Barbells & Plates

Eight bars, from a 7 kg technique bar and a 15 kg (33 lb) bar to 20 kg (44 lb) power, deadlift and starter bars and a 30 kg (66 lb) safety squat bar, plus an EZ curl bar and a hex trap bar. Plates come as rubber bumpers and calibrated steel from 5 to 25 kg (55 lb), tri-grip and rubber-coated iron from 1.25 to 20 kg (44 lb), a 0.5 to 2.5 kg change set and a 100 kg bumper set at $579, with spring and lockjaw collars. Prices run from $9 to $579.

Bumpers are for lifts you drop, such as cleans and snatches; iron costs less per kilo and is thinner, so more fits on the sleeve for squats and deadlifts. Whatever you load, put collars on: spring clips are fine for most training, and lockjaws hold tighter.