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TITAN indoor tire flipping machine vs TITAN leg press hack squat machine

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Dec 14, 2020 5:00:00 PM

TITAN indoor tire flipping machine vs TITAN leg press hack squat machine

This is a comparison between the TITAN indoor tire flipping machine and the TITAN leg press hack squat machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

 
 

Overview and review of the TITAN Leg press Hack Squat machine $1055

This is an overview of the TITAN Leg press hack 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.

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Overview of the TITAN Leg press machine

 
A leg press machine is a classic in gyms all over the world. In any bodybuilding movie montage you will find someone sitting in a hack squat machine pushing the equivalent of a small truck around. It has also become quite popular to get all of your friends to hop on one and post the video on Instagram. If you want to get instafamous you might still be able to afford the bikini models to hop onto the machine when you buy the TITAN leg press.  A great additional design is that this machine also doubles up as a hack squat. This makes it a two for one machine which saves space in a commercial or home gym setting to train your legs hard. The full feature list includes:
 
- 2-in-1 Machine features leg press and hack squat positions
- High quality steel construction for a solid, stable design
- Safety hand rails for complete control and easy bailout no matter what position you're in
- Fits Olympic weight plates and features two loadable weight posts and two additional posts for weight storage
- Comfortable and adjustable for any size athlete
 
- Footprint Dimensions: 40-in W x 7 FT L
- Overall Height: 53-in.
- Leg Press Footplate Dimensions: 21-in W x 15-in L
- Leg Press Back Pad Dimensions: 10.5-in W x 31-in L
- Hack Squat Footplate Dimensions: 26-in W x 22-in L
- Hack Squat Footplate Positions: 4
- Hack Squat Shoulder Pad Spread: 7.5-in W
- Hack Squat Shoulder Pad Dimensions: 4.5-in W x 8-in L
- Hack Squat Back Pad Dimensions: 20-in W x 15-in L
- Weight Post Length: 11.25" per side
- Storage Weight Post Length: 11.75-in per side
- Weight Post Diameter: 1.95-in.
- Weight Capacity: 875 lb.
- Weight: 325 lb.
 
This is a great machine for a home gym as it does two things for the price of one. In a commercial gym you might want to provide two stations instead of one so that more people can train at the same time.
 

Pros of the TITAN Hack squat leg press machine

 
 
  • Price
  • Space efficient
  • Big storage capacity
 
As usual the price is almost unmatched in the market for a product that would deliver the same or similar specs. Especially if you take free shipping and customer service into account. TITAN manages to provide the same material at roughly half the cost of their competition. If you want to build a massive gym, especially in your own home where you dont mind minor quality issues, TITAN makes your money stretch further.
 
As this is a two in one machine it will save you floor space. If you want to equip a small commercial gym or a home gym with a leg press and hack squat, this is the ideal solution sothat you can keep some floor space for other machines or strechtes.
 
This leg press machine can also be the centerpiece of an entire weight room, as you can store a lot of plates on this machine.  If possible i would place it close to the middle of any arrangement so that you can save on some plate trees. Making plates readily available in your gym can cut waiting time considerably and create a better experience for your customers. In your home it is nice to not have to haul your own plates too far and just able to throw them on the machine at the end of your workout.
 

Cons of the TITAN Hack squat Leg press machine

 
The cons of the TITAN hack squat leg press are:
 
  • 2 in 1 design
  • Structure
  • TITAN instructions and shipping
 
While 2 in 1 designs are always great when there is a single user, it can become problematic for multiple users. Not everyone will understand and use the machine in the way that it is intended. Especially in a commercial setup this bears a higher risk of this machine breaking or becoming a health hazard. While 2 in 1 is great for a single users who knows what the functions are, you need proper instructions when you use such a design in a more public space.
 
While the TITAN hack squat leg press is definitely sturdy it is a small leg press. You are giving up space for placing your feet and shoulders based on the two in one design. Also it would not feel comfortable using this leg press fur multiple tons of weight as it is flimsy for a leg press. It is great for the average joe, but if you do 4 - 6 plates easily for reps on a leg press, you might want to get a dedicated machine for that purpose.  
 
As with all complex assemblies from TITAN I put a caveat out that manuals and little bits are one of TITAN's major shortfalls in quality. When you offer your products for such a low price you have to cut corners in the creation of manuals and employee training. You just hear more often about tough assemblies or missing parts with TITAN than from comparable brands like Eleiko or Rogue fitness.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN Hack squat Leg press machine

 
Alternatives to the TITAN hack squat leg press machine are:
 
 
If you want to do lunges and do not want to do them with a barbell or kettlebells, a smith machine can also be a good choice. The TITAN smith machine is also closer to free weight training than a leg press or hack squat. I am personally not a huge fan of smith machines as they eat up a lot of space and are not that versatile. Still, most commercial gyms have one, so you might have to bite the bullet to provide the same as the guy next door. For any home gym I personally think that a smith machine is a waste of space and money.
 
The TITAN belt squat machine is another option to train your legs hard and still keep the exercise closer to free weight training. A belt squat machine is a great tool for weightlifters and power lifters as it takes pressure of the spine for volume work on the squat, while still not restricting your body as much as a leg press. Usually leg presses are a little more prominent with bodybuilders, so it depends on your training style for your home gym or what kind of clients you have in a commercial gym, if a belt squat is the better fit for your place than a hack squat leg press.
 
