Information on how to run faster, lift stronger and think deeper

TITAN adjustable competition kettlebell vs rubber hex dumbbell

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Jan 11, 2021 9:00:00 AM

TITAN adjustable competition kettlebell vs rubber hex dumbbell

This is a comparison of the TITAN adjustable competition kettlebell and TITAN rubber hex dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published under which titan kettlebell to get. Follow the links for more details.

Click for Instagram

Overview and review of the TITAN rubber hex dumbbells

This is an overview of the TITAN rubber hex dumbbells including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.

 
Titan Black Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbells

Related articles

 

Overview of the TITAN Rubber coated Hex dumbbells

Price: $24.99- $2,499.99
 
The rubber coated hex dumbbells from TITAN are their bread and butter model when it comes to dumbbells. Versatile, relatively cheap and available in many different weight combinations this can be the start to a home gym when combined with a bench purchase. the full specifications of the TITAN rubber hex dumbbells are:
 
Features:
 
- Sold in pairs
- No assembly required
- Strong, weather resistant finish
- Easy grip handle
- Material: Cast iron
- Finish: Chrome plated handle, and rubber coated weights
- Weight: 5lb - 100lb
 
You can not do a lot wring with these dumbbells as the hexagonal design combined with rubber is a time tested and often copied design. These dumbbells get the job done for a reasonable price, even though they might not be the prettiest or most innovative. In return you also do not have to feel guilty when you drop them on the floor from any position.
 

Pros of the TITAN Rubber coated hex dumbbells

 
 
  • Price
  • Versatility
  • Quick use
 
The biggest pro of the TITAN rubber hex dumbbells is that they are price optimized regarding shape and material and the brand. TITAN usually offers the same product specifications and design at roughly half the price of something comparable from Rogue Fitness or Eleiko. Combine this with the low cost design of rubber hex dumbbells and you are in for significant savings. IN return, TITAN cuts more corners as a company than their direct competitors. They are generally more reports about issues with delivery, finish of the products or customer service with TITAN than with other brands. This might not apply to your specific purchase but the risk is higher.
 
A rack of rubber hex dumbbells is very versatile. Especially in a professional gym with high foot fall you can make multiple clients happy at the same time. The dumbbells can be transported to different parts of the gym and used by multiple clients at the same time. This makes them more versatile than barbells or machines.
 
Another advantage is that dumbbells are quick to use. Just pick up the weight of your choice and get going. No adjustments, no plates to be racked or unracked, and no calibrations to be made to a machine you want to use.
 

Cons of the TITAN rubber coated hex dumbbells

 
 
  • Space requirements
  • Design
  • Longevity
 
One of the biggest drawbacks on a collection of dumbbells is the space you need to store them. Especially in a home gym you are eating up a lot of space for an additional rack for storage for dumbbells you will only use once per mesocycle. If you do not get the dumbbell rack it is almost certain, that these dumbbells will clutter your training space. In these scenarios an adjustable dumbbell using weights might be a better choice.
 
The hexagonal design makes the rubber dumbbells hard to handle. Especially if you are regularly training heavy with dumbbells you might want to invest the extra dollars to get a round, rather than an hexagonal design. When the dumbbells get huge at about 80lbs upwards it is safer fr your training and spotters to have round dumbbells. Those are easier to spot and do not behave as awkward during the range of movement like the hexagonal design.
 
Another disadvantage of hexagonal dumbbells is that they are made of rubber. Rubber does not last as long as Urethane. Especially in high traffic or moist areas you might want to consider Urethane dumbbells instead of rubber dumbbells that do not respond as well to abuse.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN  Rubber coated hex dumbbells

 
Alternatives to the TITAN rubber coated dumbbells are:
 
 
Urethane dumbbells are the Ferrari of dumbbells. These dumbbells have a round design and are made of Urethane which lasts longer.This makes them a perfect choice in high traffic professional gyms, especially for the weight range 20lbs to 40lbs that is used most often. For home gyms these are overkill, unless you have no budget constraints and expenses up to $30.000 for your home gym are just peanuts to you. If you are a professional athlete making millions a year, you might as well get the best of everything to keep fit at home.
 
