TITAN Circus dumbbells vs Rogue loadable dumbbell
This is a comparison between the TITAN Circus dumbbell and Rogue loadable dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details
Rogue fitness vs TITAN fitness
Rogue Fitness is the current market leader when it comes to a functional home gym and commercial gym equipment. They have one of the widest portfolios including racks, barbells, benches, dumbbells, and apparel for the weekend warrior and dedicated athlete. The biggest downside of Rogue Fitness is their comparatively high prices to the competition.
TITAN Fitness is the clear cost leader when you want to build a home gym on a budget that is still similar to what Rogue offers in function, look, and feel. While you will save about half on the sticker price you will run a higher risk of inconsistencies in quality compared to a purchase from Rogue. The equipment will be safe but is more likely to have blemishes, quality issues with welds or that pieces will not easily fit into place. That makes TITAN a good option for a DIY enthusiast who does not mind tinkering with their equipment, but not the first choice to get the best equipment and treat yourself.
Overview and review of the Rogue loadable dumbbell
The Rogue loadable dumbbell combines the design of a barbell with a dumbbell. This saves space and cost to have a full set at home. The loadable dumbbell costs $135 and is not sold in pairs. This article has been originally posted in "which dumbbell to get from Rogue".
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Overview of the Rogue loadable dumbbell
The Rogue loadable dumbbell is basically a shortened Rogue Ohio bar. The Rogue Ohio bar is the best selling backbone of the Rogue barbell portfolio. The loadable dumbbell is available in a 15 and 10 lb version. The 15 lb version doubles the available sleeve space so you can add more weights. The Rogue loadable dumbbell is compatible with your barbell plates. You can also get specially fitted dumbbell weights with a smaller diameter which I recommend. The big plates are usually in the way when they get close to your body. On a barbell, they are further away as the shaft is longer. The specs of the Rogue loadable dumbbell are:
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Sold Individually, NOT in Pairs
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Made in the USA
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DB-10 - 200,000PSIDB-15 - 200,000PSI or 190,000PSI Tensile Strength Steel
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28.5MM diameter knurled handle
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Bronze Bushings & Snap Ring Design
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Length:14.25" (DB-10) 20.5 (DB-15)
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Load Capacity: ~100LB (DB-10)
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Rogue branded endcaps
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Available as package with set of Rogue OSO Collars
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Compatible with any standard Oly plates and/or Rogue Dumbbell Bumper plates
A solid combination of a barbell, dumbbell and the idea of the power block to save space. Probably one of the best executed of its kind in the market in terms of design and finish.
Pros of the rogue loadable dumbbell
They look great and the finish is a high standard. The loadable dumbbell will also save a lot of space in a home gym setup compared to a whole wall of kettlebells or dumbbells. Compared to the power block the mechanism to change between weights is easier and a lot more durable. They are functional, nice to look at and can be dropped without risking to break them.
Cons of the Rogue loadbale dumbbell
In a commercial gym setup, I think they are too expensive as they are not sons in pairs and not user-friendly enough. I can already see the mess when purple start loading their own dumbbells and leaving all the little parts scattered on the ground. In most gyms, it’s bad enough with plates and the usual rubber dumbbells. Imagine if all of the dumbbells also have multiple parts to them.
Alternatives to the Rogue loadable dumbbell
Alternatives to the Rubber Hex dumbbells are
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Rubber Hex dumbbells
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Rogue Kettlebells
The rubber hex dumbbell is pound for pins the cheapest dumbbell with a rogue logo on it. They are also sold in pairs. If you like the hex design for your commercial gym I think this is the one to go for in bulk.
The Rogue Urethane dumbbells are slightly higher quality than the rubber hex. As the name suggests they are made of urethane instead of rubber which makes them more durable. Personally I think the main reason would be aesthetic and functional to get them over hex dumbbell. They are round instead of a hexagon. I never liked that design myself.
The Power block dumbbell is a classic design for home use. It follows the same idea as the loadable dumbbell to save space in a home setting. This is the most compact it can get for lifting dumbbells with many options in denominations. The only downside is the clicking mechanic to change between weights which is prone to break and that the block can a little too big when moving big weights. Here the loadable dumbbell might be less error-prone if you have the space to store the change plates.
Kettlebells are always a good alternative to dumbbells. You can do almost all dumbbell movements with kettlebells while kettlebells also offer the Turkish getup and kettlebell swing as great conditioning exercises. The only negative with kettlebells is that I haven’t seen a great loadable Design for them yet to save space. If I was in the market for a big set I dumbbells I would get a wall of kettlebells instead. Especially if you have very heavy kettlebells it will set you apart from other gyms. It all depends on the clients you want to target as bodybuilders usually prefer dumbbells.
