REP fitness Urethane dumbbells vs TITAN Circus dumbbells

This is a comparison between the Rep fitness Urethane dumbbell and 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.

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 Urethane dumbbells

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

REP Urethane Dumbbell $1355

This is a full set of Urethane dumbbells from REP Fitness. The two main advantages are that they are round and made of Urethane. Urethane is deemed to be one of the most durable materials to make bumper plates and dumbbells from. Therefore it is also the most expensive. The full specifications for these Urethane dumbbells are:

Round dumbbell design with solid steel handle
Fully knurled handles for maximum grip
Friction welded for extreme durability
Tolerance: +/- 3% accuracy on all dumbbells
CPU urethane coating is the most durable urethane available
Custom logos and color combinations available (12-16 week lead time, ordered as part of full gym outfitting)
Size ranges available in 5 lb increments to match your training needs

5-50 lb
5-100 lb
55-75 lb
80-100 lb
105-125 lb
130-150 lb

Handle diameter sizes

5-50 lb - 32mm diameter handle
55+ lb - 34mm diameter handle
6-inch handle length

REP urethane dumbbell pairs are available for purchase too
5-50 lb set fits on (1) REP Dumbbell Rack.

Rack measures at 84" long x 34" tall (37" with dumbbells loaded) x 24" deep

5-year structural warranty

These are great dumbbells when you expect heavy abuse in a commercial setting. For a home gym, they might be too pricey and you want to opt for hex rubber dumbbells instead.

Pros of the REP Urethane Dumbbell

The pros of the REP Urethane dumbbells are:

Cheaper than the ones from Rogue Fitness
Round
Durability

Many people who look into REP Fitness want a cheaper good quality option compared to the equivalent product from Rogue Fitness. The good news is that the REP Urethane dumbbells are exactly that as long as you are ok with products that are produced in and imported from China.

What I personally like best about Urethane dumbbells is that they are round. The hex dumbbells are in my opinion awkward to handle, especially the heavy ones. If you want to get a full stack of dumbbells for your home gym because you are a beast, I would definitely keep in mind that these are round.

Urethane is a more durable material compared to rubber. If you use these dumbbells in a commercial setting or in a home gym where you can expect erosion from the weather then these are a good option to last you longer.

Cons of the REP Urethane Dumbbell

Cons of the Urethane dumbbell are:

Limited use cases
Price
Space requirements

I am personally a believer in getting any weight as a kettlebell instead of a dumbbell. Kettlebells are more versatile than dumbbells and also harder to break based on their design. With a few exceptions, you can almost do any dumbbell exercise with a kettlebell but not vice Versa. So if you are already investing in a lot of dumbbell weights, then you might want to consider getting a big pack of kettlebells instead.

Urethane dumbbells are quite high priced for something that you will use little if you are building a full home gym. For many modern routines, dumbbells are accessory work and the heavy lifting is done with a barbell while conditioning is done with a kettlebell. If you want to equip your gym with a full set of dumbbells and you are not a monster lifter I would go with a full set of hex dumbbells instead and half the cost.

A full set of dumbbells needs quite a bit of space. Other options like a loadable dumbbell might be more cost and space-efficient depending on what you want to do.

Alternatives to the REP Urethane Dumbbell

Alternatives to the REP Urethane dumbbell are:

The REP rubber grip dumbbells are optimized for price. The rubber handle makes them cheaper to produce, deviating from the traditional steel handle design. If you want to get a full set of dumbbells at a cheap price, this is the option for you. It just hits differently than a metal handle.

The Rogue Urethane dumbbells come in at a higher price due to the branding of Rogue. This is one of the exceptions where Rogue and REP Fitness both import the product from overseas. So technically I see no difference between the two except that you are supporting a company that is actively creating jobs in the Columbus Ohio area with their money that is also in manufacturing while REP fitness will probably lean more towards keeping staff at a minimum in the US for now.

The Rogue loadable dumbbell is a great option to save space and money for a home gym for dumbbells. It is not really an option in a commercial setting as you might want multiple handles so that many clients can train in parallel. The Rogue loadable is produced in the US as it is basically a shortened version of the Rogue Ohio bar. If you want some cool bumpers with them, then Rogue sells these too. This might be a good alternative for the patriotic home gym owner who wants a dumbbell set.

The TITAN Urethane dumbbells are also imported from China and more or less the same as the REP fitness dumbbells. TITAN is known in the industry to be more likely than other vendors to cut corners to achieve a low price. So chances are higher that you might have some minor quality issues with your delivery. Nothing that makes them not fulfill their purpose, just annoying for something you just bought new.

Conclusion for the REP Urethane Dumbbell

Urethane dumbbells are a good addition to a commercial gym, especially if you are buying a full rack of them. In a home gym, you have to ask yourself whether you really need a full dumbbell rack or not. If you just get a couple of different weights Urethane is an option. For a whole rack, I would go with hex dumbbells instead.