Worth investing into a Lat Pulldown Machine?

[yitmy]

The equipment that you originally posted seems good. I think you can find cheaper on CL but I see value in the set up you originally posted.

In your gym you may be able to make something similar, so what do you have?

[buffbrown21]

I stole a gently used Cybex 5261 dual-axis advance lat pulldown off eBay for $200 last year...
but I had to drive 3 hours each way to go get it.

(looks like this)


It is a plate loaded leverage machine, and the "dual axis" part means that the handles can come down as the same width grip, or you can vary the grip in the exercise (like hands together at the top, shoulder width at the bottom).

Although I miss the opportunity to clip on a V tricep pushdown bar, D handle, or EZ curl cable attachment like I could with a cable machine, I do love this thing on back days and I get a great pump and a great stretch from it.

Now that I have one, I could not see doing without a pulldown machine of some sort.

Oh wow. I like the looks of this.
Very nice.

IMO if you can do pullups you don't need a lat machine. Mine just gets used for tricep pushdowns, and I don't really need those in my routine.

Yeah, I hear ya man and Im a HUGE advocate of pullups being THE back exercise. I guess the good thing about a lat pulldown (with a low row) is all of the various exercises offered in a small footprint. I consider them all to be supplementary exercises, but its nice to use it to mix things up every now and then.

[chrislols]

The equipment that you originally posted seems good. I think you can find cheaper on CL but I see value in the set up you originally posted.

In your gym you may be able to make something similar, so what do you have?

I get by with free weights doing whatever a lat machine would offer, such as pullups, db / bb rows, tricep extensions, skullcrushers. It's more or less me wondering if it's worth getting one just to switch up my routine a bit.

[buffbrown21]

I get by with free weights doing whatever a lat machine would offer, such as pullups, db / bb rows, tricep extensions, skullcrushers. It's more or less me wondering if it's worth getting one just to switch up my routine a bit.

It was for me, but keep in mind I got mine (Northern Lights) plus over 100 lbs in weights for $40.

[FatGymRat]

I get by with free weights doing whatever a lat machine would offer, such as pullups, db / bb rows, tricep extensions, skullcrushers. It's more or less me wondering if it's worth getting one just to switch up my routine a bit.

I thought that as well... right up until I found the Cybex at a deal that was too good to pass up.

I hear what you guys are saying about pullups, and I agree that bodyweight (and weight added) pullups are a great exercise for back development and overall strength.
That said, there is no match for having the ability to easily adjust the weight to maintain perfect form to isolate and pump those lats, and perform easy drop sets to obliterate the fibers.

You pullup-only guys are either dinking around with surgical tubing bands, or resorting to kips and losing your form. I just move to the machine.
Again, pullups (even kips) have a place, but they should be a portion of a well rounded routine for back development.

Also, this is my opinion based on what has worked best for me, and I am not demeaning the results anyone has achieved by pullups alone....

[Keeptryin]

Well I couldnt do a single pullup a year an a half ago..so lp was a good fit at the time..now I can endure 3 - 4 sets of dead hangs weighted at the start of my back workout..then ill go high rows or whatever on the LP, or straight arm pushdowns if im particularly winded at the end.What im trying to say is maybe hes a severely obese guy or truly a lightweight kid.

[Keeptryin]

Well I couldnt do a single pullup a year an a half ago..so lp was a good fit at the time..now I can endure 3 - 4 sets of dead hangs weighted at the start of my back workout..then ill go high rows or whatever on the LP, or straight arm pushdowns if im particularly winded at the end.What im trying to say is maybe hes a severely obese guy or truly a lightweight kid.

also just high low pulley alone can take you through a high myriad of exercises..bentover raises,pullthroughs...ive added a extension and mounted a removeable pulley on the floor to do cable boxsquats.And my Hi/lo is in a pretty heavy powerrack so i didnt really need to secure it to the floor.

[chrislols]

I thought that as well... right up until I found the Cybex at a deal that was too good to pass up.

I hear what you guys are saying about pullups, and I agree that bodyweight (and weight added) pullups are a great exercise for back development and overall strength.
That said, there is no match for having the ability to easily adjust the weight to maintain perfect form to isolate and pump those lats, and perform easy drop sets to obliterate the fibers.

You pullup-only guys are either dinking around with surgical tubing bands, or resorting to kips and losing your form. I just move to the machine.
Again, pullups (even kips) have a place, but they should be a portion of a well rounded routine for back development.

Also, this is my opinion based on what has worked best for me, and I am not demeaning the results anyone has achieved by pullups alone....

This is quality post, defiantly great information, that's how I'm feeling, pullups are great but I'm thinking it can't hurt to add a lat machine into my routine / gym to change it up every once in a while, and to isolate certain muscles. I'm going to be lifting in a bit and see during the workout where I'd change it up and use a lat machine.

Thanks a lot for your reply, Chris.

[Essexlad]

That said, there is no match for having the ability to easily adjust the weight to maintain perfect form to isolate and pump those lats, and perform easy drop sets to obliterate the fibers.

