Rogue branch and beam vs Power pin
This is a comparison between the Rogue branch and beam and the Power pin including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Rogue power pin
This is an overview of the Rogue power pin including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview of the Rogue power pin
Price: $136.50
The
Rogue Power pin is a simple tool for narrow grip deadlifts like the power stairs or duck walks. It is mainly a tool for strongmen training and can also be used to improve your grip in general. It can be loaded up to 500lbs and there is also a ring attachment for it for $50. This is a practical, small tool to especially train weight holds in your home gym or simulate some strongman events. The full specifications are:
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Made in America
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Diameter: 1.96" loading pin, 4.5" ring
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Length: 12" loadable length
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Weight:12.5LB, 500+LB weight capacity
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10 holes spaced 1” on center for an adjustable height range of 19.75” to 28.75”
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Black Powder Coat Finish
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Available as Fully Assembled Unit or Just Handle (for use with original Rogue Power Pin)
A small amount of money well spent to put some variety into your deadlift training.
Pros of the Rogue power pin
Good price
Simple effective tool
Good finish
With these kinds of tools, it is all about making them easy to use and fit well with the plates. Rogue did a good job on the detail which otherwise can turn something simple into something useless. If you are considering a
trap bar a
power pin is cheaper and more fun to use.
Cons of the rogue power pin
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Only loadable to 500lbs
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Not versatile
The
power pin can only be loaded to 500lb. While this is more than enough for most humans, this is a tool that will also raise interest for the strongest among us. They may want something that can take even more weight. In addition, the only thing you will do with the
power pin is to pull something off the floor. For $140 you have other options like jumping ropes or slam balls that can be used in more ways.
Alternatives to the Rogue power pin
The
rogue trap bar would be another way to vary your deadlift and grip training. A
trap bar would still enable you to lift the weight with your arms outside the legs. This is usually a better variation for beginners. A
trap bar can also be loaded with more weight. Downsides to a
trap bar are the bigger price tag and space requirements.
The
anvil grip attachment is an interesting twist on deadlifts and holds. You will need a
power pin to make it work but it will be worth it. It is shaped like a cone and comes in two different colors, black, and chrome. This is a great tool to collect with other grip strength utensils to let nothing escape your hands.
If you want to get your core more rigid to be able to pick up things from the ground faster and stronger you can also get a decently sized
MK D-ball. For the budget of the
power pin, you can get a 40lb to
50lb ball. This leaves with more options for carries, slams, ball to shoulders, and similar exercises. The downside is that the ball can not be adjusted for weight and trains your grip less.
The
dinnie rings are more an accessory to the
power pin rather than an alternative. The
dinnie rings in combination with two pins are probably the best way to simulate the famous Scottish stone lift at home and prepare for it.
Conclusion for the Rogue power pin
The
rogue power pin is a cost and space-efficient way to mix up your deadlift and grip training if you already have the necessary plates. If you are only starting your grip strength journey you might be better off buying
pinch blocks and
cannonballs to start as you will not need Kanye’s to make them work.
The
branch and beam are bars from rogue which have been made extra fat. The
branch has a round grip, while the beam has a square grip. These two bars are a great alternative to the traditional 28-29mm bars and a bit closer to the unconventional lifts you can find in strongman competitions. This will also help with your grip strength in general. The specifications of the two bars are:
The
branch and beam are two options to challenge your grip for heavy lifts with unconventional setups. They can be stored on a regular
barbell gun rack, are easy to load, and are safer to use than an actual tree trunk or wooden beam. Compared to other more cumbersome solutions to the problems they solve they are a preferable option.
For bars with very limited use cases, unless you really make a point about using them, they are eating up quite a bit of space to become a gimmick. As these bars also not go through the standard quality tests for all
barbells from rogue, some of them lack in quality. Especially during COVID where some extra people were hired.
The
branch and beam are great tools for serious strongman athletes or gyms who like to mix things up regularly. With
pinch blocks and
fat gripz you can simulate similar stress to the body, without eating up as much space in your home gym.