Why Lift with a Wonder Bar Women's Olympic 15kg Barbell
Female powerlifters train and lift on "man" bars. So why do female Olympic lifters and WODers need a different bar, one that weighs 5kg less?
Simple. It's all about the grip, and the transition of the bar from the ground to overhead. Women's hands tend to be smaller than men's, and a "women's" bar weighs 15kg (33 lb) and features a 25mm shaft diameter vs. the "normal" 20kg and 28-32mm shaft.
The thinner shaft allows for a better grip and better form in transition and in overhead positions.
Can men use a 15kg bar? Sure, but most don't. 20kg bars are considered the standard in the WOD, Oly, powerlifting, and bodybuilding communities. But hey, weight is weight, and mean ol' Mr. Gravity doesn't care. And- we did recently hear about some guys doing Zercher squats, Zercher carries, and Zercher good mornings with a 15kg bar- since the smaller shaft makes the exercise more uncomfortable.
WONDER BAR V2 SPECS:
The Wonder Bar V2 comes in a bushing version or bearing cartridges version. Except for that, the specs for both are the same.
Bushing rotation or bearing collar
Killer all-black Zinc finish
Tensile strength: 160,000 PSI
Yield strength: 199,000 PSI
Weight capacity: 1,000 lbs
Weight: 15 kilograms / ~33 pounds
Collars: Bushing (Purple "W") Bronze Oillite Bushing Rotation/oil impregnated or Bearing (Pink "W") 4 Needle Bearing Cartridges Per Collar
Whip: Stiff
Spin: Moderate (Bushing) or Fast (Bearing)
Best Use: Garage Gym or WODing. Read below for Bushing vs. Bearing differences.
Material: Alloy Steel, Black ZincPlated
Length: 79"
Sleeve Specs:12.5" length and 2" diameter
Shaft Specs: true 25mm diameter
Knurl: Dual Knurling - Double Ring IWF + IPF Knurling (No Center Knurl)
Smooth knurl depth- neither a cheese grater nor too soft
Warranty: Lifetime Warranty against manufacturer's defects.
Bushing vs Bearing
Our 15kg Wonder Bar comes in a bronze bushing and needle bearing cartridges. Both bars are excellent for lifting and provide spin.
Needle bearing cartridges in the collars provide a little more spin than a bushing barbell.
Bearing barbells have smoother rotation and cost a little more than a bushing.
Bushing barbells are common for heavy or slower lifts, such as powerlifting.
Bearing barbells are common for faster lifts, such as Olympic lifts.
Bushing barbells are easier to maintain than their needle bearing counterparts, easy to disassemble, clean and reassemble, making them more durable.