GXMMAT Olympic Bar

The standard Olympic barbell weighs 20KG (44lbs) for men and 15 kg (33lbs) for women.
Other types of barbells may vary in weight depending on their design and purpose (for reference only):
Short Bar: 7-15 kg (15-33 lbs), ideal for beginners, light training, or isolation exercises like curls and raises.
EZ Curl Bar: 10–12 kg (22–26 lbs), curved for bicep and tricep exercises.
Deadlift Bar: 20 kg (44 lbs), longer and thinner for maximal deadlift performance.
Safety Squat Bar: 20 kg (44 lbs), designed with handles to reduce shoulder stress.

The standard Olympic bar length is 7.2 ft (about 2.2 m) for men and 6.6 ft (about 2 m) for women. These bars are designed for professional weightlifters and strength athletes, suitable for compound movements such as bench presses, deadlifts, and squats, as well as pressing, rows, and Olympic lifting exercises.

However, if your home gym space is limited, or you are a beginner, or just want to do some light weight training, you might also consider a shorter Olympic bar in the 4–6 ft range. They can be used in upper-body exercises such as rows, curls, raises, and bench presses, and isolation movements like bicep curls, triceps extensions, and front raises.

Knurling on a barbell refers to the textured crosshatch pattern on its shaft. It typically comes in three styles: mild “hill,” medium “volcano,” and aggressive “mountain.” This pattern increases friction between your hands and the bar, helping prevent slipping, especially during high-rep deadlifts. Losing grip in the mid-lift could cause the bar to fall on your chest and result in serious injury.

Some barbells even feature a center knurling. It helps the barbell stay securely on your back during squats or against your chest or collarbone during cleans. It provides extra stability and is alos useful for one-handed lifts.

Bearing Bars use needle or ball bearings to connect the sleeve and shaft. Compared with bushing barbells, this connection changes sliding friction into rolling friction, allowing for smoother rotation and faster wrist movement, making bearing barbells ideal for Olympic weightlifting and explosive movements such as the jerk, clean, snatch, and front squat.

However, greater spin does not always equate to improved performance. For slower, controlled lifts like squats, bench presses, and deadlifts, overly smooth rotation can actually reduce a powerlifter’s control over the bar. You should carefully consider your training needs and choose the barbell that suits you best.

In general, a bearing barbell is recommended if:
1.You perform Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, or explosive training that requires faster sleeve rotation.
2.You need quicker spin and smoother rotation for wrist turnover during dynamic lifts.
3.You’re willing to pay a higher price and maintain the sleeve assembly regularly.

The barbell features a dual knurling design to help lifters find the proper grip position for different types of training. Powerlifters typically use the inner knurl marks, which follow the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) standard and are ideal for movements like the bench press. Olympic lifters, on the other hand, use the outer knurl marks, which follow the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) standard and are designed for lifts such as the snatch, clean and jerk.