What is an Olympic barbell? It is very important to know about a barbell before buying one. According to the Olympic guidelines, an Olympic men’s bar is usually a metal bar, which is 7.2 ft long and weighs 20 kg. This is one of the standard equipment used in weightlifting. If you are working out in a gym, you have probably used it as a part of your fitness regime. 


The Olympic women’s bar is shorter, and is 6.6 ft long, whereas it weighs 15 kg. The men’s bar has a grip section of 1.1 inches in diameter and a length of 4.3 ft, whereas the women’s bar has a grip section of 0.98 inches in diameter. There are many variants of Olympic barbell India available, and that is one of the reasons why you have to do prior research before buying. 


The Olympic barbell is predominantly used for weight training exercises, body lifting, weightlifting, and powerlifting. You can do exercises like bicep curls, bench press, overhead lifting, deadlift, squats, etc. It is quite flexible equipment for toning your different muscle groups, and people prefer it at home for working out.


Table of Contents

  1. What are the types of bars?
  2. How to choose the right Olympic barbell?
  3. What is the difference between an Olympic barbell and a regular barbell?
  4. Why choose a Decathlon barbell?
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. The Bottom Line

What are the types of bars?

If you are choosing from a range of barbells for working out, you will find different types in the market. These are mentioned below:

  • Standard Barbell: This is a cylindrical rod, usually made of steel, which is quite common at most gyms. They are typically 7 ft long. You can place the weights at the end, and lock them with the locking mechanism.
  • Olympic Bars: The Olympic barbell has standard dimensions, and is usually different for men and women. This is used by professionals, who are into lifting for commonwealth games, Olympics, international tournaments, etc.
  • Hex Bars: It is a four-sided barbell, where you typically stand inside while operating. It is for specialized training exercises, only.
  • Safety Squat Bars: This is usually for beginners, who are getting into weightlifting, and that is the reason why you have safety padding.
  • Cambered Bars: This is for experienced lifters, who want to shape their muscles. The shape is in line with your waist, and the bar rests comfortably on your shoulders.
  • The Swiss Bar: It is great for arms training, and is mostly used for pressing, rowing, and torso exercises. The neutral grip, along with not standing in the middle, helps in toning the muscles for experienced lifters. 
  • EZ Curl Bar: This is usually smaller in length, and is pivotal for the training of Olympic barbell curls. The curled-shaped nature helps lifters for advanced training. 
  • Deadlift Bar: This is similar to the standard barbell, but has more whip. This is better for rapid deadlifts from the ground up, and you do not hurt yourself, much.  
  • Powerlifting Bar: The grip on these bars is different from the standard Olympic barbell, and the bar is more rigid in comparison to the barbell. 
  • Log Barbell: This is used for advanced strongman competitions, and requires more effort for lifting. 
  • Tsunami Bar: This kind of bar is used to increase strength. It is also used to increase the contraction speed of the muscles in advanced exercises. 
  • Earthquake or Bamboo Bar: It is a bamboo-based bar, and it increases the oscillating kinetic energy. This is used for perfecting the muscle groups and their stabilization. 
  • Axle Bar: It is thicker than the standard Olympic barbell, and strongman competitors love to use it for perfecting their upper torso.

There are also other bars like freak and buffalo bars, which have also become prominent for weightlifting exercises. 


How to choose the right Olympic barbell?

Although the Olympic barbell price is an important deciding factor for choosing the right barbell, still, there are many other reasons which need to be taken care of while buying a barbell.

