Rogue RM8 vs TITAN plate loaded seated row

This is a comparison of the Rogue RM8 rack and the TITAN plate loaded seated row including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the TITAN plate loaded seated row $314

This is an overview of the TITAN plate loaded seated row 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 plate loaded seated row

The TITAN plate loaded seated row is another classic machine you will find in most gyms around the country. The plate loaded design makes it a good choice for anyone with a spacious home gym who wants to save money. This is a solid, easy to use machine where you can not do a lot wrong. The full specifications of the TITAN plate loaded seated row are:

- Two different grip styles to target muscle groups

- Adjustable seat, chest pad, and distance between grips

- Olympic sized weight plate holders

- Tough, solid steel construction is long-lasting and dependable

- Powder-coated paint job prevents rust and early scuffing

- One-year warranty provided for every machine

- Overall Length: 63”

- Overall Width: 44”

- Vertical Handle Adjustable Width: 9 1/2” - 17 1/2”

- Horizontal Handle Adjustable Width: 15” - 23”

- Adjustable Seat Height: 17” - 22 1/2”

- Loadable Sleeve Length: 9 3/4”

If you have the space there is not a lot you can do wrong with this to train your back.

Pros of the TITAN plate loaded seated row

The pros of the TITAN plate loaded seated row are:

Easy to use
Low price
Plate loaded
Secure

This is a machine that is very easy in its construction and use. There is not a lot that can break and you will also have no problems using it right away. This makes this a popular choice for commercial gyms as it is comfortable, effective and does not need a lot of instructions.

Compared to the competition the TITAN plate loaded seated row cones in a my ale price. TITAN achieves this by cutting some corners on services and instructions. For a so one machine like this that does not weigh in as much and you can therefore fully enjoy the savings which TITAN fitness brings to you.

The TITAN seated row is plate loaded which means that you save money on buying the machine without a weight stack. Especially for home gym owners who want to go beyond a rack and some free weights this is a great option to save cost compared to other industrial machines.

Compared to any version of barbell rows the seated TITAN row is more secure as your back and spine rest against a lad and you are seated. Barbell rows expose you to more risk to pull a muscle or hurt your skeleton when you go heavy.

Cons of the TITAN plate loaded seated row

The cons of the TITAN plate loaded seated row are:

Space requirements
Plate loaded
Lower back activation

You will need extra space in your gym for a TITAN plate loaded seated row. As it is a one trick pony and the exercises it provides can be done with dumbbells, kettlebells, or barbells this might not be the best use of space when you do not have a lot to go around.

While a plate loaded machine is great when everyone knows what they are doing or when you are the only one using the gym it can become a problem in a crowded area. Having to plate load all the machines in a gym can lead to conflict and trip hazards. If your gym is crowded or crammed multiple times a week try to stick with machines which have the weight stacks included. This makes the gym safer, less cluttered and you will have fewer complaints from staff that the plates are not put away properly.

While the plate loaded seated row is safer and easier to use than a barbell row you will get less back activation compared to free weights. If your aim is to build a big string back for sports or powerlifting you are usually better off with sticking with the free weights.

Alternatives to the TITAN plate loaded seated row

Alternatives to the TITAN plate loaded seated row are:

The TITAN Atlas bar costs less than this machine and has more applications. If you have no plates for either of these machines to make it work you can also consider just getting a barbell and plates and start your gym this way. Also has the advantage that a barbell can be stored in the corner of a room when you are done with your routine.

The TITAN T bar row is a good alternative for a commercial gym to the seated back row. It takes up more space, but is easier to load. In this machine you will have to stand to row so it is closer to the experience of a barbell row. In a home gym the seated row might be the better option as it takes up less space.

The Titan chest supported adjustable row is a great option for anyone who rows very heavy weights with a barbell and wants to feel more secure. While the application is very niche it will work wonders for anyone who fits this description.

Conclusion for the TITAN plate loaded seated row

The TITAN plate loaded seated row is a low price option on a seated row which is ideal for the spacious home gym. In commercial gyms you might want to lean more towards a vendor with better warranty and Included weight stacks.

Overview and review of the Rogue RM8 Power rack

The Rogue RM8 power rack is the new flagship of the rogue rack portfolio for $7.350. It combines the new LT1, Rhino Belt and RM6 into the Rolls Royce of racks.Here are the pros and cons and alternatives to this beast.

Overview of the RM8

The RM8 is the newest edition to the Rogue Monster line up. After publishing the 50cal, Rhino belt squat and a multitude of new bar designs using the Cerakote finish Rogue out it all together and went even bigger. This is the ultimate station to get stronger, especially for anyone who wants to squat heavy up until older age.

