A Body Bar is a brand name of fixed-weight barbell. Although you can use a Body Bar for most any exercise that you can use a regular barbell for, Body Bars have a different design and different features from a regular barbell. Your training goals and fitness level will determine which type of bar is best for you.
Barbell
Barbells are long, metal bars and are available in two types: standard and Olympic. A standard barbell is 5 to 6 feet long, weighs between 15 and 25 lbs. and is about 1 inch in diameter. A standard barbell holds standard weight plates with 1-inch center holes.
An Olympic barbell is 7 feet long and weighs 45 lbs. The middle of an Olympic barbell is a little over 1 inch thick, and the ends are 2 inches thick. An Olympic barbell holds Olympic plates with 2-inch center holes.
Fixed-Weight Barbell
A fixed-weight barbell has a set weight that you cannot change. The metal bar has rubber-coated weight heads on each end. A Body Bar is a fixed-weight barbell made of steel covered with a soft foam padding. The bar is one thickness, about 1 1/2 inches, the entire length of the bar. The weight of the Body Bar comes from the bar itself, not weight heads on the ends of the bar.
Specifications
Body Bars are only available in certain weights. The classic Body Bar comes in a 3-, 4-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 15-, 18- and 24-lb. bar. These bars are 4 feet long. The heavy Body Bar comes in a 30-lb. bar, which is 5 feet long, and a 36-lb. bar, which is 6 feet long.
Standard weight plates come in 1 1/4-, 2 1/2-, 5-, 10-, 25- and 35-lb. plates. Olympic weight plates come in 5-, 10-, 25-, 35- and 45-lb. plates.
Considerations
You can create most any weight with a standard or Olympic barbell, with the minimum weight being the weight of the bar itself. However, with a Body Bar, you are limited to the preset weights. Although these weights might work for beginners or for small muscle exercises, advanced lifters will likely require heavier weight for large muscle exercises, such as squats, deadlifts and presses. Classic Body Bars are shorter and more manageable than a standard or Olympic barbell. A Body Bar has foam padding that is more comfortable to hold than a metal bar and won't mar your floor if you drop it.
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