Here are the tools to build a back like a barn door – thick and wide!
Serious weight trainers, whether they be bodybuilders, powerlifters or weightlifters all recognize that a strong back is a foundation for true strength.
The Lat Pulldown and Seated Row combination machines will always be the primary piece of equipment to train both the back and lat muscles. There is, however, a growing range of speciality machines and attachments that target specific areas of these crucial muscle groups.
Lat Machine & Cable Row
No gym or studio would be complete without a Lat and seated row machine. The list of exercises and variations is endless. Not just isolation exercises, but high quality exercises like lat pulldowns and seated rows.
Versatility
Lat Machines are not limited to just Lateral Pulldowns and Cable Rows. Depending on the attachments you have, you can train every single muscle group on High or Low pulley.
One of the best features is that it takes a few seconds to switch between attachments. You can jump from training your back to your biceps in no time.
The Lat Machines come with a Plate Loaded carriage as standard and an optional weight stack can be added. If you don’t mind changing the plates between sets stick to the plate loaded version.
All of our Lat machines offers a resistance of 1:1 ratio. Having no mechanical advantage might hurt your ego, but it will save you money as you will use far less weight.
Compact
You can perform hundreds of different exercises in a space of a couple of square meters. They don’t sit as tall as a power rack, meaning you will be able to squeeze it in even if you don’t have high ceilings.
Barndoor back
Lat Pulldowns and Cable Row combos are great, but there are better exercises that could help you to build a thicker back.
T-Bar Row machine is the perfect example. Due to the nature of the movement, you will activate a larger percentage of your back muscles which will result in better muscle growth. It can also be adjusted to your desired width, so it would suit your body structure.
If you happened to be on a budget, you can have a look at the ATX® landmine attachments.
You can pick and choose the attachments depending on your needs. It is a great way to save money and space, without sacrificing any potential gains.
ATX® Dedicated Machines
ATX® Reverse Hyper Extension has been built to last. Whether you are going to use it for rehab work or to strengthen your body and take your workouts to the next level, they will be able to handle anything you throw at them.
Be careful when choosing one, there are many cheap copies on the market. Our competitors were left with no other choice but to try and copy something that cannot be copied – quality.
Posterior chain muscles
It is something that should not be ignored. Have you ever tried performing T-Bar Rows with tight hamstrings or weak lower back? It is definitely not the nicest feeling in the world.
However, it can be fixed quite easily. All you need is a Roman Chair or a Glute Ham Developer and you can work on bullet-proofing your posterior chain muscles!
Having strong lower back muscles will allow you to lift heavier weight in other exercises. If you have the space for Lat Pulldown machines I would recommend getting one.
You use your back muscles in all the lifts and everyday movements, that’s why we should spend extra time focusing on strengthening them.
