TITAN Series power rack vs Rogue RML 690 [Article, Video]

This is a comparison between the TITAN Series power rack and the Rogue RML 690 rack. Follow the links for more details.

Rogue fitness vs TITAN fitness

Rogue Fitness is the current market leader when it comes to a functional home gym and commercial gym equipment. They have one of the widest portfolios including racks, barbells, benches, dumbbells, and apparel for the weekend warrior and dedicated athlete. The biggest downside of Rogue Fitness is their comparatively high prices to the competition.

TITAN Fitness is the clear cost leader when you want to build a home gym on a budget that is still similar to what Rogue offers in function, look, and feel. While you will save about half on the sticker price you will run a higher risk of inconsistencies in quality compared to a purchase from Rogue. The equipment will be safe but is more likely to have blemishes, quality issues with welds or that pieces will not easily fit into place. That makes TITAN a good option for a DIY enthusiast who does not mind tinkering with their equipment, but not the first choice to get the best equipment and treat yourself.

Overview and review of the Rogue RML 690 Power rack

Price: 1.568

This review was originally posted in the longer article "Which strength equipment to buy from rogue" in which you can read about 25 products of Rogue which cost more than 1.000$. The Rogue 690 bring storage and rack space to your basement or local gym at a resonable price for Rogue. See the details in this article.

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.

Overview of the RML 690

The RML 690 is a hybrid of the Rogue R6 Power rack and the RM6 Monster rack. The RML 690 is compatible with the Rogue Monster lite series and provides you with a full and half rack in one go. The half rack can either be used for storage or to train additional athletes/clients.

The RML 690 comes in at 530 LB with a length of 76'''. It is 49'' wide and has a height of 90.375''. The entire footprint comes to 80'' x 53''. It can be mounted to a wall with the Monster Lite Rack Wall mount kit. IT comes in black and therefore retails at a lower price than the RML690C.

How many new clients should the RML 690 in bring you?

If you think that the Rogue RML690 will bring you 6 new clients who pay you 50$ on a 1-year retainer it is worth the investment. This will yield 3.600$ net new revenue against an investment of 1.568$. Adjust the numbers for your own gym accordingly.

Pros of the RML 690

The RML690 gives you the needed storage and training capabilities to have multiple clients or athletes train at the same time. As long as you have space this full/half rack combo provides a gym in itself. If you will use it for your home gym you can also convert the back rack into shelving for your kettlebells and dumbbells.

Cons of the RML 690

In many applications, the half racks at the back are poorly utilized and therefore a waste of space. If you already have good plate storage options or have a home gym with limited space you might be better of saving many and space by going for a 490 instead of a 690.

Alternatives to the RML 690

For the same budget of 1.568$, you can get the following alternatives from Rogue

1x Rogue RML 490C @ 1.075$

With this alternative, you can save 500$ and get to choose your favorite color for your rack. If you do not have specific plans for the back half rack, this is a great option to save money and still get better value out of your purchase.

1x USMC PUll Up RIg @ 1.550$

If you are running a gym and want to run more classes to maximize revenue the USMC Pull up rig might be a better choice for you than the RML 690C. You can have more people train at the same time at this rig, as long as they do not want to lift heavy at the same time.

Conclusion

If you want to save some money on Rogue products and do not care about the color of your rack this is a good option. Make sure that you know what you want to do with the half rack in the back of the RML 690 before you purchase. Otherwise go for something smaller as it is likely that the space will be left unused.

Overview and review of the Titan Series power rack

The Titan Series power rack will put you back about $1000. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which Titan rack to buy for over $500”

Overview of the TITAN power rack

The Titan series power rack is the flagship rack from TITAN which is currently available. You will get an overbuild cage with a lot of space inside to play around with. If you are a massive athlete or just like big, star things, this is a good option for you. It also includes all of the its and bits and plate storage to get you started. A barbell and plates would have to be purchased separately to make a full set. The specifications of the TITAN power rack are:

3” x 3” 11 Gauge Tubing and bolt-together design.
Includes (2) 1” Diameter Pins w/ 1.5” Pipes for
Includes (4) Bolt-On Weight Plate Holders
Includes (4) Band Pegs.
Includes a pair (2) Sandwich J-Hooks.
numbered laser cut holes
Keyhole side spacing
1” bolts
Max height of 94” for pull-up bar.
Overall Weight: 388 LB
Overall Height: 100”
Footprint (including bolt-down plates): 53” x 55.5”
Overall Depth: 48”
Inside Depth: 42
Overall Width: 48”
Inside Width: 42”

This rack will make a fine centerpiece of your gym for years to come.

Pros of the Titan power rack

You will get a massive rack for a very competitive price. TITAN also offers a wide arrange of attachments to tend to all of your own or clients needs in the future. Once bolted down this thing does not move anywhere. Ideal for big guys lifting big things.

Cons of the TITAN power rack

As Titan seems to operate on lower margins than their competition you might find that the finish or welds of racks can be inconsistent. If you make less money per transaction you usually have to make up for it by cutting corners by buying different quality material from different suppliers on the cheap or pay your staff less. As we are talking racks here, this might not be as bad as with medication. However, if you get furious about little cosmetic blemishes or less than perfect craftsmanship, don’t buy from TITAN.

Alternatives to the TITAN power rack

Here are some alternatives to the TITAN power rack:

The X3 is basically the same model as the Titan rack with two differences. It doesn’t have numbered holes on the uprights and the keyhole design. This means that you can use fewer attachments with it which you have not necessarily bought from Rogue.

The T2 model comes in various shapes and heights and can be configured differently for your home gym to make it fit your space. The main difference to the other Titan racks is that the uprights are 2x2 instead of 2x3 or 3x3.

The T3 rack model is also very similar to the Titan rack but comes at a lower cost. It is the same as the X3 except that it has 2x3 Gauge uprights instead of 3x3.

Summary for the TITAN power rack

If you only want to buy a rack from TITAN and want the best, this is the one to go for. Also if you want to buy a lot of racks and don’t care about the finish that much, TITAN is a great option. If you are a smaller athlete and want to save money you might want to look at the other TITAN models as well, especially the X3.