[jstummbillig]

I have been doing fairly advanced body-weight only stuff for the last couple of years. I really, really want to a) work out from home and b) not buy any big equipment, particularly barbells, but I have gotten around to believe(?) that I might benefit from adding weights to my training.

Realistically, am I kidding myself that I will be fine without barbells? I would be fine with adding dumbbells and kettlebells at any weight. Does this work? My goals pretty much align with the idea around this article: I want to stay healthy, long. I do not want to injure myself. Looks are of no concern to me.

I understand that workouts are a topic with strong opinions. If you are into barbells you probably also do it because you believe it's necessary. Given a level response on this might not be simple but it would be much appreciated

[anbotero]

It might work to keep you lean and healthy overall, but if the studies are to be trusted, barbell adds that extra (real) weight training you may need.

I don’t plan on doing it myself, because like you, I pretty much just keep my dumbbells and kettlebells, bands for travel or certain exercises, and some cardio mixed into 2 days of training.

I will probably won’t live as long as the study, but if that is not healthy enough to feel like I’m feeling now, I have better things to do that go to a gym for barbell and other heavier exercise machinery.

[darkerside]

Nothing will train sheer strength like a barbell. There's just no other easy way to force your body to move that amount of weight.

[jstummbillig]

Why would (unsupported) single leg squats, or one arm push-ups or pull-ups (maybe with an additional weight vest or some weight) not work? I feel the math could be made to look equivalent and, just observationally, I don't think a lot of people are ablke to do single anything so there should be plenty room to grow? As far as I am able to tell without having done any, barbells are "simpler" because you can scale them fairly smoothly.

[darkerside]

You just aren't moving the same amount of weight with those exercises. If I'm squatting 300 pounds, while most of the time the weight is distributed, there will be moments where one of my legs is balancing close to 300 pounds. There will be no moment anywhere close to that with a single leg pistol or skater squat. Those are great exercises, but you'll get a different outcome IMO.