Weight Bars

Why train with a barbell?

If you’re looking to get stronger, you’ll need a barbell.

If you’re looking to get stronger, you’ll need a barbell.
Most people use a traditional barbell. This is a straight weight bar that has a knurled centre – or ‘shaft’ – which makes it easier to hold onto the bar when lifting. The knurled grips also have guidance marks, so you maintain a consistent grip. On some bars they also mark the different positioning for both weightlifting and powerlifting moves.
Barbells are useful for consistency when training, which is important when it comes to progressive overloading – a technique used for getting stronger.

The bars come in different thicknesses and lengths ranging from 4ft to 7ft. The 7ft long barbell is the most common type of barbell found at the gym and can also be used with any Mirafit power or squat rack. If you are working out at home and have limited space, then another alternative is the 6ft international weight bar which is a shorter overall length but still has the same centre section length as a 7ft bar so will still fit onto racks.

Olympic barbells have a 2” sleeve diameter and are suitable for use with a range of Olympic weight plates including bumper plates. Standard barbells have a 1” sleeve diameter and generally hold less weight. These are only suitable for weights that have a 1” centre hole so are not suitable for use with bumper plates.

There are also many other types of weight bar and it’s important to select the correct barbell according to your strength level, training goals and the size of the room you will be training in. Below, we’ll go through some of barbell options, so you can get a better idea as to what you might need.

Another option is the fixed weight barbell, which is a bar with the plates attached. These are more often seem in commercial gym set-ups.

Weightlifting vs powerlifting

Our 7ft barbells have knurled grips with markings for both weightlifting and powerlifting positioning. So, whether you’re doing compound lifts such as squats and bench presses, or weightlifting style moves such as the clean and jerk, we’ve got you covered.

SPIN

Bar spin can be useful for helping you get your grip positioning right as well as guiding the momentum when doing weightlifting moves. Our M3 Classic Olympic Barbell features 10-piece needle bearings for a smoother spin, making it ideal for lifts such as snatch and clean & Jerk.

SPECIALITY BARS

If you want to train a specific area or are looking for a bar that’s more suited to a particular move, a speciality bar can really help.

For example, trap bars, also known as hex or shrug bars, are great for doing deadlifts as well as shoulder and upper back work.

Tricep bars are ideal for helping you maintain a consistent form while working the backs of your arms.

EZ curl bars and swiss bars such as our Olympic Swiss Bar are for different styles of lifts but they are designed to help reduce the strain on your joints as you lift. Ideal for anyone with shoulder problems or just if you’re more comfortable lifting with a neutral or angled grip.

And finally, thick grip and axle bars allow you to develop strength around your wrists and forearms as you train.

Buying a weight bar

If you’re new to buying gym equipment, then deciding on what weight bars are right for you can be tricky. There are so many different types which can make it difficult to know which ones to go for.

Below, we take you through the different types of bar and what they’re used for, so you can get a better idea as to which ones might be best for you to train with

An introduction to weight bars

When it comes to choosing the right weight bars, it really comes down to the following factors:

• How you want to train – whether you’re looking to focus your training around a particular piece of equipment such as a power rack or a weight bench
• What you want to train – if you’re looking to target a specific area
• How much you can lift – some weight bars can handle a lot more weight than others and are also a lot heavier to lift on their own. So, finding the right weight bar will also depend on your strength and experience

The main two types of weight bar are dumbbells (one-handed bars) and barbells (two-handed bars).

Traditional dumbbells and barbells are straight and are available in a range of lengths and thicknesses. Barbells usually start at 4ft and go up to 7ft – which is the size you would usually use with a squat or power rack.

They normally come with either a standard 1” diameter sleeve, or an Olympic 2” sleeve. Olympic 2” bars are generally stronger and are more popular with gyms as they can be used with a greater variety of weight plates including bumper plates

What weight bar for which exercises?

Specific types of exercises are often best done with specific types of bars. Here are some of the bars you can use for the most common types of exercises:

Squats

If you are training with a power or squat rack, then you will want either:

• AA 7ft weight bar such as the M3 barbell or our Powerlifting Bar
• A 6ft International Bar
• A Women’s Olympic Barbell

as these are the ones that will fit properly onto the rack. We also offer specialist Safety Squat Bars which are designed to reduce strain during lifts and are fit onto any Mirafit power rack.

Bench presses

Bench presses are typically done with a straight barbell. If your rack is full sized, then you’ll need a straight, 7ft barbell, a 6ft International Bar or a Women’s Olympic Barbell.

