Відео

I think the main thing is the newer lever arms allow you to set the starting angle. So in this case, you're slide the unit down the rack relatively easily and set the arm straight out from the rack closer to a 90 degree angle to perform, say, a bench press or overhead press. The strength curve, while not perfect still, would be much better than what you're displaying here.

How much weight was on the cable stack? Pretty cool experiment. Wonder why the brands haven’t made a big deal of the cable performance with lever arms.

I don't think you should have been pulling from the new load point at 6:06 it defeats the point of moving the weight relative to where the arms push from. Is it possible to try pulling from the same peg you pulled from at the beginning?

Do standard collars fit, or are axle collars required? I see my other Titan Fitness specialty bars are at least 50mm. This axle bar is listed at 49mm.

I know there is a Barbell Standard company, but I also know you can get plates that say "Barbell Standard" and even "Standard Barbell" that come from other sellers. I know CAP sells "Barbell Standard" (labeled) plates, and have a small CAP logo on them. So, I don't know if Barbell Standard is getting copied and ripped off, or if they have authorized resellers. My guess is there are probably a couple of Chinese foundaries that cast them and then sell them to different fitness companies. Bike frames are the same deal - only 2 or 3 Chinese/Taiwanese companies crank out frames and sell them to the myraid different bicycle companies. I think the reason cast iron isn't SUPER accurate between individual plates is because I believe they are individually cast, and then "cleaned up" with a grinder vs milled down to an exact weight like steel competition plates are. It's probably a minor miracle that they are as close as they are. They're fine for general purpose working out, but you would want to weigh and match them for competition, I would think. Great video😎👍

This bench has attachments for cables and resistance bands. They are sold out by the way.

This video was very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to create it

I purchased the heavy version and am not too content with it. It is a cumbersome attachment that is very over engineered. I appreciate the design behind it and the idea. However, the box arrive damaged, one of the trolleys had several bolts bent and a few washers missing (rolling around in the box). I have a hard time aligning both to be perfectly level as one seems to tilt downwards from the other no matter what I do. The install was extremely frustrating as well. I've wrestled with just eating the loss and removing them from my rack altogether. I wouldn't purchase it again in hindsight.

It's the resistance curve that I hate. But if you have a cable system like those all in one's which I have one of these force usa all in one's you can attach cables to the lever arms for constant tension. I use bowflex squat straps to adjust the length and because it has connection points where you can add a carabiner. But any carbiner lashing strap will work. There are quite a few all in one's by default have the cable connection points for lever arms.

Man just tell us what you found it for

Any thoughts on wall storage for the Echo GHD when not in use?

Any thoughts on how to store your GHD on the wall, when not in use? I'm seeking a solution for mine. Thanks.

very thorough great vid!

Wait so does it actually help you plan the progressive overload

U lost me at, it’s not a phone app. He shouldn’t call it an app, it’s a website

great review sir... really good to hear an honest assessment of something that gets over hyped imo ...I don't have any but I'm going to make myself some and aim to work around some of the limitations you highlight 👍

very helpful. I have a halfbeak coming -- Hammer Strength -- with 21 inch storage space -- I bet I could spot in 21 inches -- not a big guy

Hmm, I think I like it personally - sound doesn't bug me.

Many thanks, I think exactly like you. I own a set of Powerblocks and I don't like them... They feel awkward, clumsy and unsafe (wobly). Great review

Thanks for the in-depth review. I am using StrengthLog, and love it! I am using the free version right now, but if it makes sense, would be happy to pay for the yearly subscription. I look at it a little differently than you. I compare the price to if I had to pain someone to train me, so the yearly amount is well worth it. I have also already exchanged two emails with them, and they are incredibly helpful, supportive and responsive. I'm so happy you let us know about them! Thank you, again!

Great review. I'm torn over this. I have lifted to one degree or another for many years around other physical activities (mostly cycling, running, and hiking). I have experienced some good gains from programs centered around compound lifts, but I always end up injured. Now, I'm simply too old to hurt myself in the gym. Philosophically, I hate overpaying for anything, ha. But I feel like I have never learned how to properly calibrate my lifting and recovery for sustained, injury-free gains over time. Whether this is the answer or not, I don't know. I am relatively certain, however, that $35/month means more to me at this point than it does to Dr. Mike.

Do you know how low the bar can get? May depend on the rack to some extent, but were you able to get low enough for deadlift/RDL. Thanks!

Do you have a video showing yourself doing belt squats with an axle bar?

Great info. Thank you. Cleared up a lot for me.

Solid review!

You could pickup a 15lbs technique barbell to lighten the start weight. Though a lot of them aren’t capable of much weight capacity. I have found a couple rackable ones that can do 200 lbs max. You may be able to get away with adding more weight to a bar like that since the barbell is being held up by the unit itself. I will say I really dislike the process of removing/adding the barbell. I didn’t realize how finicky, time consuming and cumbersome it was going to be especially with how the latches are made and those tiny nuts in them that move around easily.

Glad to see you back

That’s a Good tip, if you have 5/8 is to always face the direction of the hooks going in. So you visually see them.

Does anyone still have a discount code lol

Just got the VTS lite as well and just assembled and testing. I’m having an issue with the bar coming out of position with the clamps during use. This then will not allow me to properly rotate the bar forward to rack the weight. My initial impression is the cheap hardware that is used to hold the clamps down is the problem. Any suggestions??

