Get the most out of your workout with these barbells.
There's a lot to consider when searching for the best barbell, especially as they can almost seem identical at first glance despite differing price points.
However, the devil is in the details, and there are some barbells that we think really stand out from the crowd for all of your core lifts.
Some may argue that finding the best set of adjustable dumbbells would be your first port of call when upgrading your setup, but we feel adding a top barbell is the best way of unlocking a ton of new lifts for you to complete from the comfort of your own home.
Not only does it open up compound movements like squats and deadlifts, but a barbell can also be used for some great accessory exercises as well like some of the best shoulder exercises around.
So, if this sounds like the right bit of kit for you, then our list of top picks, based on features, price, and reviews, should be the ideal way to start your search.
Whether you're after something for powerlifting, like this Synergee Rhino Power Bar, or you're looking for something to get you started, like this Rage Fitness Training Bar, we've got you covered right here.
Stick around as well because we've answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding barbells to help you decide upon which bit of kit is right for you.
So, without further delay, let's get into it...
'The Beast' looks to be one of the best Olympic-sized barbells made by CAP, a brand that has been manufacturing weightlifting equipment for more than 30 years.
The bar boasts an impressive 1000lbs weight capacity, which is a huge amount of weight that even professional athletes would struggle to lift off of some of the best power cages around.
According to reviews, the barbell should also spin smoothly, which helps to reduce wrist tension and, therefore, minimising the possibility of injury.
One of the main upsides to 'The Beast' though is that it is relatively inexpensive as far as 7ft Olympic bars go, yet the bar doesn't appear to compromise in terms of quality.
Therefore, we feel like this incredible barbell can massively upgrade almost any home or garage gym.
This BodyRip Weight Lifting Barbell looks to be an excellent choice for someone looking for a regular Olympic barbell to complete a range of different back, check, and bicep exercises, especially for mass.
Reviews suggest the bar spins without friction, and the knurling is not overly harsh, although it is said to offer enough grip to keep you firmly in control.
Moreover, being made of steel means this bar should withstand a fair amount of wear and tear, which is can be particularly useful when training at home.
Ultimately, this bar provides a great option for everyday use as it caters to a number of different lifts without being designed to prioritise just one.
This Sporzon! Olympic Barbell looks to be an excellent bit of kit if you're after a full-size, 7ft and 2" barbell on a budget.
It comes with a maximum weight capacity of 700lbs, which should be more than suitable for heavy squats and deadlifts.
Additionally, the barbell has a stylish and durable black zinc plating finish, which will likely help prolong its lifespan to keep you training for years to come.
All in all, we feel this Sporzon! Olympic Barbell is well worth considering if you're after a relatively inexpensive bit of kit to complete your setup.
Rogue is one of the leading brands in weightlifting equipment and this barbell is one of the best Olympic bars going.
Although Rogue doesn't confirm the bar's capacity, it will likely remain as straight as an arrow when loaded thanks to its 200K PSI tensile strength shaft, so make sure you have your best pre-workout to hand to lift some serious weight.
Rogue also boasts a 100% original knurl pattern formed via a machine with grip in mind as its main priority.
This is definitely a premium barbell but Rogue is a popular brand among athletes so has a reputation for producing high-quality products.
If you're looking for something versatile and highly adjustable, then we think this Sunny Health & Fitness barbell could be for you.
It's 60" in length, meaning it should fit into your home gym with ease, and comes with ring collars so you can quickly adjust the weight on the threaded bar.
Moreover, it has a maximum capacity of 250lbs so could suit beginners just starting their fitness journey who might not necessarily be loading up on plates just yet.
On the whole, we feel this Sunny Health & Fitness barbell is hard to look past if you're after a threaded bit of kit.
Get your top gym shoes ready as the Rhino Power Bar is a serious bit of kit definitely more suited to more experienced lifters, especially those who do powerlifting due to Synergee's claim the bar can hold 1500lbs.
Synergee also claims this bar is stiffer and less flexible than its other products and is made without bearings, again suiting the powerlifting style.
