The IFAST preacher curl bar arrived and my arms are ready to put this puppy to work.

Up to this point I’ve been doing bicep curls using dumbbells, chin ups, or a barbell.

So I’m excited to have a dedicated bar (and another option) that’s easy on the wrists.

Let’s check it out!

Unboxing

The IFAST preacher curl bar came in a cylindrical carton with both ends taped shut.

Carton tube came with some damage but thankfully nothing happened to the curl bar.

This is the bar out of the box along with two spring clips that came with it.

Specs

Material: Steel

Sleeve length: 6.7″

Compatibility: Compatible with Olympic weight plates (2″ center hole)

Weight capacity: 220 lbs

Cambered Shaft

The cambered shaft is easy on the wrist joints so if using a regular barbell is too painful for you, this is a good alternative.

Having the wrists slightly bent at an angle takes a lot of pressure off them.

Grooved Sleeves

The sleeves on the IFAST preacher curl bar are grooved.

With grooved sleeves, the grooves keep plates in place better if you choose not to secure them with barbell collars.

And if you choose to use collars, they grip the barbell better for added safety.

Knurling

The knurling on the curl bar is passive.

You know it’s there and it’ll prevent your hands from sliding on the bar.

Preacher Curl Bar Exercises

Like its name says, the IFAST preacher curl bar is meant for preacher curls.

Here I am doing kneeling preacher curls on the AbMat Preacher Pad.

With regular preacher curls being short, I have to reach to the floor to get the weight to my starting position.

Not as convenient as a rackable curl bar but it gets the job done.

A big advantage rackable EZ curl bars have over regular curl bars, is that I can set the bar high on J-cups or spotter arms.

And of course, I can do other arm exercises like regular bicep curls or reverse curls.

If I want to focus on my triceps, then I can do skull crushers or overhead triceps extensions.

I could also use the bar for upright rows or close grip bench presses.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cambered shaft: Curved shaft reduces strain on the wrists

Grooved sleeves: Weight plates and collars grip the bar better

Multiple grip options: Cambered shaft has narrow and wide grip options while still protecting the wrists

Inexpensive: At less than $100, it’s a good starter bar for most people

Cons

Thin shaft: Thinner than a regular barbell so takes getting used to the thin shaft

Spring clips: They get the job done but I prefer collars

IFAST Preacher Curl Bar Review

The IFAST preacher is an economical bar for those looking to save money on home gym equipment.

It’s strong enough to hold a lot of weight for arm isolation exercises.

Not the fanciest preacher curl bar but it gets the job done.

Check Out The IFAST Preacher Curl Bar