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REP fitness rubber grip dumbbell vs TITAN Circus dumbbells

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Jul 5, 2021 9:00:00 AM

REP fitness rubber grip dumbbell vs TITAN Circus dumbbells

This is a comparison between the Rep fitness rubber grip dumbbell and the TITAN Circus dumbbells including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.

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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.

 

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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 rubber grip dumbbell

This is an overview of the REP fitness rubber grip dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness strength equipment to buy. Follow the links for more details.

 

REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell $699

 
The REP rubber hex dumbbell is a good approach to save some costs on your dumbbell set and make it easier on your hands. The costs are slightly higher than for regular hex dumbbells with a metal handle as worldwide sales volume is not as high for this type of dumbbell. This is a good option if the place you train in is very humid. This is also a good quality dumbbell from a solid supplier in case you are worried about buying something from a random vendor on Amazon or Craigslist. The full specifications of the REP rubber hex dumbbells are:
 
  • 5 to 20lb - 30mm diameter handle.
  • 25lb+ - 34mm diameter handle.
  • Dumbbell heads are securely attached via friction welding, an extremely durable process. 
 
  • 5-50lbs
  • 55-75lb
  • 80-100lbs
  • Increments of 5lbs
 
A Solid set for a home gym on a budget that wants to have a full set of dumbbells or someone who just wants 1 - 3 pairs that are easy on the hands.
 

Pros of the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell

 
The pros of the REP rubber hex grip dumbbells are:
 
  • Rubber grip
  • The relatively low price point
 
This is the easy option for a home gym owner who wants to have a full rack of dumbbells running along with one of their walls. Especially when the significant other and the children who might not be as big into fitness as yourself want to train too. If you are a powerlifter or bodybuilder who loves Iron you might want to opt for the regular hex dumbbells or upgrade to the Urethane version. Especially in a commercial setting.
 

Cons of the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell

 
The cons of the REP rubber hex dumbbell are:
 
  • Rubber
  • Kettlebells vs Dumbbell
  • Hex shape
 
The first con is the rubber design itself. If you like steel and getting your hands a little roughed up you might prefer metal handles. Especially when you use heavy dumbbells on a regular basis the extra grip from the textured metal will come in handy.
 
Personally, I would always recommend buying kettlebells of different sizes over dumbbells for any home gym scenario, unless you are dumpster diving on the internet. A kettlebell can be used for almost all exercises you can do with dumbbells but not the other way around. The only back draw is that kettlebells need more space to be stored if you really get 5 lbs to 100lbs in 5 lbs increments. I also do not think that this is a wise way of investing your money in a home gym. IN a commercial setting you probably want to lean more towards dumbbells than kettlebells, as they are more user-friendly on the wrists for pressing movements.
 
A big con for hex dumbbells is their handling when they are heavy. I much prefer round dumbbells as they are a lot easier to get from any surface or your legs to the shoulders for presses. Heavy hex dumbbells are really annoying to deal with and you might want to upgrade to Urethane for these if you are taking your training already that seriously.
 

Alternatives to the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell

 
Alternatives to the REP rubber grip Hex dumbbells are:
 
 
The REP rubber dumbbells also have the hex design but come with a metal handle which is better if you are intending to get a lot of a heavy dumbbells. If you are getting dumbbells from rep fitness for a yoga studio and very low resistant the rubber gripped versions might be better.
 
The REP Urethane dumbbells are the Cadillac among the REP dumbbells. They last longer as Urethane is more durable than rubber. Their round shape also makes them easier to handle on heavy lifts and transport in your gym. Based on the price tag Urethane dumbbells are usually a good option for commercial gyms but not so much for home gyms. Especially if you are considering an entire rack instead of some carefully selected weights.
 
Rogue Urethane dumbbells are very similar to the REP fitness Urethane dumbbells. Between the two I personally think it is wholly up to your budget and whether you want your gym completely Rogue or REP themed to determine what you choose. As both dumbbells are imported the REP fitness version might be a good option to save some money on a super high-end home gym build.
 
The rogue loadable dumbbell is my personal favorite for a home gym. You can use the same budget for a dumbbell rack and invest it in two rogue loadable dumbbell handles and their bespoke dumbbell weights. Saves money and space while also looking cool. This is only an option in a home gym scenario as for commercial use you want a lot of handles so that multiple people can train at the same time.
 
Titan is the cost leader between Rogue, Rep, and themselves. If you want the most equipment for the least possible amount of money then Titan is the way to go. If you have a lot of space they also have a way bigger selection of plate-loaded machines than the other two. If you are a bodybuilder with a lot of space to fill in a massive basement or barn, then TITAN is your friend. The only downside is that their quality control and return policies are not as up to par as with the other two vendors.
 

Conclusion for the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell

 
I personally think they are a bit gimmicky. However, that comes from a place of bias towards powerlifting on my end. If you want some light weights that are easy on your hands you are probably better off getting the cheap neoprene dumbbells that are usually stocked in TESCO or Walmart. The only real benefit in a commercial setting I can see is that the rubber handles are easier to clean than the metal ones.

Topics: Powerlifting, Dumbbell, Garagegym, Home Gym, Bodybuilding, REP Fitness