Comments on: Olympic Bar Diameter: Why They Aren’t All the Same

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 01:23:49 +0000

In reply to Mike McG.

Right on, thanks for the feedback!

By: Mike McG

Mike McG — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:08:56 +0000

Thank you for the great article, really helped frame the purpose of different diameter barbells for those of us looking to make a first time purchase for the home gym!

By: Scot Parker

Scot Parker — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 00:54:24 +0000

My glove size is 3X, so I’m thinking that a 30mm diameter bar would be more suitable. Anyone with large hands have an opinion on this? Use – Home gym bodybuilding; no clean and jerk, etc. At the moment I am using an axle which seems fine, lol.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 23:43:34 +0000

In reply to David Kiesling.

OK. Thanks. The ladies’ bar will work for me. I don’t need a super long sleeve.

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 18:12:06 +0000

In reply to Michael.

The only 25mm ones longer than 6.5ft I know of are the 8.5ft deadlift bars, pretty unwieldy for all purpose use.
https://www.tworepcave.com/1152/deadlift-bars-comparison/

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:59:23 +0000

Dave. I prefer the 25 mm thickness. I just like it, but of course, I cannot find a standard length bar (generally only women’s 79.5″ ish) in 25 mm. Technically, it doesn’t matter for me I guess, as the shorter sleeve length is plenty for the iron I am moving, but I wonder if you are aware of any standard length 25 mm options. Thanks

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:20:46 +0000

In reply to Chad Walls.

Wow, 34mm is a thick bar. Any idea what brand? I don’t know that I’ve ever seen one that thick, other than specialty fat bars that are 1.5″ (38mm) or more.

By: Chad Walls

Chad Walls — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 23:23:32 +0000

I decided to measure the diameter of both of my bars just to be certain. The new bar I purchased measures 30.2 mm in diameter. The older bar that I have been using for years was surprisingly 34.4 mm in diameter. It is no wonder I was having such difficultly gripping with this bar. lol.

By: David Kiesling

David Kiesling — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 16:06:41 +0000

In reply to Chad Walls – Fitness Blog.

Yep, it makes a big difference when it gets heavy! Deeper knurling can also add a good chunk to your raw max. I use straps on my heaviest deadlifts, but I switched things up from the CAP OB-86B to a Troy GOB-1800 bar last workout, which has a little more aggressive knurling than the pretty soft CAP knurling, and I could go up to 300 lbs before my double overhand grip was going to fail me (a mixed grip makes me scared I’m gonna pull a muscle) and I had to put on the straps.

By: Chad Walls - Fitness Blog

Chad Walls - Fitness Blog — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 15:30:58 +0000

Thanks for this post! I have been training for the past two years at home with an Olympic bar with a thicker shaft and often had difficulty with my grip. I recently purchased a second bar and soon discovered that it felt easier to grip especially double overhand. I used to think I had a weak grip but having a bar with a thinner shaft makes a huge difference. I don’t have a caliper to measure but it is nice to know from reading your blog that there could be as much as a 1/4″ difference in diameter.