Rep Adonis Cable Tower Review (2024)

Gluck August 2024

The REP Fitness Adonis not only functions as a lat pulldown and low row tower but also has functional trainer capabilities thanks to its movable center trolley. Granted, this isn't the first time we've seen something like this, we've had options like the Prime Single Stack for years, and the amount of cable towers that try to do a little bit more than your traditional lat pulldown and low row has been steadily growing.

But REP’s solution stands out on two fronts. On one hand, they offer one pulley ratio for the lat pulldown and low row and another for the center trolley. On the other hand, they came up with an adjustable and removable seat that’s so versatile, it's a product worthy of a review on its own: The Pegasus attachment.

If that still doesn’t catch your attention, the Adonis is a cable tower that can be used not only as a standalone machine like we've done, but it can also be integrated into other rack setups thanks to its modular build.

Rep Adonis Cable Tower  Review

Let's break down the Adonis so you can see how it compares to other options out there because dedicated machines like this aren’t cheap. Depending on how you build it, you're talking anywhere from $2,100 to nearly $3,000 shipped. To put that in perspective, Rogue's upcoming CTM-1's most expensive build is actually a few dollars cheaper and functionally similar. There's also more traditional lat pulldown and low row setups like Bells of Steel’s plate loaded or selectorized units that run from $900 to $2,000 respectively.

The Adonis though, is a little different from anything else out there. We've got the hybrid version which not only comes with a 210 lb selectorized weight stack, but also includes two weight horns to add plates on top of the stack. That means the Adonis can double its weight capacity at a maximum of 450 lb which is what my typical lat pulldown and low row looks like (right?).

The plate loaded version has the same total weight capacity and depending on the thickness of your plates you can get three or four sets of 45s on the 6 inch weight horns. That gives you 270 to 360 lb which is more than enough weight for the vast majority of people. Not to mention, both versions come with integrated band pegs, to make your workouts extra hard.

One of the clever things REP's done with the Adonis is to set the lat pulldown and low row pull ratio to 1:1 but the trolley to 2:1. That means with the high and low pull points where you'd want access to a lot of weight, whatever you put on that stack is what you're pulling. So if it's set to 200 lb, you’re effectively pulling 200 lb with 54 inches of cable travel.

On the other hand, the trolley's 2:1 ratio means you're pulling half the weight and doubling the amount of cable you have to work with (108 inches to be precise) at the same time. That's important because with functional trainer exercises like a delt raise or flies you want smaller weight increments and a lower starting weight because you're probably not doing flies with 200 lb.

That means with the 2:1 ratio you've got a starting weight of 10 lb and 5 lb increments. Whereas with the lat and low row you're going to start at 20 lb and then jump 10 lbs at a time. Luckily REP was kind enough to us meat heads who can't do math and provided both weight increments on the stickers.

Another nice feature that I liked is that Rep also includes a pair of 1¼ lb and 2½ lb adder weights so you can microload your lifts. These are really cool with the Grecian pattern worked in and are a good example of the overall quality of the Adonis.

Rep Adonis Specs And Compatibility

The Adonis is built to the same specs and dimensions as Rep's PR 5000 rack, so it's using 11 gauge steel, 3x3-inch tubing with 1-inch holes and 2-inch hole spacing which means it’s big, beefy and most importantly modular.

The Adonis cable tower can be bolted to your Rep Fitness rack but also to other metric racks thanks to its design. You can add storage to it or even test your marriage and buy two of them to link together.

You can store your attachments on it and even the Pegasus seat, although you have to remove its leg rollers first. But the fact alone that you are able to do that thanks to its screwable design (meaning they screw off) is another clever touch and shows Rep's attention to detail.

The tower is stable, but depending on your height or if you're using something like a dip belt, the upper storage hooks and low row mechanism may get in the way making this the part where I say I think this is a very well done product but I also think Rep's done a little bit of overselling with the Adonis.

Where the Adonis Could Be Improved

Rep Fitness has a few pics on their listing using the low row for upright pulls, but doing that would cause the cable to rub on the bolt that keeps it in place which introduces a ton of friction into the movement, and could end up wearing down the sheathing.

To be safe, I’d recommend you to pull up at a maximum angle of about 45, which luckily means you can sit on a decline bench instead of your floor during low rows.

