Information on how to run faster, lift stronger and think deeper

TITAN Olympic dumbbell vs Rogue rubber dumbbell

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Nov 4, 2020 9:00:00 AM

TITAN Olympic dumbbell vs Rogue rubber dumbbell

This is a comparison between the TITAN Olympic dumbbell and Rogue rubber dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.

Click for Instagram

Rogue Rubber Hex dumbbell

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".

 

Related articles

 

 

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 Olympic dumbbell

This is an overview of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.

 
 

Related articles

 

Overview of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

Price: $42.99 - $74.99
 
The Titan Olympic dumbbell comes in three sizes. These are 36-inch, 20-inch, and 15-inch. With these sizes you get the possibility to have a shortened barbell and use it like a dumbbell. You can use your change and fractional plates to load the barbell. This saves money and space, especially in home gym setups. The full specifications of this dumbbell are:
 
 
- Knurled handles for better grip.
- Titan Branded endcaps
- Compatible with Olympic plates
- Overall Length: 20-in
- Handle Length: 5.75-in
- Handle Diameter: 28mm.
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 6.5-in.
- Sleeve Diameter: 50mm.
- Knurling: Medium
- Sleeve Coating: Chrome
- Weight Capacity: 500 lb.
- Weight: 12.1 lb. Each | 24.2 lb. Total
- Quantity: 2
 
Be aware that only the 20-inch version is sold in pairs and that the 15-inch and 36-inch come in singles. Read the fin print on each version to get their specifics.
 

Pros of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

 
 
  • Price
  • Space requirements
  • Flexibility
 
One of the main point in favor of TITAN fitness equipment is their price.  TITAN strategically positions themselves at half the price to Rogue Fitness and Eleiko for comparable products. The Loadable dumbbells are no exception to this. If you are on a budget and like the idea of a loadable dumbbell, TITAN is a good vendor to get your supplies.
 
Loadable dumbbells have the advantage that you can adjust them with the plates you already have. This makes them a lot more space efficient than regular urethane or rubber dumbbells. Just stack the plates on and work away with the weight of your choice. If you lack space in your home gym setup a pair of loadable dumbbells is the best options to cover dumbbell exercises in a wide range without having to pole vault into your gym every morning.
 
Another plus of Olympic loadable dumbbells is that they are compatible with standard plates from all vendors. Especially if you already invested in your home gym and intend to get a barbell and rack too, this is cost and space efficient. There are other solutions in the market which provide flexible weight choices but they are usual not as flexible. The widely know  block systems only work with the same weights and once the mechanics break you need to get anew set of dumbbells.
 

Cons of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

 
The cons of the TITAN Olympic dumbbells are:
 
  • Cumbersome setup
  • Needs more space than a stackable system
  • Only one pair of handles
 
If you like to run the dumbbell rack up and down for bodybuilding exercises, this is not for you. With regular dumbbells you have the advantage that you can switch fast between weights. With Olympic dumbbells you have to take the plates on and off between sets if you want to work with different loads.
 
Especially in hotels this might also not be the best solution. Most hotel gyms do not have plates and therefore the Olympic dumbbells are more trouble than they are worth. If you want to have a full set of dumbbells in a hotel on a minimal footprint, the stackable dumbbell systems are a better option even though they are more prone to break.
 
For a very busy gym Olympic dumbbells are also not the best solution. If you have a lot of clients training at the same time you also want to provide them with a lot of handles and material. With an Olympic dumbbell you are focusing all of the options on one handle to save space. In a commercial gym you want multiple weights so that multiple clients can train at the same time. 
 

Alternatives to the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

 
Alternatives to the TITAN Olympic dumbbell are:
 
 
Cast iron dumbbells are cheaper than rubber or urethane dumbbells as they are easier to produce. They are little more prone to rust and also not great for dropping on the ground. Apart from that it is easier to acquire a full set to have multiple options for your training, if you have the space to store them
 
If you want to switch fast between different weights and not wreck your floor rubber hex dumbbells are good value for money. The only downside is that you will not the space to store multiple pieces to work through a full range of loads.
 
Adjustable chrome dumbbells are a little cheaper than the Olympic dumbbells as they already come with the weights included. They are a good option when you just want dumbbells in your home to work on your physique and do not plan to build an entire gym. IN other scenarios they are not really the best option, as the weights only fit to the respective handles.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Olympic barbell

 
Loadable dumbbells are great for home gyms to save space while still being able to train with a wide variety of different loads. The TITAN loadable dumbbells are also a budget friendly option to get a loadable dumbbell into your home gym. Commercial gyms should invest in a rack of rubber hex dumbbells or urethane dumbbells depending on budget. Very affluent home gym owners also might fill their massive space with a full rack of dumbbells.
 

Topics: TITAN