Rogue Lat Pulldown Review (Monster Vs LP-2 Compared)

It can be hard to make time to go to the gym. Between getting your stuff ready, commuting, finding a parking spot, changing in the gym, it can be an hour or two between deciding to go the gym and actually starting your workout.

Not only do most people not have that kind of time, but having that much time pass can kill motivation. That's why many people have embraced garage gyms and have their own equipment so they can work out whenever the desire strikes.

One of our favorite gym exercises is the lat pulldown because it works wonders for your back, shoulders, and arms. And with the Rogue Lat Pulldown & Power Rack Attachment, it's easier than ever to do a lat pull down at home.

We'll go over what we love about the Rogue Lat Pulldown in the guide below.

The Monster Rogue Lat Pulldown machine is a standalone machine for advanced athletes, and it's built like a tank. We love that this machine has band pegs built into it. The pegs are a great way to add dynamic, continuous tension to your workouts. This will allow you to exceed the resistance limit that the weights alone will be able to provide.

The Rogue LP-2 pulldown machine is specifically targeted to home users. We love that the LP-2 is a dual function machine allowing you to perform both the lat pulldown and the low row. The fact that it is dual function is huge. This is important for a home or garage gym because floorspace is usually at a premium.

Rogue LP-2 is a very high-quality Low Row and Lat Pulldown combo machine.

Pros

  • High quality
  • Allows the use of bands
  • Easy adjustments
  • Also a rowing machine
  • For advanced and beginner athletes

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of floor space
  • Requires maintenance
  • Large and heavy

Unique Features Of Rogue Lat Pulldown Machines

Either one of these lat pulldown machines would make a great addition to any home or garage gym. Here are just a few of the benefits that come with these Rogue machines.

High-Quality Pulleys & Cables

Rogue's 6" nylon pulleys offer consistent, smooth movement and can handle high-intensity use. The floating pulley assembly also has lightweight UHMW covers to eliminate any edges that could damage the cable. The cable itself is extruded in Connecticut and independently tested and certified to ensure the highest quality.

Rogue Lat Pulldown cable system

Heavy-Duty Construction

These Rogue lat pulldown machines aren't your average piece of exercise equipment. Made from 3x3" 11-gauge steel, they are heavy-duty and refined from our own original designs, with precision-machining and in-house testing. The machine's eye is also machined in-house in the USA from stainless steel.

Stainless Steel Bar

A stainless steel lat pulldown bar comes standard with the machine, and it is designed and built by Rogue. It is cut, fully knurled, and bent by our manufacturing team in Columbus. Just about every other lat bar in the industry is made overseas, and the ones made in America are rarely stainless steel.

Rogue Lat Pulldown Stainless Steel Bar

Grip Triangle Built By Rogue

The Rogue Grip Triangle is a versatile, standard-grip attachment. The Triangle's compact design, quality knurling, and black powder coat finish make it a go-to accessory for a Lat Pulldown/Low Row.

Other Recommended Accessories

Rogue offers several add-ons and accessories that athletes can incorporate with the Monster Lat Pulldown or the LP-2 pulldown machine. The attachments include:

  • The grip triangle
  • Tricep pushdown attachments
  • Resistance bands
  • Multi-grip cable attachment
  • Leather tricep strap

Versatile

The thing we like the most about these machines is their versatility. They provide two dynamic upper body workouts on one station. The Monster Lat Pulldown 2.0 allows you to shift from seated lat pulldowns and triceps pushdowns to a low row, just by switching your body position. This makes it an ideal machine for a garage gym.


Rogue Lat Pulldown Reviews

1. Rogue LP-2 Lat Pulldown / Low Row

The Rogue Fitness Lat Pulldown machine is an excellent addition to any garage gym or even a commercial gym. This is a standalone dual function machine that can be used to perform both the lat pulldown and the low row. The LP-2 has a hefty 300 lb weight stack along with an excellent pulley that has been refined over several years by Rogue Fitness.

The LP-2 Rogue Fitness lat pulldown machine features new swing-arm style foam leg rollers that keep you securely in your seat for heavy lat pulldowns. It's made in the USA from 3″x3″ 11 gauge steel and weighs 775 lbs. That's a pretty hefty machine, but Rogue still recommends you bolt it to the floor.

It doesn't have a seat for the low row, but we like it that way. That saves a lot of space, but it's still a pretty tall machine at 9′ (108″) tall, so make sure you have enough ceiling height for this.

The LP-2 does everything it says it does, and it does it well. However, it is on the more expensive side, so you are paying for the quality.


2. Monster Lat Pulldown/Low Row (Stand Alone)

The Monster Lat Pulldown and Low Row machine is Rogue's classic standalone lat machine. This Rogue Fitness lat pulldown machine is an earlier version of the LP-2 with less encasing. It's a no-frills unit with a 300 lb selectorized weight stack, a seat with leg rollers, and a stainless steel knurled pulldown handle.

