The Olympic Barbell is arguably the most important piece of equipment for strength training. Our extensive range can be overwhelming, which is why we have made this guide to help you find the right bar for your needs. Below you will find recommendations based on the type of lifter you are and then a table containing the specification for our full range of standard barbells.
Please see our Refund Policy page for full warranty information and important information regarding looking after your barbell.
All Strength Shop barbells have 2" (50mm) sleeves for olympic plates.
Beginners
New to strength training? Consider our Original 2028 Bar. It is the most cost effective option for learning compound lifts and rated to lifts upto 250kg - but note its straight steel shaft is not suitable for Olympic Weightlifting (Clean & Jerk and Snatch). A standard 20kg bar weight, 28mm shaft and 2.2m length means this is a great bar to learn the basics on.For Women we offer the Original 1525 Women's Bar, featuring a thinner 25mm shaft and rated to 150kg for static lifts and 90kg for Olympic lifts.
Powerlifters
Our Original 2029 bar is the most cost effective option for entry level powerlifters. Rated to powerlifts upto 260kg, the 29mm shaft will be similar to the thickness of bars found in competition. If you have the extra budget or plan on lifting upto 340kg Deadlift or 300kg Squat, we highly recommend upgrading to the Bastard Power Bar - featuring bronze bushings in the sleeves we use bronze as it has a higher durability and greater resistance to corrosion than other alloys/traditional brass bushings and has been used in heavy machinery for decades because of its longevity. If it's going to hold up in the high pressure, heavy use, infinite rotations of industrial machinery, we are confident that it will hold up to as many heavy squats, presses, and deadlifts as you and and your training partners can handle., sprung steel shaft and 3 year performance warranty - this high quality bar is built to last heavy lift after heavy lift, and tested by high level powerlifters. If you plan on going heavier, we also offer the official UK seller of the renowned Texas Power Bar by Buddy Capps - this will take any weight on a powerlift, and it's quality precedes it.We also sell specialist bars for Deadlift and Squat. If the federation you compete in uses specialist squat and deadlift bars, you should add them to your collection to train on the bar you will be competing on (or as similar to it as possible). The Bastard Deadlift Bar has a 27mm sprung steel shaft, and is 10cm longer than our other power bars. The thinner shaft means the bar flexes much more before breaking off the ground. Rated to an awesome 450kg - if you need more than this then choose the Texas Deadlift Bar.
For a specialist squat bar we have the 25kg Bastard Squat Bar featuring a very rigid 32mm shaft with very little flex - it is the longest barbell at 2.47mm to allow extra space for hand spacing and loading more plates! It is rated to 450kg!
Olympic Weightlifters
For Clean & Jerk and Snatch upto 120kg, we highly recommend our famous Bastard Bar. It is our flagship bar which can also be used for upto 250kg on Squat and Deadlift, so is also a great all rounder. For female lifters we highly recommend the Women's Bastard Weightlifting Bar, which features a thinner 25mm shaft and shorter 2.03m length.Strongman
Although this guide is only for standard olympic barbells, for strongmen we have a large range of speciality bars, ranging from Steel Logs, Thick Bar Axles, Hex/Trap Bars, Cambered Bars, Spider Bars, Bow Bars and Safety Squat Bars. Check out the full range by clicking here. For heavy Squats and Deadlifts please see the Powerlifting section above.Functional Training
For cross training and circuit style training which involves both power and olympic movements, no bar is better than the Bastard Bar. The ultimate hybrid bar with dual ring markings - it's suitable up to 120kg on Clean & Jerk and Snatch, and 250kg for Squat and Deadlift.Gym Owners
We have kitted out hundreds of gyms. For a commercial environment we do not recommend any of our straight steel bars (The Original Range). The Bastard, Riot and Texas ranges are what you are looking for. The standard Bastard Bars are great all round bars for general stations.For power areas we recommend the Bastard Power Bar range or Texas Bar Range. For Powerlifting clubs and gyms, consider the specialist Bastard Power Bar, Bastard Deadlift Bar and Bastard Squat Bars or their Texas counterparts. If you specialise in Olympic Weightlifting consider the Bastard Weightlifting Bar for a truly high quality bar that will last.
If you need further help choosing your barbell, please contact us by clicking here! We'll be happy to help.
