TITAN Circus dumbbells vs Rogue rubber dumbbells

This is a comparison between the TITAN Circus dumbbell and Rogue rubber dumbbells including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details

Overview and review of the Rogue Rubber Hex dumbbell

The rogue rubber hex dumbbell is the workhorse option from Rogue which can be obtained for $7.50 - $309.This article will give you a short overview of the product and was originally posted in "which dumbbell to get from Rogue".

Overview of the Rogue Rubber Hex dumbbell

The rubber hex dumbbell is a classic which you find in many gyms around the country. They are a good, versatile low budget version of dumbbells that have stood the test of time. The Rogue rubber dumbbells are black and have rogue embossed on the rubber. The specifications are:

Weight range: 2.5LB to 125LB
Tolerance: +/- 3%
Handle Diameter: 25MM up to 10LB, 35MM for 12.5LB and above

Which will cover every need. Dumbbells are good in small spaces, athletes who can not lift a barbell and to put resistance on ranges of motion which can’t be reached with a barbell. To make a complete set in a gym they are a necessity, especially for accessory work.

Pros of the Rogue rubber hex dumbbell

Rogue takes pride in its products which shows in these dumbbells. One of the main concerns with dumbbells is that they come loose over time between the handle and grip which Rogue has addressed by paying special attention to this part of the dumbbell. A full rack of dumbbells is also great in any gym to leave options to train when the racks are taken. If you want to address beginners or rehab clients dumbbells are also a good go-to option.

Cons of the Rogue rubber hex dumbbell

Compared to barbells dumbbells are not used in many competitions. Powerlifters and weightlifters are therefore better off to train with a barbell than with a dumbbell. If you want a wide range of weights the rubber dumbbells will also take up a lot of space and have more cost than a barbell. A kettlebell might also provide the same amount of exercises with the benefit of also being able to do Turkish get-ups and kettlebell swings.

Alternatives to the Rogue Rubber hex dumbbell

Alternatives to the Rubber Hex dumbbells are

The Rogue loadable dumbbell is basically a shortened barbell that can be loaded with weights. Rogue also offers smaller weights to go with the loadable dumbbell. This is a great option when you want to be able to have a load of different weights on one dumbbell without eating too much space. Ideal for home gyms. For a commercial gym, it might be better to stick with a rack of dumbbells as they are more convenient to use and cover more clients at the same cost.

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 Rubber hex dumbbell

The rogue rubber hex dumbbells are an ideal solution for a gym with many clients at peak time and a lot of space. There is no setup time to get started and if they break they are easy to e the place. For most home gyms rubber dumbbells might not be the most cost and space-effective option Rogue has to offer. For this application, you might want to look into the loadable dumbbells before making your final decision.

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.

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:

Low price
Fits the requirement
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:

Warp easily
Do not fit most Storage units
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:

TITAN Loadable dumbbell
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.