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TITAN 12-inch log bar vs TITAN blues city power bar

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Jan 8, 2021 5:00:00 PM

TITAN 12-inch log bar vs TITAN blues city power bar

This is a comparison between the TITAN 12-inch log bar and TITAN blues city power bar including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details

Overview and review of the Blues City power bar

The Blues City Power bar will put you back about $300. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which barbell to get from TITAN”.

 

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Overview of the Blues City power bar 

 
The blues city power bar is especially geared towards powerlifters and their needs. This is achieved by less whip in the bar, higher PSI strength, and more aggressive knurling. This provides better grip and less movement in the bar which can get challenging especially on very heavy squats and bench presses. There is a case to be made that whip actually helps the deadlift as it shortens the distance the weight has to be pulled especially for sumo deadlifts. The TITAN power barbell comes in black. The features and specifications of this barbell are: 
 
Barbell details 
  • Made In The USA with 100% US sourced materials.
  • Center knurling.
  • Oxide shaft to prevent corrosion and abrasions.
  • Power Lifting knurl marks with aggressive knurling.
  • Zinc sleeves with Bronze Bushings for consistent spins.
  • High tensile strength.
  • Provides little to no whip.
  • Weight: 20kg
  • Overall Length: 86.25”
  • Shaft Grip Diameter: 28.5mm
  • Overall Outside Knurling Width: 17”
  • Center Knurling Width: 5”
  • Tensile Strength: 200,000 PSI
  • Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.125 per sleeve
  • Shaft Length: 51.5”
  • Shaft Color: Black Oxide
  • Sleeve Material: Zinc
  • Bushings/Bearings: Bronze Bushings
  • Knurl Type: Aggressive Knurling
 
A good option for powerlifters who want something special at a reasonable price. 
 

Pros of the power bar 

 
This bar comes with center knurling, aggressive knurling, and stiff steel. It will hold chalk better than other TITAN models and therefore give the little edge for your powerlifting. Compared to the market it also comes at a reasonable price. 
 

Cons of the power bar 

 
If you want to use it for multiple people who are not that dedicated to training, they might complain that this bar is too aggressive on their hands. Experienced weightlifters will prefer a bar with whip to use the momentum to get more weight over their heads. 
 

Alternatives to the TITAN power bar 

 
You can have a look at the following alternatives to the TITAN power bar: 
 
Alternatives to the TITAN Blues City are 
 
 
The Titan Atlas bar is a great option from TITAN to save money when you buy in bulk while still providing great service to your clients. The Atlas bar is the all-around workhorse out of the TITAN portfolio. 
 
The Rogue Pyrros bar has been co-designed by Rogue and three-time Olympic weightlifting champion Pyrros Dimas. It has recently been approved by the IWF to be used at official competitions. 
 
The Rogue Ohio power bar is the powerlifting adaptation of the Rogue Ohio bar. This barbell has recently been approved by the IPF to be officially used in their competitions.
 

Summary for the TITAN power bar 

 
This is a good budget option for the ambitious home powerlifter on a budget. If you are buying multiples you might want to go to the Atlas bar. If you are planning a professional competition look into the Rogue and Eleiko portfolio to use approved barbells. 

 Overview and review of the TITAN 12-inch log bar

This is an overview of the TITAN 12-inch log bar including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details

 
 

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12-inch Log bar V2 $250

 

Overview of the 12-inch log bar

 
The 12-inch log bar from TITAN is the biggest log bar you can get from them. It weighs 84 pounds and can take up to 1000 pounds for your heaviest overhead lifts. Log bars are a staple in strongman competitions and vary in weight. Sometimes they are done for repetitions, other times for maximum weight. The neutral grip handles make the log bars a lot more forgiving on the wrists and arms than regular barbells for heavy overhead presses. The log bar is usually lifted from the ground and brought to the mid section of the body to then bring it overhead. A great tool to develop strength and try out something new, but a big boy toy. The full specifications of the TITAN 12 inch log bar run as followed:
 
