Best Barbells for Your Workouts

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 28, 2023
If you are serious about growing your muscle strength and shaping your body, a barbell will become your best friend. This simple ...Read more
PROS

Weight plates are made from clean recycled material encased in a strong HDPE shell. Quick-release collars securely fix weight plates on the bar.

CONS

The initial assembly is a bit time-consuming. 

OUR VERDICT

Being sturdy enough for light to medium use, the Step Club Deluxe Barbell Set is an ideal offering for novice athletes. The "Steering-wheel" design of weight plates with multiple grips will let you add variety to your workouts.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

54" bar, 8 weight plates, 2 collars

Weight Range

5 - 60 lbs

Material

Bar: steel with powder-coated finish

Weight plates: clean recycled material encased in a strong HDPE shell

Extras

3-piece threaded design of bar, "Steering-wheel" design of weight plates with multiple grips, Engraved KG/LB specification

Warranty

3 months

PROS

The engraved KG specification won't fade throughout the whole lifespan of the set. The markings are quite large and well-visible from afar.

CONS

Foam padding is lacking in quality.

OUR VERDICT

It's an ultimately versatile set consisting of two dumbbells that can be easily transformed into a robust barbell. So, if you'd like to target your biceps, triceps, chest, back, and leg muscles, the SOSUSHOE set will be a good choice.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

2 dumbbells with 12 weight plates, connecting rod, 4 collars

Weight Range

12.8 - 44 lbs

Material

Handles: metal with non-slip coating

Connecting rod: metal with foam padding

Weight plates: cement and iron sand mixture filled in PE shell

Extras

Octagonal shape of weight plates, Engraved KG specification

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The medium-depth diamond knurling provides a secure grip even without the use of fitness gloves. Loadable sleeves boast an impressive 15-inch length.

CONS

The sleeves are grooved, so taking plates on and off will make some noise.

OUR VERDICT

The Cap 7-Foot Olympic Bar is made from Japanese cold-rolled steel and is designed for professional weightlifting and powerlifting training. It's compatible with almost any 2-inch Olympic plates and can withstand loads up to 1000 lbs.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

84" bar

Weight Range

44 lbs (max load - up to 1000 lbs)

Material

Cold rolled steel with black oxide finish

Extras

Medium-depth diamond knurling for a secure grip

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The octagonal-shaped weight plates won't roll around or scroll on the floor. Covered with PE shell, they also won't leave marks and scratches.

CONS

The barbell could be a bit longer. 

OUR VERDICT

If you already have a good fitness level, we recommend making a choice in favor of this Soges universal set. With a rich weight range (from 13.2 to 66 lbs), it'll allow you to further improve your strength and gain muscle mass quickly.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

2 dumbbells with 12 weight plates, connecting rod, 4 collars

Weight Range

13.2 - 66 lbs

Material

Handles: metal with non-slip coating

Connecting rod: metal with TPR padding

Weight plates: cement and iron sand mixture filled in PE shell

Extras

Octagonal shape of weight plates, Engraved KG specification

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The 2-piece design of the bar allows you to disassemble it for compact storage. Polished steel material is highly resistant to corrosion.

CONS

Collars may spin off from time to time.

OUR VERDICT

The YAHEETECH W-shaped bar will come in handy for bench presses, barbell squats, as well as for triceps curls. It offers a very reliable grip and can support heavy weights. So, you'll be able to swap the included plates for heavier ones over time.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

47.2" bar, 6 weight plates, 2 collars

Weight Range

11 - 44 lbs

Material

Bar: polished steel

Weight plates: cement and iron sand mixture filled in PE shell

Extras

2-piece W-shaped bar with anti-skid thread design, Engraved KG specification

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

Great Starter Set for Home Workouts

If you’re looking for a high-quality barbell set to start your home fitness routine, this offering from Step Fitness may really interest you. It’s a perfect beginner set that comes at a very reasonable price and has quite a lot of novelty features to bring to the table.

