TITAN Glute and hamstring combo vs TITAN belt squat machine

This is a comparison between the TITAN Glute and hamstring combo and the TITAN belt squat machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the TITAN belt squat machine $599

This is an overview of the TITAN belt squat machine 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 Belt squat machine

The TITAN belt squat machine is simple in its design and effective. You will get a metal frame that you can hook plates and a belt up to to squat away. No fuss, just simple execution. Belt squat machines are a great option for anyone who wants to build strong legs without risking a lower back or shoulder injury. High workloads on heavy barbell squats can lead to pain in the shoulders and lower back as you have to carry the weight. With a belt squat machine you do not have this problem and can train the glutes to failure before your lower back or shoulders fail you. All of this is delivered at a great price compared to other machines in the market which do the same. The full list of features includes:

- Build lower body explosion without stress on your shoulders, spine, and lower back

- (3) weight stopper positions to adjust how deep you squat

- (4) additional weight posts for storage and to counterbalance increasing stability for heavy lifts

- Diamond plated aluminum footplate for superb grip and sleek look

- Heavy-duty steel construction to handle anything you can throw at it

- Includes a weight belt for further back support

- Floor Space Required: 7 FT 6-in Wide x 5 FT Deep

- Overall Width: 83-in.

- Overall Depth: 52-in.

- Overall Height: 38.5-in.

- Footplate Dimensions: 49-in x 24-in.

- Weight Post Length: 16.5-in.

- Storage Weight Post Length: 9.75-in.

- Weight Post Diameter: 1.9-in.

- Inside Lifting Width: 42-in.

- Weight Capacity: 1,000 lb.

- Product Weight: 232 lb.

Pros of the TITAN Belt squat machine

Pros of the TITAN belt squat machine are:

Price
Simple design
High load capacity

As with all TITAN products the price of the TITAN belt squat is very attractive compared to the competition. Comparable products are usually closer to $1000 or even beyond.

The simple design with a metal stop that is adjustable in height makes this a sturdy machine that anyone can use. No complex pulleys or climbing on a high platform. Load the plates, click in the belt and put it on and off you go. Big legs in no time.

This machine scales up to 1.000 pounds which is more than enough for most athletes to get to where they want to go.

Cons of the TITAN Belt squat machine

The cons of the belt squat machine are:

Space requirements
Weight placement

The TITAN belt squat is quite wide and also adds on with the plate storage in the back. You can not fit this machine into a rack and save some space. It needs a dedicated space and therefore might not be a great option for home gyms.

With this model the weight is around you rather than beneath or in front of you. This creates an effect similar to a trap bar which is not simulating the real world of a barbell squat or sumo deadlift to the same extent. This can be fixed by adding extra weight but has a different feel about it than the rhino from Rogue.

Alternatives to the TITAN belt squat machine

The TITAN belt squat machine is not the first item you should get for your home gym. It is an accessory and tread it as such. If you do not have a rack and barbell yet, start there and build your gym around this center piece. With the X3 range you can start around $200 to $300 for a rack and add a barbell and some small plates to your shopping cart.

Another alternative is the TITAN hack squat and leg press machine. This machine provides a two in and one and can be loaded with a considerable amount of weight. Generally speaking I would recommend the belt squat more to powerlifters and weightlifters, while the leg press might be a better option for bodybuilders. Of course, all of the above is always the best option for building the perfect physique, but you might not have the money or space to pull that off.

The TITAN smith machine can be a good option if you desperately want to do lunges in a machine. I personally think that smith machines are a waste of space, money and time but most commercial gyms have one so yu might want to get one just to compete.

The Rogue Rhino is the current gold standard in the industry for belt squats. This machine can be fitted into the space of a rack and works with one of the best pulley systems in the business. If you intend to do a lot of belt squats and only want to offer the best experience, this is the one to get. The main differecne to the TITAN model is that the load is not positioned around you, but in front of you. This minimizes the support the metal frame gives you for the lift and simulates barbell work closer than the TITAN belt squat. Both will blow up your legs without wrecking your lower back as much as a barbell though. The gold standard also comes at a gold price of $1.750.

The last machine you might want to consider when you are looking at a belt squat is the Rogue leg press machine. This is probably the biggest machine I have seen in a gym and it costs around $4000. In return you get the mechanics to operate your legs separately and one of the smoothest finishes I have seen on a leg press.

Conclusion for the TITAN belt squat machine

The TITAN belt squat machine is not sophisticated, but gets the job done. If you want a belt squat for your home gym and have the space, get one. I think this is especially a better idea than a deadlift platform. With a bit of practive you can do your deadlifts on your rack. Wherever you would have placed your deadlift platform you can put the belt squat instead.

