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Rogue Monster Lat pull down stand alone vs TITAN belt squat machine

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Dec 20, 2020 5:00:00 PM

Rogue Monster Lat pull down stand alone vs TITAN belt squat machine

This is a comparison of the Rogue Monster Lat pull and the TITAN belt squat machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

 
 

Overview and review of the TITAN belt squat machine $599

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

 

Overview of the TITAN Belt squat machine

 
The TITAN belt squat machine is simple in its design and effective. You will get a metal frame that you can hook plates and a belt up to to squat away. No fuss, just simple execution. Belt squat machines are a great option for anyone who wants to build strong legs without risking a lower back or shoulder injury. High workloads on heavy barbell squats can lead to pain in the shoulders and lower back as you have to carry the weight. With a belt squat machine you do not have this problem and can train the glutes to failure before your lower back or shoulders fail you. All of this is delivered at a great price compared to other machines in the market which do the same. The full list of features includes:
 
- Build lower body explosion without stress on your shoulders, spine, and lower back
- (3) weight stopper positions to adjust how deep you squat
- (4) additional weight posts for storage and to counterbalance increasing stability for heavy lifts
- Diamond plated aluminum footplate for superb grip and sleek look
- Heavy-duty steel construction to handle anything you can throw at it
- Includes a weight belt for further back support
 
- Floor Space Required: 7 FT 6-in Wide x 5 FT Deep
- Overall Width: 83-in.
- Overall Depth: 52-in.
- Overall Height: 38.5-in.
- Footplate Dimensions: 49-in x 24-in.
- Weight Post Length: 16.5-in.
- Storage Weight Post Length: 9.75-in.
- Weight Post Diameter: 1.9-in.
- Inside Lifting Width: 42-in.
- Weight Capacity: 1,000 lb.
- Product Weight: 232 lb.
 

Pros of the TITAN Belt squat machine

 
Pros of the TITAN belt squat machine are:
 
  • Price
  • Simple design
  • High load capacity
 
As with all TITAN products the price of the TITAN belt squat is very attractive compared to the competition. Comparable products are usually closer to $1000 or even beyond.
 
The simple design with a metal stop that is adjustable in height makes this a sturdy machine that anyone can use. No complex pulleys or climbing on a high platform. Load the plates, click in the belt and put it on and off you go. Big legs in no time.
 
This machine scales up to 1.000 pounds which is more than enough for most athletes to get to where they want to go.
 

Cons of the TITAN Belt squat machine

 
The cons of the belt squat machine are:
 
  • Space requirements
  • Weight placement
 
The TITAN belt squat is quite wide and also adds on with the plate storage in the back. You can not fit this machine into a rack and save some space. It needs a dedicated space and therefore might not be a great option for home gyms.
 
With this model the weight is around you rather than beneath or in front of you. This creates an effect similar to a trap bar which is not simulating the real world of a barbell squat or sumo deadlift to the same extent. This can be fixed by adding extra weight but has a different feel about it than the rhino from Rogue.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN belt squat machine

 
 
The TITAN belt squat machine is not the first item you should get for your home gym. It is an accessory and tread it as such. If you do not have a rack and barbell yet, start there and build your gym around this center piece. With the X3 range you can start around $200 to $300 for a rack and add a barbell and some small plates to your shopping cart.
 
Another alternative is the TITAN hack squat and leg press machine. This machine provides a two in and one and can be loaded with a considerable amount of weight. Generally speaking I would recommend the belt squat more to powerlifters and weightlifters, while the leg press might be a better option for bodybuilders. Of course, all of the above is always the best option for building the perfect physique, but you might not have the money or space to pull that off.
 
The TITAN smith machine can be a good option if you desperately want to do lunges in a machine. I personally think that smith machines are a waste of space, money and time but most commercial gyms have one  so yu might want to get one just to compete.
 
The Rogue Rhino is the current gold standard in the industry for belt squats. This machine can be fitted into the space  of a rack and works with one of the best pulley systems in the business. If you intend to do a lot of belt squats and only want to offer the best experience, this is the one to get. The main differecne to the TITAN model is that the load is not positioned around you, but in front of you. This minimizes the support the metal frame gives you for the lift and simulates barbell work closer than the TITAN belt squat. Both will blow up your legs without wrecking your lower back as much as a barbell though. The gold standard also comes at a gold price of $1.750.
 
