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Hi all,

My bar is about 23 years old, rusted and the grip is non-existant from being spray painted years ago. I want to buy a new Olympic bar and wasn't sure if it mattered what brand/type or length I get. I like the black bar over a chrome bar and I'm looking for something with a good grip for deadlifts. I'm only going up to 425lbs. on my squat. Any suggestions on brand or type? Is there anything still made in America and of good quality? Thanks.

Riley

Good question. What are you going to use it for? Just deads and squats, or any olympic movements like clean or snatch?

I would probably stick with these. http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/powerbars.html

Go with the 7ft option if you intend to use it in a power rack. The price is the same either way. I can tell you (having recently bought two new bars) that the price on these is pretty decent.

At some time I would like to try Olympic movements but for now I'm just doing basic weight lifting movements: flat & incline bench pressing, military press, upright rows, deadlifts, barbell curls, bent over rows, squats.

Right now I have an old TDS bench however soon I will be buying the Bodysolid Power rack with lat attachment.

Even though I'm just going up to 425lbs., would a bar rated for 1200 or 1500lbs. 'hold up' better than a bar rated to 1000lbs?

Yes...especially if you're doing rack pulls. I've never seen a bent bar that wasn't first bent by dropping the weight during rack pulls. But a stronger bar should be more resistant to that. A more flexible bar will be better for deadlifting. So if you're not going to do rack pulls, then that might be a good option. That's my understanding anyway...somebody tell me if I'm off base.

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All bars have some spring to them. I believe that powerlifters use a thinner bar for deadlifting (better grip on a thinner bar, and more spring... which basically means that you pull on it and then it basically will spring the weights off the floor as it hits a certain point. I have no REAL experience with this, but that is my understanding).

My preference would be a stiffer bar. However, a bar rated to 1000lbs should be more than solid enough. The bar you are using now probably isn't even that good and any step up will be just fine. I have two generic bars and they are absolutely fine. I've used them for olympic lifting with full drops from overhead and they have held up.

Should you ever really be interestedin Olympic lifting, I would suggest checking out the Pendlay bars. http://store.wfwclub.com/bars.html

Obviously the price is a little higher, but they are very nice bars. I purchased one about 4 months ago and it is the pride of my collection Of course I pretty much only use it for Olympic lifts. I will probably look at one of those NYBB power bars later in the fall for my own deadlifts.