Always interesting seeing different opinions on lever arms. Personally, I find them to be one of the most versatile and useful pieces I own for my training style (bodybuilding as opposed to powerlifting). The biggest complaint I always see is adjustment time. For me, that has never been an issue. Determining variations that work and specific "settings" does take a considerable amount of time, but once I find something I like I note the specific holes/settings/ect and it takes less than 30 seconds per arm to adjust. IMO one of the biggest cons to them is that, by themselves, they aren't very useful. The resistance patterns are extremely poor, and useful movements are highly limited. To be able to fully utilize them I find you need a number of additional attachments and accessories.
I’m new to the home gym scene… like everyone I spent a large part of my life in gyms and being used to having access to a ton of accessory machines. I bought the Rogue 50 cal 2.0 in hopes of mimicking all the Hammer Strength chest and back plate loaded machines. It does a few things ok like chest presses and shoulder presses at various angles. It saves a lot of future time if you document the bench and arm settings when you find a configuration that works. For back pulls and what not they are virtually worthless unless you use spotter arms to move the weight and have an extra 20mins to deal with setup. I think being inside the rack and having flip down safeties to rest the arms on makes them a lot more versatile than outside the rack unless you plan on doing explosive movements where the longer arms would work better. I think most home gym owners buy them for accessories, if that is the case they are much better inside with flip down safeties. With that said I still don’t think they are worth the money. If I had a redo I would not buy them and spent that money on some specialty bars. Again thanks for all your help!
I actually use mine for many things I never expected to, it can take some thinking ahead to keep the set up time down but I like to lower mine and use it for hip abduction, glute kick backs, leg extensions. I also use them for pressing and pulling. I lined it up with a cable machine attached to my rack so I can hook them up to that and get a much more even level of resistance throughout the movement. I really don’t think it’s that much more or less set up than a barbell movement. The mutant metals handles and leg rollers do make them a lot more functional though.
This is what I mostly want them for--roller monolift. But now someone is making that, and I have a T3 rack, but the arms Titan sells are 2x2, so putting on spotter arms or j-cups won't really work. I think I'd probably rig up a hammy curl or knee extension to do as an accessory once or twice a week if I had them.
Dude, I made the mistake in getting the longer set versus the shorter set. It’s a pain to get them ready for a workout and the added length makes them that much more annoying if anything else. For a while I was using them religiously with tons of leg press setups/movements, bench variations, and so forth. The hand grip is also a terrible design and hate the non-standard weight horn diameter. After dropping about $1k on them, the design should have been better. I will however start using them as a belt squat now that I got the belt for it
@@macalderon81 i honestly wish i'd bought the long arms, short arms i find are even more limited to use. Longer arms, i'd use for rows, and deadlift variations for sure
Got the shorty's facing INSIDE on my 43" rack and really enjoy it!!! Incline, decline, shoulder press, shrugs, farmer walk, bent over rows, etc... longer ones seemed kinda limited to me... glad I got the shorty's
As someone who bodybuilds the jammer arms fit me perfect I can do leg press belt squats machine rows and press Are they a pain in the butt and get in the way yes but the options given for the size taken is worth it Depends on training style
Agreed I class myself as a bodybuilder/powerlifter but find I use my Jammer arms a lot more for similar movements like you mention i.e belt squats, rows shoulder press, unilateral leg press etc. I also don't have as much space in my garage to have multiple machines so this helps to fill in a lot of gaps. Setup is a pain in the ass but try to do during rest periods
@@274halo Normal Jammer Arms are way worse to set up b/c you always have to unscrew/pull out/adjust them. I just switched to the Rogue ones and love them.
Another quality "down-to-earth" video, thanks for sharing. It's easy for many people to get sucked into "new equipment" rather than focusing on consistent time moving weight with what we already have access to thus increasing our strength and gpp. Now go kill-it at your meet!!