That being said, you can do vertical pulls on the Adonis if you use the center trolley: with it you can pull from just about anywhere at any angle without issue. It spins 180° and goes from about 78 inches at its max height down to about 16 inches and it's easy to adjust with just one hand.

It's worth mentioning that the trolley is essentially a beefed up Ares and Athena trolley which means it has the same knurled handle and UHMW sleeve to keep the uprights from getting scuffed up. It's a time-tested design that's worked well for years.

The only time I've had issues with the trolley is when trying to use a long strap for something like curls. I couldn't quite get a full range of motion because the low row pulley wheel gets in the way. But that could easily be remedied by standing on something or by using literally any other carabiner attachment.

Adonis Assembly

This is probably a good time to call Rep out for the assembly. The Adonis is a pretty complex machine that you have to put together. I've got no issues with that. Shipping this in parts rather than together is how Rep keeps shipping costs down. That being said, I'm not sure why Rep is saying it'll take two hours to assemble because it took us almost five and we’ve done dozens of builds like this.

Is it nitpicking? Probably, but I’m being critical and thorough because I'd rather you buy this knowing exactly what you're getting, than having you resent me later for making a misrepresentation.

None of my criticisms concerning the Adonis are deal breakers. I just think that if Rep tweaked their listing they could set expectations a little more accurately because after a long build (and finding some scuffs and missing powder coat) I wasn't exactly happy with how this whole thing started out, which is really a shame considering how good of a machine this is.

Rep Adonis Build Quality & Construction

Inconveniencies aside, I genuinely like the Adonis and Pegasus. The build quality and attention to detail on both are outstanding, and the metallic black powder coat looks great with the stainless steel accents.

As an example of the Rep Adonis’ quality, it has integrated pegboard holes in the shrouds which is a nice touch. It would have been nice if they included more than two hooks for what this costs but the Adonis does use a standard peg board design so you won't be left wanting for options. The design is sleek with the shrouds, the logos aren't overdone, and clearly REP spend a ton of time refining details on this.

It also comes with a few fully knurled attachments. Rep has included a lat pulldown bar, a straight bar and two of their steel D-handles which are all finished in hard chrome and have a passive but clean knurling that provides enough grip without chewing up your hands.

The success of any cable system lies in how smooth it functions. Luckily Rep is using aluminum pulleys with high quality bearings in them so the pull and feel of the Adonis is very smooth. Under the hood though, the Adonis is more complex than it may seem.

There are a lot of moving parts, pulleys, and systems working to make sure things remain smooth. This is because Rep has created a guide system that keeps the internal pulleys from twisting which is another clever detail you don’t often see on this type of machine.

That internal system can become a problem if you’re thinking of combining the Adonis with a different pulley system like an Athena. Rep’s Athena is a bit more of a minimalist approach to a cable system when compared to the Adonis. As you add complexity, more moving parts, pulleys, or other components like Rep’s done with the Adonis it affects the pull and feel of the machine. If you were to put an Athena and Adonis together to create a functional trainer type setup I do not think they would sync up well.

Also, bear in mind, the internal systems of the Adonis also means it has a fairly deep footprint at about 55 inches. That’s counting the adjustable and telescoping foot plate. The footplate can be removed to create a little more space for your feet if you need it during certain exercises.

The Pegasus Seat

Overall the Adonis is a very good cable machine but when you add the Pegasus seat, it becomes something special because it’s an incredibly versatile piece. I would actually go so far as to describe it as 3 attachments in one. It’s a lat pulldown seat, highly adjustable row pad, and the leg rollers can be removed and functional on their own.

The Pegasus does a great job holding you in place during pulls, because its big leg rollers are comfortable, stable and easily adjustable to six different heights with a single pop pin.

By removing the rollers, or even the handle entirely, you can create more space and use the seat as a chest pad for exercises like incline rows, curls, flyes, among other exercises. It has a total combination of 28 different pad positions, which means you can use it for all kinds of different exercises and variations.

Not only that, but you can adjust the seat height without having to remove it, which means it works for my height while also making it much easier for my wife to use this without having to remove it from the rack and install it in a new position. Weighing nearly 50 lbs, the Pegasus is not light but I'm also not going to tell you I don't curl it every time I pick it up because if you can't curl it, is it really a piece of gym equipment?

