Well, the wife has finally decided that I should stop hurting myself and is going to let me buy a Power Rack. yeah, I'm whipped but I've accepted it and now I'm much happier :tu:

Well, at least that's what my wife tells me :confused:

Anyway, does anyone here have any advice for getting one? I would prefer to buy one locally but I doubt it happens due to lack of availablility. I like the one John has and I am thinking of getting that one with the lat tower. Are these attachments (all attachments not just lat tower) acceptable or would I be better off getting a standalone piece of equipment, ie the lat tower. The costs are similar so that is not an issue. I'm just wondering how solid those things are constructed.

Any advice/feedback would be appreciated. I have never bought one before so I am hoping someone with experience can share their expertise. Also, how difficult are these things to assemble and what types of tools are needed?

Thanks.

Hey HobbesAB,

I highly recommend the Powertec rack that I have, but be sure to get it without the lat attachment. I almost sprung for it, but now I'm really glad that I didn't. The reason you don't want the lat attachment is because when doing incline bench presses the only way to get the bench into the correct position is to have the back leg of the bench straddle the back lower bar of the power rack. With the lat attachment, this is impossible. Why did they design it this way? I dunno. Other than that one shortcoming, I think this rack is perfect in every way.

So, I think it would be best to get the Powertec rack/bench and a free-standing lat attachment. As you noted, there is not much of a price difference. I'm planning to buy one soon.

what do you plan to use the "lat pull down machine" for John?

I look at it like a way to warm up or train to be able to do bodyweight pull ups and chin-ups.
once you are at that point (as I assume you are) what else is a pull down machine good for?
my understanding is that pull-ups and chin-ups are superior to pull downs.
Of course most average people can't do enough pull-ups to do sets.

anyway - I graduated to doing my heavy sets with body weight a couple months ago, so now I look forward to adding weight with my dip belt. :claplow:

John,

Did your power rack come pre-assembled or did you do it yourself?

Thanks for the tip on the lat tower. I'll make sure to go the stand-alone route regarding that particular piece of equipment.

what do you plan to use the "lat pull down machine" for John?

I look at it like a way to warm up or train to be able to do bodyweight pull ups and chin-ups.
once you are at that point (as I assume you are) what else is a pull down machine good for?
my understanding is that pull-ups and chin-ups are superior to pull downs.
Of course most average people can't do enough pull-ups to do sets.

anyway - I graduated to doing my heavy sets with body weight a couple months ago, so now I look forward to adding weight with my dip belt. :claplow:

Don't forget about my wife! :D

I do pull-ups and chin-ups on back/bicep day and they are working great for me, but Lisa can't do a single pull-up or chin-up so she could really use a lat machine.

John,

Did your power rack come pre-assembled or did you do it yourself?

Thanks for the tip on the lat tower. I'll make sure to go the stand-alone route regarding that particular piece of equipment.

Self-assembled, but it was a piece of cake. Took a couple of hours and I did it by myself (although a second person would have helped speed up the process.)

Excellent. Thanks for the info.

Don't forget about my wife! :D

I do pull-ups and chin-ups on back/bicep day and they are working great for me, but Lisa can't do a single pull-up or chin-up so she could really use a lat machine.

well there ya go... I forgot about Lisa.
anyway - regardless - it would be nice to have a lat pull down station to warm up or maybe do some cable tricep extensions. if you can afford - why the hell not?

If I had a home gym, I think I would also find myself tempted to get a leg curl machine.
those wacky hinged arms to hook plates on the end of a bench never seem to work the hams like machine curls.

I would love to get a leg curl machine. I agree that the leg developer that is attached to the end of a bench could be better constructed. Once we move into our new place, I'm "allowed" to invest some serious cash into my home gym and I'm thinking of getting one of these as well. Part of me wants to go "all-out" and invest beaucoup bucks, but the more practical side keeps telling me to slow down. Ohh, the thrill and agony of turning 30.

I bought the powerline power rack seen here http://www.fitnessfactory.com/Item.aspx?ItemID=327&ItemLabel=PPR200%3a+Powerline+Power+Rack#
and I'm thinking about purchasing the Lat attachment. Do you know if it has the same problem as the Powertec rack when attempting to do an incline bench?

I bought the powerline power rack seen here http://www.fitnessfactory.com/Item.aspx?ItemID=327&ItemLabel=PPR200%3a+Powerline+Power+Rack#
and I'm thinking about purchasing the Lat attachment. Do you know if it has the same problem as the Powertec rack when attempting to do an incline bench?

If no one that owns one responds you might call company. A quick review says you might have problem. I don't own it.:cool:

Just to echo JS's points here, I too have the powertec rack and love it. I bought the stand alone LAT tower and am equally glad I did. Sometimes I'll spot my wife, and often find the openness of the rack appealing, not too mention as John says, you need the space to get your bench deep enough into the rack for a few lifts.

I enjoy the lat tower as well not only for some iso junk I do, and which many of the training routines i try and follow call for. But beyond typical pull down stuff, have used it for ab work, done seated rows, pull throughs etc. Mine has 3 cable attachments (high/med/low) and a lot of versatility.

Not too mention its great for my wife ;-)

Beyond these two machines, I'm jonsing hard for a hyper station, and a leg press or similar to let me to hard calf work with good balance.

Pete

I bought the powerline power rack seen here http://www.fitnessfactory.com/Item.aspx?ItemID=327&ItemLabel=PPR200%3a+Powerline+Power+Rack#
and I'm thinking about purchasing the Lat attachment. Do you know if it has the same problem as the Powertec rack when attempting to do an incline bench?


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