Australian social media sensation Tom Haviland, standing at a colossal 6’8″ with a visible six-pack, has captivated the internet with his unique training style and impressive strength. Haviland's training videos caught the attention of podcaster Joe Rogan, who speculated that Haviland might be the strongest man in the world. This article explores the mystique surrounding Tom Haviland, his training methods, and his philosophy on strength.
The Rise of a Blue-Collar Bodybuilder
Tom Haviland would look very out of place at your local gym. The famously reclusive Haviland is the internet’s favorite blue-collar bodybuilder. Haviland has amassed a million-plus following on Instagram without showing his face or fussing around too much with anything other than brow-beating farm workouts. Part of Haviland’s charm is built on his social media shtick; no air conditioning, fancy equipment, or matching spandex sets. Haviland is all flannel shirts, fresh air, and rusty steel weights that clang and bang as well as anything you can find in an LA Fitness.
Haviland's Unorthodox Training Philosophy
Haviland's lifting is a spectacle; his exercises are often unique, practical spins on bodybuilding classics. His training environment is far from the typical gym setting. Training on his Australian farm, Haviland does use barbells and weight plates, but he also hoists and moves such things as boulders, truck parts, kegs, and logs. He claims keeping his body covered in workwear like jeans and flannel shirts is ideal because of his workout style on his rural property. “I’m out in the sun lifting rusty implements, stones, and timber for most of my training, so the pants and long sleeves are practical,” Haviland explained.
Haviland's training incorporates a combination of strength training and functional fitness, such as walking (outdoors on uneven ground) with ridiculously heavy weights. And there’s a focus on maximum resistance for low reps.
A Glimpse into Haviland's Back Workout
Haviland broke down a back workout on Nov. 4, 2024, including his sets and reps plus some technique tips. At a glance, Haviland’s back workout looks bizarre (and brief). However, it’s much more practical than it appears - many of his training sessions involve loaded carry variations, strongman-styled keg work, and so on. Haviland’s training session started with a compound exercise performed with few repetitions, moved on to a similar row variation with slightly different technique, and concluded with some isolation work. That’s standard-issue powerbuilding training. Even if you don’t have the same equipment, you can follow in Haviland’s footsteps with some clever exercise swaps. If Haviland invited you up to his ranch for a back workout, job done. Haviland himself typically alternates back exercises on a regular basis. “[Head-supported rows] and seal rows are my primary movements in this phase and I’m currently alternating between these 2 movements every 4 days,” he remarked. Don’t be afraid to switch things up. You’ll still make gains as long as you keep your intensity high and work your backside off - Haviland is a living, breathing, shirt-stretching proof of concept.
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Haviland's Impressive Stats
Haviland’s strength is undeniable, as evidenced by his personal bests:
- Bench Press: 600 lbs
- Deadlift: 1003 lbs
- Squat: 811 lbs (368 kg) for 3 reps. Equals 860 lbs
- Zercher Squat: 750 lbs
- Yoke Walk: 1200 lbs (544 lbs) with homemade equipment on uneven ground
- Seated Shoulder Press: 456 lbs
- Biceps Curl: 235 lbs
Haviland vs. Hooper: A Comparison of Strength
On Jan. 30, 2024, the reigning World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Mitchell Hooper published a video on his YouTube channel wherein he compared Haviland’s best lifts to his own to determine if Haviland could outperform him if Haviland competed at the 2024 WSM contest, scheduled for May 1-5, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, SC. “Haviland is not just a great deadlifter and bench presser; I’ve seen him do everything,” Hooper said.
Here's a breakdown of their lift comparisons:
- Yoke Carry: In one of Haviland’s Instagram posts, he carried a 1,200-pound homemade yoke on his shoulders. Hooper has lifted up to 1,350 pounds on the yoke, surpassing Haviland’s best. Hooper highlighted that Haviland’s equipment was not as stable, implying that Haviland could likely achieve higher numbers with a better kit.
- Barbell Biceps Curl: Haviland has a 235-pound barbell biceps curl personal best.
- Zercher Carry: “This is basically Conan’s wheel. For context, the WSM weight of the Conan’s Wheel is 440 pounds (200 kilograms),” said Hooper. Hooper called it a “big 50/50” chance on whether he could match Haviland’s personal best on the Zercher carry.