 
- Rackable on most standard power racks
- A staple for Strongman training and competitions
- Durable steel construction with laser-cut Titan logo
- Neutral knurled handgrips at 26-in on center
- Fully welded seams and end caps
- 14-in loadable sleeves which fit Olympic plates
- Available in 10 and 12-inch models
 
- Grip Diameter: 1.65-in.
- Handle Length: 11.3-in
- Handle Spacing: 23.6-in.
- Sleeve Diameter: 50mm.
- Overall Length: 80.3-in.
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 14-in.
- Sleeve to Sleeve Length: 50.6-in.
- Knurling: Medium
- Weight Capacity: 1,000 lb.
- Product Weight: 84 lb.
 
This is a good budget option from TITAN for your strongman training at home or in the gym.
 

Pros of the 12-inch log bar

 
The pros of the TITAN 12-inch log bar:
 
  • Competition measurements
  • Cost efficient design
  • Neutral handles with space
  • Compatible with standard plates
 
This is the type of log which dimensions would be the same in a proper strongman competition The only difference would be that this one is metal and not wood. This makes the TITAN 12 inch log bar more cost efficient and weigh a little less by itself compared to wood. That makes it more approachable for beginners. The chambers for the grips are generous in size and you will have no contact with the outer edges of it. This can sometimes be a problem on poorly designed log bars, especially for big athletes who then have trouble getting their hands and arms to the grips. You will also not need to worry about whether your standard plates will fit this log.
 

Cons of the 12-inch log bar

 
The cons of the 12-inch TITAN log bar are:
 
  • Big boy toy
  • Not wood
  • A little too long
 
This is a big boy toy and therefore not necessarily suitable for most commercial gyms. To really have fun with a log bar you should already know a little bit about lifting and not be scrawny yourself. This is not a beginners training tool so look somewhere else if you are only starting out on your strength journey.
 
The more experienced athletes will get a great log bar for a good price, but it will not fully simulate what happens in competition. Many competitions will get an actual wooden log bar as it is a better showpiece for spectators. So if you are training for serious competitions, you might as well invest the little extra money to get a heavier wooden log that also has a bit of a different feel about it.
 
TITAN has not normed this to average barbell length. If your gym is already tight, be aware that the log will protrude considerably more from the rack than your barbells do. 
 

Alternatives to the 12-inch log bar

 
 
The 10 inch log bar from TITAN is the little brother of the 12" log bar. This size is usually used in female strongman competitions, but can also be a bit more approachable for the masses in a commercial gym to get them interested in strongman training. It also comes at a slightly lower price of $230, although I think that the size differences matter more for this comparison than the prices.
 
The TITAN Multi grip log bar offers you two different grip widths while giving up some of the weight compared to the 12 inch log bar which makes it a bit cheaper. If you want some more variety in your log presses you can opt for this model from TITAN.
 
Rogue delivers their log bars in (2, 10" and 12" at prices of $345, $465, and $595. Their logs are considerably higher in cost. The log bars usually involve more manual labor and welding in production and Rogue is known for better quality welds than TITAN. Usually these differences are more cosmetic than functional in nature, but be aware that you tend to pay more for better craftsmanship at Rogue for the welding and that log bars, not like barbells, need more of this kind of work. 
 
The slater log is the real deal when it comes to log bars. If you want to purchase a ready made wooden log bar you can get your hands in three different versions from Slater costing $449, $549, and $695. These log bars weigh more for the same diameter and come closer to what you will handle in competition.
 

Conclusion for the 12-inch log bar

 
The 12.inch log bar from TITAN is a solid budget option for anyone who is considering a log bar for their gym. Be aware that a 12" log bar is massive and that most normal humans would be better of getting a 10" or even 8" log to not overwhelm themselves. Still, if you are goliath yourself, knock yourself out with a 12-inch. Maybe get a pizza of that size first and see what you get yourself into. Chances are if you can not eat a 12" pizza by yourself, you should not get the corresponding log bar.
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