Have you ever been standing in front of a Smith machine at the gym and posed yourself the question How Much Does a Smith Machine Bar weigh? – You are not alone. An initial assumption that I have made at the start of the use of a Smith machine is that the bar would weigh 45 pounds, like a typical Olympic barbell. Nevertheless, this was not the same case following several exercises. It was then that I imagined I would do some real digging – and experiment with different brands – to find the real Smith machine bar weight of the usual gyms and fitness equipment providers of Planet Fitness, Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Technogym, Precor, and Cybex.
I will give my experience in this step-by-step guide and reinforce it with practical experience and technical facts given by manufacturers, so as to ensure that you have an idea of what to expect the next time you train on a Smith machine.
What is a Smith Machine, and why is bar weight so important?
Before looking into the numbers, briefly review the explanation of what a Smith machine is. A Smith machine is a gym machine whereby the barbell is attached to fixed rails and the entire movement is either in a vertical or almost vertical direction. It is designed to give ease of lifting heavy items, especially when the individual exercises solo, and enable the maintenance of shape during the exercise, such as squats, presses, and rows.
However, not all Smith machines are the same. Each brand has a type of system that it assigns a different name; some use counterbalanced bars, and those that do not. The counterbalanced system is negated by the application of a pulley or spring, where the actual weight of the bar will be balanced against, so that the bar is not under its true weight by itself. This is the reason why the weight of a Smith machine bar in kg or pounds is so important to have a more convenient method of determining your progress.
How do Smith Machine Bars weigh without Weights?
It is one of the most commonly posed questions that I could get – what is the weight of a Smith machine bar with no weights?
The easy answer: it is a matter of the machine. Most of the Smith machine bars used range between 6kg (13 lbs) and 25kg (55 lbs). The light ones are generally counterbalanced and not the heavy ones.
But to respond to you more precisely, we will subdivide it into brands and the gym.
Smith Machine Bar Weight at Planet Fitness
The first experience I had with Planet Fitness was when I was impressed by the light and smooth touch of their Smith machine. I was in a position to push beyond what I expected, and this was a pointer that there was something amiss. My own information regarding the weight of the bar in the Smith machine of Planet Fitness was received after I asked a trainer the weight of the bar, and after a little experimentation, I learnt that the bar weight of Planet Fitness is usually between 15 and 20 pounds (6.8 and 9 kg).
Most of the Planet Fitness centers use Life Fitness or Hammer Strength Smith machines that have counterbalanced bars. This means that there will be a counterbalance system that will offset part of the weight of the bar in a manner that one bar can weigh 35 pounds, but with a counterbalance device added, the weight actually lifted will be 15-20 lbs.
At Planet Fitness, remember that when you are exercising, your Planet Fitness Smith machine bar weight is not a full-fledged 45-pound Olympic bar. Controlling such a variation will have a colossal impact on your advancement and training figures.
Smith Machine Bar at the Weight Life Fitness
The Life Fitness Smith machine has been implemented in several commercial gyms, and it is one of the smoothest and consistent designs that can ever be found. The weight of the counterbalance bar of the Life Fitness Smith machine is about 20 pounds (9 kg).
The most admirable aspect of Life Fitness models is the fact that they feel similar in different places. It is a smooth and straight line motion; therefore, it is an excellent exercise to practice while on the bench press or squatting, both as a beginner and an advanced lifter.
When you are counting your lifts, you should remember that the bar on the Smith machine of Life Fitness weighs about 9 kg. This will help you in the course of measuring it at that point, when you are doing progressive overload, or comparing to free weight lifts, you are on the right numbers.
Hammer Strength Smith Machine Bar Weight
The Hammer Strength is another brand of Life Fitness characterized by machines that are of heavy-duty and commercial grade. Hammer Strength Smith machine weight is slightly higher than the Life Fitness one, with an average weight of 25 pounds (11 kg).
The Hammer Strength bar is rather a standard barbell – it is not so counterbalanced and gives the same experience of lifting. Some serious lifters, such as this one, like it because it places more emphasis on stabilizer muscles.
Supposing that a Hammer Strength Smith machine is accessible in your gym, measure the bar weight when unloaded, which is 25 lbs (11kg). This will keep your training information straight.
Smith Machine Bar Weight Technogym
The Technogym brand is Italian, and it manufactures high-quality gym machines that are comfortable and stylish. It is a Technogym bar weight, which is a Smith machine and has a weight of about 22 pounds (10 kg).
The first experience I had with a Technogym machine was that the guide system was quite smooth and balanced. It is best in muscle-isolating and controlled movement exercises. It is a bit lighter, which makes it beginner-friendly and at the same time allows it to have enough resistance to train at a higher level.
The weight of the Smith machine bar (kg) is something you need to keep in mind when you are counting your lift in kilograms, since the weight of Technogym models is approximately 10 kg.
Weight Precor Smith Machine Bar
Precor is also another brand that you will find in most university fitness centers and commercial gyms. The Precor Smith machine bar weight is between 25 and 30 pounds (113.6 kg), depending on the model.
