If you lift weights at Planet Fitness, you might ask about the weight of the bar you use for bench press. The direct answer is that the bar on the Smith machine at Planet Fitness, which is their main setup for bench press, typically weighs much less than a standard barbell. It often weighs around 15 to 25 pounds, and sometimes even less because of how the machine is built. This is different from the weight of a standard barbell or an Olympic bar weight you find in many other gyms.
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What Kind of Bench Bar is at Planet Fitness?
Planet Fitness is known for having certain types of gym equipment. They offer a wide range of machines and weights for people to use. When it comes to bench press, most Planet Fitness locations use a machine called a Smith machine. They usually do not have separate racks with loose standard barbell weight bars that you can put on a bench for free weight bench pressing.
The Smith Machine: A Key Piece of Planet Fitness Gym Equipment
The Smith machine is a special piece of equipment. It has a barbell that is fixed inside steel rails. This bar can only move up and down or sometimes slightly forward and back. It cannot move freely like a standard barbell. This guided movement is a big part of how the Smith machine works. It also affects how much the bar itself weighs.
What is the Smith Machine Bar Weight Planet Fitness Uses?
The Smith machine bar weight Planet Fitness uses is usually less than what you expect from a normal gym bar. Standard barbell weight is usually 45 pounds. Olympic bar weight for men is also 45 pounds (or 20 kilograms). But the Smith machine bar is lighter.
Most Smith machines have a bar that weighs between 15 and 25 pounds. Some older or different models might be slightly heavier or lighter. There’s a reason it’s lighter. Smith machines often have a counterbalance system. This system uses weights or springs to make the bar feel less heavy. This helps people start lifting more easily. So, even a bar that looks like it might weigh 30 or 40 pounds might only feel like 15 or 20 pounds because of the counterbalance.
Why the Smith Machine Bar Feels Different
The counterbalance system makes the bar feel lighter. This means that the Smith machine bar weight Planet Fitness offers for bench press is not the same as a standard bar weight gym might have. When you lift the bar on a Smith machine, you are lifting the bar’s actual weight minus the effect of the counterbalance. This is why lifting 100 pounds on a Smith machine feels different and is often easier than lifting 100 pounds with a free weight barbell. The Smith machine supports some of the weight.
Not a Standard Bar weight gym Setup
It is important to know that Planet Fitness is not a standard bar weight gym for bench pressing. They focus on machines for many exercises, including the bench press. This setup has benefits, especially for people new to lifting. The machine guides the bar. This can feel safer. It can help you learn the motion. But it is very different from using a free weight bench press bar. The gym barbell weight system at Planet Fitness for bench press is built into a machine, not a loose bar you load weights onto.
Bench Press Bar Weight: Different Gyms, Different Bars
To really understand the Planet Fitness bar weight, let’s look at other types of bars you might see in different gyms. The bench press bar weight can be very different depending on the gym and the kind of bar used.
What is a Standard Barbell Weight?
A standard barbell is a straight metal bar. It is what many people picture when they think of lifting weights. These bars are often found with weight plates that you can slide onto the ends.
A standard barbell weight is usually about 45 pounds. This is a common weight in many gyms. These bars are typically around 7 feet long. They have thicker ends where the weight plates go. The middle part has a rough texture called knurling. This helps you grip the bar. The weight plates on a standard bar often have a 1-inch hole in the middle. These bars are often used for exercises like bench press, squat, and deadlift in gyms that offer free weights.
What is Olympic Bar Weight?
Olympic bars are similar to standard barbells but have some key differences. They are built to stricter rules. They are used in sports like Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting.
An Olympic bar weight for men is typically 45 pounds (or 20 kilograms). It is about 7.2 feet long (2.2 meters). The ends where you put the weights are thicker than on a standard bar. They are about 2 inches in diameter. This is why Olympic weight plates have a larger hole than standard plates. Olympic bars also have sleeves on the ends that can spin or rotate. This helps the weight plates spin smoothly during quick lifts like snatches and clean and jerks. The grip area (knurling) and markings on the bar are also set to specific rules.
