TITAN lat tower vs TITAN cable crossover machine
This is a comparison between the TITAN lat tower and the TITAN cable crossover machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the TITAN cable crossover machine $459
This is an overview of the TITAN cable crossover 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 Cable Crossover machine
The
TITAN cable crossover machine is a take on a classic which you will find in most gyms. Usually this is part of a machine with weight stacks and an included pull up
bar. This machine is great for cable pulls and chopping movements to strengthen your core and back. You can even use it for
chest presses and other pressing exercises, given that you have a bench. The full specifications of this machine are:
- Fits and stores easily in your garage.
- Unit fits in rooms with an 8 ft ceiling.
- High-quality pulleys and cables used.
- 4 Weight plate holders measuring 9.75-in each.
- Includes 2 premium cable handles.
- Footprint: 113-in W x 36-in D.
- Overall Height: 83.5-in.
- Clearance Height: 80.5-in.
- Weight Holder Length: 9.75-in.
- Weight: 110 lb.
This is machine that covers most of your pulley needs in one go if you can fit it into your gym. In my opinion it is still a makeshift and cheap solution to cover this need. If you can afford it, try to go with something more substantial like the TITAN functional trainer or the TITAN lat tower depending on the space you have at your command.
Pros of the TITAN Cable Crossover
This machine is all about getting a pulley system into your gym for a minimal amount of money. Everything about this has been optimized to achieve a low price, while still providing an industrial grate machine. If you want pulleys for your home and do not want to spend a fortune, this is the one to get.
Cons of the TITAN Cable crossover
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No Pull up bar
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Low own weight
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Makeshift solution
Most of the
Cable crossovers you will find in the industry will come with a pull up bar in the middle. That TITAN to choose to ship this one without a pull up bar already shows you how confident they are that this machine will stand by itself. If you are looking to get a fully functioning home gym for the lowest possible price, try to get a
cable crossover machine that includes a pull up bar. If you look for it on Amazon, take a close look into how to anchor it to the ground and how much it weighs.
This stations has a low weight without
plates and the construction is done in a way that it does not stand that well by itself. Be careful and do not climb on this, especially when there are no weights attached. It might fall over.
As with all complex assemblies from TITAN this pulley system makes no exception. The instructions are hard to follow and faulty and the end result does the job, but not very well. This whole station has a bit of a makeshift feeling about it, but you can also not complain a lot for less than $500 for such a big machine.
Alternatives to the TITAN Cable crossover
The
TITAN lat tower is a clone of the Rogue lat pull machine. If you want to mainly use your
cable crossover full vertical and horizontal pulls than this machine delivers it all. A seat, weight stack, beefy installation and proper pulley system. If you have the money and space beside a
rack, this is a great option from TITAN to save money compared to the competition.
The
TITAN wall mounted pulley tower is another option from TITAN for the low budget brigade. I would recommend this over the
cable crossover if you are allowed to drill into the walls of your gym. It costs less, is safer as it is mounted to the wall and you can still use it in a very similar way. The money you save you can invest in a proper pull up station, as this also does not come with this
cable crossover.
Conclusion to the TITAN Cable Crossover
I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of
cable crossovers in general and the TITAN does a poor job of being one on top of it. For the low budget you still get an OK machine, but as it most likely to be used in a home gym you can also go for something smaller and really bolt it down. This saves you space and money, and is more secure. If you love cable work, go for the
plate loaded functional trainer or the mounted pulley tower instead.
Overview and review of the TITAN Lat tower $1299
This is an overview of the TITAN lat tower including pros, cons and alternatives. This article with originally posted in Which gym machine to get from TITAN. Follow the links for additional information.
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Overview of the TITAN lat tower
The
TITAN lat tower is a low budget clone of the Rogue lat pull. You can increase the weight from 10lbs to 300lbs in increments. With this machine you can train vertical and horizontal pulls to build a bigger back. It includes a seat which is great if you want to go very heavy. If you just get a pulley tower without an attached seat you need an extra bench. This makes the setup awkward, especially when you go heavy. This is a good machine for dedicated powerlifters and bodybuilders who really want to blow up your back. Any commercial gym worth their salt should have at least one of these. A home gym might consider more versatile pulleys to make better use of space. The full specifications of the
TITAN lat tower are:
- Selector style weights from 10 - 300 LB.
- 6 Thigh pad and 8 footplate positions.
- Band pegs for adding resistance bands.
- High quality steel construction and powder coated for a smooth durable finish.
