Back widow vs Rogue wrist roller
This is a comparison between the back widow and the Rogue wrist roller 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 wrist roller
This is an overview of the Rogue wrist roller 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 wrist roller
Price: $65 -$105
The
Rogue wrist roller is their take on the classic strength tool to develop a better grip and forearms. Many have used one or even built one themselves. As with all products from Rogue, this is just a bigger version of what you would normally get from an average fitness supplier. The
rogue wrist roller can be used free-standing or attached to a Monster lite or Infinity
rack. The full specifications of the
Rogue wrist roller are:
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Made in the USA
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Available in Handheld or Rack-Mounted options
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Rackmount Roller compatible with 3x3" Monster Lite Series and 2x3" Infinity Series (using retro-fit kit)
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Total Length: 15.5" freestanding, 17.5" rack mount
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Handles: 2” diameter, 6" handle width on either side of strap housing
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Strap: Black Nylon, 58.5”, includes carabiner that can hook back to the strap after the weight is loaded
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Color: Black
This is a
solid wrist roller which is especially interesting for someone who does not like the cheaper wooden and plastic ones that you would normally get, still come there are other things you can spend your money on with Rogue.#
Pros of the rogue wrist roller
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Overbuilt
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Rack-mountable
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Does not look cheap
The challenge with most
wrist rollers is that they just look like cheap toys. They do the trick but they are just awkward tools that me your home gym look more cluttered with things flying about. Not so much with the
Rogue wrist roller. This will fit in nicely with your existing rogue equipment and will look professional. The Rackmount makes it possible to go very heavy on the
wrist rolling if you are experienced.
Cons of the rogue wrist roller
The challenge with the
wrist roller is the price. As it is something very simple to build yourself or get very cheap at your local shop, you might as well spent your money on something else from Rogue to train your strength. For $60 - $100, you can get
cannonballs,
pinch blocks, or the
grandfather clock grips.
Alternatives to the rogue wrist roller
The
cannonball grips are one of the easier grip training tools from Rogue. They are roughly the same price as the
Rogue wrist roller and can be attached to
kettlebells,
dumbbells,
barbells. They are also a great variation on pull-ups and good for beginners in grip strength who want to start mixing things up a little without getting frustrated.
The
Rogue pinch blocks take grip training to the next level. As you take your palms out of the equation these tools of the trade are hard to master even for experienced strength athletes. You can use them to hang from or attach them to
kettlebells,
dumbbells, and
barbells. The
pinch grip blocks are a great tool and present for someone who has most of the other strength tools and wants to get even better.
That
grandfather clock grips are also part of Rogue's grip strength tool ensemble. This is an easier attachment to work with for beginners.
Conclusion for the rogue wrist roller
If you want a fancy
wrist roller, this one is for you. As with everything with Rogue, this is overbuilt, solid and will look like quality. Still, a
wrist roller is easily gotten in a lovely fitness shop that is made DIY. If you go through the trouble of ordering from Rogue I would lean more towards
cannonballs,
pinch blocks, and
grandfather grips.
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:
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Multi-Use Attachment for Back Workouts
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15+ Adjustable Positions
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Length: 5.5" (Lower Handles) / 4.25" (Upper Handles)
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Diameter: 1.25" (Handles)
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Weight: 9.25 LBS
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Carabiner Slot for Attachments: 9/16” wide x 1” tall
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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
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Versatility
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High-quality build
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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
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Price
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Weight
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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
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.