Picking the best EZ curl bar can add that extra bit of variety you’ve been looking for in your home gym. Although not usually a staple piece of equipment, it’s become a favorite among those who:
- Are prone to forearm and/or wrist pain with a normal barbell
- Have limited space
- Want to spice up their exercise selection
And in those ways, an EZ curl bar excels.
I did four days of extensive research to find the best EZ curl bars on the market right now. Here is what I found.
This is the definitive 2022 guide to choosing the best EZ curl bar for your home gym.
Best Quality Overall Olympic EZ Curl Bar –
Rogue EZ Curl Bar
Check out the Rogue Curl Bar in action here:
Size
The Rogue EZ Curl Bar is 52.5 inches long, making it slightly longer than the industry standard 47 inch. The loading sleeves are an awesome 10.5 inches long, providing tons of room for weight plates to be added. It fits 2” weight plates. The grip is 28.5mm in diameter. The bar weighs 30 pounds, making it only slightly heavier than most of the bars on this list, which could be a pro, con, or neutral depending on your own preference.
Materials
The bar itself is made of solid steel, and tested at a tensile strength level of 110,000 PSI. It’s super strong! The bar has bronze bushings to prevent the steel from rubbing together, creating a smooth experience. The sleeve coating is bright zinc. The “e-coat” jet black finish on this bar is nice. It is totally uniform across the bar, so no need to worry about a botched paint job.
Features
The knurling on this bar is quite nice, and you won’t have to worry about tearing up your hands. The center of the bar is the only part without knurling, which is fine because not many people will be gripping that part of the bar for exercise.
An EZ curl bar is meant to be easy on the wrists and Rogue has accomplished that purpose with this bar. It remains super heavy duty and secure, while being easy on the wrists and forearms.
Potential Downsides
The biggest downside with this bar is the price! But, honestly you get what you pay for and with this bar you are paying for high quality. One other potential downside is that there is no official weight capacity listed, but there are reports of it being able to handle 350 pounds without issue.
Bottom Line
If you have the money to spend, you cannot do better than this bar. It is constructed out of high quality, strong steel, with an optimal construction and design. The knurling won’t tear up your hands. The bar and sleeve length are a little longer than the industry standard, while retaining a fairly light weight.
2nd Best Quality Olympic EZ Curl Bar –
GoPlus EZ Curl Bar
Size
The bar is 47 inches long, right at the industry standard. The sleeve loading length is 6 inches long, making it the smallest loading sleeve on the list. It fits 2 inch weight plates. The grip is 28mm in diameter. This bar weighs 19 pounds, making it really lightweight.
Materials
Constructed out of durable Q235 steel, this bar is super heavy duty. The surface is chrome-plated with a consistent distribution of weight and material. The black version of the bar has a nice, smooth matte finish. The sleeves are copper and have bearings to eliminate metal on metal scraping.
Features
The knurling on this bar is just right and won’t tear up your hands. The ends and middle do not have knurling, whereas the main gripping area does. The incredible grip of this bar is what really stands out. It’s just really easy and nice to grip. Many people are saying it has the best grip out of any curl bar they’ve used.
The 400 pound weight capacity and solid construction make this an incredibly durable bar. It’s a great bar to put through rigorous, heavy training.
Potential Downsides
The first downside is that the loading sleeve is smaller than the other bars on the list, at only 6 inches. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t load it up heavy, but the plates may have to be on the thin side. The only other thing to watch out for is some people are reporting gaps in the finish, and that this can get worse over time. Thankfully, this is only an aesthetic concern and not a functional one.
Bottom Line
This may be the best EZ curl bar on Amazon. If you’re looking for a really heavy duty, solid all-around bar, this bar is an amazing choice. With the highest weight capacity on the list, and an incredible feel and grip to the bar, it is an ideal choice for many. The major thing to be aware of is the smaller loading sleeves, so if you have thick Olympic plates, you may want to go with one of the bars with longer sleeves.
Best Budget Olympic EZ Curl Bar –
Elevens Super Curl Bar
Size
The bar is 47 inches in length, right at the industry standard. The loading sleeves are 7 inches long and fits 2 inch weight plates. The grip is 28mm in diameter. This bar weighs 18 pounds, making it one of the lighter bars on the list.
Materials
The bar is constructed out of solid, stainless steel. The shaft is covered with a black manganese phosphate for corrosion and abrasion protection. The bar has a chrome plated finish and comes with brass brushings to prevent metal on metal scraping.
Features
The deep diamond knurling on this bar is just right. It’s fairly aggressive, but does so without tearing your hands up. The grip on this bar is awesome. It’s one of the bars that just feels right in your hands.
The weight capacity is at 300 pounds which is great for the price and lightweight of the bar. This bar is surprisingly heavy duty and sturdy. The collars spin freely with this one.
