Jul 15, 2026 · By Justin Pickrell
489 Pounds Overhead: The Log Lift Is the Truest Test of Strength
Jack Osborn put 222 kilograms — 489 pounds — over his head with a log at the 2025 World Log Lift Challenge. That is the heaviest competition log lift ever reported, and it is the clearest proof that overhead strength, not the deadlift, is where strongman separates the real from the loud.
What just happened with the log lift record?
At the 2025 World Log Lift Challenge in Glasgow, British strongman Jack Osborn locked out a 222 kg (489.4 lb) log — the biggest competition log press on record. The long-standing official world record belonged to Žydrūnas Savickas at 212.5 kg, so Osborn's lift, pending ratification, resets the ceiling for the event. Fitness Volt reported the mark.
Why is the log lift harder than a barbell press?
A log is thick, neutral-gripped, and dead on the floor, so you have to clean it to your chest before you ever press it. There is no bench, no rack, no bar path you didn't earn — you own every inch or you drop it. That is why 489 pounds on a log is a different animal than 489 on a barbell.
How does 222 kg stack up against the greats?
Context, fastest to read:
- 222 kg / 489 lb — Jack Osborn, 2025 World Log Lift Challenge (reported record).
- 212.5 kg / 468 lb — Žydrūnas Savickas, the long-standing official world record.
- 209 kg / 461 lb — Mitchell Hooper's log at the 2026 World's Strongest Man, on his way to the title.
Three lifts, a 13 kg spread, and every one of them heavier than most gyms' entire dumbbell rack.
What should you steal from it?
You don't need a log to take the lesson: press things that fight back. Put a strict overhead press, a push press, and heavy carries in front of your next deadlift PR instead of behind it. The men at the top of this sport built the pull on top of a savage overhead — not the other way around.
Train like the barbell owes you money. The Barbell heavyweight tee is cut for the ones who actually show up for it.
FAQ
What is the log lift world record?
The official world record is Žydrūnas Savickas at 212.5 kg (468 lb). Jack Osborn's 222 kg (489 lb) at the 2025 World Log Lift Challenge is the heaviest reported and would reset the record pending ratification.
Is the log lift the same as an overhead press?
No. The log is thick and neutral-gripped, and you clean it from the floor to your chest before pressing, which makes it far harder than a standard barbell overhead press.
Should beginners train the log lift?
You can, but build the pattern with a strict barbell overhead press first. Sharp pain isn't toughness — if a lift stabs or pinches, stop and see a qualified coach or medical pro.
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