Overview and review of the TITAN Blues City power bar [Article, Video]

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Jun 2, 2020 4:00:00 PM

TITAN Blues City power bar vs Rogue westside power bar [Article, Video]

This is a comparison of the TITAN Blues city power barbell and the Rogue westside power bar. 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$

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 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

Made In The USA with 100% US sourced materials.
Center knurling.
Oxide shaft to prevent corrosion and abrasions.
Power Lifting knurl marks with aggressive knurling.
Zinc sleeves with Bronze Bushings for consistent spins.
High tensile strength.
Provides little to no whip.
Weight: 20kg
Overall Length: 86.25”
Shaft Grip Diameter: 28.5mm
Overall Outside Knurling Width: 17”
Center Knurling Width: 5”
Tensile Strength: 200,000 PSI
Loadable Sleeve Length: 16.125 per sleeve
Shaft Length: 51.5”
Shaft Color: Black Oxide
Sleeve Material: Zinc
Bushings/Bearings: Bronze Bushings
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:

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 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.

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