50 MM Barbells

Classic sports such as Olympic weightlifting or powerlifting demand the highest quality and precision. Modern Crosslifting® and the brutal strongman scene also require enormous resilience and endurance in terms of materials and components. Ambitious athletes and trainers also supplement their arsenal of barbells with special and dumbbells. We have been meeting these athletic challenges for three decades. Since 2019, our product range has been rounded off by the production of selected barbells here in Germany. Among other things, we use ceramic coatings that we source directly from Cerakote USA. In accordance with national and international standards, we offer the right barbell for women, men and young athletes. Beginners, advanced and professionals will find an exceptionally large selection. Drafting, technology, design and partial production are all based at our company headquarters in the south of Hamburg. In addition, tests by our athletes play a decisive role before the introduction of new dumbbells. Our dumbbells show their class in training and competitions. Our barbells and special dumbbells look good even after years of use if they are cared for properly. This also includes our affordable models. These have class and are not comparable with conventional cheap bars. What we don't do is stand still. We are constantly improving! Knurling and coatings are now at the highest level! 

6 steps to the right 50mm barbell! 

The market for Olympic barbells is a confusing terrain. If you are looking for quality in a 50 mm barbell, you need a checklist to separate the wheat from the chaff. Invest a few moments in these six steps and find the right barbell for you.

The quality of the steel and the way it is processed are decisive quality factors. Special steels have the best prerequisites for meeting a wide range of requirements in terms of load-bearing capacity and elasticity. The steels are adjusted to the desired properties through alloying and heat treatment. Stating properties such as the maximum load-bearing capacity (e.g. 350 kg, static) is good, but not sufficient. Information such as tensile strength, yield strength and, in the case of higher quality barbells, confirmation from independent test laboratories are essential. 

What looks the same at first glance shows clear differences on closer inspection. Important criteria here are slight deviations in length, weight and straightness. Professional barbells can be recognized by their narrow tolerances. They have very small deviations. The deviation in length should be in the range of millimeters at most. A straightness tolerance of 0.2 - 0.3 mm must not be exceeded. Barbell bars should have a maximum weight tolerance of 0.2 %. For higher quality barbells, this tolerance is even +/-15g for 15kg and +/-20g for 20kg total weight. 

Due to anatomical differences between the sexes, the following standards have been established for Olympic barbells: 

According to the specifications of the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation): 

- handle diameter 25mm 

- length 201cm 

- grip length 32cm 

- grip diameter 50mm 

- inside dimension of grip bar 131cm 

Weightlifters use these values as a guide. However, other sports have established deviations from these specifications for different applications. In Crosslifting®, 28 and 28.5 mm have become established. In the area of special dumbbells, the handle diameter is between 27 and 30 mm, depending on the type. A competition bar in powerlifting/KDK has a handle diameter of 29 mm. However, handles with a diameter of 30 - 32 mm are also used for squats and bench presses. Barbells with excess lengths and individual handle diameters are used for deadlifts. 

Decide for yourself where the focus of your training lies. Then choose the right handle diameter. Ambitious athletes will soon realize that a selection of barbells complements each other. 

is a top issue for every athlete. The requirements vary greatly depending on the discipline. Competition barbells require a high grip. The athlete must feel the sharpness of the knurling to achieve high performance. The powerlifter attaches great importance to aggressive knurling, especially when deadlifting. However, the sharpness of the knurling pattern should not go so far that you tear up your hands despite regular training. Professionals do pay attention to good hand care to keep the callus soft and supple, but they don't want to suffer unnecessarily. We have continuously improved our knurling over the last few years. Today, our competition barbells have a uniform knurling pattern along the entire length of the handlebar. The knurling in the powerlifting area is balanced and aggressive. The knurling for weightlifting and crosslifting is grippy but less aggressive. Where not absolutely necessary, we leave out the center knurling, which simply offers more comfort. 

