Anyone use a brutus?

[Serea]

http://www.newsearching.com/strength_training/Brutus_435EX_Olympic_Bench_w__Lat_Pull_Down.html

I'm using this. It's got two sets of adjustable bar (stands?). Strangely enough, the lowest setting is the perfect height to catch the barbell on presses, and the 2d highest is good for squats, if I should happen to get stuck with my ass to the floor.

Anyone else use one of these? I thought I'd have to buy a power rack, but I'm not so sure anymore.

 

[kingc_79]

personally i just think a squat rack is more veritile and safer.

 

[Mildot]

I have had that exact setup for 2 and a half years now.
Got it off ebay for a price I could not pass up.

Overall, I am happy with it.
I exceed the lat towers weight limit week after week and it still works fine, but I have noticed that the holes for the adjustable pins on the rack have bent/enlarged from use. Hopefully it won't all come crashing down on me someday.
The bench seems well made, and locks up nice and solid.

Like I said, I damn near stole it off eBay, so all in all I can't complain.

 

[argent]

It doesn't look very sturdy. i wouldn't get one.

 

[Lumberg]

I like the feeling of being enclosed for squats. I just got an AWESOME schwinn power cage for $199 at York. It is super sturdy and has a bar across the top for pull ups.

I dunno what that thing goes for but I would go for a cage 8 days a week.

 

[Mildot]

The main reason I purchased it (besides the price, which I can't remember, but I think I paid $99 brand new) was for the lat tower. I lift at home, and having just a cage won't cut it. No tricep pushdowns or lat pulldowns would really suck.
I'm able to spice it up week to week with different attachments.

I have the Brutus, a set of Powerblock dumbbells and a little over 800 lbs worth of plates with three 7 ft bars and an EZ-curl bar.
I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything without a cage.