@@BasementBrandon Hmmm, if you are part product tester, then can it really be called wasting money? Whatever it's called all I know is better you than me. 🙃😉
For a while I've been grateful that Rep rarely had theirs in stock, which saved me from another regrettable purchase. As you've stated, lots of promise, but also lots of work to utilize.
I 100% agree. I am selling mine. I got the long arms and wanted to switch to the shorter version- I have version 1.0 which Rogue no longer makes. 2.0 arms are not backwards compatible, so I have decided to just wash my hands of whole thing. I got them originally for other family members to use, to make working out more fun, but the arms are so heavy to move up and down they never get used.
To be honest this video made me want to use my iso arms even more after seeing how they can be set up for a low row :) Offsetting and being able to change the weight distribution according to my needs with those safety spotter arms is just a ridiculously good idea in my opinion (higher resistance at the bottom of the movement and lower at the top where the muscle is at its weakest point). This is kind of how all those Atlantis machines work. They have 2 loadable weight pins and you can change the weight distribution just by messing with the amount of weights you put on each of those. Thank you for the great content, as always.
When I bought my lever arms I wasn't impressed. So hoping to improve upon them, I fabricated my own articulating handles for them and for added versatility, the handles spin inside the shackles too. In doing so, I thought it would change everything about how I train. Lol! They're now just collecting dust in the corner.
They can be a bit cumbersome. To make things a little easier I use a set of 1 inch dumbbell handles rather than the handles that come with it. Much easier to take off and get out of the way. Also makes it a lot lighter when moving them up and down the rack.
Yeah I feel you man. I got a cheaper (less adjustable) alternative so I don't regret it that much but I'd be kicking myself if I spent what the Rogue ones go for. There's one exercise on them that I still do and would recommend though: Bulgarian split squats. Since you're tethered to your rack you don't have to worry about balance as much so you can really focus on the movement and even go heavier. I'm a lot less winded after doing them compared to free weights as well.
Any lever arm movement can be replicated with either dumbbells or cables. Lever arms are also limited in motion unless you get additional add ons like the side to side Kaizen pin. For the price lever arms aren't worth it. The only ones which I would consider are the Griffin adjustable lever arms that have full unrestricted articulating movement and locking mechanism at a relatively affordable price ($900 vs $1600 for Rogue).
Cables maybe but I don't think you can do the same with DBs with some of this stuff b/c of the fixed plane of motion. But do agree, not a good investment regardless for most.
@@BasementBrandon certainly a perfect replication isn't possible with dumbbells for all fixed plane of motion exercises. I actually found a fairly good way around that, at an affordable price, with extra functionality. If you get a TRX setup and anchor it to your rack, you can perfectly replicate any fixed plane of motion exercises using dumbbells, and it is much faster to load. If you ever get the opportunity you should try this with an exercise like an incline chest press and share your thoughts with the rest of the home gym community.
Thank you for the honest review. I'm sure you've saved a lot of people $$. As you've mentioned, I don't imagine people using this type of attachment for their primary lifts, and so by the time you've transitioned to doing your accessory workout using this, you've already cooled down and potentially risk injury!
I use mine almost more than anything else in my gym, I love them! But as you said it doesn’t fit your workout scheme, it fits perfectly with my regimen. Main thing I don’t like about them is the price but hey it is what it is.
I have jammer arms and used them mostly for my shoulder recovery. What are those small upright attachments on either side of the inside of your rack?? Great video, keep it up!
I love these things for Shrugs to failure, Side Chest Press. Use the connecting seat and do leg press and Modified Verticle leg press, bulgarian split squat "And I feel much safer then with dumbells "Yes I am a balance impared." I think if your willing to find use cases you will with not a lot of crazy modifications. Can you do all these things with out this? Most but some will be expensive such as a leg press or vertical press. And side chess press. Are they expensive? Hell yes but If you are already purchasing Rogue monster racks your in the income range for these. Especially used. PS love your content Brandon! thanks for all the great reviews and Ideas!