Barbell Specification
|
|
| Weight | 20kg |
| Length | 2.2m |
| Shaft | Straight Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 28mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 405mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Yes |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Steel Bushings and Needle Bearings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 250kg max suggested load. Not suitable for Olympic Weightlifting. 700lbs steel tensile rating |
| Warranty | Standard 6 month |
|
Bastard Bar |
| Weight | 20kg |
| Length | 2.2m |
| Shaft | Sprung Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 28mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm and 910mm (Bastard Weightlifting Bar is 910mm rings only) |
| Loadable sleeve length | 410mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Available with or without |
| Knurling Type | Medium |
| Sleeve Type | Needle Bearings, Brass Bushings & Ball Bearings |
| Max Load/Rating | 1500lbs static rating, 205K PSI Tensile strength. Max suggested load - 120kg for Clean & Jerk / Snatch, 250kg for Squat/Deadlift |
| Warranty | 3 Year Performance Warranty |
|
|
| Length | 2.2m |
| Shaft | Straight Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 29mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 405mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Yes |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Needle Bearings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 185K PSI Tensile Strength. 260kg max suggested load. Not suitable for Olympic Weightlifting. |
| Warranty | Standard 6 month |
|
Options: Silver or Black Shaft |
| Weight | 20kg |
| Length | 2.2m |
| Shaft | Sprung Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 29mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 415mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Yes |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Brass Bushings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 1500lbs static rating, 205K PSI Tensile strength. Max suggested load - 340kg Deadlift, 300kg Squat |
| Warranty | 3 Year Performance Warranty |
|
|
| Weight | 20kg |
| Length | 2.2m |
| Shaft | Sprung Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 29mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 415mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Yes |
| Knurling Type | Medium |
| Sleeve Type | 3 bronze bushings per sleeve, dust proof |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 1500lbs static rating, 205K PSI Tensile strength. Max suggested load - 340kg Deadlift, 300kg Squat |
| Warranty | 3 Year Performance Warranty |
|
|
| Weight | 25kg |
| Length | 2.47m |
| Shaft | Sprung Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 32mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 460mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Fully Knurled |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm and 430mm |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Brass Bushings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 1500lbs static rating, 205K PSI Tensile strength. Max suggested load - 450kg Squat |
| Warranty | 3 Year Performance Warranty |
|
Bastard Deadlift Bar |
| Weight | 20kg |
| Length | 2.3m |
| Shaft | Sprung Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 27mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 370mm |
| Centre Knurling? | No |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Brass Bushings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 1500lbs static rating, 205K PSI Tensile strength. Max suggested load - 400kg |
| Warranty | 3 Year Performance Warranty |
|
By Buddy Capps |
| Weight | 20kg |
| Length | 2.185m |
| Shaft | Sprung Tempered Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 29mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 370mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Yes |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Brass Bushings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 1500lbs static rating, 186K PSI Tensile strength. No maximum load for Powerlifts - any weight. |
| Warranty | Manufacturers 10 years workmanship and materials warranty under normal use |
|
By Buddy Capps |
| Weight | 20kg |
| Length | 2.3m |
| Shaft | Sprung Tempered Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 27mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 810mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 400mm |
| Centre Knurling? | No |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Brass Bushings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 2000lbs Static Rating, 186K PSI Tensile strength. No maximum load for Powerlifts - any weight. |
| Warranty | Manufacturers 10 years workmanship and materials warranty under normal use |
|
|
| Weight | 15kg |
| Length | 2m |
| Shaft | Straight Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 25mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 880mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 320mm |
| Centre Knurling? | No |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Steel Bushings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 700lbs static rating. Max suggested load - 150kg for slow static lifts, 90kg for Olympic Lifts |
| Warranty | Standard 6 month |
|
|
| Weight | 15kg |
| Length | 2.03m |
| Shaft | Sprung Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 25mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 910mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 327mm |
| Centre Knurling? | No |
| Knurling Type | Medium |
| Sleeve Type | Needle Bearings, Brass Bushings & Ball Bearings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 190K PSI Tensile Strength. 110kg max recommended load for Clean & Jerk / Snatch. |
| Warranty | 3 Year Performance Warranty |
|
|
| Weight | 15kg |
| Length | 1.835m |
| Shaft | Straight Steel |
| Shaft Diameter | 28mm |
| Distance Between Rings | 800mm |
| Loadable sleeve length | 250mm |
| Centre Knurling? | Yes |
| Knurling Type | Coarse |
| Sleeve Type | Steel Bushings and Needle Bearings |
| Recommended Max Load/Rating | 186K PSI Tensile Strength. 200kg max suggested load. Not suitable for Olympic Weightlifting. |
| Warranty | Standard 6 month Warranty |