XPO 2 trainer vs Rogue Butcher V2

This is a comparison of the XPO trainer 2 and the Rogue Butcher V2 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview and review of the Rogue Butcher V2

This is an overview of the Rogue Butcher V2 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview of the Rogue Butcher

Price: $265

The Rogue Butcher is a simple design for a sled that holds a lot of plates. This is the right tool to get if you want to do heavy-duty sled pushes and pull.s The Rogue butcher has two uprights on which you can place plates. This makes the capacity a lot bigger than for the Dogsled from Rogue. The full specifications of the butcher are:

Made in the USA
2x3” 11-Gauge Steel
Weight: 74LB / Weight Capacity: 500LB+
Rogue Signature Matte Black Powdercoat finish provides grip on all handles
Bolt-On Steel Feet can be used on any surface, fully replaceable
Multiple bars for different pushing positions
Compact footprint (42.25" x 47.25") and removable handles allows for easy storage, portability
Protective UHMW plastic skis can be added to order and come with all necessary hardware

The butcher is a solid and simple design. The only downside might be that it can damage the floors you are working on, even though Rogue started to provide plastic skis for it.

Pros of the rogue butcher V2

Pros of the butcher V2 are:

Simple and robust build
Two possible plate stacks
Bolt-on feet

This is a simple t build with two metal rods stuck on to the top. Nothing fancy just good old metal and bolts. This is exactly what you want when you want to go heavy on the sledding. Rogue also learned from the past and made the feet detachable in case they break. This way you can easily swap them out, without having to replace the entire unit.

Cons of the Rogue butcher V2

Cons of the V2 butcher are:

Only one operational mode
Possible damages the floors
Harder to store than the dogsled

The butcher only comes with one configuration which gives you less use for your buck compared to a yoke or the rogue Dogsled 1.2. As with all sleds, it will also possibly damage your driveway, gym floor or any other surface you will use it on. The butcher uprights are also welded onto the t construction. This makes it harder to put it away into a small corner compared to the Dogsled 1.2 which has removable uprights.

Alternatives to the butcher V2

Alternatives to the Rogue butcher V2 are:

The XPO trainer 2 has the same training effect as the butcher, except it runs on wheels. This way you will not hurt the surfaces you train on as much and still get a good workout in. The XPO works with a type of flywheel to make the resistance higher the faster you go. If you like the missing momentum of deadweight than the butcher is probably better for very heavy sled pulls or pushes.

The dogsled 1.2 is the most versatile option out of the Rogue sled line up. While it is less bulky and big than the butcher, it makes up for in different attachments to train in different ways. Especially the many ways to use a carabiner and rope in combination with the Dogsled 1.2 makes it the better tools to move lower payloads around fast to become more agile. The downside is that it is not made for holöding a ton of plates like the butcher is.

The last option is a Rogue Yoke 2. The Rogue Y2 has also been equipped with plastic feet. This way pushed and pulls as with a sled can be done. The Yoke triples up as a yoke, squat stand, and sled in this configuration. At a price point of roughly $500 to $700 dollars you get an all in one gym. The downside that the Yoke is a lot clunkier than the Rogue sleds for speed work. If you go slow and heavy the yoke is adoption, but not if you want to accelerate and change directions fast in your training.

Conclusion for the Butcher V2

The Rogue butcher V2 is a great tool for heavy sled pushes. Rugby players and football players will enjoy them to train how to block and tackle. If you are more into agility or 4-5 plates are more than enough for your strength endeavors, then the Dogsled 1.2 is possibly the better choice for your training needs.

Overview and review of the XPO 2 trainer

This is an overview of the XPO 2 trainer including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview of the XPO trainer 2

Price: $699

The XPO Trainer 2 offers an innovative design for sled work by adding tires and an accelerating resistance model. The secret sauce of this sled is a little motor at the front wheel that provides more and more resistance the harder and faster you push. This is similar to training with bands or flywheels for running, except the resistance comes from the front rather than behind. This makes the XPO a great sled for beginners who want to work with resistance from the start or pros that want resistance at high speeds. The full specifics of this sled are:

Made by Armored Fitness Equipment
First Push Sled with Wheels
Patent-Pending Exponential Resistance Curve: As you push harder/faster, the resistance increases to compensate
No Weight Plates Included or Required
(2) Removable Handles for easy transport and storage
Laser-cut XPO Trainer logo in front plating
Durable rubberized wheels for safe all-surface sled training
Nearly Silent Operation
Suitable for Beginner / Rehab up to High Intensity / Pro training
Color: Black

A great addition to a commercial gym with a lot of space or a home gym with a spacious driveway. For professional, very heavy athletes, this might not be the right choice.

Pros of the XPO trainer 2

The pros of the XPO trainer 2 are:

Wheels instead of a sled
work at high speeds
Accelerating resistance curve

The biggest pro of this machine compared to sleds is that it has wheels. This means less wear and tear on any floor that it is used on. This is especially good for indoor gyms and home gyms that are worried about sleds wrecking the floor. The wheels also enable that you can get to a sprinting speed without worrying that the sled will get caught on the ground and you really hurt yourself. Compared to other sleds, this one gets harder the more momentum you create. Traditional sleds are usually the hardest to get moving and get easier, once momentum is built.

Cons of the XPO trainer 2

The cons of the XPO trainer 2 are:

Lightweight
Wheels
Accelerating resistance curve

Depending on the training application and where you use it the XPO is great. Anyone who is not an NFL linebacker or rugby player will probably be satisfied and get excellent results from it improving their explosiveness and getting some cardio work in at the same time. If you weigh 100kg plus and are mainly concerned with moving a big heavy object out of the way that is reluctant to budge then the XPO is not the right training tool. Here you need a heavy ass sled, that only starts moving after you throw your full weight behind it. Imagine you tackle the 60-pound XPO with full might. It will go flying unless you weigh it down.

Alternatives to the XPO Trainer 2

Alternatievs to the XPO trainer 2 are:

The butcher V2 costs only a third of the XPO and simulates better to get momentum into an inanimate object. The downside is that it comes on feet instead of wheels which is more likely to damage the surface you are using it on. Rogue has addressed this in their V2 redesign with replaceable feet that can be equipped with a plastic footplate set. Still, this will damage your floors more than wheels. On the positive side, you can get a lot of weight on this to simulate rugby and football tackles. You might even like that the friction provides even more resistance.

The Rogue Y2 yoke can also be used for sled pushes and pulls. The setup is more cumbersome as the structure is bigger compared to sleds. Still, a good yoke is an all in one gym that can have a pull-up bar, squat stand, sled, and yoke in one. If you have space a yoke is not to be scoffed at, as it has way more applications for the same price as the XPO. The only downside is that it is less portable and will screw more with your floor.

Conclusion for the XPO trainer 2

The XPO trainer 2 is a great sled for anyone who has the money too spent and I worried about their driveway or floor for sled work. This probably covers 95% of the fitness population that is in the market for a sled, as it is a nice to have rather than must-have for a home gym anyway. For the remaining 5% who are massive beasts and want to simulate running into a brick wall a fully loaded butcher is probably the better option.