TITAN lat tower vs TITAN standing back extension machine
This is a comparison between the TITAN lat tower and the TITAN standing back extension machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the TITAN standing back extension machine $381
This is an overview of the TITAN standing back extension 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 standing back extension machine
The TITAN standing back extension machine is a simple and robust design from TITAN. With this machine you can do back raises and side raises to train your core and back. The pad is adjustable in height and can also be tilted in different positions. This is a machine for accessory work that can not be done with a lot of other machines. It is great for what it does if you have the space for it. The full list of specifications is:
- Strengthen your posterior chain
- Fully adjustable unit to fit a wide variety of exercises and athletes
- (8) adjustable foot roller and round pad positions in 1-inch increments
- (4) adjustable angle positions for the rounded pad
- High-quality 2 x 2-inch steel frame for a solid and stable design
- Footprint: 65-in x 28-in (39.5-in with band pegs)
- Footplate Dimensions: 24-in x 24-in.
- Rounded Pad Height: 28-in – 35-in.
- Foot Roller Diameter: 3.5-in.
- Product Weight: 112 lb.
Simple, elegant and effective. This is a machine that is easy to use and can be used in many different ways. Compared to a reverse hyper or GHD it delivers similar results but in a more accessible way for the general public.
Pros of the Titan Standing back extension machine
The pros of the Standing back extension are:
As with almost all TITAN products you get an industrial grade machine for a consumer price. TITAN undercuts their competition by about half and the standing back extension machine is no exception.
This is a great machine for a commercial gym to provide options to train g your back and sides. In a home gym you might want to go for a
GHD and reverse hyper combo as it offers you more options while it takes up roughly the same footprint.
Cons of the TITAN back extension machine
The cons of the TITAN back extension machine are:
For a bodyweight exercise machine the standing back extension takes up quite a bit of foot print. For this big a machine you might want to get something else instead that enables you to add resistance to your exercises via
plates.
Alternatives to the TITAN standing back extension machine
Alternatives to the standing back extension machine are:
The
TITAN H-PND is TITAN’s Monster Reverse hyper. This thing is built like a tank and will have enough padding for even the biggest of athletes. If you want to train your lower back with a reverse hyper than this is the best you can get from TITAN.
The
TITAN economy H-PND is the little brother of the original H-PND from TITAN. The steel gauges and the padding have been downsized to offer this reverse hyper at a lower price. The
economy H-PND also builds the base for the
Glute and hamstring combo, which is a great choice to train your posterior chain in a spacious home gym.
The
Rogue donkey is the gold standard in the market for posterior chain development. Rogue came up with a clever design and executed it perfectly. Especially the lad on this machine is very high quality and supports even the biggest athletes. Good quality also comes at a high price as the
Donkey puts you back close to $2000.
Conclusion for the TITAN standing back extension machine
The standing back extension machine is a great addition to any commercial gym with space. You might even want to get multiple of these and create a back area. In a home gym the
glute and hamstring combo might be better use of your space.
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
-
Design
-
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
-
Space requirements
-
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.