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While we thought we had a solid list of the best functional trainers on the market, REP Fitness can’t stop developing new home gym equipment, which makes us have second thoughts on our top picks.
The brand has upgraded the custom rack builder we featured in our REP Ares 2.0 review and partnered with Pepin Fitness to announce the not-yet-released REP x PEPIN Fast Series Adjustable Dumbbells.
But, in this REP Adonis review, we’re going to focus on the single cable tower machine now available for pre-orders. We’ll walk through our first look experience and let you know about our initial impressions.
We’ve Tested the Best Cable Machines and Functional Trainers
If this is your first time landing on Garage Gym Reviews, you may wonder why you should trust our opinions. First, our expert testers hold the fitness industry’s top certifications and have decades of collective experience working hands-on with athletes, home gym owners, and general population folks.
Second, we’ve tested and reviewed everything from the best Olympic barbells and squat racks to treadmills and running shoes (and everything in between). We use custom, in-depth testing methodology to test, score, and review things like price, durability, versatility, and customer service, to name a few.
For this first look REP Adonis review, GGR founder and OG product tester, Coop Mitchell had a very brief, but positive experience seeing the Adonis for the first time at the 2024 FIBO fitness expo in Cologne, Germany.
REP Adonis
REP Adonis Cable Tower
Product Highlights
- Stand-alone cable tower
- Modular with other REP equipment
- Lat pulldown, low row, and functional trainer
- 3×3-inch, 11-gauge steel uprights
- Plate-loaded or selectorized
- Comes with three attachments
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 3 modes for working out
- Options for customization
- Sturdy upright construction
- Designed for modularity
Cons
- Expensive
- Large footprint
Bottom Line
The REP Adonis Cable Tower can function as a stand-alone machine or it can be attached to your existing power rack. It’s a function trainer, lat pulldown, and low row machine. The lat pulldown and low row have a 1:1 pulley ratio with a maximum effective weight of 450 pounds. The function trainer has a 2:1 ratio and effective weight of 225 pounds. The Adonis comes with the lat pulldown bar, low row bar, and two knurled D-handles.
A Quick Look at the REP Adonis Cable Tower
Before we dive into the details of the REP Adonis, the main thing you need to know is that this is a single-tower cable machine that functions as a functional trainer—with a moving trolley—and features a fixed low row and lat pull down.
RELATED: Best Cable Machines for Home Gyms
Here’s the cool part: The fixed low row and lat pulldown provide a 1:1 ratio and the functional trainer provides a 2:1 ratio. The single-stack machine also features band pegs and weight horns to add your own bumper plates for more resistance.
This means the REP Adonis can accommodate even the strongest of home gym owners. If you purchase the selectorized machine, you’ll get a 210-pound weight stack (with the ability to load up to 450 pounds). And if you purchase the plate-loaded option, you’ll have the ability to load up to 360 pounds of combined weight using the weight horns and band pegs.
Before You Buy
- Keep in mind the REP Adonis is still on pre-order. The brand anticipates a three-month lead time to start shipping orders.
- Be sure to select the customizations of your choice including plate-loaded or selectorized, base or no base, and the REP Pegasus seat or no seat attachment.
- Each of the selections above affect the cost. Pricing starts at $2,099 and goes up to $2,969 with all three add-ons.
REP Adonis Cable Tower Video Review
Is the REP Adonis Worth It?
Generally speaking, REP Fitness equipment is worth it. The brand offers free shipping (a huge value with heavy equipment), fair warranty policies, and quality customer service. Not to mention we typically like the equipment.
However, we haven’t liked everything we’ve tested from REP. You can watch our full video review on the REP FT-5000 2.0 functional trainer to see a laundry list of things Coop didn’t enjoy. But, you know what came from that video? REP Fitness took Coop’s feedback and developed a new (and far better) functional trainer, which we wrote about in our in-depth REP Arcadia review.
Regardless, we think the REP Fitness Adonis could be worth it for folks looking for a versatile single-tower cable machine or for anyone seeking heavier options for lat pulldowns and low rows at home. While the price fluctuates from $2,099 to $2,969 depending on the weight stack, base, and seat attachment choices, we think it’s a piece of equipment that is bound to get a ton of use in your home gym.
