TITAN 12-inch log bar vs TITAN Multi grip bar

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

Overview and review of the TITAN Multi-grip Camber bar

The Titan multi grip camber bar will put you back about $150. 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 TITAN Multi-grip Camber bar

A camber bar is a great option to bring your bench press to the next level. It is especially interesting when you have been training for years and have wrist pain or if you want to follow the west side method. The camber bar will enable you to use different variations of hand positioning easily on the bench press to let you work the chest muscles from different angles. This technique is often used by experienced powerlifters and strongman to either push through plateaus or to make sure that they can tackle the same weight from various leverage points. The features and specifics of the TITAN Camber bar are:

Camber bar details:

2" Camber for greater range of motion
Multiple grips points to target different muscle groups
Knurling for a secure grip
black powder coat
Fits Olympic weight plates
Overall Width: 82"
Sleeve to Sleeve: 54"
Sleeve Length: 13.75"
Sleeve Diameter: 49.55 mm | 1.95"
Grip Width's: 10" / 20" / 28.5"
Grip Diameter: 1.25"
Weight: 47 LB

This is a good addition to the existing barbell line up in a commercial gym or as a additional bar for the experienced lifter at home.

Pros of the Multi-grip camber bar

This is a good tool to throw something new at your constant gym class members in your commercial gym. Experienced lifters might appreciate giving their shoulders a break from the straight bar bench press which can be taxing on the shoulder joints, especially at very high weights. Strongman competitors will see the benefit of variety in grip set up to be prepared for unforeseen bench press variations in competition.

Cons of the Multi-grip camber bar

The camber bar is probably not the best idea for beginners as they are confused enough to find the right setup for themselves on a straight barbell. Knuckle down on this one first. The benefits will also be marginal for beginners who are just starting out and can also be achieved with EZ bars and other equipment which is readily available in most commercial gyms. As with the Safety and log bar, the camber bar needs a lot of welds to be finished. Unfortunately, this is an area where TITAN has been reported more than once to be behind the competition when it comes to the finish of their product. Your equipment will still be functional, but more prone to wear and tear and look less aesthetically pleasing.

Alternatives to the Multi-grip camber bar

If you want to mix things up a little for the bench press you can also use a log bar. This will make the weight feel different and also put less strain on the wrists than a straight bar.

The Bison bar has a slight curve but is still very similar to a straight bar. This bar can be used for squats and bench presses to put less stress on the wrists or the back.

The Rogue Multi-grip bar is a higher-priced alternative to the multi-grip camber bar from TITAN. Ordering from Rogue makes it less likely that the welds and finish will be of inferior quality, but you will pay a price for this security. This is based on averages, you can still be lucky or unlucky with your purchase from either vendor.

Summary for the multi-grip camber bar

A nice gift for a special occasion or someone who already has a gym. A great addition for a commercial gym to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack. Not necessarily your first buy.

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

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.