TITAN 12-inch log bar vs TITAN Husafell stone

This is a comparison between the TITAN 12-inch log bar and TITAN Husafell stone 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 TITAN Husafell stone

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

TITAN Husafell stone $180

Overview of the TITAN Husafell stone

The husafell stone from TITAN is a simple design that simulates strongman carries where you can not use a handle to move the weight. Inspired by the 186kg (409lbs) Husafell stone which is located in Iceland, you can hardly wrap your arms around this weight which is part of the challenge. The design is open at the top so that you can either fill it with plates or some other medium of your choice. The TITAN Husafell stone is advertised as 110lbs empty. The full specifications of this big boy toy are:

- Loadable with bumper or steel plates, chains, or anything that fits!

- Laser cut carry handles for easy transport.

- 17.3" Opening for loading weight.

- Solid steel construction for durability.

- Weight: 110 LB empty

- Height: 30"

- Width: 28.9"

- Depth: 5.98"

- Opening width: 17.3"

- Bottom width: 8.5"

Pros of the TITAN Husafell stone

The pros of the Husafell stone are:

Easy to load
Easy to maintain
Robust
Hard hull

This is a simple, no-nonsense design which needs no explanation. Anyone who sees this in a gym will immediately now how to load it and how to use it. Whether they actually can move it around is a different matter. You can drop it, maltreat it and leave it in the dirt and rain. It might not look pretty afterwards, but will still function. What is also a great benefit is that the hull is hard and does not give in. This makes it hard to get a grip on this weight which is closer to simulating actual stones compared to sand bags which flow more with the medium you fill it with.

Cons of the TITAN Husafell stone

The cons of the Husafell stone are:

TITAN finish
Unforgiving on floor and athletes
Hard to store

As TITAN manages to save you a lot of money on most purchases compared to other vendors, they have to find a way to get their. This is usual by saving labor costs in form of quality of the finish. The TITAN husafell stone is no exception. One way to safe on this is to not thoroughly sand it down after it has been built. This means that it can leave sharp edges for you. When you load this with a couple of hundred pounds this is the last thing you want. Once you get your shipment from TITAN always check whether all parts have been included and whether all parts fit or have sharp edges. Usually you have to use some elbow grease to bring TITAN products to their final stage. Nothing major, but still a flaw.

Another disadvantage of the Husafell stone is that it is very unforgiving when someone falls or drops it accidentally on themselves or the gym floor where there are no mats. It is almost certain that it will take a chunk out of the athlete or the floor depending on what it hits. This is common for real strongman objects like kegs, stones, and circus dumbbells, but still might not appeal to the broader audience. If you want a similar experience that is a bit more user friendly you can get the Husafell sandbag from Rogue.

As with some most Strongman objects, the Husafell is also cumbersome to store. If you are strapped for space in your home gym, this might not be the ideal purchase. It might end up as one of these toys that will just gather dust and you have to dance around between the rack and your pile of strength shame which this one will be added too.

Alternatives to the TITAN husafell stone

A good alternative to almost any strongman device are heavy kettlebells. Once you pass 60kg on kettlebells they are almost as big as a small stone and still have a handle. This leaves you open for carries, lifts and other strongman activities while still being able to use the kettlebell for floor presses, swings and maybe even Turkish get ups.

Another alternative for carries are trap bars which can also be sued for trap bar deadlifts. Rogue and TITAN both offer their own trap bars. While the Rogue trap bars have a slightly better finish at slightly higher cost you will get the TITAN trap bars for less money, but with a higher risk of minor blemishes or bad shipping attached.

If you want to lift heavy and work your core you can also go for simple farmer's walk handles from wither Rogue or TITAN. The center of gravity is away from you with this exercise and you will also have a clear grip. In return you can walk faster and work your cardiovascular system a little more in exchange for less activation of your back muscles from the Husafell stone.

If you want to keep the idea of the Husafell stone lift, but make it more secure, than the Rogue Husafell sandbags might be the right thing for you. Rogue has recently expanded their strongman sandbag line up with new shapes. The husafell bag is the newest, which weighs 100lb to 200lb if you fill it with sand. If you want to go heavier lead shot is also an option.

Conclusion for the TITAN Husafell stone

The TITAN husafell stone is a good option for serious strongman competitors and aspirants who want a loadable husafell stone that is very close to the original challenge. For anyone who wants to minimize injury risk and make the handling of the weight more convenient the Rogue Husafell sandbag version is a better option.

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

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.