I like using mine weekly for chest press and chest supported rows, but for most people I agree, not worth it, especially if they train like you. Next time I feel Pendergraphy I have some ideas for a belt squat for it.
@@BasementBrandon true...but do they really? maybe they just paid so much money they either feel obligated to make it work or embarrassed to admit they were wrong? Idk. Never seen one in person so cant really tell
I too agree - of all the crap I've bought, I was so excited to get them, but barley ever use them. Set up takes long, they're big and get in the way, and for many of my intended movements the movement or grip isn't natural to me. They're built great, the mechanism works well, the concept seemed great but they were a disappointment in reality.
Are you still planning to get a rhino ?? I was thinking about it but when you changed your mind before, I decided to wait. You think the rhino is better then the squatmaxMD?
So from what I've heard, the majority of people who have done both think the squatmax feels better. However, I see the Rhino as being more versatile potentially. Currently neither in my plans due to footprint /cost and the fact I think I can get by with other barbell movements
Thanks for the review; I like to see a "negative" but a well-explained opinion about this equipment. A question, in your rack, you have four handles in the front support, two with the "R" logo and two with a 90° elbow; where can I find the 90° handles? I don't find it in the Rogue catalogue.
I wish I would have know this before I bought mine…I agree, I rarely use them. Maybe once a month. For the price this is something that should be used regularly. Now I just have to decide whether to sell them or not. They are my dedicated J-Cup holder. Have you thought about selling yours?
Awesome review mate. I have a verve set in Australia which mimic the rep ones. When I got them I thought I was going to become a king of lever arm movements. Target every angle and have a thousand exercises I do with it. But alas.. just lock them up and use them for chins where u can fully hang off the ground and sometimes for bench with the poor man’s monolift.. I believe I have fallen into the category to have them just to say I have them..
hey Brandon, just been thinking about something for a while and wanted to get your input on it. I'm really not sure and kind of afraid to ask though. The answer has been eluding me for years. Based on your experience and all the custom equipment you have, does the bar lie? I am just so unsure. Thanks in advance and Regards, Morgan.
@@BasementBrandon There are two twin barbells, one of them always lies and the other always tells the truth. you are allowed to ask a single question to figure out which barbell don't lie. What question should you ask?
@@BasementBrandon The second barbell would say that the first barbell is the liar! PS: I'm going to believe from now on you got the slogan from Labryinth ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tLhKLfEyDQ0.html
@@BasementBrandon Well as far as i know any Viking press apparatus will set you back at least the same amount of money and will take up more space right?
@@importantstuff1130 I'd assume just getting one of the barbell attachments and rigging it up across the rack to rest on the safeties might be a cheap way to get it done, but I never do them, so what do I know 🤪
100% agree I couldn’t wait until I sold them. Horrible equipment not for the garage gym user but has more functional use in a commercial gym or sports training facility.
I do agree that for most home gyms where most people tend to power lift they are not ideal. However, I think they have a ton of value when it comes to athletic sports performance training with fast explosive movements.which is why you see them in many collegiate are professional strength and conditioning facilities. one home use i do like is the belt squat with the Sorinex attachment. love you page .
I bought a used set that might be an even older version than yours, and have all your same criticisms. They're in the way and I never use them other than as an overly expensive and less functional monolift. Somehow I feel like the handles are too far apart to enjoy using it for something like chest supported rows, and trying to incline press with it borders on painful.
I should have just bought yours instead of new ones from Rogue haha My heart sunk when I started watching this cos I had massive buyers remorse for something I’ve lusted after for so long, but I think youve touched on an important point is that people like to get creative with them and that’s something I enjoy doing, plus in a tiny space that I have, I can hopefully get creative and mimic some machines and movements that I don’t have access to otherwise. Either way, it’s only money 😂. Now I’m determined to use them a heap so my mrs doesn’t give me shit haha. I also think Rogue have dropped the ball a fair bit as they had huge plans for attachments for these originally and almost none have come to fruition.
