Weights for curls

[Micker]

Everyone I know who wants to know how strong someone is asks the same question....How much do you bench. I guess thats because that is the only real refrence point number people have in their head. Most people don't know what a good squat or DL weight is. My problem is that I don't know what a good barbell curl weight is. No one ever mentions how much they curl. I guess its easy to cheat a bit in curls, so the numbers can be a bit off.

So, what is decent curling weight on the barbell?? I am able to do 135 for a decent rep, a little arching. No idea if that is low or decent.

 

[Tagio]

i never curl and have proportionately small arms (not bodybuilding) and i've curled 135 (barbell) without cheating to see if i could about a year ago. I train a lot of low-rep sets so my 1rm in a given exercise is usually way more than what i can double or triple. I think curls are really hard to standardize. there are a million ways to cheat. and the point of isolation exercises like that isn't the weight you can handle but the stress on the muscle. I think the weight will vary a lot. compound movements are better ways to measure strength imo especially if you compare them to the lifter's bodyweight.

 

[Kane Fan]

I have strong biceps in comparision with the rest of me
and I believe 155 (very strict) is my actual max
I'd be over that with what could count as decent form I think but I voted in the 135-155 range to be safe

 

[eat big]

Biceps are my weak point. I do 5x5 with 125. Could probably get 135-140 with good form.

 

[BOWTECH]

A good way to see how much you can curl is stand with your back against the wall then perform your curl. The result may suprise you.

 

[Micker]

A good way to see how much you can curl is stand with your back against the wall then perform your curl. The result may suprise you.

That would be like keeping your back flat on a bench and feet up while benchpressing.

 

[BOWTECH]

That would be like keeping your back flat on a bench and feet up while benchpressing.

Correct!

 

[thelion2005]

A good way to see how much you can curl is stand with your back against the wall then perform your curl. The result may suprise you.

Or ... on an incline with no leg assistance.
If you can curl 75 dbs on a 30 degree incline, you are STRONG!

 

[eat big]

Or ... on an incline with no leg assistance.
If you can curl 75 dbs on a 30 degree incline, you are STRONG!

Explain please. Are you talking about spider curls? I do those as my last exercise in my bi workout and do over 85 lbs for 12 reps. I'm not that strong.

 

[thelion2005]

Explain please. Are you talking about spider curls? I do those as my last exercise in my bi workout and do over 85 lbs for 12 reps. I'm not that strong.

I'm talking about:
- sitting on a bench that has a back angled at 30 degrees
- a dumb bell in each hand with the arms extended towards the ground
- slowly curling the db's up to the delts and then back to the start position
- from 5-8 reps

I'd say if you can do this with 75's, you are strong! And I'd estimate at least an 18' arm.