How heavy is the fitness pole in the gym

In the ordinary commercial gyms we go to every day, the most commonly used standard Olympic barbell (also known as the "big bar" and "Olympic bar") has a standard weight of 20 kilograms, which is 44 pounds when converted to imperial systems. But this is definitely not the only answer. Different types of fitness poles with different usage scenarios can have a weight difference of more than 20 kilograms.

I made a joke when I first started working out. When I practiced bench pressing for the first time, I pushed two 10-kilogram weights. I was so smug that I could press 40 kilograms as a novice. I turned around and asked the coach and found out that the bar itself weighed 40 kilograms, and the total weight was almost 80 kilograms. I was so embarrassed that I almost threw the bar away on the spot.

But if you really regard 20 kilograms as the standard answer for all Olympic poles, you will be in trouble one day if you fail to guarantee it. Many venues will be equipped with Olympic poles specifically for women. Most of them weigh 15 kilograms, and the shafts are shorter and thinner. Girls don’t have to exert extra effort to hold the pole when they grip it, making them much friendly to novices. How to tell the difference? In addition to looking at the weight mark engraved on the shaft, a 15kg pole is usually 10 to 15cm shorter than a 20kg pole, and the diameter of the shaft is about 2mm smaller. The difference is quite obvious when you weigh it.

Oh, by the way, there are also those old gyms that have been open for ten or eight years. The poles are worn until half of the paint is peeled off, and the weight may also "drift". I used to go to the old gym owned by a friend to lift iron. I deadlifted a 140kg PR that day. When I was done, I hurriedly carried the bar to the scale and weighed it. Only then did I realize that the bar, together with the magnesium powder accumulated over the years in the rust belt, plus the old circlips that were always hanging on both ends, was actually 1.5 kilograms heavier than the standard, which meant that I actually pulled 141.5. I was happy for half an hour at that time. Some people also say that they have encountered 18 or 19 kg Olympic poles. This is really not nonsense. Many non-standard commercial poles made by small brands will steal some materials in order to reduce costs. This situation is too common in old clubs.

Except for the big Olympic bar for bench press and deadlift training, the weight of other small bars is even more uncertain. For example, the commonly used EZ curved bar for biceps training ranges from 5kg to 12kg. There are also short straight bars used for shoulder training, ranging from 3kg to 10kg. It all depends on the specifications chosen by the venue when purchasing. I have seen a 7kg short pole for pure novices in a small community studio before. It is not much heavier than my clothes drying pole, but I am afraid that the novices will not use the force at the beginning and it will fall to their waists.

If you go to a specialized powerlifting gym or CrossFit gym, there will be more ways to do it. Some squat bars specifically for powerlifting weigh 25 kilograms in order to increase rigidity. Although most deadlift bars are still 20 kilograms, their shafts are softer and more elastic, and they feel completely different from ordinary Olympic bars. I used to go to their gym to train with friends who are into powerlifting. I defaulted to 20kg for weight calculation. Only after I squatted in the third set was I told that the squat bar was 25kg. I almost knelt down on the spot because my legs gave out.

In fact, there is no need to worry too much about the exact weight of the bar during daily training. As long as you use the same bar every time you train and can steadily add weight, it is enough. If you really want to PR or compete in a competition, it's not troublesome to get a scale and weigh yourself in advance. After all, whether you practice well or not is never determined by worrying about one or two pounds of weight.