Cable attachments

Man, I’ve never seen this much action in the equipment forum.

Anyway, I’ve got my Inspire FT2 all assembled now (anyone else notice that their kit is all sold out all of a sudden? ;)), and in using it for some accessory work, I’ve noticed some things that are missing that I want to get. Specifically:

* rowing handle
* rotating short bar

Any other bar / handle / accessory that you find useful for a functional trainer? It comes with some basics like a rope, lat pull-down bar, rubber single-hand grips, that sort of thing. But as long as I’m buying stuff, might as well get a few extra toys. ;)

Incidentally, any brand for these accessories that you find to be particularly high quality? I don’t get all the US brands here, but I’m certainly willing to look...

Corbets, while I can't guarantee any of these references of cable attachments are all available in countries outside the US, here's a link to a cable attachments thread with numerous recommendations, links and reviews of various attachments...

[url]https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=169800563[/url]

[QUOTE=Deep-Voiced-One;1600292811]Corbets, while I can't guarantee any of these references of cable attachments are all available in countries outside the US, here's a link to a cable attachments thread with numerous recommendations, links and reviews of various attachments...

[url]https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=169800563[/url][/QUOTE]

That’s helpful DVO, thanks!

[QUOTE=Corbets;1600291601]Man, I’ve never seen this much action in the equipment forum.[/QUOTE]

It's slowed down quite a bit over the past few years. Combination of BB.com making the equipment forum more difficult to find and everyone getting their info from social media and 'garage' gym type websites. Similar to the Professional Bodybuilding section which used to be a hotspot and now it's a graveyard. I remember the days when you could refresh and it seemed a new thread would appear every 20-30 min :(

BTW: Saw this knockoff a while ago, cheaper than the real deal from American Barbell but it's my favorite style rowing handle.

[url]https://www.amazon.com/Valor-Fitness-MB-12-Triangle-Attachment/dp/B01MYM790Y/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=row+handle+valor&qid=1584807321&sr=8-3&swrs=6CE654B0BD0835C9C081654B80ED5455[/url]

[QUOTE=urbanlifter;1600349001]
BTW: Saw this knockoff a while ago, cheaper than the real deal from American Barbell but it's my favorite style rowing handle.

[url]https://www.amazon.com/Valor-Fitness-MB-12-Triangle-Attachment/dp/B01MYM790Y/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=row+handle+valor&qid=1584807321&sr=8-3&swrs=6CE654B0BD0835C9C081654B80ED5455[/url][/QUOTE]

Guy in the second picture looks like he's trying to figure out what to have for lunch

[QUOTE=dagdafitness;1600353431]Guy in the second picture looks like he's trying to figure out what to have for lunch[/QUOTE]

Haha, for sure! Love that handle though, the slightly supinated grip feels great.

[QUOTE=urbanlifter;1600349001]It's slowed down quite a bit over the past few years. Combination of BB.com making the equipment forum more difficult to find and everyone getting their info from social media and 'garage' gym type websites. Similar to the Professional Bodybuilding section which used to be a hotspot and now it's a graveyard. I remember the days when you could refresh and it seemed a new thread would appear every 20-30 min :(

BTW: Saw this knockoff a while ago, cheaper than the real deal from American Barbell but it's my favorite style rowing handle.

[url]https://www.amazon.com/Valor-Fitness-MB-12-Triangle-Attachment/dp/B01MYM790Y/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=row+handle+valor&qid=1584807321&sr=8-3&swrs=6CE654B0BD0835C9C081654B80ED5455[/url][/QUOTE]

Thanks for the tip! Offhand, I can’t find a dealer that ships here, but I’ll keep it in mind as I look around.

I actually find I enjoy reading these forums more nowadays than my various “geek” forums. Turns out that bodybuilding is much more nuanced than I knew a few years ago. Definitely a shame that they’re not more vibrant, and that I missed the peak around the turn of the millennia.

Corbets, yeah man, this place used to be way more livelier with tons of active discussions. I miss those times and actually hate what social media platforms did to the forums these days (there's still a wealth of archived subjects of interest posted if you search them typing bodybuilding forum at the end of whatever topic you're looking for) but it's not always entirely the same as getting a direct response to a specific question, or having an active discussion about the topic(s) of interest in the virtual community.

I try to keep the forum active with my input when I find the time, along with some other regulars as well over the years, but unfortunately we're only amongst the few these days, so it's cool when some others join in, or return and bring the forums up to speed once again so long as they're sensible and relevant topics.

[QUOTE=Corbets;1600291601]Man, I’ve never seen this much action in the equipment forum.

Anyway, I’ve got my Inspire FT2 all assembled now (anyone else notice that their kit is all sold out all of a sudden? ;)), and in using it for some accessory work, I’ve noticed some things that are missing that I want to get. Specifically:

* rowing handle
* rotating short bar

Any other bar / handle / accessory that you find useful for a functional trainer? It comes with some basics like a rope, lat pull-down bar, rubber single-hand grips, that sort of thing. But as long as I’m buying stuff, might as well get a few extra toys. ;)

Incidentally, any brand for these accessories that you find to be particularly high quality? I don’t get all the US brands here, but I’m certainly willing to look...[/QUOTE]


The Prime Rot8 handles and the Mag handles get a lot of use in my set up, both companies ship to Europe.

