Barbell exercises are a form of resistance training. Resistance training is using your muscles to move resistance, usually weights. Examples of barbell resistance training are squats, bench press, barbell row, shoulder press, deadlifts and curls to name a few. Barbells allow you to move more weight than you could with a dumbbell because you have two hands on a fixed object. This makes it safer to learn new exercises. Sporzon! Solid Olympic Bars 1" or 2", 5 ft, 6ft, 7ft.