- Stone on Shoulder Squat: “I find it hard just to stabilize while standing [with a stone on the shoulder], never mind squatting,” Hooper said. Hooper ended this comparison in a draw as well.
- Deadlift: Haviland pulled a 926-pound deadlift without a suit or a specialized deadlift bar. Hooper hoisted a 981-pound deadlift at the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic, which Hooper won, suggesting a close comparison but leaning towards a draw due to the conditions of Haviland’s lift.
- Squat: Haviland performed a 692-pound squat for multiple reps. Hooper’s best squat is about 810-815 pounds for a double in knee sleeves, making this another close comparison that Hooper suggests yet another draw.
- Zercher Catch and Squat: Haviland has successfully completed a Zercher catch and squat with weights up to 485 pounds. “Haviland has got head-to-toe strengths,” Hooper said.
Mentorship and Influences
His first mentor was Derek Boyer, 12-time Australia’s Strongest Man (2000-11). “I met Derek at a young age and he instantly took me under his wing and we began training together. “These were some of the best and most challenging moments of my life and were invaluable to my knowledge and development.” His current mentor is Josh Bryant of Jailhouse Strong.
The Mystery Behind the Man
Haviland pauses the bottom of a 705-pound (320 kg.) Zercher squat for two seconds before rising. We were out deep in the bush and lived very simply, which meant I was very rarely indoors as a kid and spent most of the day outside working, playing and exploring. Very little. Clearly, he values his privacy. His toddler son, Jack, has been shown (without revealing his face) on his Instagram feed lately. He has posted shots on Instagram that show his face and jacked 6’8″ body. But such photos are rarities. His training videos are filmed to not reveal his face, and he’s typically dressed in long pants and long-sleeve shirts. “I include small pieces of my personal life here and there, but I’m a private person, and I prefer to maintain boundaries for social media and don’t feel like it takes away from what I’m trying to do. I know it seems odd to many people, and I can understand that, but it suits me and has worked well so far. So until I can see a reason to change, I’ll continue doing it this way.
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The "Simple Things in Life"
Last November, popular podcaster Joe Rogan was interviewing bowhunter and ultra-marathoner Cameron Hanes when he asked, “You ever heard of Tom Haviland? This guy’s a real weirdo. He’s a freak that lives in Australia, and he does these insane workouts, and he wears, like, flannel shirts and jeans, and he’s got the most freakish physique ever.” Rogan also called Haviland “possibly the strongest man alive.” Of course, interest in Haviland rocketed. “It’d be an amazing experience to be on his show, but I’m not sure I’d have enough interesting things to talk about to fill a whole podcast. It probably goes without saying at this point, but I’m a pretty boring guy that prefers the simple things in life.
The Ruck
“I woke up at 335lbs & I went for a 120 min ruck with 60lbs [hike with weights in his backpack] & collected 20L of water at the midway point & carried it home by hand. During the ruck I had my normal breakfast of eggs and oats & then I came home, fed the animals, gave the horses the fresh creek water I collected & then had a relaxed second breakfast with friends before going in to attempt 600 in a very calm state. I have absolutely no doubt I could go back in tomorrow or next week & do it all again if needed. This is what I train for & it doesn’t get more fulfilling to me than that. I left the session here, but I had a date on the hill of pain later in the day & good golly did that put a jingle in the bells. 2 uphill walks of 126kgs/278lbs each hand for 50m while dragging a 20kg [45-pound] plate from one side (one side each). ‘Twas the day before Christmas and Tom Haviland benched 600 and carried over 500 up a hill, twice.
Why Not Strongman?
Mitchell Hooper, 2023 World’s Strongest Man, has watched videos of Haviland’s unorthodox training and said, “Tom isn’t just good at one thing; he’s great at everything. I can’t pick a single area where he’s not competitive. With the right preparation and access to professional equipment, Haviland has what it takes to not only compete but win [the World’s Strongest Man].” He would have to master events like Atlas Stones and log presses under competition rules and conditions, and he’d have to hurry up about it. At 38, age is already a factor. The Barbell determined that 29 was the average age of WSM winners, which was also the age of last year’s winner. Despite many clamoring to see how he would fare against the world’s strongest competitors, Tom Haviland has no current intention to do strongman events. Maybe watching him in a T-shirt and shorts pursuing points against others would burst the persona, like seeing Batman unmasked at a detective convention.
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