TITAN Atlas Stone platform vs TITAN husafell stone

This is a comparison between the TITAN Atlas stone platform 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 Atlas Stone platform

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

Atlas stone platform $315

Overview of the Atlas Stone platform

The Atlas Stone platform from TITAN has been designed to go well with the 20" plate loadable Atlas stone from TITAN. This is a sturdy design using 2x2 tube steel at 42".It can take up to 400 pounds of weight for your heaviest of workouts. This is a professional tool for strongman who repeatedly lift heavy stones to a platform. The full specifications are:

- Heavy duty 2" x 2" steel construction for a solid, long lasting design.

- 1" Lip around edges keep your stone from rolling off the platform.

- 3/8" Rubber mat for a smooth transition and to keep the noise level at a minimum.

- 8" Center hole diameter to easily hold most size stones, slam balls, or medicine balls.

- 425 Pound weight capacity to stand up to the heaviest of lifts.

- Platform Dimensions: 25" x 25"

- Platform Height: 42"

- Hole Diameter: 8"

- Weight Capacity: 425 LB

- Weight: 125 LB

This is the proper platform for maximum weight attempts with an Atlas stone to a platform.

Pros of the Atlas Stone platform

The pros of the Atlas stone platform are:

Sturdy
Specifically designed to prevent the Stone from rolling off
Hole in the middle where the stone can rest

This platform has been designed with heavy stones in mind. Everything about it has been put together to minimize the injury risk from a stone that goes out of control when banged on the platform. This platform is unlikely to warp, break or bend even if you put a heavy stone on it and will also prevent it from rolling off the edges. If you are a serious strongman who wants the platform to lift on to be metal, this is a good purchase.

Cons of the Atlas Stone platform

The cons of the Atlas Stone platform are:

Price
Not adjustable
Single use
Can not be collapsed

This is a fairly heavy and cumbersome piece of equipment which only does one very specific thing. It almost costs as much as a yoke, which can also be used as a stone to platform simulator by using the yoke beam. I personally think that an oversight in the design from TITAN is that you can not adjust this platform for different heights. I do not know how that would work from an integrity perspective, but when I look at the safeties on the TITAN Yoke, I can imagine that you could build a Adjustable Atlas stone platform by using the T-3 uprights and the thick safety pins. This platform can also not be collapsed when not used and most people do not do Atlas lifts every single day, but more like once a week.

Alternatives to the Atlas Stone platform

Pylo boxes
Foam cubes
Self made boxes
Yoke

Pylo boxes are an alternative to a bespoke Atlas Stone platform. Especially if you already have some and you are only working with light Atlas stones.If you fancy you might even put the stone on it, draw a circle with a pencil and saw a whole into the top. This is not ideal, and also stay away from using any stones that weigh more than 100kg with a pylo box. They are often made of press wood and I would not trust it with a massive stone.

Foam cubes are a great low budget option to do stone lifts onto. They usually have a bigger surface than pylo boxes, want splinter if you load them heavy and can also be adjusted easily in height. TITAN sells a full omdular set of different heights for $500. If you do not have one yet and consider getting into Atlas stone lifting, this is the better option as you can also use these foam boxes for other things than Atlas stones.

If you go to your local carpenter and offer him $300 for making you a set of six platforms you might get lucky. Especially if when you are not in a rush and allow him to use some of the leftover cuts for the platforms. If you like a DIY job yourself you might even get wood for $300 or less and try yourself at platforms. If you make them of wood try to get some extra beams inside the box to stabilize which the standard pylo boxes do not have. Only recommended if you know what you are doing and disclaimer, you can not sue me if that thing is not secure as I warned you.

Another options is to add about $100 to your budget and get a Yoke instead of the platform. This Yoke can be collapsed and also be used for many other things than lifting Atlas stones. It will not be exactly the same as lifting to a platform, but it will get very close when you lift a heavy stone over the beam. Just make sure to weigh the Yoke down with some plates when you do this so it does not shift when the stone touches the beam.

Conclusion for the Atlas stone platform

If you have the money and intend to lift very heavy stones,this is the right equipment to get. Apart from that, I personally think that for the same or similar budget you can get more modular options which are slightly less safe as they do not have a lip running around to prevent the stone from rolling off. The foam boxes will quickly have a little indenture for the stone to roll into after a few sessions. Choice is yours.