TITAN T-3 Series Yoke vs TITAN 12-inch log bar
This is a comparison between the TITAN T-3 Yoke and TITAN 12-inch log bar 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 12-inch log bar
This is an overview of the TITAN 12-inch log bar 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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12-inch Log bar V2 $250
Overview of the 12-inch log bar
The
12-inch log bar from TITAN is the biggest
log bar you can get from them. It weighs 84 pounds and can take up to 1000 pounds for your heaviest overhead lifts.
Log bars are a staple in strongman competitions and vary in weight. Sometimes they are done for repetitions, other times for maximum weight. The neutral grip handles make the
log bars a lot more forgiving on the wrists and arms than regular barbells for heavy overhead presses. The
log bar is usually lifted from the ground and brought to the mid section of the body to then bring it overhead. A great tool to develop strength and try out something new, but a big boy toy. The full specifications of the TITAN 12 inch
log bar run as followed:
- Rackable on most standard power racks
- A staple for Strongman training and competitions
- Durable steel construction with laser-cut Titan logo
- Neutral knurled handgrips at 26-in on center
- Fully welded seams and end caps
- 14-in loadable sleeves which fit Olympic plates
- Available in 10 and 12-inch models
- Grip Diameter: 1.65-in.
- Handle Length: 11.3-in
- Handle Spacing: 23.6-in.
- Sleeve Diameter: 50mm.
- Overall Length: 80.3-in.
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 14-in.
- Sleeve to Sleeve Length: 50.6-in.
- Knurling: Medium
- Weight Capacity: 1,000 lb.
- Product Weight: 84 lb.
This is a good budget option from TITAN for your strongman training at home or in the gym.
Pros of the 12-inch log bar
This is the type of
log which dimensions would be the same in a proper strongman competition The only difference would be that this one is metal and not wood. This makes the
TITAN 12 inch log bar more cost efficient and weigh a little less by itself compared to wood. That makes it more approachable for beginners. The chambers for the grips are generous in size and you will have no contact with the outer edges of it. This can sometimes be a problem on poorly designed
log bars, especially for big athletes who then have trouble getting their hands and arms to the grips. You will also not need to worry about whether your standard plates will fit this
log.
Cons of the 12-inch log bar
-
Big boy toy
-
Not wood
-
A little too long
This is a big boy toy and therefore not necessarily suitable for most commercial gyms. To really have fun with a
log bar you should already know a little bit about lifting and not be scrawny yourself. This is not a beginners training tool so look somewhere else if you are only starting out on your strength journey.
The more experienced athletes will get a great
log bar for a good price, but it will not fully simulate what happens in competition. Many competitions will get an actual wooden
log bar as it is a better showpiece for spectators. So if you are training for serious competitions, you might as well invest the little extra money to get a heavier wooden
log that also has a bit of a different feel about it.
TITAN has not normed this to average barbell length. If your gym is already tight, be aware that the
log will protrude considerably more from the
rack than your barbells do.
Alternatives to the 12-inch log bar
The
10 inch log bar from TITAN is the little brother of the
12" log bar. This size is usually used in female strongman competitions, but can also be a bit more approachable for the masses in a commercial gym to get them interested in strongman training. It also comes at a slightly lower price of $230, although I think that the size differences matter more for this comparison than the prices.
The
TITAN Multi grip log bar offers you two different grip widths while giving up some of the weight compared to the 12 inch log bar which makes it a bit cheaper. If you want some more variety in your log presses you can opt for this model from TITAN.
Rogue delivers their log bars in (2, 10" and 12" at prices of $345, $465, and $595. Their logs are considerably higher in cost. The log bars usually involve more manual labor and welding in production and Rogue is known for better quality welds than TITAN. Usually these differences are more cosmetic than functional in nature, but be aware that you tend to pay more for better craftsmanship at Rogue for the welding and that log bars, not like barbells, need more of this kind of work.
