Rogue LB-3 log bar vs Rogue Olympic barbells

This is a comparison of the Rogue LB-3 Log bar and the Rogue olympic barbells 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.

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

Overview and review of the Rogue LB-3 log bar

This is an overview of Rogue LB-3 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 Rogue LB-3 12 log bar

Price: $595

The LB-3 log bar is the biggest log bar in the Rogue Line up and made to spec for strongman competitions. It can hold up to 1000lb and already weighs 130lbs when empty. The full specifications of the LB-3 log bar are:

Made in Columbus, OH, USA
12" Diameter Strongman Log
Total Length: 80.75"
11-gauge steel construction
Handles: Neutral-grip, 1.25” diameter, set 24” apart
Finish: Black Powdercoat
Laser-cut Rogue logo

This is the big daddy of logs you can buy off the shelf from Rogue. The extra-wide design is best for huge athletes that otherwise have problems fitting their arms into the mold without touching off the metal. Be aware that this is already a beast without any plates added. So do not buy this unless you are big or have quite a few big guys in your gym.

Pros of the Rogue 12 log bar

The pros of the LB 3 12 log bar are:

Prepares for competition
Made for big athletes
Sturdy design

This log bar is so big that it will prepare you for anything that a strongman competition will throw at you. If you can handle the size and weight the design is also safer for bigger athletes. What can often be a problem with log bars is that they are made to be big, but of cheap, thin material which makes them prone to deform or bend the plate pins when dipped. Not with the LB 3 which is the high quality we are used to from Rogue.

Cons of the Rogue 12 log bar

Cons of the Rogue 12 log bar:

Price
Size

The 12 log bar comes in at $595. For a specialty bar that you will not use that often, that is a high price. Let’s face it, most mere mortals will use this once, maybe twice a week. If you are not a strongman athlete this piece of metal takes up a huge space and a big chunk out of your wallet.

Alternatives to the Rogue 12 log bar

Alternatives to the Rogue 12 log bar are

The rogue strongman sandbags can be a good alternative to the log bar. If you want to get big weights from the ground to your shoulder you can also do this with these bags which weigh between 100lb to 400lb when filled with sand. They can also be emptied and stored and transported easier than a log bar. Of course, the Dow side is that they are not log-shaped and have no handles.

The rogue rubber atlas stones are another alternative for strongman training. These try to emulate a real stone as close as possible. You will get a perfect sphere that is ready-made. The weight ranges from 50lb to 200lb. These are ready-made with an iron core. No filling or deforming and even if they get a cut they still work. The only downside is where to store them and that they can. It be adjusted.

The LB1 and LB2 are log bar variations that are smaller than the LB-3. The LB1 weighs 72lb empty while the LB2 comes in at 50lb. These might be the better variations to use on a commercial gym as they are smaller and lighter.

Conclusion for the Rogue 12 log bar

The Rogue 12 log bar is the tool for the professional strongman/strongwoman to prepare himself or herself for the next competition. With 130lb starting weight, it does not have many applications for normal-sized athletes or hobby strongmen. You get what you pay for and it is an excellent piece of equipment. I question whether most people will need it and you can save money and space by going for one of the smaller options.