Rogue Monster Lat pull down vs Flip down safeties
This is a comparison between the Rogue Lat pull down and Rogue Flip down safeties 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 of the Rogue Flip down safeties
The Flip down safety comes in at $385 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".
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Overview of the Flipdown safeties
The
rogue flip down safeties are the rolls Royce of the safety pins you can get from Rogue. They are easy to adjust in height and provide a better platform for your rack pulls and pin pulls than safety pins or belts. They can be combined with the utility seat and
LT1 50 cal short arms to create many different applications. The full set includes:
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Made in Columbus, Ohio
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Sold in Pairs
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3 x 3" 11-Gauge Steel
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Holes 2” on center
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Protective UHMW plastic to protect the bar
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Easy slide-in and lock-down installation
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Includes (2) Monster Hitchpins
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Can also be used as a pulling platform
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Color: Black
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Length 43”
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Width 3”
If you want to secure yourself in a rack with style this is the way to go.
Pros of the flipdown safeties
The
flip-down safeties will take many beatings before they break. While the safety pins will warp slightly after a full drop of a weight, the
flip-down safeties will stand tall. For pin squats and rack pulls they will also provide a better and more stable platform than pins and belts.
Cons of the flipdown safeties
The
flip down safeties are more expensive and weigh more than the safety belts and pins. This can be of disadvantage when you have to buy multiple units or have many beginners working out at your gym.
Alternatives to the flipdown safeties
Most rogue racks ship with safety pins as a standard. Pay attention to the detailed descriptions and if you are in doubt ask their customer support before the purchase.
Safety belts are another variation on pins. Their advantage is that they will not warp when you drop a weight from a high height in them. I personally find them hard to adjust for pin squats and rack pulls and prefer the pins or
flip down safeties.
Summary of the Flipdown safeties
The
flip-down safeties are a great investment, especially if you do not have to but multiple racks and can use the budget for yourself only.
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
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
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.
- 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.