The Best Lat Pulldown Machine for a Bigger Back | 8 Ranked
Are you looking for the Best Lat Pulldown Machine? Do you love to do lat pulldowns and want to grow your back muscles? We will rank and review Amazon’s top 6 best lat pulldown machines.
We’ll discuss the benefits of doing pulldowns with a cable lat pull-down machine and how a lat machine can help you achieve your strength training and fitness goals at home or the gym.
We will also review the two different types of lat pull machines and the benefits of both. And don’t forget, with Amazon Prime, you get free shipping. with these big cable machines.
As an Amazon affiliate, I may make a commission from sales via links on this article.
The Best Lat Pulldown Machine – 2 Types To Choose From
There are two different types of cable lat pulldown machine options that we are going to review on this list; a traditional lat pull machine and a power rack with lat pulldown option.
Let’s take a quick look at the difference between both.
The Traditional Cable Machine
A traditional lat pulldown machine is a simple and often compact piece of fitness equipment built to be used as a pulldown exercise accessory for doing back exercises such as lat pulldowns.
This typically consists of a place to sit, a lat bar and pully system for pulling down, and a place to put weights for storage and lifting.
The Power Rack With A Lat Option
A power rack is a solid piece of much larger home gym equipment, often called a squat rack or power rack. This cage-like rack allows many workouts, squats, and bench press exercises.
Many of the newer racks and lat pulldown machines can add a pulldown feature to the power rack, which is a great add-on for those wanting to add additional lat pulldowns to their workouts.
Though a bit pricier because of their overall features, this exercise system is another great option for those building a home gym.
Let’s look at the 6 Best Lat Pull Machines on Amazon, Ranked and Reviewed that should be in all home gyms.
Ranking The Best Lat Pulldown Machine
1. XMark LAT PullDown Machine and Low Row Machine with High and Low Pulley Stations, Plate Loaded, Cable Pull-Down Machine, Pull Down Machine
The Best Lat Pulldown Machine – Traditional
The XMark 7618 Lat Pulldown Low Row Cable Machine with high and low pulley systems is the perfect tool for targeting your upper back, shoulders, and arms with various exercises, including lat pull downs.
This back exercise machine allows you to work out at both high/low pulley stations, making for a versatile and high-quality unit.
The XMart was easy for us when deciding which piece of exercise equipment we would mark as the best lat pulldown machine for traditional setups.
These heavy-duty lat pulldown machines are made of 11-gauge steel, have a 2in x 3in frame construction, and are baked in a scratch-resistant coating, ensuring the machine holds up even under the hardest of environments.
But this piece of exercise equipment is great because of its versatility and high quality.
This strength training machine has a second pulley from a low point, which makes it possible to do other exercises, such as bicep curls, bench presses, upright rows, shrugs, seated row, and more upper-body exercises. This is in addition to the numerous exercises you can do using the high bar like the lat pull downs, face pulls, tricep extensions, and even pull-ups.
The Xmart machine lat pulldown has a chrome-plated lat bar and a low-row bar.
No weights are included.
This standalone lat pulldown machine is your best bet for those looking for the best high-end back exercise machine.
Product Pros
Product Cons
2. Valor Fitness CB-12 Lat Pulldown Machine, Low Row Machine, Cable Curl Bar, and Ab Machine
The Valor Fitness lat pulldown machine is slightly less expensive and can save you a little money and still offer a great workout experience with excellent quality and versatility.
This home lat pulldown machine also has options for ab and arm workouts thanks to the additional pulley placements.
The CB-12 is great for weight lifters who want to create their workout routine on home lat pulldown machines and don’t enjoy following prebuilt programs. This traditional lat pulldown, with its two inches wide by two-inch long steel construction, ensures you can do all lat exercises without worrying about stability or support issues.
The 12 gauge steel unit also has double stitching on two straps, made for adding in ab exercises and ensures durability.
The CB-12 can accommodate 2″ Olympic plates or bumper plates – for a snug fit with these heavier weight bars; the EX-10 Olympic Adapter Sleeve converts standard 1-inch to 2″ Olympic posts, but at a cost.
The only downside of these back machines is that the max weight capacity of this unit is 200 pounds, compared to the above unit, which is higher.
200 pounds is still a lot of weight, and the limitation might not concern some gym goers.
No weights are included.
Product Pros
Product Cons
3. Titan Fitness Plate Loaded LAT Tower v2
The Titan Lat Tow Pulldown Machine is our third pick for the best lat pulldown machine.
With a higher weight capacity rating of 400 pounds, this Titan Fitness lat pull down is ready to handle even the most strenuous workouts to help you reach your strength training goals.
The adjustable Plated-Loaded Lat Tower is an extra space-saving strength trainer that builds your back and shoulder muscles.
