A consumer's guide to purchasing barbells
hen it comes to exercise equipment I’m always looking for a bargain, especially when that means I can pass those savings on to our customers. So if we can save 5 percent by buying 1,000 bumper plates instead of 100, we’ll buy 1,000. However,there are times when you shouldn’t try to cut corners, especially when it comes to buying barbells.
Because BFS has been a leader in free-weight equipment for the past three decades, we are often contacted by manufacturers who want us to carry their products. This past year I’ve examined and tested at least two dozen new Olympic and powerlifting barbells, and there are only two I’m considering. The others simply did not meet our standards or were unreasonably priced. 63 “For.any barbel Bas consider offering in our BFS catalog, Ifa closely at'@ny-scientific Yesting that has been performed on it and then is bar needs to be very strong but not very flexible. In fact, a more g0-astep further: at BFSwetake a the laboratory.
expensive springy-type bar is not desirable when performing these lifts, as theVibration makes it more difÏcult to control the lift. The sleevg First, we try it ourselves to.see how it performs; to revolve er it does not need-to.be silky smooth.
—..plaiesand dropSi€from various heights ‘Onto power rack.spotter rods torevaluate ing these “bar exams” do we consider. gxercises Sueltas the power clean. "These batitieedsto, " takes to niake a great barbell. And this is — smoothly revolvifig sleeves, to facili-~" essential, because the barbell is.the key piece of equipment in the gym. testing and listening to feedback from our customers, we = Althotigh BES sells.a-vatiety of barbells; fattssized. ae ="
OlymipicFa ME Pteeomes live sport of powerlifting, Bars car: be behind. A smultipurposé iar i s perfect for-those get aiid can't alfordScvera! bars; especially bars of the The majority of our bar-sales,to high schoolsare for mul The box squat segment in this video is absolutely awesome. Every coach and athlete needs to see it! In addition, detailed instruction is given on the parallel ae squat and front squat. | guarantee every coach will be able to coach better and — every athlete will be able to squat better.
4 of two ways: ‘The revolution of the sleeve is accomplished-either —_ forin a Barbell Key qualitietodook for itt good barbell areyield strength, sleeve construction, knurling aftebfinish.
Views STRENGTH. ‘This is a number that refers to the number of pounds per inch (PSI) it takes for the steel to bend and stay bent. The iid eae the.belter (and youshould not constderabar the expression “stress level Phis:s.a bowusnumber, 2 example, a manufacturer could place @ barbell on abench, aidd-1500. pounds to it, andi the barbell doesn't break after a few minutes, ca all ita-1500-pountd-stress.bar. What's worse, some manufagttirers won't ~ the bag, KNURUNG: Kinurling is the jagged marks that help.youigrip “= Also, s, tHamOlmpiclifier tend to like a thicker kiturling Powerlifters the weight forthe squat, having an area of center knufling helps Seclife on,the shoulders.
Sof finishing a bar surface, incltding zinc oxide/silver, zinc oxide/black, chrome; atidinickel all these finishes are designed.to, retard rust and corrosion, The be posible finishris evenrgo this far and they simply pull out a nuniberfromyhin.air and the best protection ént-ask-for proof, which unfortunately ee of polished:stainless steel, Which-provides lthiat theif Uisttibutorsd hope inst rust; thercost-of Upgrading, to.this,typeof matefiabis:a:good don't ~ = FEVE CONSTRUCTION. ‘Tite sleeve Selec the barwith "
Strong sflap-tings;~as this type of construction L never Come 1008e ss: and cause potential injury to the athletesavoid barbells fat have Regarlessof the type ofbar-yolrdecidéto purchase, You,need to,take-—care of it. Its: good. practice £0 use bumper plates for Olympic lifts and tuse spotters to prevent the bar from slam ing On safety supports that Dolls,ds these bolts almost always ome: g)sterves that lift the bar that-is right for youand for Shop \dbars. to fi hem on andi.is almost impossi afer time —— pe bi ;S oo = smart — your,program:will flourish. And hey, maybe on the way —_ standards. =| bearings or bushings.
WhafYou need to know on this Sibjeetis that for the best rotation, needle bearings are the best; bushings are not as good aS needle bearings, but they are less expensive and tendhto last longer. A slightly.more expensive bushing, the oil-impgegnated bronze bushing, creates bétter rotation butnot.to the level of the rieedle bearing, BFS warehouse WétKet Chris Collum prepares barbells for msCaney al f :
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From BFS Magazine — September/October 2005. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
