The Iron Edge Olympic Barbell is manufactured without compromise, right here in Australia.

Australians are regarded as extremely resilient people with the ability to overcome any hurdle that’s thrown at us. The rest of the world respects us for it. At Iron Edge we go about manufacturing in the same way; without shortcuts and without compromise. We’ve sourced the best materials worldwide and put them in the hands of highly experienced Australian engineers to create a barbell that exceeds every expectation and finds its way to you with a no BS guarantee.

For anyone that has experience in Olympic lifting, they recognise that there are two things that can fail on a bar; either the shaft will bend or the sleeves will detach from it. If you have these two issues sorted, you have a barbell that you can rely on for decades. We’re so confident of the quality of our bars that we’ll cover all claims against bending* and collar malfunction. In short, if there’s a problem with a bar we’ll take care of – we stand by their quality and our claim that these are right up there with the best bars available, anywhere in the world.

We’re asked every day about the quality differences between bars and the resulting price differences.

There are five key aspects that define a barbell in terms of quality:

1. Shaft

   
   This is essentially the most important component of any barbell. Once the shaft is bent, the bar is rendered useless. We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that we have the best shafts money can buy, so we’ve sourced our steel from a renowned mill in Japan. The Japanese have been world leaders in steel quality for years. The result is a shaft that can only be described as providing the perfect blend of feel and whip. No matter what weight you are shifting, these shafts will always retract to dead straight.

2. Shaft Coating

   
   There are several ways to coat a barbell, but many have flaws.
   
   • Chrome. Extremely cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing when brand new, but not particularly durable. The coating will flake off over time and the bar is subject to corrosion. These bars are only a prospect for entry level lifters.
   • Oxide/Zinc. Also extremely cost-effective. Better durability than chrome however they tend to show wear and tear and discolouration within weeks of being manufactured.
   With our bar we opted for black nitride, and for good reason. To obtain this kind of finish the shaft needs to be heated to over 200 degrees celsius before having a black nitride coating applied. The black nitride and steel then combine together and essentially become one intertwined substance. As a result, you have a barbell with an impenetrable surface which lasts longer, looks better and is more durable. Put simply, you won’t get a better finished bar.

3. Knurling

   
   Everyone’s got their own idea of the ideal knurling so it’s a tough one to appeal to everyone. So we decided to trial seven different knurling patterns in the hands of some very experienced lifters and listen to what they had to say. There was a common theme; they wanted a very fine knurl with an almost soft feel but one that was going to provide plenty of grip. The resultant knurling is superb, allowing you to rip the bar off the ground with confidence without ripping your hands apart. For the centre knurl, we opted for an even shallower knurling (ala the Uesaka barbell) ensuring enough grip in the rack position but without the unpleasantness of tearing skin off your chest.

4. Sleeve

   
   Again, we avoided shortcuts and cost limitations and forged our sleeves from stainless steel, machine finishing them with a light, textured ribbing to avoid collar slippage. Not only is the stainless steel 100% reliable and indestructible but is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye, especially in contrast with the black nitride of the shaft. Stainless steel is the most rust proof material around and therefore doesn’t need a coating, so you can be assured the finish will remain for the lifespan of the bar.

5. Sleeve Rotation

   
   The rotation of these sleeves is driven by no less than five Japanese made needle bearings at each end. While IWF barbells utilise similar bearings, you’ll find that traditionally barbells at this price point utilise bushings only. Needle bearings result in less friction, hence providing a more linear, free-flowing spin. Put simply, if you’re an Olympic lifter and limiting yourself to a bushing bar you’re using the wrong bar! To further ensure the bearings maintain their free spin for years to come, we’ve encased them in the sleeves to eliminate dust and grit build up.

We have gone into great detail to ensure every component of the bar is of the highest standard. It’s this kind of detail that sets a quality barbell apart and gives the lifter the confidence and ability to maximise their potential throughout their lifting career.

Technical Specifications

• Shaft diameter: 28mm
• Shaft length: 1310mm
• Shaft material: Spring Steel
• Shaft Coating: Black Nitride
• Sleeve diameter: 50mm
• Sleeve length: 445mm (410mm plate loading)
• Sleeve material: Stainless Steel
• Bearings: Nippon needle Bearings
• Barbell length: 2200mm

*Warranty against Bending: Barbells are designed to be used in conjunction with bumper plates and weightlifting platforms. Warranty will not cover bars that have been dropped onto steel cages, spotting arms or any foreign objects. Warranty will not cover bars that are used for Olympic weightlifting without bumper plates or adequate weightlifting platforms.

ïAre you member fo the Defence Force, a P.T., Gym owner, or a practicing rehab professional? If so, you may be eligible for discounts on our products. Visit our wholesale page for more info.

Mark Hammer
Jan 31, 2012

Was this review useful?

I have used all sorts of bars Pendlay, Zhang Kong, Eleiko, Garage Gym.
So far the quaity of this bar is as good as the others on the market, only heaps cheaper. The bearings turn well and have yet to miss a beat. The whip in the bar, while not as much as say Eleiko, is great and the bar has always gone back into shape, and I've given it a pretty good beating.
The only reason that I gave it a 4 out of 5 is the knurling but its a personal preference. The knurling on this bar is far from worst knurling I have experienced, it is similar to that of the GG bar and my prefered knurling is that of Pendlay or Zhang Kong.
Would recomend this bar to anyone looking for a great Oly lifting bearing bar at low cost and high quality.

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