Rogue Multi-Grip cable attachment vs branch and beam
This is a comparison between the Multi grip cable attachment and the rogue branch and beam including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Rogue branch and beam
This is an overview of the Rogue branch and beam including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview of the branch and beam
Price: $170
The
branch and beam are bars from rogue which have been made extra fat. The
branch has a round grip, while the beam has a square grip. These two bars are a great alternative to the traditional 28-29mm bars and a bit closer to the unconventional lifts you can find in strongman competitions. This will also help with your grip strength in general. The specifications of the two bars are:
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Round grip
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Outside Diameter: 3"
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Bar Length: 80.5"
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Bar Weight: 39LB
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The Rogue Beam Fat Bar
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Square grip
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Fat Grip is 3x3”
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Bar Length: 80.5"
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Bar Weight: 41LB
These are great additions to a fully equipped gym that looks for more options to entertain their clients or a strongman home gym who wants to be prepared for anything.
Pros of the branch and beam
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Safe to use
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Easy to load
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Easy to store
The
branch and beam are two options to challenge your grip for heavy lifts with unconventional setups. They can be stored on a regular
barbell gun rack, are easy to load, and are safer to use than an actual tree trunk or wooden beam. Compared to other more cumbersome solutions to the problems they solve they are a preferable option.
Cons of the branch and beam
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No knurling
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Issues with the finish
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Narrow use cases
For bars with very limited use cases, unless you really make a point about using them, they are eating up quite a bit of space to become a gimmick. As these bars also not go through the standard quality tests for all
barbells from rogue, some of them lack in quality. Especially during COVID where some extra people were hired.
Alternatives to the branch and beam
Fat gripz are an easy and cheap way to turn a
barbell into a
branch. These are made of plastic and can be wrapped around the bar to make it thicker.
Log bars are an essential training tool for strongman athletes as no competition goes without a
log bar lift. The
neutral grip also challenges the regular deadlift setup.
Conclusion for the branch and beam
The
branch and beam are great tools for serious strongman athletes or gyms who like to mix things up regularly. With
pinch blocks and
fat gripz you can simulate similar stress to the body, without eating up as much space in your home gym.
Overview and review of the Rogue Multi-Grip cable attachment
This is an overview of the Rogue Multi grip cable attachment including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview of the Multi-grip Attachment
Price: $175
The
Rogue Multi-grip cable attachment is the big mamma of the cable attachments from Rogue. It weighs in at 25.5lb and is based on the
multi-grip bar designs from Rogue. This cable attachment is a great tool for strongmen or powerlifters who like to train on the westside method and have push/pull days. In a strong gym, you will have fans. If you own a commercial gym with clients who are mainly focused on fitness and weight loss, then this attachment might be oversized. The full specifications are:
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Made in the USA
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Compatible with most Lat Pull Down / Low Row machines
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Length: 48"
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Width: 7" depth
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Height: 8.25"
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(8) Knurled Handles: 1.31" OD, spaced at 12" - 23.375" - 34.75" and 46.125"
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(2) End Plates: 0.1875" laser cut steel w/ laser-cut Rogue logo on each
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Black Carabiner included
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Finish: Standard Textured Black Powder Coat
This is a well made, heavy-duty cable attachment where you get what you buy. In most gyms, it will mostly lie in the corner, unless you are massive yourself or have multiple towers to work with.
Pros of the Multi-grip Attachment
If you are big, you need bigger toys. That is just how it goes. The
multi-grip attachment delivers just that. Compared to a usual
stainless lat bar you can also work with a grip variation in very heavy pulls. The handles are also closer to anything that you might face when someone welded on a handle to a heavy object. A lot of fun to be had for $175.
Cons of the Multi-grip Attachment
If you are not big or use this in a fitness-focused gym it is quite heavy to get on the tower. Especially if you only have one or two for attachment are regularly swapped. If you have a four-way tower setup where you can permanently install it, it is a good option, but not when people have to lift it themselves. If you bought a lat pull machine chances are big that you already have a
stainless steel bar. That is more than enough for most mortals, so why spend more money on the
multi-grip attachment. If you buy more equipment you might look into a
back widow or small handles that you can use to pull in different directions.
Alternatives to the Multi-grip Attachment
The
back widow can be a great addition to your gym line up or replace the
Stainless lat bar you might already now. The
back widow is versatile and can be used in many different configurations from wide to narrow including different hand positions. It can also be used as a
T-Bar row handle for a
barbell and deadlift jack. The only thing not to like about the
back widow is the price of $300. A great option for a home gym with a dedicated user.
The
Stainless lat bar is the standard lat bar from Rogue that comes with the CT1 or Monster lat pulldown machines. If you want more of these, lost the one that came with your purchase, or acquired a lat pull machine without a bar, this is the safe option.
A simple handle can also do wonders. These are usually $20-$30 and can be used for more applications than the
Multi-grip Cable attachment. With a simple handle, you can use your pulley in many different directions. The only downside is that this is not made for very heavy pulls and is also not as much fun.
Conclusion for the Rogue Multi-grip cable attachment
This is a great option for very big athletes or for a commercial gym that wants to offer some variety on many different weight stack towers. Most home gym users who already own a lat pull-down will have a bar and not really have a need for this, unless for fun or as a nice treat for a birthday, Christmas, or another occasion as men always like their new toys.