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Rogue Monster Lat pull down stand alone vs TITAN chest supported adjustable row

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Dec 29, 2020 5:00:00 PM

Rogue Monster Lat pull down stand alone vs TITAN chest supported adjustable row

This is a comparison of the Rogue Monster Lat pull and the TITAN chest supported adjustable row including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

 

Overview and review of the TITAN chest supported adjustable row bench $464

This is an overview of the TITAN chest supported adjustable row bench 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 supported Adjustable row bench

 
The TITAN chest supported adjustable row bench is a very specialized piece of equipment to isolate the back and use a barbell for rows. This is a great exercise for anyone who wants to build a big back and deadlift. You will find this exercise among the most successful deadlifters as an accessory workout. The construction is simple and effective. It rests a barbell higher than ground and supports your body by laying on a pad. With this setup you can protect your spine while you load the barbell heavier for massive rows. The specifications of the TITAN chest supported adjustable row are as followed:
 
- 3 x 2 steel tubing
- 6 different seat height adjustments
- 5 different chest pad angle adjustments
- Heavy gauge steel construction
- Diamond plated footplate for grip.
- Customizable seat height and chest pad angle
- High quality vinyl chest pad.
- Width is adjustable to fit your barbell
 
- Weight: 128 LB
- Adjustable Seat Height: 30 1/2” to 37 1/4"
- Adjustable Depth: 68 1/2" to 65 1/2”
- Adjustable Width: 55 1/2” to 42”
- Seat Length: 18”
- Seat Width: 9 1/2"
- Seat Thickness: 2 3/4”
- Band Peg Length: 5 1/2”
- Footplate Dimensions (per side): 21 1/2” x 24”
 
This is a great extra machine in a commercial gym that works with a lot of barbells and his the right clients for it. In a home gym it will be a lot of space to give up to a one trick pony.
 

Pros of the TITAN supported Adjustable row bench

 
 
  • Price
  • Focused training
  • Uses a barbell
 
As with most pieces of equipment from TITAN the price is excellent for what you are getting. This is an industrial grade exercise station at a consumer price. TITAN's strategy is to undercut the competition at about half the price for the same product. The low prices are achieved by cutting some corners in quality management and customer services.
 
The chest supported adjustable row bench is great for athletes who develop a massive row and are concerned about their back. With this machine you get the extra support and also do not need to move the barbell from the ground into position. This helps to focus entirely on your back and either go heavy or squeeze out the last few reps on a hypertrophy set.
 
This machine is also interesting as you can use a barbell instead of plate loading it or having a weight stack. This makes the experience closer to the barbell training youmight be focusing on, depending on your preferences in training.
 

Cons of the TITAN supported Adjustable row bench

 
 
  • One trick pony
  • Intimidating for most
  • Space requirements
 
While this machine is excellent for what it does, it only does this one thing well. Barbell rows can also be done from the floor, or, if they get too heavy, they can also be done from rack pins. You will not have the same chest support, but still get your rows in. You will also mimic the three big lifts even closer with that setup. Based on this the chest supported row bench is not ideal for home gyms or commercial gyms with limited space.
 
The broad public does not necessarily like to use a barbell as it is perceived to rough on the hands. If you are already getting a dedicated machine for rows, you might want to get one that is a bit more convenient for the user and includes a weight stack.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN supported adjustable row bench

 
 
The Titan T bar row is more palatable for the general public as a chest supported row which uses a barbell. With this you can use more grip variations and it is also easier to get the plates on and off to get started. If you run a commercial gym for the general public, go with the T bar row instead of the chest supported adjustable row if your space does not allow for both.
 
The TITAN plate loaded functional trainer is the budget option of a functional trainer for home gym users. This is a great addition when you have limited space and want to do all of your accessory movements on one machine or implement a home gym that can be used by the entire family. This version of the TITAN functional trainer saves $1300 compared to the functional trainer which comes with included weight stacks. If you already own a rack and plates, this is probably the better choice.
 
The TITAN functional trainer comes with two weight stacks included and covers most accessory movements or a full body workout which is lighter compared to heavy barbell free weight training. This is a good option ina home gym or commercial gym where you want to make things save. It is also a good choice when you want to get started right away without having too invest into plates.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN supported adjustable row bench

 
This machine is great for an Iron den where people want to use the barbell row in many variations to blow up their backs to lift heavy. If you have this at home, in a college dorm or other private gym and do have the space, I highly recommend getting one of these as the results speak for themselves. If you have a very small home gym or a commercial gym for the general public this is a gimmick and you should focus on other items to build out your gym first like racks with proper safety pins and a seated row machine.
 

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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