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

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Apr 13, 2020 4:00:00 PM

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

This is a comparison between the TITAN Blues city barbell and the Rogue Westside barbell. Follow the links for more detail.

Review and Overview of the Rogue Westside Power bar

This overview of the  Westside 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 345$
 

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Overview of the westside power bar

 
The Westside bar has been developed together with Louie Simmons which is not too far from his own gym. The Westside barbell training facility is world famous for continuously producing some of the strongest powerlifters in the US and on an international level. The Westside method is a staple for strength coaches. The method is especially well tailored to lifters who compete with bench press shirts and squat and deadlifting suits. 
 
The westside barbell weighs in at 45lb with a diameter of 29mm. It can withstand 205K PSI tensile strength and connects the sleeves to the shaft via bushing. Rogue offers a black zinc finish on shaft and coating. The knurling is powerlifting and the bar has no whip. The loadable sleeve length is 16.25. There is no 20kg version available.
 
The westside barbell was part of one of the earliest pushes of Rogue to diversify their portfolio away from their Ohio bar and Bella bar. So far, the westside bar has not gotten a Cerakote facelift. This might be planned in the near future. The westside barbell is a good alternative to the Ohio power bar or Thor power bar. Keep in mind that this is a powerlifting speciality bar. If you are mainly focused on weightlifting have a look at the Pyrros bar & training bar. If you own a CrossFit gym stock up on all-purpose barbells like the Ohio and Bella bar first before you branch in special bars like westside bar.
 

Westside bar pros

 
When you are looking for a very stiff bar with a less aggressive knurl this is the bar to go for. You get 205K of tensile strength with standard knurling. The fact that Louie Simmons gave it his approval also points in the direction that this is the right bar for powerlifters who vary their grip often. This is a crucial component of the westside method. There are a few reviews out there which prefer the West Side barbell to the Ohio power bar, even though it comes in at a higher price. 
 

Westside bar cons

 
The black zinc finish is more open to corrosion than other finishes from Rogue. It is also a powerlifting specific bar and you might also have to buy an Ohio deadlift bar to complete the set. Depending on your need the Matt Chan bar retails at just a slightly higher price, has the same tensile strength and has a better whip. It all depends on your goals. If you want to do more than powerlifting this bar is not ideal. If your main focus is the big three go for this one.
 

Conclusion

The westside bar is a great option when you are mainly focused on powerlifting and want to do the three big lifts. It is a bit more upmarket than the Ohio power bar and less expensive than the Rogue Ohio deadlift bar.

 
Learn more about the specs of the Rogue Westside 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.
 
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