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TITAN Safety Squat Bar vs Rogue westside power bar [Article, Video]

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

May 16, 2020 9:00:00 AM

TITAN Safety Squat Bar vs Rogue westside power bar [Article, Video]

This is a comparison of the TITAN Safety squat bar and the Rogue westside power bar. Follow the links for more details.

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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$
 

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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.

 
 

Overview and review of the TITAN Safety Squat bar

The Titan Safety squat 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 Safety squat bar

 
A safety squat bar is a good tool to help with the development of your lower back strength. Strongman like it as a bar to prepare for the squat events in strongman competitions where the weight usually sits a bit lower from the bar based on the contraption they are using. If you want to take your squat to the next öevel and make it easier on your lower back, a safety bar is a good alternative to a straight barbell. Here are the features and specifications for the TITAN safety Squat bar:
 
Safety squat bar details
  • Shoulder and arm pads for a comfortable lift
  • 5" drop keeps the weight plates lower for a stabilized center of gravity and better balance
  • 6" hand grips for control when needed.
  • Extra thick pad comes in one piece to prevent sliding on the bar while squatting.
  • Capacity: 1500 LB
  • Weight: 61 LB
  • Overall length: 90.5”
  • Handle Spacing: 12.75”
  • Shoulder Pad Spacing: 8"
  • Bar Diameter: 1.5”
  • Loadable Sleeve Length: 16”
  • Camber Drop: 5”
  • Handle Angle: 22 Degrees 
 
This is a good edition for dedicated athletes or gyms who want to specialize into tailoring to strongmen.
 

Pros of the Safety squat bar

 
It is an extra tool in your belt to get stronger and bring up your lower back strength. It is easier to hold on to bigger weights and less taxing on the back. Some also like it to do good mornings with. TITAN also has a pretty good deal on this compared to the competition in the market.
 

Cons of the Safety squat bar

 
The cons of the safety squat bar are its single-purpose use, that it is cumbersome and that you buy it from TITAN. You can only use it for squats, not for bench pressing, Olympic lifting or powerlifting. TITAN is also known to cut corners on welding and finish of their products which is important for safety bars, as they are usually assembled by hand. 
 

Alternatives to the Safety Squat bar

 
Alternatives to the safety squat bar are:
 
 
The TITAN Bison bar is curved to ease the strain on your back when you are squatting. This bar can also be used for bench presses as well as squats. The downside is that it does not have as big as a capacity and might be a little tight for very big athletes. 
 
The camber bar works with a very similar concept as the safety bar but without the handles in front. This makes the camber usually a little less expensive and a good choice in combination with handles for very deep squats. 
 
The TITAN log bar is a great addition to your setup if you want to go for strongman competitions. For a proper strongman gym, you will want to have a log bar, safety bar, farmer's walk bars and some tires to flip.
 

Summary for the TITAN Safety bar

 
The TITAN safety bar is a low-cost Safety bar compared to other options in the market. With the savings, you might even be able to pick up another strongman item. The downside is that the finish might be not up to par. 
 

Topics: TITAN