Neoprene dumbbells are a lighter version of dumbbells that also come in various colors. These are usually better for your wife at home, in the women's section of a professional gym or at a rehab clinic. These dumbbells are either for rehab and mobility for the seasoned athlete or entry dumbbells for anyone who comes in with a low bodyweight. These are also better for body pump or other cardiovascular classes with weights, as the neoprene responds better to weight than the metal of the rubber coated dumbbell handles.
 
The last option from TITAN are Olympic dumbbells that come in 36-inch, 20-inch, and 15-inch lengths. These are great dumbbells for home gyms that alreadyhave a barbell and plates and want an adjustable dumbbell to save space and add variety to their training. The only downside is that cast iron plates might be a bit big in diameter and the time you need to switch between weights as opposed to just grabbing the next bigger or smaller dumbbell of the rack.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN rubber coated hex dumbbells

 
The TITAN rubber coated hex dumbbells are a solid option for home gyms with space. The bigger versions can also be a good option to expand the weight range at a professional gym beyond 60lbs without having to pay too much. in the 20lbs to 40lbs range professional gyms might want to consider a rack of Urethane dumbbells as they last longer and they are easier to handle. If you want to plaster your gym with reasonably priced dumbbells of reasonable quality, these are the ones to go for.

Overview and review of the TITAN adjustable competition kettlebell

This is an overview of the TITAN adjustable competition kettlebell including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published under which titan kettlebell to get. Follow the links for more details.

 

TITAN Adjustable competition Kettlebell $199

 
The TITAN Adjustable competition kettlebell is an opportunity for you to get 19 kettlebells in one go for your personal use. This kettlebell has the size of a regular competition kettlebell with a straight handle. Painted red and embossed with the TITAN logo this is a good option for a single individual that wants to progress their maxes and not stack up multiple kettlebells in a limited space. Paying for the adjustable competition kettlebell also saves money, if a lot of weight variation is your main goal. The specifications of this kettlebell are:
 
- Adjustable weight from 12 KG - 32 KG with 6 cast iron plates
- Easy adjustment with included Allen wrench
- Cast steel with non-welded handles for maximum durability
- Smooth finish for a great hand feel and grip while performing various exercises
- Using different combinations of plates you can set the weight of this kettlebell to the following: 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 32 kg
 
A good purchase for someone who mainly works with one kettlebell in many variations.
 

Pros of the Titan adjustable competition Kettlebell

 
 
  • Price
  • Space-saving
  • Easier progression
  • Competition standard
 
If you really need the weight increments you get 19 kettlebells for the price of one. You can not beat that in any scenario as long as that is really what you want and need. Two 32kg  / 70lb Cast Iron kettlebells from TITAN will put you back $200 for comparison. So if you were to get 19 kettlebells of different denominations we are talking $1000 to $2000 depending on which weight combinations you get.
 
Compared to a set of 19 kettlebells you will save a lot of space. This is the difference between having a rack of kettlebells and just one piece of equipment in the corner. Especially in a home gym scenario with limited space, you do not want to have 19 kettlebells flying around of which you are actively using three different weights.
 
Depending on how big and strong you are this can also be a good tool for slowly increasing your maximum. The original weight increments of kettlebells are measured in pood which equals 8kg. Going from an 8kg to a 16kg kettlebell for beginners is the biggest relative jump you can make. It gets smaller in relation to the total the more poods you add (80kg to 88kg is an increase of 10% in weight while 8kg to 16kg is 100%). So if you are a beginner this can help with your progression. If you are a professional kettlebell athlete who likes to juggle kettlebells, 1kg increments can also be beneficial in your progression.
 
Apart from the adjustable setup, this kettlebell is also built to competition specifications. Competition kettlebells stay the same size and shape while they increase in weight. Compared to cast iron kettlebells the handle is straight. Competition kettlebells for juggling have to have the same dimensions so that the movement pattern stays the same. Cast iron kettlebells increase in the size of their handle and diameter the heavier they get.
 

Cons of the Titan adjustable competition Kettlebell

 
 
  • Single user-focused
  • Small parts
  • TITAN finish
  • $400 for two
 
The first thing is that a $200 kettlebell with a wrench and many little parts can only be considered for home gym use. If more than one person use the gym at the same time you actually want to provide for multiple users and multiple kettlebells with a bias towards the lighter ones. If you are buying for a gym it is a good way to think pyramid in terms of what you buy. An example would be 2x32kg, 4x16kg, 8x12kg, 16x8kg. You can adjust the total, but definitely by a lot more light than heavy kettlebells to cater to the masses.
 
