Fitvids 1INSTD85BAR-1 Barbell Review
Our verdict
The Fitvids 1INSTD85BAR-1 barbell costs $144.43 and carries a 4.5 star rating across 1,700 reviews, a review volume most budget bars never approach. At 49 pounds of cast iron, it lands between light accessory bars and full Olympic bars in weight, making it a solid pick for a home gym.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Best for lifters who want a mid weight cast iron bar around 49 pounds for general strength work at home, and who value a track record backed by 1,700 reviews at 4.5 stars over an unproven budget option.
Skip if
Skip it if you need a true 45 pound Olympic bar built for serious powerlifting, since this one is listed at 49 pounds with no diameter or knurl spec, making it hard to confirm competition specific fit before buying.
- Material Cast Iron
- Weight 49 Pounds
- Priced 106% above the category median ($69.99 across 90 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.5/5
4.5 average across 1,700 owner ratings
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Popularity4.5/5
1,700 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other home gym and fitness equipment we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Picture setting up a squat rack or power cage in a garage and needing a bar that can handle regular loading without flexing or rusting after a few months. The Fitvids 1INSTD85BAR-1 is built from cast iron and weighs 49 pounds, priced at $144.43. That places it well above entry level bars but still under full commercial Olympic barbell pricing.
Compared with the same-type field, the Fitvids sits in the middle on price. The Marcy SDC10.1 runs just $30.78 and has racked up 6,077 reviews at 4.3 stars, making it the budget default for casual buyers, though its listed 5 pound weight suggests a much lighter accessory bar rather than a full loading bar. The Body Sport Weighted Bar at $36.99 holds a 4.6 star average across 279 reviews but shows 0 recent purchases, a sign of a niche accessory rather than a main lifting bar. The Total barbell at $42.9 has 536 reviews at 4.7 stars and 50+ bought last month, closer in tone to a functional training bar.
Against that backdrop, the Fitvids stands out for review volume: 1,700 reviews at 4.5 stars is a meaningfully larger sample than everything except the Marcy, and its 300+ bought last month figure shows current demand rather than a bar coasting on old reviews. For anyone who wants a heavier, cast iron bar with a track record to match the higher price, this is the one to shortlist.
Pros
- 1,700 reviews at a 4.5 star average, one of the largest and highest rated samples in this barbell comparison
- 300+ bought last month signals active, current demand rather than a bar living off old reviews
- 49 pounds of cast iron gives it real heft for loaded lifts, well beyond lightweight accessory bars
- InStock availability means no waiting around for a restock
- Priced at $144.43, it still undercuts what a full commercial grade Olympic bar typically costs
Cons
- At $144.43 it costs nearly 5 times the Marcy SDC10.1's $30.78, a real premium for a home gym on a budget
- Only material (cast iron) and weight (49 pounds) are listed, with no diameter, length, or knurl detail to confirm sleeve fit
- Cast iron can be more prone to surface rust than coated steel if stored in a damp garage
- 1,700 reviews is solid, but it is a fraction of the Marcy SDC10.1's 6,077, so the Marcy still holds the largest track record in this set
Specifications
| Material | Cast Iron |
|---|---|
| Weight | 49 Pounds |
Performance notes
A 49 pound bar sits above the typical 45 pound standard Olympic barbell used in most gyms, which matters when calculating total loaded weight for a lift. Add plates on both ends and that extra weight carries through every set, so anyone tracking exact working weights for programming should account for it rather than assuming a flat 45. Cast iron construction is a traditional material for budget and mid range bars, dense and rigid enough for general strength work, though it typically lacks the tensile spring and finish options of chrome or manganese phosphate coated steel bars used in dedicated powerlifting bars. Without a listed diameter or knurl pattern, buyers loading plates should double check sleeve compatibility with their own collars and plates before assuming a standard fit. For general home use that is a minor step. For anyone chasing a specific competition spec, it is worth confirming directly.
What buyers say
A 4.5 star average across 1,700 reviews is a large enough sample to trust as a general signal rather than noise from a handful of early buyers. That review count sits behind only the Marcy SDC10.1 in this comparison, but the Marcy is a much cheaper item that naturally accumulates volume faster. The 300+ bought last month figure is the highest recent purchase signal among the four bars here, ahead of the Marcy's 200+ and well ahead of the Total barbell's 50+ and the Body Sport bar's 0. Read together, the pattern points to a product with both an established reputation and current momentum, rather than one riding on old reviews while sales quietly dry up.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Fitvids 1INSTD85BAR-1 a full 45 pound Olympic barbell?
The listed spec is 49 pounds of cast iron, which is heavier than the 45 pound standard many lifters expect. No diameter or sleeve length is listed, so confirm plate and collar compatibility before ordering if you need an exact Olympic fit.
How does the price compare to other barbells on the market?
At $144.43, it costs more than the Marcy SDC10.1 ($30.78), the Body Sport bar ($36.99), and the Total barbell ($42.9). Those are lighter or lower spec bars, so the price gap reflects the Fitvids' heavier 49 pound cast iron build rather than a straight markup.
Does the review pattern suggest this bar holds up over time?
1,700 reviews at a 4.5 star average is a meaningful sample size, and the 300+ bought last month shows it is still selling well, not just coasting on early reviews. That combination of scale and recent demand is a reasonable proxy for ongoing buyer satisfaction.