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Rogue Monkey Rig vs TITAN Glute and Hamstring developer

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Dec 30, 2020 5:00:00 PM

Rogue Monkey Rig vs TITAN Glute and Hamstring developer

This is a comparison of the Rogue Monkey rig and the TITAN Glute and Hamstring Developer including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

 

Overview and review of the TITAN Glute and Hamstring developer $414

This is an overview of the TITAN Glute and hamstring developer including pros, cons and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which gym machine to get from TITAN. Follow the links for additional information.

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Overview of the TITAN Glute and hamstring developer

 
The TITAN Glute and hamstring developer is a clone of the similar product from Rogue, but for about half the price. A glute and hamstring developer helps with attacking the lower back and hamstring in a way that is only hard to do with usual machines and free weights. On this the TITAN GHD delivers with minor subtractions for product quality. The full specifications of the TITAN GHD are:
 
- Wide adjustment range
- Extra large pads for comfort
- Heavy-Duty steel construction
- Wide base to eliminate tipping
- Includes wheels for mobility or storage
 
- Height: 41-in.
- Width: 45.5-in.
- Length: 70-in.
- Weight Capacity: 350 lb.
- Product Weight: 190 lb.
- Packaging: 2 boxes
 
This is a good addition for a home gym with extra space or a commercial gym for athletes and strength focused clients. Be preapred that this machine will need some instructions to be used properly, if you put it in a public space as it is not as straightforward to use as other machines you will find in commercial gym.
 

Pros of the TITAN Glute and hamstring developer

 
The pros of the TITAN GHD are:
 
  • Price
  • Build
 
This machine does what it says on the tin for half the price. It is build like a tank and if you are the only one using it you also do not have to worry about the minor design flaws this machine has compared to the Rogue GHD. If you want to save money for your home gym and at the same time train the heck out of your posterior chain than this is the weapon of choice.
 

Cons of the TITAN Glute and hamstring developer

 
The cons of the TITAN Glute and hamstring developer are:
 
  • Space requirements
  • Adjusting the machine
  • Reverse hyper not included
 
One big point against the TITAN GHD is the space requirement. In addition to the big footprint you also have to factor in that you will be hanging out of the construction to do the exercise. This makes it an unusable solution in many small spaces which barely fit a rack.
 
TITAN did not fully think through how to adjust this machine for multiple users. In a home gym scenario this is irrelevant and you can just take the savings made compared to the Rogue GHD. If you run a commercial gym and expect the machine to be adjusted often for several users, than you might want to go for their machine as the mechanics work easier.
 
TITAN also has machines in their portofolio which are a GHD and reverse hyper in one. If you want to save money and space I would encourage you to look into these options before making your final purchase decision. Especially if you have limited space.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN Glute and hamstring developer

 
Alternatives to the Glute and Hamstring developer are:
 
 
The TITAN H-PND was the first go from TITAN at a reverse hyper. This machine is heavily overbuilt and therefore great for very big individuals who have the space for a dedicated Reverse hyper machine. If you have multiple athletes that want to move tons of weights on a reverse hyper this is the one for you.
 
The TITAN Economy H-PND is a budget optimized version of the Original reverse Hyper from TITAN. To put a lower price tag on it it has been shrunk on most aspects. It has a smaller pad and the steel it is built of is thinner. It is still a massive machine that can be used by most average joes. If your gym is swarmed by individuals the size of MIke O Hearn, Stan Efferding, and Brian Shaw, you might want to go for the H-PND instead.
 
The TITAN Glute and Hamstring combo is a GHD and reverse hyper combo based on the design of the Economy H-PND. This is a great machine for a spacious home gym that wants to have a reverse hyper and a GHD.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Glute and Hamstring developer

 
If you have a commercial gym that fits a reverse hyper and a GHD, the Titan Glute and hamstring developer is a great option. in a home gym i would definitely also look at the Glute and hamstring combo if I have already identified the need for a GHD to kill two birds with one stone. The space you save could be used against a belt squat machine.
 

Overview and Review of the Monster Lite Monkey Rig

 

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 Monkey Lite rig is a gym in its own for advanced athletes. See the details in this article.

