Total gym GTS vs Rogue RML690

This is a comparison between the Total Gym GTS and the Rogue RML 690. Follow the links for more details.

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.

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 Total gym GTS [Article, Video]

This is an overview of the features and alternatives to the Total Gym GTS. This article was originally published under "which total gym to get". Follow the links for more details.

Total Gym GTS $3.700 - $4.666

The total gym GTS is the flagship of the total gym generation which can be directly sold to customers. This is the top-end product with all bells and whistles included and therefore also comes with the biggest price tag of $3.700. These are the features you will be getting with the Total Gym GTS:

FREE streaming workouts with Total Gym TV Basic.
22 Levels of Resistance
Workout DVD included
Over 200 Exercises on One Home Elite Gym
650lb User Weight Capacity
Hydraulic rail lift assists with level changes & easy two-step folding.
5-year Warranty on Frame, 1-year Warranty on Parts & Upholstery, 90-day Warranty on Foam & Rubber

In addition to this, you will get a multitude of addons that lets you emulate any machine you could possibly imagine in a professional commercial gym. If you want to use this machine all day around and do not have space for a full circuit of machines, this is the machine to get.

Pros of the Total GYM GTS

The total gym GTS comes with a lot of attachments and even lets you add free weights to it so you can increase the resistance even further on certain exercises. The extended warranty and sturdiness of the 650lb capacity give it good protection against break downs under heavy use. Read this 650lb not just as a maximum capacity, but also an indication of how long the machine will last. The sturdier the material the less likely it is to break. This is the right total gym to use around the clock with many clients of different needs. If you have a rehab clinic that wants to cover from old people to recovering high performing athletes, this is a good pick.

Cons of the TOTAL GYM GTS

For this price tag, it is not really a feasible option for most home users, which is a shame as it provides the most variety of exercises. If you have space in your facility you can also seriously consider building a full gym instead of getting just one Total Gym GTS. YOu may have fewer warranties on each individual item, but more variety and the possibility to train more people in parallel.

Alternatives to the TOTAL Gym GTS

For the price of a TOTAL Gym GTS you can also get:

True form Trainer $3995
5x Rogue Echo bike $3875
Full free weight section $3530

The true form trainer is a self-propelled treadmill that will fit the needs of the top-performing athlete. It works with a slight arch to soften the impact of your feet. As it is set up with bearing it becomes easier to run at top speeds and do interval training compared to conventional treadmills. You will also not need as much power and there is no motor that can break down and needs to be maintained or replaced.

If you have space and wanted to run spinning classes you can also get 5x Rogue Echo bikes for the price of one Total Gym GTS. Admittedly you will not have the same range of exercises to build strength and tone, but if you are looking for indoor cardio you can either save yourself a lot of money or make more customers happy at the same time.

For $4.000 you can also get a top-end free weight section from a leading supplier like Rogue fitness. An example configuration can be:

Total: $3530

This will provide a full gym with weights to go into every direction. The shipping will be free with Rogue for this package. The tax might push it over $4000 depending on the country you buy from. Still, A great alternative if you have space and like to lift heavy compared to the Total Gym GTS.