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Barbells
Fixed Weight Barbells: Pre-Loaded Straight and EZ Curl Bars
A fixed weight barbell has its weight built in. You pick up a 40 lb bar, not a bar and plates, so there is nothing to load or collar between sets. This page lists single fixed barbells in straight and EZ curl styles from TAG Fitness, York Barbell and Apollo, plus weight-band sets.
| Quick fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Handle styles | Straight and EZ curl |
| Weights | 20 to 110 lb on most bars |
| Coatings | Ultrathane, CPU urethane, rubber |
| Brands we carry | TAG Fitness, York Barbell, Apollo |
| Free shipping | TAG Fitness |
| Sold as | Single bars and weight-band sets |
Straight, EZ Curl or Olympic Bar: Which Fits Your Training?
Match the bar to the lifts you repeat most.
| Bar type | Straight fixed | EZ curl fixed | Olympic bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight changes | Swap to another bar | Swap to another bar | Add or remove plates |
| Grip | Straight handle | Angled handle | Straight, rotating sleeves |
| Suits | Presses, rows, lunges, circuits | Curls, skullcrushers, preacher work | Squat, bench, deadlift |
| Watch for | No micro-loading | No micro-loading | Needs plates and collars |
Fixed bars shine in circuits, supersets and classes because nobody loads plates. They do not replace a loadable bar for heavy squats or bench. For those, see our Olympic and weight bars; the guide to Olympic, power and deadlift bars explains how they differ.
Which Specs Matter on a Fixed Weight Barbell?
Six checks decide whether a fixed barbell suits your gym:
- ✅ Handle style that matches your main lifts
- ✅ Weights that cover today's loads and the next step up
- ✅ A coating that suits your floor and your drop habits
- ✅ A handle diameter that feels right in your hand
- ✅ A head shape that stays put when you set it down
- ✅ A rack or floor space ready before delivery
Handle diameter changes how a bar feels. TAG lists 32 mm hardened chrome handles on its Ultrathane and rubber bars; the York and Apollo pages state no diameter.
Ultrathane, Rubber or CPU: Which Coating Should You Buy?
Coating affects durability, floor protection and, on these lines, warranty length.
| Feature | TAG Ultrathane | TAG virgin rubber | Apollo CPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coating | Ultrathane (urethane) | Virgin rubber | CPU urethane-coated heads |
| Handle | 32 mm hardened chrome | 32 mm hardened chrome | Chrome-plated, knurled |
| Head | One-piece cast; 8-sided option | 8-sided, one-piece cast | Single-piece welded |
| Warranty | 5 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Ultrathane is TAG's brand name for its urethane coating, and Apollo's CPU bars list urethane-coated heads. TAG's spec sheet for the 8-sided Ultrathane straight bar gives the 5-year warranty to the original owner and excludes dropping, throwing or bouncing the bar, so read that line before you order. York's Rubber Fixed Pro curl barbell uses a rubberized finish.
Choose urethane if you want the longest listed warranty (5 years on TAG Ultrathane, the longest in the table above), and compare the rubber lines on warranty.
Which Fixed Barbell Weights Should You Buy First?
Start with the weights you will lift every session. TAG's Ultrathane straight barbell (also in an 8-sided version), York's Rubber Fixed Pro bars and Apollo's CPU straight barbells step up in 10 lb increments from 20 to 110 lb. Our weight-band sets group them as 20 to 60 lb, 70 to 110 lb or 20 to 110 lb.
Lighter bands suit curls, circuits and technique work; the 70 to 110 lb band suits heavier presses and rows. Buy one band now and add the other later, or pick single bars one weight at a time.
Where Do You Keep Fixed Barbells?
Fixed barbells need a rack, a bar holder or a clear floor spot. A rack keeps the heads off the floor and the handles within reach.
We also list the TAG Cardio Pump Set with Rack: a 55-inch bar with plates and a rack that measures 64 in wide, 30 in deep and 45 in high and holds up to 20 sets. It is a plate-loaded pump set, not a fixed barbell. For bar holders and multi-purpose racks, browse our storage racks.
Match the rack's slot or hook spacing to the head width and handle length before you order: the fixed barbell pages we list do not state rack compatibility.
Fixed Weight Barbell Questions
What is a fixed weight barbell?
A fixed weight bar is a barbell with its weight permanently built in, sold as one piece at a stated weight. Gyms also call it a fixed barbell or a pre-loaded bar.
That is why circuits and classes use them: nobody loads plates between rounds.
Are fixed barbells good?
They are good for speed and repeatable loads, and a poor fit when you need small weight jumps or heavy lifts. You pick the bar, lift it and set it down.
If your program needs small jumps, keep an Olympic bar and plates alongside your fixed set.
How to add weight to a fixed barbell?
You cannot. The weight is permanent, so you move up to the next bar in the range.
For smaller jumps, load an Olympic bar with plates instead.
Can you deadlift with a fixed barbell?
Light hinge work such as Romanian deadlifts works. Heavy deadlifts and squats call for a loadable bar, because most of our fixed bars stop at 110 lb.
Use a fixed set for accessory work and an Olympic bar for the big lifts.
Build Your Free-Weight Area
Not sure which handle, coating and weight band fit your gym? Book a free 3D home gym design, or look at fixed dumbbells to match your bars. Fitting out a studio? See our studio barbell sets. In the Chattanooga, Tennessee area, HHF Commercial Amenities (www.hhfcommercial.com) designs and builds commercial gyms.
Orders ship from Tennessee to all 50 states, TAG Fitness bars ship free, and equipment can be returned within 30 days if it is working, undamaged and in its original packaging (a restocking fee and return shipping apply). To match a rack to your bars or confirm handle size on York and Apollo bars, call or text 423-458-2453.
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