Potential Downsides
This bar doesn’t have too many negatives to consider. There is at least one report of the bar rusting after a few months of use. Beyond that, the biggest issue seems to be a couple reports of it taking 1-2 months to ship. This might be just par for the course during Covid, though!
Bottom Line
Surprisingly high quality and heavy duty, this bar is a no-brainer at the price point. Only things to consider are you may have to wait a while to get it shipped, and it isn’t one of the bigger brand names.
2nd Best Budget Olympic EZ Curl Bar –
Sunny Health and Fitness Olympic Curl Bar
Size
The bar is 47 inches long, putting it right at industry standard. The loading sleeves are 7 inches. It fits 2 inch olympic size weight plates. The bar weighs 16 pounds, making it the lightest weight option on the list.
Materials
The bar is constructed out of solid steel. Comes with brass bushings and diamond knurling.
Features
The ends and middle of the bar lack knurling, while the bulk of it is right where the bar is normally gripped. Has a 200 pound weight capacity.
The bar has rotating, freely moving sleeves. Comes shipped with collars.
Potential Downsides
There are a couple of reports of the bar not being shipped with the collars.
Bottom Line
This bar is a diamond in the rough among bigger names. A really solid bar with few deficiencies, you can’t go wrong with it for the price.
Alternate Option # 1 –
Marcy Threaded Chrome Steel Curl Bar for One Inch Standard Weights
Size
The bar is 47 inches in length, meeting the industry standard. The loading sleeves are about six inches long. The grip is slightly less than an inch in diameter. The bar weighs 11 pounds with the collars.
Materials
Marcy’s bar is constructed out of high quality and heavy-duty steel. The surface is finished with a sleek and strong chrome-plating.
Features
The end and middle of this bar lack knurling, whereas the part where you grip does have it. This bar has a 200 pound weight capacity, which is not bad for an EZ curl bar for one inch standard weights. It’s a surprisingly solid and heavy duty bar.
The loading sleeves are threaded with spin lock collars. The threads are nice and smooth and not jagged or sharp.
Potential Downsides
The biggest thing to watch out for with this bar is that some people report the spin lock collars not fitting properly and leaving too much wiggle room. This then causes the collars to slip during exercise, which cause you to have to reset too often, sometimes having to do so in the middle of a set.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the bar is fairly thin. So, if you have really big hands or are used to thicker bars, you may want to try another one on the list.
Bottom Line
This is a really good bar if you are looking for an EZ curl bar for one-inch standard weights. It may take some adjustment with the collars being slightly loose, but for the price and durability this bar offers, it may well be worth it.
Alternate Option #2 –
CAP Barbell Super Curl Bar for One Inch Standard Weights
Size
The bar is 47.25 inches long, right at the industry standard. It weighs 11 pounds.
Materials
The bar is constructed out of solid steel and is quite heavy duty. The finish is a sleek powder coating which provides for a nice, easy, and comfortable grip.
Features
This bar is different than the other EZ curl bars on the list in that it has a more pronounced ergonomic “W” shape to the bar, providing even extra wrist and forearm support to those who still have problems with traditional EZ bars.
The weight capacity is 200 pounds, which is impressive given the bar only weighs 11 pounds.
Potential Downsides
The “W” shape, although preferred by some, is not the standard EZ curl bar form and, therefore, will not be preferred by some. That’s why it’s our alternate option!
Bottom Line
If you still struggle with wrist and/or forearm discomfort with a standard EZ bar, you will definitely want to give this one a shot. Or if you just want to try a different type of curl bar, this is a great choice.
How to Choose the Right EZ Curl Bar
There are several factors to consider when choosing an EZ curl bar:
- Budget – If you are on a tight budget, then the top-of-the line bars will be out of reach. But that’s okay. EZ curl bars are relatively simple, and a budget bar can get the job done.
- Olympic vs Standard – Olympic bars hold two inch weight plates and standard hold one inch weight plates, so make sure you are buying the correct bar for your weights.
- Knurling – The amount of knurling desired is highly individual. It helps you grip the bar, but can also be painful if it is too aggressive.
- Size and Weight of the Bar – Some people are looking for heavier and/or longer bars, whereas others want smaller bars. The standard length of a curl is around 47 inches, and the standard weight is around 20 pounds.
- Weight Capacity – The top-of-the-line bars will of course have a higher weight capacity. Standard weight capacity is 200-300 pounds.
- Super Curl vs EZ Curl – There is the standard zig-zagged EZ curl bar and then there is the more exaggerated “super” curl bar. Most people opt for the standard EZ curl bar version, but some like the more pronounced angle on the super curl bar, especially if you really have trouble with wrist pain when doing curls.
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