You'll save a good chunk of change if you buy this machine instead of the LP-2, and you'll get more of a raw look. Our favorite part about this machine is the built-in band pegs. This allowed us to add more dynamic, continuous tension to our workouts. It also lets us exceed the resistance limit that the weights alone can provide.

We also loved being able to perform low rows and alternatives on this machine without needing the extra space a rowing seat takes up.

This unit is cheaper than the LP-2, but they are harder to come across because they are made to order.


Comparing Rogue Monster Vs LP-2

These are both excellent lat pulldown machines that allow you to do excellent pulldowns as well as seated rows. The Rogue Monster pulldown machine is an earlier version of the LP-2. It has less encasing, and it's more of a no-frills unit, but it still gets the job done.

The LP-2 expanded on what Rogue did with the Monster lat pulldown machine and added improvements like the new swing-arm style foam leg rollers that keep you securely seated for heavy lat pulldowns.

Specs

LP-2

Monster

Footprint

83L x 42W inches

60L x 40W inches

Dimensions

83L x 42W x 108H inches

60L x 40W x 96H inches

Weight

775 lbs

605 lbs

Maximum Load Capacity

300 lbs

300 lbs

Height Restrictions

108 inches

96 inches

Pull Ratio

1:1

1:1

Warranty

Yes, Lifetime Limited

Yes, Limited Lifetime


Comparisons With Other Lat Pulldown Machine Brands

Vanswe Lat Pulldown Machine

LAT Pulldown Machine Low Row Cable Pull Down...
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LAT Pulldown Machine Low Row Cable Pull Down...
  • 【Versatile】High and low pulley stations...
  • 【Super Solid】Built to last with 2-inch x...
  • 【Smooth Lat Pull Movement】Enjoy a smooth...
  • 【Suits Two Size Plates】Use both standard...

The Vanswe lat pulldown machine has an excellent build quality and it an even better price. This machine is ideal for anyone looking to add a lat pulldown machine to their home or garage gym. The frame is built using 2" x 2" main steel tubes, making it sturdy and robust. It uses plates that aren't included instead of weight stacks.

It also comes with a 2" adapter, so you can use standard and Olympic plates. But the weight support is only 250 pounds, where both Rogue Fitness machines allow up to 300lbs of resistance.

XMark Lat Pulldown Machine

XMark LAT Pull Down and Low Row Cable...
448 Reviews
XMark LAT Pull Down and Low Row Cable...
  • VERSATILITY: Features both high and low...
  • STRENGTH: With nylon-coated aircraft quality...
  • STABILITY: 11-gauge steel 2 inch by 3 inch...
  • COMFORT: Extra thick 3 inch sweat and...

The XMark lat pulldown machine is another excellent option for your home gym. This lat pulldown machine comes with high and low pulleys, allowing for a wide range of different workouts.

The XMark is also designed for standard and Olympic weight plates, thanks to the included plate adapters. The cables on this lat pulldown machine are nylon coated, adding extra security and durability. The seat is comfortable and padded with 3" dura craft cushions.

This machine beats out the Rogue machines and the Vanswe machine with a weight capacity of 400 pounds, so even experienced lifters and bodybuilders can get a decent workout. It's a bit on the expensive side for a home gym, but it isn't as quite expensive as the Rogue machines.


Assembly & What's In The Box?

The Monster Lat Pulldown and Low Row machine and the LP-2 Lat pulldown machine both come fully assembled in the box from Milan, Illinois. The machines ships freight, bolted to a skid, with custom metal brackets included for added protection. As soon as you've ordered your machine from Rogue Fitness, their shipping system allows you to track it from our factory floor all the way to your door.

Once you've ordered the machine, make sure you get a spot ready for it in your home. It's a good idea to get a gym floor mat to protect your floors. When you're getting it ready, don't hesitate to refer to your owner's manual for assistance. And these are big, heavy machines, so please bring a friend to help you out while you set it up, so you don't injure yourself.


People Also Ask (FAQs)

What are Rogue’s alternatives to the lat pulldown?

If you aren't a fan of the lat pulldown, or you don't have the room in your home gym for a pulldown machine, Rogue Fitness also offers several push-ups and chin-up bar options. The push-up works many of the same muscles that the lat pulldown does without taking up much space at all.

Is the Rogue lat pulldown too heavy for a garage gym?

Although both machines are on the heavier side, neither one is too heavy for your home gym or garage gym. Since they are heavier, though, make sure you have help while you get them set up.

What is Rogue strap and carabiner set?

These Rogue grip straps and carabiners can be attached to your pull-up bar, KBs, DBs, or even a barbell to add some variety to your workouts.

Will the Rogue lat pulldown with power rack attachment take up to much space?

The answer to this question depends on how much room you have in your home gym. Are they too big for home gyms in general? No. But if you don't have a lot of space in your gym or already have a few machines, you might not have enough room for the Rogue lat pulldown machines.


Conclusion

We love the lat pulldown, and the Rogue Fitness Monter and LP-2 gave us a great workout from the comfort of our own home. So if you are building a home gym or looking for a new lat pulldown machine, you can't go wrong with either of these machines.

Last Updated on September 26, 2021