The next time you’re in the gym, pick up the EZ curl bar. Compare it to the standard Olympic barbell sitting on the rack. Is it thinner?
Does it feel lighter? Load your plates onto the bar, rack it up and get started with some bicep work. While exercising, consider how much of that weight is just the bar.
If you’re keeping track of your lifts or following your progression over time, the weight of an empty bar matter a lot. Failing to include the weight of the bar will result in confusing logs and surprising increases in strength. A regular barbell is forty-five pounds.
Everyone knows this; most lifter believe any bar is identical to another. That is not true. An EZ bar may be made differently, often with less weight and a shifted center of gravity due to it’s curve.
So if the bar itself are thirty-five pounds and you log yourself at lifting fifty, well, guess again: your numbers are off. Over time, this compounds. Yes, it’s a minor detail.
But it makes your training data honest.
Understanding The Weight Of EZ Curl Bars
Why Bar Weight Matters for Tracking Progress
The weight of most commercial EZ curl bars ranges from 33-35 pounds. Since these bars has a curved shaft, they require less steel, which results in a lighter bar compared to standard 45 pound Olympic bar.
The reasoning behind this is that it’s easier for new users to lift and manage the bar. But again, depending on what model you purchase and what brand it is, the actual weight can vary. Rogue Fitness bars are a common standard in many gyms.
That means that their standard twenty-seven inch EZ curl bar probably tips the scales around thirty-three pounds. It’s a solidly constructed bar. They maintains a consistent knurling throughout the bar.
It’s not too heavy to be scary to those just starting out lifting, yet it feels substantial when you pick it up. At most serious commercial gyms or boxes, you’ll be lifting one like this. Most of them will have the exact weight labeled on them.
This information is found either on manufacturer’s website or on the actual sleeve of the bar. Having this concrete figure lets you accurately record your lifts.
Standard Weights of EZ Curl Bars
Depending on what brand you get, it may not follow this pattern.
Maybe an older or cheaper version weigh in at roughly thirty-five pounds. Perhaps some sort of specialized bar for home gym use is very lightweight, hovering around thirty pounds. That’s because they has smaller sleeves or they are made with a thinner metal.
And the catch is that a more lightweight bar is generaly less durable. It won’t withstand as much weight as a Rogue or Eleiko bar would of shrug off. If you’re curling big weights, then don’t worry about how light the bar is; you want to know how strong your bar is instead.
To track progress, however, the lighter bar will result in lower numbers different than you’d record with a regular bar. A regular Olympic barbell weighs 45 lbs Olympic barbells are nearly always going to be forty-five pounds because that’s what commercial gyms use and it’s what the IWF regulates competition bars to be. For consistency, this is how they’re made.
Say you transition from an EZ bar to a straight bar on your overhead press or tricep extension. You’ll have to factor in an additional ten to twelve pounds. That’s a big leap for isolation exercises.
Your arms will certainly notice the change right away.
How Engineering Affects Bar Weight
Because the EZ bar has that curve in it, there is more complex engineering going into making them. That creates stress points in the metal.
In order to keep costs down but still have a structurally sound bar, they will tends to shorten the sleeve lengths or decrease the diameter of the shaft itself. The smaller the shaft, the less steel, which equals less weight. Economics and physics result in less weight.
It does not always mean lower quality. Using less steel equals lighter, and you’re paying for form, not so much mass. Less weight can benefit you because it will be easier to spin and use during high repetition sets.
Measuring Your Specific Bar Weight
The best way to ensure accurate measurements is to measure your own bar. Unfortunately, most gyms use different brands and sometimes switch equipment out. Some racks has a thirty-five pound bar while others may have a thirty-three pound bar.
To keep things exact, weigh your bar with a scale. Put it in the air, set it down on a digital scale (if available), or hang it on a hanging scale (if your gym has one). It only takes half a minute.
But that time is worth it when it comes to knowing exactly what you’re lifting without any guessing.
Benefits of EZ Bar Grip and Form
The lighter weight doesn’t mean it’s an easy move by any means. Because of the angled grip of the EZ bar, your wrists are protected from strain while your elbows sits in a supinated position.
For most, this isolates the biceps brachii and brachialis more so than a straight bar does. Bonus: There is less bar to hold, but this isn’t the main event here. Concentrate on the tension and form; the iron will challenge you on the sleeves anyway.
All that being said, the weight of the curl bar remains a fixed part of your equation. It’s not something you can adjust, but you can plan for it. Note the weight of the curl bar you train on most frequently.
Note it in your training journal. Note it in your notes app. As you move up to 25 pound plates instead of 15 pound plates, you’ll have a clear baseline against which to compare yourself.
The curl bar is simply a tool. The better you understand how it behaves, the better you’ll be able to use it. Know what you’re lifting, lift confidently.
