Swiss bar/Football bar

alert25

Hi

I'm looking to purchase a swiss bar/football bar for my home gym.
I've been looking at the following from mirafit and strength shop.

https://mirafit.co.uk/mirafit-angled-grip-olympic-swiss-bar.html

https://mirafit.co.uk/mirafit-olympic-swiss-weight-bar-black.html

https://www.strengthshop.ie/products/olympic-football-bar

https://www.strengthshop.ie/products/olympic-swiss-bar

Any others I could consider?
Also undecided whether to go for the neutral grips or angled grips.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Black Sheep

I have the last Strength Shop option you listed, and it's fine but it's cheap and cheerful. I had to grind down the ends to get it to fit my plates. It's hollow, not suitable for dropping when loaded obviously.

The Mirafit ones are likely to be better quality, but to be honest unless you're benching significant weight it's not likely to matter that much.

My main suggestions:-

1. Make sure to measure your rack, to ensure the swiss or football bar will actually rack ok. The boxy centre bit is notorious for not racking on racks where the uprights are relatively narrow.
2. You could potentially consider spending more and getting a cambered swiss bar, for added versatility.

Mellor

The Mirafit bars weight 20kg vrs 10kg for the strength shop ones. That along would make my call. They should handle about double the load based on that. Even if you don't plan to lift the max rating, a light bar would still probably bend before failure.

alert25

Thanks for this

I'll probably go with the mirafit bar.

I'll mainly be using it for 3 lifts:

Triceps dominant press

Low incline press

60/70 degree overhead press

Just unsure whether to go for the angled grips or the neutral grips.

Black Sheep

Your shoulders are more internally rotated on the angled grips, may be a factor if you're looking at this bar because of shoulder issues.

Neutral grip bars might feel like they're 'rolling' / shaking in your hands at first, until you're used to it.

In real terms, the difference is not that great.

Mellor

Test grip positions with DBs and see which grip angle is comfortable.