This article is so comprehensive that we had to separate it out from our main article on cleaning and maintaining workout equipment. So you just got a new olympic bar and you want to keep it in good condition for years to come. See our section below on regular maintenance. Or maybe you have an [...]
Here's how you determine what length of barbell you need. First, the common lengths of barbells Typical length of shaft and sleeves of 7ft olympic barbell A 7 foot barbell is usually around 51-52" long between the shoulders / inside collars. Each of the sleeves is about 16". Add another couple inches for [...]
You get a hold of a great power rack or squat rack, but then you find out that the company doesn't make the attachments / accessories that you want. No problem! You should be able to find a compatible attachment or accessory, as long as your rack is made with one of a few standard [...]
Here's some info that folks need sometimes on the sizing of olympic plates, including their diameter, hole size, and thickness. 45lb olympic plate diameter A 45 lb plate diameter measurement is supposed to be 450mm (17.72″). This is the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) and IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) regulation size. This goes for most models of olympic [...]
What jerk blocks are A jerk block, also called a jerk box or olympic weightlifting technique box, is a stackable, raised platform to get the barbell a few feet off the floor so you can practice jerks. A jerk is the final portion of the clean-and-jerk, moving the bar overhead These are not common in home gyms, and [...]
What is a power rack? This is also known as a power cage or "full" power rack. A power rack is a popular piece of weight training equipment that is mainly used as a conveniently shaped rack for freeweight barbell exercises: squats, bench presses, and anything else where you could normally use a friend spotting you [...]
Intro This is for olympic weightlifting bars (often called WL bars for short) that are best for doing the clean and the snatch. For powerlifting bars for deadlifts, squats and bench press, see the powerlifting bars comparison. Or learn about the difference between the two. Muscle & Fitness also has a good basic article on the difference between [...]