Barbed fittings having elongated bodies defining open ends and an internal fluid carrying passage interconnecting the ends are disclosed herein, with at least one end having a barb with a reduced outer diameter and/or taper angle to reduce the amount of insertion force necessary to install the fittings, thereby making the fittings easier to insert in conduit and/or other fluid carrying components. To also make the fittings easier to install, a barbed fitting insertion tool is disclosed having a body defining a fitting receptacle in a front portion of the body and a handle portion in the rear portion of the body for gripping and inserting fittings located in the fitting receptacle into conduit. The fitting receptacle having a locking mechanism for securing the fittings to the tool and preventing unintentional removal of same from the tool.
