TITAN Blues city barbell vs Rogue Freedom bar [Article, Video]
This is a comparison of the TITAN Blues City barbell and the Rogue freedom barbell. Follow the links for more detail.
Overview and review of the Rogue Freedom bar
This overview of the Rogue freedom bar was originally published in my comprehensive guide on which Rogue barbell to buy. If you are currently considering to buy a Rogue barbell it is worth a read to get input on the latest models. I update the guide on a yearly basis depending on Rogue's new releases.
Price 395$
What else to consider from Rogue
Overview of the Rogue Freedom bar
The
rogue freedom bar is a special version of the
Ohio bar which bears the American red white and blue. It weighs in at 20kg and has a diameter of 28.5mm. The sleeves are made of chrome and are connected via bushing to the shaft. The shaft coating is
cerakote
and the loadable sleeve length comes in at 16.40.
There is no
centre
knurl and it withstands 190K PSI tensile strength with a good whip. The knurling is less aggressive than with
powerlifting and weightlifting bars.
Pros of the rogue freedom bar
The
freedom bar is based on the workhorse
Ohio bar, one of the bars which
Rogue produces for the longest time. You can rest assured that
Rogue knows what they are doing when handling the shaft for this one. The
cerakote
finish is a new addition to the
Rogue portfolio which has been adapted from the weapons industry. This enables better protection against corrosion while providing nicer finishes.
The pricing is also moving closer to the
295$ mid-range Ohio bar, which makes this a good
bar for home gyms, small groups or as a replacement for one the retired barbells in your gym.
Cons of the rogue freedom bar
If you do not like the design, there is no point in getting this barbell. Especially for commercial uses, you have to consider whether a more neutral design might be the better choice for you. While Cerakote is great against corrosion it is less able to take a beating from plates and banging of other metals. The chrome sleeves will be fine, but take care to avoid banging of the shaft of other things.
Conclusion
If you want to show that you are proud to be American this is the bar for you. It builds on a solid base from years of experience from the Rogue Ohio bar and adds the necessary red, white and blue beautifully.
Overview and review of the Blues City Cerakote
The Blues City Cerakote barbell 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”.
Overview of the Blues city Olympic barbell
This is the top of the line barbell from TITAN you will get a great barbell with all of the necessary knurlings to do powerlifting or weightlifting. You can decide between colors and the
cerakote finish give this bar a good look, while still being up for high standards. Here the specifications and features of the
Blues City:
Available colors:
Bar details
-
Made In The USA.
-
No center knurling.
-
Cerakote shaft to prevent corrosion and abrasions.
-
Dual knurl marks with standard knurling.
-
Zinc sleeves with Bronze Bushings for consistent spins.
-
High tensile strength.
-
Provides a good whip.
-
Weight: 20kg
-
Overall Length: 86.75”
-
Shaft Grip Diameter: 28.5mm
-
Overall Knurling Width: 16”
-
Tensile Strength: 190,000 PSI
-
Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.25 per sleeve
-
Knurl Type: Standard Knurling
Pros of the Blues City barbell
For a
cerakote bar, this is a very good price. Compared to other TITAN barbells the price might be a little high for you, especially if you don’t care that much about the color of your barbell.
Cons of the Blues City barbell
If you are buying in bulk this might not be the option for you as the costs will multiply out. If you want to simulate closer what happens in competition this bar is neither IPF nor IWF approved. For this, you would have to go with
Eleiko or Rogue bars.
Alternatives to the Blues CIty
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.
Summary for the Blues City bar
If you want a stylish
cerakote bar on a budget this is the one to get. If you are buying in multiples or you are preparing for a professional competition you might want to go with different options.