Olympic vs Std

[Hallsy]

Why is it that Olympic size plates & vars are considered better than std size? I've even heard them described as being safer?

Don't get me wrong, if I ever decided to shell out for a complete set I'd go to Oly, but I think that's just because everyone says they are better!! Plus they look harder!! ;)

But really, I already had some std plates, then when I went to start my home gym I just bought a load more std plates - that's the only reason I don;t use Oly. No point in having both.

[Man of Steel]

It's harder for the plates to slip off an oly bar, they're used in competitions and have a more hardcore image than the Argos pumper plates.

[Scourge]

Standard bar will bend with any decent amount of weight on it.

[Hallsy]

But why is it harder for the plates to slip off? They are both held in palce with collars or spring clips?
As I say, when I decide that I want to upgrade I'll get an oly set, but that's mainly because , as you say, they are more hardcore!!
Thinking about it though, I was going to buy a pair of 20kg plates this weekend, which would have been £46 delivered, I also need a 7ft bar for when I build my power rack which would be around £30 delivered. That would take my weight total up to around 150kg which would do for now, maybe I should just cut my losses and spend the extra £60 odd and get a 145kg Oly Set.
Hmmm, now theres a plan. Then sell off all my old plates on ebay :)

[bunnyluva]

I use standard at home with a 7ft bar for use in the rack, I have two spare standard bars, one of which I use for deadlifts outside the rack. I managed to get a solid standard ez bar from a car boot sale for a couple of quid and some spare dbell bars too.

Oly is nice but you can pick up spares for your standard stuff much cheaper.

Phil

[BengDogg]

Standard plates are fine for home use imo, i have oly plates cos i had no plates at all wheni set up

[Fred]

get oly if you can afford it

[Hallsy]

Standard bar will bend with any decent amount of weight on it.

Surely it would depend on the max weight load of the bar though. I realise that often an oly bar will have a higher max weight load though.

I'll have to look at my finances once I build my power rack and need a 7ft bar. The 6ft bar I'm using currently is fine out of a rack at the mo.

[Scourge]

Surely it would depend on the max weight load of the bar though. I realise that often an oly bar will have a higher max weight load though.

Yeah... You don't normally see standard bars with the same max load specs as oly bars.

[DMPM]

Oly. bars rotate as well, which is safer when you're doing things like power cleans etc.

[Hallsy]

Do they? What, all Oly bars? Never noticed that before, only used one many years ago ina gym I used to use, the last gym I was at had all std sized stuff.

[DMPM]

Do they? What, all Oly bars? Never noticed that before, only used one many years ago ina gym I used to use, the last gym I was at had all std sized stuff.
Yes. They do. Don't try cleaning with a solid bar. I learnt that one the hard way...

[the block]

painful wrists....