As part of the Rogue monster series, you will get the 3x3 Gauge steel with the big bolts. The finish is currently only Cerakote black also I am quite positive that this will change in the foreseeable future. The RM8 has the following dimensions:

Length 10’6”
Width 6’4”
Width Rack inside 43”
Height 100.375”
Footprint 10’6” x 53”

You will basically get an RM6 on steroids with all the plate storage you need and extra functionality to attack your muscles from every angle. Here is the list of items:

Rhino Belt squat
Loadable weight trolley
Knurled Socket pull up bar
Custom Rogue Nameplate
6 long plate storage pins
4 short plate storage pins
Monster Sandwich J Cups
4 Monster band pegs

The Rhino belt squat is one of the most interesting new developments in the Rogue portfolio. It is especially good to train heavy for squats without putting too much strain on your lower back. An older lifter will appreciate it, you get lifters will be able to get more volume in. The stand-alone version of the Rhino comes in at roughly $2000 and I have already written about the Rhino belt squat it on my blog.

The loadable weight trolleys are two lever arms with the 50cal mechanism. Again Rogue has shown innovation on these. They revised that the original lever arms were cumbersome to adjust and can up with these. Footballers and Rugby players will appreciate the tackling training which can be done with them. Strongman athletes will have a good piece of equipment to simulate car deadlifts or uneven loads. Bodybuilders will have options to simulate all kinds of rowing and pressing machines when combined with an adjustable bench. Finally, powerlifters can use the setup to create a mini monolift.

The pull-up bar with knurling gives you extra grip. It is one of the newer additions to the rack options of Rogue. Still, it is a bar, not a lot to be said about it.

The custom rogue nameplates look cool, but that is about it. It’s a pity that Rogue does not allow the configuration to be changed to a simple cross member. The nameplate renders the beam almost unusable for any attachments. Still, it looks dang cool.

That plate pins are great as they safe you the extra hassle and cost to provide for plate storage. If you have children in your home I recommend getting spring collars to make the plates safe. Some like to put the plate pins as high as possible. I would not do that as the plates will drop from a height into anything below if they come off the rack. Most children won’t be able to move the spring collars, so at least you have some safety.

The band legs can be used to train with the west side method. You attach bands to the pegs and barbell for added resistance. You can see an example of how that works in the two videos below.

Pros of the RM8

The RM8 is the one-stop-shop for the latest and greatest that Rogue has to offer. The Rhino belt squat will give you many variations to train while keeping your lower back safe. You can switch from resisted jumps to band assisted squats. The potential is limitless. It is really great to see that products can still be made better in a market which you thought was saturated. If you have the money the Banshee won’t disappoint.

Cons of the RM8

$7000 is a big price tag for a rack. You can get 7 Fortis racks for this price if you were to equip a commercial gym. Another option would be a monkey rig which gives many more options to run classes of them. This beast is aimed at in e or two people. Of course, you can have more people train at it, but this is definitely the ultimate celebrity or athlete home gym, not the commercial option. Unless you are an NFL team and do not care about multiplying out the 7000 over half the numbers of players you have.

Another con is that for the biggest price tag you get no color option. That is a shame and hopefully changes soon. They probably assemble it by hand and coat it as they don’t have a production line for the RM8 yet. Stay tuned in this space.

Alternatives to the RM8

There are no alternatives if you want all the best toys of Rogue in one rack. But not everyone has 7000 to spend on a rack. Here are some alternatives to spend your hard-earned money on excellent Rogue equipment:

If you have the same amount of money to spend but also think about how to make that money back in a professional gym setup the monkey Rig or a monster rig might be a better choice. A Rig leaves you with more options for circuit training and positing people up. You can read more about rigs in my monkey and monster rig articles.

If you want to spend money on a very good rack for your home gym you can go for the RM6 instead. The RM6 comes with different height and color options and leaves you with more choice rather than the take it or leave it approach of the banshee. If you were to come to money at after stage you can still upgrade with the Rhino Drop in and the 50cal trolley arms separately. You can learn about the RM6 in my review.

The RM4 fortis is the best rack option from Rogue under 1.000. If you wanted to equip a commercial gym with seven racks rather than one rolls Royce that is the option to go for. The RM4 is still a great rack and your customers will be happy.

3WC is a rack option which can fold in and be snug against the wall. This way it is an ideal setup for a garage gym when you still want to park your car. It also comes in at around $500.

Summary of the RM8

The RM8 is the best to be had from Rogue. You can use the Rhino when your lower back is at you or do resisted pull-ups while the rest of the rack offers everything for plate storage to a pull-up station. Of course, it is over the top, but that’s the whole point.