Another defining feature of this bar is its aggressive knurling, which is designed to increase grip - ideal for accompanying your top weightlifting belt for longer deadlifting sessions.
It also provides a great option for powerlifting for a reasonable price and we think it looks fantastic with its black and red design.
The Rage Fitness Olympic Training Barbell has been designed to be a sturdy yet comfortable bar thanks to its medium knurling, suitable primarily for beginners.
The reason for this is sometimes beginners struggle to lift a 45lbs bar by itself, so this Training Barbell might be the perfect alternative as it weighs just 15lbs.
Also, the bar is just 6ft long rather than the standard 7ft meaning it saves space and will likely be slightly easier to move around as it isn't as wide.
If you are worried about the bar fitting on a power rack then fear not. The space between the collars is 52-inches meaning the bar should fit perfectly.
Ultimately, if you're looking to progress from just using a top resistance band, then the Rage Fitness Olympic Training Barbell might be for you.
There are a lot of questions and things to look out for when purchasing a barbell, but we're here to clear up some of the more frequently asked queries.
A barbell is arguably one of the most versatile pieces of gym equipment because it allows you to complete a wide variety of exercises to complete a full-body workout.
Firstly, it's the key ingredient for completing some of the core lifts most people incorporate into their workout routines, these being squats, if teamed with a top squat rack, deadlifts, chest presses, shoulder presses, and rows.
On top of that, you can use a barbell for some of the more unique, accessory exercises like barbell curls, hip thrusts, or even something heavier like an Olympic-style clean and jerk.
All in all, a barbell offers a range of new exercises which is why we'd recommend one for your home gym.
Barbells can differ drastically in size and length and, as a result, will vary in terms of weight as well.
For example, a standard Olympic barbell, something you'll typically find in most gyms, is 7ft long, weighs 44/45lbs, and holds plates with a 2-inch diameter.
Some barbells, however, are shorter, lighter, and hold smaller plates like the Rage Fitness Olympic Training Barbell to accommodate less experienced lifters.
In terms of how heavy your own barbell should be, well it will all come down to your available space, equipment, and experience level.
An Olympic barbell is a great choice if you have room for it since it will be able to hold a substantial amount of weight, which can help you keep progressing and avoid reaching a plateau like you can with lighter, thinner barbells.
This really depends on your budget and what kind of bar you're looking for.
If you're new to weightlifting, you may feel like getting a relatively inexpensive barbell would be a good starting point which you can then build on and upgrade further down the line.
However, if you're more experienced and in need of something to carry a bit more weight then you may want to look at some of the more premium options like Rogue barbell or the Rhino Power Bar.
Barbells are key to weight training and can be great for building muscle when accompanied by weight plates, however, using just a barbell has its muscle-building limitations.
For example, the 20kg weight of an Olympic barbell may be heavy enough for a beginner at first, but you should soon outgrow the 20kg weight for most core lifts if you train regularly.
With that being said, if the question you're asking is whether you need any accessories to accompany your barbell like dumbbells for instance, then we'd say you can complete an extremely effective full-body workout using only a barbell and weight plates.
Barbells and dumbbells both have their own sets of pros and cons which result in both seeming difficult in their own ways.
Barbells allow you to lift heavier weights so, in that sense, barbell exercises are harder.
However, dumbbell exercises require you to use more muscle fibres in order to stabilise each arm which, in turn, leads to you working harder.
It all depends on what you define as hard. We'd argue though that because you can lift heavier weights with a barbell, this bit of equipment might be slightly easier of the two.
A good gym barbell should be able to withstand a lot of punishment which, in turn, means it should have a long lifespan.
However, a barbell will develop some rust and corrosion over time that will need removing in order to maintain its grip and spin.
To ensure you get the most out of your barbell, we'd recommend using a plastic bristle brush to clean the knurling from time to time, plus wiping away any excess dirt as well.
Moreover, you will need to clean the loading sleeves as chalk, dirt, and dust can cause the spin rate to decrease, and the bearings to feel sticky.
We'd also recommend lubricating the sleeves from time to maintain the spin. Simply apply to where the bearings come into contact with the bar.
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