Back widow vs Rogue monster lite pull up spheres

This is a comparison between the back widow and the Roguemonster lite pull up spheres 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 monster lite pull up spheres

This is an overview of the Rogue Monster pull up spheres 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 monster lite pull up spheres

Price: $57.50

The rogue monster pull up spheres are compatible with the monster lite and I do its racks and rigs from Rogue. You can combine several spheres on a rig to create a nice climbing Parcours or attach them to your rack to train your grip. The spheres are available in two sizes for progression. The full specifications of the spheres are:

Made in America
Diameter options: 5"
Sold in Pairs
9-gauge Steel Construction with Black Powdercoat
Compatible with standard RML-3, RML-4, RML-6 Power Racks and Monster Lite Rigs with XML-70 Beam or 43" Monster Lite crossmembers
Thread optimized for 3" depth tubing of a crossmember/upright with 0.625" diameter holes
For safety reasons, any rack should be securely fastened to the ground before using Pull-Up Spheres

This is a little extra, especially in a facility with a long rig to switch things around a little.

Pros of the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

The pros of the rogue monster lite pull up spheres are:

Cheap
Compact
Nice switch up

The monster lite spheres are relatively cheap for Rogue equipment. At $50 you get a nice pair which will do you or your clients a great service for getting a better grip. They are easy to install and can be lit in different places, especially in a big rig or daisy-chained racks. They are also a nice alternative to a regular pull up bar.

Cons of the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

Cons of the rogue monster lite spheres are:

Need to be attached to a rack
Not compatible with monster series

Compared to other grip strength options the spheres only work in conjunction with a rack. That makes their use cases limited compared to the very similar cannonball grips. You can also not use them with the rogue monster series which is currently taking over the Rogue Production lines.

Alternatives to the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

Alternatives to the rogue monster lite pull up spheres are:

The crown pull up bar comes in at $225-$255 depending on your type of rack. With this, you get two different sized spheres and all the straight pull up setups you can think of. The only downsides are the price and that it is not great for kipping pull-ups. This is a great option for any home gym owner to make the most of their space.

The cannonball grips are al ist the same idea as the spheres with the bonus that they can also be attached to barbells, kettlebells, and dumbbells. If you are more thinking about your grip strength than developing a better pull up, these might be the more versatile option with a very similar outcome. You will also not need to have a rack to attach them to.

The rogue climbing crossmember comes in at $85 and can be attached to the monster ted lite or monster series of Rogue. If you wanted to provide climbing options for your existing rig, this is the better option than the spheres. You pay minimally more and get many more grip options. For home gyms this probably the inferior choice as they usually lack the width or height to make the climbing crossmember fun.

Conclusion for the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

The pull up spheres are a nice addition in a corner of a big rig where you do not know what else to do to make it a little more exciting. They are also a good option when you want something a little wider in diameter than the cannonball grips. Otherwise, a crown pull up bar and/ cannonball might be the better investment for a home gym and the climbing crossmember for a commercial gym.

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.