What Barbell Should I Buy?

Choosing a barbell comes down to four things: what you lift, how often you lift, how much you drop it and how it feels in your hands.\n\nA multipurpose 20kg bar with a 28mm shaft suits almost everybody. Move to a 27mm deadlift bar only when pulling is your priority, and to a 28.5mm power bar when squats and bench press dominate your week.\n\nTensile strength describes how much force the steel takes before it deforms. Anything from 190,000 PSI upwards is more than enough for the vast majority of lifters. Bushings spin smoothly and last; bearings spin faster and suit Olympic lifting.