What exercises can you perform with an Olympic barbell?
Olympic barbells allow a wide range of exercises to work different muscles:
- Squats: Strengthen your legs, glutes and back.
- Bench press: Work your chest, triceps and shoulders.
- Deadlift: Target the muscles of the lower back, glutes and hamstrings.
- Overhead press: Develop the power of your shoulders and triceps.
- Weightlifting movements: Like clean and jerk or snatches, to improve explosiveness and coordination.
The different types of Olympic barbells
- Basic barbells: A good quality Olympic barbell to start at an affordable price.
- Powerlifting barbells: Designed to support extreme loads, they are perfect for squats, deadlifts and bench press.
- Weightlifting barbells: Equipped with ultra-smooth rotating sleeves, they are specifically adapted to explosive and technical movements.
- CrossFit barbells: Designed to withstand intensive training including rapid and varied movements, such as thrusters, clean and jerk or deadlifts. With quality bearings, they ensure smooth rotation for dynamic exercises, while offering exceptional durability against repeated impacts and multiple uses.
- Olympic barbell Center Knurling: The Olympic barbell center knurling offers additional central grip for better stability and safety during squats, overhead lifts and other technical movements, ideal for intensive training.
Why choose an Olympic barbell?
Olympic barbells stand out for their robustness, their versatility and their adaptability. Made from high-quality steel, they can support significant loads without deforming, making them an ideal choice for intensive training. Their standard diameter (28-32 mm) and their non-slip grip guarantee comfortable and secure handling, reducing the risk of slipping during exercises. The rotating sleeves, equipped with bearings or bushings, ensure smooth weight rotation, essential for dynamic movements like clean and jerk or snatches.
Frequently asked questions about Olympic bars
Which Olympic bar should I choose for my training?
UF-Power Zeus power bar for powerlifting (stiff bar, aggressive knurl, competition marks). UF-Haltero Helios bar for weightlifting (smooth sleeve rotation, more whip). 20 kg, 220 cm CrossFit bar for all-round use. UF Basic bar with center knurl to start at the best price.
What are the standard dimensions of an Olympic bar?
20 kg, 220 cm long, 50 mm sleeves compatible with every Olympic plate (bumpers, cast iron, calibrated). The shaft diameter depends on the use: thicker on a power bar, thinner on a weightlifting bar.
What is the center knurl for?
The center knurl grips your back during squats and keeps the bar from sliding. It is found on power bars and the UF Basic bar. Weightlifting bars have none or a very light one so it does not scrape the neck during cleans.
How do I maintain an Olympic bar?
Brush the knurl with a nylon brush after chalk sessions, wipe the bar and apply a thin coat of light oil on bare steel. Do not leave the bar loaded on a rack and do not store it in a damp room. Our maintenance guide details the schedule.
Which bar fits a CS-1 or Athena rack?
All our 220 cm bars sit on the J-cups of the CS-1 and Athena racks. For a small space, the rackable UF-Curl EZ bar and the specialty bars (SSB, Buffalo, Multi Grip) are also designed to be racked.
Our guides: best weightlifting bars in 2026, barbell knurling explained.
