Specialty Olympic Bars

There are a few different types of EZ curl bars. You can have them in either Olympic or standard. You can also have a variation which is the Super Curl bar. We also carry a PRO EZ Curl bar which is a little longer and has a slightly larger sleeve length.

Both the Olympic EZ Curl bar and Super Curl bar weigh approx. 10kg. The PRO EZ Curl bar weighs 12kg. For the standard EZ Curl bar and Super Curl bar, they both weigh 7kg. These weights can obviously vary depending on what brand you purchase.

EZ curl bars are not like 7ft Olympic bars that are used in competition. These 7 footers have universal specifications so that people can compare their lifts. There are no similar standards for EZ curl barbell.

Great question! We asked Lee Priest and these are exercises that can be done with an EZ curl bar. Now this is not definitive list, but it will give you plenty of food for thought.

As a 15-year-old I started with just ez curl bar and a bench seat from our BBQ setting. Nearly every exercise I did involved an ez curl bar. That was one of the best parts of training with minimal equipment. You had to experiment – there was no internet back then. With all the information available these days you can add even more exercises with limited equipment.

Just like any piece of gym equipment, with a bit of imagination an EZ curl bar can work numerous muscle groups.

Most trainers use the EZ Curl Bar for biceps curls and skull crushers The primary purpose of the EZ Curl Bar is to reduce the wrist and elbow strain for these exercises.

However, you can cover significantly more muscle groups with this bar. Here is a list of other exercises you can do with your EZ bar.

1. Biceps Curls
2. Narrow Grip Biceps Curls
3. Preacher Curls without a Bench
4. Concentration Curls
5. Overhand Biceps Curls
6. Overhand Narrow Biceps Curls
7. Forearm Curls
8. Shoulder Press
9. Military Shoulder Press
10. Front Shoulder Raise
11. Upright Rows
12. Snatch Grip Upright Rows
13. Bench Press
14. Floor Press
15. Variations (21)
16. Skull Crushers
17. Close Grip Bench Press
18. Back Squats
19. Front Squats
20. Lunges
21. Bulgarian Split Squats
22. Calf Raises
23. Seated Calf Raises
24. Stiff Legged Deadlifts
25. Leg Extensions

You could do a deadlift with most ez curl bars. It is far from ideal, and you won’t be able to load on a lot of weight because they have relatively short sleeves. But if it is the only bar, you have got then it will have to suffice.

Due to the bends in the ez bar you will be limited to wear you can grip the bar. Plus, you will have to lift in carefully, so the bends don’t bang into your knees. If you are serious about training and want to deadlift you really need to get an appropriate bar.

However, if you are training without a 7ft bar and you want to give the hammys a tickle, you could bang a couple of stiffy’s with your EZ curl bar.

Hex trap bars used to be mostly universal in design. They roughly weighed in around 25kgs. Nowadays there are so many different designs. Now they can be up to 35kgs or as light as the new ATX compact hex trap bar which is only 13kgs.

If you are a personal trainer who has inexperienced lifters as clients, just be careful with the heavier bars. 35kgs vs 25kgs might not sound like much of a difference, but I can tell you moving the heavy ones around is noticeable. Also remember you need to include the weight of your lightest bumper plate. If you only have 10kg bumpers, then your first lift will be 55kgs.

Hex Trap Bars are designed for deadlifts. They are excellent when it comes to taking the strain off your lower back and putting some more weight on your quads. The other advantage is they both allow for better body mechanics due to more upright position and are significantly easier to grip.

Other exercises that you can do on your hex trap bar are:

1. Shrugs – hex bar shrugs are a great way to build up your traps. First you can go heavy. Secondly the movement is a bit more comfortable as the handles are located at your sides.
2. Lunges – if you have an open hex trap bar, then you can perform lunges with ease!
3. Farmers Walk – great way to burn calories, strengthen your core and grip.
4. Step Ups – Hex bars can also be used for step ups. Which can do wonders for knee health. The benefit of using hex bar instead of dumbbells is that you can load it up with some serious weight!

Safety squat barbells come in differing weights. Generally, the ones that made from sold steel are heavy than a traditional 7ft Olympic bar. The safety squat bars that are made from hollow tube, like the ATX-LH-SSB, are lighter. They weigh 18kgs.

No, safety squats are widely regarded as easier. They are often used to introduce beginners to barbell squats. Straight barbell squats remain of the most difficult exercises to perform. The safety squat bar does make the movement slightly easier.

First it takes the pressure of your wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Even in elite powerlifting competitions, you will see big units struggle to get the hands around the bar. They have much more muscle mass which has reduced shoulder mobility. Having the handles makes the safety squat bar so much easier to stabilise on your back.

A good quality safety bar that is designed correctly should sit on your shoulders without holding the handles. I do not recommend squatting “no hands”, that is not safe. However, it takes noticeably less effort to keep the bar on your shoulders.

The superior balance of the safety squat bar allows you to get into a more upright position. It also becomes easier to brace your core during safety squat bar squats.

The safety squat bar (SSB) was designed to make squatting easier. Barbell squats are one of the hardest exercises to master. Introducing an inexperienced lifter to squats requires a lot of guidance. The safety squat bar makes barbell squatting a little less complicated. Plus, more comfortable too.

The safety squat bar does come with a set of built in handles which helps you to stabilize the bar. The grips are extremely useful as they allow you to take the pressure of your shoulders, elbows, and wrists. A beginner make lack the shoulder mobility to support the straight bar on traditional squats.

It also allows you to stay more upright compared to the straight barbell. This takes load from your lower back.

SSB’s can also be quite versatile:

1. Safety Squat Bar Squats.
2. Safety Squat Bar Good Mornings.
3. Safety Squat Bar Seated Good Mornings.
4. Safety Squat Bar Lunges.
5. Safety Squat Bar Bulgarian Split Squats.
6. Safety Squat Bar JM Press
7. Safety Squat Bar Front Box Squats.

Safety Squat Bars are a great way to add variation or to protect/nurse your joints while training legs. That is why they are also popular with experienced lifters.

Unfortunately, you cannot use a safety squat bar in powerlifting competitions. However, you can use a SSB in your training. It is a great squat variation.

If you are struggling to work through your squat plateau, using a safety squat bar for a training cycle may help you reach a new squat PR. The safety squat bar will recruit different muscles to a barbell squat, while also working the important ones. By training these additional muscles, your barbell squat has the potential to improve.

Even though the safety squat bar may not be allowed on to the platform in your powerlifting competition, there is no rule against using it in training.

The safety squat bar does not directly improve ankle mobility. If your ankle mobility is affecting your traditional barbell squat, switching to a safety squat bar will give you greater range of motion. You will be squatting in a more upright position. Therefore, ankle mobility is less of a factor.

By squatting in an improved range of motion using the safety squat bar, your ankle mobility may improve over time. However, if you specifically want to address ankle mobility, you will achieve better results faster if you address this with specific mobility exercises.