CAP Barbell Standard EZ Curl Bar
Marcy Triceps and Biceps Combo Curl Bar
CAP Barbell Olympic EZ Curl Bar
Investing in the best curl bars for your home gym is a superb way to maximize your workout potential and target muscle groups that are more difficult to focus on with a regular barbell. Unlike traditional bars, the ergonomic design is more comfortable on the hands and with the always-welcomes knurled grip, they are also secure and safe to use, even for beginners.
Often referred to as EZ curl bars, we can’t think of anybody who wouldn’t benefit from introducing this gym equipment into your workout. Whether you want to build your biceps, tone your triceps, or smash squat sessions, along with plenty of other possibilities to explore the curl bar is one of the best ways to hit your fitness goals.
The Best Curl Bar
1CAP Barbell Standard EZ Curl Bar
Our top pick for the best curl bars is the impressive CAP Barbell Standard 47” EZ Curl Bar. It sets the tone for the rest of our selection, with solid steel construction for durability, while the chrome plating protects it from corrosion and scratches, especially when you try to lift more than you’re able to.
The 200-pound capacity is one of the largest around, and even if you can never envision yourself lifting so much, it’s at the very least something to aim for and gives you confidence it’s built to last. The 2 grip positions also ensure versatile workout options. The threaded ends may be a little fiddly compared to spring collars, but it’s not too much of an issue. An amazing piece of home gym equipment.
Solid steel
Chrome plated
200 pound weight capacity
Threaded ends
Collars included
Accommodates 1” plates
2 grip positions
- BrandCAP Barbell
- ModelRBB-47T
- Weight11.40 Pounds
2CAP Barbell Olympic EZ Curl Bar
CAP Barbell is one of the best-known brands in the curl bar business. We’ve already featured a couple of their products on this list but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to include this curl bar. The CAP Barbell Olympic EZ Curl Bar is one of the more expensive curl bars around but it comes with a spec sheet to match the price. Made from 51,000 PSI tensile solid steel, with a black powder coat finish, giving it a 200lb maximum weight capacity. The bar is covered in a diamond-patterned knurled grip, which stops the bar from slipping out of your hand, even when you’re covered in sweat. Plus, it has a large 7.5” loading sleeve length, so you can fit more weights on than other similar bars.
51,000 PSI tensile solid steel
Black powder coat finish
47” bar
7.5” loading sleeve length
Diamond-patterned knurled grip
- BrandCAP Barbell
- ModelOB-47B
- Weight15.5 pounds
3Marcy Solid Steel Olympic Weight Bar
Durable, reliable, and perfect for those hoping to work with smaller weights, the Marcy Solid Steel Olympic Weight Bar delivers comfort and longevity like few others.
The chrome-plated finish makes it easy to clean and maintain, and the precise design provides excellent textile strength to help it stand up to years of use. The unique dual weight plate collars are neither spring nor star locks but are still easy to use even if you’re new to this. It offers a 100 pound weight capacity and is compatible with 2” Olympic plates. Our guide to the best arm blasters features more cool products for fitness enthusiasts.
Durable steel construction
Chrome-plated finish
Ergonomic design
Easy to clean
Two-weight plate collars
2” plate ready
100 pound weight capacity
- BrandMarcy
- Weight17.60 Pounds
4Marcy Triceps and Biceps Combo Curl Bar
Next up, we’ve got the Marcy Triceps and Biceps Combo Curl Bar. Designed like a standard curl bar but with bigger bends, this is the ideal product for anyone that has experienced wrist or joint pain while lifting. The large bends make it easier for the hand to assume a natural position and, therefore, reduce the risk of injury. Like all Marcy curl bars, it’s made from heavy-duty solid steel and has a chrome-coated finish, which makes it more durable and stops it from corroding or rusting. It’s compatible with all standard-sized weights (1-inch) and comes with safety spinlocks to stop them from slipping off the end. If you’re looking for a quality curl bar, it’s hard to beat Marcy.