An Olympic bar weight for women is usually lighter and shorter. It typically weighs 35 pounds (or 15 kilograms) and is about 6.6 feet long (2.01 meters). The grip part is also a little thinner.
Both standard and Olympic bars are used for bench press in gyms that have free weight areas. The weight of the bar itself is counted as part of the total weight lifted.
How Heavy is a Bench Press Bar Generally?
So, how heavy is a bench press bar in general? It depends on where you are and what kind of bar you are using:
- Planet Fitness (Smith Machine): The bar usually feels like lifting 15 to 25 pounds due to counterbalancing. The actual bar might weigh more, but the machine makes it feel lighter.
- Other Gyms (Standard Barbell): The bar usually weighs 45 pounds.
- Other Gyms (Olympic Barbell): A men’s bar weighs 45 pounds (20 kg). A women’s bar weighs 35 pounds (15 kg).
This shows that the Planet Fitness bar weight for bench press is much lighter than the bench press bar weight in most other gyms that use free weight barbells.
Standard Bar Weight gym vs. Planet Fitness Bar Weight
Comparing a standard bar weight gym to the Planet Fitness bar weight shows a big difference.
In a standard bar weight gym, if you put 100 pounds of plates on a 45-pound bar, you are lifting a total of 145 pounds. The 45 pounds from the bar is a fixed part of the weight.
At Planet Fitness, if you use the Smith machine and load 100 pounds of plates, the total weight you are lifting is the plates (100 pounds) plus the felt weight of the bar (say, 20 pounds). So, the total is about 120 pounds. But wait, it’s more tricky. Because the bar is guided and counterbalanced, the effort needed to lift 120 pounds on a Smith machine is less than the effort needed to lift 120 pounds with a free weight bar. The machine helps you keep the bar straight and steady. This means you use fewer small helper muscles (stabilizer muscles).
This is why you often see people lifting more weight on a Smith machine bench press than they can with a free weight bench press. The Planet Fitness bar weight, combined with the machine’s design, changes the exercise.
Fixed Weight Barbell and Other Bars You Might See
Planet Fitness has more gym equipment than just the Smith machine. They also have other types of bars, but these are not used for the main bench press exercise. These are called fixed weight barbells or fixed weight bars.
Preacher Curl Bars and EZ Bars
Planet Fitness often has fixed weight bars near the dumbbell area or on special racks. You might see bars for exercises like preacher curls or triceps extensions. These bars have the weight already attached to the ends. They do not use separate plates. The weight is written on the bar itself, like 20 lbs, 30 lbs, 40 lbs, and so on.
Some of these fixed bars are straight. Others are shaped like a “W” or “M”. These are called EZ curl bars. The shape helps you grip the bar in a way that can be easier on your wrists for certain exercises like bicep curls.
Straight Fixed Barbells
You might also find straight fixed barbells. These look like small barbells with round or hexagonal weights on the ends. Like the EZ bars, their weight is fixed and usually written on the end. These are used for a variety of exercises, like rows, curls, or sometimes lunges. They are usually found in a rack in increasing weights.
Different Fixed Weights
Fixed weight barbell sets at Planet Fitness usually start quite light, maybe 20 pounds, and go up in steps of 10 pounds or sometimes 5 pounds. You might see a set going up to 100 pounds or even more in some gyms.
These fixed weight bars are useful. They are quick to grab and use. You do not need to load plates. But remember, these are not the bars used for the main bench press stations, which are the Smith machines. So, the Planet Fitness bar weight for bench press is about the Smith machine bar, not these fixed weight bars.
Grasping Why Bar Weight Counts
Knowing how much the bar weighs is more than just a number. It is important for several reasons when you are lifting weights.
