Combo Bars
Beware dangerous curve ahead!
All jokes aside, a combo bar takes its curves to a whole new level. Although combo bars are often mistaken as easy curl bars, they're a little different. You see, combo bars have very pronounced bends. When I think of how to explain its appearance I envision a straight bar with a snake-like bend at its center.
Although a combo bar might be another attempt to design a curl bar under a different name ( see the patent tricks that have been played on our shrug bars page ), it offers a more comfortable alternative to performing traditional bicep/triceps curls, deadlifts, squats, bench and shoulder presses with a straight barbell. After using a combo bar I noticed an absence of any stress placed on my lower back. Also, combo bars offer more than one grip option so you can isolate the bicep or triceps muscles specifically.
I'd typically use a combo bar when I'm performing bicep/triceps exercises on a preacher curl bench. If you can't picture what a preacher curl bench looks like, then imagine sitting behind a reverse podium or a reverse music stand. The preacher curl bench has an angled pad that you to place the backs of your arm firmly against, while your chest presses flat against the other side. The pad supports your triceps, but also prevents you from swinging your arms, isolating your bicep muscles completely from any supporting muscles that would make the exercise easier on them.
I perform preacher curls like so:
- Position yourself comfortably in the preacher bench.
- Grasp the combo bar with both hands placing your hands in the most comfortable grove.
- Your triceps should be firmly pressed against the front of preacher pad and your chest firmly against the back.
- Curl the barbell up, bending at your elbows, until it almost meets your biceps.
- Lower the barbell so your arms are fully extended and repeat.
I'd recommend a combo bar or an easy curl bar for performing any isolating bicep exercise. I tend to experience sharp pains in my wrists and forearms when performing these with a straight bar, and I can tell you from personal experience that whenever I've used a combo or curl bar it takes the pressure off and doesn't get in the way of me working my biceps to their full potential.
