5ft oly bar for deadlifts and overhead press?

[Maximilian]

Can a 5ft bar be used for these exercises? Its not going to be too short or anything is it?

Im thinking about getting a 2nd bar (already got a 7ft one) just to leave on the floor for deadlift/OHP.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

It depends on the load capacity of the 5ft bar. Very rarely are they made well enough to hold any capacity of weight (I'm talking only safe at 100lbs or less many times). If it's the same strength and quality as a good full size bar, then that would be fine I imagine, but I haven't seen one like that.

 

[Maximilian]

Cool, ill make sure i don't cheap out then, theres quite a few for sale here that dont even list the load capacity 😱 Im in the UK so the choice i have is limited but ive a good idea which brands to avoid.

 

[Wyndru]

The 5ft olympic bar I have easily holds 300 lbs. I don't remember what it is rated for, but I remember it's much more than that. I went small because I don't have a lot of area for it. It weighs 25lbs.

The only issue is that since the bar is shorter the edge of the sleeves (the larger diameter "stopper" or whatever it's called) sit right on my bench uprights, where the bar normally would be sitting. It doesn't matter though, in my case it still works fine.

 

[Corporate Thug]

So does it make any difference at all that the weights are closer to your arms w/ the 5ft bar vs the olympic bar?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

The 5ft olympic bar I have easily holds 300 lbs. I don't remember what it is rated for, but I remember it's much more than that. I went small because I don't have a lot of area for it. It weighs 25lbs.

The only issue is that since the bar is shorter the edge of the sleeves (the larger diameter "stopper" or whatever it's called) sit right on my bench uprights, where the bar normally would be sitting. It doesn't matter though, in my case it still works fine.

Cool, I wouldn't hesitate to use it then. If you're lifting, you're lifting. Who cares if it's on a conventional barbell 🙂

 

[Wyndru]

So does it make any difference at all that the weights are closer to your arms w/ the 5ft bar vs the olympic bar?

I've always wondered that, but I've never worked out with anything larger, so I don't know. I assume there has to be some difference how the weight is balanced, especially with exercises like the OHP. I might be neglecting myself of some ab or core muscles doing these with a shorter bar.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I've always wondered that, but I've never worked out with anything larger, so I don't know. I assume there has to be some difference how the weight is balanced, especially with exercises like the OHP. I might be neglecting myself of some ab or core muscles doing these with a shorter bar.

If you have equal weight on both sides of the bar, the positive and negative torques are equal regardless if its a 5 of 7 foot bar. Granted, the moment of inertia is different, but that's more important if you're going to rotate the bar, which isn't required in squatting, deadlifting, etc. I think it mostly just dictates what movements you can complete - like you're not going to be able to snatch with a 5 foot bar.