What size bar for deadlifts?

[Kigorri]

Hey guys, I've finally decided to get it together and add deadlifts to my exercise regime. 

I really need to get a straight answer on bar size as the interwebz is all over the4 show. Does the bar size really matter? whether its 5ft,6ft or7ft? I know most would agree to the bar being 7ft due to Olympic bars being that size, but I cant afford an Olympic bar/weights at present and cant see any advantage other than the wider bar working your core more to stabilize? or is that me....

Anyway, all I know is that my faithful EZ bar is not going to cut it :-D

Thanks

 

[jimmybro1]

Go for a 6ft bar then, a cheap bar probably won't last though. 

 

[Leeroid]

The main issue is that standard weight plates designed for 5ft and 6ft standard bars tend to be smaller in diameter so it'll be harder as you are essentially performing a deficit deadlift with an increased ROM. That's not necessarily a negative. 

 

Another thing is that standard bars tend to be thinner and for most people the deadlift is one of their strongest exercises. Loading heavy weights will bend bars over time and you may find that the standard bar may bend if you are strong on deadlifts. 

 

Apart from those reasons though, I don't really see a reason to go for an Oly bar. 

[Kigorri]

Thanks guys, good points to consider here. 

It's going to take me some time to build up to anything thats going to bend bars... but now that you mention it, that sounds like a good challenge!  

I see what you mean about the height and am glad that has been brougt to my attention. I'll throw a couple cinder blocks down..

 

Cheers

[AZIDE]

Thanks guys, good points to consider here. 

It's going to take me some time to build up to anything thats going to bend bars... but now that you mention it, that sounds like a good challenge!

I see what you mean about the height and am glad that has been brougt to my attention. I'll throw a couple cinder blocks down..

 

Cheers

the standard bars are often shit steel and they are skinnier. i bent mine by benching and by dropping the bar loaded with 100kg off my back onto the lawn after a set of squats so im sure if you loaded one up you could bend it doing deadlifts.

[Kigorri]

Woah, it bent at 100kg? I guess shorter bar the better then. 

[AZIDE]

Woah, it bent at 100kg? I guess shorter bar the better then. 

just to clarify, it bent from the impact of dropping it off my back onto the lawn not from doing a lift with 100kg. then after it was already bent it bent a bit more over time when i put140kg on it for benching. it did not bend in the middle, but on one of the ends where the weights go. was a 6 foot one i think possibly 5 foot. definately shorter than an olympic one, pretty much have to do semi-close grip bench on all reps due to bar width.

i wrapped the bar with cloth and taped it to make diameter larger  because those narrow bars are really hard on your hands for benching as not as much surface in contact with your hands so a much greater force per area.

whether or not it is suitable depends how heavy you expect you will go on deadlifts though. how heavy do you go currently?

[Kigorri]

Man, how heavy? tbh I've only just admitted to myself that I need to get real about strengh training so all I have at the moment in maxing out an ezbar with approx 65kg of weight. 

I was so caught up in aesthetics this year so it was more med to high reps, so I need to score some more plates soon.

 

The lighter weight is not too bad atm as I need to practice getting my form/technique down but I expect to be moxing into triple digits in the next few months.  

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

Man, how heavy? tbh I've only just admitted to myself that I need to get real about strengh training so all I have at the moment in maxing out an ezbar with approx 65kg of weight. 

I was so caught up in aesthetics this year so it was more med to high reps, so I need to score some more plates soon.

 

The lighter weight is not too bad atm as I need to practice getting my form/technique down but I expect to be moxing into triple digits in the next few months.  

if you never done it before your main challenge will probably be grip which will sort it self out pretty quick (long as you don't use straps/gloves all the time). it won't take you long at all to deadlift triple digits so defs plan on something that will handle heavy weight.

[Kigorri]

Thanks man, yeah, I'll have to look into a better bar in the new year. I'm just trying to focus on getting my back positioning right, being 6'2" this will prob be the main challenge.

[Monarchking]

Save a little longer and buy a top quality olympic bar. 

I won't buy crap again because the shit just bends