Rogue Monster Rhino Belt Squat vs TITAN functional trainer
This is a comparison of the Rogue Monster Rhino belt squat and the TITAN functional trainer including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the TITAN Functional trainer $1.999
This is an overview of the TITAN functional trainer including pros, cons and alternatives. This article with originally posted in Which gym machine to get from TITAN. Follow the links for additional information.
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Overview of the TITAN Functional trainer
The
TITAN functional trainer is an all in one training solution for the home. It can also be used in commercial spaces which want to offer a maximum variety of resistance training on a small footprint. The design uses two vertical
plate towers which range from 10lbs to 200lbs. The weight is moved by pulleys which can be adjusted in height separately. This makes the
TITAN functional trainer a versatile machine, especially when your main training goals are toning and definition. It is not a replacement for free weight training, especially when you are aiming to build big muscles and compete in power lifting and strongman. Here the
functional trainer can be a good central space in your gym for most of your accessory movements to train all of the minor muscle groups and areas which are otherwise easily left out. The full specifications of the
TITAN functional trainer are:
- Comprehensive pulley options including lat, row, and pulldown
- Comes with tons of accessory options right out of the box
- Tough steel construction will last for years to come
- Sleek black and silver design
- Titan Fitness faceplate included
- Overall Height: 82-in.
- Overall Width: 64-in.
- Overall Depth: 44-in.
- Long Bar Length: 49-in.
- Short Bar Length: 15.5-in.
- Pulley Grip Length: 4.5-in.
- Pulley Ratio: 2:1
- Product Weight: 672 lb.
This is a good option when you and your family are the only ones training on the machine. It is also good when most of your clients are working out for leisure and rehabilitation. In a power gym or other facility where serious athletes who want to win medals train, this will be not the main training station but one where they go to for accessory rehab or work through specific weak points in their physique.
Pros of the TITAN functional trainer
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Price
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Size
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Full range of equipment
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Versatility
As with all TITAN fitness products the price point of the
functional trainer is very competitive. Functional trainers like this come in many forms and shapes ranging from $1000 to $5000. On the higher end you usually find more technological gadgets in the machine itself to track your fitness levels and workouts. The same goes for the mechanics which become more comprehensive the more you pay. I personally used most of them and a simple machine will almost always give you the same results as a complex machine will. Therefore the main reason to buy something in the higher price class is the design which might fit your high end home better than the rough and ready basement look of this machine. At the lower end you will find the machines you can buy via Amazon. Often these are produced in China or are independent companies that run fitness month / week like TESCO or Walmart. While these are cheaper, they usually have less warranty and no customer service when something goes wrong. If you buy a
functional trainer like this used, you usually need to touch up the pulley and / or cables. This places the
TITAN functional trainer in the middle, ticking all of the boxes at a reasonable price while delivering customer support and warranty.
For a fully functioning gym including multiple directions of work this machine is quite small. If you are a hotel, local sports club or leisure center that wants to offer their clients some extra fitness, this is a great option. If you have a home gym in your two car garage, basement or attic this can also be a good use of your space. There are some designs which are more space efficient, but they often do not address both arms or legs at the same time.
Another great add on is that this machine comes pre-packaged with a range of handles and pulleys. If you buy these separately you can easily end up with another $500 out of your pocket as these range from $20 - $50, sometimes even $100 a piece. It is also practical that these items ship together and you can get started right away after assembly.
A big bonus of this machine is that you can simulate almost any resistance exercise you will find in most fitness books with this. There is nothing you can really not simulate. Whether a pulley is always the best form of resistance for your training goals is another question. For having everything in one place it is versatile and has everything you need.
Cons of the TITAN functional trainer
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Plate stacks and pulley
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Price
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Space requirements
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Leg exercises
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2:1 ratio
Generally speaking plate stacks and pulley are prone to break. This is not just true for
TITAN functional trainer, but for any kind of
plate stack machine. One major error area are the holes and the pins. The pins can get easily get lost or broken. The holes can be misaligned on production and not run smooth. The same goes for the pulley mechanics. There is a lot that can break in any pulley mechanic and it need mores attention than simple free weights. As you are buying this item from a vendor who needs to cut corners to stay competitive in price and makes no secret about that low price is their strategy, you are entering a risk area. If you are good at DIY, unscrewing and oiling things, this is not a big issue. But if you are not a handyman some breakage in the machine usually means that it will not be revived or at least not used for months on end. You will not run into this problem with
kettlebells, dumbbells and
barbells.
While the price is great value for money for a fully functioning gym with all the bells and whistles, $2000 is still a lot of money if you compare it to a yoga mat and some little free weights. If you do not want to define and shape yourself to the highest standards and only lose weight, a yoga mat, a good pair of runners and
kettlebells will often do. This can be had for $500 and you will get some of the best shoes,
kettlebells and yoga mats within this budget.
The
TITAN functional trainer is a great use of your space if you compare it to a full gym with 10 - 20 different machines. You might need be able to go as high in weight on each single exercise compared to a dedicated, but this is more than made up for the space you save. Compared to a pair of
kettlebells and shoes, which can be stored under a bed or in a closet, you will need a dedicated corner somewhere in your house, where this
rack lives.
Functional trainers biggest weakness is the amount of resistance you can put on your legs and the
TITAN functional trainer is no exception. Even though it is advertised to be used for front squats and lunges, the setup with the pulleys is usually terrible. Heavy squats, deadlifts and bench presses can not be simulated on a machine like this. The same goes for heavy
dumbbells work. If you want to become the next superstar lineman or rugby player this machine will not be enough for your home gym.