The slater log is the real deal when it comes to log bars. If you want to purchase a ready made wooden log bar you can get your hands in three different versions from Slater costing $449, $549, and $695. These log bars weigh more for the same diameter and come closer to what you will handle in competition.
Conclusion for the 12-inch log bar
The
12.inch log bar from TITAN is a solid budget option for anyone who is considering a
log bar for their gym. Be aware that a
12" log bar is massive and that most normal humans would be better of getting a 10" or even 8" log to not overwhelm themselves. Still, if you are goliath yourself, knock yourself out with a 12-inch. Maybe get a pizza of that size first and see what you get yourself into. Chances are if you can not eat a 12" pizza by yourself, you should not get the corresponding
log bar.Overview and review of the TITAN T-3 Series Yoke
This is an overview of the TITAN T-3 series Yoke including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in Which Strongman equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for details
TITAN T-3 series Yoke $380
Overview of the TITAN T3 series Yoke
The
TITAN T3 series Yoke is the
Yoke version of the best selling
TITAN T3 rack. With the
yoke you get an additional fat crossbar to use it as a
yoke, feet, and four uprights four plate storage. This unit also easily breaks down for storage and is very space efficient. Yokes are often overlooked as a very good, cheap alternative to a squat stand or
rack. What you will need to purchase in addition is a pir of spotter arms and J cups to use the
Yoke in this way. That bring the overall investment nearer to the $500 to $600 mark. Still, I highly recommend
yokes, especially if you place it in a garage gym. The full list of specifications for this
yoke is:
- Great alternative to a Power Rack - Serves the same purpose with other functions in one.
- Use as a Squat / Press Stand, Push or Drag Sled, or Yoke.
- A staple for Strongman training.
- Adjustable crossbar to custom fit your height.
- Integrated vertical plate storage.
- 2" hole spacing on uprights | 1" Westside spacing through the bench zone.
- Compact 72" design means you can use the Titan Yoke anywhere you train.
- 2.95" Crossbar Diameter.
- Now compatible with competition plates!
- Weight: 166 LB
- Height: 72"
- Inside width: 45"
- Footprint: 51" x 52"
- Uprights: 2"x3" 11 gauge steel
- Weight capacity: 750 LB
This is a great budget option for a commercial gym or home gym, that wants to get the maximum out of their dollar. Apart from yoke carries this yoke can be used for stone lifts over the bar, be used as a regular squat stand and plate storage. It also comes with feet so that you do not need to bolt it to the ground to be safe.
Pros of the TITAN T-3 series Yoke
-
Versatility
-
Price
-
Compact design
The TITAN comes with a wide range of possible exercise you can do it with it. You can use it as a squat stand, pull up bar, plate storage and create a complete gym in itself at a lower cost than a
full rack. The price of
TITAN T-3 Yoke is great compared to other
rack options from TITAN, but also compared to the Rogue Y1 which costs $495 instead of the $380 ask price from TITAN. The compact design also helps to collapse and store it away quickly if you need to. This makes it a good option for a garage gym setup, where you also want to use the garage for its original purpose or as a workshop.
Cons of the TITAN T-3 series Yoke
-
TITAN finish
-
Bigger footprint compared to a half rack
-
No Full safeties, only spotter arms
-
Spotter arms and J-cups not included
The TITAN finish means that TITAN generally as a higher risk of the coating being not optimal or the welds being a bit sloppy compared to other brands in the market like Eleiko and Rogue Fitness. As most of the TITAN equipment costs considerably less than the competition they need to cut corners by hiring part time or summer workers, or a bit more lenient quality control. That doesn't make the equipment unusable, but if you want consistent quality with your purchase and not have a bad feeling about how it might turn out on delivery, Rogue and Eleiko are the safer bet. That being said, for a
yoke it is a great price.
If space is a concern you have to keep in mind that the four uprights including the plates you might store on them make the footprint f a
yoke considerably larger compared to a simple half
rack. If space is a concern for you, but you still want to train heavy, you might want to look into a half
rack rather than a
yoke to save some space. The trade off is that a half
rack can not be used for any carries or sled pushes.
