Barbell Length

Sukh

Sukh

Sukh

Soldato
Joined
29 Jan 2007
Posts
3,596
Location
Chelsea
Whats the consensus on barbell length?

It will be used for both bench and deadlift, there are 5ft/6ft and 6ft 6"?

I was thinking 6foot will be a happy medium, but I wanted some expert advice, it is a 1inch bar :)
 
Full sized olympic barbells are 7ft@ 20kg IIRC. Which is all I've ever used. Id just get whatever fits in your space, although 6ft if possible (I imagine at 6'6 you're gonna want quite a wide grip).
 
The Craig said:
Full sized olympic barbells are 7ft@ 20kg IIRC. Which is all I've ever used. Id just get whatever fits in your space, although 6ft if possible (I imagine at 6'6 you're gonna want quite a wide grip).
Click to expand...

Correct 7ft is the norm. This fits nicely into a rack/powercage. 5ft & 6ft bars are available for other work such as arm isolation, lunging etc where the bar doesn't need to be quite so long.

Fitness superstore did a reasonable variety last time I checked with very good prices. 7ft bars for around £60 I think. Rated heavier ones are around £90-100 for upto 1500lb I think. I have one of their bars and I can't fault it :) The difference in quality is noticable to one you might find in your gym but is by no means bad! At the end of the day a bar is a bar and a 20kg plate is a 20kg plate :) If you're training properly it'll only end up bent anyway :p
 
they are talking about olympic barbells which require olympic weights.

you are talking about standard bars made for standard weights.

the best option would be to join a gym, otherwise home gym equipment if you want the proper stuff will cost you proper money.

tell us why you are buying the weights, what you want to achieve and why?
 
I don't have time to go to the gym, hence the need for a bar to do deads and bench work.

I was looking for some advice about what length would be best, 6ft/6.5ft or even 7ft so that I can do some exercise.
 
Sukh said:
I don't have time to go to the gym, hence the need for a bar to do deads and bench work.

I was looking for some advice about what length would be best, 6ft/6.5ft or even 7ft so that I can do some exercise.
Click to expand...

like i said, it may be better for you to do something else, unless you tell me, why you want to do dead and bench work?

if your looking just to keep fit, a skipping rope or running shoes would be a better purchase, or a treadmill or a rower or a bike.

if you want to build muscle/strength, then you are limited in the amount of work you can do with just a barbell.

for benching you would need a bench or similar setup and something to spot you.

plus the fact you say you dont have time to go to the gym, just says to me, you arent motivated enough or have the willpower to do things properly, if you want to waste your money on a crappy argos setup, go ahead, but i know what im talking about, if you tell me why you want to do it and what you want to achieve i can help you, otherwise all i can do is recommend you join a gym because you will only end up injuring yourself with just a barbell.
 
collisster said:
I dont think that you are limited with just a barbell and weights for strength
Click to expand...

lol

how much can you deadlift, squat and bench press? and could you do that much with just a barbell and weights?

i deadlift 140kg+ therefore i need proper matting (minimum of £30 a mat and at least 2 mats of 6ft by 4 ft) or else i would seriously damage the floor and my weights
i squat 170kg+ therefore i need a power rack or else there is no way i could get the weight on my back and be safe if i buckle under the weight
i bench press 75kg+ therefore i need a power rack and a decent bench in order for me to be safe of any mishaps

with just a barbell and weights, i could maybe deadlift 20kg without ruining the floor, squat 40kg and bench press 50kg.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
plus the fact you say you dont have time to go to the gym, just says to me, you arent motivated enough or have the willpower to do things properly, if you want to waste your money on a crappy argos setup, go ahead, but i know what im talking about, if you tell me why you want to do it and what you want to achieve i can help you, otherwise all i can do is recommend you join a gym because you will only end up injuring yourself with just a barbell.
Click to expand...

