TITAN 88lb punching bag vs Versaclimber LX

This is a comparison between the TITAN 88lb punching bag and VersaClimber LX including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Versa climber LX Model

The VresaClimber LX comesa in at $3995 - $4200. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".

Overview of the VersaClimber LX

The VersaClimber range has been on the market for more than four decades. The LX model is one of their mid-range options which sits between the SM and H models from a budget perspective. The machine is hand welded and has the following specifications:

Weight 150lb
Height 7’ 10’’
Footprint 48’’x48’’
Color black
Climb angle 75 degrees

The VersClimber LX comes with a computer and fully assembled to stand upright in your home gym or professional facility. For $200 you can upgrade the handles for more options. VersaClimber recommends this option for anyone taller than 6’ 3’’. For an extra $100 it comes with a branded floor mat to protect your floors from scratches and sweat.

The VersaClimber range is a great alternative to treadmills, bikes, and towers. It offers some of the highest intensity cardiovascular workouts on the smallest possible footprint with minimum impact on the joints. Everyone who ever used this hates it. This is usually a good reference when it comes to workout machines.

Pros of the VersaClimber LX

These are the pros of the VersaClimber LX series compared to other options you might consider:

Small footprint
High intensity
Adjustable resistance
Unfamiliar workout

Compared to most treadmills and elliptical machines you will be able to fit a lot more VersaClimbers into your facility. When it comes to calories burned per square foot the VersaClimber is very hard to beat. The LX offers a commercial grade machine for a lower cost than the SM model.

The Versaclimber itself offers you and your athlete a great opportunity to power yourselves out. If the weather is bad or if you want to throw them a curve ball, this is the machine. Many climbers use this is a morning routine and climbers are usually quite good when it comes to endurance. Loss of grip means death for them so they won’t mess about with the equipment they pick.

This machine can adjust the resistance from 1-500 lb which makes it better than older models from VersaClimber.

If you are planning on establishing the best gym in town you will be able to offer extra diversity with this machine. Especially in Europe, I have not seen many of these around which might swing some reliable clients your way instead of to the gym around the corner.

Cons of the VersaClimber LX

Here are some cons of the Versa Climber LX:

Not specific
Not for beginners
Old computer
Price

Most people compete in sports to which a vertical climb is irrelevant. Treadmill and cycling training is more relevant to the movement patterns for long distance runners and endurance athletes. If it is not just about burning calories but also improving technique on relevant movements the VersaClimber might not be the right choice.

As this workout is super intense it might not be for beginners. If you have a lot of beginners in your gym you might want some alternatives for people who just walked through the door. Throwing something completely frustrating at your beginners will drive them away. You have to give them some small successes and build from there. Only very few of your clients will be like “yes another machine I can kill myself on”.

The computer unit on the LX is a bit outdated. The SM has a better one as this is the most recent update to the line. Personally, I think this does not matter that much. Most of the programs are not used anyway.

The price is a big con to the Versaclimber LX. The H version comes in for $1000 less but has no commercial use warranty. The SM costs $1000 more. What I would really consider when I built my own gym is what else I could do for $4000. For two VersaClimbers I can get a ten pack of concept 2 bikes to run spinning classes. For a home gym, I can get a rack fully equipped with barbell and plates.

Alternatives to the VersaClimber LX

Alternatives to the Versaclimber LX are:

The Versaclimber SM leaves you with more freedom around the machine as less material of better quality is used to build the frame for the VersaClimber. It also has a better computer and warranty. When you are in the market to buy a lot of these for commercial use, make very sure you understand the differences of the warranty and service differences between the LX and SM.

If you are considering a VersaClimber for your home base go with the H option. It will save you a lot of money and still give you the benefits. Unless money does it really make a difference (for example if you are outfitting a house that costs 10 million I personally would not be picky between a 2000 and 5000 dollar option for the home gym and just get the best of everything).

If you are not looking at the VersaClimber for home use but for a professional setup be very mindful whether it is your first purchase. The Rogue Echo bikes are of high quality, only cost a fraction and deliver a great, challenging workout which is different from treadmills and ellipticals. This might be a better option for a bulk purchase.

Summary for the VersaClimber LX

The Versaclimber LX is a great option but suffers the pros and cons of most middle of the range of products. Unless you very specifically want this one it is better to go with the best or lowest budget option form the portfolio. Same goes here for the LX. I went for the H and I am happy. For a commercial gym, I would have gone for the SM and tried to argue with the bank for a loan extension pointing to the good warranty (basically you buy 2 for 1 if one breaks you get it replaced unless you threw rocks at It). Talk to other gym owners who wanted to make use of the warranty to be really sure.

Overview and review of the TITAN 88lb punching bag

This is an overview of the TITAN 88lb punching bag including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag

The Titan 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag is a classic heavy punching bag that you see all over the country. This is a solid punching bag for a more than reasonable price. Not the best in the market, but it will suck up a lot of your punches.

Height: 57.5-in.

Diameter: 15.5-in.

Product weight: 88lb

- Durable outer shell provides consistent striking performance

- Mixed fill contains sanitized, synthetic fibers for prime shock absorption on impact

- Sufficient mass for people weighing 170 or more pounds

- Heavy-duty straps offer increased security

There is not a lot you can do wrong with a heavy bag for only $100.

Pros of the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag

The Pros of the 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag:

Price
Design

This is a well-priced bag that does what it says on the tin. The design is understated so it will fit many different gyms. With this bag, you can start or buy in bulk for your commercial gym without breaking the bank.

Cons of the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag

The cons of the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag are:

Not the most durable boxing bag
Does not come in a set

Compared to high-end boxing bags ranging from 400 to 600 Dollars this is not the most durable, fanciest, or hardcore bag. You can get bags filled with water, pebbles, and all kinds of media and made of a stronger leather than this one. So if you have the Klitschko brothers pounding your bag day in and out maybe get something a little more solid.

This bag is only a bag for putting $100 on the table. With a bit of research, you can find some deals for slightly more where you get the gloves and some other small items thrown into the trolley too.

Alternatives to the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag

The power strike punching bag is an alternative to the 88lb that is easier to move around and swings more, especially when kicked. This is the better bag when you only want to box and get the bag off the hook easily and often.

The Muay Thai boxing bag is a good alternative to the 88lb bag that costs slightly more but is therefore longer. This will enable you to also practice low kicks on this bag while giving up a little bit of thickness compared to the 88lb bag.

The pivoting reflex training bar is a great alternative to another 88lb bag to train your reflexes for blocking and ducking. The bar will spin and hit you when you give it a push if you do not get your guard up in time or duck away.

The RDX free standing punch bag is about $100 more than the TITAN 88lb punch bag. The big advantage is that you do not hook this bag up to the wall or the ceiling. To provide stability it can be filled with sand or water at the base. One big downside of free-standing punch bags is the base itself. As it is there, you can not get up close to the bag to simulate fighting and clinching.

The RDX heavy punching bag might be the better choice for beginners as you can get it in a nice set with gloves, a wall-mount, and other extras. This will only be slightly more than $100.

The RDX hanging filled face might not be the first boxing bag you are getting it maybe the second. It simulates the shape of a body with a face on it without costing you the money of a terry torso.

Conclusion for the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag

The 88lb TITAN heavy boxing punching bag is a great extra to throw into your shopping basket if you intend to build an entire gym with TITAN. Just get the bag and something to hook it on the wall on the same delivery as the rest. If you buy in bulk because all of your boxing bags in your boxing gym need to be replaced this is also a good bet. Just keep 1 - 5 of the more expensive bags for your veterans but for beginners, this is more than enough.