TITAN hex bar vs Rogue Ohio westside bar [Article, Video]

This is a comparison between the TITAN hex trap bar and the Rogue Ohio westside bar. Follow the links for more details.

Rogue fitness vs TITAN fitness

Rogue Fitness is the current market leader when it comes to a functional home gym and commercial gym equipment. They have one of the widest portfolios including racks, barbells, benches, dumbbells, and apparel for the weekend warrior and dedicated athlete. The biggest downside of Rogue Fitness is their comparatively high prices to the competition.

TITAN Fitness is the clear cost leader when you want to build a home gym on a budget that is still similar to what Rogue offers in function, look, and feel. While you will save about half on the sticker price you will run a higher risk of inconsistencies in quality compared to a purchase from Rogue. The equipment will be safe but is more likely to have blemishes, quality issues with welds or that pieces will not easily fit into place. That makes TITAN a good option for a DIY enthusiast who does not mind tinkering with their equipment, but not the first choice to get the best equipment and treat yourself.

Review and Overview of the Rogue Westside Power bar

This overview of the Westside bar was originally published in my comprehensive guide on which Rogue barbell to buy. If you are currently considering to buy a Rogue barbell it is worth a read to get input on the latest models. I update the guide on a yearly basis depending on Rogue's new releases.

Price 345$

Overview of the westside power bar

The Westside bar has been developed together with Louie Simmons which is not too far from his own gym. The Westside barbell training facility is world famous for continuously producing some of the strongest powerlifters in the US and on an international level. The Westside method is a staple for strength coaches. The method is especially well tailored to lifters who compete with bench press shirts and squat and deadlifting suits.

The westside barbell weighs in at 45lb with a diameter of 29mm. It can withstand 205K PSI tensile strength and connects the sleeves to the shaft via bushing. Rogue offers a black zinc finish on shaft and coating. The knurling is powerlifting and the bar has no whip. The loadable sleeve length is 16.25. There is no 20kg version available.

The westside barbell was part of one of the earliest pushes of Rogue to diversify their portfolio away from their Ohio bar and Bella bar. So far, the westside bar has not gotten a Cerakote facelift. This might be planned in the near future. The westside barbell is a good alternative to the Ohio power bar or Thor power bar. Keep in mind that this is a powerlifting speciality bar. If you are mainly focused on weightlifting have a look at the Pyrros bar & training bar. If you own a CrossFit gym stock up on all-purpose barbells like the Ohio and Bella bar first before you branch in special bars like westside bar.

Westside bar pros

When you are looking for a very stiff bar with a less aggressive knurl this is the bar to go for. You get 205K of tensile strength with standard knurling. The fact that Louie Simmons gave it his approval also points in the direction that this is the right bar for powerlifters who vary their grip often. This is a crucial component of the westside method. There are a few reviews out there which prefer the West Side barbell to the Ohio power bar, even though it comes in at a higher price.

Westside bar cons

The black zinc finish is more open to corrosion than other finishes from Rogue. It is also a powerlifting specific bar and you might also have to buy an Ohio deadlift bar to complete the set. Depending on your need the Matt Chan bar retails at just a slightly higher price, has the same tensile strength and has a better whip. It all depends on your goals. If you want to do more than powerlifting this bar is not ideal. If your main focus is the big three go for this one.

Conclusion

The westside bar is a great option when you are mainly focused on powerlifting and want to do the three big lifts. It is a bit more upmarket than the Ohio power bar and less expensive than the Rogue Ohio deadlift bar.

Learn more about the specs of the Rogue Westside power barbell and purchase on the Rogue website

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.