This Titan Fitness high-quality cable machine combines with a low row position, making it a smart addition to any commercial or home gym for those looking to work various muscle groups in their workouts without having too much fitness equipment or taking up valuable flooring space.
With dual 13-inch loadable weight plate sleeves, you can slowly work towards higher-intensity workout routines by adding more resistance, up to 400 pounds.
This steel frame option on this basic lat pulldown machine also has the low row machines option for additional workouts and comes with the lat bar and lat pulldown low row handles.
Does not include weights.
Product Pros
Product Cons
4. GDLF Lat Pull Down Machine Low Row Cable Fitness Exercise Body Workout Strength Training Bar Machine
The GDLF Cable Lat Pulldown Machine is one of the more popular machines on Amazon, now with over 700 reviews, and often labeled as the “Amazon Choice” in this type of workout equipment.
Also, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options on the list, making it obvious why we picked this as our 4th choice overall among all the available options on the market.
The 4-position adjustable foam roller thigh pad fits your height and locks you in position for high pulley lat work.
The rollers will prevent body movement with resistance attached, which is perfect if you want to build upper body strength while simultaneously strengthening biceps muscles, rear delts, lats, or forearms.
The max weight capacity for this lat machine is 500 pounds, and although not as much as we have seen on some other lat pulldown machines, it is still quite a heavy load for a great workout.
Users have also noted that the weight capacity seems to be inflated in the marketing and that the real capacity is closer to 250 lbs, which would explain the lower price point.
Similar to the other models, this steel frame can be used with either standard or Olympic plate weights.
Also, this quality pulldown machine comes with both the longer overhead bar and the shorter bar, which can be used for various exercises, including the lower pulley, a nice bonus for this budget unit.
Product Pros
Product Cons
5. Fitness Reality Squat Rack Power Cage with Lat Pulldown & Leg Holdown Attachment | Squat and Bench Rack Combos| Super Max 810 XLT |
The Best Lat Pulldown Machine – Power Cage
Now let’s look at some power racks with the lat pulldown machine add-on.
First, we have the Fitness Reality Power Cage with the optional upgrade for the Pulldown and high and low pulleys.
With over 10,000 Amazon reviews, this is one of the most popular workout choices, and for a good reason.
With an overall weight capacity of 800 pounds, this power rack is a beast (note, the cable lat pulldown machine offers a max capacity weight of 270 pounds.
The power cage allows for various workout options, but adding the pulldown attachment takes the Fitness Reality Power Rack to the next level.
The pulley system offers high and low positions, allowing various exercises from lower and higher lat positions like pull-ups, squats, and more.
The lat bar can accommodate both standard and 2′ Olympic plate weights; however, the Olympic weights will require an adapter (not included).
This power cage comes with a 39″ bar and a 20″ low-row bar with foam grips.
No weights included.
Note: This will come in 2 packages, as it’s the power rack and the pulldown optional upgrade.
Product Pros
Product Cons
6. RitFit Power Cage with LAT Pull Down and 360° Landmine,Optional Weight Bench, ASTM-Certified 1000LB Capacity Power Rack for Weight Lifting, Come with J-Cups,Dip Bars and Other Attachments
The RisFit Power Rack with pulldown is a quality full home gym experience, with so many options and variations that you won’t run out of workouts and exercises to do.
This is not a beginner’s home gym. For the experienced and ready only.
This 1000-pound weight capacity power rack with a cable pulldown is a complete home gym, ready to help you get your results.
These lat pulldown machines have a 220-pound weight capacity and comes with 2″ adapter sleeves for Olympic-size plate weights.
But this lat machine has so much more than just the back exercises.
The quality power rack with lat pulldown machine can also do landlines, dips, pullups, and much more, especially when combined with a weight bench (which they also offer in a package with this unit).
As we have seen with other best lat pulldown machines, this comes in 2 packages, and no weights or barbells are included.
Product Pros
Product Cons
7. VANSWE Power Cage with LAT PullDown Attachment, 1200-Pound Capacity Power Rack Full Home Gym Equipment with Multi-Grip Pull-up Bar, T Bar Row Landmine and Dip Handle (2022 Updated Version)
The VANSWE Power Rack with Lat Pulldown is what we expect from a basic power rack and cable pulldown option.
It’s a basic rack with a high weight capacity of 1,200 pounds and a heavy-duty frame able to help you get the workouts you want.
With a weight capacity of 1200 pounds, the sturdy 14″heavy gauge steel construction, 2″ x 2″ frame construction of this power rack with lat pull will last through all sorts of intense workouts with no problems!
The cable pull has a max capacity of 250 pounds, which is higher than some power racks we have seen.
This unit also has the required adapters to convert standard plate weights to 2″ Olympic plate weights, so no additional charge is needed.
As we see on other lat pulldown machines, weight plates and barbells are not included.
