How we measure
On 2 October 2026 we measured our three Signature Fitness 1 inch standard bars by hand: length end to end with a tape, weight once each on a bathroom scale by subtraction, and the plate space on each sleeve with the tape. It is a preliminary check, not a lab test, so the weights read "about". Sleeve diameter, the gap inside the collars, threads and plate fit are still pending.
What we measured, and the numbers
Our founder, introduced on our About page, measured all three Signature Fitness 1 inch standard bars himself on 2 Oct 2026.
| Bar | Length, end to end | Weight | Plate space per side | Between the collars, outer faces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 60 in | about 12.4 lb | 9 1/16 in | about 41 7/8 in |
| 6 ft | 70 15/16 in | about 14.5 lb | 13 1/8 in | about 44 11/16 in |
| 7 ft | 84 in | about 17.9 lb | 15 1/8 in | about 53 3/4 in |
The 6 ft bar is shorter than its name. It taped at 70 15/16 in, close to the 70.67 in on the maker's own drawing and about 1 in under a full 72 in. The 5 ft and 7 ft bars taped at their full 60 and 84 in.
How each number was taken
Length. A tape measure from one end of the bar to the other, read to about the nearest 1/16 in.
Weight. Our founder stood on a bathroom scale holding his phone, then stood on it holding each bar, and subtracted. The notes from that day do not say whether the phone was also in hand with each bar; if it was not, each bar figure reads low by the weight of the phone. The scale shows tenths of a pound. The baseline reading moved by 0.1 lb either way between checks, so each bar weight carries that much uncertainty before any error in the scale itself: about 12.3 to 12.5 lb for the 5 ft, 14.4 to 14.6 lb for the 6 ft and 17.8 to 18.0 lb for the 7 ft. Each bar was weighed once. The scale was not checked against a known weight, which is the main reason these figures say "about".
Plate space. The tape from the face of the fixed collar to the end of the bar, the part plates slide onto.
Between the collars. Not taped directly. It is the length minus both plate spaces, so it runs between the collars' outer faces. The usable gap inside the collars is a little less and has not been measured.
What we have not measured yet
- Sleeve diameter. We wrapped a paper strip around each sleeve as a rough check. A strip that is off by 1/16 in moves the result by about 0.02 in, which is too coarse to print, so sleeve diameter stays pending until calipers.
- The gap inside the collars, which decides whether the bar fits a narrow rack or stand.
- Threads, knurl, and how a 1 inch plate and an outer collar fit the sleeve.
- A weight rating. We print none, because we have not verified one.
Pending items are marked pending on each bar page and left out, rather than filled with the maker's figure.
What a Ledger entry needs
The Basalt Ledger is a stricter standard, and no product has an entry yet. For an entry, a retail sample is weighed at least three times on a scale checked with a calibration weight that is visible on camera, the critical dimensions are taken with calipers, and the footage is kept. The tool we use to publish an entry refuses one without a real date, at least three scale readings and a reference to the footage. The 2 percent guarantee applies only to items with a published Ledger entry, so it does not cover the bars yet. The Ledger page shows what each entry will hold.
Check your own bar
You can repeat the weight check at home with a bathroom scale; how to weigh your weights shows the method. If one of our numbers looks wrong, write to support@basaltfitness.com; corrections are logged in our editorial policy.