EZ Curl Bar [Bells of Steel] EZ Bar Olympic Curl Review
Our verdict
The Bells of Steel EZ Curl Bar earns its $89.99 price with a 4.8 star average across 149 reviews, the highest rating of any barbell in this set. At 22.5 pounds of metal construction, it is a dedicated curl bar, not a do-everything barbell.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Lifters who already own a straight bar and want a dedicated curl bar for bicep and tricep work, especially anyone bothered by wrist strain on standard bars during curls and skull crushers.
Skip if
Skip this if you need one barbell to cover squats, deadlifts, and presses. A 22.5 pound EZ curl bar is not built for heavy compound lifts and won't replace an Olympic straight bar.
- Material Metal
- Weight 22.5 Pounds
- Priced 29% above the category median ($69.99 across 90 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.8/5
4.8 average across 149 owner ratings
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Popularity1.3/5
149 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other home gym and fitness equipment we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
The Bells of Steel EZ Curl Bar is a 22.5 pound metal bar priced at $89.99, positioned as a specialty tool rather than a general-purpose barbell. Its 4.8 star rating across 149 reviews is the strongest of any barbell in this comparison set, though the review count is far smaller than mass-market options like the CAP OB-93 or Marcy SDC10.1.
The angled grips on an EZ curl bar exist to reduce wrist strain during curls and close-grip pressing movements, and buyers picking this over a straight bar are usually solving that specific problem. At 22.5 pounds, it carries meaningfully more mass than the ultra-light Marcy SDC10.1 (5 pounds) or Total (1.6 pounds) bars listed here, but it is still far lighter than a full 45 pound Olympic bar, since it is not meant for max-effort compound lifts.
At 100+ bought last month, demand sits below the CAP OB-93's 800+ and the Marcy's 200+, which tracks with EZ bars being a secondary purchase rather than a first barbell. In stock and priced under $100, it fills a specific gap in a home gym that already has a main barbell.
Pros
- Highest rating in this comparison at 4.8 stars
- 149 reviews is a solid sample for a specialty bar
- 22.5 pounds of metal gives real heft for curl and press variations
- 100+ bought last month shows steady, active demand
- Priced under $90, cheaper than several general-purpose barbells here
Cons
- Not a substitute for a full-length Olympic straight bar
- 149 review count is thin next to the CAP OB-93's 8,800
- 22.5 pounds adds real cost per pound compared to the 5 pound Marcy bar at $30.78
- No listed length or loadable sleeve specs to confirm plate compatibility
- Bought last month of 100+ trails the CAP OB-93 and Marcy bars
Specifications
| Material | Metal |
|---|---|
| Weight | 22.5 Pounds |
Performance notes
At 22.5 pounds, this EZ curl bar sits in the middle range for curl bars, heavy enough to load meaningful weight for curls and skull crushers without being unwieldy in a home rack. The metal construction listed in the specs suggests a solid steel or alloy build rather than a hollow or coated novelty bar, which matters for anyone loading real plates rather than using it bodyweight-only. Because this is a curl bar and not a straight bar, its angled grip sections are the whole point: they let the wrists rotate into a more neutral position during curls and close-grip presses, which is the main reason lifters add one to a home gym instead of relying solely on a straight bar. There is no listed sleeve or collar spec here, so buyers with a specific plate diameter in mind should confirm compatibility before assuming it matches their existing plates.
What buyers say
A 4.8 star average across 149 reviews is a strong pattern for a specialty barbell, especially compared to the 4.3 to 4.7 range of the general-purpose bars in this set. The lower review count relative to the CAP OB-93's 8,800 or the Marcy's 6,077 simply reflects that fewer people buy a dedicated curl bar as their first barbell purchase. The 100+ bought last month figure shows this is not a stagnant listing, it is moving at a steady clip for a niche accessory. Taken together, the rating and volume suggest a smaller but consistently satisfied buyer base rather than a mass-market hit.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Bells of Steel EZ Curl Bar a good first barbell?
Not really. At 22.5 pounds and shaped for curls and close-grip pressing, it is meant to complement a straight Olympic bar, not replace one. Someone buying their first barbell for squats, presses, and deadlifts should look at a straight bar like the CAP OB-93 instead.
How does the 4.8 star rating compare to other barbells here?
It is the highest of the group. The CAP OB-93 sits at 4.5 stars across 8,800 reviews, the Marcy SDC10.1 at 4.3 stars across 6,077, and the Total bar at 4.7 stars across 536. The Bells of Steel bar's 149 reviews is a smaller sample, but the rating itself leads the field.
Is $89.99 reasonable for a 22.5 pound curl bar?
It is on the higher end of this comparison set, roughly three times the Marcy SDC10.1's $30.78, but that bar is a 5 pound straight bar, not a comparable product. For a metal EZ curl bar specifically, the price reflects its dedicated shape and heavier build.