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The best lat pulldown machines can be a bulky and cumbersome addition to a home gym, especially if floor space is limited. With only so much room available, you’ll need to look at either a compact solution or a cable machine that has lots of versatility.
One piece of equipment that is a little bigger, but makes up for it in its versatility, is the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine. Not only does this machine have lat pulldown and low row capabilities, but the cable machine also accepts other attachments along the upright.
If you’re looking for a versatile cable machine for your home gym, then you’re in luck; read on in this Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown review to see if this machine is right for your home gym needs.
Pulling From Plenty of Experience
Adjustable dumbbells, functional trainers, and yes, lat pulldown machines—we’ve covered a lot of fitness equipment on Garage Gym Reviews since its inception in 2014. And since its start, we’ve committed to bringing you honest and expert reviews on the latest in the fitness world, including strength and cardio equipment, as well as supplements and recovery tools, like the best home saunas.
Our team consists of personal trainers, lifting coaches, and lifelong athletes—all certified by accredited organizations and experienced in the fitness industry. We provide the same level of expertise on all items we research and test.
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Garage Gym Reviews Everything lead reviewer Lindsay Scheele, ISSA-CPT, tested out the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown, rating various categories of the cable machine on a scale of 1 to 5, including:
- Construction and durability
- Weight stack
- Cable travel and smoothness
- Versatility
- Assembly
- Overall value
BoS Lat Pulldown Low Row
Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine
Product Highlights
- 310-lb stack with a 1:1 pull ratio
- 2-in-1 lat pulldown and low row
- Standalone unit
- Included lat bar with purchase
- Ships free and comes unassembled
- Rack attachment compatible
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fits their power rack attachments
- Pin-loaded weight system
- Stable
- Durable
- Decent warranty
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Needs to be assembled
Bottom Line
Compatible with some power rack attachments, the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row machine offers home gym owners a lot of versatility in one machine.
A Quick Look at the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown
Bells of Steel is a Canadian-based company that’s been around since 2010 with the goal of getting smart, value-based equipment to home gym users’ hands. Bells of Steel wants to provide competitively-priced equipment to help people get healthier and stronger, as well as aid them in their fitness goals.
The Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown is a hefty machine with heavy-duty steel construction. The aluminum pulleys allow for a smooth cable travel, and it has a 310-pound weight stack attached, allowing for plenty of heavy weights for stronger lifters.
This is a pretty versatile piece of equipment, as well, since it has uprights and crossmembers that allow for rack attachments. Bells of Steel also has add-on cable attachments available, although they’ll increase the cost.
Before You Buy
- If $2,000 is a bit more than you want to invest into a lat pulldown low row combo, Bells of Steel offers a plate-loaded lat pulldown, starting at $899.
- Lindsay warns users that although the upright adds lots of versatility, the machine is only compatible with 2-inch-by-3-inch attachments. Fortunately, Bells of Steel has a lot of power rack attachments this size if you’re looking to expand your attachment ecosystem.
- The cables have a 1:1 ratio, meaning 10 pounds will feel like 10 pounds.
Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Video Review
Is the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Worth It?
At $2,000, the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown is a pricey piece of equipment, although it does have good value with its versatility and construction. This is most comparable to the Titan Lat Tower, which is priced the same. On the other hand, Rogue’s lat tower is over $3,000.
What separates Bells of Steel’s lat pulldown is a slightly heavier weight stack—310 pounds—and a lifetime warranty that Titan doesn’t have. This, with the added versatility of having an upright that accepts attachments, makes the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown a high value product. Lindsay rates its value a 4.5 out of 5.
There are cheaper options available, like plate-loaded machines or even a DIY lat pulldown, but for a pin-loaded weight stack, this is one of the best deals out there.
Great for:
- People wanting a lat pulldown machine with added versatility
- Anyone wanting a more vertical lat pulldown
- Lifters wanting a smooth cable travel
Not recommended for:
- Those needing compact exercise equipment
- Home gym users on a budget
- People who don’t like involved assemblies
Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Specs
| Price | $1,999 |
| Weight | 528 lbs |
| Dimensions | 69.9” L x 41.3” W x 86.7” H |
| Weight stack | 310 lbs |
| Weight ratio | 1:1 |
| Cable capacity | 550 lbs |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
Using the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown
GGR Everything lead reviewer Lindsay Scheele, ISSA-CPT, is a fan of Bells of Steel, having the Bells of Steel Hydra Power Rack in her garage gym, along with an Olympic barbell and trap bar. “It’s becoming like a Bells of Steel showroom,” she jokes.
