TITAN Blues City power bar vs Rogue Ohio bar [Article, Video]
This is a comparison of the TITAN Blues city power bar and the Rogue Ohio power bar. Follow the links for more detail.
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$/425$
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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.
Overview and review of the Blues City power bar
The Blues City Power bar 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 power bar
The
blues city power bar is especially geared towards powerlifters and their needs. This is achieved by less whip in the bar, higher PSI strength, and more aggressive knurling. This provides better grip and less movement in the bar which can get challenging especially on very heavy squats and bench presses. There is a case to be made that whip actually helps the deadlift as it shortens the distance the weight has to be pulled especially for sumo deadlifts. The TITAN power barbell comes in black. The features and specifications of this barbell are:
Barbell details
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Made In The USA with 100% US sourced materials.
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Center knurling.
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Oxide shaft to prevent corrosion and abrasions.
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Power Lifting knurl marks with aggressive knurling.
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Zinc sleeves with Bronze Bushings for consistent spins.
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High tensile strength.
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Provides little to no whip.
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Weight: 20kg
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Overall Length: 86.25”
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Shaft Grip Diameter: 28.5mm
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Overall Outside Knurling Width: 17”
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Center Knurling Width: 5”
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Tensile Strength: 200,000 PSI
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Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.125 per sleeve
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Shaft Length: 51.5”
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Shaft Color: Black Oxide
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Sleeve Material: Zinc
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Bushings/Bearings: Bronze Bushings
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Knurl Type: Aggressive Knurling
A good option for powerlifters who want something special at a reasonable price.
Pros of the power bar
This bar comes with center knurling, aggressive knurling, and stiff steel. It will hold chalk better than other TITAN models and therefore give the little edge for your powerlifting. Compared to the market it also comes at a reasonable price.
Cons of the power bar
If you want to use it for multiple people who are not that dedicated to training, they might complain that this bar is too aggressive on their hands. Experienced weightlifters will prefer a bar with whip to use the momentum to get more weight over their heads.
Alternatives to the TITAN power bar
You can have a look at the following alternatives to the TITAN power bar:
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 TITAN power bar
This is a good budget option for the ambitious home powerlifter on a budget. If you are buying multiples you might want to go to the
Atlas bar. If you are planning a professional competition look into the Rogue and
Eleiko portfolio to use approved barbells.