Question for Female Heavy Lifters - Barbell choices?

LoveasaurusRex

I was wondering, for the women who pick up and put down heavy things....

Do you lift using a men's olympic barbell or a women's olympic barbell?

Just curious. =]

_noob_

I personally like to bend the curl bar on my heavy squats.

Mens...

acampbe2umd

Men's

RUNN3Rmom

I use the 45lb straight bar.

Mutant13

We only have one kind at my gym I'm pretty sure. It's 20kg so I don't know If that is men's or women's

neandermagnon

Not sure, because it's not mine, a friend lent it to me. the bar weighs about 13lb

when I buy my own I'm seriously considering buying a men's olympic one, because the one my friend lent me is too light, even with all the weights on it it's only 88lb and that's too light for deadlifts, i.e. I can do 12 reps quite easily at that weight, but I have no more weights to put on it :sad: AFAIK the men's olympic bar is 44lb, well all the barbell exercises I do with more weight than that, so it'd be a lot better than the one I'm currently using.

the only potential issue is the length, because I work out at home, if it's too long to be used effectively in a limited space then I'll have to get a smaller/lighter one.

MidwestAngel

I use a crappy cheap bar from walmart (probably 15lbs), I am sad about it, but I am also broke. It does the job for now.

bokodasu

Men's, usually. Yeah, I have no problems with loading it up and lifting it, but walk all the way over to the other side of the room and try to find the women's bar? Pfft, as if.

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

Our gym only has the men's olympic barbells. That's what I use. No choice.

Unless I want to max out with the 60 pound straight bar. :ohwell:

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

We only have one kind at my gym I'm pretty sure. It's 20kg so I don't know If that is men's or women's

Men's.

MacInCali

I had to go with a regular bar due to cost (I work out from home), but my regular bar currently holds 150lbs in plates just fine ... and I don't foresee there being a problem with it holding more and more with each additional week. That being said, I would tell others who are just starting out to buy the Olympic bar if they can afford it.

Barbellerella

the 45# one at my gym.

Bumbeen

The reason you would use a woman's is if your hands are too small or if you are training with a weight that is under 45lbs

neandermagnon

I had to go with a regular bar due to cost (I work out from home), but my regular bar currently holds 150lbs in plates just fine ... and I don't foresee there being a problem with it holding more and more with each additional week. That being said, I would tell others who are just starting out to buy the Olympic bar if they can afford it.

I'm going to try to get one. I have worked out that I have enough room for the length of it. The question is just cost cause I'm broke right now (hoping to fix that soon though)

ahviendha

i use whatever one is at every rack at the weight room. it's mostly guys there so i assume it's men's olympic?

sandiki

What ever I can get my hands on. When in a pinch I might even use DB. You do what works for you at any given moment.

DrMAvDPhD

I use the 45lb straight bar.

Yup, this. I doubt my gym is fancy enough to have a women's olympic.

LoveasaurusRex

I didn't figure many used a women's bar. I was just curious to see the preference as I've never used a women's only a mens. Thanks for all the responses. You ladies are awesome.

Gwyn1969

I was wondering, for the women who pick up and put down heavy things....

Do you lift using a men's olympic barbell or a women's olympic barbell?

Just curious. =]

Only get a women's bar if you are serious about the olympic lifts. The smaller diameter makes it much easier to hook grip. Otherwise, get a regular 45 pound bar. Some women can't press the empty bar when they start, and for OP you might want to start with a lighter bar, but if you are only getting 1 bar get the 45 pound one.

jesz124

Men's. Only men use them anyway...right? :laugh: