New Olympic weight set

[jak3dude]

Okay, so I'm looking for a weight set, Olympic to be exact.

It needs to be available in Ontario, Canada.

I can already squat 300lbs for reps, so I really want it to be a 400lb set, but the thing is, there's a huge jump in price going from 300lbs to 400lbs sets...

I was looking at this set, but it's only 300 lbs

http://www.capbarbell.ca/weightset/oswg300.html

and the bar is rated at 700lbs.

I doubt I'll ever go that high, but I would like to try olympic lifts, so I don't know if that has a bearing on whether or not I should get a higher rated bar. That being said, I only weigh 167lbs, and don't think I'll ever be clean and jerking over 300lbs...considering olympic lifters do 400(if I could get there, I would be estatic XD)

I should probably invest in some 45lb bumper plates and an extra pair of 25#ers would make it to 440lbs, more than enough, and I can always buy more after that...

oh, and I can pick it up and save on shipping (we all know what prices are like for these things...being as they weigh so much >.>)

what do you guys think, know any other alternatives?

[Qen]

I am in the states, so not sure exactly what its like in Canada. What I try to emphasize to all home lifters is to check classified adds in your area. Unlike most things, used weights are just as good as new ones. I have put together a really nice set up for very little money. Dont be dissuaded by cosmetic appearences of used weights, a little rust or discoloring isnt really bad. New weights are usually around 75 cents to a dollar per pound around where I live, and Bumper plates are way high in price.

Also if you just want to "try" olympic lifting, Google "How to make your own Bumper plates" its an interesting page and I been meaning to try it when I get the time.

[jak3dude]

yeah, ads are always awesome, but I just don't want to rely on them in my plan because you never know what will pop up or not, if there is a golden opportunity, I'll jump on it, but otherwise, I need a contingency plan because I need more weights as I've maxed out my current bar, so Squat and DL can't go up until I get these...and unfortunately I have a standard 6 foot bar with non-oly weights...so I might as well get a set where I get the weights and the bar

but I'm more concerned about the bar, 700lb rating good? or should I look for a monstrous 1000lb rating? and where can I find a 1000lb rated bar in a good 300 or 400lb oly weight set in Ontario Canada?

I realise that quality increases cost, but srsly? 700-800$ for a 400lb set? even if all weights were 1$:1lb (which they arn't, they go for 80cents/pound at most around here) that would be 355$ for the weights and 100-140$ for the 45lb oly bar, so a total of 495$ at most...

Maybe I could buy the bar and weights separately, but even then, I want to now that I can get them all together, not have to wait on one of the other...

Exams are finished and I want to hit it hard over the summer, I want my weights NOA!! T_T

[jak3dude]

note on the "How to make your own bumper plates"
that looks awesome and I'd love to try it
that being said, I don't think my parents would be as enthusiastic about having old tires in their basement...unfortunately >.>
they already think some of the stuff I do is sketch enough as it is (and none of it is)

[Qen]

I guess it helped if I was more familiar with Canada, maybe someone form there can hep you more than I can. I know places like (sport stores) Academy, and even Wal-Mart and Sears here sell weights pretty cheap. You can get pretty decent CAP brand 45lb olympic plates at walmart for 37-40 dollars each. I did buy a set of rubber coated olympic plates from sears, I believe it was on sale for 280$ US for a 260lb set+ 45lb bar (though the bar wasnt rated very high)

As far as the Bar... 700lbs shouldnt give you any problems. This is the one area I splurged and bought the Texas Power bar (rated at 1500) for 280$ US...I figured this was one area worth investing since its basically a one time buy.

[jak3dude]

yeah, probably, but it's been cool talking to you

I think I'll go with this bar and set of weights. I can get them for under 300$ before taxes at a sale, so I think it's a pretty decent price, and then buy extra weight...

maybe I can split the cost of the bumper plates with my parents, since I think they can appreciate the fact that it lessens the impact of the weights falling if ever my grip fails on a deadlift or something like that...even if they only pay some of it, better than paying everything by myself XD