  • Sleeves of the barbell: The sleeves are an important attribute of the Olympic barbell that determines the spin of the bar. It is usually permitted by the use of bearings or bushings. The bushings are usually made of brass for longevity. On the other hand, bearings provide a faster and quieter spin and are made of higher quality small needles or metal balls rolling within the sleeves.
  • Whip of the barbell: Olympic barbell price is dependent on the whip of the barbell. It is defined as the bar ends bouncing while you are doing a lift. The whip of the bar defines the quality of the bar, as well as the kinetic energy it stores, and the effort you need to do a lift. 
  • The capacity of the load: The width of the powerlifting plates, along with the length of the Olympic barbell defines the load-bearing capacity of any barbell. So, if you want to buy a good barbell, you need to get a barbell, which can hold up to 270 kg, and there is no jerk on the barbell.
  • Finish of the barbell: This attribute also plays an important role in the Olympic barbell price. This is why premium gyms charge you a higher fee because the feeling in the hands while lifting is heavily important. Bare steel has a nice grip but requires higher maintenance due to rust. On the other hand, black oxide and zinc finish are rust-free. The chrome finish of barbells has a premium feel and is rust-resistant. These bars are also very expensive.
  • Knurling of the barbell: These are the diagonal and diamond grooves on the barbell, which help in the grip. Some weightlifters prefer excessive and aggressive knurling.

You should always take into account these attributes, while you are planning to buy an Olympic barbell.


What's the difference between an Olympic barbell and a regular barbell?

Although both these barbells are similar in nature, still, there are some distinguishing factors. A regular barbell usually does not support a lot of load capacity, and usually maxes out above 90 kg. Whereas, an Olympic barbell has greater tensile strength. It can easily take up a lot of loads, and the barbell will not bend at all. 

The standard barbell is usually one inch wide at the ends, in diameter, and the usual length is usually up to 7 ft. The different variants of Olympic barbell India come in standard dimensions and are hardy in nature. This is why they can take up more bars, and one can easily practice weightlifting, without hurting their posture. The standard weightlifting bars are economical in price, and many times, cheaper and inferior quality steel is used for the finish.

However, the weight of the Olympic barbell is around 20 kg, and it comes in the right kind of stainless steel, zinc, or chrome finish, which makes the life of the barbell longer. So, if you are willing to invest in a barbell, you should always go for the Olympic barbell available in the market.


Why choose a Decathlon Barbell? 

The Decathlon barbell is of superior quality than most other variants of Olympic barbell India. The barbell is developed in-house by a team of designers, and the design is also pretty neat. It comes in the standard dimensions of 7 ft long and weighs 20 kg. 


The Olympic barbell price is less than INR 20,000, and the finish is chrome plated. This means that the bar is rust-resistant, and the grip makes it perfect for weightlifting exercises. You can attach as much weight as you want and there is no fear of the barbell bending or flexing. 


The Decathlon Olympic barbell is also known for its distinct markings for hand placement, and this helps in easier posture for weight lifting. This particular barbell is highly efficient, and the bearings help to protect the joints. The bar is completely drop resistant, and the bar is also highly flexible. The tensile strength of the bar is more than 190 psi, and this makes it a great barbell to have.

The users love this barbell a lot, and at Decathlon, you will find an entire collection of barbells, which are suited to your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions


1. How much should a good barbell cost?

The barbell will be one of your most-used pieces of equipment in the gym (probably right behind the squat rack.) When you begin researching barbells, you start to notice the wide variety of both options and prices that are available. You can get a barbell for anywhere from Rs.1,500 to Rs.10,000 or more.


2. Are Olympic barbells worth it?

If you plan on seriously training the Olympic lifts then yes. If not, we believe you can get a decent quality, high-value bar for considerably less than the 1000 most good Olympic bars cost. We'd avoid the cheapest bars, they tend to provide poor value and break quickly.


3. Why do Olympic bars spin?

On an Olympic barbell, the shaft and bar ends are independent pieces, and the end must spin on the shaft to dampen the centrifugal force of the plates spinning on the bar. To allow the bar to spin more freely and reduce wear, a third piece sits in between the shaft and bar end.


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Choosing the right Olympic barbell for weight lifting can be a difficult task because there are many different features and types of bars to consider while making a final decision. We hope that this “barbell buying guide” provided you with all the information and details that are required for making an informed decision. Ensure that you are buying the right type of weight lifting barbell bar that meets your needs and the budget.


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