When setting up a home gym, a squat rack is often a foundational piece for those who enjoy strength training. These days, racks can do so much more than support your barbell training, thanks to the wide range of available accessories and attachments, like the RVL Strength Wings.
For those who want to expand their workout program beyond barbells and dumbbells, lever arms (also called jammer arms) can unlock a wide variety of exercises that feel similar to training with a machine. If you don’t have the money or space to start collecting a roster of home gym machines, these attachments can be a great alternative that add significant versatility to your setup.
Over the years, we’ve used plenty of lever arms in our respective training sessions, but RVL Strength Wings are different, so we were excited to get our hands on a pair for testing. Our team has tested over 50 of the most popular home gym machines, and we couldn’t wait to get our hands on these.
In this RVL Strength Wings review, I’ll share exactly what our tester thought of these one-of-a-kind jammer arms, including the pros, cons, and whether or not they’re worth adding to your home gym.
Our RVL Strength Wings, Summarized
RVL Strength Wings feature a unique design that offers plenty of versatility, but they’re not perfect. Some exercises feel better than others, and there are a few features we’d like to change. That said, these are still some of the best lever arms we’ve examined to date.
How We Test Home Gym Machines
Our durability score is based on the components of a given machine, including its welds, pulleys, pin adjustment points, and more. This is our way of trying to predict the longevity of a given piece of equipment, like jammer arms. To earn at least 3 out of 5 stars, we should see durable construction for the most part, though some components may be susceptible to wear and tear, like plastic parts or nylon pulleys.
For footprint, we’re looking at both the overall size of a given machine, as well as how portable it is should you need to move it at any point. To earn a 3 out of 5, the dimensions fit well in most home gyms, and two to three people can move the machine, if necessary. Higher scores are awarded to machines with particularly compact footprints.
How many exercises can you do with the machine? Can you perform both upper- and lower-body movements? How much weight can you use? These are some of the factors we consider when assessing versatility. To earn 3 out of 5 stars, there’s a moderate weight capacity and you can do a worthwhile range of upper-body movements, though lower-body training may be difficult.
The GGR team of expert testers includes home gym owners, weightlifters, certified personal trainers, CrossFit enthusiasts, and more. We have years of experience testing and using a variety of gear in our home gym setups, including adjustable dumbbells, squat racks, cable attachments, and more.
Before we review any product, we carefully take it through a variety of workouts. We test the weight capacity, adjustment mechanisms, and overall durability, along with plenty of other aspects of a given machine. After testing, we use our equipment testing methodology to determine a final score. This rates each piece of equipment on a scale of 1 to 5 in a multitude of categories, including delivery and setup, weight limit, accessories, value, and more.
The RVL Strength Wings setup offers some impression elevation to your traditional jammer arms. The full range of motion allows for both push and pull exercises, and you can facilitate upper body, core, and lower body movements just by moving the pendulums along your power rack’s existing uprights. Our tester appreciated the rotating handles and weight horn adjustment points, too, that create a great sense of training versatility.
What to Know Before You Buy
- RVL Strength Wings are quite versatile, allowing you to train both upper- and lower-body movements. However, as with most lever arms, we found that some exercises feel better than others, so you’ll need to do some experimenting.
- Our tester says these are the best lever arms he’s ever used, but the build quality could be improved upon and isn’t quite on par with other manufacturers.
- The price tag is roughly $2,000, which isn’t exactly cheap. Accordingly, we recommend these to people who already know they’ll regularly use and enjoy lever arms.
RVL Strength Wings Video Review
Are the RVL Strength Wings Worth It?
Lever arms aren’t a great fit for everyone, especially with such a high price tag. However, for the right user, we think they’re well worth the investment. Here’s who we think should consider these RVL Strength Wings, as well as who should avoid them:
If you still think the RVL Strength Wings may be a good fit for your needs, keep reading to learn about the key features and specs of these lever arms, as well as our detailed scoring breakdown and review.
