Volcano Yoke vs XPO 2 trainer

This is a comparison of the Volcano yoke and the XPO 2 trainer including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview and review of the XPO 2 trainer

This is an overview of the XPO 2 trainer including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview of the XPO trainer 2

Price: $699

The XPO Trainer 2 offers an innovative design for sled work by adding tires and an accelerating resistance model. The secret sauce of this sled is a little motor at the front wheel that provides more and more resistance the harder and faster you push. This is similar to training with bands or flywheels for running, except the resistance comes from the front rather than behind. This makes the XPO a great sled for beginners who want to work with resistance from the start or pros that want resistance at high speeds. The full specifics of this sled are:

Made by Armored Fitness Equipment
First Push Sled with Wheels
Patent-Pending Exponential Resistance Curve: As you push harder/faster, the resistance increases to compensate
No Weight Plates Included or Required
(2) Removable Handles for easy transport and storage
Laser-cut XPO Trainer logo in front plating
Durable rubberized wheels for safe all-surface sled training
Nearly Silent Operation
Suitable for Beginner / Rehab up to High Intensity / Pro training
Color: Black

A great addition to a commercial gym with a lot of space or a home gym with a spacious driveway. For professional, very heavy athletes, this might not be the right choice.

Pros of the XPO trainer 2

The pros of the XPO trainer 2 are:

Wheels instead of a sled
work at high speeds
Accelerating resistance curve

The biggest pro of this machine compared to sleds is that it has wheels. This means less wear and tear on any floor that it is used on. This is especially good for indoor gyms and home gyms that are worried about sleds wrecking the floor. The wheels also enable that you can get to a sprinting speed without worrying that the sled will get caught on the ground and you really hurt yourself. Compared to other sleds, this one gets harder the more momentum you create. Traditional sleds are usually the hardest to get moving and get easier, once momentum is built.

Cons of the XPO trainer 2

The cons of the XPO trainer 2 are:

Lightweight
Wheels
Accelerating resistance curve

Depending on the training application and where you use it the XPO is great. Anyone who is not an NFL linebacker or rugby player will probably be satisfied and get excellent results from it improving their explosiveness and getting some cardio work in at the same time. If you weigh 100kg plus and are mainly concerned with moving a big heavy object out of the way that is reluctant to budge then the XPO is not the right training tool. Here you need a heavy ass sled, that only starts moving after you throw your full weight behind it. Imagine you tackle the 60-pound XPO with full might. It will go flying unless you weigh it down.

Alternatives to the XPO Trainer 2

Alternatievs to the XPO trainer 2 are:

The butcher V2 costs only a third of the XPO and simulates better to get momentum into an inanimate object. The downside is that it comes on feet instead of wheels which is more likely to damage the surface you are using it on. Rogue has addressed this in their V2 redesign with replaceable feet that can be equipped with a plastic footplate set. Still, this will damage your floors more than wheels. On the positive side, you can get a lot of weight on this to simulate rugby and football tackles. You might even like that the friction provides even more resistance.

The Rogue Y2 yoke can also be used for sled pushes and pulls. The setup is more cumbersome as the structure is bigger compared to sleds. Still, a good yoke is an all in one gym that can have a pull-up bar, squat stand, sled, and yoke in one. If you have space a yoke is not to be scoffed at, as it has way more applications for the same price as the XPO. The only downside is that it is less portable and will screw more with your floor.

Conclusion for the XPO trainer 2

The XPO trainer 2 is a great sled for anyone who has the money too spent and I worried about their driveway or floor for sled work. This probably covers 95% of the fitness population that is in the market for a sled, as it is a nice to have rather than must-have for a home gym anyway. For the remaining 5% who are massive beasts and want to simulate running into a brick wall a fully loaded butcher is probably the better option.

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 detai

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.