Although women lifting weights is now the norm, it wasn’t until the 2000 Olympics that Women’s Weightlifting was recognised as an official event. During this time, the women’s barbell was introduced. Set by the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation), the women’s bar has a different specification from a men’s bar.

A women's bar is designed for Olympic Weightlifting, and its main purpose is to improve the performance of competing female athletes and vice versa for men. One of the clear differences between a women’s and men’s bar is the weight - 15kg for women’s and 20kg for men’s. However, a “lighter” bar is not why a women’s bar was introduced.

Why is there a women's bar?

A women's bar is designed for Olympic Weightlifting, and its main purpose is to improve the performance of competing female athletes and vice versa for men. One of the clear differences between a women’s and men’s bar is the weight - 15kg for women’s and 20kg for men’s. However, a “lighter” bar is not why a women’s bar was introduced.

What are the main differences?

Length

A men’s bar is 7.2ft (2200mm), whereas a women’s bar is 6.6ft (2010mm). For competing female athletes, the reason for a shorter bar is to better suit the female anatomy, as their shoulders tend to be narrower than men’s. However, for the everyday person, a shorter bar may be more convenient or the only option due to the lack of space in a home gym etc.

Shaft Diameter

Another difference between the two bars is the shaft diameter. A women’s bar is 25mm, whereas a men’s bar is 28mm. The reason for this is that females typically have smaller hands, therefore having a thinner shaft makes it easier to grip the bar. That being said, a women’s bar is a great option for anyone with smaller hands, or for those who simply prefer a thinner shaft.

Sleeve Length

For women’s barbells to still fit Olympic equipment, the shaft length (distance between the collars) must be the same as a men's bar. Therefore, to create a shorter bar, the sleeve length on a women’s bar is shorter (12.6 inches vs 16.3 inches). For anyone considering a women’s bar, the disadvantage of this is that you cannot load as many plates onto the bar as a men’s bar.

Weight

When you reduce the length and thickness of a bar, something must give and in the case of a women's bar, it is the weight. Men’s bars are 20kg, whereas women's bars are 15kg. Keep in mind, that a 200kg lift is still 200kg whether or not you use a 15kg bar or a 20kg bar. Nonetheless, a 15kg bar can be a great option for a beginner or a warm-up.

Is a men’s barbell the same as a traditional Olympic bar?

The short answer is no. The Olympic bars found in gyms are normally 7ft long, 20kg and vary in shaft diameter. As a men’s bar must meet IWF standards, it has stricter rules – 7.2ft long, 20kg and 28mm shaft diameter.

Can anyone use a women’s / men's barbell?

Of course! The only exception to this is athletes competing in Olympic Weightlifting, due to IWF regulations. However, if you are not competing, you can and should use any bar that works best for you.  

Looking for a women's barbell? Try the Body Power Women's Olympic Bar (201cm/25mm Grip) Fits Olympic Width Equipment!