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Should you buy the Rogue RML 690 rack ? [Article, free download]

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

May 26, 2019 9:30:00 AM

Should you buy the Rogue RML 690 rack? 

 

The video above summarises my personal opinion for purchasing a Rogue RML 690 for a home gym. If you want to just lean back and get information, watch it and then dig into the details below. In the following paragraphs you will find details on dimensions and alternative choices. I invite you to leave a comment on Youtube if you have direct questions.

The Rogue RML 690 comes in at a price of $1568 and is a good value for money option for your home gym in black. This overview was first published in "which rack to buy from Rogue". See for yourself whether this rack is the right choice for you or you might want to steer to other options from Rogue.

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What else to consider from Rogue

Most popular Rogue racks in 2020

Attached you find which Rogue racks have been most popular on Marathon-Crossfit.com in terms of views of their reviews and click through rates to Rogue Fitness for purchases. If you want to learn more about the details of the composition of the data you can read the full analyses under what were the most popular Rogue products in 2020.

 

Most popular Rogue racks in 2020

 
The most popular rogue racks based on views of their reviews on Marathon-CrossFit in 2020 are:
 
 
The Rogue HR2 rack is part of the Rogue Monster lite series. What it has going for itself is its moderate place and lower space requirements compared to other racks of Rogue. I can also see how this rack can be a best seller as it is practical, not pricey and ticks most boxes. You can learn more about the details and alternatives in the review of the HR2 rack.
 
The Rogue RM8 is one of the most expensive items you can get from Rogue. The RM8 incorporates all of the major developments from Rogue like cerakote coating, a Rhino drop-in unit, and the LT1 50 cal lever arms. Its high price helps with popularity but I do not think that it is a high volume sales product based on its sheer size and high price tag. You can read a full review of the RM8 on this blog.
 
The RML 390 F is a half-rack from Rogue that does not need to be bolted to the ground. This makes it a very likely candidate from Rogue to have a very high sales volume. The small footprint and reasonable price further underpin this. Compared to the RM8 it is affordable so popularity is more likely to directly transfer to sales. You can read the full review of the RML 390F on my blog here.
 
The RM4 Fortis is a cheaper version of the RM4 Monster rack from Rogue. You will have fewer color options and get fewer pins and extras with your order. This is a good option if you want more space in the rack than with a half rack without shelling out thousands of dollars. You can ted the fu review of the RM4 fortis rack here.
 
The RML 390c is a half-rack from Rogue with a color option. Compared to the 390F it needs to be bolted to the ground to avoid sliding while it comes in at a similar price. You can read the full review of the 390c on my blog by following this link.
 

Rogue Monster vs Monster lite series 

 

If you are torn between the Rogue Monster and Rogue Monster Lite Series then this video is for you. Commercial buyers should lean more towards the Monster Series as it gets more attention from the Rogue Product development team and will also take a bigger beating due to the sturdier nuts and bolts. Home gym buyers ought to have a good look at the upgrade paths and accessories for the Monster and Monster lite line.

 

Personally, I am a huge fan of the RM3 as it puts you at the entry-level of budget to get into the Monster line. However, with the 3.0 upgrade of the Monster lite series, there is not a lot to compromise anymore between the two lines. So, if you are not into the big upgrades and just want to upgrade a Monster lite rack to the max with your available budget, then that is also a great road to travel.

Overview of the RML 690

 
The Rogue RML 690 Rack combines a full and a half rack into one strength station. With this rack, you get all the plate storage and space you need to do your powerlifts.  You can bench press, squat and deadlift in this rack. This can become the centrepiece of a home gym or the central station for powerlifters in an existing commercial gym. 
 
The RML 690 is only available in black. If you want to add some colour to your live opt for the RML 690C. The RML 690 is built in Columbus Ohio and weighs 530LB.  It comes in at a height of 90.375'' with a footprint of 80'' by 53''.  The 690 is compatible with the Rogue MOnster lite series. IT comes with one skinny pull up bar and one Fat skinny pull up bar included. The stell notes are made of 3x3'' Gauge steel.  the length is 76'' while the width is 49''.
 
The Rogue RML 690 is a good option for anyone who does not care about colour and wants to save some money or someone who wants to spend some extra money compared to the R6. Compared to the R6 you get a rack that is of a sturdier built
 

Pros of the RML 690

 
With this rack, you get a pull-up station, bench and squat station in one. At the same time, you can also use the additional half rack either for storage or having more athletes perform exercises on them on the rack in parallel. The west side hole spacing and the band pegs make it possible for you to train westside style which not all racks can do. This is a good value for money option for anyone building a home gym or adding some extra rack space to their commercial facilities. 
 

Cons of the RML 690

 
The 690 might take up too much space in a basement or garage gym. Know exactly what your measurements and how you will use the additional half rack in the back. Otherwise, you are only eating up space in your house or in your gym facility. The 690 also comes without a colour option and therefore might not match the rest of your already existing equipment, unless it is black. 
 

Alternatives to the RML 690

 
Alternatives to the RML 690 are
 
 
The RML 690C will give you the exact same rack, except with different colour options. If you want to spent about 200$ more to get something matching or more appealing to your eye than simple black, this is the rack to go for. 
 
The RM4 is a full rack and smaller than the RML 690. With the RM4 you get the option of colour and access to the newest Rogue innovations. The RM4 is part of the MOnster series and is therefore compatible with the newest add ons that Rogue releases. The tradeoff is that you will not get the additional half rack. Therefore you might have to think about how to store your plates in a different way. 
 
The R6 is a less costly alternative to the RML 690. You will get a very similar build. The main difference is that the R6 is part of the Infinity series of Rogue.  There was not a lot of innovation in this line of business from Rogue recently. The steel notes will be made of 2x3'' instead of 3x3'' and the rack will, therefore, weigh 300LB instead of 530LB. 
 
The RML 490 is the little brother of the 690. You will stay within the Monster lite series and the accessory that comes with it. With this rack, you get a full rack which takes up less space than the 690. The good news is that this rack will be under $1.000 which is a line that many people do not want to cross for their rack. 
 
 

Topics: Rogue