The first time I tried using a Precor Smith machine, I came to understand that the bar would be solid and slightly heavier than the models that have a counterbalance. This is the extra resistance that gives you a more natural barbell feel. The lift is controlled and smooth as well due to the fact that precision bearings enable Precor to make the lift, especially when they are performing compound exercises like squats and bench presses.
Hence, in case you are in your gym and you have a Precor, your weights on the bar of your Smith machine will be about 12 kg, hence you will record this number.
Cybex Smith Machine Bar weight
The Cybex Smith Machine is acknowledged as well-built and of a delicate, angled structure. The Cybex Smith machine’s bar weight is normally 2025 pounds (911 kg).
Angled track (usually around 7 degrees) is the motion that imitates natural bars, which is good for providing discomfort in the joints and active motion. I then observed that when I had altered to Cybex machines, the squats and presses were less effort, more natural in a slight inclination.
You have to make sure that the Cybex Smith machine bar weight is 10 kg in case you mark your lifts in kilograms.
Comparison of Brand Weights of Smith Machine Bar.
The chart below is a fast reference list based on experience and manufacturer statistics:
- Planet Fitness Smith weight depends on a range of 15 20 lbs (6.8-9 kg).
- Life Fitness Smith machine bar weight =20 lbs (9 kg).
- Hammer Strength Smith machine bar weight: about 25 lbs (11 kg).
- Weight of Technogym Smith machine bar: Approx 22 lbs (10 kg).
- Precor machine bar weight: Approx 25-30 lbs (11-13.6 kg)
- Weight of Cybex bar on the Smith machine: approx. 20 25 lbs (9-11 kg).
You should never forget to bring the specific machine to your gym.
This analogy suggests the reason you should be conversant with the weight of a Smith machine bar without weights on it, which varies among brands between 10 pounds and up.
Why the Smith Machine Bar Weight Matters.
The Smith machine weight of the bar will help you know:
1. Track Progress Accurately:
When you think that the bar is 45 lbs and really it is 15 lbs, then you could be overestimating your lifts by a significant amount.
2. Program Smarter:
Precise numbers are crucial in the instance of progressive overload training or percentage-based training. Knowing your Planet Fitness or otherwise Smith machine bar weight, you should ensure that you properly take care of the load.
3. Avoid Injury:
The imprecision of the weights on the bars could make a person either get too heavy or too light, or lose their balance or their progress.
4. Compare Between Gyms:
In case you travel and switch gyms often, it is better to understand the differences between Life Fitness, Technogym, Precor, Hammer Strength, and Cybex Smith machines so that you can adapt your exercises to them.
The Way to Weigh a Smith machine bar yourself
Should you be unsure as to the brand or in a particular arrangement of the gym, then you can do a check simply:
1. Luggage Scale/ Hanging Scale:
Unhook the scale (unless it is detachable) or place the scale in the middle of the bar and raise it until the safety catches are cleared.
2. Weigh Counterbalance (where necessary):
To know how much resistance is being exerted, you should raise the bar, and then you should be able to find out what the amount of resistance is when the bar is completely raised; that is your effective weight.
3. Confirm with Gym Staff:
The trainers or the maintenance people are usually given the documentation by the manufacturer, which explains the exact weight of the Smith machine bar in the form of either kg or lbs.
Conclusion
It happened that, after several years of training on the different brands, and this is my blunt verdict: Smith machines are wonderful machines; however, you must have an idea of what you are actually drawing.
The location of the Smith machine bar weight is the best at Planet Fitness, since it is lighter and hence good for beginners or those who are more concerned about form. The movement of both Life Fitness and Technogym is smooth, uniform and is more appropriate to controlled reps as opposed to Hammer Strength and Precor being more free weight-like.
And you see, you have that again, the next time somebody wants to know how much a Smith machine bar weighs when no weights are attached, you will know, and will be able to lift without any doubt that your figures are right.
FAQs
1. How much does a Smith machine bar weigh without weights?
Most bar Smith machine weighs between 15 and 30lbs (6.8 and 13.6 kg) on average, depending on the brand. Planet Fitness has a weight of 1520 lbs typically, and the other equipment, like Precor or Hammer Strength, weighs 25 lbs or ends at that point.
2. How much is 225 on a Smith machine?
A 225 SM, as a rule, will be 230-250lbs, again, depending on the weight of the bar. In the Case of Planet Fitness, it was 240-245 lbs as the bar was 15-20 lbs.
3. What is my real weight lifting on a Smith machine?
Most of the Smith machines are counterbalanced, and hence the weight that you are lifting is less than the weight that is on the bar. We will assume that the effective mass on the barbell will be 10-20 lbs. less than that of an ordinary barbell.
4. Does the Smith machine have a 20kg bar?
The bars (at least the ones of Life Fitness, Technogym, and Planet Fitness) are of a weight of about 20 lbs (9 kg) with counterbalancing systems.