In the 3 years that I've owned my jammer arms, I've also only used them a few times. I keep telling people that they aren't worth it unless you have a very specific purpose for them.
I think your video's title should have been, "Do not buy - if you dont have patience or an imagination". I just took some time to experiment with angles and found numerous movements that rival my commercial gyms equipment. I wrote down all the configurations and now it takes a few seconds to move to the next exercise.
@@BasementBrandon I think if someone showed you how to configure the arms with flip down safeties you might change your mind. I've been able to do every angle of pressing and rowing, deadlifts, shrugs, calf raise, vertical leg press, front/side/rear raises, biceps curls, triceps extensions. I'm sure i've missed a couple but i think you get the point. I've been able to replace most machines from a typical commercial gym by just configuring my bench/safeties/trolley arms in different ways.
@@BasementBrandon take this into consideration. I stopped barbell pressing due to shoulder issues for a few months and replaced it with the trolley arms. When went back to the barbell, my 3 rep max went up 35lbs. I know barbell is king in a lot of peoples minds but i truly believe the trolley arms can have a very useful role in any gym.
@@BasementBrandon man I was consider getting these but now I think they aren’t even worth it. Plus the iso arm pushes probably don’t even do that much right? The marketing behind these make it look like a essential item to get
I agree with you 100% even though I'm part of the group that uses mine all the time. My brother lifts with me occasionally and is not a fan and I typically don't recommend them to anybody who trains power-lifting, crossfit, strong man, etc. The only utility I see in them is using them as they are intended "jammer arms" for training athletes, or the way I and others use them to mimic machines in small spaces. Like you said that takes extra parts, creativity, set-up time, once you have that dialed in it's not as bad but like you said even then it's not super convenient. I'm happy with the utility for price paid, I feel like I can do a lot with mine for a thousand bucks and because of that I'm ok with getting 80% of the utility or whatever compared to the machine I'm mimicking. But if I had unlimited space/money getting the machines would be better obviously. I do find a use for mine probably 3-4 days a week for over a year now, I've gotten my money's worth easily, and before I grabbed the Mutant Metals Monos I was using them as "monos" for benching as well.
@@BasementBrandon I know right!.. And not surprisingly they work really well for their intended use, but those type of movements are the type you get people laughing at you in the Home Gym FB Group because it's not a typical gym-bro movement lol. I never use mine for that either, but have in the past just occasionally for "fun". I can definitely see the utility in that.
How u doing g brotha?brother?? Its been a while. Hey do u still recomend the functional trainner over the leverage arms? I sold my prx rack and Valor lat pull down machine and some other equipment so iam looking for stuff to buy...I was looking at the rhino belt squat plus rack and it looks like I can do tons of exercises with it besides belt squats I can even add a slinger to do lat pull downs too. Anyways even thinking everyday what to buy..ether the rhino belt squat plus rack or rep fitness with ares or one of thoes all in one functio al trainners like brute force and it comes with leverage arms, weight stack, smith machine, cable system. etc...etc..they are all close to same price about $4000. I know it's my decision but if you were in my shoes what would you prefer. I habe 2 lower buldging disk in my lower back so belt squats will be cool I guess. I know rep has a belt squat attachment too. Anyways iam looking for the one that is more versatile
So it really depends on what you're trying to do. I don't think the lever arms make sense for hardly anyone. A functional trainer would be good for those looking to do a lot of cable accessories but the caveat is they're usually expensive, you can't go heavy on them, and they take up a lot of space. For my style of training, I think a lat pull down/low row would be most ideal.
I considered getting these at some point, but I figured out i'd probably only use them for some sort of chest supported row and that wouldn't be worth it. For bodybuilding there may be more uses, but for my powerlifting programming they aren't needed at all.
I have always been curious about these but never tempted. They are versatile, but I do not feel like I would overly enjoy any movement I used them for.
Yeah I think in a limited set up they might be able to show some versatility more as you can do anything with them. I'm just too lazy and they're not as appealing to motivate me.
