REP fitness adjustable dumbbell vs TITAN Circus dumbbells
This is a comparison between the REP fitness adjustable dumbbell and the TITAN Circus dumbbells including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.
Overview and review of the TITAN Circus dumbbells
This is an overview of the TITAN Circus dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details.
Related articles
- Where is TITAN Fitness equipment made
- Is Titan fitness a good brand
- Which TITAN rack to get for under $500
- Which TITAN rack to get for over $500
- Which Bench to get from TITAN
- Which TITAN plates to get
- Which barbell to get from TITAN fitness
- Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN
- Which gym machine to get from TITAN
Circus dumbbell $150-$180
Overview of the TITAN Circus dumbbell
The circus dumbbell is a classic strongman event where you lift a cumbersome dumbbell from the floor to your shoulder. For this purpose TITAN offers four different Circus dumbbells in diameters of 10"-12" and empty weights ranging from 67 Lbs. to 94lbs. TITAN does not recommend dropping these from overhead on the floor, so you might also want to invest in some crash mats for a full setup. These dumbbells are big and cumbersome, as they should be, and provide you with the necessary equipment for this event. The full specifications are:
10" 2" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 10” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 2” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 77 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 10”
- Handle Diameter: 2”
10" 2.5" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 10” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 2.5” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 78 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 10”
- Handle Diameter: 2.5”
12" 3" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 12” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 3” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 94 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 12”
- Handle Diameter: 3”
12" 2.5" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 12” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 2.5” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 67 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 12”
- Handle Diameter: 2.5”
With these bis dumbbells you can train and get better to move cumbersome weights which is one of the main requirements in strongman competitions. It is also a rather cheap option for a loadable dumbbell compared to other models which come in around $300 to $600.
Pros of the TITAN Circus Dumbbell
The pros of the TITAN Circus dumbbell are:
-
Low price
-
Fits the requirement
-
Loadable
This is one of the cheapest possible ways you can get into the strongman sport. Circus dumbbells are in my opinion a bit easier to get overhead than axle barbells and also provide a different experience from anything else you usually move around in the gym. Especially if you have been looking for a loadable dumbbell for a while, this might be a cheaper option compared to a full adjustable dumbbell system and a bit more fun. Compared to Atlas stones they are a lot less hassle to get ready.
Cons of the TITAN Circus dumbbell
Cons of the TITAN Circus dumbbell are:
-
Warp easily
-
Do not fit most Storage units
-
Con only be loaded with smaller plates
The main point against these dumbbells is that they warp quite easily when dropped from overhead. Original circus dumbbells are usually solid an round at the end. Therefore they are not adjustable, but virtually indestructible. That you have to take a little more care with these circus dumbbells is a bit counter intuitive. All you want to do when this beast is overhead is to drop it, not gently put it back down to avoid damage. Be prepared to get a thick gym mat together with your purchase for lasting fun.
Another disadvantage is that you will most likely not be able to fit these dumbbells on any rack you already have. If your gym is very spacious that is not a huge problem. If you crammed your gym into your home, every inch counts and these dumbbells do not help your space management if you already have plates, kettlebells and some bands lying on the floor.
The last thing is that if you want to go heavy, you might need some specialist plates. With heavy I mean strongman heavy around 100kg and more. For mere mortals the weight of the Circus dumbbell itself might already be enough to work with.
Alternatives to the TITAN Circus dumbbell
Alternatives to the TITAN Circus dumbbells are:
-
TITAN Loadable dumbbell
-
Rogue Loadable dumbbell
TITAN Provides loadable dumbbells which range from 15" to 36" in length and $45 to $75 in price per piece. As they do not have an outer rim like the circus dumbbells you can use most of your plates with these. The lifting experience is more convenient and close to what you are used to with normal dumbbells. If you put big plates on them they feel a little more like circus dumbbells depending on your preference. They are also easier to store.
Rogue also provides loadable dumbbells on 10" and 15" length which cost around $135 a piece. These loadable dumbbells are shortened versions of the classic Rogue Ohio barbell and feel more than a shortened barbell rather than just a loadable dumbbell. Rogue also provides special bumpers that have been made for the loadable dumbbells. If you want to save space in your gym while still having a full dumbbell rack, this is a very space efficient, yet pricey way of getting there. They also look really stylish.