RVL Strength Wings: Key Features & Specs
| Price (Original MSRP) | $1,999 |
| Footprint | 48” per arm |
| Product Weight | Not disclosed |
| Resistance Type | Plate-loaded |
| Weight Options | Up to 350 lbs per arm |
| Accessories | Rotating handles, universal modular mounts |
| Number of Height Options | Can be placed anywhere on your squat rack |
| Warranty | Not disclosed |
Experience Using RVL Strength Wings
For this review, our product tester was none other than GGR’s founder, Cooper “Coop” Mitchell, who installed and tested these lever arms in his home gym. Coop has used nearly every set of jammer arms on the market, so if anyone is qualified to test and score these strength training tools, it’s Coop.
While they originally started as a Kickstarter project, they’re now available for pre-order at the time of writing with an estimated 60-day shipping time. For lifters who want to upgrade their setup, these can be a great option, according to Coop.
In terms of his experience, Coop notes that he was ultimately impressed. He said, “These are one of the best, if not the best adaptation of a lever arm currently available.”
The arms are versatile and feature plenty of angles and adjustments to customize your workouts. As with all lever arms, though, your squat rack dimensions—as well as your own unique anatomy—can impact the experience, which means that some exercises will feel better than others.
That said, Coop was a big fan, and while there are a few things we’d like to see upgraded in later versions of the Wings, this is a very strong first generation; we’re excited to see future iterations.
One of the best parts of jammer arms is the ability to safely use them without a spotter. Having a spotter has been shown to improve strength1 and performance in the gym, but we know that not all home gym owners will have an assistant on hand at all times. With these arms, there’s no risk of getting pinned under a loaded barbell, so you can train as heavy as you want, even if you’re alone.
If you’re somebody who already likes lever arms (and thinks you would use them quite a bit) but has found current offerings to be incomplete, then these are definitely the best lever arm platform on the market for home gym owners.
Cooper Mitchell, GGR founder
RVL Strength Wings Rating
Delivery & Assembly
When setting up any sort of home gym machine, the delivery and assembly process can be quite tricky, especially when dealing with larger, heavier pieces of home gym equipment. We’ve seen equipment that comes ready to go right out of the box, while other profiles have taken over 30 hours to assemble (you read that right).
Thankfully, RVL Strength’s wings are a breeze to set up, and we give them 5 out of 5 stars for the assembly process. Coop notes that the entire process is fairly straightforward, too, adding, “You don’t have to take off the top cross members to do it, which I didn’t realize until after.”
When you unpack your Wings, you’ll install them on your rack by removing the side panel, which saves you from having to unbolt the top of your rack to slide on the mount. Coop noted this wasn’t clear, so he took his rack apart to install them, but still says it was a very easy process.
While the mounts are designed for 3” x 3” uprights, the mounting kit comes with shims that allow it be used on 3” x 2” or 2” x 2” racks.
Construction & Durability
For construction and durability, the Wings earn 4 out of 5 stars. This is a solid rating, but slightly below the average score for home gym machines. The build quality is one of the few things Coop thinks could be improved, too. For example, while the spotter pins are durable, they’re not magnetic, which can help them stay in place.
“The quality is better than I expected, although not quite Rogue level,” says Coop. “I’d actually say it’s a little bit lower quality than REP Fitness, as well. I would put it in the category most similar to something like the Fringe Sport Dane 2.0 in terms of the powdercoat quality and welding.”
We think this is perfectly fine for home gym owners, but if you’re planning on putting these in a commercial gym setting, just know that higher-quality options are available.
While this doesn’t impact the performance, Coop also noted that the numbers and brand logo are painted on, which he didn’t particularly prefer.
“The numbers on the trolley system are painted on, and I’m noticing they’re already wearing, which is annoying,” Coop says. “The logo is also painted on, and I say this in every review: If you really value your brand, you make your logo stay on there permanently. I think laser-cutting it or adding a badge or something is a way that you show pride in your brand, so I would have liked to see it put on there with something other than paint.”
That said, these arms still have a lot to offer. For example, you can order them for ⅝”, ¾”, or 1” holes depending on your rack, and while they don’t quite offer a universal fit for all power racks, they can be used 3” x 3”, 3” x 2”, or 2” x 2” uprights, thanks to the included shims.
