TITAN T2 and dip vs Rogue RML 690 [Article, Video]

This is a comparison between the TITAN T2 and the Rogue RML 690. Follow the links for more details.

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.

Overview and review of the Rogue RML 690 Power rack

The video above summarises my personal opinion for purchasing a Rogue RML 690 for a home gym. If you want to just lean back and get information, watch it and then dig into the details below. In the following paragraphs you will find details on dimensions and alternative choices. I invite you to leave a comment on Youtube if you have direct questions.

Price: 1.568

This review was originally posted in the longer article "Which strength equipment to buy from rogue" in which you can read about 25 products of Rogue which cost more than 1.000$. The Rogue 690 bring storage and rack space to your basement or local gym at a resonable price for Rogue. See the details in this article.

Overview of the RML 690

The RML 690 is a hybrid of the Rogue R6 Power rack and the RM6 Monster rack. The RML 690 is compatible with the Rogue Monster lite series and provides you with a full and half rack in one go. The half rack can either be used for storage or to train additional athletes/clients.

The RML 690 comes in at 530 LB with a length of 76'''. It is 49'' wide and has a height of 90.375''. The entire footprint comes to 80'' x 53''. It can be mounted to a wall with the Monster Lite Rack Wall mount kit. IT comes in black and therefore retails at a lower price than the RML690C.

How many new clients should the RML 690 in bring you?

If you think that the Rogue RML690 will bring you 6 new clients who pay you 50$ on a 1-year retainer it is worth the investment. This will yield 3.600$ net new revenue against an investment of 1.568$. Adjust the numbers for your own gym accordingly.

Pros of the RML 690

The RML690 gives you the needed storage and training capabilities to have multiple clients or athletes train at the same time. As long as you have space this full/half rack combo provides a gym in itself. If you will use it for your home gym you can also convert the back rack into shelving for your kettlebells and dumbbells.

Cons of the RML 690

In many applications, the half racks at the back are poorly utilized and therefore a waste of space. If you already have good plate storage options or have a home gym with limited space you might be better of saving many and space by going for a 490 instead of a 690.

Alternatives to the RML 690

For the same budget of 1.568$, you can get the following alternatives from Rogue

1x Rogue RML 490C @ 1.075$

With this alternative, you can save 500$ and get to choose your favorite color for your rack. If you do not have specific plans for the back half rack, this is a great option to save money and still get better value out of your purchase.

1x USMC PUll Up RIg @ 1.550$

If you are running a gym and want to run more classes to maximize revenue the USMC Pull up rig might be a better choice for you than the RML 690C. You can have more people train at the same time at this rig, as long as they do not want to lift heavy at the same time.

Conclusion

If you want to save some money on Rogue products and do not care about the color of your rack this is a good option. Make sure that you know what you want to do with the half rack in the back of the RML 690 before you purchase. Otherwise go for something smaller as it is likely that the space will be left unused.

Overview and review of the T2 and dip

The TITAN T2 and dip will put you back about $300 - $350. 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 under $500”

Overview of the T2 and dip

The T2 comes with 2x2 steel tubes and distinguished itself from the X2 line by having fewer extras straight out of the box. You will have fewer pull-up bars and less convenience on the uprights. The money saved for this can be put towards a bench as in this package. This version also includes a dip installment at the front. The features and specifics of this package are:

Rack details:

Capacity: 700 lbs
1" round steel j-hooks
T-2 Series (2"x2" steel tubes)
Package includes 1 pair of dip bars
Chin up bar: 1 1/4" diameter
Installation instructions
Weight: 107 lb
Height: 83"
Height of pull up bar: 80"
Opening: 44"
Depth: 48"
Inside front to back bar: 26"
Floor space: 48" x 48"
Material: Steel

The main difference to most other is the included dip bars.

Pros of the T2 dip bar

The price of the T2 is one of its main pros. You will be hard-pressed to find as much metal for a rack including a dip bar for the same price in the market. Especially if it is new.

Cons of the T2 dip bar

The dip bar can obstruct access to the rack itself. You will also not be able to use the front to have two athletes squat in parallel on the same rack. This might not be ideal, especially in high school and college setups strapped for cash.

Alternatives to the T2 dip bar

T3 fold back rack
X2 and incline combo

The T3 uses a folding concept but with 2x3 steel tubes to be stored against the wall when you don’t use it.

The X2 is one of the cheapest series in the TITAN line up. With its 2x2 steel tubes, it uses the least material to build a rack. If you want to downsize on all ends to fit a bench and rack into $500 budget comfortably, this is for you.

Summary of the T2 dip bar

If you care about a dip bar, this is the rack. Otherwise, you might as well save the money for more plates or a bench.