Conclusion for the TITAN Circus Dumbbell
The TITAN Circus dumbbell are a cheap entry point to strongman overhead lifts. Especially if you already have the space and mats available they can be a fun addition to your regimen. If you are a serious contender for strongman competitions who weighs more than 100kg or even 140kg than you might go for the solid core circus dumbbells instead. These are more expensive and less suited for the mass market, but simulate the real life event closer. For smaller athletes or every day training to spice things up they are still a good alternative to most loadable dumbbells you can get, if you have the space and some protection for the floor.
Overview and review of the REP fitness adjustable dumbbell
This is an overview of the REP fitness adjustable dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness strength equipment to buy. Follow the links for more details.
Related articles
- Which rack to buy from REP fitness
- Which bench to buy from REP fitness
- Which plates to buy from REP fitness
- Which barbell to buy from REP fitness
- Which strength equipment to buy from REP fitness
REP Adjustable Dumbbell $54.99
The REP adjustable dumbbell is a good option for home gyms in a confined space. Especially when you combine it with a set of change and fractional plates that you already own for your barbell. If you want to save money and space and still have a decent set of dumbbell options at your disposal then the rep fitness loadable dumbbells are a good choice. The full specifications are:
-
40 lb Set - TWO handles, FOUR collars, FOUR 5 lb plates, FOUR 2.5 lb plates
-
52.5 lb Set - ONE handle, TWO collars, EIGHT 5 lb plates, TWO 2.5 lb plates, TWO 1.25 lb plates
-
40lb Add-on Set - FOUR 10lb plates
-
Features solid cast iron plates, fully knurled straight handle, spin-lock star collars.
-
Handle - 4 lbs
-
Collars - 0.5 lbs (each)
-
Handle Lengths - 17.5" total / 6.5" loadable sleeve / 5" usable handle
-
Max load is (12) 10 lb plates (6 per side), for a total of weight of 125 lbs
-
Diameter of handle is 1"
Be careful when ordering as these are not sold in pairs. Make sure you get a pair as that is better for home training and getting stuff done quickly and effectively.
Pros of the REP Adjustable Dumbbell
The pros of the REP adjustable dumbbell are:
-
Price
-
Space savings
-
Money savings
An adjustable dumbbell is a great money and space saver for your home gym. It is not really a great option in a commercial setting as you want to provide a dumbbell rack so that many people can train in parallel, but for home use they are great. Especially if you already have a rack with plates at home.
Cons of the REP Adjustable Dumbbell
Cons of the REP adjustable dumbbell:
-
Handling
-
Need for plates
Adjustable dumbbells are not great if you are very strong and need to put 100lbs on them. The handling if getting them to your shoulder for a bench or incline press will be unbearable. There are some workarounds, but usually, it is better to get a urethane or hex dumbbell for this purpose.
The price of the loadable dumbbell setup con also skyrockets if you do not own the necessary plates yet. This makes it a good option for a gym that already has plates to get the maximum out of the investment. If you are someone who wants to start a gym from scratch with a pair of dumbbells you are better off getting two hex dumbbells instead, even though they are not adjustable.
Alternatives to the REP Adjustable Dumbbell
Alternatives to the REP fitness Adjustable dumbbell are:
-
Rogue adjustable dumbbell
The Rogue adjustable dumbbell is a shortened version of the Rogue Ohio bar which is American-made. If this is important to you then the Rogue adjustable dumbbell is probably one of the few, if not the only option for you that is being produced by a well-known manufacturer. You can also get special dumbbell bumpers for these adjustable dumbbells which make them better to handle heavy lifts than average adjustable dumbbells that work with combinations of change and fractional plates.
If you want to go cheap and imported, TITAN Fitness is your friend. They also have several different options of lengths and thickness for adjustable dumbbells. So if you already have a craigslist assembly of small plates at home, then TITAN fitness is the most likely place to find a fitting adjustable dumbbell out of Rogue fitness, REP fitness, and TITAN fitness.
Conclusion for the REP Adjustable Dumbbell
The REP adjustable dumbbell is a solid option if you already have matching plates at home. Otherwise, you might want to look into rubber hex dumbbells instead.