Footprint & Portability
For footprint and portability, we give these jammer arms 3.5 out of 5 stars—the average score for most home gym machines.
To start, each arm is 4 feet in length, though the weight of each isn’t disclosed. Once these are installed, there’s a good chance you won’t be removing them regularly, so the most important aspect to consider is the trolley movement as you slide the arms up and down your rack.
This is where the arms are OK, but not great, and the reason the score isn’t higher.
“The weight of the actual trolley system is pretty heavy, and it does take some adjustment and getting used to as you move the arms up and down on the uprights,” says Coop. “You’ve got to make sure there’s no weight on it, either, or it’ll be too heavy. It’s using plastic, similar to what REP uses on their functional trainer trolleys, which makes it not as smooth and may cause it to have a little bit more movement depending on your uprights.”
Versatility
Versatility is certainly a strong point with these arms, which is why they receive a 5-out-of-5-star rating for the category. The arms can be moved up and down, as well as side to side, which unlocks a wide variety of angles and potential exercises. Not to mention, you can choose from one of four different handles, which unlocks even more versatility.
However, as with all jammer arms, you may have to do a bit of tinkering to find the right settings for your body, and some exercises will certainly feel better than others.
For example, Coop says that while he loves doing pressing movements with these arms, exercises like lat pulldowns are tricky to set up, as you’ll need to use a bench and find a way to secure that bench to the ground. However, if your rack is tall enough, you may be able to use these for pull-ups, which can be a nice option if your rack doesn’t have a pull-up bar.
As a strength coach, myself, I’ve regularly used jammer arms with athletes and clients in the past, particularly when we want to perform a mix of standing presses or bent-over rows in a power rack. You really can’t replicate those movements without jammer arms, and we love the versatility they offer.
Weight Limit
Each arm has a weight capacity of 350 pounds, which is an impressive number worthy of a 4-out-of-5-star rating.
This total should be more than enough for most home gym users, but do note that since these are plate-loaded arms, you’ll need your own weight plates. This can add to the overall cost if you don’t already own enough plates, and you may need an expansive range of plate increments to perfectly tailor the weight of each arm to your needs.
Accessories
This category is a little hard to assess, as these arms are technically accessories themselves that require you to already have a compatible squat rack on hand. So, for this category, our scoring will be based on the handles.
RELATED: Power Rack Attachment Guide
Coop received four different handles to test, though at the time of writing, the RVL Strength website only lists one set of handles. So, it’s unclear how to order the others. We want to give this a higher score for accessories, but docked a point, because the only handles listed on the site are the rotating handles, which Coop didn’t enjoy using.
“I started with the rotating 360-degree handle, which is, by far, the most bougie, by far the most complicated, and has the most features,” Coop explains. “You would think that those are the ones that I would like the most, but they’re actually not. They’re the ones I like the least. There’s just too much going on. The rotating handle has a frame so it can rotate 360 degrees, and that ends up hitting your wrist. There’s just too much going on.”
He says he loves the other handles, but we don’t see those currently listed on the RVL Strength site. It’s worth noting that at the time of writing, this is still a pre-order product that’s estimated to ship within 60 days, so other handles may be available at a later date. If this is the case, we recommend choosing the other handle options if possible. We’ll conservatively rate the RVL Wings at 4 out of 5 for the category and be sure to update our scoring if handle offerings never come to fruition.
Value
Value isn’t solely based on the price, but whether we feel the cost is justified for what the product offers, as well. For this category, we give the RVL Strength Wings 3 out of 5 stars.
At around $1,999, they’re certainly not cheap, and while the quality is mostly good, they’re still a specialized piece of equipment that may not find a place in your daily rotation. If you love jammer arms, you’ll probably love these, but they’re no small investment.
Coop adds, “Yes, they can do a lot, and yes, there’s a lot going on, but it’s hard for me to recommend them to a broad audience at nearly $2,000.”
