Rogue Strongman sandbag vs Slater stone mold

This is a comparison between the Rogue strongman sandbag and the Slater stone mold 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 Slater stone mold

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

Overview of the slater stone mold

Price: $50 - $220

The Slater stone molds are one of the products that Steve Slater promotes together with Rogue. The strongman bags are other products aimed at Strongman that he also showcases on Rogue’s website. The Slater molds range from 23lb to 536lb in various sizes and start at $50. The full specifications are:

Made in the USA
Designed and Produced by Steve Slater at Slater Hardware in Lancaster, OH (founded 1946)
Durable plastic construction, lightweight and portable
Build up to 50 or more Atlas Stones off one mold
10 different size options (8" to 24" diameter, resulting in stone weight of 23LB to 586LB)
Consistently clean, seam-free stones when preparation directions are followed
Molds have produced stones for many record-breaking performances at the highest levels of strongman competition

These are good, easy to transport molds to make your atlas stones wherever you need them, rather than transporting them.

Pros of the slater stone mold

The pros of the slater stone mold are

Price
See-through
Durable

The slater stone molds produce up to 50 stones from each mold, if treated with care. Compared to their main competitors from hybrid they are also cheaper. Also, you can see inside them while you are making the atlas stone, which makes the process a little easier.

Cons of the slater stone mold

The cons of the slater stone mold are:

Fiddly
No matching funnel
Not sold in sets

Apart from that, you will feel more comfortable with making atlas stones when you already know how to handle cement the slater stone molds are a little more tricks to handle than their hybrid competitors. They come with a little wooden peg to get them apart and with no funnel. The takes a little more finesse to make a stone than with the hybrid molds. Another bummer is that you can not just get a whole set of them in one purchase. You will have to get all of the different molds into your cart with no inbuilt discount.

Alternatives to the slater stone mold

Alternatives to the slater stone mold are:

The hybrid mold is the direct competitor of the slater mold to make atlas stones from Cement. While the hybrid mold is not see-through and a little more expensive, it is more user friendly for beginners. You can buy an extra funnel for the cement and when the stone is hardened you can pry the mold apart on the rim that goes around the mold. With the latter, you can not pry apart, but have to go around with the tapping stick.

The rogue strongman sandbags are the option if you do not want to work with cement at all. They come in sizes from 100lb to 400lb when filled with play sand. Other options are crumb rubber or lead shot. The strongman sandbags leave you with more weight options and can be stored and transported easily when emptied. The only downside of them is that they are a lot more forgiving on the user for grip strength as they do tend to give in more. Therefore they are not a true representation of what awaits you in a strongman contest.

The MK d balls are a heavy version of slam balls that go up to 150lb. This is a good option if you want the diameter of the ball you are working with to stay the same, but the weight to get heavier. These can also be used for slams without destroying the floor. The downside is that you will only get one for your purchase while the slater molds can be reused many times over.

Conclusion for the slater stone mold

The slater stone mold is a great option to make stones of all sizes. The instructional videos are also easy to follow and get yuh there. The only downsides of these molds are that they are a little messier than the hybrid molds as they do not provide a funnel and can not be compressed as much.

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.