TITAN Circus dumbbells vs TITAN Husafell stone
This is a comparison between the TITAN Circus dumbbells and TITAN Husafell stone 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 TITAN Husafell stone
This is an overview of the TITAN Husafell stone including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details
TITAN Husafell stone $180
Overview of the TITAN Husafell stone
The
husafell stone from TITAN is a simple design that simulates strongman carries where you can not use a handle to move the weight. Inspired by the 186kg (409lbs)
Husafell stone which is located in Iceland, you can hardly wrap your arms around this weight which is part of the challenge. The design is open at the top so that you can either fill it with plates or some other medium of your choice. The
TITAN Husafell stone is advertised as 110lbs empty. The full specifications of this big boy toy are:
- Loadable with bumper or steel plates, chains, or anything that fits!
- Laser cut carry handles for easy transport.
- 17.3" Opening for loading weight.
- Solid steel construction for durability.
- Weight: 110 LB empty
- Height: 30"
- Width: 28.9"
- Depth: 5.98"
- Opening width: 17.3"
- Bottom width: 8.5"
Pros of the TITAN Husafell stone
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Easy to load
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Easy to maintain
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Robust
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Hard hull
This is a simple, no-nonsense design which needs no explanation. Anyone who sees this in a gym will immediately now how to load it and how to use it. Whether they actually can move it around is a different matter. You can drop it, maltreat it and leave it in the dirt and rain. It might not look pretty afterwards, but will still function. What is also a great benefit is that the hull is hard and does not give in. This makes it hard to get a grip on this weight which is closer to simulating actual stones compared to sand bags which flow more with the medium you fill it with.
Cons of the TITAN Husafell stone
As TITAN manages to save you a lot of money on most purchases compared to other vendors, they have to find a way to get their. This is usual by saving labor costs in form of quality of the finish. The
TITAN husafell stone is no exception. One way to safe on this is to not thoroughly sand it down after it has been built. This means that it can leave sharp edges for you. When you load this with a couple of hundred pounds this is the last thing you want. Once you get your shipment from TITAN always check whether all parts have been included and whether all parts fit or have sharp edges. Usually you have to use some elbow grease to bring TITAN products to their final stage. Nothing major, but still a flaw.
Another disadvantage of the
Husafell stone is that it is very unforgiving when someone falls or drops it accidentally on themselves or the gym floor where there are no mats. It is almost certain that it will take a chunk out of the athlete or the floor depending on what it hits. This is common for real strongman objects like kegs, stones, and
circus dumbbells, but still might not appeal to the broader audience. If you want a similar experience that is a bit more user friendly you can get the
Husafell sandbag from Rogue.
As with some most Strongman objects, the
Husafell is also cumbersome to store. If you are strapped for space in your home gym, this might not be the ideal purchase. It might end up as one of these toys that will just gather dust and you have to dance around between the
rack and your pile of strength shame which this one will be added too.
Alternatives to the TITAN husafell stone
A good alternative to almost any strongman device are heavy
kettlebells. Once you pass 60kg on
kettlebells they are almost as big as a small stone and still have a handle. This leaves you open for carries, lifts and other strongman activities while still being able to use the
kettlebell for floor presses, swings and maybe even Turkish get ups.
Another alternative for carries are
trap bars which can also be sued for
trap bar deadlifts. Rogue and TITAN both offer their own
trap bars. While the
Rogue trap bars have a slightly better finish at slightly higher cost you will get the
TITAN trap bars for less money, but with a higher risk of minor blemishes or bad shipping attached.
If you want to lift heavy and work your core you can also go for simple farmer's walk handles from wither Rogue or TITAN. The center of gravity is away from you with this exercise and you will also have a clear grip. In return you can walk faster and work your cardiovascular system a little more in exchange for less activation of your back muscles from the
Husafell stone.
If you want to keep the idea of the
Husafell stone lift, but make it more secure, than the
Rogue Husafell sandbags might be the right thing for you. Rogue has recently expanded their
strongman sandbag line up with new shapes. The
husafell bag is the newest, which weighs 100lb to 200lb if you fill it with sand. If you want to go heavier lead shot is also an option.
Conclusion for the TITAN Husafell stone
The
TITAN husafell stone is a good option for serious strongman competitors and aspirants who want a loadable
husafell stone that is very close to the original challenge. For anyone who wants to minimize injury risk and make the handling of the weight more convenient the
Rogue Husafell sandbag version is a better option.
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
-
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.