EZ Curl Bar (45")

Name: EZ Curl Bar (45")
Brand: Bells of Steel
Rating: 3.6 (5 reviews)

Bells of Steel’s 45” EZ Curl Bar is a fixed, non-rackable specialty accessory bar built for isolation work – standing and preacher curls, skull crushers, French presses – not a multipurpose or power bar. At 45 inches and roughly 21.5-22.5 lbs, it’s meant to sit in a corner or on a wall mount as a second or third bar once your main squat/bench/deadlift barbell is covered, the same role our best barbell guide gives curl bars generally.

For a bar this inexpensive, the honest question isn’t “is this a good investment” – it’s whether the basics are done right. Here they are: a 28mm shaft with a black phosphate finish, bronze/brass bushings that reviewers consistently describe as smooth and quiet-spinning, and medium knurling on the angled grip sections (the inner curves of the camber aren’t knurled, relying on the bend itself for grip). The 500 lb static capacity is more than this bar will ever see loaded for arm work. Garage Gym Reviews names it their Best Budget Curl Bar, undercutting Rogue’s curl bar (~$225) and REP’s rackable curl bar (~$199) while matching their weight capacity.

The one recurring knock, echoed across Garage Gym Reviews and independent write-ups, is the black phosphate coating: it’s less protective than premium finishes, and some buyers report uneven coating application out of the box. That’s a fair trade at this price point, but worth knowing rather than assuming a flawless finish. Note that Bells of Steel also sells a separate, longer Rackable EZ Curl Bar for anyone who wants to load a curl bar inside a power rack – this 45” model is not that bar, and is not rackable.

Buying guide

Best Barbell for Your Home Gym — July 2026

Type	fixed (non-rackable) specialty EZ curl bar
Knurl	medium knurl on the angled grip sections; inner camber curves are not knurled
Length	45 in
Weight	21.5-22.5 lb (sources vary slightly; manufacturer's own shipping-weight figure of 29 lb appears to include packaging)
Rackable	no -- see Bells of Steel's separate Rackable EZ Curl Bar for a loadable-in-rack option
Warranty	manufacturer-stated limited warranty (terms not itemized on the product page)
Bushing type	bronze/brass bushings (smooth, quiet rotation per reviewers)
Shaft finish	black phosphate
Sleeve finish	nickel-plated / chrome
Shaft diameter	28 mm
Static weight capacity	500 lb

What is a Barbell?

What a barbell is

The barbell is the center of a strength gym — the bar you squat, press, deadlift, and clean with. A men’s Olympic bar is 20 kg (44 lb) and 7.2 ft long (15 kg / 6.5 ft for women). The specs that matter: knurl (the grip texture — aggressive for pulls, milder for high-rep work), shaft diameter (28–29 mm for barbell lifts), sleeve rotation (bushings are fine for slow lifts; bearings spin fast for the Olympic lifts), tensile strength (~190k+ PSI resists bending), and coating (bare steel grips best but rusts; stainless and Cerakote trade grip for corrosion resistance).

Which one to buy

For general lifting, a multipurpose bar (28–28.5mm shaft, dual knurl marks, no center knurl) does squats, bench, deadlifts, and the occasional clean off one bar — this is the right first barbell for most home gyms. Choose a dedicated power bar (29mm, stiffer, aggressive center-knurl grip) only once you know you’re training squat/bench/deadlift specifically and want the stiffest, grippiest tool for that job. A dedicated Olympic weightlifting bar (needle bearings, more whip) is worth it only if you clean, snatch, or jerk regularly.

Beyond your main bar, specialty bars solve specific problems rather than replacing it: a safety squat bar shifts load off sore shoulders, a trap/hex bar takes stress off a cranky lower back on pulls, and a curl bar’s camber reduces wrist strain on isolation work. Add them once you know which problem you actually have.