Lindsay used both functions of the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine in several workouts, performing pulldowns, rows, curls, triceps pushdowns, and more. The seat pad, leg rollers, and low row footplate are all adjustable, and Lindsay had no issue moving the adjustments around, saying, “There’s no sticking while making adjustments, which I’ve found happens with other machines before.”
The lat pulldown extends further out in this updated version of the machine, which allows for more vertical pulldowns. The lat pulldown comes with 310 pounds’ worth of weight stacks and adjusts at 10-pound increments, which may be higher jumps than some people may want—especially with its 1:1 weight ratio.
However, included with the cable tower and lat bar is an adjustable weight pin, which can hold up to 20 pounds of weight plates. This is best for smaller weight changes than the normal 10-pound increments, but could potentially add weight if you need a bit more than 310 pounds. The weight stack also has band pegs, which can increase the resistance on your exercise progressively through the motion. The weight stack load gets a 5 out of 5.
Construction and Durability
The lat pulldown machine is solid, built with a powder-coated steel construction and using aluminum pulleys. Lindsay feels the cable travel is extremely smooth, rating it a 5 out of 5 as well. The cable’s weight capacity is 550 pounds, which will handle the 310-pound weight stack easily. The machine is stable as well, weighing 528 pounds. It’s not budging—although Bells of Steel recommends bolting the machine down if you have the capability. Lindsay rates the construction a 4.5 out of 5.
Footprint
At nearly 70 inches long and 41 inches wide, the lat pulldown low row combo takes up some space. “Remember that if you’re using the low row function of the machine, you’re going to need room for you, too,” Lindsay adds. Plus, using attachments on the uprights will also require space, so you’ll need a bit more space than just the machine itself.
RELATED: Lat Pulldown Alternatives
That said, with the amount of versatility the pulldown has (more on that below), the space makes sense. With its versatility, Lindsay considers it fairly space-efficient—although you’ll still need a good amount of space to fully utilize it. She rates the footprint a 4 out of 5.
Another thing to mention is that with a height close to 87 inches, the lat pulldown may not be ideal for home gyms with low ceilings. With its height, though, it’ll be great for taller athletes.
Versatility
The Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown has an additional low row pulley, which comes with an adjustable footplate. What really adds to the versatility of the machine, however, is that the tower is built from 11-gauge steel uprights with holes for attachments.
Every home gym owner knows the power of upright holes and all the power rack attachments that can be added to them. The inclusion to add attachments can set this lat machine to double as an all-in-one home gym—dip bars, seal row pads, landmine attachments, and more.
One thing Lindsay warns, however, is that the steel tubing is 2 inches by 3 inches, not the popular industry standard of 3 inches by 3 inches. Bells of Steel does have plenty of attachments that’ll fit these uprights, if you’re looking to add to your collection.
The lat pulldown includes a stainless steel lat bar, but you can purchase a bunch of add-ons for handles and grips for your machine, including D-handles, triceps rope extensions, curl bar attachments, and many more. With all of these options for squat rack and cable attachments, Lindsay rates the versatility a 4 out of 5.
Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown vs Titan Fitness Lat Tower
Titan Fitness Lat Tower
Titan Lat Tower
Product Highlights
In his Titan Fitness Lat Tower review, GGR founder and fitness equipment guru Coop Mitchell said this lat pulldown machine was the best value you could get for a weight stack lat pulldown machine. A couple years later, does the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown compare to it?
Looking at the specs side by side, the two lat pulldown low row machines are nearly identical, with the Titan Lat Tower having a slightly smaller footprint and the Bells of Steel machine having a slightly heavier weight stack. And in practice, both machines have aluminum pulleys, uprights for added versatility, and a lower price of $2,000 including free shipping.
What puts the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown ahead of the Titan Lat Tower is the warranty length. Titan offers a fixed warranty period of 1 year on all of its products, which is great on some items, but limiting on other items—like this one. On the other hand, Bells of Steel offers a limited lifetime warranty on this cable tower. With everything else being so similar, I think this gives the Bells of Steel tower a slight edge.
| Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine | Titan Fitness Lat Tower | |
| Price | $1,999 | $1,999 |
| Weight | 528 lbs | 530 lbs |
| Dimensions | 69.9” L x 41.3” W x 86.7” H | 57” L x 41” W x 87” H |
| Weight stack | 310 lbs | 300 lbs |
| Weight ratio | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Cable capacity | 550 lbs | Not disclosed |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | 1-year warranty |
Customer Experience
The lat pulldown machine comes with a limited lifetime warranty, which is impressive, since most cable towers and machines with pulleys separate the warranty of the frame and the pulleys and cables. (For example, Rogue has a lifetime warranty on frames, but a 5-year warranty on their cables and pulleys.) Additionally, they allow returns 30 days after delivery, although they ask that materials are secured in their original packaging.
