TITAN EZ Load hex bar vs Rogue Squat bar [Article, Video]

This a comparison between the EZ load hex bar and the Rogue Squat bar. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the squat bar

The Rogue squat bar is a 32mm long sleeved version of Rogue bars to maximize what you can squat. Here are the pros and cons.

The Rogue squat bar is a special design that focuses on squatting at $445. The main differences to regular bars are

Bigger circumference 32mm
Longer shaft
Fully knurled
Longer sleeves

This makes it a bar that is aimed at big, heavy squatters. It could also be interesting for some deadlift experiments as the elephant bar from the Arnold has not gone into mass production yet. The specifications of the bar are:

Made in the USA
Weight: 25 KG
Diameter: 32mm
Stainless Steel Shaft - 200,000 PSI
Aggressive Knurl Pattern along full length of shaft + powerlifting and center knurl marks
Bar Length: 94.488
Distance Between Sleeves: 56"
Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.795"
Chrome Sleeves
Bronze Bushings

Pros of the squat bar

The pros of the squat bar compared to other bars are in the name. The design features are inbuilt to maximize big squats.

Longer sleeves
Longer shaft
Full knurling
32mm

Longer sleeves will enable you to put more weight on the bar with rubber or steel plates. If you see Ray Williams squatting you can get an idea of why he might run out of space on the sleeves.

32mm stainless steel will keep the whip at bay. While you want whip in an Olympic barbell to make use of momentum to get the bar overhead, it is not a desirable feature in a squat bar. You want to minimize 1000 pounds taking a life on their own on your back.

The full knurling will provide more grip to your back. There are other bars out there with center knurls which does almost the same thing for you.

The longer shaft will make it less like for you to bump into the rack when oh are walking out very heavy weights. Depending on your setup this can be annoying. I injured myself twice because of twisting my upper body when walking out of a setup and touching off the j cups.

Cons of the squat bar

The cons of the squat bar are

No IPF / IWF approval
Space requirements
Limited use
Price

If you are considering the squat bar because you want to break records, keep in mind that it is not approved for the IPF or IWF. You will still earn respect for posting the first 500kg raw squat, which this bar is basically built for, but it won’t count in these federations.

If you are setting up your home gym in a very crammed place, keep in mind that this bar will protrude even further to the sides. If you have already cut it very thing with the distance of your bar to the wall or another rack, the squat bar might just push it over the edge.

The squat bar is mainly limited to squats. As it has bushing and knurling all across the bar it might not be the best option for Olympic lifts, the bench press, and deadlifts.

For the price you are looking at you can get more versatile barbells for your home gym with a cooler design. If you are setting up your home gym the squat bar might not be the go-to option.

Alternatives to the squat bar

Alternatives to the squat bar are

The Rogue Chan bar is a good alternative for mere mortals who don’t squat 400kg. It is cheaper than the squat bar, has a poppier design and can also be used for Oly lifts. If I was to spend $400 on a starter barbell for my home gym it would be this one.

The duffalo bar is an interesting bar for people who squat 800 pounds plus on a regular basis. This bar has been invented at Kabuki strength which is headed by Chris Duffin. The design is aimed at relieving stress on the shoulder while bench pressing and squatting. This is a very interesting second bar to buy instead of the squat bar, even though it costs $200 more.

Summary for the squat bar

The squat bar is a great bar for someone who actually needs it. This would be people who squat more than 300kg on a regular basis. There are not that many of them around. I personally think for a second barbell in your home gym you are better off going with safety or duffalo bar.

Overview and review of the TITAN EZ Load Hex bar

The Titan EZ load hex 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 EZ load hex bar

The EZ load hex bar is a great tool for experienced athletes who want to train their grip or rehab patients who want to get into the deadlift to reap its benefits. The EZ bar is raised from the floor which makes it easier to load plates. You stand inside the frame to lift the weight which makes it less taxing on your back. The features and specifics are:

EZ hex bar details:

raised plate holders for easy loading
2" Tubing for EZ Load Hex Bar Frame
3 different grip diameters, 1", 1.5", and 2" Just rotate to change grips!
Knurled Handles.
10" of loadable sleeve length
Fits 2" Olympic Plates.
Weight plates holders at 10" off the ground.
Weight: 54 LB
Length: 66.33"
Width: 30.9"
Height: 10"
Sleeve length: 10"

A great bar to experiment and develop different types of strength.

Pros of the EZ hex bar

The EZ hex bar is an innovative concept you do not find in every gym. Different options to train your grip can be especially interesting for Strongman athletes. Additionally, also the easy load option, as they usually have to get a lot of plates on their bar. Beginners will struggle less and still get the benefits of a hex bar.

Cons of the EZ hex bar

There are moving parts which means that it is more prone to break after heavy use. This means gym environments with 100s of reps a day by inexperienced lifters or very, very big guys and ladies. As TITAN is known for shortcuts on their welding and finish this is something to be mindful about with this item.

Alternatives to the TITAN EZ hex bar

The Titan hex bar would be an option with fewer moving parts which makes it more robust and less prone to quality issues.

The Rogue trap bar would be an alternative which costs more and has no options for different grips. In return, the finish of Rogue is usually more consistent in quality.

If you want an easy to load trap bar with an inbuilt jacking system and different grips go for the Trap bar from Kabuki strength. This will be top-notch engineering which comes with a price tag to reflect the craftsmanship going into this bar.

Summary for the EZ hex bar

A great addition for your arsenal, but probably get a normal hex bar first.