TITAN plate loaded chest press vs TITAN power tower bench
This is a comparison between the TITAN plate loaded chest press and the TITAN power tower bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the TITAN power tower bench 188.99
This is an overview of the TITAN power tower bench including pros, cons and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which gym machine to get from TITAN. Follow the links for additional information.
Overview of the TITAN power tower bench
The
power tower bench is a variation of the multiple power towers that TITAN has in their line up. This version will also make it possible to do bench press motions and flyes while lying down. Combined with a pair of
dumbbells it takes care of many of the shortfalls of a regular power tower as the bench gives you access to a wider arrange of exercises to get to your goals. The downside is that this power tower will eat up more space because of its T shape than a regular power tower. The full specifications of the
TITAN power tower bench are:
- Full size bench
- Adjustable j-cups
- Dip station
- Multi-grip pull up bar
- Push-up handles
- Length: 79 1/2"
- Width: 34"
- Height: 86 1/2"
- Bench Length: 43 1/2"
- Weight: 99 lbs
- Capacity: 350 lbs
This is a good training station if you do not go crazy with it. I would not recommend using at for barbell bench presses, especially not if you go very heavy, as the hole thing might tip over or you might get your fingers caught on the awkward hooks to rack the weight.
Pros of the TITAN power tower bench
The biggest advantage of this product is that you get a bench including a power tower. With many vendors in the market you would be ard pressed to even get a bench for this prize. Never mind an entire exercise station that can function as a gym in your home. For what it does the
TITAN power tower bench is great value for money.
Cons of the TITAN power tower bench
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Racking hooks
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Low weight
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Space requirements
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TITAN finish
The hooks for racking can be become a real health hazard. They are not optimized for racking a heavy
barbell including weights. The cups have a small metal disc in front to keep the
barbell in place. This can easily turn into a finger cutter if you have the pressure of a heavy
barbell and a metal disc with some fingers sandwiched between them.
The whole station also has a pretty low weight for hanging yourself from it. If you do not attach it to the ground or to the wall it is likely that you will topple it. Especially if you like to go apeshit when you are training. It is not a good idea to get the cheapest possible equipment and than put the maximum amount of stress on it except you want to break things and humans.
This
TITAN power tower bench will roughly take up the same amount of space as a small
power rack. As you can not put this outside in the rain based on the bench pad you might want to reconsider and save up a little longer to fill your home gym space with something proper.
In addition to all of this you always have to take the TITAN finish into account. TITAN is know for parts that won't fit or completely missing parts. If the bones of the product are already flimsy and you combine this with lax quality controls you get recipe that won't necessarily make you happy. It does not mean that you can not train with TITAN equipment, it just will not more caution and DIY to make it work compared to other vendors like Rogue and Eleiko.
Alternatives to the TITAN power tower bench
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TITAN rack combo
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Rogue jammer bar
The
TITAN outdoor power tower is built a little sturdier than the
TITAN power tower bench. It has also has been stripped off any parts that do not do well in the rain. In addition the tubing is a bit thicker as with the
power tower bench and an extra coating has been apllied. If you want to invest a little more and train outdoors this is the safer and better choice than the
power tower bench. The only downside is that you will not get a bench with your purchase.
The TITAN rack combo plays in a different league than the power tower, but you still get a bench and other options to train. Rack combos are aimed at powerlifting meets and are easy to assemble and transport. With the TITAN rack combo you save some money compared to the competition and do not take your fingers off when you are bench pressing. In return it can not be used for pull ups or dips.
The Rogue jammer bar is a great indoor pull up bar to put above your kitchen door. Whenever you walk through, you do as many pull ups as you can muster. Keeps the entire family fit, is safe and does not take up a lot of space. Nothing to not like about this product. Except the price as it costs the same as the
TITAN power tower bench.