In our experience—and the experience of other customers—Bells of Steel customer service is quick to respond and extremely helpful in replacements and other issues, earning the whole customer experience a 4.5 out of 5. There are multiple ways to contact Bells of Steel listed on their website—phone, email, and a contact form, too.
Ordering and Assembling the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown
The Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine can be ordered online on the BoS website or Amazon. Financing is offered for home gym owners through Affirm, where you can customize your payment plan length. The product comes unassembled and in nine boxes, so be ready to grab a friend and get to assembling.
As far as our assembly experience goes, it was a little rough, to put it mildly. GGR operations manager Sam Presley had a few things to say about it: “I’ll be honest with you; it was a bit of a nightmare. I don’t know if we got a faulty machine, but none of the unit squared up to begin with.” The assembly was a pain, where Sam was wrenching items trying to get parts to line up correctly.
“The second thing was that some pieces just didn’t fit,” Sam adds. He had to buy specialized drill bits and drills to enlarge the holes on the steel, to make them large enough for bolts to fit through. Bells of Steel did comment on Lindsay’s video saying that the off build is not normal, although some customers have said similar things about holes not fitting properly. With all that in mind, we give the assembly a 1 out of 5.
Customer Reviews
As of this writing, the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown has 24 reviews on the site, averaging out to a healthy rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Reviews were all 4- or 5-star reviews, and generally positive, saying the lat pulldown and low row combo has great quality and is a good deal.
Minor criticisms come from users saying the assembly was a hassle, although not in the way our setup was. In these reviews, home gym owners say that bolts weren’t labeled and the instructions and videos were a bit vague on the assembly. Another customer complained that the vinyl of the leg pads and pop-pins weren’t the same quality as the rest of the machine.
Another user had a thread in the machine messed up enough that a bolt couldn’t fit. However, once he contacted Bells of Steel, they offered a replacement, showing good customer service if you do happen to run into trouble with the assembly.
Final Verdict of Our Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Review
If you’re looking for a lat tower with weight stacks and great value, this is one to check out. The Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row combo has tons of versatility with the addition of an upright with holes, so you can build a home gym around the cable machine.
Made with high-quality aluminum pulleys and steel construction, it’s a solid build that’s competitively priced. While a lat pulldown tower is rarely compact, this machine is space-efficient, packing tons of versatility in a single unit.
While our assembly was rough, no customer reviews had issues amounting to the ones we had. So we feel this might’ve been a one-time thing with our team. That said, if you have issues with your assembly, Bells of Steel customer service is known to be helpful and quick to respond. Plus, your lat pulldown machine is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
Full Rating
Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown
Compatible with some power rack attachments, the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row machine offers home gym owners a lot of versatility in one machine.
Product Brand: Bells of Steel
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 1999.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.06
Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown: FAQs
Can people with long arms use the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine?
The Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine has a height of 86.7 inches, which should be high enough for taller athletes or people with a longer reach to use and still get the full range of motion on their pulldowns.
Many lat pulldowns made for home and garage gyms have a lower height to fit low ceilings, so if you’re a taller person wanting a lat pulldown machine, this may be a great option.
What is the maximum weight capacity of the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Machine?
The Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown has a selectorized weight stack of 310 pounds, along with an included weight pin attachment that is rated for 20 pounds. Hypothetically, you could have a maximum of 330 pounds on this lat pulldown machine. With the 1:1 pull ratio, that’ll feel like 330 pounds, too.
Additionally, the cables are rated for a weight capacity of 550 pounds. Bells of Steel’s plate-loadable lat pulldown can hold a maximum capacity of 450 pounds.
What type of lat pulldown is most effective?
The traditional lat pulldown is done with an overhand grip that’s outside of shoulder width, performed by pulling the lat pulldown bar toward your chest. While this can work out the latissimus dorsi muscles effectively, adjusting the width, grip, or lat pulldown attachment can help isolate the muscles further, or involve other muscle groups. You could even use a resistance band for pulldowns.
Check out our guide to lat pulldown variations for eight ideas on how to add variety to your next lat workout.
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