Description
The EZ bar exists to solve one specific problem. A straight barbell forces your forearms into full supination during a curl, and for a great many people, that position puts an uncomfortable, sometimes painful, torque through the wrist and elbow. The zig-zag camber of an EZ bar lets your hands sit at a semi-supinated angle instead, a small change in geometry that removes most of the strain without meaningfully reducing the load on the biceps.
What an EZ bar is genuinely better at?
- Barbell curls, at any weight your wrists object to on a straight bar
- Skull crushers and lying triceps extensions, the angled grip is far more comfortable overhead
- Preacher curls, where the fixed arm position magnifies any wrist discomfort
- Upright rows and close-grip work, both of which benefit from the angled hand placement
- Reverse curls, where the cambered grip is markedly more secure than a straight bar
Choosing the right one
Check the sleeve size first, because it dictates which plates you can use. Olympic EZ bars take a 50mm sleeve and accept every plate we sell, so they slot straight into an existing setup. Standard EZ bars use a 25.4mm shaft and need standard plates, cheaper, lighter, and fine for a dedicated arm bar, but you cannot share plates with an Olympic setup. For most people already building around an Olympic bar, the Olympic EZ bar is the sensible choice even at the higher price, purely because the plates are interchangeable.
Beyond that, look for rotating sleeves (they reduce wrist torque as the bar path curves), a knurled grip across both the angled and straight sections, and a stated load rating that comfortably exceeds anything you will curl. Bar weight varies between roughly 6.5kg and 12kg depending on length and construction, worth knowing, because it counts toward your total.
A second bar worth owning
An EZ bar is not a replacement for an Olympic barbell; it is a complement to one. It costs a fraction as much, takes up almost no space in a barbell holder, and it will get used every arm session for the rest of your training life. Pair it with an adjustable bench for skull crushers and preacher work, and don't forget collars, plates sliding mid-curl is exactly as unpleasant as it sounds.
FAQs
What is an EZ bar used for?
Mainly curls, skull crushers, preacher curls, close-grip presses and upright rows. The cambered shaft lets your hands sit semi-supinated instead of fully supinated, which removes most of the wrist and elbow strain a straight bar causes on these lifts.
Do EZ bars fit Olympic plates?
Olympic EZ bars have 50mm sleeves and take every Olympic plate we sell. Standard EZ bars use a 25.4mm shaft and require standard plates. Check which you have before ordering, the two sizes are not interchangeable.
How much does an EZ bar weigh?
Between roughly 6.5kg and 12kg depending on length and construction. Olympic EZ bars sit at the heavier end. The bar weight counts toward your working load, so it is worth knowing when you are tracking progression.
Is an EZ bar better than a straight bar for curls?
It is more comfortable for most people, and comfort means you can train arms harder and more often without wrist pain. Biceps activation is broadly similar, so choose based on how your wrists feel rather than expecting a different training effect.