To begin with, this is a deluxe set that stands out from the competition with its unique design. Unlike others, the weights on this set are designed like steering wheels with multiple grips, making the weights much easier to hold, which is particularly great for beginners. Also, the design like this allows for more training options as you can take the weights off the set and use them alone as dumbbells for other exercises in your fitness routine. The weights have an additional handle and are quite comfortable to use without the bar. The Nylon collars in this set are also super quick to use, meaning that swapping out weights on the bar will be easy as well.

The total weight of this barbell (including the bar) makes 60 lbs. The bar is 1-inch in diameter and 54-inch long. It’s made from heavy-gauge steel and is additionally powder-coated for long life. As for the weights, they are made of solid, clean-recycled material that is wrapped in a strong HDPE shell. Overall, the whole set seems to be sturdy enough for light to medium use. For sure, it’ll be a great bet for men and women that look for easy-interchangeable weights that will add variety to their home workouts.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $158.91
Stock In stock
ASIN B07MFR1VC3

Versatile Set

The SOSUSHOE Weights Dumbbells Set will be an ideal offering for those who’re limited in space but still want to get the most out of their workouts. It’s an ultimate versatile piece of fitness equipment that can help you perform a wide variety of exercises from squats and deadlifts to curls, shoulder presses, triceps extension, and many more.

First off, we would like to mention that this set consists of two dumbbells, a reliable grip, an arm tension band, and a push-up plate. The dumbbells can be used on their own or easily transformed into a barbell using the connecting rod (included in the box). The connecting rod is wrapped in a generous layer of foam, which is intended to protect your skin from scratches, prevent slipping, and relieve the pressure of the barbell on your body.

As your fitness level grows, you can try to increase the weight plates to maximize your body workouts. For light exercising, it’ll be enough to involve the weight plates from one dumbbell, but for more intensive workouts, you can benefit from attaching the weights from both dumbbells. The connecting rod is sturdy enough to accommodate them all. Even when fully loaded, the bar feels ultimately stable.

All in all, if you’re after a heavy-duty set that would let you customize the weight settings to meet your fitness needs, the SOSUSHOE one may fit you to a T. Consisting of two detachable dumbbells, it can provide you with various exercising and weight options (from 12.8 lbs to 44 lbs).

Last updated price $79.79
Stock In stock
ASIN B08BNMKDPH

Classic Option

Started as one of a few professional fitness companies, CAP has been producing high-quality equipment for gyms and homes for over 30 years now. The brand offers a wide variety of specialty bars for Olympic and Power Lifting, and what we have here is the lifting barbell from the Beast series. It’s been crafted from high-quality materials and finished in an extra-durable coating to provide long-lasting performance.

Being a classic option, this Beast Olympic Bar is produced from durable metal and measures 86 inches in length. The whole thing is machined extremely well and can easily take on super-heavy workloads, which makes it a perfect choice for professional weightlifters and club owners alike. The bar is carefully engineered with 110,000 PSI tensile strength cold-rolled Japanese steel and a black phosphate finish that is pleasant to touch. It also seems to provide solid protection from the elements and feels like it will grip well, especially seeing as the bar doesn't have a center knurl on it. That is to say, this bar is ideal for squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and some other exercises that don’t require a center knurl.

The side knurls here are at a nice medium depth: at 30-mm in diameter, they are not too deep and not too smooth, so the bar feels like it does its job well without cutting at all and even if you're not going to use straps or chalk, the grip will be amazing.

When it comes to sleeves, they are designed to swivel in order to reduce pressure on your wrists and forearms. They have a 15-inch loadable length, can accommodate 2-inch Olympic plates, and are made with bushings for a smooth spin. Overall, the bar feels very solid and beefy. All this makes the CAP 7-Foot Olympic Lifting Bar a good, classic offering for both home and gym use.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $148.25
Stock In stock
ASIN B001K4OPY2

Add Flexibility to Your Workouts!