You are paying for the brand - “Dr. Mike”; not the app.

Great review buddy. I have the same opinions as you. I personally thought the install was infuriating as shit as a solo person, I tried propping it up and everything and it was a pain to get the rollers on with the screw inside without the sleeve and bushing falling out over and over. And one of my units was so tight I had to use a rubber mallet just to get the thing in. A second person would have definitely helped. It works amazingly well roller wise though, but I did not like the adjustments of the clamps that hold the bar down (to be honest I don't even know if I have them right, I've left some slack because they kept popping back off, no instructions or tips came with it). And it's going to take me a very long time to trust it from a safety point of view. I ruptured a pec off my bone in Feb and had surgery, so I'm paranoid about the hooks moving, or missing holes, or grabbing unequal holes, or just overall getting stuck in the moment. Yeah the bottom pin is a requirement, no negotiations on that, but when shit snaps and that bar drops, there's nothing you can do but pray for that split second you won't die (and I've been there with 352 lbs straight bar falling towards my face). The lateral movement is a little more than I liked, then again I'm still working to regain my strength in my injured side, but I'm glad to see you at least called it out because I was worried I didn't have things tightened up properly. I really think I'd rather buy the alternative hooks that go around an external pin, just because it's hard for me to see the clamp you twist under the other two bar hooks and know for sure it's not coming undone or moving around. I guess I'm just fearful of something not being tightened down enough and it causing a safety issue. Yeah, probably on me, but at the same time there are a ton of different screws, lock nuts, etc for a machine like this. But overall I am impressed with it's functionality barring all the initial one time setup. I'm stoked to use this for a lot of accessory bodybuilding work and can't see anything else on the market that will work as well as this. I'm just going to respect the boundaries and not try to treat it as a machine for max effort/high end strength, but rather casual bodybuilding specifically.

Great video. I just got my VTS lite in yesterday, August 29th. I installed it but didnt have time to get a bar all set up to try it out. Like you said, its crazy how many different adjustable bolts there are on it. It seems to be very well thought out and heavy duty. I think my one mistake is ordering the hooks for the upright holes because I have a Rogue Monster Lite with 5/8" holes. The UHMW hooks barely fit. I should have ordered the hitch pin hooks instead. I contacted them to see if I could order a set.

20 min of talking and 10 seconds of actual use doing partials. My first reaction is this attachment is 💩

Regular Smith machines typically ride on separate guide rods to prevent that side to side dipping. Thats my concern long term with this design..... if the rollers are plastic that slight tilting of the bar with a load could put a bind into play on the rollers that would cause enough stress to break over time. That wouldn't happen with a traditional smith because the separate bearing tubes on the guide rods keep the movement straight no matter what

Do you know what size the tubing is for the attachments? 2”x2” or 1.75”x1.75”?

Ive been curious about this. Thank you for the content!

Good review, I started using my VTS heavy version yesterday when I received the hook tips (so that they latch into racks with 5/8" holes). The VTS is great minus a few little quirks that need to be addressed and fixed. Seated behind the neck press is one of my absolute favorite moves on it since using it and on the heavy version the ISO capability is nice, just wish they used thicker handles than 27mm (might go custom and get thicker handles while keeping the weight horns that they supplied me with).

Just got mine yesterday and used my Rogue Training bar - only weights 5kilos so with the 30 pound VTS Lite the total system weights in at 41 pounds, so plate math becomes like you're using a mans bar again and your wife can use it since its 35 pounds lighter. The bar lists a 45 pound weight limit, but its an oly bar so that's the dropped from overhead weight. Since the bar is locked into the VTS and assuming you're not a moron that drops his bar while its on, its an excellent way to go!! Also have the Rep training bar which is 15#'s and has a 150# weight limit, will probably be a better solution but throwing out options!

Good information, but, can you be more concise?

I just got my VTS lite. I love it. I only wanted to smith functionality. I bought a short bar to dedicate to the vts. So the bar (15kg) plus the trolleys make it 65lb starting. I had a titan technique bar but I think I may upgrade to a more premium shorty bar

Great review!

Could you post a video of using the vts in a set of bench? Just curious to see how it moves with weight on it

nice review, i ended up ordering dialed motion because of the weight of trolleys on the vts pro, not iite. wonder if they could've used some aluminum in some places to lighten them up without compromising the structure

Hey mate, good insights. I've sent you email about a demo if you're interested

FYI there is a QR code that comes with the unit that has video installation instructions. It works great with 5/8 great, no issues at all

I want to buy a rep ares 2.0. Any idea is this will be an issue since you mentioned it is basically permanently installed?

Man, this is ideal timing of finding this review and you posting it. I just got recommended to take a look at these since I was looking for a smith machine drop in for my rack. From you experience can you use those safety spotter pins in the front to back position just as well as the side to side? I ask because the rack I have is a 2x2 with 1in holes but only has them front to back and not side to side.

Have you tried it on your lever arms at all? Ive been curious since preorder about using these on an angled lever arm set up to emulate a leg press. Great video, thanks for the information!

I recently tried evolve ui and it's good . Keeps track and adjust your weight and also is about same price as boostcamp. Also boostcamp doesn't calculate max per week so often you have to manually add. It only calculates if percentages. For things like bullmastiff you have to manually add percentage every week