XPO 2 trainer vs Rogue Y2 Yoke

This is a comparison of the XPO trainer 2 and the Rogue Y2 Yoke including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in Which sled to get from Rogue.

Overview and review of the Rogue Y2 Yoke

This is an overview of the Rogue Y2 Yoke including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview of the Rogue Y2

Price $535

The Rogue Y2 is the next step up from a squat stand from Rogue. The additional plate storage and the adjustable cross-member on the stand make it a great all in one gym option. You can use it as a sled, rack, and yoke at the same time. For $535 you will find yourself a good deal, as long as you have the footprint to fit it into your commercial gym or home space. The full specifications are:

Made in the USA
Height: 92" with base
Total Weight Capacity: 750+LB (two side storage and four corner-post weight storage options)
Applications: Strongman Yoke Training, Pushing, Pulling, Carrying, Zercher, Squat, Press, etc.
(2) Uprights: 2 x 3" 11-Gauge Steel
(2) Bases and (4) Skid/Storage Feet
Adjustable Crossbar: 3" OD
(2) J-Cups

If you are looking into a budget rack option from Rogue this is probably one of the best you can get, as long as you do not want to work with a lot of attachments in the future.

Pros of the Rogue Y2

The pros of the Rogue Y2 Yoke are:

Great value for money
Multiple-use cases
Adjustable height

You will be hard-pressed to find more options in one rack for this price from Rogue. If you want to be space and budget efficient, this is the way to go. You will get the use cases of equipment that can cost up to $5000 in this one rack. Especially if you are a single user and do not have to worry about waiting times, this is great.

The cons of the Rogue Y2

The cons of the Rogue Y2 Yoke are:

Limited safety
Clunky for sled work
Big footprint

While the Y2 saves a lot of space as it combines a lot of functionality, it still has a larger footprint than a half rack, squat stand, RM3 rack. Compared to the purpose-built sleds it is also clunkier to move. While bench pressing and squatting are possible, you will need spotter arms to be safe. Spotter arms just have the habit of being missed or making the whole structure fall over when you drop the weight. Safety üins and straps in a power rack are easier to handle and more secure.

Alternatives to the Rogue Y2

Alternatives to the Rogue Y2 are:

The Rogue Y1 is a smaller version of the Rogue Y2. If you do not have very tall athletes or do not need to practice any sandbag throwing, the smaller version will do and save you a little bit of money.

The SM2 squat stand is an alternative that saves some space compared to the Yoke and only focuses on functioning as a squat stand rather than a yoke and sled. With the SM2 you also get the bigger steel tubes from the Monster series and can upgrade at a later stage to the big racks that Rogue is currently focusing on.

The volcano costs about 4 times what the yoke costs but has its applications especially for very mature strongman. If you want to flip or carry very big weights the Volcano is probably the better option than the Rogue Y2.

Conclusion for the Rogue Y2

The Rogue Y2 is an often overlooked option for home gym owners that does it all. It is relatively low priced and you can get a lot of mileage out of it. If you are not considering a folding rack for your home gym, definitely look at this instead of bolted down power racks. Professional gyms with space can cover a lot of needs with just one or two yokes. Think of what you can get out of these two yokes for your clients instead of being one more treadmill.

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.