Great for:
- Folks seeking heavy rowing options
- Anyone looking for a modular system
- Small home gyms
Not recommended for:
- True beginners
- Folks who prefer a DIY pulley system
- The cable crossover exercise
REP Adonis Cable Tower Specs
| Price | Starting at $2,099.99 |
| Footprint | 54.9” L x 45.5” W x 92.1” H (with the base) |
| Weight stack | 210 lbs (or plate-loaded) |
| Max weight capacity | 450 lbs (selectorized); 360 lbs (plate-loaded); |
| Weight ratio | 2:1 ratio on trolley; 1:1 ratio lat pulldown and low row |
| Cable travel length | 108” from trolley; 54” from lat pull and low row |
| Trolley height options | 34 |
| Pulley material | Aluminum |
| Extras | 2 knurled D-handles, fully knurled lat pulldown bar, straight low row bar, and a pair of 1.25-lb and 2.5-lb microplates |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame warranty; 1-year on pulleys, cables, and pop-pins |
First Impressions of the REP Adonis Cable Tower
While Coop didn’t run through an entire cable workout at the FIBO expo, he was able to get an insider’s perspective on the single-tower cable machine after talking with Adam from REP Fitness.
And what Coop discovered was all the high-end components he likes about the REP Athena, Ares Cable Attachment, and Arcadia Functional Trainer are also featured on the Adonis. This means the Adonis has durable (and butter-smooth) aluminum pulleys, brass bushings, oversized chrome pop-pins, knurled aluminum handles, and 180 degrees of rotation on the cable trolleys.
RELATED: Ares Cable Attachment Review
One thing that’s important to keep in mind with the REP Adonis is the fact there are several ways to build your machine. That said, there is an important distinction on what the plate-loaded machine and the hybrid machine—selectorized and plate-loaded—can offer in terms of weight.
The plate-loaded Adonis has a max loadable capacity of 360 pounds. The selectorized Adonis comes with a 210-pound weight stack and can be loaded up to 450 pounds. With either option, you can use the band pegs or stainless steel weight horns to add more resistance, just keep in mind that each has its own capacity—it’s not universal.
Footprint and Portability
For the purposes of this first look review, we’re going to focus on the specs of a stand-alone REP Adonis, which requires a base. With the base, the REP Adonis is under 4 feet wide, and over 7 feet tall. Plus, the machine is about 4.5 feet deep when the low row footplate is fully retracted.
For a single-tower cable system, it’s not a small unit. We suggest measuring your space and double-checking height requirements before you pre-order the Adonis.
The shipping weight is not disclosed on the website, but we have to assume this machine is going to be rather heavy. The heavy-duty construction alone will make this a tough machine to move around in your home gym. Plus, if you order the selectorized option with the weight stacks included, that adds another 210 pounds to the equation.
Durability and Construction
One of the most notable pieces to the durability and construction of the REP Adonis is the heavy-duty uprights. The uprights are constructed from 3-inch-by-3-inch 11-gauge steel. This is the same construction on the tough-as-nails REP PR-5000 power racks. Plus, you’ll notice the laser-cut numbering and logo for a streamlined look.
When placing your order, keep in mind that this single-tower cable machine needs either a base (which you can select during the ordering process for an additional $180), or lateral support if you opt not to buy the base. This can come in the form of a REP Fitness modular storage system or by connecting to an existing power rack (like the REP Athena). If you’re feeling really crazy, the REP website does offer a Dual Adonis Cable Tower with storage.
Speaking of the modularity and connecting the Adonis to other pieces of equipment, REP designed connection holes (and one long cut-out) at the top of the Adonis to adapt to not only other REP power racks, but competitor brands as well.
Adjustability and Ergonomics
When it comes to adjustability and ergonomics, there are enough settings for people of all sizes to have an effective workout. The 2:1 functional trainer trolley has 34 height options to accommodate everything from a Paloff press to a lateral shoulder raise. Plus the cable length on the trolley can travel 108 inches, making it possible to do traditional bodybuilding exercises or more dynamic and explosive training for athletes.