You can also vary your bench presses by using an Olympic Swiss bar. These are particularly great for helping you target a range of muscles as well as reduce any stress on your joints.

Deadlifts

When performing deadlifts, you’ll want to make sure the weight bar that you’re using is suitable for rubber bumper plates. This means you’ll need to use an Olympic 2” weight bar.

This will typically be a 7ft barbell. However, you can vary your deadlifts by using a shrug bar. These are particularly good for helping to shift the weight back, so that you can focus your posterior chain.

Axle bars and thick grip bars can also be used but are more suited for experienced weightlifters.

If deadlifting is a regular part of your routine, then we also offer a specialist deadlift bar. Our Behemoth Deadlift bar has a specification that is ideal for pulling big weights and has been used as part of the Giant’s Live strongman competitions.

Bicep curls

For the best results, many people will use dumbbells for bicep curls. However, there are also a few other types of bar that you can use to perform this exercise.

EZ curl bars will help to reduce the strain on your wrists and are great for doing bicep curls. Tricep bars can also be used for doing bicep hammer curls, so are a great way to vary your workout.

More advanced lifters will also be able to use a swiss bar to perform a range of curls.
We also offer a rackable EZ curl bar which is ideal for use in a power rack.

Tricep extensions

If you’re just starting out, then using a dumbbell and doing tricep extensions one arm at a time is a good idea. This is because you can use the non-working arm to hold your elbow steady as you train.

Once you have built up some strength, then using a tricep bar will help you ensure your training is consistent. This is really important for maintaining progression.
You could also use an EZ curl bar to do tricep extensions as well as lying tricep extensions, otherwise known as ‘skull crushers’ or ‘nose breakers’.

As you become more familiar with using different weight bars for different exercises, you’ll find what works best for you and how you train. After all, there is more than one right answer.
If you would like help or information on any of our products, then just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
When it comes to choosing a weight bar suitable for big lifts, then the barbell is always going to be the first choice for many.

However, there are lots of different types of barbells. And many of them can really help you progress your training, supplement your compound lifts and work around old injuries or specific limitations.
If you’re not sure about what they are – or more importantly, what they’re used for – this feature is for you. Below, we go through all the different types of weight bar and what they’re used for, to help you get better equipped for strength training.

Straight barbells

Straight barbells are the bars that are most commonly used. These are two-handed weight bars which can be used for compound lifts such as squats, bench presses and deadlifts.

They vary in length, starting at around 4ft and going up to 7ft – which are the bars you see most commonly on squat racks and power racks.

They also vary in thickness. Olympic bars have a 2” sleeve and Standard bars have a 1” sleeve. Olympic bars can handle more weight compared to standard bars but are also heavier to lift if you are just starting to train.

A 7ft barbell is typically between 17kg and 20kg – and that’s before you’ve added any weight plates on.
Straight barbells have knurled handles for a stronger grip and with enough momentum, the sleeves at the end of the bar will spin. This is ideal for helping with more technical lifts such as the snatch and the clean and press.
Straight barbells are the type of weight bar that is used for powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting competitions.

EZ Curl Bars

EZ curl bars are angled weight bars which are usually around 4ft long.

Although they’re not suitable for something like squats, they have a lot of benefits.

The main advantage to having an angled grip is that it helps to relieve stress around your wrists and elbows when lifting. EZ curl bars are also great for close grip work such as lying tricep extensions.

Also, having a shorter weight bar can also be helpful if you have a smaller workout space. Think outside the box and you can get a really intense workout with one of these bars.

For example, kneeling down while doing military presses, tricep extensions or bicep curls is a great way to give yourself an extra challenge.

Safety Squat Bars

If you love to squat, but hate the pain that comes with it, this bar is for you. An Olympic safety squat bar helps to distribute the weight around your shoulders more evenly. This is especially good if you really feel the pressure when holding a straight barbell against the bottom of your shoulders.

Another great thing about this bar is that you don’t have to push your arms right back to hook your hands over the bar.

Instead, you can hold the bar from the front with your elbows tucked in, which helps to relieve any strain around your wrists, elbows and shoulders.

This bar takes a little bit of practice but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s definitely worth having in your arsenal.

Trap Bars

Targeting your upper traps can be pretty difficult. But that’s where the trap bar comes in. Sometimes known as a hex bar or shrug bar, trap bars have several benefits.

Not only can you add more weight to them than most dumbbells, they can really help with deadlifts, as well as shrugs.