Summary for the Rogue loadable dumbbell
The Rogue loadable dumbbell is a great option for the dedicated home gym owner who wants to save space and doesn’t mind the cost per dumbbell. This is a purchase that will make you happy and doesn’t make you look cheap. If you have to buy in bulk to cover the needs of more than five people you are probably better off with the hex dumbbells to save cost. Unless you are a rich university or NFL team who can afford to only buy the best for your athletes. You pay them millions, don’t be cheap on the equipment. Sends the wrong signals to your best athletes.
Overview and review of the TITAN Circus dumbbells
This is an overview of the TITAN Circus dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details.
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Circus dumbbell $150-$180
Overview of the TITAN Circus dumbbell
The circus dumbbell is a classic strongman event where you lift a cumbersome dumbbell from the floor to your shoulder. For this purpose TITAN offers four different Circus dumbbells in diameters of 10"-12" and empty weights ranging from 67 Lbs. to 94lbs. TITAN does not recommend dropping these from overhead on the floor, so you might also want to invest in some crash mats for a full setup. These dumbbells are big and cumbersome, as they should be, and provide you with the necessary equipment for this event. The full specifications are:
10" 2" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 10” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 2” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 77 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 10”
- Handle Diameter: 2”
10" 2.5" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 10” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 2.5” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 78 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 10”
- Handle Diameter: 2.5”
12" 3" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 12” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 3” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 94 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 12”
- Handle Diameter: 3”
12" 2.5" Handle
- 1.9” Tube allows for Olympic Weights under 12” in diameter to be placed inside the circus dumbbell to easily increase weight.
- 2.5” diameter handle.
- 10.75” loadable sleeve length.
- Comes with a pair of weight retainers.
- Empty Weight: 67 LB
- Length: 30.125”
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.75”
- Dumbbell Diameter: 12”
- Handle Diameter: 2.5”
With these bis dumbbells you can train and get better to move cumbersome weights which is one of the main requirements in strongman competitions. It is also a rather cheap option for a loadable dumbbell compared to other models which come in around $300 to $600.
Pros of the TITAN Circus Dumbbell
The pros of the TITAN Circus dumbbell are:
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Low price
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Fits the requirement
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Loadable
This is one of the cheapest possible ways you can get into the strongman sport. Circus dumbbells are in my opinion a bit easier to get overhead than axle barbells and also provide a different experience from anything else you usually move around in the gym. Especially if you have been looking for a loadable dumbbell for a while, this might be a cheaper option compared to a full adjustable dumbbell system and a bit more fun. Compared to Atlas stones they are a lot less hassle to get ready.
Cons of the TITAN Circus dumbbell
Cons of the TITAN Circus dumbbell are:
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Warp easily
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Do not fit most Storage units
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Con only be loaded with smaller plates
The main point against these dumbbells is that they warp quite easily when dropped from overhead. Original circus dumbbells are usually solid an round at the end. Therefore they are not adjustable, but virtually indestructible. That you have to take a little more care with these circus dumbbells is a bit counter intuitive. All you want to do when this beast is overhead is to drop it, not gently put it back down to avoid damage. Be prepared to get a thick gym mat together with your purchase for lasting fun.
Another disadvantage is that you will most likely not be able to fit these dumbbells on any rack you already have. If your gym is very spacious that is not a huge problem. If you crammed your gym into your home, every inch counts and these dumbbells do not help your space management if you already have plates, kettlebells and some bands lying on the floor.
The last thing is that if you want to go heavy, you might need some specialist plates. With heavy I mean strongman heavy around 100kg and more. For mere mortals the weight of the Circus dumbbell itself might already be enough to work with.
Alternatives to the TITAN Circus dumbbell
Alternatives to the TITAN Circus dumbbells are:
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TITAN Loadable dumbbell
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Rogue Loadable dumbbell
TITAN Provides loadable dumbbells which range from 15" to 36" in length and $45 to $75 in price per piece. As they do not have an outer rim like the circus dumbbells you can use most of your plates with these. The lifting experience is more convenient and close to what you are used to with normal dumbbells. If you put big plates on them they feel a little more like circus dumbbells depending on your preference. They are also easier to store.
Rogue also provides loadable dumbbells on 10" and 15" length which cost around $135 a piece. These loadable dumbbells are shortened versions of the classic Rogue Ohio barbell and feel more than a shortened barbell rather than just a loadable dumbbell. Rogue also provides special bumpers that have been made for the loadable dumbbells. If you want to save space in your gym while still having a full dumbbell rack, this is a very space efficient, yet pricey way of getting there. They also look really stylish.
Conclusion for the TITAN Circus Dumbbell
The TITAN Circus dumbbell are a cheap entry point to strongman overhead lifts. Especially if you already have the space and mats available they can be a fun addition to your regimen. If you are a serious contender for strongman competitions who weighs more than 100kg or even 140kg than you might go for the solid core circus dumbbells instead. These are more expensive and less suited for the mass market, but simulate the real life event closer. For smaller athletes or every day training to spice things up they are still a good alternative to most loadable dumbbells you can get, if you have the space and some protection for the floor.
