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TITAN Leverage Squat machine vs TITAN standing back extension machine

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Dec 28, 2020 5:00:00 PM

TITAN Leverage Squat machine vs TITAN standing back extension machine

This is a comparison between the TITAN H-PND 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:
 
  • Price
  • Easy to use
 
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:
 
  • Footprint
  • mainly suited for bodyweight exercises
 
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 Leverage Squat machine $549

This is an overview of the TITAN Leverage 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 Leverage Squat machine

 
The TITAN Leverage squat machine is a good approach to squats for anyone who lacks the ankle mobility for low squats. The bottom plate is angled so that it is easier to go deep in the squat with less strain on the hips and feet. The full list of specifications includes:
 
- Add more intensity to your squats by loading up on Olympic weight plates
- Store extra plates on the base pegs to help organize your gym area & add stability
- Use the angled footplate to get leverage with your squats and calf raises
- Powder-coated steel is durable, lasts for years, and is scratch / rust resistant
- Spotter handle allows easy exit and re-entry after use
- 1,000 lbs. weight capacity
 
- Overall height: 62”
- Footprint: 58” x 44”
- Top sleeve length: 13 1/2”
- Bottom peg length: 8”
- Shoulder pad gap: 8”
- Weight: 200 lbs.
 
This is a machine for a spacious gym that has all of the other angles covered. If you want to ease people into squatting low this can be a good machine to use.
 

Pros of the TITAN leverage squat machine

 
The pros of the TITAN leverage squat machine are:
 
  • Angled foot plate
  • Price
 
The main reason to get this machine is to squat against an angled plate. This can be especially helpful for rehab or anyone lacking ankle and hip mobility to still squat deep.
 
As with all TITAN products the price you pay for a full machine as quite low. If you want to build a big arsenal of different fitness machines TITAN is one of the best places to go as your money will stretch further.
 

Cons of the TITAN leverage squat machine

 
The cons of the TITAN leverage squat machine are:
 
  • Limited use cases
  • Space requirements
 
The main disadvantage of the leverage squat machine is that it has not a lot o use cases. This is a common challenge with isolated machines that try to make things easier on the user. If you are strapped for cash and space the leverage squat machine is not a smart choice. If you want to buy something to train your legs you probably wantto go for a rack, squat belt machine, or hack squat instead depending on your budget and preferences.
 
In addition to the limited use cases the TITAN leverage squat machine also takes up considerable footprint in your gym. It will eat up the same amount of space as a squat rack would. So if you only have space for a rack or a leverage squat machine it is pretty clear what you need to do.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN leverage squat machine

 
Alternatives to the TITAN leverage squat machine are:
 
 
The TITAN hack squat leg press is the better option for a home gym owner looking into a squat machine from TITAN. While it costs a little more it doubles up as 2 machines in the frame of one. You will be able to do reasonably heavy leg presses and hack squats  which provides more bang for your space and buck compared to the leverage squat machine. Especially if you buy a squat machine as an addition to a home gym with an already existing rack. For a commercial gym the TITAN hack squat leg press might not be the right choice, as a 2:1 solution for a broader audience usually means to higher cost of instructing people how to use it or higher injury risk and insurance liabilities.
 
The TITAN belt squat machine is another alternative to the leverage squat machine. It is also closer in price to the Leverage squat machine than the TITAN hack squat leg press. The TITAN belt squat is a great option for powerlifters and weightlifters who want to get more squat volume in. The belt squat will take off some load from your lower back and shoulders so that you can focus on blowing up your quads and glutes without risking injury. Belt squats are very popular with seasoned lifters who go through a lot of volume to give themselves a break. In a commercial setting a belt squat makes sense when your clients are more into heavy lifting and the iron game. If your clients are more into machines, the leverage squat machine is the better choice.
 
The TITAN smith machine is another alternative to the Leverage squat machine. If you are getting the leverage squat machine to appeal to beginners than the TITAN smith machine might be the better choice. A smith machine also makes squatting easier and less scary for those who are not proficient in the movement pattern. In addition the smith machine can also be used as plate storage and for other exercises than squatting. I am personally not a huge fan of smith machines due to the cumbersome raking system they provide, but I do think they are still a better option for most gyms than a leverage squat machine.
 
The Rogue Rhino is the gold standard in belt squat machines currently available on the market. Compared to the TITAN belt squat there was more thought put in to the engineering as it works with a pulley system. This makes the lifting experience closer to the actual barbell workload as the weight is not on a frame which wraps around you. Compared to the TITAN leverage squat machine it makes squatting easier, but provides this result in very different way.
 
The Rogue leg press machine is the current gold standard for leg  press machines in the market. If you need to provide facilities for a bunch of NFL linemen and you worried about that they might shred any other equipment you could buy from TITAN, than the Rogue Leg press machine will get the job done. Apart from being build like a tank you can also move the platform for each leg separately. All exciting things come also at an exciting price and the Rogue Leg press is no exception. It retails for around $4000 and is therefore not suitable for most home gym environments.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN leverage squat machine

 
The TITAN leverage squat machine is an addition to the arsenal of professional gym that already has all of the other major machines in their arsenal. These include a rack, leg press, prone curl and lat tower. Get those machines first before even thinking about a leverage squat machine in my opinion. In a home gym this machine will be just be a waste of space unless you live in a mega mansion. Some bodybuilders like the idea of being able to attack their muscles from every angle that is humanly possible. Apart from this I do not so a lot of use cases for this machine.
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