They give you a neutral grip so there’s less strain on your wrists. The grips are easier to reach than on a straight barbell, so there’s less strain on your lower back. They keep the weight to either side of you rather than in front, which helps to target your posterior chain. Also, when doing shrugs, the handles are slightly farther away from your body than if you were using dumbbells, so they really help to target your upper traps. By using a trap bar, you’ll be more consistent with your exercises too which will help with progression.

Tricep Bars

Tricep bars are one of the best types of weight bar for maintaining consistency, especially when you’re starting out. By training consistently, you’re more likely to build and develop your muscles so that you can improve.

And although the name suggests that tricep bars only work your triceps, they can actually be used for other exercises as well.

So, on top of the tricep extension and lying tricep extension, you can use them to do bicep hammer curls, shoulder presses, front raises and chest presses.

You can also get multi-grip tricep bars which will help to vary your workouts.

Thick Grip Bars

Anyone who lifts will have experienced that feeling of having the arm strength to lift a weight, but not having the grip strength to hold onto it.

This is pretty common and that’s why building up grip strength and muscle strength at the same time, is so important.

That’s why Mirafit makes thick grip bars. You can train your muscles and your grip strength at the same time. The bars are knurled which can help you keep your grip, but the 5cm diameter centre means you’re building strength around your wrists and forearms as you lift.

Axle Bars

Axle bars aren’t commonly seen around smaller gyms. However, they can be a really useful training tool.

Axle bars have several features which set them aside from the straight barbell.

For one they have a 5cm diameter, which makes them a lot more difficult to hold. They also don’t have any knurling, so there is literally nothing to fall back on while training. The extra challenge is ideal for anyone looking to improve their grip strength. This can be hard to do but is essential for performing heavy lifts and doing hand-intensive exercises such as pull ups or farmers walk.

And finally, axle bars don’t have any spin. On a straight barbell, the sleeves spin, which can help you with Olympic lifts but on an axle they are fixed and do not rotate

Swiss Bars

Swiss bars are a great alternative to using a straight barbell. They’re multi-grip, which gives you the opportunity to mix up your training.

They’re also easier on the wrists as the grips are more neutral. This can help with heavier lifts as they place less strain on smaller joints.

Use them to perform anything from bicep curls to deadlifts and bench presses.

You can get swiss bars that just have angled grips or ones that have a mixture of neutral and angled grips. Each grip is knurled to help you keep a firm hold of the bar while lifting.

Farmers Walk Handles

Farmers walk handles are great for improving grip and carry strength. But their main focus is to allow you to improve your functional fitness levels. Rarely do you see people walking around carrying loaded weight bars in the same way they would carry the shopping in from the car! However, these are especially designed for that.

They can also hold a lot more weight than you would normally find on the dumbbell rack. So, perfect if you’ve hit that plateau and are looking for ways to get stronger.

As well as larger styles of farmers walk handles, you can also get Mini Farmers Walk Handles. These are smaller versions that are much more compact and more suitable for storing away in home or garage gyms.

As always, if you have any questions about any of our products, just get in touch. Head over to Facebook @MirafitOfficial and send us a message.

Collars – the complete guide

Collars are an essential part of lifting weights safely. They make sure your weight plates are kept securely on the bar, even during vigorous exercise such as barbell cycling. Unsecured plates can shift or come off your bar entirely, which can be dangerous for both you and the people around you. Locking your plates in place with one of the many types of collars available takes little effort, and once you get into the habit of using collars during your weightlifting sessions, it soon becomes second nature.

Types of collars

There are a variety of different collars available, each with their own unique characteristics and advantages.

• Spinlock collars
This type of collar is used in combination with spinlock bars. These bars are threaded, allowing you to spin your collars to lock and release your weights in a very similar style to fastening a nut to a bolt. Spinlock collars make for efficient weight changes and are very easy to use.

• Quick release collars
These collars use a clip system to open and close. To put the collar in place, slide the open clip onto the barbell sleeve up against the plates and tighten it by pressing the clip down. The collar is now clamped onto the bar. The quick-release system makes this type of collar ideal for when you regularly need to adjust the weight on the bar.

• Spring collars
Spring collars work by squeezing the handles to increase the diameter of the collar, allowing you to slide it on and off your bar. To fasten these collars, you simply let go of the handles and the decreased size of the collar will lock itself around the bar. Spring collars are a very simple and cost effective way of securing weights.

• Compression collars
These collars use a leaf spring design so you can secure your plates without scratching your bar. The lever lets you fasten these clips very tightly for an excellent grip on the bar.

Whilst purchasing your collars, always make sure they are the right size for your dumbbells and barbell!