TITAN EZ Load hex bar vs Rogue Russian bar [Article, Video]

This is a comparison between the TITAN EZ load hex bar and the Rogue Russian bar. Follow the links for more details.

Overview & Review of the Rogue Russian bar

This overview of the Rogue Russian 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: 769$

What else to consider from Rogue

Overview of the Russian bar

The Russian bar became popular in the 1960s and was used at the Olympic games in 1980. It weighs 20kg and uses a diameter of 28mm. It withstands 200.000 PSI and has a chrome finish with 16.25 of loadable sleeve length. The design is unique and optimized fur multiple reps. To achieve this the bar has special sleeves combined with special collars. These enable you to do multiple repetitions on the Olympic lifts without having to reset the bar.

Rogue took the old model of the Russian bar and applied their modern knowledge and technology to bring the bar into the 21st century. The bar has a centre knurl and Olympic knurl marks. It also comes with bearing for a better spin off the sleeves.

This high quality and special manufacturing make it the highest priced Rogue bar to date. You ultimately get what you pay for and this is the top end.

Pros of the Russian bar

You get the best of the best with added functionality for weightlifters. The shaft is made of stainless steel while the sleeves are made of chrome. This is combined with extra functionality through the click and tighten mechanics.

If you have Olympic weightlifters who want to fully focus on multi-rep sets this is the bar to go for. This is the right bar for serious athletes who are subsidized by the state to win gold medals. Put this bar into an environment where this is big respect for the sport of weightlifting and the equipment used.

Cons of the Russian bar

The high price tag makes it not really a feasible option for a home gym or Crossfit box. If you have to buy many barbells, the price will get unacceptable compared to the Ohio bar as you can get twice as many barbells for the same budget. If your gym is mainly powerlifting focused you might also want to look into other barbells.

As the collars are specialized the Russian bar might also not be the right choice for a commercial gym or military facilities where there are a lot of people. Collars tend to get lost in those environments and they are an essential piece of the functionality and price of this barbell.

Conclusion

The Russian bar is a great addition to an already existing weightlifting gym which honors the past. You get some extra functionality which seasoned weightlifters will appreciate and respect. This piece of equipment would be wasted on beginners or people who do care little about the sport of weightlifting.

Learn more about the specs of the Russian barbell and purchase on the Rogue website

Overview and review of the TITAN EZ Load Hex bar

The Titan EZ load hex bar will put you back about $150. 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 EZ load hex bar

The EZ load hex bar is a great tool for experienced athletes who want to train their grip or rehab patients who want to get into the deadlift to reap its benefits. The EZ bar is raised from the floor which makes it easier to load plates. You stand inside the frame to lift the weight which makes it less taxing on your back. The features and specifics are:

EZ hex bar details:

raised plate holders for easy loading
2" Tubing for EZ Load Hex Bar Frame
3 different grip diameters, 1", 1.5", and 2" Just rotate to change grips!
Knurled Handles.
10" of loadable sleeve length
Fits 2" Olympic Plates.
Weight plates holders at 10" off the ground.
Weight: 54 LB
Length: 66.33"
Width: 30.9"
Height: 10"
Sleeve length: 10"

A great bar to experiment and develop different types of strength.

Pros of the EZ hex bar

The EZ hex bar is an innovative concept you do not find in every gym. Different options to train your grip can be especially interesting for Strongman athletes. Additionally, also the easy load option, as they usually have to get a lot of plates on their bar. Beginners will struggle less and still get the benefits of a hex bar.

Cons of the EZ hex bar

There are moving parts which means that it is more prone to break after heavy use. This means gym environments with 100s of reps a day by inexperienced lifters or very, very big guys and ladies. As TITAN is known for shortcuts on their welding and finish this is something to be mindful about with this item.

Alternatives to the TITAN EZ hex bar

The Titan hex bar would be an option with fewer moving parts which makes it more robust and less prone to quality issues.

The Rogue trap bar would be an alternative which costs more and has no options for different grips. In return, the finish of Rogue is usually more consistent in quality.

If you want an easy to load trap bar with an inbuilt jacking system and different grips go for the Trap bar from Kabuki strength. This will be top-notch engineering which comes with a price tag to reflect the craftsmanship going into this bar.

Summary for the EZ hex bar

A great addition for your arsenal, but probably get a normal hex bar first.