Barbell Set


A barbell set is another versatile piece of equipment and essential addition to your home gym. If you want to do exercises like barbell deadlifts, squats, overhead press, and bench press, then a barbell weight set may be the way to go.

A barbell set consists of a barbell, weight plates and a set of collars. 

Start by using light weights at the beginning and perfect your exercise technique. Then, when you have proper exercise form and feel yourself getting stronger, add weights to the barbell. 

Which barbell set is best to use?

There are different types of barbell sets, including:

Standard barbell weight set

This set has cast iron or rubber-coated cast iron plates with a standard barbell. The apparent differences are that the barbell’s lighter and the entire length of the bar has a diameter of 25mm. This set is considerably cheaper than its Olympic counterparts. For light workout routines, a standard set will suffice. 


Olympic barbell weight set with rubber plates

This set has rubber-coated cast iron plates with a 6ft to 7ft Olympic barbell weighing 15kgs to 20kgs and a bar diameter of 25mm to 28mm, respectively.

The apparent difference is the Olympic barbell has a 50mm rotating end sleeve. This set is more expensive than your standard set but will last you a long time.

If you plan on doing some heavy squats, presses or deadlifts, this would be a good barbell weight set for the home fitness enthusiast. 


Olympic barbell weight set with bumper plates

This set includes a 7ft barbell with bumper plates made of solid rubber. The pro and competition weight plates have a steel core covered in solid rubber, and the barbell has a higher weight rating. 

The apparent difference is some weight sets come with colour coded plates. These are your top of the line barbell weight sets, and the price tag reflects that.

If you like Olympic lifting, CrossFit, powerlifting, or love to drop your weights, I recommend getting an Olympic barbell with bumper plates. 


Benefits of an Olympic barbell set with rubber or bumper plates

There are several reasons why I prefer Olympic sets, such as:

  • Olympic bars can safely handle more weight.
  • The ends or sleeves of the bars can freely rotate, which reduces added torque. This means that the bar has less of a chance to warp over time, and it also eliminates the possibility of your hands slipping or straining your wrists and arms.
  • Many rubber plates come with bi-grip, tri-grip or multi-grip handles for safer handling. These are the ones that I like because you can also use them independently for free weight exercises. I’m always after the most versatile piece of equipment, which means I can do more exercises.
  • Bumper plates can be dropped safely without damaging the plates themselves, lifting platforms, or other hard floorings.

How much weight do I need?

First, decide on the type of lifting you plan to do and which barbell set you want to use.

If you are new to resistance training or have never used a barbell weight set before, all you need to start with is a barbell and about 30kgs (65lbs) to 70kgs (155lbs) of different size weight plates. You can save some money in the beginning by purchasing fewer plates. Then, as you get stronger, add more weight plates to your set. 

If you are currently resistance training and want to assemble a set at home, it depends on how strong you are and how much you can lift with specific exercises. For example, if you deadlift, let’s say, 90kgs (200lbs), you would want that much plus another 30kgs of extra weight. This additional weight should be made up of an assortment of smaller plates.

In the end, if you are planning to set up a home gym and want to use a barbell set as one of your main pieces of equipment, then go with a good quality Olympic barbell with rubber or bumper plate set.