If you’d like to add some variety to your workouts for not a lot of money, you may be interested in the Soges Adjustable Dumbbells pair. Available for less than $100, you get a set of two dumbbells, four 4.4-lb plates, and eight 5.5-lb plates, the total weight of which makes 66 lbs and can be adjusted to try various combos for your fitness needs. Also included in the set are two black main rods (17.3" long) and one red connecting rod (4.3" long) that can be used to transform the dumbbells into a barbell when you want to add intensity and flexibility to your workouts.

Speaking of materials, the main rod is made of durable hollow steel while the plates are made of the iron sand mixture. The connecting rod is nicely knurled to ensure a firm grip and the rubber coating on handles prevent slipping. We like the fact that weight plates have an octagonal shape, meaning they won’t roll around or scroll when you’re doing exercises and that the barbell is covered with rubber, so there will be no risk of damaging the floor when you put it down. However, keep in mind that these are plastic-covered weights so you shouldn't drop them, otherwise they might crack.

In all, we consider the Soges Adjustable Dumbbells pair a great fit for anyone who wants to build strength or burn fat. It’ll let you get creative about your fitness exercising routine and stay motivated for longer.

Last updated price $95.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07J5FRH9B

W shaped Barbell

If you’re after a universal barbell that will be easy to grip when performing deadlifts, bicep curls, shoulder presses, and more, the YAHEETECH 55lb Olympic Barbell may come to your liking. As the name suggests, it’s the W-shaped Olympic bar that delivers a bit more steady hold compared to traditional, straight ones. Also, it has an anti-skid diamond-textured thread on the hand holding parts, which provides a firm grip and effectively prevents sweating and skidding.

The overall quality is great too. In fact, it's nearly perfect given the price of the set and the number of weights you get in the kit. To be more specific, the set includes four 5.5-lb plates and two 11-lb plates, plus you get a pair of star lock collars that will keep them from getting loose while you lift. For an extra-secure fixation, the star lock collars include a rubber o-ring.

Everything arrives nicely packaged in a surprisingly small box. Assembly is pretty easy and the plates fit on the barbell perfectly. The only thing you should bear in mind is that the weights may emit a strong chemical smell at first, so it’s better to clean them with bleach and water solution before working out. But other than that, you’ll find no flaws with this set. This curl bar can easily become an addition to any home and gym. Thanks to its W-shaped design and anti-skid thread on grips, it’s safer and more stable than many other barbells out there.

Last updated price $126.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01IX63PKO

What Is a Barbell?

With a whole variety of sports equipment (suitable for professionals and fitness fans alike) available on the market, today, you can easily keep fit without even stepping into a gym or fitness center. Resistance bands, pull-up bars, exercise balls as well as exercise bikes, treadmills, weight benches, and even all-in-one home gyms are all at your disposal to work at all groups of muscles and combine strength workouts with cardio patterns. Meanwhile, a wide choice of food supplements such as amino acids, whey protein powders, and creatine supplements will help you further enhance your training routine and maintain a healthy body.

For those who are serious about weight training and are into bodybuilding, powerlifting, or weight lifting special sports weights are a must and a barbell is one of such items. The implement is a long bar with weight plates attached to its ends. By overall length, barbells range from 47 inches to 87 inches to meet both beginner, fitness enthusiast, and professional needs and fit people of different height. The central bar portion or a grip varies from 25 mm (appropriate for gals) to 50 mm (for powerlifters) and usually features a knurled pattern to deliver a solid non-slip grip. The barbell plates are offered in a wide assortment of weights starting from low-weight 44-lb sets for fitness pals to heavyweight combos going far above 110 lbs for really big guys.

When it comes to functionality, barbells are very versatile and can be used for a whole range of upper body exercises such as bicep curls, overhead press and bench press, deadlifts, squats, and more.

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