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TITAN 12-inch log bar vs Rogue Castro bar

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Jan 17, 2021 9:00:00 AM

TITAN 12-inch log bar vs Rogue Castro bar

This is a comparison between the TITAN 12-inch log bar and Rogue Castro bar including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details

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Overview and review of the Rogue Castro bar [Article, Video]

This is an overview of the Rogue Castro bar which is made of bare steel and therefore very cost efficient. This article was originally oublished under "Which Rogue barbell to buy". Follow the links to learn more.

 

 

Price 275$

 

Overview

 

The Castro bar is a bare steel bar which comes closest to what you find in most commercial gyms. This is the lowest price tag you can get from Rogue for a full barbell. This makes it a good fit for anyone on a budget who has to buy a lot of barbells or expects them to be stored outside/transported often. For those scenarios, it is a waste of money to get anything that it pretty or elaborate in function.

 

The Castro bar weighs 20kg and comes in at 28.5mm diameter. It can take up to 190K PSI tensile strength with a good whip. The knurling is standard and the sleeves are attached via bushing. The loadable sleeve length is 16.50. Based on this it is the lowest priced multi-purpose bar available from rogue. Other bars are either special use or designed for children.

 

The Castro bar is the option to go for if you want to go spend as little as possible while still maximising the training options. If your gym/facility can also live with the fact, that these bars might look quite beaten up pretty fast, even better. 

 

Pros of the Castro bar

 

The ultimate reason for the Castro bar are the costs. You still get a Rogue bar which is made in the United States at relatively low prices. The bar still goes through the same basic quality checks and holds a warranty. There are other vendors out there who might send you a bar with a lower price tag. Think twice whether you will get the same customer service, warranty and quality checks which only slightly retails over the cost of the raw materials, never mind the labour. 

 

Cons of the Castro bar

 

A big con of the Castro bar is the bare steel. This finish is likely to show corrosion and use. This means you will need to take more care of it and maintain it more often. If you already have the labour and the necessary equipment to clean bare steel, you might even turn this into a plus. If you want to drill discipline into a bunch of new recruits you might get in a barbell cleaning session once a month on top of the other equipment maintenance you do. 

 

Learn more about the specs of the Rogue Castro bar and purchase on the Rogue website

 

 Overview and review of the TITAN 12-inch log bar

This is an overview of the TITAN 12-inch log bar including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details

 
 

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12-inch Log bar V2 $250

 

Overview of the 12-inch log bar

 
The 12-inch log bar from TITAN is the biggest log bar you can get from them. It weighs 84 pounds and can take up to 1000 pounds for your heaviest overhead lifts. Log bars are a staple in strongman competitions and vary in weight. Sometimes they are done for repetitions, other times for maximum weight. The neutral grip handles make the log bars a lot more forgiving on the wrists and arms than regular barbells for heavy overhead presses. The log bar is usually lifted from the ground and brought to the mid section of the body to then bring it overhead. A great tool to develop strength and try out something new, but a big boy toy. The full specifications of the TITAN 12 inch log bar run as followed:
 
 
- Rackable on most standard power racks
- A staple for Strongman training and competitions
- Durable steel construction with laser-cut Titan logo
- Neutral knurled handgrips at 26-in on center
- Fully welded seams and end caps
- 14-in loadable sleeves which fit Olympic plates
- Available in 10 and 12-inch models
 
- Grip Diameter: 1.65-in.
- Handle Length: 11.3-in
- Handle Spacing: 23.6-in.
- Sleeve Diameter: 50mm.
- Overall Length: 80.3-in.
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 14-in.
- Sleeve to Sleeve Length: 50.6-in.
- Knurling: Medium
- Weight Capacity: 1,000 lb.
- Product Weight: 84 lb.
 
This is a good budget option from TITAN for your strongman training at home or in the gym.
 

Pros of the 12-inch log bar

 
The pros of the TITAN 12-inch log bar:
 
  • Competition measurements
  • Cost efficient design
  • Neutral handles with space
  • Compatible with standard plates
 
This is the type of log which dimensions would be the same in a proper strongman competition The only difference would be that this one is metal and not wood. This makes the TITAN 12 inch log bar more cost efficient and weigh a little less by itself compared to wood. That makes it more approachable for beginners. The chambers for the grips are generous in size and you will have no contact with the outer edges of it. This can sometimes be a problem on poorly designed log bars, especially for big athletes who then have trouble getting their hands and arms to the grips. You will also not need to worry about whether your standard plates will fit this log.
 

Cons of the 12-inch log bar

 
The cons of the 12-inch TITAN log bar are:
 
  • Big boy toy
  • Not wood
  • A little too long
 
This is a big boy toy and therefore not necessarily suitable for most commercial gyms. To really have fun with a log bar you should already know a little bit about lifting and not be scrawny yourself. This is not a beginners training tool so look somewhere else if you are only starting out on your strength journey.
 
The more experienced athletes will get a great log bar for a good price, but it will not fully simulate what happens in competition. Many competitions will get an actual wooden log bar as it is a better showpiece for spectators. So if you are training for serious competitions, you might as well invest the little extra money to get a heavier wooden log that also has a bit of a different feel about it.
 
TITAN has not normed this to average barbell length. If your gym is already tight, be aware that the log will protrude considerably more from the rack than your barbells do. 
 

Alternatives to the 12-inch log bar

 
 
The 10 inch log bar from TITAN is the little brother of the 12" log bar. This size is usually used in female strongman competitions, but can also be a bit more approachable for the masses in a commercial gym to get them interested in strongman training. It also comes at a slightly lower price of $230, although I think that the size differences matter more for this comparison than the prices.
 
The TITAN Multi grip log bar offers you two different grip widths while giving up some of the weight compared to the 12 inch log bar which makes it a bit cheaper. If you want some more variety in your log presses you can opt for this model from TITAN.
 
Rogue delivers their log bars in (2, 10" and 12" at prices of $345, $465, and $595. Their logs are considerably higher in cost. The log bars usually involve more manual labor and welding in production and Rogue is known for better quality welds than TITAN. Usually these differences are more cosmetic than functional in nature, but be aware that you tend to pay more for better craftsmanship at Rogue for the welding and that log bars, not like barbells, need more of this kind of work. 
 
The slater log is the real deal when it comes to log bars. If you want to purchase a ready made wooden log bar you can get your hands in three different versions from Slater costing $449, $549, and $695. These log bars weigh more for the same diameter and come closer to what you will handle in competition.
 

Conclusion for the 12-inch log bar

 
The 12.inch log bar from TITAN is a solid budget option for anyone who is considering a log bar for their gym. Be aware that a 12" log bar is massive and that most normal humans would be better of getting a 10" or even 8" log to not overwhelm themselves. Still, if you are goliath yourself, knock yourself out with a 12-inch. Maybe get a pizza of that size first and see what you get yourself into. Chances are if you can not eat a 12" pizza by yourself, you should not get the corresponding log bar.

Topics: TITAN