Rogue Fitness


Rogue Fitness is an American manufacturer and distributor of strength and conditioning equipment, including weightlifting barbells, plates, racks and other fitness related equipment for CrossFit boxes, personal garage gyms, military, collegiate, and professional sports teams.

History

Rogue originally started in 2007 in Toledo, Ohio by Bill Henniger when he had a hard time finding the necessary equipment for his new garage gym, a CrossFit affiliate. Initially, Rogue only sold other manufacturers' equipment through its website so that everything could be found and purchased in one spot, but there were still issues with customers having to deal with multiple manufacturers and their own shipping fees and schedules. Rogue began warehousing the equipment and ultimately building it themselves.
The company grew into a facility in Columbus that was next to the CrossFit box that Henniger also owned. Rogue began offering more products and also started manufacturing more of them.
Rogue Europe launched in Finland in January 2014 with Juha Puonti and 2009 CrossFit Games male champion Mikko Salo.

Today

Rogue now operates out of a manufacturing facility and is one of the primary suppliers for equipment for CrossFit boxes around the world. Rogue has been building and providing all the equipment to the CrossFit Games and regional events since 2010. Fifteen semi-trucks of equipment were needed to supply the 2013 CrossFit Games at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, up from nine trucks used to supply the 2011 CrossFit Games. They also build equipment for Strongman, Powerlifting, and Olympic weightlifting.
The company sponsors numerous CrossFit athletes around the world, such as Rich Froning Jr., Ben Smith, Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, Mat Fraser, Katrín Davíðsdóttir, and Jason Khalipa. One of the first sponsored athletes was Henniger's future wife and 2008 CrossFit Games female champion, Caity Matter Henniger. Rogue also sponsors Strongman athletes such as Brian Shaw and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.
Rogue is currently building a structure on of the former Timken Company property located on the southwest corner of East Fifth and Cleveland avenues in Columbus. The new building will consolidate their administrative, manufacturing, distribution, and retail operations. It will also include a fitness center and showroom.