Western Europe’s Strongest · Nijmegen · 6 February 2027
Natural Athlete Guide
2027 format & rules
Prepare for your competition: membership, weight options, five events and qualification for Europe’s Strongest and Worlds.
The events and weight options in this guide are based on the Natural Strongman Open format for 2027. Competition-day timings and local equipment details will be announced here.
Before you enter
Membership, categories & testing.
Natural Strongman membership
Every athlete at a sanctioned competition must hold a valid Natural Strongman membership. Event entry does not replace this requirement.
Without valid membership, Natural Strongman may remove an athlete’s result from the official results, leaderboards, records or qualification process.
Drug-tested competition
Drug / AAS testing takes place at sanctioned events under Natural Strongman procedures. Athletes may be selected for testing.
Check the current Natural Strongman eligibility and anti-doping requirements before entering. Contact Natural Strongman if you need clarification about eligibility or medication.
This guide does not replace the official anti-doping policy.
Published 2027 categories
| Women | Men |
|---|---|
| U57kg | U72kg |
| U64kg | U80kg |
| U73kg | U90kg |
| U82kg | U105kg |
| Open | Open |
| Masters 40+ Open | Masters 40+ Open |
| Masters 40+ U73kg | Masters 40+ U90kg |
| Junior | Junior |
Junior: athletes must remain aged 23 or under for the full calendar year. For 2027, this means a date of birth on or after 1 January 2004.
Masters: the published categories are 40+. The precise age assessment date will be confirmed in the entry rules.
These are Natural Strongman’s standard categories. The final category list for Nijmegen will be confirmed with registration.
The published Natural Strongman Open format
Five events. One format.
All categories use the same events and equipment, with the published women’s and men’s loads. Athletes compete for their category podium and also appear on an overall leaderboard.
Every event has a 60-second time limit. The competition uses a 10 m track.
01 / LOG PRESS FOR REPS
Every rep starts on the ground.
Each repetition is ground to overhead. Choose your trump weight: one rep at a heavier option beats any number of reps at a lighter option.
| Women · kg | Men · kg |
|---|---|
| 50 | 85 |
| 60 | 100 |
| 70 | 115 |
| 80 | 130 |
Example: one rep at 60 kg ranks above any number of reps at 50 kg. The same rule applies between each weight option.
02 / DEADLIFT FOR REPS
Choose your weight. Make your reps count.
The deadlift uses the same trump weight system as the log press.
| Women · kg | Men · kg |
|---|---|
| 125 | 210 |
| 150 | 240 |
| 175 | 270 |
| 200 | 300 |
Local setup matters: where two adjacent weights are available, the format allows athletes to select a pairing at weigh-in, try the heavier load and drop down after a failed attempt within the 60 seconds. If only one weight is set up at a time, the choice is “pick and stick”. Nijmegen’s setup will be announced; a weight change is not guaranteed.
03 / SANDBAG LOAD MEDLEY OVER YOKE
Four bags. Four recorded splits.
Load the four bags over the yoke. The lighter bags start further away; the distance reduces as the load increases.
| Distance | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 60 kg | 100 kg |
| 9 m | 70 kg | 110 kg |
| 8 m | 80 kg | 120 kg |
| 7 m | 90 kg | 130 kg |
Loading height: women 44 inches (111.76 cm); men 48 inches (121.92 cm).
A split time is recorded for each successful load. If you load three bags, your result is the time to the third bag. Distance is not measured for a bag that is not successfully loaded.
04 / FARMERS WALK WITH SELF LOAD
Carry. Load. Carry again.
Complete 10 m out and 10 m back with the first load. Add the extra weight yourself while the clock continues, then complete another 10 m out and 10 m back at the heavier load.
| Women · published loads | Men · published loads |
|---|---|
| 70 kg → 90 kg | 110 kg → 130 kg |
The self-loading is part of the 60-second time limit. The final event briefing will specify the loading arrangement and confirm how the listed loads apply to the implements.
05 / MAX DISTANCE SANDBAG CARRY
Heavier counts only after 20 metres.
| Women · kg | Men · kg |
|---|---|
| 60 | 90 |
| 80 | 110 |
| 100 | 130 |
Choose a bag on the competition floor. If you cannot pick it up, you may move to a lighter bag. Once you move with a bag over the start line, you cannot switch to another option.
You must complete 20 m with the next heavier bag to beat every result with the lighter bag. For example, 20 m with the women’s 80 kg bag beats any distance with 60 kg. At 19 m, it does not beat a longer carry with the 60 kg bag. This threshold applies between every bag option.
Train for comparable equipment
Equipment specifications.
| Implement | Published specification |
|---|---|
| Log | Diameter: 12–13 inches (30.48–33.02 cm). |
| Deadlift bar | Standard 7-foot power / stiff bar. Deadlift bars are not permitted. Suitable weight plates may vary. |
| Farmers pickup | Maximum 18 inches (45.72 cm) to the top of the gripping handle, not to the top of the implement. |
| Farmers handles | Diameter 30–33 mm. Smooth handles; no knurling. |
| Sandbags | Cerberus Dual-Ply Sandbags, or bags with equivalent general construction, style and dimensions. |
These specifications are equipment standards for Natural Strongman Open competitions. They do not define the allowed personal lifting equipment. Rules for belts, straps, wraps and other athlete kit will be confirmed in the final event rules.
European pathway 2027
Your routes to Europe’s and Worlds.
The published European pathway covers Natural Strongman Open regional qualifiers in four European regions in February. Regional results feed both the European and Worldwide leaderboards.
| Route | Invitation |
|---|---|
| Win your category at a European regional qualifier | Europe’s Strongest, regardless of final leaderboard position. |
| Top 10 in your category on the European Leaderboard | Europe’s Strongest. |
| Top 10 in your category on the Worldwide Leaderboard | Direct invitation to Worlds. Competing at Europe’s is not required to secure this place. |
A regional win is not automatically a direct Worlds place. For the direct route to Worlds shown above, you need a top-10 finish in your category on the Worldwide Leaderboard.
Natural Strongman will confirm any additional qualification places and the rules for tied results or declined invitations.
Your competition day
Arrive informed. Compete prepared.
Saturday 6 February 2027
De Goffertboerderij · Goffertweg 17, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Schedule & weigh-ins
The competition-day schedule, weigh-in times, start times and athlete briefing details are due at least four weeks before the event: by 9 January 2027. Whether Nijmegen uses same-day or 24-hour weigh-ins is still to be announced.
Running order
The 2027 format allows the log and deadlift to be grouped by chosen weight for efficient loading. After the static events, categories run from lightest to heaviest, with last place lifting first and the leader lifting last within each category. The final local running order will be provided with the event information.
Photos & video
Photos and videos may be taken at the event and used by Strongman Battles and Natural Strongman for event and athlete promotion. Contact the organiser with questions before competition day.
Still to be announced
- Entry fee, registration closing date and the athlete package.
- Final Nijmegen category list.
- Weigh-in arrangements, briefing, start times and local running order.
- Detailed judging commands, allowed personal kit and local equipment setup.
Based on the supplied Natural Strongman Pathway System 2027, European Pathway 2027, Open Kit Specification Sheet and athlete-facing requirements in the 2027 Promoter Agreement. Updated 26 September 2026. Final approved event rules and subsequent Natural Strongman updates take precedence.