Back widow vs Rogue 12-inch globe

This is a comparison between the back widow and the Rogue 12-inch globe including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Rogue 12-inch globe

This is an overview of the 12-inch pull up globe including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview of the Rogue 12-inch pull-up globe

Price $140 - $154

The Rogue 12-inch pull up globe is exactly what it says on the tin. You get a globe that you can hang from your rack or your rig to do pull-ups with. This is a great finisher to a good session or fun little competition to have in a gym with a good community. The full specifications of the globe are:

12" Diameter Steel Sphere
Rogue Matte Black Powder coating

A great little gimmick to have if you have space and money. If I owned a commercial gym, I would have one of these to challenge my personal training clients so that they keep in mind I am different.

Pros of the 12-inch pull-up globe

Pros of the 12-inch pull-up globe are:

Unusual grip challenge
Well made

The globe provides a grip challenge, that is different from many others. Especially for very big athletes, the globe might be better than a pinch block, due to their body weight. If you weigh 140kg It is easier to hang onto something big, rather than having to pinch a tiny block. It will also better simulate events like the Atlas stone.

Cons of the 12-inch pull-up globe

Size
Price

Fr a home gym that has to take care of space this globe is too big. If your space is already crammed than the last thing you want is a 12-inch globe hanging in your face. For most gym setups it will be more money and space economical to go with the cannonball grips and some pinch blocks, as they cost roughly the same amount as a set, but leave you with more options and less space taken up in your gym.

Alternatives to the 12-inch pull-up globe

Alternatives to the 12-inch pull-up globe are:

All of these items are part of the Rogue grip strength line up that uses a simple carabiner on the rack on which these different attachments can be hooked. The pinch block is the hardest while the grandfather clock grip is the easiest. This makes for quite a bit of variation in your training and I would personally prefer to get a mix of these three rather than the globe for roughly the same budget.

Conclusion for the Rogue 12-inch globe

This is a great tool for big athletes as a better alternative for strength training as the pinch blocks. Still, the globe takes up a lot of space, is not very versatile, and costs more than the most other attachments for grip strength. It is a great eyecatcher in a gym for challenges, but the pragmatic gym owner will probably buy some pinch blocks and cannonballs.

Overview and review of the Back widow

This is an overview of the Back widow including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the back widow

Price: $299

The back widow is a versatile handle that can be used as an attachment for cable pulls and attached to a barbell for landmine rows. This makes it a very versatile tool that can be used in many scenarios to improve grip and back strength. This is an ideal solution for a home gym where the user wants to save space and money for multiple applications. In bigger gym scenarios it might be a better approach to get multiple handles for the price of one back widow. The full specifications are:

Multi-Use Attachment for Back Workouts
15+ Adjustable Positions
Length: 5.5" (Lower Handles) / 4.25" (Upper Handles)
Diameter: 1.25" (Handles)
Weight: 9.25 LBS
Carabiner Slot for Attachments: 9/16” wide x 1” tall
Color: Black

This tool is definitely worth its money when you want to have a landmine handle and an attachment for your lat pull machine at home.

Pros of the back widow

The pros of the back widow are:

Versatility
High-quality build
Weight

This attachment for a pulley and to bars has many different configurations which will help you to build a bigger back and stronger grip. It can also mix up the work with a rowing machine or lat pull so that you can stay motivated and attack all different areas of your back. With its high-quality build, you can throw almost anything at the back widow without breaking it and even use it like a deadlift jack. The weight of this handle attributes for its high-quality design. You can see that professionally wanted to design something helpful for other professionals with the Back widow.

Cons of the Back widow

The cons of the back widow are:

Price
Weight
Only one handle

With a $price tag of $300 the back widow is not cheap. for that amount of money, you can get three stainless lat bars from a low price vendor or a big assortment of smaller handles. The weight itself is also not great when your home gym setup is a bit flimsy. If you combine it with the Spud Inc. pulley or similar self-made contraption, you will have problems with keeping a smooth feed through the rollers. This is best used with a stationary lat pull or rowing machines like the Rogue CT1 or the Rogue Monster Lat pull down. In a commercial gym setting, it is also better to get multiple handles rather than one handle. Most average joes will find the adjustments on the widow annoying rather than helpful for a quick workout and as a commercial gym owner you rather have three different handles for three different towers than one handle for three towers.

Alternatives to the back widow

Alternatives to the back widow are:

Rogue Multi-grip cable attachment is a massive handle that can be attached to cable pulleys. This is a great tool for any strongmen who want to work on their grip and pull work. This attachment simulates better when you do not get the best grip on a big weight because the handles are not in the most advantageous position. With $175 it also leaves room for handles to be bought against the same budget like the back widow. The only downside of this attachment is that it is very heavy.

The Rogue Stainless steel bar is a classic lat pull bar that is straight and curved at the ends for different grip variations. This is the standard option that most gyms go with for their towers. Compared to the Back widow you can almost get two of these for the same price. The only disadvantages are that it can be quite boring and that you might get this cheaper from a different vendor than from Rogue.

The Rogue tricep strap is the better partner for home gym pulley setups that are a little makeshift. Its lower weight makes it easier to maneuver and get a smooth ride in place. It is also quite a bit cheaper than a back widow or any of the other attachments. The disadvantage is that it is not suitable for big heavy pulls where you spread your arms wide.

Conclusion for the back widow

The back widow is a great tool for the home gym owner who has some extra cash to spend, likes high-quality products, and does not want too many handles flying about. Just have a hard look at your training routine if you actually do t bar rows and lat pulls already in your local gym or desperately miss out on them. This attachment is not just a gimmick like many others. For commercial gyms, I do not see the point as it is usually more practical to have a wall or bag full of a lot of attachments where people help themselves. The back widow would need some instructions and also the versatility does not really apply to the commercial scenario. The teenagers or your strongest hulk will probably hug this attachment for two hours. Better to have more handles for others who are waiting.