If you have the inclination Brandon, would you mind doing a review on the Stray Dog GOAT? Seems like a more versatile alternative to the sorinex bulldog pad but would like to hear your opinion.
I totatly agree also, i have the new versions and both handle types ($2K for all tha junk) It is so heavy and akward and slow to move around. you have to be creative in its use or just use it for deadlifts, rows, push lifts or its a pain. its tough to find the right angles and handle locations to use for bench press\incline lifts and never quite the right range of motion. I want to love it but its just takes to damn long to setup to use. so much easier to grab the dumbell, barbel, trap bar, and just get your accesorie work out of the way. I do think it is good for athletic explosive lifts and provides a lot of saftey. I do like the triggers to adjust and the locks under the trigger on the new version and the lock to hold them in place from swinging. the only way I recomed it is if you have a dedicated rack to use it because removing all your accesories to move it up and down is even a bigger pain in the ass.
@@BasementBrandon I have tried for 5 months now making a concerned effort and the value just isnt there, especially for power lifters. Athletes and maybe people who need more saftety than free weights but even then go buy a funcional trainer (which i have) and its way more usefull and better value.
Sportspecific these are great, I dont like the short ones, I have the longer versions and I use them everyday for my clients, these are great for boxing or baseball specific excercises you can do a lot of rotational work with it, they have great resistance with bands. Also they are used a lot in performance institutes for the NFL, of you play sports I would highly recommend them!
Thanks for this review! I was contemplating adding these thinking I could do some accessory work and maybe a car deadlift setup, but will save the money instead.
@@BasementBrandon Inconvenience makes them not worth the money. Anything that takes too long to set up and gets in the way won't be used enough to make it worth it. Maybe if they were pretty cheap...
with such a small basement I've been looking at these for some time and think the hustle would be worth it to do certain exercises, Ill take them off your hands for you.
I've had these bad boys in my cart for months waiting for this review. I haven't been able to make myself pull the trigger and I keep thinking they're gonna be coming out with something that allows for some lateral articulation, possibly at a price point that would include free shipping. I would anticipate a nastygram and/or court summons from Matt Pendergraph. Every time I think I might not use these, I watch some of his videos and feel like I should probably have them on every upright.
My old gym had these and I was pretty excited to use them. I tried to give them an honest chance but they just took way too long to set up. It takes literally like 10 minutes to set these up as a leg press. The gym owner said nobody else uses them and they’re basically a waste of money.
If you're buying because they look cool or for the same movement patterns used in bodybuilding or powerlifting, then obviously they're not a good fit. But if you are training for a sport that utilizes throwing or leveraged pushing (i.e. football or mma) then they'll work wonders
I tend to use my lever arms quite a bit. I also have the articulating handles that really improve the experience of the movements. I never use the stock handles, ever. I also altered my trolleys to where I can add a pin and hold a proper angle to use for all my pressing movements. I can setup Incline press in literally 40 seconds. I timed it. In my opinion without any ingenuity or effort to alter them to have a convenient pin to hold the angle they are pretty much useless. I really love my lever arms and one day I'd double down and get a Sorinex hurricane because I tend to do more "powerbuilding" style workouts and going max effort on Incline lever press feels great to work on my chest opposed to regular bench where I feel a lot more lats, shoulders, and triceps.... just my 2 cents
They really should offer them in different colors, they already do the uprights for the rack. Don’t think it would be that much difference/difficult to do
Guilty as charged. I'm yet another dope who just had to have them when I got my Rogue Rack a year and half ago. They are a PIA for sure. I could see them being more useful if my/your rack had one more set of uprights so they would have their own space so to speak. The handle shape sucks. I originally ordered them with the long arms then got the shorter ones. I use it rarely. One thing you can try, however, to get them out of the way, and I only have an 8' ceiling, is to lower them to about a quarter of the way down. You can then swing the arms up to the ceiling. Mine are about an inch or so away from ceiling, just enough so I can lower them when I want to. I put a bungie cord around them so they stay up. I believe I saw Coop show a newer version by Rogue which has much smaller articulating handles. These that we have, the handles suck. Great review.
