Most every training program includes a variety of barbell lifts. The bar itself is the one piece of equipment that is involved in every rep of every lift in your training program. As such, the bar is the one component of your training equipment that shows the biggest difference between a quality piece of equipment and a cheaper alternative very quickly. This difference is noticed in the spin of the bar, the whip of the bar, the feeling of the knurling under load, and the straightness of the bar a year or so down the road.
I build Olympic bars at Extreme Training Equipment for serious lifters. They can be used in a commercial gym or as part of a home gym workout. This article is designed to help you decide which of the many Olympic bars on the market is worth your money. Do you want to look at a review of the best Olympic bars or learn what to look for when purchasing an Olympic bar?
Why Olympic Bars Matter More Than Any Other Piece of Equipment
Mediocre training equipment such as a poor-quality bench or rack will not severely affect your training but will negatively affect your lifts with a poor-quality Olympic bar. A barbell that does not spin well in cleans and snatches will add excessive torque to your wrists. A bar with soft steel will bend under heavy squats and deadlifts and will cause the bar to go off in a random path. A bar with the wrong knurling for your training style will feel horrible on heavy pulls.
Since olympic bars are used in the most amount of reps for the most exercises in a training program, it is typically the first serious upgrade that a serious lifter makes to their training equipment. This is true for commercial gyms and for home workout exercise equipment.
What Actually Separates Good Olympic Bars From Cheap Ones
Steel Quality: This starts with the tensile strength of the steel in pounds per square inch (PSI). Look for an Olympic bar rated at 190,000 PSI or higher. This type of steel is able to hold its straightness under heavy repeated loading, far outperforming lower tensile strength steels. Next, look at the bushings and bearings. Bronze bushings are far superior to cheaper sleeve designs and are especially important for the Olympic lifts. A good Olympic bar needs to spin smoothly and consistently, just like a good pair of golf balls.
We have also given consideration to the finish of the bar. While most people are looking for color and appearance, we have gone for a harder finish that will resist corrosion. This is particularly important for a bar that will be stored in a garage or other unheated area and will be used frequently. The hardest chrome or black zinc is recommended.
Choosing the Right Olympic Bar for Your Training Style
While there are many different types of Olympic bars, there are typically a few different variations. Men’s bars are typically 20kg and 28-28.5mm in diameter, made for work with squats, presses, and other general strength training. Women’s Olympic bars are thinner, typically 25mm in diameter and 15kg in weight, with more whip for their Olympic lifts.
Secondly, there is the consideration of spins and whips. Some forms of lifting require faster spinning bars, especially in the high-dynamic forms of the Olympic lifts (i.e. – cleans and snatches). For pure strength work (e.g. – squats, bench press, etc.), though, one does not require as much in terms of spin or whip. Long-tail searches for things like “best olympic bar for home gym squats” or “20kg barbell for beginners” will most likely be searching for a bar that best suits their program (as specified above), so it is best to specify that in your ad copy.
A Few Olympic Bar Options Worth Considering
Here are three bars from our olympic bars collection that cover different training needs.
Men's 20kg Barbell — High-Strength, 190k PSI Steel Olympic Barbell. Men's 20kg barbell is made from high-strength, heat-treated 190k PSI steel. The chrome-plated brass bushing is protected by bolt-less capped ends and provides a smooth, reliable spin. This barbell is 28mm thick, 7 feet long, and has dual knurl markings for both Olympic and powerlifting style lifts. It is an excellent choice for those who only need to perform squats, presses, and other strength training lifts.
Basic 45lb Barbell — A men’s standard 20kg squat and bench bar, 28.5mm thick, 7′ long, with 700 lb weight capacity and a durable chrome finish. We try to suggest other options for dropping in weightlifting, but this is a great, cost-effective bar for those who are only doing strength training for general fitness and are looking for a solid, home gym bar for occasional use.