The last challenge with pulleys is that the weight you put on it usually does not translate 1 to 1 to resistance. In this case it is a 2:1 ration so if you go full stack on this machine you will be effectively training with 100lbs per rep on each pulley. Currently the gold standard for 1 to 1 weight transition has been set by the
Rogue Rhino, if the reviews are to be believed.
Alternatives to the TITAN functional trainer
The
TITAN plate loaded functional trainer only costs around $700 and saves you $1300 to effectively offer a very similar training experience. If you are building a gym for yourself and also get a
rack,
barbell and weights, this is a strong option to consider. Especially if you are young and fit and do not mind to o an occasional repair on the pulleys. If you already have
plates or consider to outfit an entire garage I would save the money and go for the
plate loaded option. I would not recommend the
plate loaded version for a commercial setting or in a home where multiple generations will use the
functional trainer.
If you are buying for your home gym and you do not have the space for a
functional trainer and a
rack you might want to consider getting a
rack instead. For $2000 it is possible to source a
rack,
barbell, and
plates from TITAN. You will also be able to get the better variations on the items . If you train mainly heavy in the gym and have to decide between a
rack or a
functional trainer, you might want to build a metal den instead.
If your main interest is to look pretty and get toned, you might consider the
outdoor power tower. You do not need to give up any space in your home and will still get results. It is amazing what you can achieve with calisthenics and the
Titan Outdoor power tower delivers all the basics for this form of training at about $400.
Conclusion for the TITAN functional trainer
The
TITAN functional trainer is a great option for the home, if you train regularly with resistance to support your main sport. This sport might be track and field, martial arts or soccer. If you are mainly into bodybuilding, powerlifting or heavy impact sports like football & rugby you will need some free weights in addition to complete your training schedule in your home. If you run a spa, hotel or retirement home, this can also be a good option. If you need a high polished design to match the rest of your interior to impress your affluent you might want to invest around $4.000 to $5.000 in a similar machine which comes with an in built instructor, screen and looks better. Might even save you on staff cost. If you own a gym full of Jarheads who lift heavy, grunt and like to throw stuff, you need a sturdier machine like the Rogue lat pull machine. I personally managed to break two of these
functional trainers in gyms and I am not even that big.
Overview and review of the Rogue Monster Rhino Belt Squat
Price: 2.750
his review was originally posted in the longer article "Which strength equipment to buy from rogue" in which you can read about 25 products of Rogue which cost more than 1.000$. The Rogue Monster Rhino Squat belt will create big quads in your gym and keep older athletes healthier. See the details in this article.
What else to consider from Rogue
Overview of the Rhino belt Squat
The
Rhino Belt squat machine is one of the latest additions to the big machine line up of Rogue. The version including a
rack delivers a
half rack including the
Rhino setup to your home. It comes in Rogue black with a length of 51.5'', width of 49'' and height of 100.375''. The unloaded trolley weight is 27.5lb.
Squat belt machines are popular to get more leg work in while putting less stress on the lower back. Especially older athletes tend to get upper body injuries or ailments in the lower back. To take away a bit of the strain created by the
barbell back squat or front squat you can supplement with
Belt squats.
The
Rhino includes the newest pulley system designed by Rogue,
which seem to be living up to the hype. You will get a very versatile machine for this price. This configuration also includes
J cups to be ready to go for squatting inside or outside this
half rack.
Pros of the Rhino belt Squat
This is a
well-built machine which will give you the best pulley system of Rogue to date. If you want to build a home gym that does not take up a lot of space and also allows to train without a
barbell, the
Rhino Belt Squat hits the spot. You get 2 weight posts with 15.75'' loading capacity on each side. The belt can also be used for dips and other exercises.
Cons of the Rhino Belt Squat
This is a
machine that is mainly targeted at clients and athletes who want to lift heavy and can not use a
barbell to do this. Especially powerlifters will like this machine. If your clients are not powerlifters, injured often or just simply do not move heavy weights you might be better off investing your money in
equipment that covers their needs better.
How many clients should the Rhino belt squat bring you?
If you think that the
Rhino Belt with Rack 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 2.750$. Adjust the numbers for your own gym accordingly.
Alternatives to the Rhino belt Squat
There are a couple of alternatives to the
Rhino Belt squat from the Rogue Portfolio. These are:
This version saves you a bit of money and even more important than that, floor space. If you already own one or multiple
RM6 racks you should seriously consider this upgrade for your gym. Especially when almost no one is using the
half racks at the back. This is also a great option for home gym owners who are a bit older or get injured often who want to have a backup plan to
barbell squats, without losing too much footprint.
The
squat Standalone version is the right option if you already own one or more racks and have plenty of floor space to fill. This saves you about 1.000$
which you can invest in other
equipment like
barbells and
plates.
This would be the most cost-efficient and versatile option. The jerk blocks can be set up for a belt squat so that the athlete stands on the blocks. You can use the dip belt to attach the weight. This setup usually requires a second person to help out. Otherwise, you have to climb the boxes with the weight attached or do some other wild acrobatics. The pros of this package are that the blocks can also be used for deadlift block pulls, jerk training and even as storage.
Conclusion
The Rhino Belt squat is especially a good investment if your gym is very powerlifting or rehabilitation focused. With this machine you can still train heavy while giving big athlete's lower backs a rest. In case of injuries the belt squat machine can be used to securely progress back to barbell work while not compromising intensity of the workouts.