Product Pros
Product Cons
8. HULKFIT Pro Series 2.35″ x 2.35″ Power Cage Rack Attachments and Accessories (including optional attachment)
When discussing power racks on Amazon, it’s hard not to give the nod to the ultra-popular Hulkfit power cage.
These have gained much popularity in the last few years because of their awesome price points and ability to add on several attachments as desired, including the lat pull down.
NOTE: The Power rack and lat attachment are sold separately.
It’s important to note here that this Amazon listing is for the lat pulldown attachment only and that the Hulkfit unit is a separate listing, so both would need to be purchased together.
But at its price point, this isn’t a hard sell. This lat machine has over 2000 reviews on Amazon, and it’s one of the most popular searches on Google for lat pull down options.
When it comes to a power cage with lat pull down options, this one is a surefire hit.
Product Pros
Product Cons
Should I Get A Lat Pulldown Machine?
Is a lat pulldown machine worth it?
A cable machine or power rack with lat pulldown is an excellent addition to home gyms for back and upper body training.
Most lat pulldown machines provide something the free weights cannot; the resistance from above.
With dumbbells and barbells, you cannot have resistance from up high, as gravity does all the work. But with a lat pulldown machine like a power rack with lat pull for a home gym, you have new options to work out doing home lat pulldowns in ways you could not do without.
And because there are two different types of lat pulldown machines, you can decide which type you prefer and which works best for your upper arm and upper body workouts and strength goals.
The traditional cable machines, similar to a Smith machine in bigger fitness centers, commercial gyms, and garage gyms, are good and present several other workout options if you want a compact, lat-specific training option. If you want a more well-rounded workout experience, a power cage with a lat pulldown attachment might be the way to go, especially if you use resistance bands or need several pieces of home gym equipment for your at-home or garage gym workouts.
What Muscles Does a Lat Pulldown Machine Work?
The best lat pulldown machine is a weight machine used to work the latissimus dorsi muscle, or “lat muscles.” The lats are the largest muscles in the back.
The cable machine can be used to work the lats in several different ways. For example, it can do pull-downs, which work the back muscles and latissimus dorsi by pulling the weight down from overhead. It can also do rows, which work the latissimus dorsi muscle by rowing the weight back and forth.
A lat pulldown machine is a versatile lat pulldown machine that can work the lats via seated lat pulldowns in several ways and with several muscles involved.
How Do Lat Pulldown Machines Work?
From a starting position, use the lat machine to do a lat pulldown exercise and adjustable seat height so that your knees are at a 90-degree angle when seated under the foam rollers. Use a low starting weight to get accustomed to how much weight you can pull.
For proper form, grip the bar with an overhand grip shoulder width apart, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart (do not use a narrow grip, that would be a different exercise).
Start with the lat pulldown bar above your head, and then use the upper arm and shoulders to slowly pull the bar down to your chest, keeping your elbows close to your body and squeezing your shoulder blades together using your back muscles and upper body strength. This is almost as if you were doing a straight-arm pulldown.
Pause from pulling the bar momentarily at the bottom of the motion by contracting your back muscles near your neck, then slowly return the lat pulldown bar to the starting position. Keep your core engaged throughout the movement to avoid injury when doing seated lat pulldowns.
The heavy weights on an adjustable cable machine are typically one of two different styles; a weight stack or side mounted. A weight stack means the weight plates or blocks are stacked on top of each other (check out our list of the best cheap weight plates on Amazon HERE).
A side mount means the weight plates are slid onto horizontal pegs and held in place. With the best lat pulldown for home gym athletes, you will have no shortage of ways to get your workouts in.
Questions? We Have Answers.
Lateral Pull Down FAQ
Final Thoughts On The Best Lat Machine | Reviewed And Ranked
There are several types of lat pulldown machines on the market. Selecting the right lat pulldown machine for home gyms is key for back strength and fitness goals. Traditional cable crossover machines or versatile power racks with lat pulldown attachments both provide great alternatives to free weights.
The best lat machines, like selectorized and plate-loaded types, offer a range of exercises targeting the latissimus dorsi muscle, like seated lat pulldowns and bent-over rows. Incorporating these exercises can boost shoulder joint strength, upper body power, and back muscle mass.
These machines’ cable pulley system works your muscles from various angles, providing unique resistance. When choosing, consider the maximum weight load, adjustable thigh pad positions, and the presence of a foot brace for support during workouts.
Remember to maintain proper form and good posture during workouts to prevent injury and maximize results. You’ll be on track to a stronger, more defined upper body with a suitable lat pulldown machine.
Thanks for reading this article on the best lat pulldown machines of 2023. If you enjoyed it, you might also enjoy one of the following:
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Rob is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. For the past 10 years, Rob has been navigating the health and fitness landscape in a quest to better himself and those around him focusing on tools such as calorie and macro counting, intermittent fasting, and HIIT training techniques.