The last thing is that
Yokes only have two instead of four uprights. This means that you can only use potter arms as a safety. I personally hugely dislike spotter arms as this is the only piece of equipment I have manged to break with
rack pulls. It was not pretty. I also find that you are easy to miss the spotter arms on a bench press or squat. The longer the spotter arms, the easier it is to actually hit them on a fail, but the more likely they become to break at the fixation point. If you want to squat heavy by yourself and know that you fail from time to time, you are better of getting a half rack or full
rack with safety pins.
What is a bit of a shame is that the J-Cups and spotter arms are not included with the purchase at $380 which would make it a really sweet deal to build a home gym. The matching T-series spotter arms are an additional $100 and the J-Cups another $70 to complete a home gym setup that can also be safely used for squats and bench presses.
Alternatives to the TITAN T-3 series Yoke
The
TITAN T3 rack is made of the steel gauges than the
Yoke. IT can also be purchased in color and various heights, depending on your needs. The TITAN T-3 is a long staple of TITAN and a solid option for a home gym when someone is bench pressing and squatting heavy on a regular basis. If you do not like spotter arms or dropping weights when you go all balls out, this is the better option from TITAN. The price will be about $100 to $200 higher than for the
yoke as you will get more steel in your delivery.
The
X-3 series from TITAN is one step up from The T series and uses thicker uprights which makes these
racks more stable. Compared to the
T-3 Yoke you will probably invest $200 to $300 more depending on what you ultimately decide for. The X-3 line also has
racks which offer feet on the bottom of the
rack so that it does not need to be bolted to the ground. This is a good option for home gym for someone who does not only lift heavy, but also will do a lot of pull ups, band pulls and other exercises where you pull the
rack in different directions. The extra thickness of the tubing makes this
rack more stable for these scenarios than the T-3- line. This is not relevant if you only squat and bench press as this doesn't shake the
rack as much.
The R
ogue RML 390 rack is a half rack from Rogue comes in various colors and starts at a price of $1.015. While the price is considerably higher than the
TITAN racks and
yokes, you will get some of the finest fitness equipment that money can buy. Rogue is not the best option when you are on a budget but is almost unmatched in quality, customer service and forward thinking in the market. If you want to make sure that some american veterans get paid for the making your
rack, you have a way higher chance of your equipment being made by someone who is fairly paid and in a stable job by buying Rogue equipment. If you only want the cheapest price tag, Rogue is the wrong place to look.
The
Rogue Yoke is the original from which TITAN made a lower cost copy. Rogue offer their
Yoke in two different heights at a price point of $495 and $560. While Rogue caters a little more towards the crossfit crowd and suburban dads, TITAN caters a little more to the ones who want to build a steel dungeon in their basement for cheap. I am a huge Rogue Fan and therefore biased and would get the
Rogue Yoke if it was only between a
Yoke from Rogue or
Yoke from TITAN as the prices are fairly close together. $100 bucks for piece of mind that a might not have to force some components, have some missing screws on delivery or any other funny business is worth the while for me. However, if you are intending to build a steel dungeon and also buy a bunch of plate loaded machines on the same ticket / outfit an entire home gym on a budget, than TITAN is a serious contender as you can save a lot and also have a wider choice in machines.
Conclusion for the TITAN T-3 series Yoke
The
TITAN T-3 Yoke is a great option for building a simple home gym. In fact,
Yokes are often overlooked for this purpose, especially if you have quite a bit of space to play around with. Be careful to also put the spotter arms and J-Cups into your basket when you are purchasing as it can be frustrating to buy these things piece meal and then have to wait and pay for shipping twice. It does what it says on the tin, but if you are lifting several hundred pounds of weight regularly by yourself, get a full cage instead. I know there is many people out there who do it just with a squat stand, but better to be safe than sorry.