A very well thought out feature of the Pegasus is that Rep designed it to attach to other manufactuer’s racks as well. They added a screw on the side that pushes onto a UHMW pad. This way you can place this onto another 3x3-inch rack and then tighten it down if it's loose.

They're also coming out with a ⅝-inches version of the Pegasus, once again showing REPs thought out all the details on this. Like the storage hole for the mag pin when you're not using the seat, or the added lip on the underside of the seat that makes taking the Pegasus on and off much easier.

REP has mentioned they're developing a dual leg roller to hold you in place if you don't want to spend the $400 on the Pegasus but these were designed in tandem and the Adonis is much more versatile with the Pegasus.

Rep Adonis Vs The Competition

Rep Adonis vs Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine 

The Rep Adonis is an upgrade over Bells of Steel's selectorized lat-low because even without the Pegasus seat attachment, the Adonis functional trainer trolley gives it much more functionality. At $900 shipped though you can definitely make a strong argument for plate loaded variation of Bell's of Steel's lat pulldown tower.Granted, the Adonis, no matter how you build it, is pricier than either of Bell's options. That makes sense though, the build quality on the Adonis is higher, it's got more versatility, and it's the overall more refined product but you have to ask yourself, does any of that matter to you? If you're looking for a traditional lat pulldown & low row machine it's hard to find one that can compete with Bells on quality at their price level. Afterall, the selectorized and plate loaded options are identical outside of the weight stack. Whereas many companies cut corners on their plate loaded versions but has optd to keep everything the same and it can be upgrade to a weight stack later on if you decide you'd like to. 

Bells of Steel Lat Pulldown Low Row Machine

Rep Adonis vs Prime’s Prodigy HLP Single Stack

I'm not sure many people would argue a company can compete with the American made quality level of Prime Fitness. Their ProdigySingle Stack is no exception. The issue is, Prime designs their equipment for commercial spaces so their equipment can get pretty expensive even with code Gluck saving you 5% at Prime. Whether Rogue or Rep acknowledge it the idea of the CTM-1 and Adonis probably came from the HLP Single. After all, you've got a different pulley ratio on the lat pulldown (1:1)  vs the low row/functional trainer trolley. With the selectorized version you can choose between 2:1 or 4:1 on the trolley and the plate loaded versions allows you to switch between ratios (a feature found elsewhere on the Prodigy line as well). There's also a wide variety of attachments available for it such as the lat pulldown seat, low row footplate, dip bar, and the list goes on. The decision may come down to pricing though. With shipping and the necessary attachments Prime's Single Stack will probably cost you well north of $4,000. It it an exceptional machine though and I don't think anyone would complain 

Prime Fitness Selectorized Single Stack

Rep Adonis vs Rogue’s CTM-1

Another very interesting American-made option is Rogue’s upcoming CTM-1. You don't have to look too hard to tell that this is clearly Rogue's answer to the Adonis. They've got the same 1:1  pulley ratio on the lat pulldown and low row and a 2:1 ratio on the functional trainer trolley. Functionally these two are pretty much identical but Rogue's build quality and the fact that it's made in America will tilt the scales for some people towards Rogue. They're also priced suprisingly close to each other.  Where Rep has an advantage is with the Pegasus Seat but to be completely honest we're probably just going to put our Pegasus on the CTM-1 and have the best of both worlds.

Rogue Fitness CTM-1 Functional Cable Tower

Final Thoughts

The Adonis cable tower is a great product that offers a lot of versatility in a very well thought package, and it’s full of details that turn it into a lot more than the sum of its parts. That being said, it’s not without compromises, so keep in mind the limitations in size and range of movement whenever the lat pulldown and low row might get in the way. That being said, we haven’t found an exercise we couldn’t complete using the Adonis.

The Adonis can be configured as either a standalone option or attached to a rack, storage, or any number of layouts because it’s built on the same 3x3 system as Rep’s PR-5000 power rack. Just bear in mind that the pull from this machine might feel different from another, more minimalist approach like the Athena, so proceed with caution if your idea is to use it for a dual cable system with some other option that’s different from this one.

Rep’s Adonis Cable Tower is a unique and well thought out system. If you are looking for a refined standalone offering, the Adonis is a great buy and especially tempting if you’ve already invested in Rep’s 3x3-inch rack ecosystem.

Rep Adonis Cable Tower Video Review