- Lat bar and low pull handle included.
- Floor Dimensions: 41" Wide x 57" Deep
- Overall Height: 87"
- Footplate Dimensions: 17" x 9"
- Lat Bar Width: 42"
- Lat Bar Diameter: 1"
- Low Pull Handle Width: 14"
- Low Pull Handle Diameter: 1"
- Weight: 530 LB
This is a great lat pull machine for this price. Compared to anything you will get on Amazon this thing is sturdy and can take a beast hanging from it going nuts. Compared to direct competitors for a similar machine you save $800. If you are in the market for one of these there is very little not to like about the TITAN lat tower.
Pros of the TITAN Lat tower
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Price
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Design
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Lat bar included
As with anything from TITAN you save considerable money compared to similar products from the competition. The Rogue Lat pull down retails for $2000 and is basically the same machine with some minor differences. If you want to build a great home gym on a budget $800 can go a long way and should not be sneered at.
Even though the design is more or less copied it doesn't make it bad. With this
lat tower you get a rowing machine and a lat pull machine in one. Especially for people who already own a
rack and want to go heavy on developing their back, this is a great machine which covers all of these needs in a compact way.
On top of this the lat bar is included which can cost up to $200 if you source it separately and get a high quality bar.
Cons of the TITAN Lat tower
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Finish
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Space requirements
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Price
As with many TITAN fitness products, TITAN cuts some corners to offer these at half the price of the competition. This is usually reflected in the quality of their staff, manuals and consistency of the finish of their products. As most fitness equipment is not high precision formula 1 gear this is not the end of the world but can get annoying if you are not good at DIY. Compared to Rogue the weights often do not work as smooth, some of the seating positions do not click as well. Its like the difference between an Audi RS4 and a Subaru Impreza. You will get both cars to go fast around corners. The Audi will just be more comfortable and easier to handle for the non professional.
Compared to a
functional trainer or
rack, the
TITAN lat tower takes up approximately the same amount of floor space, while giving you less versatility. If you are mainly concerned with space constraints, a
lat tower is not a great choice. It is a better choice then many other machines but is inferior to a
functional trainer or
rack depending on your preferences in training style.
At a price point of $1299 the
TITAN lat tower is still a considerable investment for a machine that is mainly geared toward accessory exercises. For less money you can get a concept 2 rower or Spin bike and make your gym more functional overall.
Alternatives to the TITAN lat tower
The
plate loadable lat tower is another option from TITAN which saves you $800 if you already own
plates compared to the
Lat tower. If you have a home gym and already own a
rack with weights and do not mind some DIY and a little more setup, the
plate loadable lat tower is a great alternative to the
TITAN lat tower. It will be more prone to break and have a more makeshift feel about it overall, but it keeps another $800 in your pocket to take your partner out or invest in more equipment.
The
TITAN plate loadable crossover machine costs less and leaves you with more options to use two pulleys with
plates. If you have the space in your gym and you do not want to go heavy on vertical pulls this is an option. I am personally not a fan of
cable crossovers unless for chops for your core, but if you are not a free weight fanatic like me, this might be for you.
The
wall mounted pulley tower is the ultimate budget option for vertical pulls from TITAN this comes in at under $200 to train your back and lats. It will need more DIY skills as it needs to be drilled into a sturdy wall. Avoid plaster walls with this one. It will do the job, but the cables are very exposed and easily tangled. Good for beginners, but if you already are 300lbs of fine muscle, do not get a machine that barely weighs more than your daughter and maybe even less than your partner (75lb).
The
TITAN functional trainer is probably the better option if you are worried about space and do not want to go super heavy on your pulls. This machine is a fully functioning gym itself, even though some of the setups, especially for squats, can be awkward. It takes up the same amount of space as the
Lat tower. If you go for the
plate loadable version it even costs less than the
lat tower, assuming you already have
plates. Otherwise you would have to factor their purchase into the overall costs.
Conclusion for the TITAN Lat tower
The
TITAN lat tower is a great option for the home gym of the dedicated Arnold or Ed Coan in wait. It is also a great option for commercial gyms that are looking for good,sturdy equipment that will take beating at a reasonable price. Anyone who needs to optimize for space should stay away from this as a
functional trainer or
rack would be a better option. If budget is not of concern, the Rogue lat pull will be more refined option but only if your of the mindset to only get the best in class or $800 is only spare change to you. This is a great buy for anyone who means business, has space, and still wants to protect their wallet.