The Rogue Rhino is the current gold standard in the industry when it comes to belt squat machines. Rogue has combined their recent push into the world of machines with their tryouts for pulley systems and created a belt squat that is safe, easy to use and has almost a 1:1 ration for weight to exercise. The only downside to this machine is that it comes in at $1.750 which considerably sets it apart to the higher end compared to other machines.
 
The Rogue leg press is the beefiest and biggest machine of its kind I have personally seen. An added feature is that this massive leg press can also be used to train each leg separately or in a type of bicycle motion. Everything about this machine is massive; the seat, the plate to put your feet on, and the plate storage included. So is the price. This leg press will put you back about $4000 so you could get 4 TITAN Hack squat leg presses for the price of one Rogue leg press. The Rogue leg press is the right machine for anyone who train athletes at top levels who do not have to worry about budget. If you are massive, this is the leg press for you. 
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Hack squat Leg press machine

 
The TITAN hack squat leg press machine is great for a spacious home gym for the average joe. The price is great for what you are getting. In professional environments a dedicated leg press and a hack squat machine are probably the better choice to serve more customers in a shorter amount of time. Professional bodybuilders, powerlifters, and huge athletes might steer away from this machine due to the space constraints on the metal plates and the fact that for a leg press, it is a very light and small machine.
 
 
 
 

Overview and review  of the Indoor tire flipping machine $1199

This is an overview of the TITAN Indoor tire flipping 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.

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Overview of the TITAN tire flipping machine

 
The Tire flipping machine is probably one of the coolest and silliest machines I have seen in a long time. The basic idea is that you get a tire on a metal frame with some loading pins inside. This is great for a very specific use, which is not to get the floor dirty while still doing tire flips, but other than this I think this is expensive and a waste of space. Get a real tractor tire instead, especially for your home gym. The full specifications of this machine are:
 
- Achieve a full traditional tire training workout in one stationary machine.
- 125 lb. starting weight with room for an additional 60 LB worth of weight plates. 
- Compact design takes up minimal room.
- Handles and wheels for easy storage and movement. 
- High quality steel construction with 3.5-in rubber stoppers for a silent drop.
 
- Footprint: 48-in L x 57-in W
- Recommended Floor Space Required: 108-in L x 100-in W
- Tire Width: 13-in
- Tire Diameter: 48-in
- Tire Weight: 125 lb.
- Weight Post Loadable Length: 4.5-in
- Product Weight: 315 lb.
 
This is a good option in an urban commercial gym that wants to offer tire flips and has no access to the road. A crossfit box or garage gym probably is better of getting an actual tire/s to flip.
 

Pros of the TITAN tire flipping machine

 
The pros of the TITAN tire flipping machine are:
 
  • No dirt
  • Higher safety
  • Loadable
  • Fun
 
Compared to a proper tractor tire the TITAN Tire flipping machine produces less dirt. There will be no track marks and less impact on the floor compared to a traditional tire. In this sense the tire flipping machine saves a lot of the problems a main stream commercial gym would have with actual tires.
 
As the machine makes the range of motion more controlled and leaves less opportunity to grip or lift the tire in a weird way, it is also safer with beginners. The frame is sturdy and will not go anywhere once it is installed.
 
To progress beginners you also have the option to load this tire with additional weight to incrementally improve. This is a big advantage to an ordinary tire which will always stay the same weight, unless you get another.
 
The last thing about tire flips is that they are fun. Anyone who does them, likes them. Having this machine will definitely set you apart from your average run of the mill gym with a subscription fee of $20 a month. 
 

Cons of the TITAN tire flipping machine

 
The cons of the Tire flipping machine are:
 
  • Limited use
  • Space requirements
  • Price
 
Compared to an old tractor tire the tire flipping machine has limited use. Real tires can be dragged, pushed, flipped, and hammered. You can do only one of these with the machine. If you put a hammer to this tire it will over time warp the frame and wreck the construction as the tire has lost its integrity to be fitted for the machine.
 
This is definetly not an option for most home gyms. The Tire flipping machine will eat up a lot of space for very limited use and can also not be leaned against a wall to save space. Get a tire instead for your home gym.
 
Not everyone has the right connections, but if you do, you can get a big tire for free or the cost of the transport to you. Most people want to get rid of their old tires and it is a hassle to transport them. If you offer the transport you can usually pick them of for $20 to $100 or even for free depending on how well you know your local source. That is 11 tires for the price of one of these and they usually last forever.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN tire flipping machine

 
Alternatives to the TITAN Tire flipping machine are:
 
 
An old tractor tire is cheaper, has more uses and overall is cooler and more manly. If you can source one for a decent price and do not mind that your gym gets a little dirty, get this instead.
 
The volcano is in my opinion the better option for urban commercial gyms who want to offer flips to their customers. The volcano is easier to move around in your local gym, triples up as a yoke and plate stand, and still lets you do flips in a secure way without tire marks. It can also be loaded with more and a bigger variety of plates. The only downside is that it is $700 more expensive than the TITAN Tire flip machine.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Tire flipping machine

 
The use case for the TITAN Tire flipping machine is narrow and better covered by a real tractor tire or the volcano depending on whether you are in a barn or urban setting.  I think there are many better ways to spend more than $1000 on your gym. I would use it, but definitely not buy it. Unless I owned a gym on the 32nd floor of a skyscraper in London or New York and wanted to keep some Yuppie clients happy who have been pestering me about tire flips for some years. Even then i would only do it If I happen to get a windfall for new, but ultimately non essential equipment.