RELATED: Cable Shoulder Workouts
In addition to an adjustable cable with a 2:1 ratio, you’ll have a fixed low row and lat pulldown. For the lat pulldown, the REP Pegasus seat attachment comes in handy for an additional $370.
While you can purchase the REP Adonis without the REP Pegasus seat attachment, you’ll be missing out on this multi-functional cable attachment. The leg rollers on the seat attachment are removable so you can take full advantage of the 27 incline and decline positions.
During Coop’s first look at the FIBO expo, a REP Fitness representative, Adam, mentioned chest supported rows, cable pullovers, hamstring curls, and quad extensions as a few movements that are possible using the Pegasus attachment.
RELATED: Ultimate Guide to Power Rack Attachments
REP Adonis vs Bells of Steel
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.
If you’re looking for a solid alternative that won’t cost you quite as much as the REP Adonis, we think the Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row is a quality contender. While there are several single-stack cable towers to choose from, we didn’t select the Titan Fitness Lat Tower or the Rogue LP-2 Lat Pulldown for this comparison because of the short warranty policy on the Titan and high price tag on the Rogue.
RELATED: Titan Fitness Lat Tower Review
The BoS Lat Pulldown Low Row is priced lower than the REP Adonis and comes with a heavier 310-pound weight stack and a 1:1 ratio. Plus, just like the REP Adonis, the BoS single-stack cable also offers band pegs and weight horns to load up the weight stack with even more resistance. The BoS machine not only has a larger weight stack, it has a higher weight capacity at 550 pounds compared to 450 pounds on the selectorized REP Adonis.
While we don’t have experience (yet) assembling the REP Adonis, we have insights to our experience putting together the BoS single-stack machine. It was sort of a nightmare for our GGR operations manager, Sam Presley, which we detail in our Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown review.
| REP Adonis | BoS Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine | |
| Price | $2,099 – $2,969 | $1,999 |
| Footprint | 54.9” L x 45.5” W x 92.1” H | 69.9” L x 41.3” W x 86.7” H |
| Weight stack | 210 lbs | 310 lbs |
| Weight ratio | 2:1 and 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Cable capacity | 450 lbs | 550 lbs |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame; 1-year parts | Limited lifetime |
Final Verdict of Our REP Adonis Review
The REP Adonis single-stack cable machine and functional trainer offers a ton of variety to home gym owners. While it’s not a cheap piece of equipment, we think it’s a valuable machine that you won’t outgrow as you get stronger because there are multiple ways to load additional resistance.
Plus, we appreciate the fact there is both a 1:1 ratio for heavy movements and a 2:1 ratio to train smaller muscle groups or more dynamic movements. This makes it a versatile machine for your entire family to train at home.
REP Adonis FAQs
Is REP Made In The USA?
Most of the equipment manufactured by REP Fitness is imported.
What’s the difference between a 1:1 and 2:1 ratio on cable machines?
The REP Adonis features both a 1:1 and 2:1 ratio for maximum versatility with your training sessions. A 1:1 ratio provides effective resistance at the weight you select. That means if you load (or select) 50 pounds for a row, you’ll feel 50 pounds of resistance. When you use a 2:1 ratio pulley, you’ll feel half of the resistance you load or select on the machine. If you select 50 pounds, you’ll experience 25 pounds of effective resistance.
What is the minimum and maximum usable weight on the REP Adonis?
Whether you choose the plate-loaded or selectorized (with a 210-pound weight stack) REP Adonis machine, the maximum loadable weight is 450 pounds. When using the 1:1 ratio cables (lat pulldown and low row) you can experience up to 450 pounds of resistance. The 2:1 ratio allows you to work against up to 225 pounds of resistance.
The minimum usable weight is 20 pounds. When using the 2:1 ratio on the cable trolley, this will feel like 10 pounds of effective resistance.
Further reading
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While we thought we had a solid list of the best functional trainers on the market, REP Fitness can’t stop developing new home gym equipment, which makes us have second thoughts on our top picks. The brand has upgraded the custom rack builder we featured in our REP Ares 2.0 review and partnered with Pepin Fitness to announce the not-yet-released REP x PEPIN Fast Series Adjustable Dumbbells. » Read more about: First Look: REP Adonis Review (2024) » Read more
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