TITAN Blues city barbell vs Rogue Ohio power bar[Article, Video]

This is a comparison of the TITAN Blues city barbell and the Rogue Ohio power bar. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and Review of the Rogue Ohio Power bar

This overview of the Ohio power 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: 325$/425$

Overview of the Rogue Ohio Power bar

The rogue Ohio power bar is one of the IPF approved barbells from rogue. To be used in competitions barbells have been tested and approved by the association you want to compete in. The IPF is one of the most respected and well-known federations in the world. This means that you can simulate powerlifting competition standards in your own gym. If you are a powerlifting gym intending to hold a competition at a national or international you should have at least one IPF approved barbell. Three might be even better depending on how many athletes are invited.

The Rogue Ohio Power bar comes in two versions. One in Zinc and the other in stainless steel. The zinc version withstands 200K PSI tensile strength while the other withstands 205K tensile strength. The bar weighs 20kg and has a diameter of 29mm. The loadable sleeve length is 16.875. The sleeves are attached to the shaft with bushing. The Ohio power bar has no whip and aggressive knurling.

The Ohio power bar is described as one of the best options for powerlifting on a budget. The 325$ option brings it very close to the bread and butter Ohio bar. If you don't want any intricate designs and you are focused on powerlifting, this is the bar to get. You might want to toss up between the westside barbell and the Ohio bar. If you compare like for like (in this case zinc for zinc) you get a stiffer bar with less aggressive knurling from the westside barbell and a less stiff barbell with more aggressive knurling with the Ohio power bar.

Pros of the Ohio power bar

The Rogue Ohio power bar is a good value for money bar for someone who wants to start a home gym with powerlifting focus. If you can spare a couple of extra dollars compared to the Ohio bar it will be worth your while. The other options to consider are the deadlift bar, thor bar and westside bar if you do not care that much for overhead lifts.

Cons of the Ohio power bar

The Rogue Ohio power bar has not been designed to be dropped continuously from overhead. While you can do it the lack of whip will show more wear and tear on the bushing and the bar itself. It will also behave suboptimally during clean and jerks and snatches if the main focus of your training or gym is weightlifting. If you want to invest while on a budget into a solid weightlifting barbell goes for the training bar instead.

Conclusion

If you are focused on powerlifting and do not want to pay for a Rogue westside or Thor barbell, the rogue Ohio power bar is the way to go.

Learn more about the specs of the Rogue Ohio power barbell and purchase on the Rogue website

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:

Black
Blue
Bronze
Red

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

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 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.