Building a home gym doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition.
You don’t need to spend big bucks to get great results. The first piece of equipment you should think about getting is an Olympic barbell. This will be the backbone of your barbell collection, and can certainly be used to do many different exercises.
Here we have put together extensive reviews of some of the best Olympic barbell sets available right now.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Okie Power Bar | Best Overall |  |
| CAP Barbell Classic 7-Foot Olympic Bar | Budget Pick |  |
| CAP 7-Foot Olympic Bar | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Okie Power Bar
Pros:
- Hard chrome plating
- Figured maple wood sleeves
- Meets all IWF specifications
- 11" sleeves for olympic weightlifting
- Great for heavy lifting and can handle up to 800 pounds of weight
- Threaded sleeves won’t wobble or come loose
Okie Power Bar is one of the best power bars for home use. Made of solid steel, this power bar meets the IWF standards and is a very durable piece of equipment.
It features precision-made, solid brass bushings. With a heavyweight of 45 kg, the bar has a solid feel to it and olympic lifting isn’t a problem. Some larger men have moved up to 220 kg with this bar and it’s handled that weight just fine.
If you need to pick up heavy weights and do olympic lifts, this is a great choice for a power bar as it’s both affordable and durable.
2. CAP 7-Foot Olympic Bar
Pros:
- Brilliant chrome finish.
- Straight pull bar with polished chrome finish.
- Rust-resistant.
- Ideal for low-impact activities like aerobics, strength training, and cross-training.
- Perfect for any home or commercial use.
Cons:
- Short sleeves might be too short for some weightlifting moves.
This is a great tool with a chrome finish for its superior protection against corrosion and rusting. This 7-foot bar has a standard Olympic positive-polarity for several purposes, including powerlifting, weight training, and cross training.
It is constructed with a tempered steel shaft and zinc-coated sleeves. The sleeve collars are fitted with brass bushings for quiet use and flexible spin. It includes a two-chamber chrome spring collars, and this is the preferred type for commercial facilities.
A good barbell is a vital piece of equipment for any serious weightlifter or CrossFit enthusiast.
3. Buddy Capps Texas Deadlift Bar Made in USA
Pros:
- Renowned for its ability to maintain form and reduce whip.
- Great for squats, bench and deadlifts.
- This is one of the most popular powerlifting bars on the market.
- Strong, yet flexible, 10-inch sleeves prevent the bar from deforming or cracking.
- The knurling is not polished and can feel rough to the hands.
The steel is low-carbon which means the barbell will not last long if you throw it around. However, knurling is present all over the bar.
When you go to the gym, time will pass by quickly when you’re lifting with the Texas Deadlift Bar. The guys at Buddy Capps have put all their experience into designing this classic power bar. The 10-inch sleeves have no groove or diamond pattern. The barbell is made of low-carbon steel, and it’s manufactured in the USA.
So, why do we recommend this bar? What makes it special? According to the manufacturers, it is the perfect combination of rigidity and whip, neither too extreme.
4. Body-Solid OB86B Olympic Bar
Pros:
- Smooth knurling
- Good spin
- Reasonably priced
- Great for the home gym
Cons:
- Connection to the sleeves seems a little weak
- Could be better with some bushings
When you’re searching for the best weight bar for your home gym, you want something that’s going to give you a nice combination of value, performance, and durability. You should also look for something that will last you for years to come.
One great option for you is this 7-foot bar from Body-Solid. It’s a standard weight bar, but it is perfect for squatting, bench press, overhead press, and power clean.
This bar has a chrome finish and features a multi-grip design. It has good spin and it’s great for heavy squats. The barbell saves space with a single-piece construction.
5. CAP Barbell Classic 7-Foot Olympic Bar
Pros:
- Dual knurling design
- Black Zinc-plated
- 7-weight Olympic plates that fit
- 2-year warranty
- Individually inspected
- Good customer service
- 6-foot storage
- Very low-cost compared to other brands.
Cons:
- Some users experienced discoloration in just a few months of use.
This last-minute addition to our list of the best olympic barbells you can buy comes from CAP Barbell. CAP Barbell is one of the most consistently well-priced competitors in the marketplace and its offering from the Classic Bar line is very good.
This model has a high tensile strength even for a barbell and safety is its best feature. It is one of the few bars in the market that are available with a lifetime warranty, which is reassuring when it comes to some of the more affordable choices. CAP Barbell has also been selling products for over 40 years, so you know that you are getting a product that has been securely tested.
The black zinc-plated finish and dual knurling design make this one of the more appealing choices out there for a standard barbell.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best Olympic weight set?
In our opinion the best olympic barbell set is the Body Solid Olympic Barbell Set. This is a perfect entry level olympic barbell set for someone beginning a home gym or wanting to start safely with cheap weightlifting equipment. This is a great price and product from a reputable company. We highly recommend this product.
What is the best Olympic Training Barbell?
In our opinion the best olympic training barbell is the Rogue Ohio Bar. This is a great olympic training barbell. This is Rogue's signature barbell, and many consider it to be the best olympic barbell on the market.
What barbell is used in the Olympics?
In general you will be looking at an Olympic barbell in order to do the Olympic lifts. Which one is best, of course, depends on what you are going to use it for. I like to recommend you guys an all-around Olympic barbell for the safe choice. Well, not so safe but it is worth mentioning here.
Hubbell 7 ft. Olympic Barbell – Great All-around Olympic Barbell
The 7' Standard Olympic bar offers a lifetime warranty and will hold up well to the rigors of Olympic weight lifting. This bar features:
Who makes the best barbell?
The go to manufacturer of quality Olympic Barbells is Rogue. They have a great reputation for making bars up to and including certifying them for competition use. Rogue has several different series of barbells. Their flagship barbell is the Ohio Bar. After that, there is the American Bar, the Cerakote Bar and the American Bar 2.0. The Cerakote Bar is the heaviest and least expensive and the American Bar 2.0 is the lightest and most expensive.
What is the difference between Olympic and standard barbell?
The basics of Olympic and standard bars is that standard bars are shorter and are made of bent steel. They have then been chrome plated or come with a chrome plated sleeve. Olympic bars are 7 feet long and have precision bearings to created a spin that is level and smooth. Great if you are doing Olympic lifting or Power lifting.
Now days Olympic bar and standard bar are sold together and are both made of stainless steel. So now you don't have to spend additional money to buy olympic barbells.
Conclusion
Home gyms and various kinds of fitness plans go hand in hand, which is why these specialized bars are a must have if you train at home. Forging fitness can add an extra weight bench or pull-up bar to your workout routine, or simply offer the perfect complement to your current home gym setup.
If you are used to using fixed weights, an "Olympic barbell" is the one you need to consider having in your workout room. The Olympic barbells offer a much more diversified range of weights and many can help you develop a variety of different muscles in your body.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Okie Power Bar | Best Overall | |
| CAP Barbell Classic 7-Foot Olympic Bar | Budget Pick | |
| CAP 7-Foot Olympic Bar | Upgrade Pick | |