TITAN Atlas Stone platform vs TITAN Upright Farmer's walk handles
This is a comparison between the TITAN Atlas stone platform and TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles 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 Upright farmer's walk handles
This is an overview of the TITAN Upright farmer's including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details.
TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles $215
Overview TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles
The TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles are a little more pricey than regular carry handles and bear two additional features. They have an adjustable handle for different heights and you can put the plates on top of the handle frame. With this you have more variety in your training compared to a regular handle and do not use up your plates as much. The full specifications of these farmer#s handles are:
- Built with heavy duty 3"x3" 11 gauge steel tubing.
- Sold in pairs, so you'll be able to get started immediately.
- Vertical weight posts save your weight plates if you drop the handles and your plates won't fall off.
- Knurled 1.25" diameter handles can be set at 8" and 16" off the ground.
- Stabilizer feet to keep the handles upright if dropped.
- Modular design can be converted to a deadlift platform with Farmers Walk connectors (available separately)
- Compatible with standard Olympic plates - steel plates or bumper plates.
- Weight: 52 lbs each
- Handle diameter: 1.25"
- Usable handle length: 8"
- Handle heights: 8" and 16" from ground
- Overall length: 50"
- Weight Capacity: 500 lbs per handle
The Upright farmer's walk handles are an overlooked item that cost slightly more but will leave your plates in tact and does not need collars to work properly.
Pros of the TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles
Pros of the TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles are:
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Plates are upright
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Adjustable handle
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Knurled handle
One main advantage compare to regular farmer's handles is that the plates are upright and therefore are more secure and do not get wrecked when you use these handles. More often than not the farmer's handles get loaded and sealed with a collar never to be touched again,until the plates are destroyed. That makes it inconvenient for different gym members to load it separately and costly in the long run. On top of that you get a proper handle that provides grip compared to the powder coated alternatives that most gyms stock.
Cons of the TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles
Cons of the TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles:
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Price
The only real disadvantage of this handle is its price. You can get other handles for around $100 or even below. For $200 you can also almost get a barbell or trap bar instead. So oyu have to weigh up your options in terms of what other things you could possibly do with $200 instead of getting farmer's walk handles.
Alternatives to the TITAN Upright farmer's walk handles
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TITAN farmer's walk handles
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Rogue Farmer's walk handles
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Heavy kettlebells
The TITAN trap bar comes in at $270 and is therefore slightly more expensive than the upright farmers walk handles. Technically you can also do farmer's walks with a trap bar. It is not exactly the same, but if you are only after the core and grip benefits a trap bar farmer's walk will also do. In addition to farmer's walks you can also use the trap bar for deadlifts, especially if you want to put less strain on your lower back. The TITAN trap bar is likely to have some minor quality issues as it has a lot of welds. Whenever welding is to be done, TITAN is more likely to botch the job then Rogue. That doesn't render the bar unsafe or unusable but it will suffer in cosmetics and might have some material inside the frame. With the Rogue trap bar you have a lower risk of this occurring, but you will also pay $100 more.
The farmer's walk handles are cheaper version to which you attach the plates directly. What you safe in the handles you will probably spent many times over on the plates for these solutions.
The last option for farmer's walks are heavy kettlebells. These are probably the most versatile alternative to farmer's walk handles, but also do not exactly reflect the exercise. The weight is more centered to the body and therefore a lot easier to handle.
Conclusion for the TITAN Upright Farmer's walk handles
If you want to get classic farmer's walk handles to simulate strongman competition these are a serious consideration. Especially if you only get them for yourself and do not have to buy them in bulk. The upright handles are superior to the classic farmer's handle and are worth the money as long as you want to do farmer's walks. If cost and versatility are your main concern, then a pair of heavy kettlebells are probably the 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
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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
Pros of the Atlas Stone platform
The pros of the Atlas stone platform are:
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Sturdy
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Specifically designed to prevent the Stone from rolling off
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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:
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Price
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Not adjustable
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Single use
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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
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Self made boxes
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.
