Rogue LT1 50 cal lever arm vs Monster Slinger
This is a comparison between the Rogue LT1 50 cal lever arm and Rogue Monster Slinger including pros, cons, and alternatives. The Original was published in which accessory equipment to get for your rogue rack. Follow the links for details
Overview and review Monster Slinger
The Rogue Monster Slinger is a compromise between a full lat pull or a makeshift solution for your Rogue rack.
Related articles
The
Rogue slinger is an attachment to turn your existing rogue into a
lat pulldown and ranges from $225 to $290 depending on which version you are getting. The
slinger can be used with a resistance band or plate loaded option. This is an item where you have to pay special attention to the details to get the right fit. The specifications are:
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(2) Slinger Mounting Plates
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(2) 6" Cable Pulleys
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(1) 1/4" MIL Spec Cable with Rogue made hardware
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(1) Slinger Extension Strap - for 100” and 108” units
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(1) Slinger Band Sheath - 1000D Cordura
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(2) Carabiners
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(2) Black Zinc 1" Monster Bolt Assemblies
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(2) Rubber Grommets for protecting the cable
This is a cost-efficient solution for a
lat pulldown which is not completely makeshift. Rogue was smart by marketing its pulley system as a separate product while they are working on a bigger range of machines with a reflex for commercial gyms. Keep in mind that this is not as tidy a solution as a proper
lat pull and will have some downsides when you use it.
Pros of the Rogue Slinger
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The price
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Space
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The value for money
The
Rogue slingers price and space requirements are superior to a full
lat pull machine which is ten times the cost. If you already have a rogue rack, the
slinger is an easy addition to add pulley work to your exercise regimen without breaking the bank or a wall in your home gym.
Cons of the Rogue Slinger
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Limited weight options
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Storage when not used
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Exposed mechanics
The
Rogue slinger is better than bands for resistance, but will not beat a traditional weight stack in terms of ease of use and amount of resistance provided.
The
slinger can be annoying when you are not using it. Rogue did not think about where the cables while going when you are not using the
slinger. A cheaper pulley system will be easier to remove and get out of the way fast, but also be less stable when used. Rogue has the
Spud Inc. pulley system in its shop which would fit that bill.
Alternatives to the slinger
The
Rogue lat pull-down will put you back around $2000. With this, you get a full stand-alone
lat pull and rowing machine including the weights. The
Rogue lat pull is available as an attachment to Rogue Monster racks or stand-alone. The weight stacks and mechanics are quite exposed, but storing nothing will get in the way. Compared to the
slinger it is a lot more space and money to be invested for faster and more convenient training at higher resistance.
The
Rogue LP2 is the next generation of
Rogue lat pull machines which combines the pulley from the
slinger with the components from the
lat pull down from Rogue. This machine will put you back around $3000 and will be the right choice for a commercial setting as it exposes the weight stacks and mechanics less compared to the lat pull. For any home gym, you would be overshooting the target in my opinion with this machine.
The
spud inc pulley system is a little cheaper than the
slinger. It is easier to install and remove from the rack than the
slinger but therefore also less stable. The
spud inc is the right choice of you want o transport your lat pull often or get it out if the way faster. In return, you will not go crazy on weights with this one.
Summary of the slinger
The
Rogue slinger is a good solution if you already own a rogue rack. If you do not have space or money for a
lat pull go for the
slinger. Otherwise, invest in a proper
lat pull to be proud and train without annoying cables in your way.
Overview and review of the LT1 50 cal lever arms
The LT1 50 cal lever arm kit comes in at $995 and is a great addition to your existing rack to widen the possible exercises you can do. This article was originally published in "which accessory equipment to get for your rogue rack".
What else to consider from Rogue
Overview of the 50 cal lever arms
The
LT1 50 cal lever arms are one of the latest innovations of Rogue. The idea is to press most of the machines you find in a gym into a rack. The lever arms can be used for lunges, snatches, squats, rows, incline bench presses, and many more setups. If you want to get the maximum out of your rack these are a good addition. I especially like the snatch and push movements which can not be performed with a barbell in this way. The uniqueness is the ease of adjusting height without using a wrench.
The lever arms are available for the Monster and Monster lifelines from Rogue. The monster version has a stainless steel finish, while the Monster lite version is powder-coated. There are two versions in 48” and 35” length. Be aware that you can only use the short arms inside a 43” rack. The specs are:
The package includes
If you want to hold your plates in place you will need to purchase some axle collars as regular spring and HG collars will not work with this setup.
Pros of the LT1 50 cal lever arms
The LT 1 cal lever arms are a great addition to a home gym, especially if you are a bodybuilder. With the help of these arms, you can recreate most of the isolated machine exercises in your home gym without increasing its footprint. It will also add some interesting push variations to your repertoire of you play football or rugby.
Cons of the LT1 50 cal lever arms
As with all Rogue innovations, the price is usually a hump to get over. With $995 you have some alternatives you can get instead to simulate some of the activities. But there will be no full replacement and these items will take up more space in your gym.
Alternatives to the LT1 50 cal lever arms
These are the alternatives for the
LT1 out of the Rogue portfolio.
If you are mainly interested in the
LT1 to keep deadlifts safer for beginners you can also use a trap bar. Rogue has updated its trap bar design and there are two different designs available.
If you find the
LT1 appealing to create a monolift for bench presses you can also get the adjustable monolift kit for a third of the price.
If you want the
LT1 and you have the spare change in your first Rogue order you might as well go for the rolls Royce of Racks from Rogue. The
RM8 includes the lever arms and the
Rhino belt squat with a Cerakote finish. If you only want the best, that is your place to go.
Summary for the LT1 50 cal Lever arms
The
LT1 is probably the most versatile attachment you can get for the Monster and Monster Lite series as long as you are willing to pay the price of a full rack for them. The
RM4 fortis and the
LT1 are almost the same price. The
LT1 will probably not be your first purchase unless you go for the
RM8 which includes the lever arms.