Rogue LB-1 Log bar vs Olympic weightlifting barbells
This is a comparison of the Rogue LB-1 Log bar and the Olympic weightlifting barbell 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 Olympic weightlifting barbells
This overview of the Rogue Olympic barbells 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: 495$
Overview of the Rogue Oly barbells
The
rogue Olympic barbell weighs 20kg, has a diameter of 28mm and a tensile strength of 215K PSI. There are five different versions of this bar which come with different price tags:
The
bright zinc has the lowest price tag at 495$ while the
stainless steel comes in at 595$.
The cerakote and EU Steel version retail at 545$, while the women's version comes in at 495$. Apart from the women's bar all of these come with 16.25 loadable sleeve length and chrome sleeve coating. All of these bars work with bearing for better spin. As with the
Pyrros bar, they are approved by the IWF.
The
EU steel bar is made of
EU steel in the USA. There are some in the industry which claim that American steel does not behave the same as
EU steel and therefore weightlifting bars made from
EU steel are better. If you are inclined to believe this and still want a
rogue barbell this is the option for you.
The cerakote bar is a slightly prettier and durable version of the
bright zinc Oly bar which also comes in at a slightly higher cost.
Rogue made a big push in 2018 for their new
cerakote finish of the bar which lasts longer than
bright zinc and leaves more freedom for designs.
The
stainless version retails at the same price as the
Pyrros bar. In my opinion, you might as well get the champions name on it for the same price unless you have something against greeks.
The
bright zinc version would be the best for a reputable gym with athletes that have aspirations to compete at national and international level. It saves 100$ per
barbell compared to other options while still being professional. If you want to provide the best bar for weightlifting purposes for less ambitioned clientele
there is also the training for 295$.
Pros of the Rogue Oly bars
This is a workhorse
barbell for the professional. If you want to train the future masters of the universe this is the way to go. The
bright zinc finish saves you 100$ per
barbell compared to the stainless options and the
Pyrros while not comprising on the bearing or whip.
Cons of the Rogue Oly bars
The price is still high for general use cases with many members. Especially in a CrossFit box where people still learn the technique, drop the barbells against walls or bang off other equipment, this might be over the top. If you still want a
barbell with a great whip to mainly focus on Oly lifts
the training bar might be a better option. It won't make your heart sink as much when a 295$ bar gets abused.
Conclusion
Rogue Oly bars might be a bit pricey compared to their Rogue Ohio bar brothers and sisters. It always depends on perspective. If you want to have the feel of championship weightlifting the fairer comparison would be the Eleiko bars. Compared to the Eleiko range the rogue bars have a very reasonable price.
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
- 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.