Overview and review of the TITAN Glute and hamstring combo $699

This is an overview of the TITAN Glute and hamstring combo 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 Glute and Hamstring combo

The Glute and hamstring combo from TITAN is the Flagship version of a glute and hamstring machine in their portfolio. TITAN has many other variations of this, but this one is the most comprehensive and sturdy. It does what it says on the tin and is a great addition to any home gym or powerlifting gy as an addition to the essential items. This is not the forst thing to get for your gym but a good contender for the second purchase or third depending on your training preferences. In commercial gyms most people will not know how to use this properly and be intimidated by it. If you are working a lot with powerlifters and weightlifters, this might just be the machine to set you apart from the other gyms around the corner. The full list of features includes:

- All the exercises of a GHD and an H-PND in one comprehensive machine

- Heavy-duty steel construction guarantees years of dependability

- Fits Olympic size weight plates

- 10-inch of loadable sleeve length

- Includes (2) spring clip collars and a strap

- Adjustable footplate height and length

- Adjustable handle length

- Overall Footprint: 70-in x 42.5-in.

- Overall Length (handle extended): 79-in.

- Overall Width: 42.5-in.

- Pad Dimensions: 28-in x 16-in.

- Pad Middle Gap: 4.75-in.

- Grip Length: 6-in.

- Grip Diameter: 1.25-in.

- Arm Length: 28-in.

- Anchor Length: 25-in.

- Overall Weight: 253 lb.

- Handle Adjusts 6 holes: 2-in spacing

- Pendulum Adjusts 11 holes: 2-in spacing

- Foothold Dimensions: 7-in x 2.5-in.

- Footplate Dimensions: 19.75-in x 13.75-in.

- Footplate Adjustable Length 7 holes: 2-in spacing

- Footplate Adjustable Height: 45.5-in to 51.5-in from floor at 1-in spacing

This is the best Glute and hamstring combo you can get for its price. It is not the best in the market, but you will safe considerably compared to its direct competitor, the Rogue Donkey.

Pros of the TITAN Glute and Hamstring combo

The pros of the TITAN Glute and hamstring combo:

Price
Space efficient
Highly adjustable

As with many TITAN fitness items you pay about half of what the competition charges for a similar product. This can get very interesting for someone who buys in bulk or for their home gym. You can never argue with a good bit of saving and this also goes for the TITAN Glute and hamstring combo.

The TITAN Glute and hamstring combo saves space as the design combines glute and hamstring machines in one station. This means you have to place fewer machines in your gym to achieve the same range of exercises in your space.

What TITAN also get right about this one is that they made all the handles and levers highly adjustable. One of the main problems with these types of machines is that it can get very uncomfortable and downright damaging to your body, if you can not adjust them properly to your body dimensions. TITAN delivers on this for this model.

Cons of the TITAN Glute and Hamstring combo

The cons of the TITAN Glute and Hamstring combo are:

Padding
Space requirement
Underused
Instructions

The only thing TITAN could have paid more attention to in this design is the padding of the middle part of the Glute and hamstring combo. The padding is probably as thin as one you would find on a preacher curl machine. The difference is that you will rest your entire bodyweight on this one. That was an oversight when this was drawn up and shows that it was designed by someone who wanted to make a quick copy of the competition rather than someone who actually uses the machine.

A Glute and ham combo takes up considerable amount of space in your gym. In addition it also swings out to the back so you can not really place any other equipment right behind it. Pay close attention to your measurement and have a lot of clearance around this machine as it otherwise it becomes dangerous or unusable. IN addition the use of this machine is pretty niche. Only powerlifters and strength athletes will use it a lot which does not make it a great choice for your average commercial gym.

As with most TITAN machines with a lot of moving parts the instructions for putting this together leave a lot to be desired. What you save in cash you have to make up for in tim invested to put this thing together.

Alternatives to the TITAN Glute and Hamstring combo

The Glute and hamstring developer is slightly less expensive than the combo. It does not have the reverse hyper extension and offers fewer exercise options. In exchange the padding is superior to the Glute and hamstring combo. Both machines take up roughly the same footprint in your gym.

The TITAN H-PND is the massive reverse hyper from TITAN. It is huge and sturdy and you can not do a lot with this one for the price. The only exception is that it might not fit in your gym. If you are looking for a monster of a reverse hyper for your gym, this is it.

The TITAN Economy H-PND is the base for the Glute and hamstring combo. This has been stripped of the Glute ham options to make it a 100% reverse hyper. TITAN might consider to also make a version based on the H-PND rather than the economy only. If you only want a reverse hyper for a reasonable price that is not massive, this is the one to get.

The Rogue donkey is the gold standard for glute and hamstring developers that you can currently get. The pad is massive and everything about this machine is overbuilt. So is the price. The Rogue donkey will put you back $1.945. You can get three TITAN versions for this price.

Conclusion for the TITAN Glute and Hamstring combo

This machine is good for a home gym for someone of average size. If you are a massive powerlifter or bodybuilder you might want to tend towards the Rogue donkey. Same goes for a gym focused on the powerlifting population, even though it is massively more expensive. Also, these machines are more hype than they actually get used. More often than not you will only get very little use out of them and they just gather dust. Teaching your members how to do good mornings might be a better way for you to save money and space in your gym.