ATX offer decent quality attachments, they're available from The Gym Revolution in the UK, Megafitness may be a better option for yo on mainland Europe.

I also like to change things up with thick grip attachments, for my money Watson are hard to beat, not cheap, but the quality is top notch, their single rotating thick grip handles are particularly good, they have the same 2" (50mm) rotating handle, mounted on bearings like their dumbbells.

[QUOTE=gym62richard;1600361741]The Prime Rot8 handles and the Mag handles get a lot of use in my set up, both companies ship to Europe.

ATX offer decent quality attachments, they're available from The Gym Revolution in the UK, Megafitness may be a better option for yo on mainland Europe.

I also like to change things up with thick grip attachments, for my money Watson are hard to beat, not cheap, but the quality is top notch, their single rotating thick grip handles are particularly good, they have the same 2" (50mm) rotating handle, mounted on bearings like their dumbbells.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I’m actually buying my new dumbbells from ATX - bit of a mystery buy, as I haven’t tried them yet, but I read enough good things here and elsewhere about ATX that I’m hopeful. Would have gone through megafitness, but my dealer here in Denmark (who only works with high quality kit, e.g. Inspire and American Barbell) actually works with them and scored me a 20% discount off my stuff. And have used Gym Revolution in the past.

I keep looking at Watson stuff and never quite buying, usually because they’re out of stock when I decide I want something. I’ll give them another look though - somehow I keep forgetting about them too. Bonus just got announced so I’m less constrained on price. :D

I’ll read up on the Mag and Rot8. Seen them both mentioned from time to time here but never really looked into them before...

Oh, there we go. Just what every home gym needs.... thanks, G62R. :)

[url]https://watsongym.co.uk/product/150-kg-dumbbell/[/url]

[QUOTE=urbanlifter;1600354341]Haha, for sure! Love that handle though, the slightly supinated grip feels great.[/QUOTE]

I just swore I was done my home gym but I guess I need I upgrade my fully welded double-d handle

A multi-handle would be a good addition, if you don't already have one. They aren't terribly expensive, and offer a number of possibilities with cables, including the ability to mimic a dip if you aren't quite built up to doing them on bars yet(also good to allow close neutral grip pulldowns, if you're trying to build up your pullup strength). I tend to like the ones with just plain knurling, I find it to grip better than the rubber versions, although the rubber ones are nice in adding a lil fat-bar esque benefit for forearm due to their thicker shapes. They look like this:
[img]https://yorkbarbell.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/6820_SolidSteelMultiPurposeCloseGrip.jpg[/img]

Absolutely love my mag handles. Everytime I use them, I like them more and more. I also have the handle UL mentions but from a different company. Also gets used quite a good deal. Great handle.

The MAGs are awesome and among my favorite cable attachments, I own the wide pronate, medium pronate, neutral and supinate and the narrow supinate. The lat activation is excellent with these and the supinate offers a unique variation on both pulldowns and rows.

You can even get creative and hook them to chains, or perhaps a loading pin for overhead triceps extensions and also hook them up to a barbell with a landmine station for various style Tbar rows.

Another awesome attachment I own is the one Dean from Black Widow Training Gear makes and has on his site called the Ball Sac lat pulldown cable attachment, the lat activation is insane with it due to an open palm grip similar to the MAGs...

[url]https://www.blackwidowtg.com/Lat_Assassin_Lat_pull_down_cable_attachment_p/cable-sac-row.htm[/url]

I've found these "V" handle attachments useful for tricep pressdown
[img]https://i.imgur.com/3MF2m6Z.jpg[/img]
Theres fancier versions like this
[img]https://i.imgur.com/aHKIFMl.png[/img]

[QUOTE=Corbets;1600370021]Oh, there we go. Just what every home gym needs.... thanks, G62R. :)

[url]https://watsongym.co.uk/product/150-kg-dumbbell/[/url][/QUOTE]


LOL, Watson had one on their stand at the Bodypower expo, if you could pick it up they were giving away one of their cable attachments, on the day I visited only 3 guys were able to get if off the floor

[QUOTE=ampire;1600440361]I've found these "V" handle attachments useful for tricep pressdown[/QUOTE]

I use the AB handle frequently for triceps and biceps, the angle of the handle makes all the difference. Tried one of the versions and it wasn't nearly as nice as the AB handle. American Barbell is pricey, but 100% worth it given I haven't seen a good knockoff for it yet.

So Watson has closed down due the UK lockdown, but they’re able to ship what stock they have. Spoke to John this morning, who wrapped up a double D handle as well as a single V and got them out to fedex for me; they’ll arrive on Friday.

Between that and some other toys (I may or may not have ordered a new gun rack, a new EZ curl bar, a new SSB bar and some other toys from Rogue this weekend) I should be pretty well set to weather the next few months.

I'd give a thumbs up on the MAG grips as well as the PRIME ROT-8 handles, as others have mentioned.