Even if you are a single user I am not a huge fan of any adjustable weights for two facts. The first is that they are way more likely to break, as they have more moving parts. The second is that it is very likely that you will lose some of the parts. If you lode the wrench, the main advantage of this product turns into a pain in the backside. While adjustable always looks very good on paper, in practice most people do not get the maximum out of what they paid for and a $200 kettlebell is a lot of money. I would rather get a 100lb cast iron kettlebell for that money, but I already own  2x8kg, 2x14kg, and 2x32kg kettlebells.
 
Another challenge is what I call the TITAN finish. TITAN undercuts the most prices of competitor products by half in the market. With that strategy, the company has to make some compromises on the quality of its staff, products, stock policies and so further. This means that the risk of getting a faulty product, bad service, or long waiting times is a lot higher with TITAN than with Rogue Fitness or Eleiko. In return, you save a lot of money. An adjustable kettlebell needs to be precise and therefore falls into the category of products where you want high attention to detail. So if you buy the adjustable competition kettlebell you get a complex lifting product from a vendor that is more known than others to possibly underperform on the finish. Not the best combo to pick as an informed buyer. I personally would feel way more comfortable with buying cast iron kettlebells from TITAN as the maximum that can happen is access metal which can cut your hand. This can be filed down if it's needed.
 
While $400 for 38 kettlebells (2x adjustable competition Kettlebells) seems rather sweet it is still $200 per kettlebell and a maximum of two kettlebells you can use at a given time. I do not believe that you need 38 different kettlebells to get stron. I think the maximum is six and Pavel Tsatsouline, one of the most respected resources on kettlebell training in the market, would likely agree or even say you only need three. Personally, for $400, I would try to get 2x8kg, 2x 16kg, 1x24kg or 2x16kg, 2x24kg and 1x32kg. The first set would cost roughly $250 in cast iron from TITAN while the 2nd would cost roughly $350. This gives plenty of training options and progression with a way lower risk of having a piece of equipment that won't work. The only downside is that it will require way more space to store the kettlebells.
 

Alternatives to the Titan adjustable competition Kettlebell

 
 
 
The Rogue competition kettlebells also have the competition measurements. While they are not adjustable, they have an extra indentation to make them easier on the arms while tricking. Rogue is known is one of the top producers in the market with unmatched quality and service, even though this suffered a little during Corona where the entire industry was challenged and Rogue went on a massive growth spurt hiring new staff and adding new production lines. That usually comes with a dip in quality due to growing pains when the new machines and staff are trained and broken in.
 
The Rogue kettlebell 2.0 is a cast iron kettlebell that is exclusively manufactured in the United States. If you want to support the rust belt and ex-military to create jobs in the United States, this is the product for you. Rogue Fitness has a strong association with the US military as the CEO  is ex-military himself. There is nothing fancy about this kettlebell and it is more expensive than cast iron made in china, but you can feel better about your purchase.
 
The 5-20lb adjustable kettlebell from TITAN is the cheap version of the adjustable competition kettlebell. This is an option that sacrifices the integrity of an original kettlebell to make it adjustable. I am not a huge fan as I think that the finish is poor and you might as well get 2 -3 small kettlebells instead for the $80 price tag. If you want to bump the weight up there is also a 10 lb to 40lb version for $120.
 
The plate loadable kettlebell swing is a cheap alternative to build heavy kettlebells with the plates you already have. The handling for swings will be abysmal, but you can go very heavy and change things around without having a lot of little nuts and bolts that will potentially get lost. For $45 there is also not a lot to complain about in the price department. This is a dark horse for saving money and still being happy with your purchase for adjustable kettlebell swings.
 
I personally think that a set of 3 to 6 cast iron kettlebells will do the same job better, faster, cheaper for you as long as you have space for them.
 

Conclusion for the Titan adjustable competition Kettlebell 

 
While the idea looks good on paper I have always regretted it when I got adjustable weights. They tend to break or you lose some of the components. The $200 price tag is only justified if you adjust the kettlebell regularly and really need the 1kg increments to progress in your training. I highly doubt that this is the case for you. You either will use the kettlebell mainly for swings where you seldomly will make adjustments or for full-body workouts where it will be a pain to change the setup in the middle or end. Get a set of multiple cast iron plates that are easy to swap and hard to break instead.

Topics: TITAN