Heavy-duty solid steel
Chrome-coated finish
Reduces strain on wrists and joints
Safety spinlocks included
Compatible with standard-sized weights
Two-year warranty
- BrandMarcy
- ModelTBC51
- Weight12.15 pounds
5Sunny Health & Fitness 47” Threaded Chrome Curl Bar
The Sunny Health & Fitness 47” Threaded Chrome Curl Bar is compatible with standard plates and brings a touch of the classic to what many consider to be a more modern barbell design.
Instead of smooth sleeves, you’ll find a threaded design and star lock collars over spring-based ones, but just because it’s more like what you used once upon a time doesn’t mean it’s stuck in the past. The diamond knurling keeps your grip secure and you can pack a respectable 200 pounds on for when you want to prove to anyone, even just yourself, that you’ve got what it takes. For more awesome equipment for your home gym, check out our guide to the best dumbbell racks.
Solid steel
Chrome plated
Standard plate compatible
Star lock collars
Diamond knurling
Threaded ends
200 pound weight capacity
- BrandSunny Health & Fitness
- Weight11 Pounds
6CAP Barbell RB-48T2B Super Curl Bar
You might notice that there’s something different about this curl bar. It’s called a Super Curl Bar, a name it gets from the pronounced bends in the bar. The shape decreases the strain on your wrists and forearms, making it possible to do more reps with heavier weights. This bar also doubles up as a tricep bar, thanks to the curled design.
With a weight capacity of 200lbs, you can put some series weight onto this bar. It’s one of the best-selling curl bars on the market, mainly because of the dependable and comfortable design. It might not be the cheapest curl bar available but the extra money is worth spending on this kind of quality.
Solid steel
200-pound weight capacity
Black oxide finish
Rubber gripping surface
48” curl bar
- BrandCAP Barbell
- ModelRB-48T2B
- Weight11.6 pounds
7YUTK Barbell Curl Bending Bar
This next curl bar is made by a company called YUTK. We don’t know much about the company, except that they sell mainly on Amazon. That allows them to sell products like this one for much cheaper than you’d find it in the shops. Don’t think that it’s a cheap product though. Made from high-quality solid steel, it has a maximum weight capacity of 200lbs. It’s designed to fit all standard barbells (1-inch holes). Plus, it comes with two barbell spring collars to keep everything in place. This product doesn’t have many customer reviews, so it’s always going to be a risk. However, we think YUTK Barbell Curl Bending Bar is a great curl bar.
Solid Steel
48” curl bar
Rubber support handles
Two barbell spring collars included
Fits all standard (1-inch) holes
- BrandYUTK
- Weight15.8 pounds
8Marcy Threaded Chrome Steel Curl Bar
It should come as no surprise that we’re including another Marcy curl bar on this list. This brand is dominating the curl bar industry online because they provide affordable bars that are super high-quality. Made from heavy-duty solid steel with a chrome-plated surface, it can carry a maximum of 200lbs of extra weight. One of the best things about Marcy bars is the diamond-shaped knurled grip, which is there to stop your hands from slipping. It’s much more effective than rubber grips because it’s integrated into the steel. Plus, Marcy Threaded Chrome Steel Curl Bar comes with a two-year warranty, so you can buy it with confidence knowing your purchase is protected.
Heavy-duty solid steel
Weight capacity – 200lbs
Diamond-shaped knurled grip
Fits all standard-sized (1-inch) weights
Two-year warranty
- BrandMarcy
- ModelTCB48R
- Weight11.7 pounds
Curl Bar Buying Guide & FAQ
How We Chose Our Selection Of Curl Bars
We want to make sure we only pick the best products available, but this isn’t as easy as just choosing anything we find. To guarantee we bring you the right options for all needs, budgets, and experience levels we use our tried and tested selection method.
Brand - Brands are your first point of contact when purchasing anything and they give you a great idea of how good something is immediately. We don’t like picking any brand though, so we always ensure we’ve selected excellent brands with a great reputation which coincides with reliable products.
