Let’s talk about bars! Here at PPG, we have a bunch of different types of bars, and if you’ve been lifting in a commercial gym, you might be used to just one type of bar. We have a number of different kinds of straight bars, as well as a bunch of specialty bars. We won’t cover every single bar we have in the gym, because that would be a very long post, but we’ll talk about the most commonly used ones, and what’s the difference between them.
Rogue Bars
We have Rogue bars that are both 20 kg and 15 kg. We call 20kg bars 45 lb, and 15 kg we call 35 lb. The 15 kg bar is a little shy of actually weighing 35 lb, but it’s close enough. These Rogue bars have a softer knurling (the knurling is the bumpy part on the bar that makes it grippy). They also don’t have any knurling in the center. This makes them great for pressing and front squats where the knurling can hurt your collarbone or chin. These bars are okay to drop with bumper plates on them, so they’re good for cleans and snatches. These are great all-purpose bars.
Westside Bar
The Westside bars are 45lbs and have more aggressive knurling than the Rogue bars. The end caps on them are green and say “Westside.” The knurling makes them a little grippier, so they’re great for back squats, bench, and can be used for deadlifting. They do have a center knurling which some people like for back squats, but some people (especially if you do high bar back squats) find it irritating to the back of the neck. These bars shouldn’t be dropped, so don’t choose them for cleans or snatches.
Aluminum Training Bar
These are our 15 lb bars, and they don’t have any markings, but you can tell them by their muted silver color, and shorter sleeve (the end part where you load the plates on). You can use these bars for anything that you want a 15 lb bar for, and they’re okay to drop with bumper plates on, so squats, presses, cleans, snatches, deadlifts are all fine to do with these bars. We find it is important to have these bars available because for some folks, a 45lb bar is too heavy. Having these lighter bars available makes barbell lifting more accessible to more people.
Texas Deadlift Bar
Our Texas deadlift bars are 45 lbs and they have pretty aggressive knurling. That can be really great for improved grip on the bar, but some people find it hurts their hands. These bars are a bit longer than other bars, with a bit more whip and a smaller diameter, which makes them ideal for deadlifting, but not much use for anything else. They should not be dropped no matter what kind of plates you’ve got on them! The end cap on them says “Texas” and they’re marked with white tape. Sometimes people think that rubbing chalk directly onto these bars will improve grip, but it doesn’t! All that does is jam up the knurling. Instead, put the chalk directly on your hands.
Eleiko Training Bars
We have Eleiko training bars in both 15 and 20 kg. They’re great for Olympic lifting, but not really anything else. These should not be used in the racks, because the racks beat up the knurling on them. These bars should only be loaded with bumper plates (we have either Rogue or Pendlay bumpers for this purpose). They shouldn’t have metal plates (except the small change plates).
Safety Squat Bar
The Safety Squat Bar (SSB) is good for (you guessed it) squats, but it can also be a good tool for good mornings, barbell loaded step ups, and more! It’s got handles that go over your shoulders, so if barbell back squats are rough on your shoulders, using the SSB can be a good alternative. Our SSB weighs 65 lbs.
Trap Bar
Trap bars (AKA hex bars) are mostly used for deadlifts, but you can also do weighted carries, jumps, and lunges with them. Ours is 45 lbs, and you can use it for whatever you would normally use a trap bar for.
If you’re new and this already sounds overwhelming or confusing, the most important bars to know are the Rogues and the Westsides. Those two bars will allow you to do most anything you want to do. Bar selection should come down to a combination of what the bar was designed for and athlete comfort. If center knurling irritates your skin, use a bar that doesn’t have center knurl. If aggressive bars hurt your hands, use something a little softer. When you’re in PPG, we are always here to help and able to answer any questions you have about our equipment.
