TITAN lat tower vs TITAN plate loaded fly machine
This is a comparison between the TITAN lat tower and the TITAN plate loaded fly machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the TITAN plate loaded fly machine $474
This is an overview of the TITAN plate loaded fly 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 plate loaded fly machine
The
plate loaded fly machine is a classic in bodybuilding and an exercise that is frequently done in gyms all over the world. Flyes will build your back and chest. They are a great accessory to any chest day after you have finished your bench presses. The full list of Features for the
TITAN plate loaded fly machine includes:
- Develops pectoral, chest, shoulder, and back muscles.
- Dual overhead cams offer independent and collaborative conditioning.
- Swiveling handles for exceptional range of motion.
- Thick, comfortable seat and back pads.
- Fully adjustable to accommodate users of all sizes.
- 2-in x 2-in, 12-gauge steel frame.
- Plate Sleeve: 2 Posts that fit Olympic sized plates.
- Dimensions: 65-in x 32-in x 28-in.
- Weight Capacity: 300 lb.
- Assembled Weight: 91 lb.
This is a solid machine for a home gym or a private gym where people k ow what they are doing and want to train flyes.
Pros of the TITAN plate loaded fly machine
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Price
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Plate loaded
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Seat and position
As all TITAN products the
plate loaded fly machine comes in at an excellent price. TITAN usually undercuts the competition by about half and this is no exception. If you want a
fly machine with warranty and a reliable vendor behind it than TITAN is a good address for you.
If you are building a home gym
plate loaded machines are great as they safe you money for paying for the weight you train with multiple times over. If you are all about cutting cost than getting some
plates and a bunch of
plate loaded machines to go with them is a good strategy.
For training it is always great to have a proper machine with a good frame to sit in to target the smaller muscle groups. This
fly machine delivers on that concept.
Cons of the TITAN plate loaded fly machine
The cons of the
plate loaded fly machine are:
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Plate loaded
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One trick pony
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Makeshift
While
plate loaded is great if you are building a gym for yourself and training buddy in your basement it is less than optimal in a commercial setting.
Plate loading machines makes your workouts longer, creates trip hazards and exposes your clients to higher injury risk. If you run a heavily frequented gym that gets crowded in rush hours, than go with a
fly machine that includes a weight stack.
This machine is also a one trick pony whic makes it less attractive for use in a home gym compared to other products from TITAN. If you want to optimize your money and space, steer away from this machine and look into the ones that are more multi functional.
The last point against the
TITAN plate loaded fly machine is that the pulleys are exposed which gives the machine a makeshift feel. It does not feel like you could throw a truck at it and it will hold. It wi do the job, but if you are big and intend on putting a lot of abuse on it, you might want to look elsewhere.
Alternatives to the TITAN plate loaded fly machine
If you have the space you can get a complete training unit with the
cable crossover machine from TITAN. You can also perform flyes with this and many other exercises you might want to do. The only downside is that the frame is very large and you get no seat with the machine. To get a similar experience you would also need to buy a bench from TITAN. In return your setup will be more modular and flexible.
The
Titan plate loaded functional trainer is a good option for a home gym that wants to add a multitude of cable pulley exercises. If you already have a
rack and bench in your home and want for to do more accessory movements to stay fit and support the big weights, than this is a good budget option. It might not be the ideal solution for a commercial gym as it is
plate loaded. In those scenarios a machine with a weight stack is a better option.
The
TITAN functional trainer does basically the same as the
plate loaded with the difference that it comes with two 200 lbs weight stacks in addition to the frame. This makes it easier to load and get a quick workout done. This is the less messy functional trainer from TITAN but comes at the hefty price of $2000.
A set of
TITAN dumbbells can also be used if all that you are interested in are flyes. In combination with a bench you are in the same ballpark as the price for the
fly machine.
Conclusion for the TITAN plate loaded fly machine
The TITAN plate loaded glute machine is a great option for a spacious home gym than can afford your have multiple machines. If you have an Iron den where all of your clients know what they are doing and are few in umbers this can also work. In highly frequented gyms a
fly machine with a weight stack might be the better choice. Home gyms with small space should stay clear from this single purpose machine and optimize your space better.
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.