Price - As the years have progressed, home gym equipment has become more affordable and therefore more accessible for those who don’t want to go to the gym every day after work. This is great news by itself, but it also means that anyone regardless of their budget can find the perfect option to suit their financial allowances. We believe everybody should have the chance to get in shape, and our price selection reflects that.
Reviews - Reviews are the best way for unsure potential customers to decide which product is the right one for them, and they are a superb resource for us when we make our selection. Through these reviews, we’re able to identify the good and the bad and focus on what are the most important aspects to look out for.
Features To Look For In Curl Bars
Before deciding which curl bar is the perfect addition to your home gym, check out these essential features to consider to ensure you’re getting the right one for your needs.
Capacity - The maximum weight capacity is always an important thing to think about, but you don’t need to go for the largest capacity just because you can. Instead, think about your current strength and consider how heavy you want to build up to, at least at first. If you get to a point where you can lift the maximum weight too easily, only then should you look at buying a tougher curl bar.
Olympic vs. Standard - Choosing between OIympic or Standard sizes depends on the size of your existing curl bar weight you may already own. If you’ve previously only used the 1” standard weights, then look for a bar with 1” sleeves. If you have an abundance of 2” Olympic weights, then an Olympic bar is the best bet. Choosing the wrong size means you will have to go through the hassle of returning it or need to invest in a host of new weight sizes.
Knurling - A knurled grip is the pattern on the handles of your curl bar which make it easier to hold and prevent it slipping from your hands, especially when tackling heavier weights than you’ve ever tried before. This knurling is essential for ensuring safety and helps offers further support when doing your exercises. Bars with knurling all the way across may also be something to think about, as this gives you more variety of hand positions.
Angles - While the angles on curl bars are mostly the same, there is a slight variation between different brands. Better wrist comfort is one of the main reasons to buy a curl bar over a straight barbell, but depending on your needs, you may not need angles that are too pronounced. Knowing this, it might be worth checking out the curl bars at your local gym (if possible) to get an idea of which angles suit you.
Finish - Curl bars are all constructed using a solid steel bar, and this gives them the strength to handle a lot of weight. However, the steel only does half the job. The finish, whether it’s chrome or matte black, protect the bar from corrosion and chipping, especially if you accidentally drop the bar as you aim for your personal best lift.
Curl Bar FAQ
Q: What are curl bars?
A: Curl bars are solid steel weight bars measuring about 4 feet long with either Olympic or Standard sleeves to accommodate different weights. Immediately, those unfamiliar with curl bars will notice they do not look the same as other weight bars you are used to seeing at the gym.
Unlike regular bars, which are straight from end to end, curl bars have a W shape in between the sleeves and collars. This alternate design makes it more comfortable on your hands and wrists which allows you to focus better on the workout.
Q: Is a curl bar better than dumbbells?
A: Both curl bars and dumbbells have their benefits, but is one really better than the other? Here is a quick guide to the differences between the two.
Benefits of Curl Bars
- Ergonomic
- Great for working with heavier weights
- Allows even workout for both arms
- More stability
Benefits of Dumbbells
- More hand position options
- Wider exercise variety
- Ideal for targeting weaker muscles on different arms
- Easier to store
These points show that you can’t say that one is better than the other. Instead, it depends on what workout you are aiming for. If you want to perform chest flies, a curl bar is not suitable. However, bicep curls or even a tricep extension will be more effective with a curl bar. Other exercises such as squats or deadlifts, among similar lower body exercises can be done with either curl bars or dumbbells.
Q: How long is a curl bar?
A: We always love it when industries have some consistency in their equipment, and curl bars are one of those things where you (mostly) don’t need to worry about which size is the right one for you. Curl bars both Olympic and Standard are 47 inches long most of the time. Although, you may come across some which are 52 inches long, but this is rare.
Sources:
- Best Exercise You Can Do With A Curl Bar - Garage Gym Builder
- The Weight of an Olympic Easy Curl Bar - Livestrong
- Difference Between a Curl Bar and a Dumbbell - Sports Rec
