TITAN Series power rack vs SM3 [Article, Video]
This is a comparison between the TITAN series power rack vs the SM3. Follow the links for more information.
Rogue fitness vs TITAN fitness
Rogue Fitness is the current market leader when it comes to a functional home gym and commercial gym equipment. They have one of the widest portfolios including racks, barbells, benches, dumbbells, and apparel for the weekend warrior and dedicated athlete. The biggest downside of Rogue Fitness is their comparatively high prices to the competition.
TITAN Fitness is the clear cost leader when you want to build a home gym on a budget that is still similar to what Rogue offers in function, look, and feel. While you will save about half on the sticker price you will run a higher risk of inconsistencies in quality compared to a purchase from Rogue. The equipment will be safe but is more likely to have blemishes, quality issues with welds or that pieces will not easily fit into place. That makes TITAN a good option for a DIY enthusiast who does not mind tinkering with their equipment, but not the first choice to get the best equipment and treat yourself.
Rogue SM 3 Monster squat stand
The Rogue SM3 squat stand comes in at $759 and is one of the mid-range options for under $1000 from Rogue. Learn more in this review which was originally published in the Article "Which Rack to buy from Rogue for under $1000".
Overview of the SM3
The
SM3 Monster Stand is the flagship of the
Rogue Squat stands and comes in at a height of 2.82m. It is available in black and manufactured in Columbus Ohio. This is the squat stand for the big players who mean business.
The
SM3 it comes in at a height of 111''. The steel notes are 3x3 Gauge steel. The total footprint of the squat stand os 50''x54''. This unit does not need
to be bolted
to the floor as it comes with the flat foot design of
Rogue. It will be shipped
to you including J Cups,. You can choose from either a Single Skinny Pull up bar or a Fat/Skinny pull up bar.
This is probably one of the biggest squat stands that you can get in the market. If you like it big and your customers too, go for this beast. If you have a lot of basketball players to train, this might be the squat stand for you.
Pros of the SM3
If money is not an issue with you and needs a squat stand, you can not go wrong with this one. It is completely overbuilt, in a good way. Why do you like a Mercedes. Probably not because it is the cheapest way to get you from A to B. This purchase will make you happy if you have high ceilings and tall athletes.
Cons of the SM3
If you want
to use this for
powerlifting it might be the wrong choice.
To bench press safely you will also have
to get spotter arms on top of the squat stand. The
Spotter
arms tailor at 270$ and all of a sudden you reached the $1.000 dollar mark and might as well look into a full
rack.
Alternatives to the SM3
IThe
Rogue RM4 fortis rack is a viable full
rack option that comes in at roughly the same prize as the
SM3 when you count in the
spotter
arms. If you want
to powerlift and have no special reason for getting a 2.82m high squat stand I would recommend the fortis instead. You will have more options
to upgrade and a safer environment
to train in.
If you are not a basketball player an on a budget the SML2 might be an alternative. The SML2 saves you about 300$ compared
to the
SM3 for accessories or a
barbell. You still will get a squat stand
which is 92'' high. The SML 2 is compatible with the MOnster lite series of
Rogue.
If you are as tall as a basketball player and still want
to save money, the SML3 might be an option. Again you are saving roughly 300$ compared
to the
SM3 while you keep the height at 108''.
Overview and review of the Titan Series power rack
The Titan Series power rack will put you back about $1000. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which Titan rack to buy for over $500”
Overview of the TITAN power rack
The
Titan series power rack is the flagship rack from TITAN which is currently available. You will get an overbuild cage with a lot of space inside to play around with. If you are a massive athlete or just like big, star things, this is a good option for you. It also includes all of the its and bits and plate storage to get you started. A barbell and plates would have to be purchased separately to make a full set. The specifications of the TITAN power rack are:
-
3” x 3” 11 Gauge Tubing and bolt-together design.
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Includes (2) 1” Diameter Pins w/ 1.5” Pipes for
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Includes (4) Bolt-On Weight Plate Holders
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Includes (4) Band Pegs.
-
Includes a pair (2) Sandwich J-Hooks.
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numbered laser cut holes
-
Keyhole side spacing
-
1” bolts
-
Max height of 94” for pull-up bar.
-
Overall Weight: 388 LB
-
Overall Height: 100”
-
Footprint (including bolt-down plates): 53” x 55.5”
-
Overall Depth: 48”
-
Inside Depth: 42
-
Overall Width: 48”
-
Inside Width: 42”
This rack will make a fine centerpiece of your gym for years to come.
Pros of the Titan power rack
You will get a massive rack for a very competitive price. TITAN also offers a wide arrange of attachments to tend to all of your own or clients needs in the future. Once bolted down this thing does not move anywhere. Ideal for big guys lifting big things.
Cons of the TITAN power rack
As Titan seems to operate on lower margins than their competition you might find that the finish or welds of racks can be inconsistent. If you make less money per transaction you usually have to make up for it by cutting corners by buying different quality material from different suppliers on the cheap or pay your staff less. As we are talking racks here, this might not be as bad as with medication. However, if you get furious about little cosmetic blemishes or less than perfect craftsmanship, don’t buy from TITAN.
Alternatives to the TITAN power rack
Here are some alternatives to the TITAN power rack:
The X3 is basically the same model as the
Titan rack with two differences. It doesn’t have numbered holes on the uprights and the keyhole design. This means that you can use fewer attachments with it which you have not necessarily bought from Rogue.
The T2 model comes in various shapes and heights and can be configured differently for your home gym to make it fit your space. The main difference to the other Titan racks is that the uprights are 2x2 instead of 2x3 or 3x3.
The T3 rack model is also very similar to the
Titan rack but comes at a lower cost. It is the same as the X3 except that it has 2x3 Gauge uprights instead of 3x3.
Summary for the TITAN power rack
If you only want to buy a rack from TITAN and want the best, this is the one to go for. Also if you want to buy a lot of racks and don’t care about the finish that much, TITAN is a great option. If you are a smaller athlete and want to save money you might want to look at the other TITAN models as well, especially
the X3.