to a gym last summer that had Rogue bars and I was shocked at how different it felt from my gym's cheap bars. As long as you get the plates in pairs I don't think cheap plates make much of a difference unless you're doing Olympic Lifting maybe. But Rogue sells some good bars and there's always the Texas Power bar that are good and will last a life time.0
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What's the difference between men and women bars? I am leaning toward Rogue as they seem to be the best -- something I can have for the rest of my life.0
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Thanks JoRocka! And isn't a bigger diameter easier to grip?0
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rogue.
Also: diameter within reason.
I've got stubby fingers, better for brute force than playing a piano, a smaller diameter bar would probably let me hook grip.
A fat bar is my go to for grip work. those are giant though.0 -
Thanks all for the input. I didn't realize how quickly the progression was. I thought I'd be lingering with an empty bar for awhile.0
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Thanks JoRocka! And isn't a bigger diameter easier to grip?
Other way around. Thinner is easier. Most women have smaller hands too.
Having said that, I'd probably just get a men's bar no matter what. 10lbs isn't really a big difference, nor is the diameter difference. I'd only consider it if you have really small hands.0 -
Thanks JoRocka! And isn't a bigger diameter easier to grip?
Other way around. Thinner is easier. Most women have smaller hands too.
Having said that, I'd probably just get a men's bar no matter what. 10lbs isn't really a big difference, nor is the diameter difference. I'd only consider it if you have really small hands.
ehhhhhhh
I find that too thin doesn't work well- (for me)... I know for pull ups - too thin really limits what I can do- I use a lot of energy holding on- with a wider bar it's just a more comfie fit- which is why I said YMMV- that's not something you'll know till you get in there and try it out.
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Thanks JoRocka! And isn't a bigger diameter easier to grip?
Other way around. Thinner is easier. Most women have smaller hands too.
Having said that, I'd probably just get a men's bar no matter what. 10lbs isn't really a big difference, nor is the diameter difference. I'd only consider it if you have really small hands.
ehhhhhhh
I find that too thin doesn't work well- (for me)... I know for pull ups - too thin really limits what I can do- I use a lot of energy holding on- with a wider bar it's just a more comfie fit- which is why I said YMMV- that's not something you'll know till you get in there and try it out.
Well, comfy is one thing, but actual grip ability is another. There's a reason every grip-strength centric bar is (much) thicker than normal (see also: Fat Gripz). And there's a reason why deadlift bars are thinner than normal.
I'm sure there's a point of diminishing return where the bar gets so thin that it would just be too uncomfortable/annoying to hold (ever carry a filled 5gal bucket with just the wire for a handle?), but I don't think there exists a bar that's that thin.0 -
Thanks JoRocka! And isn't a bigger diameter easier to grip?
The bigger diameter is harder to grip. If you're getting a rogue bar, get the beater bar. It is super tough and not expensive. The only issue is it doesn't have a center knurl but you can just put some athletic tape on the center of the bar to stop it from slipping when you squat.0 -
Thanks JoRocka! And isn't a bigger diameter easier to grip?
The bigger diameter is harder to grip. If you're getting a rogue bar, get the beater bar. It is super tough and not expensive. The only issue is it doesn't have a center knurl but you can just put some athletic tape on the center of the bar to stop it from slipping when you squat.
The Beater has good reviews but they say that the grip is bigger than others and may not be suitable for small hands.0 -
Thanks JoRocka! And isn't a bigger diameter easier to grip?
The bigger diameter is harder to grip. If you're getting a rogue bar, get the beater bar. It is super tough and not expensive. The only issue is it doesn't have a center knurl but you can just put some athletic tape on the center of the bar to stop it from slipping when you squat.
The Beater has good reviews but they say that the grip is bigger than others and may not be suitable for small hands.
My wife uses it with no problems and she's really small (like, midget kinda small), it is only slightly thicker than a high quality Olympic bar (29mm vs 31mm) Most gym bars you'll come in contact with are 31mm unless you are dropping a few hundred dollars so they can use cheaper steel and still have a somewhat high tensile strength rating.
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