Starting Your Workout Safely
If you are new to lifting, knowing the bar weight helps you start safely. On a free weight bench press, the bar itself is the lightest weight you can lift (45 pounds). If 45 pounds is too heavy for you to start with, you cannot use that bar safely for bench press.
At Planet Fitness, the Smith machine bar weight is much lighter (15-25 pounds felt weight). This means the starting weight is lower. This can be better for people who are just beginning or who cannot lift a full 45 pounds yet. Knowing the starting weight helps you pick an exercise you can do without risking injury.
Tracking Your Progress
If you want to get stronger, you need to track how much weight you are lifting. The bar weight is part of the total weight.
Let’s say you lifted 100 pounds (plates) on a standard 45-pound barbell last week. Your total was 145 pounds. This week, you lift 110 pounds (plates). Your total is 110 + 45 = 155 pounds. You know you got stronger.
Now, let’s think about the Planet Fitness bar weight on the Smith machine. If the bar feels like 20 pounds, and you put 80 pounds of plates on, your total felt weight is 100 pounds. Next week, you put 90 pounds of plates on. Your total felt weight is 110 pounds. You know you got stronger on that machine.
However, you cannot easily compare your Smith machine bench press weight at Planet Fitness to a free weight bench press weight in another gym. Lifting 200 pounds on a Smith machine is not the same as lifting 200 pounds with a free weight barbell. The free weight lift is harder because your body has to work more to balance the bar. So, knowing the specific Planet Fitness bar weight on the Smith machine helps you track progress within that machine, but it does not directly tell you how much you could free weight bench press.
Comparing Your Strength Fairly
When people talk about how much they can bench press, they usually mean with a free weight barbell. The standard way to measure bench press strength is with a 45-pound Olympic or standard bar.
If you only train on the Smith machine at Planet Fitness, your bench press numbers might look high. But these numbers are for the Smith machine. If you try to lift that same weight with a free weight bar, it will likely be much harder, and you might not be able to do it.
Knowing the Planet Fitness bar weight and understanding that it’s a Smith machine helps you compare your strength fairly. You can say, “I can bench press X pounds on the Planet Fitness Smith machine,” which is accurate. Trying to compare that directly to someone’s free weight bench press number is not fair because the exercises are different.
It’s Part of the Total Weight
No matter what kind of bar you use, its weight is part of the total weight you are lifting. If you put 50 pounds of plates on each side of a bar, that is 100 pounds of plates. You must add the bar’s weight to this to get the total weight lifted.
- On a standard bar: 100 lbs (plates) + 45 lbs (bar) = 145 lbs total.
- On a Planet Fitness Smith machine bar (feels like 20 lbs): 100 lbs (plates) + 20 lbs (bar felt weight) = 120 lbs total felt weight.
Ignoring the bar weight means you are not counting all the weight you are lifting. This makes your tracking wrong. Knowing the bar weight is key to knowing your true working weight on any exercise using a bar.
Things People Ask About Gym Barbells
People often have questions about the bars in gyms, especially at a place like Planet Fitness. Let’s answer some common ones.
Does Planet Fitness Have Free Weight Barbells for Bench Press?
Generally, no. Most Planet Fitness locations do not have separate, loose free weight barbells and benches that you can set up for bench press like in a traditional gym. Their main bench press is the Smith machine.
Some locations might have a power rack or squat rack, but it is not common across all clubs. Even if they have a rack, they might not have loose 45-pound barbells available for everyone to use on the bench press. The focus of their gym equipment is usually on machines and fixed weight areas. So, for bench press, plan on using the Smith machine.
Can I Use Different Bars?
At Planet Fitness, your options for bench press bars are usually limited to the Smith machine bar. You cannot swap it out for a heavier standard barbell or an Olympic bar weight because they do not have those available for this purpose.
For other exercises, you can use the fixed weight barbell options they have available. These are the bars where the weight is already on the ends and cannot be changed, other than picking a different bar from the rack.
