Volcano Yoke vs Rogue Butcher V2

This is a comparison of the Volcano yoke and the Rogue butcher V2 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview and review of the Rogue Butcher V2

This is an overview of the Rogue Butcher V2 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview of the Rogue Butcher

Price: $265

The Rogue Butcher is a simple design for a sled that holds a lot of plates. This is the right tool to get if you want to do heavy-duty sled pushes and pull.s The Rogue butcher has two uprights on which you can place plates. This makes the capacity a lot bigger than for the Dogsled from Rogue. The full specifications of the butcher are:

Made in the USA
2x3” 11-Gauge Steel
Weight: 74LB / Weight Capacity: 500LB+
Rogue Signature Matte Black Powdercoat finish provides grip on all handles
Bolt-On Steel Feet can be used on any surface, fully replaceable
Multiple bars for different pushing positions
Compact footprint (42.25" x 47.25") and removable handles allows for easy storage, portability
Protective UHMW plastic skis can be added to order and come with all necessary hardware

The butcher is a solid and simple design. The only downside might be that it can damage the floors you are working on, even though Rogue started to provide plastic skis for it.

Pros of the rogue butcher V2

Pros of the butcher V2 are:

Simple and robust build
Two possible plate stacks
Bolt-on feet

This is a simple t build with two metal rods stuck on to the top. Nothing fancy just good old metal and bolts. This is exactly what you want when you want to go heavy on the sledding. Rogue also learned from the past and made the feet detachable in case they break. This way you can easily swap them out, without having to replace the entire unit.

Cons of the Rogue butcher V2

Cons of the V2 butcher are:

Only one operational mode
Possible damages the floors
Harder to store than the dogsled

The butcher only comes with one configuration which gives you less use for your buck compared to a yoke or the rogue Dogsled 1.2. As with all sleds, it will also possibly damage your driveway, gym floor or any other surface you will use it on. The butcher uprights are also welded onto the t construction. This makes it harder to put it away into a small corner compared to the Dogsled 1.2 which has removable uprights.

Alternatives to the butcher V2

Alternatives to the Rogue butcher V2 are:

The XPO trainer 2 has the same training effect as the butcher, except it runs on wheels. This way you will not hurt the surfaces you train on as much and still get a good workout in. The XPO works with a type of flywheel to make the resistance higher the faster you go. If you like the missing momentum of deadweight than the butcher is probably better for very heavy sled pulls or pushes.

The dogsled 1.2 is the most versatile option out of the Rogue sled line up. While it is less bulky and big than the butcher, it makes up for in different attachments to train in different ways. Especially the many ways to use a carabiner and rope in combination with the Dogsled 1.2 makes it the better tools to move lower payloads around fast to become more agile. The downside is that it is not made for holöding a ton of plates like the butcher is.

The last option is a Rogue Yoke 2. The Rogue Y2 has also been equipped with plastic feet. This way pushed and pulls as with a sled can be done. The Yoke triples up as a yoke, squat stand, and sled in this configuration. At a price point of roughly $500 to $700 dollars you get an all in one gym. The downside that the Yoke is a lot clunkier than the Rogue sleds for speed work. If you go slow and heavy the yoke is adoption, but not if you want to accelerate and change directions fast in your training.

Conclusion for the Butcher V2

The Rogue butcher V2 is a great tool for heavy sled pushes. Rugby players and football players will enjoy them to train how to block and tackle. If you are more into agility or 4-5 plates are more than enough for your strength endeavors, then the Dogsled 1.2 is possibly the better choice for your training needs.

Overview and review of the Volcano Yoke

This is an overview of the Volcano Yoke including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview of the Volcano

Price: $1.999

The volcano is a yoke that has been modified in a way that it can also be used to simulate tire flips. It has six plate storage pins and its triangular shape makes it stable, even when large amounts of weight are being moved. This makes it a great tool for serious strongman training. The full specifications are:

Made in Columbus, OH, USA by Volcano Strength LLC
2x2" & 2x3" Steel construction
Weight (Unloaded): 250 LBS
Height: 60" overall / 45" yoke bar height
Length: 69" (depth)
Width: 48"
Footprint: 69" x 48"
3 Easy-Grip Crossmembers: 1.75” diameter
6 Weight Posts: 9.75" loadable post length
1" thick Rubber Corner Protection
Color: Black
Ships Disassembled

Especially if you have a lot of space and ant to train yoke carries and tire flips outside, this is a good investment.

Pros of the Volcano

The pros of the volcano are:

Lower injury risk
Adjustable load
2 in 1 for strongman training

If you have space and you want to get serious about strongman training, then this a great tool to use. With the three handles, you can get a good grip on the weight and simulate strongman events that involve flipping cars or tires. Compares to tires and other strongman tools you can also increase the weight in increments and therefore track your progress better. All of this makes the Volcano a great option if you ave the indoor or outdoor space to do the flips and carries.

Cons of the Volcano

The cons of the volcano are:

Big frame
No option to put a barbell on
Can not be used for conditioning

Even though the volcano claims space efficiency it is a massive frame that will take up a big portion of most home gyms. If you do not have a lot of extra space, the chances are high that the volcano will end up vas a glorified plate tree. Compared to a traditional yoke you also do not have as many options to store a barbell on it, use it to get atlas stones over or do sled work. This is mainly due to the fact, that the three handles are fixed and can not be adjusted. Compared to a tire you can not jump onto the volcano or beat the crap out of it with hammer. I am confident that if you have the space for a volcano, you also have the space for a yoke and a tire. A yoke and a tire will likely cost the same or less and give you more training options.

Alternatives to the Volcano

Alternatives to the volcano are

Rogue Y2 yoke
Titan indoor tire flipping machine

The Rogue Y2 Yoke is one of the bigger Yokes from Rogue. With this option, you will be able to do carries, sled pushes, and atlas stones over the bar exercises. It also only $535 compared to the almost $2000 of the Volcano.

If you have a gym and want to get a tire flip, without the dirt and fewer space requirements, you can get the Titan tire flipping machine. In fact, for the budget of one Volcano you can get the Tire flipping machine and the Yoke.

Conclusion for the Volcano

The Volcano is a great option for actual strongmen who want to get ready for competition. The Volcano simulates the load distribution of very heavy yoke carries better than a traditional yoke. For example hay or other heavy objects that usually stack higher than plates for the same amount. It also probably the best tool for simulating a very heavy tire or car flips at home. That being said, most people do not follow this type of heavy strongman training. If you are just a weekend warrior you can me your money stretch a lot better by getting a yoke, barbell, plates, and an old tractor tire.