XPO 2 trainer vs Rogue S25 Fatboy sled

This is a comparison of the XPO trainer 2 and the S25 Fatboy sled including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview and review of the Rogue S25 fatboy sled

This is an overview of the S25 Fatboy sled including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview of the S25 Fat boy sled

Price $120

The Rogue S25 fat boy sled was one of the first Sleds out of the Rogue portfolio. Inspired by military designs for entrenching it was upgraded from the S35 to provide more surface for your plates. Overall it is basically a metal plate that you can stack plates on with folded metal to each side to get mud and other debris away from the main body. The full specifications of this sled are:

Made in the USA
Footprint: 21.5" x 16"
0.25" Bent Steel Plate Rails to protect your plates
16.625" Fold-Flat Weight Post can stack steel plates or bumpers
Black Powdercoat Finish
Laser-Cut Rogue branding
Includes 16' Rogue Sled Strap
16' Spud Inc. 3" Strap available to add to order (extra cost)

This is the small version to take anywhere.

Pros of the S25 Fat boy sled

The pros of the S25 Fatboy sled are:

Compact design
Low price
Easy setup

This is a simple tool that does not make you think too much. In strength training, that is a good thing. You can take it anywhere without too much hassle and all do not break the bank for buying one.

Cons of the S 25 Fat boy sled

The cons of the S25 fatboy sled are:

No uprights for pushing
Only one end with a carabiner hole
Can flip over when loaded light

The fat boy comes with no uprights to push the sled itself. This means it can only be used for pulling motions together with a strap. Sometimes it can be good just to ram yourself into the uprights and get going, rather than having to get into the harness first.

For turning the Fatboy S25 also only has one hole for the carabiner to go in. With lightweight this means a high likelihood of tipping when you turn at speed. With heavyweights you will have to struggle to turn around, rather than just clipping the carabiner on the other side.

Alternatives to the Fat boy S25

Alternatives to the Fatboy S25 are:

Fatboy S35
SPud inc Magic carpet

The S35 sled is smaller version of the S25 and is otherwise the same. If you want a really small sled to be taken anywhere,this can be it.

The spud inc magic carpet is an alternative to the S35 which will not damage your floor as much. Instead of metal, this sled is made of the same material most straps are made of. This way it avoids the scratching that metal can cause on some grounds. The downside is that it is way easier to move the weight. There is a reason why good movers always bring old carpets with them to move heavy objects.

Conclusion for the S25 fat boy sled

The S25 is a good option if you see yourself regularly going on a small car to train with a sled somewhere nearby. If that is not the case, I personally think that the Rogue slice sled is a better investment. For a minimum amount of more money you get a sled that is still compact, but also can be pushed rather than just pulled.

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.