WHAT IS THE BEST HOME-GYM BARBELL?

Building a home gym is a great way to eliminate laziness and ensure you always have a cozy, intimate environment to work out in. Whether you're in the planning stage or adding to an existing setup, a quality barbell is crucial to getting the most out of your workout.

But in your search for the perfect bar, you may have been confused by the long lists of specifications and different terms in product descriptions. This article will walk you through everything you need to know about buying a bar for your home gym and give you some tips on what to buy.

Types of Barbells: Powerlifting vs Olympic vs Hybrid

A quick way to find the right bar for your home gym is to buy one that’s designed for your training style. Are you a powerlifter, focusing on heavy, low-rep squats? If so, you probably don’t want a bar designed for an Olympic lifter.

Here's the difference:

Powerlifting Bars : These bars are designed for heavy squats, bench presses, and deadlifts. They are typically stiffer to reduce “whip” (or bending) under heavy loads and have more aggressive knurling for a secure grip. These usually have bushings.

Olympic Lifting Bars : These are made for dynamic lifts like the snatch and clean and jerk. They feature more flex and whip in the bar and a smoother rotation due to the pads in the sleeves for better rotation.

Hybrid Bars : Ideal for home gyms and general strength training, these bars strike a balance between stiffness and flexibility. They have a moderate level of knurling and are suitable for most bar exercises. These are good for the beginner to intermediate lifter, but may be limiting for an advanced powerlifter or Olympic lifter.

Strong(wo)man : This guide focuses on standard bars, but we also have a wide range of specialist bars: including Hex/Trap Bars, Spider Bars, Bow Bars, Safety Squat Bars and more. You can see our full range of bars here.

What you need to know before buying a bar

Once you have a clear idea of ​​your training style, it’s important to know how each bar model differs. Reading a list of bar specifications can be confusing, and it’s hard to understand all those measurements.

Here's a quick guide to what you'll find in a spec list and how it will impact your lifting:

Length

Longer bars like the Bastard Squat Bar (8 ft.) are better for exercises like squats and deadlifts, where you need more room for a wide grip and extra weight plates. Shorter bars, like the Garage Strength Bar (6 ft.), are better for those with smaller home gyms and who don’t lift particularly heavy weights.

Distance between knurling rings

Ring spacing on pull-up bars is critical for strength athletes, helping them find the right grip for different lifts. It allows you to adjust your hand position for better form and comfort, which is essential for both safety and performance.

Knurling type

The type of knurling on a bar helps with your grip. Bars with coarse knurling, like the Texas Power Bar, are great for heavy lifting where a strong grip is needed. Bars with medium knurling, like the Riot Weightlifting Bar, offer less grip but are more comfortable for dynamic lifts (like the snatch and power clean).

Sleeve type

The type of sleeve on a bar affects how it rotates. Needle bearings make the bar rotate smoothly, which is great for dynamic Olympic lifts. Brass bushings are better for heavy powerlifting because they are more durable.

Sleeve length

Longer sleeves mean you can put more weight plates on the bar. Of course, it depends on the space you have in your home gym.

Maximum load

Knowing how much weight your bar can handle is important for safe lifting. Bars like our Powerlifting Bar, with no max load, are perfect for advanced lifters.

Why should you choose Ironside Armour bars?

Ironside Armour has been a well-known name in the world of strength sports for over a decade. We supply high-quality bars to elite athletes, including record holders in various strength disciplines.

We also recognize that not every lifter is looking to compete. That’s why we offer a bar for every type of lifter, from the elite powerlifter to the garage-trainer.

Our selection includes specialist bars for powerlifting, Olympic lifting and multi-purpose training bars, suitable for various lifting techniques.