Barbells & Collars
Barbells and Bars Information
There are two types of bars, one is called Olympic and has a set size of 2 inches in diameter (where end of the bar is 50mm in diameter). All the Olympic size bars have this diameter.
Things get a bit more complicated when it comes to so-called Standard size bars. Standard sizes bars may have two types of diameters: 25mm and 30mm. 25mm diameter is common in the US and UK and is also referred to as Standard 1 inch diameter. In addition, another very common UK and European bar size is 30mm (1.18 inches). Here at Gymzey, we stock products made or designed in Europe so all of the weight plates, barbells and bars we're selling are 30mm (1.18") in diameter.
How to choose the right weight lifting bar?
If you already have weight plates but aren't sure what size of bars you need, please measure the inside diameter of your plate.
Olympic bars are twice as thick as Standard ones, which means that it takes a lot more weight for them to start to bend. Although it should be noted that any high-quality bar always removes to its original shape once the plates have been removed, still, a bending bar can create unwanted motion and make heavier lifts more difficult.
If you're planning to weight lift at competition level, you should opt for Olympic bars and weight, as these are the only ones that are accepted in competitions. Almost everyone who's interested in lifting on a competitive level, trains exclusively with Olympic bars and weight plates.