Rogue cyclone sandbag vs strongman sandbag

This is a comparison between the Rogue cyclone sandbag and the strongman sandbag including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which rogue sandbag to get. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Rogue Strongman sandbag

This is an overview of the Rogue Strongman sandbag including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which rogue sandbag to get. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the strongman sandbag

Price: $85-$155

The strongman sandbag from Rogue is at the core of their portfolio of bags. They are available from 100lb to 400lb sizes when filled with play sand. The filling mechanics covered up by a Velcro flap and closed by a zipper work. It is a thorough sandbag than simulates an atlas stone in the best possible way without being a stone. You can also get these bags in different colors. The full specifications are:

Made in the USA
1000D MIL Spec US Cordura construction
Filler Capacity (6 Sizes): 100LB, 150LB, 200LB, 250LB, 300LB, 400LB
Built-In Filler Bag
Zipper and Hook-and-Loop Closure
(Filler Material Not Included)
Color: Black with White Rogue logo on flap
Recommended use on rubber or nonabrasive surface

This is a great addition to any home or professional gym for conditioning and strength training.

Pros of the strongman sandbag

The pros of the strongman sandbag are:

Easy to fill and empty
Sturdy built
Heavy load

The mechanics of this bag are well thought through. It is easy to fill and empty them as long as you have the material to fill them with. They are also built from military-grade fabric which makes them last. With the strongman sandbag from Rogue, you can also go up to very heavy loads to simulate strongman training.

Cons of the strongman sandbag

The cons of the strongman sandbag are:

Cumbersome to change weight
Price
Not great for slams

If you want to change the load intra-workout quick, then the rogue strongman sandbag is not for you. Adding or removing material can not be done fast. It is great for transporting and storage, but not for changing weight in a workout. If you are after smaller weights to slam then some slam balls might be better and cheaper to get.

Alternatives to the strongman sandbag

Alternatives to the strongman sandbag are:

The MK d balls are heavy slam balls that go up to 150lb. The trick with these is that they stay the same size even though they get heavier. They can also be used as slam balls. While the heavier ones are expensive, two of the smaller ones might be a better option for variety and slams than one strongman sandbag.

The rubber atlas stones are Rogue’s adaptation of the classic to commercial and home gym scenarios. They are made of an iron core surrounded by rubber. They come in 50lb to 200lb. With the rubber design, the injury risk and damage to the floor when using them is a lot lower.

The cyclone sandbags are a great alternative for beginners. They are easier to move because if their shape and range from 100lb to 250lb when filled with sand. The only downside is that they are not great for ground to shoulder lifts because of their shape.

Conclusion for the strongman sandbag

The rogue strongman sandbag is probably the most versatile in the Rogue line up. It is also the only one you can get in different colors. Good buy when you are starting with strongman training.

Overview and review of the Rogue cyclone sandbag

This is an overview of the Rogue cyclone sandbag including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which rogue sandbag to get. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the cyclone bag

Price: $95 - $145

The rogue cyclone sandbag is an adaption of the strongman sandbag. Rather than having the same diameter on both ends, Rogue decided to make one end bigger than the other. This makes the cyclone sandbag easier to handle and especially interesting for long, heavy front carries. The cyclone reaches from 100lb to 250lb. The full specifications are:

Made in the USA
Patent Pending Design
Cyclone / Tapered style bags, larger at the top and smaller at the bottom
1000D MIL Spec US Cordura construction
Filler Capacity (4 Sizes): 100LB, 150LB, 200LB, 250LB
Built-In Filler Bag
Zipper and Hook-and-Loop Closure
(Filler Material Not Included)
Color: Black with White Rogue logo

This is a great sandbag for beginners without being cheap.

Pros of the cyclone bag

Pros of the cyclone bag are:

Portable
Cone shape
Robust design

Compared to slam balls and kettlebells these sandbags can be emptied after use and stored easier. Especially if you want to have group workouts at the beach this comes in handy. You can fill the bags with sand, get it done, empty them and leave. The cone shape also allows easier handling of this bag than of the original rogue strongman sandbags.

Cons of the cyclone bag

The cons of the cyclone sandbag are:

Shape for certain exercises
Limited weight range
Price

The cone shape is great for carries. Not so much for putting the sandbag to your shoulder. If your main intention is to do ground to shoulder movements than get one of the smaller strongman sandbags instead. Compared to the strongman sandbags the cyclone has a limited size. While the strongman sandbags fill up to 400lbs with sand, you can get only to 250lb with the cyclone bags. Last but not least some might be put off by the price. You could make an argument that a cement bag reinforced with Duct or gorilla tape will do the same trick for a fraction of the cost. I won’t argue with you if you only use them yourself and do not intend to empty/refill regularly.

Alternatives to the cyclone bag

Alternatives to the cyclone bags are:

The original strongman sandbag will give you a true cylinder shape and range from 100lb to 400lb when filmed with sand. The smaller options are very close to round-shaped and therefore a good alternative to atlas stones.

The rubber atlas stones from Rogue are an adaptation of the classic cement mold stones. These stones have an iron core surrounded by rubber and cone in 50lb to 200lb weight denominations. This is a great tool for home gyms or commercial gyms that want to train with a perfect heavy sphere. The only downsides are that they are harder to store and adjust than sandbags and that the black rubber can get very hot in the sun.

The MK d balls are heavy slam ball variations from Rogue. These balls are available up to 150 lb. while the bigger ones can get quite pricey, they will have a good grip and can be slammed better than the Rogue sandbags. I would only consider the mid-range of the MK d balls for heavy slams. If maximum weight is what you are after, the sandbags are cheaper.

Conclusion for the cyclone bag

The cyclone sandbags are great for beginners in heavy sandbag training as they are generally lighter than the regular Rogue sandbags and easier to handle. If you want to save yourself the hassle of bags and dirt the Rubber atlas stones or MK d balls can be an alternative based on your training preferences.