Dip belt.

You pullup-only guys are either dinking around with surgical tubing bands, or resorting to kips and losing your form.

No, they're just probably better at pullups than you (you know, from doing all those pullups). If you lose form and start kipping then stop doing them, or decrease the weight strapped to you.
It's just as simple to lose form on a lat-pulldown and get all sort of body-jerk and bend to pull the weight down. In fact I'd say it's easier.

[FatGymRat]

This is quality post, defiantly great information, that's how I'm feeling, pullups are great but I'm thinking it can't hurt to add a lat machine into my routine / gym to change it up every once in a while, and to isolate certain muscles. I'm going to be lifting in a bit and see during the workout where I'd change it up and use a lat machine.

Thanks a lot for your reply, Chris.

Thank you.

Dip belt.

No, they're just probably better at pullups than you (you know, from doing all those pullups). If you lose form and start kipping then stop doing them, or decrease the weight strapped to you.
It's just as simple to lose form on a lat-pulldown and get all sort of body-jerk and bend to pull the weight down. In fact I'd say it's easier.

As I said in the earlier post, I feel that pullups and weight-added pullups are an important part of a back routine, but then I like to move to the lat pulldown to put in further work.

The OP was looking for opinions, this is mine.

[Keetman]

Thank you.



As I said in the earlier post, I feel that pullups and weight-added pullups are an important part of a back routine, but then I like to move to the lat pulldown to put in further work.

The OP was looking for opinions, this is mine.

Hey FGR......Essex is a pretty good cat around here, I sincerely doubt he meant any malevolence.


For the record, I thought your post was good and your point was valid.

I have a lat pd, but haven't been using it or the pullup bar much because I've been concentrating on the powerlifting moves. Good equipment bought for value and used correctly is what I'm an advocate of. If you have the room, inclination, funds, and a reasonable expectation you will use it......why not.

[animalfan]

...If you have the room, inclination, funds, and a reasonable expectation you will use it......why not.

this is pretty much the case with anything, really, isn't it?

besides weight and a place to do squats, pullups, rows, presses, and deadlifts- they are all "luxury" items, right?

[FatGymRat]

Hey FGR......Essex is a pretty good cat around here, I sincerely doubt he meant any malevolence.

That's fine... I will take your word for it since you have more experience with his posting style.

they're just probably better at pullups than you (you know, from doing all those pullups).

This comment struck me as a touch on the smarmy side, but I took no real offense by it.
I guessed he was just trying to give me some grief with the comment, not outright baiting.

My impression from my brief time here (and not a comment on anyone from this discussion), is that there are a LOT of troll bait post types on this forum...

For the record, I thought your post was good and your point was valid.

Thanks.

Best of luck with the powerlifting regimen.

[BRUTUSPLAC]

[QUOTE=FatGymRat;424598671]I stole a gently used Cybex 5261 dual-axis advance lat pulldown off eBay for $200 last year...
but I had to drive 3 hours each way to go get it.

(looks like this)



THAT IS TOOOOO SWEEETTTTTTTTT !

[FatGymRat]

Video of a home gym guy on the Cybex.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfm4ee8ROMI

Here is a silver haired sales gent showing a used version of the stack/pin model of this machine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpAI8zaFbfM

[Keetman]

this is pretty much the case with anything, really, isn't it?

besides weight and a place to do squats, pullups, rows, presses, and deadlifts- they are all "luxury" items, right?

Yes, but for some reason a lot of people seem to think their route is the only way and any other is stupid or a waste of money. Smith vrs rack; pulldown vrs pull ups; machines vrs freeweights; gloves vrs none........its all silly. If you want to have a discussion about something fine, but to assail someone as though their smith machine is evil........I don't get it and won't ever. I don't like smiths, all in ones, and I'm leaning solidly toward no gloves..........but it doesn't cost me any money or reduce my strength if everybody else on this forum uses them. Further, until one of you goofballs starts paying for my equipment purchases........I don't give a rats arse if you like my stuff or not.

All stated with love of course.

That's fine... I will take your word for it since you have more experience with his posting style.



This comment struck me as a touch on the smarmy side, but I took no real offense by it.
I guessed he was just trying to give me some grief with the comment, not outright baiting.

My impression from my brief time here (and not a comment on anyone from this discussion), is that there are a LOT of troll bait post types on this forum...


Thanks.

Best of luck with the powerlifting regimen.

Yea, Essex is a contributor and I honestly haven't seen him chide too many people tbh, I'm sure he didn't mean it "smarmy" but rather as a way to illustrate the point on the pullups. I won't comment anymore on it, because I'm speaking for him and that's silly too .

As far as the troll bait comments..........there are a lot of trolls here.......go figure.

[Skidmarx]

I'm leaning solidly toward no gloves.

You use gloves? What kind of man ARE you?

[Keetman]

You use gloves? What kind of man ARE you?

lol.


I'm a pussy, you figured it out.

[BenJelly]

not worth it

[chrislols]

not worth it

Yeah? Keep spamming everywhere