@@BasementBrandon Well, when one spends upwards of a thousand dollars, which is close to what they cost, and probably with shipping it's more, especially when one is as dumb as me and wound up paying another few hundred for the shorter arms, it's not always an easy thing to admit. lol. But I'll one up that. Back in 2008 I used an ab bench in a gym. Loved it. Had to have it. Called the company down south, a commercial gym equipment supplier for quite a few years, and ordered it. $800. Paid over the phone with my debit card. Was told their trucks do the deliveries and it would be 2 months or more until they got up to NY again. NP I said. After a few months I called and their phone was disconnected. Website still up. Note I said 2008, height of financial crisis. Well, they went bankrupt, with my money and I'm sure many others. Ah, but it gets better. (btw, too much time passed and my bank would do nothing.) I saw one for sale on ebay. I paid $500 for it. Then realized it wasn't the model I wanted. I was responsible to get a shipper. never bothered. Yep, $1300 down the drain. Live and learn.
@@BasementBrandon thanks but it’s not all a sad song. Life is great. I’ve always said I’d rather lose money through a mistake or stupidity than getting robbed. It didn’t thankfully take food off my table.
Watched this video a while back, didn't heed the advice and now regretting a lever arm purchase. I'm sure some people get great use out of lever arms and love them. But I'm too lazy to set them up. Just want to work out when I go to my basement gym. And space has become an issue in my gym. Shame on me!
Brandon is probably too nice in this review if that's possible. I own the latest version of the Rogue Monster Trolley arms with the articulating handles. This is honestly the most disappointing gym purchase I've ever made. I can't recommend them to anyone. I hate them so much that I can't even bring myself to sell them because I'd hate for anyone else to be this disappointed. Jammer arms make the Reverse Hyper look like the best home gym investment of all time.
They are the older design. Rogue have upgraded the design to make them easier to fit and to adjust them on the uprights. The newer design is an improvement Also the articulated handles are a MUST. They are so much more functional than the standard handles.
Exactly the reason why I don't want jammer arm. They take too much time to setup, and I can do the same exercises with barbell. Just focus on the big compound lift and spend the money on functional trainer. With kids I can only do circuits or superset in my training already and I have zero time to set this up and move them around all the time.
Part of having your own place to work out is getting your work outs fast and conveniently easy This attachment takes too much space in your rack for what it has to offer and it’s also pricey
As many have noted, couldn’t agree with you more! I am in the Sorinex ecosystem, and they are even more a pain to move. And I assume they cost more than the Rogue version. I do mostly powerlifting like you and have found the arms truly worthless.
I think these implements were meant for athletes that train power, like football players and track and field throwers. The arms need to be able to move side to side for bodybuilding movements
Agree. Like the Hammer Strength Ground Base Jammer. But with that, also get the more natural movement pattern. Hands start wide, then towards midline, like their incline press.
Dixon's Shred Shack channel does show some cool uses for them. Curious how the functional trainers are that have jammer arms (like Brute Force) and can connect with a bar. Then they don't need to be on the power rack.
@@turkishdelight6032 I like the innovation. They look kinda cool. Probably remind people of Hammer Strength. Look hardcore. But I never really saw what problem they solve that would justify the cost, space and hassle.
Great video. I had these as future considerations because they look so cool, but I had a hard time getting motivated for them because they’re very expensive and don’t add any practical functionality for me. Everything I’d use them for can be performed with a barbell, which I’d rather use. Their fate is officially sealed.
@@BasementBrandon Probably true, but I don’t have either as I don’t have a need for them with my training. The surplus strength UPS and Irwin Fitness roller J-cups are much more useful as I have the former and the latter is on order.
For all the versatility and ease of storage, these things get a very serious amount of hate. Feels like they satisfy a lot of important garage gym requirements.