After alloying and hardening, steel is in a sense still in its raw state. It is unprotected against rust. Now the coating technique comes into play. Not all coatings are the same. In addition, a distinction should be made between the handle bar and the mountings. A wafer-thin coating that emphasizes the knurling is desirable for the handle bar. In contrast, the coating on the mounts should be resistant to wear and corrosion. It does not have to be wafer-thin. Rather, it should be able to withstand the constant changing of weight plates and be resistant to scratches and damage. This is the main reason why two different coatings make sense for barbells. And this combination does not have to be at the expense of appearance; on the contrary. Taking into account the developments of recent years, but without making any scientific claims, we see the following simplified ranking in terms of abrasion resistance, rust protection and grip:

These coatings meet the highest criteria in terms of abrasion resistance and rust protection. Titanium and other ceramic coatings also have the advantage that, despite their high resistance, they are applied very thinly and therefore emphasize the grip of the Knurling. In terms of environmental protection, titanium and ceramic coatings are generally more environmentally friendly than conventional processes. However, hard chrome is still the number one choice for coating the barbell sleeves, as the focus here is not on grip but on resistance to wear and tear. 

Very solid coatings that stand for good abrasion resistance and rust protection. However, their grip is not first-class due to their not wafer-thin coating and smooth surface. 

E-Coating and Black Zinc are roughly equivalent in terms of abrasion resistance and rust protection. E-coatings are wafer-thin when applied correctly and offer very good grip properties. 

5.4 Phosphates / QPQ / Black Oxide 

They are less abrasion-resistant and therefore offer less rust protection. The wafer-thin black oxide coating offers good grip properties, but wears off after a short time. 

For phosphates, QPQ, e-coatings and ceramic coatings in particular, the processor's equipment and expertise are decisive for quality.

The quality and type of bearing defines the purpose of a 50mm barbell. Therefore, the right choice is a decisive feature when buying an Olympic barbell. Here is a brief overview of the main bearing types: 

Bushings for 50mm barbells are available in bronze, copper and steel. Steel bushings are the cheapest option. They are not recommended due to their hardness and susceptibility to rust. Bushings made of bronze and copper are ideal as pivot bearings, they ensure the correct rotation behavior. Like needle bearings, bushings are suitable for radial loads, but slewing bearings have different rotational properties. They are good for high loads and slow rotational movements. Squats, deadlifts and bench presses are more static in nature, a slow and controlled rotation is suitable here. Bushings are therefore ideal for powerlifting. 

New sports such as Crosslifting® or other trend sports combine heavy static exercises from powerlifting with the dynamic movements of weightlifting. Hybrids consisting of needle bearings, bushings and ball bearings are therefore also used for 50 mm barbells. This combines the advantages of two worlds. The hybrid bearing enables a repeatedly high load with good rotational properties at the same time. 

With these 5 steps, you should now be a good deal closer to buying your 50mm barbell! But don't forget the maintenance! 

Proper care of a 50mm barbell is not rocket science. A quick brush and wipe after every workout - and oil the bearings at least once a month! Remove sweat with a dry cloth and magnesium using a brush with plastic bristles. Spray a little oil into the bearings once a month. We recommend Anticorit from Fuchs for our barbells, which we offer as a spray in our store. Barbells should be kept dry and as dust-free as possible. That's all it takes - a little effort, but you'll enjoy your 50mm barbell for a long time.

If you would like to find out more about the topic of “Olympic barbells”, you can do so in our blog. You can find detailed articles and posts about the barbell here: 

Part 2 The magic of steel

http://www.kraftsport-news.de/neuheiten/leitfaden-zum-kauf-einer-olympia-langhantelstange-teil-2/#more-594 

Part 3 The type of bearing 

http://www.kraftsport-news.de/neuheiten/leitfaden-zum-kauf-einer-olympia-langhantelstange-teil-3/#more-616 

Part 4 Which coating? 

http://www.kraftsport-news.de/neuheiten/leifaden-zum-kauf-einer-olympia-langhantelstange-teil-4/#more-623 

Part 5 Which handle diameter? 

http://www.kraftsport-news.de/neuheiten/leitfaden-zum-kauf-einer-olympia-langhantelstange-teil-5/#more-644 

Part 6 Why spring steel? 

http://www.kraftsport-news.de/neuheiten/leitfaden-zum-kauf-einer-olympia-langhantelstange-teil-6-warum-federstahl/#more-682