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TITAN 12-inch log bar vs TITAN Hex bar

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Jan 10, 2021 9:00:00 AM

TITAN 12-inch log bar vs TITAN Hex bar

This is a comparison between the TITAN 12-inch log bar and TITAN Hex 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 Hex trap bar

The Titan Hex trap bar will put you back about $200. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which barbell to get from TITAN”.

 

Overview of the hex trap bar 

 
A hex trap bar is a great option to introduce beginners to the deadlift or to have a multi-purpose tool to do farmers walks. Lifting the weight from inside the frame while making it less strenuous on your lower back limiting injury risk. The specifications and features of the hex trap bar are: 
 
Bar details
 
  • Dual handle design
  • Raised set of handles stands 7.5" from the floor for a raised starting position when lifting. 
  • Frame measure 49" across so you can easily rack the bar on your power rack safety system. 
  • Solid 48mm weight posts for maximum capacity and long term durability. Tested at 810 LB over a 24 hours period. 
  • Overall Length: 87.5" 
  • Hexagon Frame Length: 49"
  • Handle Spread: 25" 
  • Handle Diameter: 1.25"
  • Handle Length: 24.5"
  • Weight Post Length: 15.75"
  • Weight Post Diameter: 48 mm
  • Weight: 60 LB
 
Good tool when you have lower back problems or beginners. 
 

Pros of the Hex bar 

 
A hex bar lets you develop about the same muscle groups as the straight bar for the deadlift with a lesser risk of lower back injuries. It can also be used for farmers walks in Strongman classes. 
 

Cons of the Hex bar 

 
Hex bars are usually hard to store and intimidating to beginners. Because of their higher weight and big frame beginners usually don’t like to set them up. Apart from the farmers walks and deadlifts the applications of the hex bar are quite limited. 
 

Alternatives to the hex bar 

 
The Titan Atlas bar is a great option from TITAN to save money when you buy in bulk while still providing great service to your clients. The Atlas bar is the all-around workhorse out of the TITAN portfolio. 
 
For only about $100 more you can get a yoke. Most people who consider a hex bar already own a barbell. You might as well consider a yoke as it gives you a lot more options for only slightly more money. 
 
If you are already looking into strongman equipment, you might want to have a look at a log bar. These are great to develop overall body strength and have been a staple of strongman competitions for years. 
 

Summary of the hex bar 

 
The hex bar is a great tool to get athletes used to the deadlift or lower injury risk for people who are not into powerlifting but want to reap the benefits of the deadlift. 
 

 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