Sorry buddy, your I'm stronger than thou attitude isn't cool. All I wanted was some helpful advice about the best length to get, not a lecture about my life.

So your saying a banker who works 12 hours a day and doesn't have time to go to the gym isn't motivated as a person or doesn't do things properly?


Thanks for the input, I will await Morba or someone more friendly :)


Just for reference, I have a Marcy squat rack/and bodymax bench from powerhouse. I would suggest that you stop assuming things my good man.
 
lol sukh get one of these:

powerrack.jpg


the powerack of course!!! :)

and a full olympic barbell and you are sorted!
 
tell you what one day if I make it to the rich list I'll build my own gym in the back garden
I'll put everything in there - power rack, bench, barbells, boxing bags, DB's, plates, good matting, mirrors lol
tis my dream tbh!
 
Sukh said:
Just for reference, I have a Marcy squat rack/and bodymax bench from powerhouse. I would suggest that you stop assuming things my good man.
Click to expand...

TBH that would have been a good thing to mention at the beginning. Some bars might be too short to be used on the rack. If you have no problem fitting the longest into the space you have, then get the longest (imo)
 
A 6ft bar did not fit properly on my power rack when I tried. The actual spindle locking thread of the bar was on the catchers.

You need a 7ft bar if you have a proper full sized rack.
 
Sukh said:
Sorry buddy, your I'm stronger than thou attitude isn't cool. All I wanted was some helpful advice about the best length to get, not a lecture about my life.

So your saying a banker who works 12 hours a day and doesn't have time to go to the gym isn't motivated as a person or doesn't do things properly?


Thanks for the input, I will await Morba or someone more friendly :)


Just for reference, I have a Marcy squat rack/and bodymax bench from powerhouse. I would suggest that you stop assuming things my good man.
Click to expand...

i asked you before why you wanted this barbell, you never answered.

look through my initial posts.

if i had known you have a rack and a bench, then i would have suggested getting a kit, instead of joining a gym.

you need a 7 foot olympic barbell kit, i think fitness superstore do one which comes with 230 or 235kg of weight.

if you look at the attitude of my initial posts, then you will find them fine, it was when somebody suggested just a barbell and weights is enough for "strength" exercises. i was probing for more information which you wouldnt give, without this info, nobody can give you the best course of action to take.

i dont even think i can lift a lot. im average, if you saw me, i doubt you could tell i even done weights. my 75kg+ bench is nothing, people can do double/triple that.

people should be easily be able to squat their own bodyweight and deadlift it too without having any major weights experience.

anyway get the kit i mentioned above. i take it you have matting then? what i dont understand is, why would you buy a bench and a rack and not a barbell kit at the same time? its a bit like buying a car without any wheels. make sure you go with olympic stuff though.

i wasnt having a go, its just frustrating when you ask someone for info in order to help them, and they ignore parts of your post.

i have built my own home gym and my cousins for him, so i know all the advantages and disadvantages of doing it. if you need matting, i know a place which does it for £30 a mat whereas fitness superstore are double that. let me know.
 
Equestrian matting is the same stuff as the 'heavy duty' matting you'll find most fitness retailers sell you. £30 a pop for a 6 x 4 ft mat normally.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
...

if i had known you have a rack and a bench, then i would have suggested getting a kit, instead of joining a gym.

you need a 7 foot olympic barbell kit, i think fitness superstore do one which comes with 230 or 235kg of weight.

...

i dont even think i can lift a lot. im average, if you saw me, i doubt you could tell i even done weights. my 75kg+ bench is nothing, people can do double/triple that.
...

anyway get the kit i mentioned above. i take it you have matting then? what i dont understand is, why would you buy a bench and a rack and not a barbell kit at the same time? its a bit like buying a car without any wheels. make sure you go with olympic stuff though.
Click to expand...

No worries, I just bought things in bits as I had time. 7foot it is unless I find something on the bay before Sunday.

I dumbell chest press and deads, which is obviously very limiting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom