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When setting up a home gym, many people choose one of the best squat racks to be the centerpiece. However, a Smith machine is a fantastic alternative and could be even better than a traditional power rack for certain people, serving as a great all-in-one functional trainer.
Choosing the right one can be daunting, especially with such a wide range of options and price points. You want one that’s smooth, easy to use, and durable, without having to spend a small fortune. Titan Fitness may have just the machine for you.
In this Titan Smith Machine review, I’ll share our tester’s thoughts and notes after detailed testing, the specs, who this product is best for, and everything else you need to know before deciding which Smith machine to choose.
Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer
Our team knows fitness equipment, and we have extensive experience testing squat racks, Smith machines, barbells, and everything in between. The GGR testers include certified personal trainers, registered dietitians, CrossFit enthusiasts, gym owners, and more. We always share both the good and bad with each product we review.
Lindsay Scheele, a certified personal trainer who you may know from the Garage Gym Reviews Everything channel, tested the Titan Smith Machine for this review. She used it for her workouts with exercises like squats, incline bench presses, and Romanian deadlifts, and rated it using our equipment testing methodology. Our methodology looks at things like:
- Footprint
- Durability and construction
- Ergonomics
- Ordering and assembly
Titan Smith Machine
Titan Smith Machine
Product Highlights
- 260 pounds
- 600-pound weight capacity
- Uses a regular Olympic barbell
- Very smooth and stable
- Limited range of motion at the bottom
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Durable design
- Only weighs 260 lbs
- Very smooth movement
Cons
- The bar doesn't go as low as many would want
- It's expensive
- The knurling isn't good
Bottom Line
The Titan Smith Machine is a high-quality, durable option for those looking to put a Smith Machine in their home gym. It uses an angled design and feels very smooth when in use, but the knurling is very passive.
A Quick Look at the Titan Smith Machine
Titan Fitness specializes in a wide variety of budget-friendly home gym equipment that doesn’t sacrifice quality. The company offers barbells, dumbbells, bumper plates, weight benches, leg presses, cable crossover machines, and more.
We’ve reviewed plenty of Titan equipment, like the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench, and a recurring theme is high quality and affordable prices.
The Titan Smith Machine is no different. It’s versatile, durable, and cheaper than many popular squat racks and commercial Smith machines, which can easily cost $4,000 to $5,000 or more.
It has a few minor things we wish were different. Overall, though, this is a fantastic choice for anyone who wants to put a Smith machine in their home and doesn’t mind the larger footprint.
Before You Buy
- The Smith machine costs about $1,700 but includes free shipping from Titan.
- It features an angled design, rather than a vertical design, which some may not like.
- While the footprint is large, the unit only weighs 260 pounds. Two fit, able-bodied people should have no problem moving it around when needed.
Titan Smith Machine Video Review
Is the Titan Smith Machine Worth It?
At around $1,700, the Titan Smith Machine is more affordable than many similar alternatives. However, it’s still somewhat expensive, and not something you should buy on an impulse. Here’s who we think will benefit the most from this machine.
Great for:
- Beginners who are new to strength training and want a full-body workout
- Anyone who trains without a spotter or safety arms
- Those who enjoy bodybuilding and focusing on muscle activation
Not recommended for:
- Anyone lifting over 600 pounds on a regular basis
- People who regularly perform Olympic weightlifting movements
- Those with limited space in their gym
Titan Smith Machine Specs
| Price | $1,700 |
| Weight capacity | 600 lbs |
| Footprint | 54″ D x 86″ H; 67” W without barbell sleeves and 75” W with barbell sleeves |
| Weight | 260 lbs |
| Frame material | Black powder-coated steel |
| Barbell weight | 45 lbs (15 lbs of felt weight according to a luggage scale) |
| Warranty | 1-year warranty |
Experience Using the Titan Smith Machine
Lindsay Scheele, CPT, tested this machine in the GGR warehouse, putting it through a variety of workouts. As a certified personal trainer who tests a wide range of equipment for us, Lindsay understands the ins and outs of strength training and what to look for when testing equipment.
Overall, she was very impressed with this machine, especially with how good it felt to use. Similar to a cable machine, a Smith machine provides a smooth, low-impact training option that’s not quite as jarring on your joints as free weights can be.
The Smith machine is counterbalanced, meaning you won’t be supporting the entire 45 pounds the way you would with a standard Olympic barbell. Our testers measured the bar weight with a luggage scale and found that the functional weight was 15 pounds.
RELATED: Smith Machine vs. Free Weights
With a 600-pound weight capacity, this machine should be more than enough for most users. For those who need more resistance, Titan has added band pegs to the bottom so you can attach bands to your bar for a greater challenge.
Lindsay was especially impressed with the smooth glide of the barbell and the angled design. She said it helped her really focus on muscle activation and felt significantly smoother than many cheaper competitors she’s tested. She had a few small call-outs that we’ll address in this review, but overall, she liked this Smith machine.
Footprint and Portability
For footprint and portability, the Titan Smith Machine earns a 3-out-of-5-star rating.
It takes up a significant amount of space, but it allows you to perform a wide variety of movements, so it does provide quite a bit of versatility. Lindsay pointed out that it’s more like a half-rack and smaller than a full-size power cage would be. This may be a benefit for those with limited space.
It weighs 260 pounds, which Lindsay noticed is lighter than some treadmills we’ve tested. Even though the machine doesn’t have wheels, she felt that two able-bodied people could easily move it around if needed.
Durability and Construction
For durability and construction, the Titan Smith Machine earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating.
The barbell is a standard 45-pound Olympic bar with knurling, but Lindsay said the knurling felt very passive. “I think for a Smith machine, this is fine, but it’s definitely not the most grippy bar,” she commented.
It’s also worth noting that the machine is counterbalanced, so the barbell will feel lighter than it is. When Lindsay weighed the bar with a luggage scale, it came out to about 15 pounds of felt weight. This is especially beneficial for beginners or anyone who can’t lift an empty 45-pound barbell on its own.
Each end of the barbell has ribbed sleeves to help prevent the weight plates from sliding around. They also have rounded end caps for easier loading and unloading. With a 600-pound weight capacity, this machine can hold plenty of weight for most users. However, anyone who’s regularly training with more than 600 pounds will likely need a standalone barbell and squat rack as well.
RELATED: Best Olympic Barbells
The heavy-duty frame also has rubber padding to protect your floor and increase stability during use. It’s finished with a durable black powder coating. You can also use the attached multi-grip pull-up bar to mix up your training, and there are eight weight storage posts for plate storage.
Ergonomics and Stability
For ergonomics, this Smith machine earns a 4-out-of-5 rating.
One thing Lindsay noticed is that the Titan Smith Machine’s safety catches stop about a third of the way from the bottom. You’ll have plenty of room to press overhead, but this limits the versatility of standing exercises. You may experience a limited range of motion on exercises like Smith machine deadlifts unless you’re standing on something.
The J-hooks have eight stop positions, which is great for upper body exercises like the bench press or shoulder press. However, they’re just a bit too high for squats and other similar movements.
The fixed barbell path uses a single-axis, angled design rather than a completely vertical one. Lindsay found that this angled design helped improve her muscle activation during lower-body exercises, but it may not be ideal for those who primarily use a Smith machine for upper-body training.
She actually prefers the angled design in Smith machines and scored Titan’s model highly in this category. Still, she acknowledged that this is a personal preference, and some users may prefer a completely vertical bar path.
RELATED: Smith Machine Workouts
The machine is very stable. Lindsay didn’t notice it moving around at all, even with heavy loads. The movement of the bar is also very smooth, a noticeable improvement from many cheaper options.
For stability, we gave this a 5 out of 5.
Value
For overall value, we gave this a 4 out of 5.
Yes, there are plenty of cheaper options, but the quality is noticeably different. Lindsay pointed out that she’s often used Smith machines that aren’t very smooth or balanced. The bar may feel stuck, or one side rises higher than the other.
This machine is extremely smooth and stable, with no movement during use, and the construction feels very durable. You get near-commercial quality for a fraction of the price, so we still think it provides great value.
Titan Smith Machine vs RitFit Smith Machine
RitFit Smith Machine
RitFit Multifunctional Smith Machine with Lat Pulldown and Low Row
Product Highlights
- Multifunctional Smith machine with lat pulldown and low row
- Includes: pull-up bar, lat pull-down bar, smith attachment, quick release plate storage rack, quick loading pedals, low row bar, landmine bar connector
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free shipping
- Military, medial, student, and first responder discount available
- Available to purchase with and without added weight sets
- Designed specifically for home gyms
- Includes plate storage tubes
Cons
- Limited customer reviews
- Assembly required
Bottom Line
RitFit’s Multifunctional Smith Machine was designed specifically for home gyms. It is available for purchase with or without weights. The Smith Machine comes with multiple accessories to facilitate a variety of exercises. There are limited but positive customer reviews for this machine.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, the RitFit Smith Machine is a good choice. It tends to be priced between $470 and $1,300, depending on current promotions and whether or not you also opt for weight plates or a weight bench. We reviewed it specifically because it was the cheapest Smith machine on Amazon. It also includes a plate-loaded low row and lat pulldown attachment, offering more versatility than the Titan Smith Machine.
However, the lower price means the quality isn’t quite as good. Instead of a real barbell, RitFit uses a hollow tube with very passive knurling. The knurling is so bad that GGR Founder Cooper “Coop” Mitchell says the bar would be better off with no knurling at all. The hollow barbell weighs the same as the counter-balanced barbell in the Titan Smith Machine, but due to its hollow design, it’s not as durable.
Coop also felt the pulley system wasn’t as good as advertised and didn’t feel very durable.
Additionally, the RitFit Smith Machine is also a little wobbly, and it’s shorter. But if you’re looking for the ultimate budget choice, this will still get the job done.
Anyone with the space and budget should go with Titan. However, if your funds are more limited or you need a machine with a smaller footprint, the RitFit Smith Machine should still work well enough.
To read more and see Coop’s full video review, check out our RitFit Smith Machine review.
| Titan Smith Machine | RitFit Smith Machine | |
| Price | $1,700 | $470-$1,300, depending on which package you buy |
| Weight capacity | 600 lbs | 1,000 lbs |
| Footprint | 54″ D x 86″ H; 67” W without barbell sleeves and 75” W with barbell sleeves | 46.3″ D x 82″ H; 44” W without barbell sleeves and 70.8” W with barbell sleeves |
| Weight | 260 lbs | 140 lbs |
| Frame material | Black powder-coated steel | 14-gauge steel |
| Barbell weight | 45 lbs (15 lbs of felt weight according to a luggage scale) | 14 lbs |
| Warranty | 1-year warranty | 3-year warranty |
Customer Experience
Titan’s customer experience earns a 2-out-of-5-star rating.
You can return your order within 30 days of purchase, but it must be unused, and you’ll need to pay for return shipping. You’ll also be responsible for a 20% restocking fee.
Support is available via chat, phone, or email. We like that several contact options are available, as many companies only offer one method of communication. Even so, since you’d need to pay for your own shipping and a 20% restocking fee if you want to return it, you may be better off just keeping the machine at that point.
Ordering and Assembling the Titan Smith Machine
Ordering and assembly receive a 4 out of 5. Titan offers free shipping, which is great to see on such a large product, and you can finance your order with Bread Pay.
Interestingly, Titan also says that most orders placed before 1 p.m. CST ship the same day—something worth noting for those who want their products delivered as soon as possible.
Assembly took two people about 40 minutes, and Lindsay said you definitely need a friend’s help when setting this up. This isn’t surprising with such a large piece of equipment, but it’s something you should still be aware of.
Customer Reviews
At the time of writing, the Titan Smith Machine only has 29 reviews. We’d like to see more, but the reviews are good with an average score of 4.5.
Most users love the quality, though a few pointed out the same thing Lindsay noticed—the bar doesn’t go as low as you might expect.
Final Verdict of Our Titan Smith Machine Review
If you’ve got the space and budget to fit this machine in your home gym, it’s a great choice. You may not be able to lower the bar all the way to the ground, but the durability and smooth bar movement are fantastic. Plus, our tester loved the way the angled design felt.
Not to mention, the entire thing only weighs 260 pounds. While it’s not exactly what we’d call “light,” two able-bodied people should be able to move this around when needed.
- At just about $1,700 with free shipping, this is a great deal for a high-quality Smith machine.
- If you need to lift more than the 600-pound weight capacity, the built-in band pegs allow you to attach resistance bands for a greater challenge.
- The Smith Machine is extremely stable, with no wobbling during use.
- For those looking for an all-in-one trainer that can train nearly every body part, this is an excellent option.
Full Rating
Titan Smith Machine
The Titan Smith Machine is a high-quality, durable option for those looking to put a Smith Machine in their home gym. It uses an angled design and feels very smooth when in use, but the knurling is very passive.
Product Brand: Titan Fitness
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 1699.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.81
Titan Smith Machine: FAQs
How much does the Titan Smith Machine bar weigh?
The bar itself is a standard 45-pound barbell. During our testing, we measured it with a luggage scale and found that the functional bar weight is 15 pounds due to the counterbalances.
Is Titan Fitness made in the USA?
Some Titan Fitness products are made in the USA, which is usually disclosed on the product sales page. Other products are manufactured in different countries.
Is a Smith machine bar 45 lbs?
The weight of the bar on a Smith machine can vary based on the manufacturer. Some brands use 45-pound bars that feel lighter due to counterbalances. Others use no counterbalances but feature a lighter bar design.
Does Titan ship to the USA?
Yes, and orders to the USA receive free shipping.
Further reading
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When setting up a home gym, many people choose one of the best squat racks to be the centerpiece. However, a Smith machine is a fantastic alternative and could be even better than a traditional power rack for certain people, serving as a great all-in-one functional trainer.Choosing the right one can be daunting, especially with such a wide range of options and price points. You want one that’s smooth, easy to use, » Read more about: Titan Smith Machine Review (2024): A Smooth, Durable Machine at a Great Price » Read more