What's the Best, Basic Barbell?

So, you’re new here. Welcome to the wonderful world of weights. If you’re a noob in the gym scene and building out your home gym – or you’re stocking up a commercial gym and want to make it approachable to people of all experience levels – there's a bar for that.  

There are two main barbells perfect for beginners: the Mesa Technique Bar and the Delta Basic Bar.  

Here’s a look at what makes them distinct – and what makes them the best, basic barbells for beginners (pretty sure that was an alliteration PR).   

Mesa Technique Bar 

The lightweight Mesa Technique Bar is ideal to help you learn the proper techniques of Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. As a training bar that’s built for beginners, the Mesa weighs just 15lbs. By comparison, a standard barbell is usually 20kg or 45lbs.  

The lighter weight makes it safer for you to practice your form without a substantial load. It is also great for people who can’t yet lift 45lbs, for people recovering from injury/limitations, and for kiddos getting into lifting.  

Other than its lighter weight, the Mesa is a legit bar. It’s the standard length, long enough to fit on a power rack. Although it’s a beginner bar, the Mesa remains high quality, with a bare aluminum shaft and steel sleeves coated with durable Duracoat™. The sleeves have a bushing construction, which has a slower rotation (that can feel easier to control for beginners).  

The Mesa’s knurling is light, meaning it’s not very aggressive on your hands. The bar has no center knurl, which can rub against your chest/skin when doing certain, high-volume exercises. The bar has dual knurl markings – both the International Powerlifting Federation and International Weightlifting Federation, if it’s your eventual goal to compete in one of those associations. Knurl markings also help you keep track of where you place your hands so they’re even and your form is consistent. 

However, the Mesa is only built to handle 50lbs, so once you graduate out of that, you’ll want to move up to a bar with a higher weight capacity.  

Mesa Technique Bar: At a Glance 

Delta Basic Bar 

The Delta Basic Bar is a high-quality, powerlifting/mixed-use barbell for beginner lifters who want great value and versatility. A mixed-use bar means it’s suitable to use for all kinds of lifts, from Olympic weightlifting to high-volume, functional-fitness-style workouts. But this particular bar does favor powerlifting-style lifts, due to its slower-rotating, strength-focused, brass bushing sleeves. Still, a newer lifter will enjoy the feel of this bar for all kinds of exercises.  

Dual knurl markings add to the versatility of the Delta. That means it has markings for both the IWF and IPF, so you always know where to line up your hands. It has a bright chrome coating on both the shaft and sleeves, and the sleeves are smooth for the easy loading and unloading of weight plates.  

The Delta is heavier than the Mesa; it’s the typical 20kg (44.1lbs). And it has a weight rating up to 700lbs, so this bar can grow along with you. Its knurling is a little grippier than the Mesa, too, with medium-depth knurling instead of light. This comes in handy (heh) to assist your grip during heavier lifts (like deadlifts or rows). And unlike the Mesa, the Delta has center knurling to help it stick on your back during squats.  

All around, the Delta is a solid, beginner barbell – no matter your fitness goals.  

Delta Basic Bar: At a Glance