How to Find the Weight of Any Bar
Finding the weight of a bar can sometimes be tricky.
- Check the Bar Itself: Standard and Olympic bars sometimes have the weight marked on the end sleeves. Fixed weight barbells almost always have the weight clearly written on the ends.
- Look at the Machine: For a Smith machine bar weight Planet Fitness uses, there might be a sticker on the machine frame that tells you the bar weight or the counterbalance amount. If it says the bar weighs 30 lbs and is counterbalanced by 10 lbs, the felt weight is 20 lbs.
- Ask the Staff: The people working at the gym should know the weight of their equipment, especially the main bench press bar weight. They can tell you how much the Smith machine bar weighs or feels like it weighs.
- Weigh It: This is not practical at the gym, but you could theoretically weigh a bar on a scale if you needed to be sure. But asking staff or checking for labels is much easier.
For the Planet Fitness bar weight on the Smith machine, asking the staff is often the best way to get the most accurate idea of the felt weight.
Interpreting the Smith Machine Bench Press Weight
Since the Smith machine is the main place for bench press at Planet Fitness, let’s spend more time on how to think about the weight you lift there.
The weight you load onto the Smith machine bar plus the felt weight of the bar is your total working weight on that machine. Let’s say the bar feels like 20 pounds.
- If you put 10 pounds on each side (20 lbs total plates), your total felt weight is 20 lbs (bar) + 20 lbs (plates) = 40 lbs.
- If you put 45 pounds on each side (90 lbs total plates), your total felt weight is 20 lbs (bar) + 90 lbs (plates) = 110 lbs.
This is how you calculate the total weight for your sets on the Smith machine. Remember, this number is not equal to the same number lifted with a free weight bar.
Smith Machine Pros for Beginners
The Smith machine has some good points, especially for people new to lifting:
- Safety: It has safety catches you can set. If you cannot lift the weight, you can drop the bar onto the catches instead of it falling on you. This is a big safety feature.
- Stability: The bar moves on a fixed path. You do not have to use as many small muscles to keep the bar balanced. This lets you focus more on pushing with your main chest, shoulder, and tricep muscles.
- Lower Starting Weight: The light Planet Fitness bar weight means beginners can start with a weight they can handle, even if they cannot lift a 45-pound free bar.
- Easier to Learn: The guided path can make it easier to learn the basic motion of the bench press.
Smith Machine Cons Compared to Free Weights
However, there are also downsides to only using the Smith machine:
- Less Natural Movement: The fixed path is not how your body naturally moves. When you bench press with a free weight, the bar moves in a slight arc. The Smith machine forces a straight up-and-down path. This can feel awkward for some people and might not be the best for your joints over time.
- Less Muscle Work: Because the machine helps balance the bar, your small helper muscles (stabilizer muscles) do not work as hard. These muscles are important for overall strength and preventing injury in daily life and other sports. Free weights make these muscles work much more.
- Hard to Switch to Free Weights: If you get strong on the Smith machine, it does not mean you will be equally strong with a free weight bar. Switching to free weights will require learning how to balance the bar, which uses different muscles and coordination.
- Can Create Imbalances: Always moving in a fixed line can sometimes lead to certain muscles being weaker than others because they are not used in a natural way.
Fathoming Your Strength Journey
Your strength journey is personal. If you are at Planet Fitness, using the Smith machine is a perfectly fine way to bench press and get stronger. Just understand that the Planet Fitness bar weight is different, and the exercise is different from a free weight bench press.
Use the Smith machine consistently. Track the weight you lift on that machine. Aim to add weight over time. Celebrate your progress! If you ever go to a gym with free weights, start light and learn the free weight bench press motion separately. Do not expect to lift your Smith machine weight right away.
Tips for Lifting Weights at Planet Fitness
Since Planet Fitness has a specific setup, here are some tips for making the most of your weightlifting there, keeping the Planet Fitness bar weight in mind.
