Sam's Fitness Gym Equipment Barbells Elite Olympic Bars

Elite Olympic Bars

Train like a world-class athlete with our elite Olympic bars. Our high-end bars from ATX and Ironmaster were designed for commercial gyms in Europe and America. These competitively priced, superior quality bars enable any strength training enthusiast, gym owner or home trainer on a budget to own one.

Powerlifting Hybrid Weightlifting

  • Certified for commercial use
  • IPF & IWF specifications
  • Massive load capacity
  • Superior construction
  • Ergonomic handles
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Please note: ATX Barbells have been tested in an independent German laboratory and are certified for commercial use.

Choosing the right barbell

Understanding knurling aggressiveness

There are a lot of technicalities involved in lifting heavy weight. Knurling is there to assist you.

The smaller and deeper the diamonds in the knurling, the more aggressive the grip. Ideally you would choose a barbell with an aggressive knurling if you are performing either explosive or power lifts.

If you are not planning on lifting hundreds of kilos of weights and/or don’t find aggressive knurling comfortable (e.g., it does dig into your bands), opt for barbells with medium knurling.

Centre Knurl or no Centre Knurl?

Squatting is a core exercise of almost all strength related sports! Unless of course, you are competing in bench press only events or training strictly for night clubs.

The function of the centre knurling in squats is to keep the barbell in the same position throughout the whole movement.

Centre knurl will also aid you in setting up for squats. It is far easier to place the barbell in the perfect position when you can feel or see the middle part of the barbell. These barbells are popular between powerlifters or people who prefer low bar squats.

Different sports utilize different features of the barbells, while powerlifters love the centre knurling, weightlifters and CrossFitters shy away from them.

Mostly because the centre knurling can get caught on your t-shirt. Which may affect the momentum of the lift.

Dual markings vs single marking

Normally, barbells with single knurl marking will conform to the powerlifting or the IPF standard. The gap between the knurl markings should be 81cm. Although on many cheaper barbells the distance can vary.

Weightlifting and CrossFit barbells come with two markings. One IPF and one IWF. The Standard gap between the knurl markings for weightlifting barbells is 91cm.

The multiple markings on these barbells mean that they can be used for a variety of sports. Just don’t mix the markings up when you are training!

Confused by Choice?

Yes, the size of the range can be confusing, but by working through the different options, you can get the barbell that will best suit you.

Composition

The combination of different metal blends gives these barbells different traits.

One of them would be “whip”. This feature allows the barbell to slightly bend during explosive lifts, making it ideal for use in Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit.

Harder composition bars are stiffer. You don’t need much whip when you are squatting or bench pressing. While most deadlift enthusiasts will choose a bar with high whip as it allows them to reduce the range of motion.

A cheap barbell can offer a good whip too. The difference between an untested barbell with a made-up tensile strength and load rating, is that it may deform after a while of heavy use.

Barbells with a tensile strength of 180 K PSI and under, tend to bend over time, and do not return to their original shape. Our elite power bars have extremely high tensile strength and will remain straight, even after years of use.

Coating

Barbell coating serves an important role in the longevity of the barbell.

Black Oxide – pros of this coating is that it is less slippery and gives you a better grip, it is also more cost effective compared to other coatings. Cons: surface rust will occur after a while if the barbell is not maintained regularly.

Chrome – Pros: durability and better protection from rust and damage. Cons: it is slightly more slippery compared to black oxide.

Cerakote – Pros: looks great and can be matched to gym/school colours. Cons: More expensive manufacturing costs, once chipped the bars are prone to rusting as they don’t have protection.

The best way to protect your barbells from rust and increase its longevity is to prevent the bars from chipping and cleaning them regularly. I would recommend using a power rack or a bench press with rubber coated j-hooks and spotter arms.

Bearings or Copper Bushings?

Copper bush –They are perfect for power lifts or general strength training. The main advantage of these bars is low maintenance. Because copper is self-lubricating you don’t need to oil these barbells up. (I would still recommend cleaning them every once in a while).

Bush Bearings – Provides a smooth spin, even under heavy loads. This feature helps you to reduce the torque produced by explosive lifts. Making it easier to control the barbell. Even though these barbells were designed for Olympic Weightlifting and CrossFit, they can also be used in everyday training.

ATX – Designed in Germany, Conquering the World
The ATX Barbells burst on the scene around five years ago and have rapidly grown in popularity during that time.

