NUCCLR barbell bars

Why choose NUCCLR barbell bars?

NUCCLR is the shop's own brand, and in this category that means three items instead of twenty. The narrow line is a deliberate choice: one Olympic bar of 220 cm for squat, bench press and deadlift, plus two curl bars for biceps and triceps. Those are the bars that do most of the work in almost every home gym and every small training room. Other brands in this category go for breadth instead, with an exercise specific bar for every movement or with a long series of lengths and complete sets. This line sticks to the parts most people actually train with, in the Olympic size and at a low price per bar.

The second thing to know is that all three bars share the same sleeve diameter: 50 mm. That keeps the maths simple. If you add a second bar from this line later, your existing plates and collars fit straight away and you never end up with two types of collar in the house. It is also the size that power racks, bar holders and virtually all bumper plates and cast iron plates with a large bore are built around. If you still train on 30 mm, that is the one real obstacle with this brand, because those plates will not fit any of the three bars.

What you will not find here are the exceptions. Safety squat bars, hex bars, buffalo bars, technique bars and strongman equipment belong to other brands in this category. That is not a gap but the same choice seen from the other side: a straight bar plus two curl bars covers squat, bench press, deadlift, rows, curls and the French press, and for most people that is the whole programme. Also take a look at the other fitness equipment from NUCCLR, because the house brand reaches further than these bars alone.

The range of NUCCLR barbell bars

Three items, all in the Olympic size: one straight bar for the big lifts and two bent bars for your arms.

• Olympic barbell of 220 cm: the straight bar, and the standard length in this category. Long enough to sit in a power rack with the sleeves clear of the uprights, and wide enough for a squat grip, a bench press grip and a deadlift grip. This is the bar the heavy work happens on.
• Olympic curl bar: the familiar EZ shape with a wave in the middle. Your hands sit at an angle instead of pointing straight ahead, which takes a lot of the strain off your forearms and wrists during barbell curls. Shorter and lighter than the straight bar, so it is easier to handle in a small space as well.
• Olympic super curl bar: the same idea with a deeper wave. Your hands tilt further inwards, towards a semi neutral grip, which moves the load one more step away from your wrists and elbows. Meant for anyone who still feels something with a regular EZ bar.
• 50 mm sleeves throughout: there is no 30 mm version in this line. The advantage is that your plates, your bumpers and your collars fit all three bars, so a second bar costs you nothing extra in accessories.
• Fits common racks and stands: 50 mm sleeves and a length of 220 cm are precisely the dimensions power racks, bar holders and storage racks are designed around. Your bar follows the standard, not just equipment from the same brand.

Which NUCCLR barbell bar suits you?

With three items the choice comes down to two questions: is your training built around the big lifts or around arm work, and how much relief do your wrists need?

You have a power rack and want to squat, bench and deadlift: take the Olympic barbell of 220 cm. Measure the inside width of your rack first and add the room you need on both sides to lift the bar in and out of the hooks. If that works out, this bar is the base the rest of your power racks and dip stations and your bench connect to.

Your arms get most of the volume: go for the Olympic curl bar. For barbell curls, hammer style curls and the French press the EZ shape sits more comfortably in the hand than a straight bar, and you do not need 220 cm of space to use it. Put one of the fitness benches next to it and your triceps work can be done lying down.

Your wrists or elbows are sensitive: move up to the super curl bar. The deeper bend tilts your hands further, so your forearm is forced into less supination. That is exactly where many people feel pain during curls and skullcrushers, and it is the reason this line holds two curl bars rather than one.

You are building a home gym from scratch: start with the 220 cm bar and a set of 50 mm weight plates. That covers every basic exercise. A curl bar is a welcome addition, but it is not a condition for getting started.

You already own 30 mm plates: then these bars do not match your equipment. All three have 50 mm sleeves, so on top of the bar you would need new plates and new collars as well. Work that out in advance, because a 30 mm bar from another brand is usually the cheaper route in that case.

You are short of space: look closely at that 220 cm before you order. In a room 250 cm wide you cannot load and unload a bar of that length comfortably. Both curl bars are far more workable in a space like that.

What should you look for when buying NUCCLR barbell bars?

30 mm or 50 mm: check this first

Barbell bars come with two sleeve diameters: 30 mm is the standard size, 50 mm is the Olympic size. A plate with a 30 mm bore will not slide over a 50 mm sleeve, and a plate with a 50 mm bore rattles loosely around a 30 mm bar. There is no adapter that solves this neatly, and this is the mistake made most often in the whole strength category. With this brand the situation is simple, because all three bars are 50 mm: so check the bore of the plates you already own before you order.

Length against the inside width of your rack

The 220 cm of the straight bar is not an arbitrary figure, it is the dimension power racks and bar holders are designed around. The bar has to reach past the uprights on both sides so that there is room for your plates and your collars. Measure the inside width of your rack rather than the outside, and remember that you need a few centimetres on each side to load it. If you are unsure whether your rack will take it, that is a question we can settle on the phone in two minutes.

