Introduction
When you switch from a commercial gym to a home gym, there are certain exercises that you may miss more than others. Lat pulldown and low row are two mentioned by many. Many believe they do not have the room or budget for a specialty item like this. Nevertheless, the Plate Loadable Lat Tower from Titan makes this an accessible option for many. This piece of equipment takes up about 1 horse stall mat, is priced competitively, and built solidly. There are a few cons, but the overall value of this unit is excellent. You won’t miss this aspect of your commercial gym as much with this lat tower.
Within this review we’ll discuss:
Specs
This is one of those items that won’t take up to much space as you may think. It can easily back up to a wall or be tucked away depending on the space you have. The lat tower also has the ability to squeeze under many opened garage doors or basements with shorter ceilings.
- As previously mentioned, this takes up the size of about 1 horse stall mat. It includes a depth of 56.5 inches and a width of 4 feet on the back. The space in between the front and back is a relatively convenient spot to store attachments without getting in the way of too much.
- At 84 inches tall, this allows for a full extension for those up to about 6 foot 4 – any taller, and you may have some difficulty getting the extension you need.
- The length of the loadable sleeves is 13 inches and a weight capacity of 400 lbs. Standard 2 inch plates fit onto the sleeves. We tested up to 250 lbs with no issues.
- There is a 1:1 weight ratio, which means that if you have 250 pounds loaded up, you are actually lifting 250 pounds, unlike some other pulley machines with 2:1 or 4:1 weight ratios. You’ll be able to load this up more than many of the other budget-friendly functional trainers that use lower ratios.
Construction
While it’s not constructed with 11 gauge steel, the tower feels safe and secure when lifting. More info about the construction includes:
- The finish is smooth, and the welds are done nicely.
- The basic powder coat finish will help keep a machine like this looking fresh for years. This item’s overall longevity doesn’t seem to be an issue, especially with traditional home gym use.
- The seat is relatively small with a width of 11 inches and total length of 12 inches. The padding for your knees is pretty minimal, but it’s still relatively comfortable to use. This is one area that could be improved upon, but right now it’s just one of the compromises you make for the price.
- 4 adjustment positions are available on the knee holders so it does accommodate for multiple different sizes.
Usage
This lat tower is smooth, easy to use, and would be another dynamic to any home without a pulley system. More details about using it include:
- It’s stable, and there is no wobble or shifts when performing standard lifts. If you want to do something like curls or upright rows, you will need to bolt it to the ground or weigh it down with weights. This is optional. If you don’t bolt it down, it’s easy to move around from spot to spot in the gym. Therefore, as your space changes, you can easily move this one.
- The multiple post system allows for the weight to go up and down without any side-to-side movement.
- It’s an extremely quiet machine.
- The overall experience is fluid. It’s easy to add/take-off weight, get on and off, and make adjustments to the knee pad.
Separate vs. Attached Lat Pulldown
Another option for those wanting a single lat pulldown/low row system is a rack-mounted attachment. Depending on your rack, you may be able to add this on.
With that being said, in a recent IG post, 70.2% said they’d rather have it as a separate option than it saving space on a rack. Here are some additional notes about the comments:
- Those that voted for the “attached option” mentioned space saved and that it would be sturdier. Nevertheless, it seemed like if space weren’t a concern, the separate option would be chosen by almost all.
- Separate is the better option for those who want to superset and train with multiple people simultaneously. For example, it would be difficult to squat and do lat pulldowns if using a rack-mounted setup.
- Several mentioned that they did not want their rack to feel “tight,” which is a valid concern. A setup like the attachment below does make it feel a bit more crowded, but does save that horse stall mat needed.
Price
The overall value of this unit is extremely high. At $499.99 + Free Shipping, it is a portion of the price of many “stack weight” options, including Titan’s 300 lb set, which costs $1,499. It’s priced closer to what you’d find with a rack attached lat pulldown on a 3×3″ power rack.
Other Notes
- The setup process is pretty self-explanatory and will most likely take an hour. The instructions are only available online, but easy to follow. It would save some time with multiple people but manageable to do with one.
- A basic lat bar (37.5 inches) and a low row handle (15 inches) are included. They’ll get the job done, but you may want to upgrade.
- This unit has been posted several times on the Instagram page with almost nothing but praise from those that have used it. It’s also worth mentioning that 27/29 reviews on the product page are 5 stars.
- This item has been in and out of stock during the pandemic.
Conclusion
In the end, this Lat Tower has to be at the top of mind when someone is considering a standalone lat pull down/ low row option unless they have basically an unlimited budget. The overall value is very high, and within about the size of a horse stall mat, you can add a commercial gym favorite at a budget price to your setup.
Have Questions on the Plate Loadable Lat Tower? Please reach out by filling out the form
below.
Comments