TITAN Circus dumbbells vs Rogue Urethane dumbbell
This is a comparison between the TITAN Circus dumbbell and Rogue Urethane dumbbell 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 urethane dumbbell
The Rogue Urethane dumbbell has a round design and is made of more durable material than rubber hex dumbbells. The Urethane dumbbells start at $37 and go up to $7500 for an entire set of the heaviest you can get. This article has been originally posted in "which dumbbell to get from Rogue".
Overview of the Urethane dumbbell
The Rogue Urethane dumbbells are the Ferrari of the dumbbell world. They are available from 5lb to 150lb and are sold in pairs. Compared to other dumbbells they have a round instead of a hex design. Urethane is also a more durable material than most other dumbbells which are made of rubber. The handle is made of chrome which is 31mm to 34mm depending on the weight of the dumbbell. The specifications of the Rogue Urethane dumbbells are:
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Sold in Pairs
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Weight Increments: 5LB – 150LB
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Solid Steel Heads with Black Urethane Plating
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Straight 6” Hardened Chrome Handle
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Medium-grade knurling for optimal grip
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Fully welded as single-piece unit
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Tolerance: +/- 3% of claimed weight
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Black matte finish for clean, sleek look
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Rogue logo and weight measurement in white print on black
These are great when you prefer a round design or if you want to give your gym a top-notch feel for clients who are willing to pay the extra price in membership.
Pros of the Rogue Urethane dumbbell
The
Rogue Urethane dumbbells are round which makes them easier to handle. Hex
dumbbells can get problematic on the stance when people start stacking them or place them in appropriate places. You can also roll them around which can make it quicker for staff to set up circuits as they don't have to carry everything one by one. Apart from the design is slick and
Urethane gives you that extra durability. When you are just buying for yourself or for a shiny gym, this is a great option.
Cons of the Rogue Urethane dumbbell
Dumbbells can be had for a lot less money. Those might be used or don't look as nice. In addition, you need a lot of space to have all options from 5LB to 150LB stored. If you have a lot of space and clients, you probably want so many barbells and options. If you have a home gym with limited space you might
Alternatives to the Rogue Urethane dumbbell
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
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
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 Urethane dumbbell
The
Rogue Urethane dumbbell would be my personal favorite when I open my own gym as I don't like hex dumbbells. If you have the money and space invest in something a little better to make yourself feel good and your clients more appreciated. For a home gym, I personally think that the
loadable dumbbells from Rogue are a better investment to save space.
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.
Related articles
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
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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
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
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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.