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07, About the durability of barbells

When choosing an Olympic barbell, you want to choose one that is durable and will last a long time. So, what are the indicators to measure the true durability of a barbell, and how can you choose a stronger barbell?

"Load capacity" is a meaningless number

When checking the product specifications of a barbell, you may see a number such as "load capacity" (or rated weight).

At first glance, this may seem like a useful number, but in reality there are no uniform standards for load-bearing capacity across all manufacturers, and each manufacturer measures it using different standards, so the load-bearing capacity published by the manufacturer is actually of little use as a reference.

Test results based on a lack of standardized assumptions cannot be used as a guideline for comparing products from other manufacturers, and one long-established barbell manufacturer has dismissed the load-bearing capacity of barbells as "a fantasy created to satisfy ignorant users."

*Since manufacturers have no choice but to respond to market demands for easy-to-understand guideline figures, it is common for manufacturers to set their own load-bearing capacity standards, even though they are aware that the numbers are meaningless.

Barbell Endurance

As mentioned on the page about barbell surface treatment, the recent rise in barbell sports and functional training, as well as the increase in the training weights handled by lifters and athletes, have significantly changed the required specifications for barbells.

Modern barbells are exposed to two types of stress: static stress, which is caused by slow lifts of heavy weights like the BIG3, and dynamic stress, which is caused by quick lifts like the clean and snatch.

The barbell's resistance to these two types of stress determines its durability.

The indicator of durability against static stress is "tensile strength"

When it comes to the static stress strength of a barbell, it is common to use the international standard tensile strength (measured in PSI, or pounds per square inch) as a guideline rather than the load capacity, for which there is no standard.

Tensile strength has been used for many years as the most common indicator of barbell strength, and is useful as a guide to measuring the durability of a barbell. A barbell with low tensile strength may not be able to withstand heavy loads and may bend.

It is said that if the tensile strength exceeds 190,000 PSI, there is almost no possibility of bending due to stress caused by slow lift becoming a problem.

When it comes to tensile strength, barbell manufacturers have a history of competing over catalog specifications, with each manufacturer claiming that the other companies' catalog specifications are exaggerated.

Most professional Olympic barbells today claim to exceed 190,000 PSI, but it can be difficult for customers to verify this fact.

Resistance to dynamic stress is a complex matter

Stress on a barbell is caused by dynamic stress in addition to static stress. The rise of lifting sports and functional training has dramatically increased the dynamic stress on barbells, and today's barbells are subjected to much stronger dynamic stress than they were a generation ago.

The main dynamic stress is the stress placed on specific parts of the shaft when the barbell is dropped.

Regarding durability against stress caused by this "dynamic stress," the equation does not simply equate "high tensile strength = durability," and research has shown that if the tensile strength is too high, durability against dynamic stress actually decreases.

Furthermore, research by barbell manufacturers has revealed that factors such as surface treatment, sleeve length, shaft diameter, and sleeve durability also have a significant impact on durability against dynamic stress.

Factors affecting the durability of barbells against dynamic stress

The dynamic stress resistance of a barbell is mainly influenced by the following factors:

Tensile strength: A tensile strength between 190,000 PSI and 220,000 PSI provides the highest resistance to dynamic stress. If the tensile strength is lower than the value, or if it is too high, the durability will be reduced.

- Surface treatment As mentioned on the page explaining surface treatment, chrome plating reduces the durability life of steel due to hydrogen embrittlement.

-Thickness of the barbell shaft: The thicker the shaft, the more durable it will be.

- If the sleeve length and other conditions are the same, the shorter the sleeve, the less stress will be placed on the shaft in the event of a fall, and the greater the durability.

- Durability of sleeves When a barbell is subjected to dynamic stress, strong stress is placed on the shaft as well as the sleeve. The durability of the sleeve is affected by factors such as the bonding strength of the inner collar, the method of fixing the grip end, and the type of rotation mechanism. If the sleeve durability is low, it will reach the end of its life before the barbell shaft, so no matter how strong the shaft is, the durability of the sleeve will determine the durability of the entire barbell.

- Surface corrosion and scratches Corrosion and scratches on the barbell will reduce the durability and life of the shaft.

*Some of these factors don't really have much meaning in practice. The length of the sleeve is determined by the space available in the area where it will be used, and the thickness of the barbell shaft is selected based on the purpose, and durability is usually not a criterion for product selection.

ROGUE's "F Scale" durability index for dynamic stress

As a new standard for barbell durability, ROGUE has developed the "F-Scale", which simulates dynamic stress by repeating four-point bending tests at a specified stress. As far as I know, this is currently the only barbell durability evaluation in the world that can handle dynamic stress.

However, currently no other barbell manufacturers are participating in this "F scale," and it is essentially the in-house standard for ROGUE. It can be used to compare ROGUE barbells, but it cannot be used to compare ROGUE barbells with barbells made by other companies at this time.

How to Find a Truly Durable Barbell

To find a truly durable barbell, the first thing you should check is the tensile strength of the barbell shaft. Make sure it has a tensile strength of over 190,000 PSI and that the number is trustworthy.

Usually, barbells from long-established and major manufacturers have their steel tensile strength tested by a reliable third party, but some extremely cheap barbells appear to have suspiciously high tensile strength. Steel with high tensile strength is itself expensive and difficult to process, so it is thought that there are cases where unfounded figures are listed for products that are too cheap.

In environments where there is little dynamic stress, barbells with a tensile strength of over 190,000 PSI can be used indefinitely if used correctly.

If you are using a barbell in a harsh environment where you are dropping it frequently, you need to choose a barbell that is highly resistant to dynamic stress as well as static stress. To do this, you should first choose a barbell shaft with a tensile strength of 190,000 PSI or more and 220,000 PSI or less, and avoid products with chrome-plated shafts.

Additionally, if there are multiple barbell shaft thicknesses to choose from, for example a CrossFit gym barbell with a 28mm or 28.5mm option, the 28.5mm one will be more durable.

Taking these factors into consideration, it is best to choose a product from a manufacturer with a proven track record in the fields of competition barbells and barbells for athletic facilities.

The reality is that all barbell manufacturers claim similar specifications when it comes to durability, regardless of whether this is true or not, and consumers have no way of verifying numbers like tensile strength. However, people involved in competitions and training know from experience that there are clear differences in durability between manufacturers. Therefore, ultimately, the most reliable criteria for judgment are "track record and reputation."

The harshest environments for barbells are those used in lifting sports and athletic facilities, and barbells that have a long history of use and are trusted in the field are the most reliable products.


For reference, the tensile strength of the barbells from each manufacturer we carry is listed below.

ROGUE Olympic Barbell Tensile Strength: 190,000 PSI to 215,000 PSI

GYMWAY Olympic Barbell Tensile Strength → 216,000 PSI

ELEIKO Olympic Barbell Tensile Strength → 215,000 PSI

Villain Olympic Barbell Tensile Strength: 190,000 PSI

Barbell Basics, Table of Contents, Glossary

1. Differences between various barbells

2. Recommended barbells by type

3. Surface treatment of barbells

4. About barbell knurling

5. Barbell sleeves, rotation mechanisms, and removal noise

6. Barbell maintenance

7. Durability of barbells

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