The German engineers have examined the competition and produce a range of barbells that are the same standard or better as many of the world’s leading brands. This alone would be a great feat, but the fact they are significantly cheaper is even more impressive.

Each batch of ATX barbells is independently tested in a German laboratory to ensure they conform to the following standards:

Tensile test acc. DIN EN ISO 6892-1

Tensile test acc. To DIN EN ISO 6892-1

Hardness Rockwell gem. DIN EN ISO 6508-1

Hardness Rockwell acc. DIN EN ISO 6508-1

IPF/IWFFrequently Asked Questions

How much does a Powerlifting Barbell weigh?

The most used powerlifting barbells weigh 20 kilograms. Some Powerlifting Federations use special squat bars which are thicker and heavier than your regular powerlifting barbells. They weigh 25 kgs. 

Two examples are the ATX® Raptor Squat Bar Xtreme which weighs 25 kgs and ATX® Warrior Power Bar IPF – which weigh 20 kgs. 

The squat bars are thicker to reduce the “whip” which is the bar bending and flexing when someone is lifting a heavy weight. The bar is also longer so you can fit on more weights. Increased length and girth translate to a significant weight increase compared to the traditional powerlifting barbell.  

Difference between Powerlifting Barbell and Olympic Barbell?

There are four key differences between Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting Barbells: 

Knurling – Olympic Weightlifting Barbells feature milder knurling while Powerlifting Barbells usually feature an aggressive knurling. 

Grip Diameter – IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) standard is 29 mm, while IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) standard is 28 mm. 

STIFFNESS/Whip – Federations like IPF who use a single barbell for all three lifts, tend to use barbells with high tensile strength. The higher the tensile strength the STIFFER the barbell will be. 

Other powerlifting federations use three different barbells for all three lifts. Squat bars are usually thicker at 32 mm and have high tensile strength. Bench press barbells are 29 mm thick and have high tensile strength. While deadlift bars are 27 mm thick and have lower tensile strength to provide more bend, making it easier to move the weight.  

The bar will flex under a heavy load before the weight lifts off the ground. The starting position of when the weights actually lift off the ground becomes slightly higher. The higher the start, the easier the lift.  

Olympic Weightlifting bars usually have lower tensile strength and high “whip”.  This why the weights on a heavy Olympic lift look as though they are bouncing up and down.  

Bushings – Since powerlifting movements are less explosive compared to Olympic ones. Powerlifting barbells typically use copper or bronze bushings. 

Olympic Weightlifting bars on the other hand tend to have ball or needle bearings which provide excellent sleeve spin. Which does wonders when it comes to reducing the torque produced by the explosive lift. However, some regions do prefer bushed Olympic bars as the slower spin generated is preferred.  

What is the diameter of a Powerlifting Barbell?

IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) approved, and barbells built to IPF specifications feature 29 mm barbell grip diameter. 

Some of the other powerlifting federations use three different barbells for all three lifts: 

Squat Barbell – 32 mm thick grip diameter. 

Bench Press Barbell – 29 mm thick grip diameter. 

Deadlift Barbell – 27 mm thick grip diameter.  

What are the Markings of the Barbell?

The ring markings you see on the barbell are called Knurl Markings. They are there to help you position your hands evenly on the bar, so that you could have a relatively even load on each arm. 

There are four main ring widths:  

  1. IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) – any IPF approved and most IPF specification barbells will feature knurl markings spaced out 810 mm apart. 
  2. IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) – any IWF approved and most IWF specification barbells will feature knurl markings spaced out 910 mm apart. 
  3. Hybrid – hybrid barbells feature dual knurl markings, with both IPF and IWF rings spacing. This makes them perfect for everyday use, CrossFit, and functional training. 
  4. General Strength Training – there are no set standard ring distance for the general strength training barbells. The distance between the rings can be from 720 mm all the way up to 850 mm. 

If you are switching between barbells, make sure that you identify the type of the knurl markings. It can have quite an impact on your training. Take bench press for example, the wider your hands are the more strain you will place on your pecs. If you move your grip closer the strain will start shifting to your triceps. If you lined up your bench press using the markings on an IWF bar, after training with an IPF barbell. This much wider grip and lead to a potential pec tear if you were not paying attention.  

And if you are not used to a certain grip position, you may fail the lift.