TITAN Strongman Log bar vs Rogue Russian bar [Article, Video]

This is a comparison between the TITAN Strongman log 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 Strongman Log bar

The Titan Strongman Log 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 Strongman log bar

The Strongman log bar is a staple of Strongman Training. The pinnacle of this lifting practice is the Austrian oak competitions at the Arnold. This exercise will challenge your balance and all body strength. The log also loads competition plates, which often can be a problem with these bars. The features and specifications of the log bar are:

TITAN log bar details:

Now fits Competition Plates,
welded end caps
1.65" knurled handles
Neutral hand grips at 26" on center.
Fully welded seams for great fit and finish.
14.25" loadable sleeves
Weight: 75 LB
Overall length: 75.5"
Sleeve diameter: 1.9"
Log diameter: 10"
Loadable sleeve length: 14.25"

Good tool to press big weights overhead.

Pros of the log bar

The neutral grip position puts less stress on your wrists for the bench press and the overhead press. It will also teach you better to deal with cumbersome objects to lift them up. The price is also attractive compared to barbells and other competitors.

Cons of the log bar

A log bar can be quite intimidating for beginners as they are heavier and harder to handle than a barbell. They can sometimes be a pain to fit the plates you already have in your gym. As this piece of equipment has a lot of welding to be done and TITAN is known to cut not so the best job on these you might want to opt for a piece of equipment which needs less welding or is from a different vendor.

Alternatives to the log bar

The Atlas bar is TITAN’s all-purpose bar at a reasonable price. There are no welds on this bar which eliminates the risk of getting poor quality. It will also not be as intimidating for beginners as a log bar.

If you still want a log bar you can invest a little more and go for the Rogue Log bar. You will pay more but there are usually no complaints on the Rogue finish.

The hex bar from TITAN is an option too. This will enable you to do deadlifts in a safe and practice farmers walks for a better grip and the carriers which are a part of Strongman competitions.

Summary of the log bar

A good budget option, but you might want to look somewhere else because of the many welds.