Customer Experience
For customer experience, we consider shipping and return policies, warranty coverage, as well customer support availability. For this category, we give RVL Strength 4 out of 5 stars.
The company offers a 30-day return policy, which is pretty typical for gym equipment, and free shipping is available for the first 50 units ordered, but there’s no way to see how many have been sold. Customer service can be reached via a contact form or email address through the company’s support page.
We docked a point because we don’t see any warranty information on the website. We’ll revisit this rating if we receive more clarity about the warranty coverage.
RVL Strength Wings Vs
If you like the idea of lever arms but aren’t sold on RVL Strength Wings, there are a few other options to consider.
One strong contender is the Griffin Adjustable Lever Arms system. Coming in at roughly $899, they’re less than half the cost of the RVL Strength Wings. There’s no side-to-side movement, but we still like the compact size and versatility they offer. You can read more in our complete Griffin Adjustable Jammer Arms review.
If you’re looking for something with better durability, you may want to consider the PRx Build Limitless Halo Arms. Similar to RVL Strength, they offer both vertical and horizontal adjustments, and received a higher durability score in testing than the RVL Strength offering. You can read all about them in our PRx Halo Arms review.
| RVL Strength Wings | Griffin Adjustable Lever Arms | PRx Build Limitless Halo Arms | |
| Price (Original MSRP) | $1,999 | $899.99 | $1,574.99 |
| Footprint | 48” per arm | 45” per arm | 42” per arm |
| Product Weight | Not disclosed | 54 lbs per arm | 60 lbs per arm |
| Resistance Type | Plate-loaded | Plate-loaded | Plate-loaded |
| Weight Options | Up to 350 lbs per arm | 650 lbs | Not disclosed |
| Accessories | Rotating handles, universal modular mounts | N/A | Multi-grip or straight handles |
| Number of Height Options | Can be placed anywhere on your squat rack | Can be placed anywhere on your squat rack | Can be placed anywhere on your squat rack |
| Warranty | Not disclosed | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Not disclosed |
Final Verdict of Our RVL Strength Wings Review
Overall, we love these innovative jammer arms. They offer an impressive range of motion, are easy to assemble, and for the most part, work quite well.
There are a few improvements we’d like to see, mainly in the durability and some of the adjustment mechanisms, but overall, Coop was impressed by these arms, especially since they’re the first edition and should only improve with future iterations.
While they’re not perfect, we like what we see so far. We also know that jammer arms aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re interested in a pair, the RVL Strength Wings are a great choice.
Coop said, “I can’t give a full-throated recommendation for everyone, but they are the best lever arm package that I’ve used, and I’ve used all of them.”
- With a near-$2,000 price tag, these arms aren’t cheap, but if you enjoy using jammer arms, you’ll likely enjoy training with these, as well.
- The quality isn’t quite as good as some other arms we’ve tested, but they should hold up well for home gym usage.
- We’d like to see a few small improvements to certain aspects, such as the adjustment mechanisms and included pins, but overall, we’re impressed with RVL Strength Wings.
RVL Strength Wings: FAQs
What are jammer arms good for?
Jammer arms allow you to train without a spotter, as there’s no free weight involved. They have a natural arc to them, making them a great choice for adding variety to your training without having to use a machine. This is a great way for home gym owners to upgrade their setup, too, without having to buy multiple machines.
Are jammer bars worth it?
If you primarily focus on strength training, we think jammer arms are worthwhile. Barbells and dumbbells will never go out of style, but with a jammer arm setup, you can unlock new resistance profiles, a safer training environment, and a wide variety of exercises that can be included in your training program.
What exercises can you do with jammer arms?
Most jammer arms are adjustable and can be placed anywhere on a squat rack, so there’s really no limit to the amount of exercise you can do. Popular options include chest presses, shoulder presses, dips, bent-over rows, and deadlifts, but there are plenty more you can try.
References
- Sheridan, A., Marchant, D. C., Williams, E. L., Jones, H. S., Hewitt, P. A., & Sparks, A. (2019). Presence of Spotters Improves Bench Press Performance: A Deception Study. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 33(7), 1755–1761. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002285
