Big Adam NC's Reviews (81)


(4.67)
4/15/2026
Boy, leaving this review in April 2026 feels like stepping into a minefield. For context, I got this machine (v2) used from a fellow crü member who gave me a great deal and I only had to partially assemble it. So I can't speak to the experience of buying new. In terms of performance- leg extensions as noted have a little bit of a ROM limitation because of the crossmember. For me as someone using this as an occasional accessory movement, I don't think this is going to make any difference in my training. The lying leg curls feel really good - i don't have a strong opinion on lying vs seated, so not weighing in there. And then the source of all the controversy lately- the weight stack and its heaviness or lack thereof. Look- if you can squat 5-600, you might need a different machine for figuring out your leg extension 1RM. But I'm working up past the mid 300s and I can't remotely max out the stack. So as with everything it will depend on the person whether this will be a good fit or not.
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(5.00)
4/15/2026
Purchased a four-pack of 1.25s to go with my 5-50 set of fixed dumbbells, giving me maximum flexibility on weight increases. First of all, the purple looks outstanding and the construction is high quality. They clamp on tight to the handles and I'm able to put them flush against the inside of the heads so that I still have plenty of room for my hand. So far in use they have not moved- i probably will avoid drops if possible just in case though. They are also dead-on accurate in weight. If you think of the dollars per pound these might seem expensive, but given the high build quality, the clamping mechanism and the fact that they can kind of replace 20 pairs of dumbbells, I think they are actually a bargain.
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(5.00)
4/5/2026
When I was looking for spotter arms, my first choice was going to be Surplus Strength or Black Widow so that I could get a lower profile pair that took up less room on the rack and maybe a fancier color. However, the price and long lead times were too much and so I went ahead and got these with the thinking that I could upgrade later. Now I may not bother- these surprised me with how nice they are. I have the Manticore version, so there is UHMW everywhere you would want. And the fit on my Rogue rack is perfect especially since i can lock them in with the included magpins. Obviously they would also stand up to any weight that I might ever drop on them. As for the space they take up vertically, what I realized is that for me it doesn't really matter. I'm able to set them wherever I need for what I'm planning on doing. As I always have to remind myself, it's about the training that I'm doing and not just about getting the fanciest gear possible. Although the spotters from those other companies do look sick...
Performance
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(4.67)
4/5/2026
What can i say different from everyone else- this thing is phenomenal. Incredibly well constructed, Incredibly stable, the handles feel fantastic, and despite being fairly heavy it's not hard to maneuver on and off the rack. Very helpful that it can flip upside down for upright storage as well. I like that I have the ability to change the angle of the handles and I'm also looking forward to using the handles for other purposes in the future. True, it's more expensive than a basic dip attachment so it might not be worth it to some people. But for me it was an easy choice and now I never need to upgrade.
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(5.00)
4/5/2026
Drink spotters are for keeping your drinks safe, but equally important is keeping your furniture safe from your drinks. These coasters handle that job admirably.
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(5.00)
4/5/2026
Nicely made, can get the straps and carabiners to hang from a pullup bar but can also just get the implements. Not super expensive either. Looking forward to the day that i can do a pullup with these- today is not that day. Not tomorrow either.
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(5.00)
4/4/2026
Got a great deal used on a bare steel version. Like everyone says, fantastic bar, the knurling feels great, love it. I would say that i have done a few 10 rep deadlift sets and it's a bit too aggressive for that (in my probably soft boy opinion), but anything else including heavy low rep sets feels great. The one i got was several years old and had been in a garage but had only the tiniest bit of rust, so even though it's bare steel I'm not expecting it to need too much maintenance in my basement. A plus, five stars, lives up to the hype. I think it would definitely be worth the price to buy new as well.
Performance
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(4.67)
4/4/2026
(4.67) 4/3/2026 Purchased BoS crossmembers and uprights to use with some Rogue uprights that I already had to make a full 4 post rack. The shipping was pretty quick and everything was packaged well so that nothing was damaged en route. Bells uses the same imperial measurements as Rogue, so everything lined up perfectly during assembly. There are a few quirky things that I noticed in mixing and matching. Nothing negative, just differences between companies to be aware of: -Numbering is different; Bells numbers all of the holes on crossmembers and uprights, Rogue doesn't. On uprights this means safeties or j cups are going to be at different numbers at the same height. -Rogue top crossmembers have a different design (flush with top of upright) so the lower bolt goes through a different hole in the upright than the Bells crossmember. This doesn't affect stability or anything but having two top crossmembers that are different means they are not even with each other. So i will need to get another one to make them match if I want to add a Darko anchor or something. -Least important, the "black" of the Bells crossmember is gray. Not nearly as nice as the satin black from Rogue- but i saved some money and they are just as strong and will function just as well.
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81 total