Pros and Cons of a Hollow Lifting Bar

Exercise equipment is manufactured to be specific. Each muscle has an exact movement and a piece of equipment made particular for it. Even the most basic item, a lifting bar, comes in a variety of shapes, lengths, weights and design. Whereas most lifting bars were originally solid pieces of metal, more recent models are available as either solid bars or hollow ones.

  1. Light Weight

    • The most basic difference between a hollow and a solid lifting bar is the weight. Obviously, because of their lack of interior metal, hollow bars are lighter than the solid ones. Because of this lighter weight hollow bars require more weights to be added to equal the lift on a solid bar, which may make it difficult for people with a limited weight supply to progress farther in their workout. The usefulness of the hollow bar may not be enough to compensate for the need for extra weights. The lighter weight does, however, lower the risk of injury if the bar alone is ever accidentally dropped.

    Low Price

    • Generally, solid bars cost more than hollow ones because they contain more material . This of course varies by the quality of the bar, high-end hollow bars being more expensive than cheaper solid bars, but between bars of similar quality the solid bars are consistently more expensive than the hollow ones. It may be easier for lifters with limited funds, who aren't worried about a weight differential, to find a hollow bar which fits within their budget than a solid one.

    Lack of Resistance

    • One fault of the hollow bar is its lower resistance to damage. Since it doesn't have the hard core of the solid bar the hollowed metal may become dented. The dent then becomes a weak point, which could affect lifting and lead to bends or breaks. Low-end bars may end up being replaced far faster than their solid equivalents. Of course, both bars are made to be strong enough to handle a great deal of weight, but the hollow models simply lack the reinforcement of solid bars.

    Inflexible

    • Bending is a particularly dangerous thing for any lifting bar, especially in mid-lift, as any amount of weight significant enough to cause a metal bar to bend will also be enough to cause serious damage on impact. Depending on the model, hollow bars are just as good in avoiding bend as solid bars, with particularly high-end bars being able to withstand record amounts without having any flex. Before purchasing any lifting bar, make sure that it can easily handle the amount of weight you plan to place upon it and even more as you progress and start to establish new personal bests.