Women's 15kg Barbell — 25mm women's bar made from 190k PSI steel with plenty of whip for Olympic lifts. The black oxide finish and zinc sleeves of this bar are durable enough for daily use. It is an alternative to the men's standard for female weightlifters.
Each of these would fit into a set of Olympic bars somewhat differently depending on your training.
Getting the Most Out of Your Olympic Bar
Take care of a quality bar, and it will take care of you. Clean a bar of chalk and sweat between lifts to protect the finish. Store bars horizontally on a rack instead of leaning them up against a wall to prevent them from bending or becoming misshapen. If your Olympic bar has bushings or bearings, periodically apply a small amount of lubricant to keep them running smoothly.
Just make sure you have the proper collars and weight plates for your barbell. Try to spread the use of different bars for very heavy squats and deadlifts. You can extend the life of a bar by not using the same bar for very heavy lifts all the time.
A very critical piece of training equipment that all your other workout programs depend on. Treat this barbell with the respect that it deserves for optimal results from your training sessions.
Building a Home Gym Around the Right Bar
When building out a home gym, many gym-goers and gym enthusiasts alike mistakenly view the Olympic barbell as an afterthought to the benches and racks that hold and support them. Yet the bar itself is the single most used piece of equipment in most gyms, and a poor quality barbell can quickly ruin an otherwise good workout. For those serious about their training and who want to take their workouts to the next level, a quality Olympic barbell is just as important as any other piece of equipment in the gym.
Look for a bar with a warranty, such as a lifetime construction warranty and a warranty against bending. This indicates that the manufacturer stands behind the steel used in the bar and believes it can withstand actual training, not just shows and demonstrations. Remember, a seemingly identical Olympic bar can vary greatly in real-world performance after a year of very hard training.
If you're ready to add a bar to your setup, browse our full Olympic bars collection to see the complete range of men's, women's, and specialty bars built for daily training.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between an Olympic bar and a standard barbell?
Olympic bars use 2-inch diameter sleeves that spin independently on bushings or bearings, while standard bars have fixed 1-inch sleeves — the spin is what makes Olympic bars suitable for cleans, snatches, and heavy training.
2. What weight is a standard Olympic bar?
A men's Olympic bar is typically 20kg (45 lb), while a women's Olympic bar is typically 15kg (33 lb).
3. Are Olympic bars good for home workout exercise equipment setups?
Yes. A quality Olympic bar is one of the most versatile pieces of home workout exercise equipment, since it's used for squats, presses, deadlifts, rows, and Olympic lifts alike.
4. What's the difference between men's and women's Olympic bars?
Men's bars are typically 28- 28.5 mm in diameter and 7 feet long, while women's bars are thinner at 25mm and shorter at around 6 feet, built for a smaller grip and more whip.
5. How much weight can an Olympic bar hold?
It depends on the bar, but commercial-grade Olympic bars are commonly rated between 700 lbs and 1,000+ lbs depending on steel quality and intended use.
6. Can I drop an Olympic bar loaded with plates?
Only bars specifically rated for Olympic lifting and built with bumper-plate-compatible sleeves should be dropped — dedicated squat and bench bars are not designed for dropping.
7. What tensile strength should I look for in an olympic bar?
190,000 PSI tensile strength is a strong benchmark for olympic bars, indicating steel that resists bending under heavy, repeated loading.
8. Do olympic bars need maintenance?
Yes. Wiping down the shaft after use, storing the bar horizontally, and occasionally lubricating bushings or bearings all help an olympic bar hold its spin and straightness over time.
9. What knurl pattern is best for an olympic bar?
A moderate, dual-marked knurl works well for both Olympic lifting and powerlifting, while a deeper knurl suits lifters who prioritize grip security on heavy pulls.
10. Why do olympic bars vary so much in price?
Price differences usually come down to steel tensile strength, bushing or bearing quality, finish durability, and warranty coverage — all of which affect how the bar performs and holds up over years of use.