Weight Kits
Weight Kits and sets of Weights containing either a Barbell and two Dumbells, or just a Barbell, or just a pair of Dumbells, and are usually in available in the following formats: those using i inch diameter bars, often referred to as Standard Weight Kits, and those using a 2 inch diameter bar, referred to as Olympic style Weight Sets.
The "diameter" refers to to the size of the hole in the Weight Plate.
Barbell lengths are normally 5ft, 6ft and 7ft. Dumbell bars for i inch diameter kits are normally 14 inches long, though 16 inch variations can be obtained.
The Weight Plates used in Weight Kits are usually Cast Iron, though Vinyl Weight Plates, Rubber Dics and Chrome Discs are sometimes available.
Modern 1 inch diameter Weight Kits have the ends of the bars threaded so that collars can be screwed along the bar to securely lock the Weight Discs in place. These are referred to as Spinlock Bars. Spinlock systems are particularly good as they make adjustable Dumbells far safer than the old style plain bars systems with small cast iron thumbscrew collars.
Olympic Kits tend not to include Dumbell Sets. From past exeprience we do recommend the use of Olympic Dumbells as we have never found the collar locking systems to safe enough for Dumbell Exercises.
