Rogue LB-1 Log bar vs Bella bar toomey edition

This is a comparison of the Rogue LB-1 Log bar and the bella bar toomey edition including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which rogue specialty bar to get. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Rogue Bella bar Toomey Edition

This overview of the Toomey bar was originally published in my comprehensive guide on which Rogue barbell to buy. If you are currently considering to buy a Rogue barbell it is worth a read to get input on the latest models. I update the guide on a yearly basis depending on Rogue's new releases.

Price 375$

Overview of the Rogue Bella bar Toomey edition

The Toomey Edition pays its respect to the 2017 Crossfit champion Tia Clair Toomey. Its basis also comes from the Bella bar and the Cerakote finish is applied to get an arrow design on the shaft. The blue used for this bar is slightly darker than the one for the Davidsdottir bar.

This bar weighs 15kg and has a diameter of 25mm. The sleeves have bushing to make them spin. It has a good whip and is built to IWF specifications for women. It withstands 190K PSI tensile strength and has a loadable sleeve length of 13.00. The knurling is standard. All of these specs make this bar an all-around bar with a nice design,

This bar is good for anyone who wants to add a special bar to their commercial line up or weekend warriors who want to have something special in their home gym. Tia Clair Toomey is from Australia, so if you want to show some flag, this is the bar to get.

Pros of the Toomey Bar

With the darker blue, the Toomey bar might be a better fit for certain colored power racks of Rogue than the Davidsdottir bar. Some also might prefer an arrow on their bar compared to a dog. The design is pretty and well executed. As with all of the branded bars Rogue makes good use of the Cerakote finish and is willing to experiment for best results.

Cons of the Toomey Bar

If you do not like the design this bar is not for you. As with other high gloss bars, it might not be the right choice when you want to buy in bulk for commercial or educational purposes. For this use case the Bella bar, Ohio bar or training bar might be better suited. If you are really hard pressed for the budget when buying in bulk have a look at the Castro and C-70 bar.

Conclusion

The Toomey bar is a great addition to your barbells to make the ladies in your gym feel more welcome. If you are planning a home gym this is a good choice of a barbell either for yourself or for your wife depending on who is buying.

Learn more about the specs of the Rogue Toomey barbell and purchase on the Rogue website

Overview and review of the LB-1 Log bar

This is an overview of Rogue LB-1 log bar including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which rogue specialty bar to get. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the LB-1 bar

Price:$465

The LB-1 log bar is the original log bar from Rogue and comes in at a weight of 72lb. This is the mid-range log bar which will cover most needs. The sleeves of this bar are smaller in diameter than a regular barbell, so make sure to get an axle collar to go with this log to secure your plates. The full specifications of this bar are:

Weight: 72LB
10" diameter laser cut steel tube 1/8" thick
Fully welded end & internal plates
Solid 0.375" round bar protection on openings
Handle Spacing: 26" on center
1.66" diameter neutral grip handles
14" Loadable Sleeve Length
Laser-cut Rogue logo!

This is a good tool to get for a man cave as an additional challenge to spice up the barbell routine.

Pros of the LB-1 bar

Pros of the LB-1 log bar are:

Mid-range price
Robust craftsmanship
Neutral grip

This is a great tool to add to your arsenal, if you like strongman training and to lift awkward objects. For presses and rows, it also offers a neutral grip which is easier on the wrists than a straight barbell. Compared to the other log bar models from Rogue the LB-1 is bang in the middle from a price and size perspective. As with most Rogie products, the craftsmanship is great and this will hold up forever.

Cons of the LB-1 bar

the cons of the LB-1 bar are:

Too heavy to appeal to everyone in a commercial gym
Other alternatives for neutral grip training available
Not strongman competition dimension

With 72lb empty weight the log bar weighs roughly the same as a trap bar, but your leverage to move it is a lot worse. This might make it not the best choice for a commercial gym that wants to add a little fun. The LB-2 might the better option here as it starts at 51lbs and can still be loaded with plates to make it heavier. If a neutral grip is what you are after for rows and presses, you can also consider the different Multi-grip bars from Rogue as an alternative. These are a lot easier to store on the rack than the log bar. Lastly, most logs in strongman competitions are bigger than the LB-1. If you are a big guy, get the proper simulation of the real world and go for the LB-3 instead.

Alternatives to the LB-1 bar

Alternatives to the LB-1 are:

The LB-2 and LB-3 log bar are the big and small brother of the LB-1. Rogue started with the LB-1 and quickly realized that log bars of different sizes might be a good idea. The result was the LB-2 and LB-3. While the LB-3 is aimed at the biggest of us, the LB-2 is the entry log bar. If you are buying for a commercial gym go with the smaller one to appeal to more people. If you are a monster, go for the LB-3.

The multi-grip rogue bars are another option to consider if you are looking for bar with a neutral grip, but also do not want to make it too complex to work in a rack. The log bars can be quite awkward if you do not lift them from the ground with a pad. If the neutral grip is your main concern you might be better off with getting one of the Rogue-Multi grip bars.

If you are looking into the Rogue log bar to pick up a weight and lift it to the shoulder, then the Rogue strongman bags might be a better option for you. They take up less space, cost less, and get a very similar training result. Of course, they are just a mere simulation of real strongman events, but for mixing up your training they are great.

Conclusion for the LB-1

The LB-1 log bar is the right log bar for anyone who has a home gym with enough space and is dedicated too mixing up their training. It is not too small or too big, so if you know your way around lifting, this is the right one to get. If you are considering a log bar for your commercial gym, I personally think you are better off by getting the LB-2. This will appeal to more people as it is easier to handle and still something different and novice. If you are huge and gorilla stong, meaning you already can over head press 100kg, then leave the toys and go directly to the LB-3.