Straight bar, EZ curl bar or super curl bar

The difference is not in the weight you load but in the position of your hands. On a straight bar your palms face flat upwards, fully supinated, and that is the position that tugs at your wrist and elbow during curls and the French press. An EZ curl bar has a wave that tilts your hands a little, and that relieves a large part of the pull. A super curl bar goes further: the wave is deeper, your hands come closer to a neutral grip and the rotation in your forearm shrinks further still. The deeper the wave, the more relief, which is why choosing between the two curl bars is mainly a question about your wrists.

Grip, knurling and how the sleeves rotate

Knurling is the cross hatched grip zone cut into the steel. Aggressive knurling gives more grip on heavy pulls but feels unpleasant over high repetitions, while a centre knurl keeps the bar from sliding off your back during squats. On the straight bar, also check whether the sleeves turn on bushings or on needle bearings: bushings are simpler and are plenty for powerlifting and bodybuilding, while needle bearings spin more smoothly and only really matter in Olympic lifting. That specification is listed per item on the product page, along with the maximum load, and that last figure is something different from the weight of the bar itself.

Collars and plates to go with it

You never buy a bar on its own. You need plates with a 50 mm bore and you need collars to keep those plates in place. Spring clips are the cheapest option, quick lock collars hold tighter and go on faster, and collars come in sizes too: a 30 mm clip will not fit these bars. Among the strength accessories you will find the collars that match the Olympic size.

Our advice: start with the diameter, not with the type of bar. If you own or are buying 50 mm plates, the Olympic barbell of 220 cm is the first purchase and the curl bar is the second. If you do a lot of arm work and feel it in your wrists, skip the regular curl bar and go straight to the super curl bar, because the deeper wave is exactly what solves that. And if you are looking for a safety squat bar, a hex bar or strongman equipment, check one of the other brands in this category, because those bars are not part of this line.

Who are NUCCLR barbell bars suitable for?

• Home trainers who want to do the basic lifts: squat, bench press, deadlift and rows all come from one straight 220 cm bar. You do not need more bars than that.
• Anyone extending an existing 50 mm set: your plates and collars are already right, so you only buy the bar you are missing. A second bar does not mean a second type of plate here.
• Bodybuilding and fitness focused trainers: two curl bars alongside a straight bar cover curls, hammer curls, the French press and skullcrushers, the exercises that carry most of the volume in this kind of programme.
• People with sensitive wrists or elbows: the super curl bar exists precisely for them, and that is a reason to pick it over a cheaper straight bar.
• Small studios and physiotherapy practices on a tight budget: three bars that fit on a single rack, without keeping a collection nobody reaches for.
• Anyone who has just set up a first rack: the standard length of 220 cm fits a rack with a normal inside width, so you are not hunting for an unusual size.

Less suitable if you are after an exercise specific bar: a safety squat bar with shoulder pads, a hex or trap bar that lets you deadlift with your hands beside your body, a buffalo bar, a technique bar or a log bar are not part of this line, and the same goes for light bars for body pump style classes. If you train on 30 mm you will not get far here either, because all three bars are 50 mm. In both cases the answer lies with another brand in the barbell bars category.

Need help choosing?

Would you like to buy NUCCLR barbell bars but are you not quite sure which diameter, which length or which type of bar suits you? We are happy to help. You can reach our fitness specialists by phone on +31 85 773 00 57, send an email or visit our fitness store in Volkel, the Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions about NUCCLR barbell bars

Will my weight plates fit these bars?

Only if the bore of your plates is 50 mm. All three bars in this line are Olympic, so the sleeves have a diameter of 50 mm and your plates need to slide over that with room to spare. Plates with a 30 mm bore will not fit, however hard you push, and there is no reliable adapter for it. So take a caliper or even a piece of string and measure the hole in your existing plates before you order; that is the check that prevents most disappointments.

Will a 220 cm bar fit in my rack?

In a power rack with a normal inside width it will, because 220 cm is exactly the length those racks are designed around. The sleeves have to clear the uprights on both sides so you can fit your plates and collars without hitting the frame. Measure the inside width between your uprights and keep some room on each side for loading. If you are working with a half open squat stand or a narrow construction, let us take a look before you order.

What is the difference between the curl bar and the super curl bar?

The depth of the wave, and with it the position of your hands. On the regular Olympic curl bar, the classic EZ shape, your hands sit slightly tilted compared with a straight bar. On the super curl bar the bend is deeper and your hands rotate further inwards, towards a semi neutral grip. The further your hands tilt, the less your forearm is pulled into supination and the less strain lands on your wrists and elbows during curls and the French press. If a regular EZ bar still leaves you with a nagging feeling, the super curl bar is the logical step.

How much does an Olympic barbell weigh and how much can I load on it?

An Olympic bar of 220 cm normally weighs around 20 kg, and that weight counts towards your training weight: an empty bar on your back is already 20 kg. The maximum load is a separate specification and is listed per item on the product page. That is the figure to watch if you squat or deadlift heavy, because that is where the bar reaches its limit, not the weight of the bar itself. For curl bars both numbers are lower, simply because those bars are shorter and designed for lighter work.

Why are there only three bars in this brand?

Because this is the shop's house brand and the line deliberately stays with the basics. A straight bar covers squat, bench press, deadlift and rows, and two curl bars cover most arm and triceps work. In practice that gives you everything a home gym and many small training rooms do with free weight. If you want an exercise specific bar or a broad series of lengths and complete sets with plates, the other brands in this category are the place for that.