Barbell & Plate Racks

Premium barbells and racks built to last, ensuring you have a professional weight-lifting setup to build your strength and conditioning without the clutter. Keep your weight plates safe, organised, and ready for every snatch and clean. Buy a durable and heavy-duty barbell set and rack from Northern.

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Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers

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What is a barbell?

A barbell is a long metal bar designed to hold weight plates like cast iron plates or bumper plates and is used for strength training exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bench press.

Do I need a plate rack for my weight plates?

Whether you're in a garage or a commercial studio, weight lifting racks keep your workout transition seamless and keep your floor safe from tripping. This also protects your weight plates from dropping and scratches.

What muscles does a barbell work?

Barbells are used for full-body strength training, so they target the major muscle groups, including the back, chest or pectorals, shoulders (deltoids), legs, including the quadriceps, hamstrings & glutes, arms, specifically the biceps and triceps, and the core muscles.

Which plate rack is the best?

Vertical Plate Racks are best for saving space, allowing you to stack your iron plates or bumper plates high without taking up a massive space. Toast Racks or Horizontal plate racks are perfect for fast-paced sessions. They keep your plates separated and upright, making it easy to grab exactly what you need for the next set. While the Triangle Storage Racks are best for heavy plates, as it has a sturdy base.

What barbell weight should beginners start?

Beginners in weight lifting should start with a 15kg barbell to master the form and proper technique for squats, press, snatches, and clean. Combining the bar with a 60kg weight plate set gives you plenty of room to grow, making sure you have everything you need to start making real progress.

What’s the difference between dumbbells and barbells?

Both dumbbells and barbells are effective for strength training. Dumbbells generally offer greater freedom of movement and are better for targeting individual muscle groups, while barbells are better for heavier lifts and overall strength development due to their stability and ability to load more weight.

Some other key differences are:
Dumbbells allow for unilateral movement, improving balance and muscle activation.

Barbells (including barbell weight sets and barbell bars) are better for lifting heavier loads and compound movements like deadlifts and bench presses.

A barbell and weights set is ideal for strength training, while a set of dumbbells offers more flexibility for various exercises.

For most home gyms and workout routines, dumbbells are the better option; however, for more advanced strength training and conditioning, consider adding barbells to your home gym setup.

Can I use weight plates without a barbell?

Weight plates specially tri grip weight plates, can be used without a barbell for exercises like Russian twists, weighted lunges, overhead presses, and plate carries, making them a versatile strength training tool.

Are dumbbells or barbells better for strength training?

Both are effective, but dumbbells offer more range of motion and muscle isolation, while barbells allow for heavier lifting and compound movements like squats and deadlifts.

How to tell a 15kg bar from a 20kg bar?

The easiest way to tell a 15kg bar from a 20kg bar is by looking at three main things: the length, the thickness, and the knurling. The 20kg bar has a thicker shaft, 28mm, while the 15kg barbell has only 25mm. Most standard 20kg Olympic bars feature a centre knurl (rough patch in the middle of the bar), while 15kg bars almost never have this. A 20kg bar is also 7.2 feet, while the 15kg bar is almost 6.6 feet.

Which is better the 15kg or 20kg barbell?

If you are doing standard powerlifting or general strength routines, the 20kg bar is your best choice. But if you are focusing on explosive Olympic lifts or want a grip that’s easier to manage, choose a 15 kg barbell.

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