Conclusion for the TITAN power tower bench
If you use the
TITAN power tower bench together with some light
dumbbells and do not play tarzan while hangin from it it is a good budget option to keep generally fit. Still, I am not a huge fan as the production is cheap, it takes up quite a bit of space and does none of the things it claims really well.
Overview and review of the TITAN plate loaded chest press $464
This is an overview of the TITAN plate loaded chest press 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 chest press machine
The
TITAN plate loaded chest press machine is a chest press machine with a foldable bench which makes it unique. Again TITAN designs a machine with the spacious home gym in mind that saves money and space. The
plate loadable chest press can be used with regular
Olympic plates. The bench is adjustable for incline presses and has multiple grip variations. The full specifications of this TITAN machine are:
- Fits Olympic plates and features (2) 9.5-inch loadable weight posts
- Fully adjustable bench for the incline or flat reps
- (13) Bench depth positions to easily adjust to any size athlete and to accommodate hand placement for presses
- (5) Lifting arm positions to easily adjust the angle of your lift
- Bench easily stores on top of the frame when not in use to
- Minimum Footprint: 64-in. W x 63-in. L
- Maximum Footprint: 64-in. W-in. x 23-in.
- Seat Pad Dimensions: 11 - 8-in. x 12.5-in.
- Lifting Arm Length: 34-in.
- Vertical Handle Spread: 26.5-in.
- Weight Post Length: 9.5-in.
- Weight Capacity: 1,000 lb.
- Weight: 155 lb.
This is a great machine for bench presses and replacing a dumbbell rack, if you have the space for it.
Pros of the TITAN plate loaded chest press machine
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Multiple grip variations
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Foldable bench
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Plate loaded
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Price
Compared to a
barbell,
rack and bench setup this machine provides you more grip variations. This could also be done with
dumbbells and a
rack, but then you have to factor in the storage space for multiple
dumbbells and that they are awkward to work with by yourself once it gets heavy.
The foldable bench saves some space when you want to free up the center of your gym for stretching exercises, runs or other stout ones which need space. The footprint gets smaller, but you still have the metal frame to consider.
Plate loaded machines are great for home gyms as you can use one set of
plates for all the machines you own. This saves cost in getting your little park of machines together as you not pay the weight stack for each and every machine.
As with all TITAN products you will have a hard time to find something that is priced better. Especially as this machine already includes an adjustable bench which already can easily cost $500 or more by themselves.
Cons of the TITAN plate loaded chest press machine
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Plate loaded
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Space requirements
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Bench is attached
While
plate loaded designs can be great in smaller gyms it can turn into a trip hazard and bottlenecks in high frequency commercial gyms. If you have a lot of footfall with a varying level of experience combined with little supervision, than go for a
chest press machine with an included weigh my stack.
If your home gym is very crammed you might not have the space to get another machine in like the
Titan plate loaded chest press. In this scenario you might want to get three pairs of
dumbbells (light, middle, heavy) and spotter arms for
dumbbells for your
rack. This makes the setup more modular.
A further disadvantage of the
TITAN plate loaded chest press is that the be cj is attached. This means that you can not move things around in your and might even need to get a second bench for that purpose. Just keep that in mind based on the plans you have for your gym and the exercises you want to do.
Alternatives to the TITAN plate loaded chest press machine
The
Titan functional and
plate loaded functional trainer can also be used as bench press stations as long as you get an additional bench. With the different grips you can have more variety than with a
barbell. These two machines have $1300 between them. In a home gym scenario you might want to use the
plate loaded version to save considerably.
Conclusion for the TITAN plate loaded chest press machine
The
TITAN plate loaded chest press machine is a serious consideration to get instead of a full
rack of
dumbbells. If you have the space for a full
rack of
dumbbells you can most likely also fit this machine. You can do all of the
dumbbell exercises you need with this machine and load it with
plates instead. For a home gym this is a definite alternative. In a commercial setting you can not replace a dumbbell
rack with this machine as you have to cover more people at the same time. It can however be used to make the bench press more accessible toi wider community of your clients.