Rogue LB-2 bar vs Toomey bar
This is a comparison of the Rogue LB-2 Log bar and the toomey bar 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$
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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,
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.
Overview and review of the LB-2 bar
This is an overview of the Rogue LB-2 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-2 log bar
Price $345
The
LB-2 log bar is the smallest of the three log bars which Rogue has on offer. This makes it a good fit for smaller athletes and junior or anyone who is on rehab from an injury. It makes it also more accessible to a bigger group of people to introduce them to strongman training compared to the massive
LB-3. The
LB-2 weighs 51lb and can be loaded with plates. Take that this bar has smaller sleeves in diameter than a standard barbell. The full specifications are:
- Weight: 51LB
- Length: 70.8"
- Diameter: 8"
- Steel Notes: Laser Cut 0.125” Thick Steel
- Fully welded end & internal plates
- Solid 3/8" round bar protection on openings
- Neutral Grip Handles: 23.5" on center
- Laser-cut Rogue logo!
This is a great beginner log bar or something to get for everyone in your local gym as it is easier to handle.
Pros of the LB-2 log bar
The
LB-2 log bar is the cheapest of the Log bars available from Rogue and also the smallest. If you want your commercial gym to go into strongman training, this is where to start. If you only have massive 240-pound giants at your gym, this might be too small. For this price, you get a well made log bar that will hold up when you beat it into the ground.
Cons of the LB-2 log bar
- Size
- Storage
- Fitting to plates
This log bar is the smallest log bar Rogue has, but is still hard to store compared to a regular barbell. It will not fit onto a regular bar rack. Working with J cups will also be a challenge. So mostly, it will lay on the ground or stand in a corner. If you have a home gym with kids around, definitely store it in the ground. It also does not fit great with standard plate sizes. This is what you get with all log bars, but has to be considered if for the same price you can get a
safety bar from Rogue.
Alternatives to the LB-2 log bar
The Rogue strongman bag is a cheaper option to simulate strongman training. You can get versions ranging from 100lb to 400lb when filled with play sand. They are also easier to store as they can be emptied when not used. It is not the same experience as a log bar, but if you are limited for space and budget, this might be a better start to a strongman class. Also, if you have to buy and store in bulk, this is a more feasible option.
If you are a strongman/strongwoman meaning business, then the
LB-2 is probably not for you. The weights you will face in the competition will have a bigger diameter and will be harder to handle than an
LB-2. Therefore it might be best to go with the LB-3 as this comes closest to the real-life competition.
Home gym enthusiasts who want to strengthen their posterior chain might also want to look into the
Rogue safety bar as an alternative. If your squat is what you are mainly concerned about, this is a better option to get to train your lower back when you have problems from too much barbell training.
Conclusion for the LB-2 log bar
The L
B-2 log bar is a lot more palatable for the masses out there than the
LB-3 or
LB-1. Even though it is the smallest log bar in the line-up, it still provides the challenge of a weight that behaves very differently from a classic barbell. This is therefore the better option, f you only occasionally do strongman training or want to provide an interesting challenge to your clients with a new toy.