The last machine you might want to consider when you are looking at a belt squat is the Rogue leg press machine. This is probably the biggest machine I have seen in a gym and it costs around $4000. In return you get the mechanics to operate your legs separately  and one of the smoothest finishes I have seen on a leg press.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN belt squat machine

 
The TITAN belt squat machine is not sophisticated, but gets the job done. If you want a belt squat for your home gym and have the space, get one. I think this is especially a better idea than a deadlift platform. With a bit of practive you can do your deadlifts on your rack. Wherever you would have placed your deadlift platform you can put the belt squat instead.

Overview and review of the Rogue Monster Lat pull down stand alone 

 

Price: 2.950

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 Monster lat pull down will create more bats in your gym. See the details in this article.

 

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Overview of the Rogue Monster Lat pull down

 
The Monster Lat pulldown Standalone is a lat pulldown machine for the expert athlete. As with all Rogue equipment this machine is built like a tank. The lat pulldown machine is a great example of how Rogue takes pride in what they do and takes their customer feedback series. 
 
If you read between the lines you can see that the pulley, the bar, cable, and Steel eye were not up to Rogue's standards in the V1 of this machine. All of these parts have been consequently brought in-house and are not bought from 3rd parties anymore. These things are normal when new production lines are being built, a new market is tested and new processes build around them.
 
At least Rogue took the right learnings from this and perfected their Rhino launch. The prone leg curl and the ISO leg press have not gotten a V2 overhaul yet whereas the Lat pull down has. Be aware of this when you buy from Rogue. I am positive they will accommodate valid feedback, especially on big orders. If you buy for your home gym, maybe wait on the leg press and curl until there is more feedback available or find a gym nearby to test them.
 
The Rogue Lat pulldown weighs 605lb and offers up to 300lb resistance in plates in 10lb increments. It has a footprint of 40'' by 60''. It is 60'' long, 40'' wide and 96'' high. The steel notes are 3x3 11-gauge steel just like the rest of the Rogue Monster series.
 

Pros of the Rogue Monster lat pull down

 
This lat pulldown is also a rowing machine so you get two for the price of one. The difference to many other rowing machines is that Rogue came up with an idea that does not make the bench longer. By positioning a footrest under the seat this lat pulldown machine turns into a rowing machine without adding extra length. 
 
Another big pro is that this machine allows the use of bands with the lat pull. This is very unique and I have not seen many machines like this. Especially when you have experienced athletes you will appreciate that you can work with bands.
 

Cons of the Rogue Monster Lat pull down

 

A lat pulldown is a big machine. It will take up quite a bit of space where a pull-up bar might create a similar effect. Especially in a home gym scenario, you might be better off getting dumbbells and a pull-up bar which takes up less floor space. As with other machines, the pulley system takes maintenance. Oiling this system and keeping it in check might not be for everyone.
 

How many clients do you need for the lat pull down?

 
If you think that the Lat pulldown will bring you 10 new clients who pay you 50$ on a 1-year retainer it is worth the investment. This will yield 6.000$ net new revenue against an investment of 2.950$. Adjust the numbers for your own gym accordingly.
 

Alternatives to the Lat pull down from Rogue

 
Here are some alternatives to the Rogue lat pull down
 
1x Rhino belt Squat Rack @ 2750$
 
The Rhino belt including the half rack will give you a better pulley system and the necessary rack to play around with it. It will not exactly be the same and the workarounds might be not ideal, however, it is possible. I would also be very surprised if Rogue did not capitalize on the opportunity to deliver a system that combines the RM6 and Rhino to a fully built all-purpose gym station. Stay tuned for that one.
 
1x Monster Lite Rig @ 2.495$
 
A monster lite rig will provide you with
 
  • 4 Squat/ Bench Stations
  • 8 Pull up Stations
 
For less than the price for one lat pulldown machine. If you are aiming to open a small CrossFit gym this is the way to go. This also shows you that Rogue still has to work on optimizing their costs on building machines. The upshot is that you will get a machine that is fully made in the US. If you work for the government this might even be a requirement for purchase. 
 

Conclusion

The Rogue Monster lat pull down is a very solid machine for your gym. If you do not want to compromise and attract the biggest and best athletes to your gym, this is the one to go for. 
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