How it compares

	EZ Curl Bar (45")	Elite Series Rackable EZ Curl Bar	MG-2 Multi Grip Bars	2″ Olympic Chrome EZ Curl Bar
GymRadar rating	3.6/5	3.58/5	3.56/5	3.56/5
Price		$149.97	$325.00
Type	fixed (non-rackable) specialty EZ curl bar
Knurl	medium knurl on the angled grip sections; inner camber curves are not knurled
Length	45 in
Weight	21.5-22.5 lb (sources vary slightly; manufacturer's own shipping-weight figure of 29 lb appears to include packaging)		39 lb (MG-23) / 44 lb (MG-24)
Rackable	no -- see Bells of Steel's separate Rackable EZ Curl Bar for a loadable-in-rack option	Yes -- standard power racks and squat stands
Warranty	manufacturer-stated limited warranty (terms not itemized on the product page)		Limited Lifetime
Bushing type	bronze/brass bushings (smooth, quiet rotation per reviewers)	Bronze bushings
Shaft finish	black phosphate
Sleeve finish	nickel-plated / chrome
Shaft diameter	28 mm
Static weight capacity	500 lb

3.6/5 · 5 GymRadar reviews

Reviews by source

Expert	3.6/5	5 reviews
Retailer	4.9/5	146 reviews

Bells of Steel’s 45” EZ Curl Bar is a straightforward, budget-tier specialty accessory, not a bar you need to deliberate over the way you would a main squat/bench/deadlift barbell. Functionality is the standout dimension: the camber genuinely takes the strain off wrists and elbows on curls, skull crushers, and French presses versus doing the same moves on a straight bar, and reviewers across Garage Gym Reviews and independent lifestyle blogs converge on smooth, quiet spin from the bronze/brass bushings – the detail that separates a good cheap curl bar from a bad one. Build quality is the weakest dimension: the black phosphate shaft finish is functional but Garage Gym Reviews flags it as less protective than premium coatings, with some reports of uneven coating application – worth knowing going in, though not a dealbreaker at this price. At $99.99-129 it undercuts Rogue’s (~$225) and REP’s rackable (~$199) curl bars, and its 500 lb capacity and medium knurl on the angled grip sections are plenty for the isolation work this bar is meant for.

+Functionality: ergonomic camber measurably reduces wrist and elbow strain on curls, skull crushers, and French presses versus a straight bar (bellsofsteel.com, youraverageguystyle.com)
+Functionality: bronze/brass bushings deliver smooth, quiet sleeve rotation, echoed by Garage Gym Reviews and the manufacturer's own product demo (garagegymreviews.com, YouTube: Bells of Steel)
+Value: at $99.99-129 it undercuts Rogue's (~$225) and REP's rackable (~$199) curl bars while matching their 500 lb capacity (garagegymreviews.com)
+Build quality: medium knurling on the angled grip sections gives a secure hold without being harsh on the hands (bellsofsteel.com, garagegymreviews.com)
+Versatility: multiple grip widths along the camber support standing curls, preacher curls, skull crushers, and pin presses from one bar (bellsofsteel.com)

−Build quality: black phosphate shaft finish is less protective against wear than premium coatings, with some reports of uneven coating application (garagegymreviews.com)
−Durability: little independent long-term wear data beyond the coating concern above -- most coverage is unboxing/first-impression rather than months-later follow-up (garagegymreviews.com, youraverageguystyle.com)
−Functionality: inner curves of the camber aren't knurled, so grip there relies on the smooth bend itself rather than texture (bellsofsteel.com)
−Value: GymRadar's independent sample runs notably cooler (3.6/5, n=5) than the retailer's self-hosted 4.9/5 (n=146), a gap worth weighing since the self-hosted figure is the one shown at the point of sale (gymradar.com, bellsofsteel.us)
−Versatility: fixed length and not rackable -- Bells of Steel sells a separate, longer Rackable EZ Curl Bar for buyers who want to load it inside a power rack (bellsofsteel.com)

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