TITAN loadable Strongman keg vs TITAN Circus dumbbells
This is a comparison between the TITAN loadable strongman keg and TITAN Circus 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 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.
Overview and review of the TITAN loadable Strongman keg
This is an overview of the TITAN loadable Strongman keg including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details.
Related articles
- Where is TITAN Fitness equipment made
- Is Titan fitness a good brand
- Which TITAN rack to get for under $500
- Which TITAN rack to get for over $500
- Which Bench to get from TITAN
- Which TITAN plates to get
- Which barbell to get from TITAN fitness
- Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN
- Which gym machine to get from TITAN
TITAN Loadable strongman keg $460
Overview of the TITAN plate loadable strongman keg
The TITAN loadable strongman keg starts at 136 pound and can be loaded up to 500 pounds with traditional iron Olympic weight plates. This keg has a pin inside on which you can stack plates and secure them with a stopper that you screw onto the plates. This prevents them moving during your exercise for carries, throws and lifts to the shoulder. The design is simple and sturdy and there is not a lot you can do wrong with these. Compared to other kegs it is also easier to work with plates rather than water or sand to get an exact weight for any kind of exercises you will be doing with the kegs. The full list pf specifications for this model includes:
- Olympic weight plate sleeve
- Loads cast iron or bumper plates
- Laser-cut handles on either side and on top and bottom
- Removable steel spacers to keep plates stable and secure
- Dual handled turnstile ensures plates are secured during your workout
- Easier than loading and unloading sand, lead shot, water, etc. and much more precise
- Overall Height: 24-in.
- Overall Diameter: 22-in.
- Keg Wall Thickness: 0.125-in.
- Sleeve Length: 14.75-in.
- Finish: Powder-Coated Black
- Material: Steel
- Weight Capacity: 500 lb. (varies by thickness of plates used to load)
- Product Weight: 136 lb.
Pros of the TITAN plate loadable strongman keg
The pros of the TITAN plate loadable strongman keg are:
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Different weight varieties
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Space efficient
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Safe
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Easy to handle
This keg makes you live considerably easier and safes a lot of hassle, if your mainly training by yourself in your home gym with a focus on maximum strength for throwing or lifting kegs. Loading and deloading the plates is much safer and quicker than adding sand or water to a keg. It is also less likely that you will have a spill or explosion in case you throw the keg on a stone or similar sharp object from a height. With this keg you can continuously work up the weight you are lifting while being precise and micro loading.
Cons of the TITAN Plate loadable strongman keg
Cons of the plate loadable strongman keg are:
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Price
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Only one keg
If you intend to train with kegs chances are high that you already have a bit of space available. The strongman competition that you see most often is throwing multiple kegs of various weights over a high bar or throwing a maximum weight over the high bar. Occasionally you see keg carries, but not as often. For the throws the weights goes usually up to about 100 pounds. Therefore, you might be better off by getting multiple smaller legs that you will with water or sand and just leave them there for training rather than having one adjustable keg for $450.
Alternatives to the TITAN plate loadable strongman keg
Alternatives to the Titan plate loadable strongman keg are:
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Regular kegs
You can get regular used kegs from a local pub or distributor. It will take a bit more time to resource, but look for ones that have a defect on the closing mechanism and therefore do not regulate the pressure correct anymore. Get those at a discounted price, fill them with water or sand and seal them tight. This needs more DIY skills and some connections, but it will be the cheaper and better training tool to simulate what happens at a strongman competition. Especially if you have a little army of these.
An alternative that is more user friendly for the masses is the strongman throw bag from Rogue. Especially if you mainly use legs for throw training. For carry events these might be a little too light if you are a 140kg and more monster, but for throws they are great. They cost $145 and are a lot easier to handle than a keg. If you want to bring over the bar throws to the general population, is the better choice than the loadable keg.
Conclusion for the TITAN Loadable Strongman keg
The TITAN loadable strongman keg is a good option if you are training for maximum lifts and carries with kegs. Whenever you need one heavy keg to train this is a good, clean and safe option over any kind of do it yourself keg filled with water or sand. Usually, the events for throwing kegs are lighter and involve smaller kegs. In this scenario you are better off to work on a line up of kegs which you can easily swap, change and throw consecutively to be more effective with their your training. If you are considering to buy a leg for $450 i am quite positive, that you already have a home gym and considerable space. You might as well take a bit more time to source some kegs locally from a distributor and do them up yourself.