Use the Smith Machine Safely
If you are bench pressing on the Smith machine, always use the safety catches. Set them to a height that is just below where the bar reaches your chest. This way, if you cannot push the weight up, the bar will land on the catches, and you can safely get out. Also, make sure you hook the bar onto the racks at the top and bottom of each set.
Focus on Form
Good form is key to preventing injury and getting the best results. Even though the Smith machine guides the bar, you still need good form. Keep your back flat on the bench. Set your feet firmly on the floor. Control the bar as it goes down to your chest. Push it up with power. Do not let the bar crash onto your chest.
Don’t Forget Other Planet Fitness Gym Equipment
Planet Fitness has lots of other gym equipment. To build overall strength, use more than just the Smith machine. They have dumbbell racks. Use dumbbells for exercises like dumbbell bench press, overhead press, rows, and curls. They have many weight machines for different body parts (leg press, chest press machine, lat pulldown, etc.). Use these machines too. They can help you work muscles from different angles and build a well-rounded fitness routine. The fixed weight barbell selection can be great for arm exercises or lunges.
Ask the Staff
If you are unsure about how to use a machine, including the Smith machine, or if you want to confirm the Planet Fitness bar weight, ask the staff. They are there to help you use the gym safely and effectively.
Comprehending the Total Picture
So, back to the main question: How much do Planet Fitness bench bars weigh? The answer is not a single number like 45 pounds.
For the main bench press on the Smith machine, the bar typically feels like it weighs 15 to 25 pounds because of counterbalancing. This is the effective weight you add your plates to.
Planet Fitness also has fixed weight barbells, which have the weight already set (e.g., 30 lbs, 50 lbs). But these are not used for the main bench press.
Knowing the specific Planet Fitness bar weight is important for tracking your progress on the Smith machine. But it is also important to understand that this is different from lifting a standard barbell weight or Olympic bar weight in a free weight setting.
Whether you use the Smith machine, dumbbells, fixed weight barbell, or other Planet Fitness gym equipment, the key is to lift safely, use good form, and work towards your fitness goals. The weight of the bar is just one part of the picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How heavy is the straight bar on the bench press at Planet Fitness?
A: Planet Fitness mainly uses Smith machines for bench press. The bar on the Smith machine usually feels like lifting between 15 and 25 pounds because it is counterbalanced. They typically do not have loose, straight free weight barbells for bench press.
Q: What is the standard barbell weight in most gyms?
A: A standard barbell usually weighs 45 pounds. An Olympic bar weight for men is also 45 pounds (20 kg), and for women, it is 35 pounds (15 kg).
Q: Does the Smith machine bar weight Planet Fitness uses count towards the total weight?
A: Yes, the felt weight of the Smith machine bar is part of the total weight you lift. If the bar feels like 20 pounds and you add 100 pounds of plates, you are lifting a total of 120 pounds on that machine.
Q: Why is the bar on the Planet Fitness Smith machine so light?
A: The Smith machine bar is often counterbalanced. This means weights or springs inside the machine make the bar feel lighter than its actual weight. This makes it easier for beginners to start lifting.
Q: Can I use the fixed weight barbell bars at Planet Fitness for bench press?
A: No, the fixed weight barbells are designed for exercises like curls, rows, or lunges. They are not meant for use on the bench press station. The main bench press equipment is the Smith machine.
Q: How heavy is a bench press bar usually if it’s not a Smith machine?
A: In gyms with free weights, the typical bench press bar is either a standard barbell (45 pounds) or a men’s Olympic barbell (45 pounds/20 kg).
Q: Is lifting on a Smith machine at Planet Fitness the same as lifting free weights?
A: No, it is different. The Smith machine guides the bar, which makes it easier to balance and uses fewer stabilizer muscles. Lifting free weights requires more balance and uses more muscles overall. The weight you can lift on a Smith machine is usually higher than with a free weight bar.