 

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Overview of the Monkey Rig

 
The Rogue Monster Lite Monkey Rig is an impressive piece of hardware which will catch the eye of anyone who will cast an eye on it. The main addition to the normal Rogue setups are the Monkey bars at various heights. If you want to prepare your athletes for CrossFit competitions or to compete in the Ninja warrior series, this is the way to go. 
 
The monkey rig is constructed by 3x3 11- Gauge steel with 0.625 holes and Westside spacing. Its length is 24', width 6' and height 9'. This makes for a total footprint of 24'-3'' x 6'-8''. On this space, you will create 6 squat/bench stations and more than 10 pull up stations. It comes in black and ships in 6-8 weeks. 
 
Be aware that it does not ship with barbells or plates when you purchase it. These are additions to your budget. You can read up on my blog if you are not sure yet which rogue barbell to buy. to get an overview of the portfolio.
 
 

Pros of the Monkey Rig 

 
The Monster lite Monkey Rig makes a big statement. If you want to differentiate yourself from other CrossFit boxes in an area where you have a lot of fit people around it makes sense. If your clients are also collectively moving into a direction where they want to compete in CrossFit team sports, this is a good bet. It will also open your gym up to clients who are more interested in climbing. 
 
In addition to the Monkey bars, you will also get a fully functioning 24' Monster Lite Pull-up rig. This is already a full gym. It is ideally suited to training which incorporates a lot of kipping pull-ups and muscle ups. The middle also creates a corridor which can be used for sprints and other aerobic ideas like bear crawls.
 
 

Cons of the Monkey rig

 
This thing is massive! Most gyms will not have enough space. If I was to open a gym I would think of the Monster lite Monkey Rig as something to aspire to rather than a first purchase. Most of your clients will not be able to do pull-ups, muscle-ups or climb the entire Rig. This is something that the fitness community you will build has to grow into. The 5.000$ might be invested more wisely in other equipment in a first purchase unless you have unlimited sources, space and want to build the most impressive gym in the entire city (which is also a valid business strategy, if you have good financial backing).
 
It is a pity that you can not get the monkey rig in individual colors and that there is no conversion kit available at the moment for already existing 24' rigs. Also be aware that the Monster Lite series is not compatible with all of the Rogue accessory. Think about what additional equipment you want to get before you hit the purchase button. In my opinion, it also does not make sense to have beams at the lower end of this setup. Therefore you will not be able to use band pegs for the squat/bench stations. You will also have to store the weight plates away from the rig. To protect your clients from injury you want to take special care that this setup is not cluttered with plates
 

How many clients should this rig bring you?

 
If you think the Monkey Rig can attract 17 new clients which you can sign up for 50$ a month on a 1-year retainer, make the purchase. This equals net new revenue of 10.200$ against 5.000$ in the first year. Adjust the numbers for your own gym accordingly.
 

Alternatives to the monkey rig

 
Depending on which clients you serve and how much floor space you have here some alternatives from Rogue based on a 5K budget excluding barbells and plates:
 

 

This configuration will give you more opportunities to generate revenue from beginning weightlifters and gives you some color options. 
 
  • 2x RM6 @ 2095 each
  • 2x Monster Single Post Shelf @ 95$ each
  • 2x Monster Single Post Kettlebell Shelf
 
This configuration will give you more options in terms of training styles, especially when most of your clients cannot do pull-ups yet. This configuration leans more towards a powerlifting gym or an upgrade of the free weight section of a commercial gym. The Single Post shelves are often overlooked when buying the 6er series of Rogue. If your clients are used to half racks you can leave the back free. More often than not new additions to the Rogue portfolio are made exclusively or earlier available to the Monster range and not to the Monster lite range. Keep that in mind when making your investment.
 

Conclusion

The monkey rig is a great piece of equipment if you have space and money to afford it. It is the right addition to your gym, if you have advanced athletes who are looking for a bigger challenge. If your gym mainly has recreational weekend warriors on the roster this beast of steel and bars might be a little too intimidating.