The Pullum Ivy Bar

A premium women's Olympic barbell designed for Olympic weightlifting, strength training, functional fitness, and high-performance gym use. Manufactured from high-tensile steel with precision brass bearings, this weightlifting barbell delivers exceptional durability, smooth sleeve rotation, and reliable performance for serious athletes.

Built on History

The Pullum Ivy Bar was inspired by the legendary Ivy Russell and is named in her honour. Russell was trained in weightlifting exclusively by our founder W.A. Pullum. She earned the title of "The World's Strongest Woman" and became a pioneer in women's sports, paving the way for women's weightlifting to be included in the Olympic Games. Read her story here.

To further honour Ivy's legacy, £10 from the sale of every bar will be donated to Women in Sport.

Premium Olympic Weightlifting Barbell

Featuring a tensile strength of 216,000 PSI, the Ivy Women's Olympic Weightlifting Bar is engineered to withstand the demands of heavy training in commercial gyms, strength-and-conditioning facilities, sports clubs, and home gyms.

Precision brass bearings provide smooth sleeve spin for Olympic weightlifting movements, including the snatch and clean & jerk, while the high-quality steel construction ensures long-term durability and consistent performance.

Designed to IWF-standard grip diameters, the Pullum Ivy Bar offers the feel and handling expected from a professional Olympic lifting bar while remaining versatile enough for strength training, powerlifting assistance work, and functional fitness workouts.

Comfortable Grip and Controlled Knurling

The shaft features a carefully balanced knurl pattern that provides a secure grip without excessive aggression. Dual knurl markings allow accurate hand placement for both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting movements.

A knurl-free centre design improves comfort during cleans, front squats, and high-volume training sessions, making the Ivy Bar an excellent all-purpose Olympic training bar.

Key Features

• Premium high-tensile steel construction
• 216,000 PSI tensile strength
• Precision brass bearings for smooth sleeve rotation
• IWF-standard grip diameters
• Dual knurl markings for Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting
• No centre knurl for increased comfort during Olympic lifts
• Suitable for Olympic lifting, strength training, and functional fitness
• Durable finish for long-lasting performance

Ideal For

• Olympic Weightlifting
• Weightlifting Clubs
• Strength and Conditioning Facilities
• Functional Fitness Training
• Commercial Gyms
• Home Gyms
• Sports Performance Centres
• General Strength Training

Specifications

Why are women's Olympic bars different from men's bars?

Women's Olympic barbells are smaller and lighter (15 kg/33 lbs vs 20 kg/44 lbs) and have a thinner 25 mm grip diameter (compared to 28–29 mm) to accommodate smaller hand sizes, improve hook grip security, and meet regulatory standards for female weightlifting competitors.

Why are women's Olympic bars lighter?

Is it because women are weaker than men?

Absolutely not.

Women's Olympic bars are lighter primarily to maintain the same proportional scaling as the bar's physical dimensions, keeping the steel composition structurally sound while reducing its thickness and length.

Because the bar must be made thinner (25 mm instead of 28–29 mm) and shorter to accommodate smaller hand sizes, it naturally uses less steel. Shaving off those dimensions directly reduces the weight from 20 kg to 15 kg.