The Ares™ is known as a leader in the fitness world as the best, fully integrated functional trainer and lat pulldown/low row attachment that affixes right onto your power rack. But our Colorado-based engineering team wanted to make the best even better. Inspired by customer feedback and our relentless growth mindset, meet the Ares™ 2.0.
INTEGRATION, UNILATERAL & BILATERAL TRAINING, TWO ATHLETES
Like the original, the Ares™ 2.0 attaches to your existing
PR-4000
or
PR-5000
power rack, saving major space by bringing a ton more versatility and cable exercises inside the rack, while preserving the original functionality of the rack. The Ares™ 2.0 features dual 260lb selectorized weight stacks that can be upgraded to 310lbs each (feels like 155lbs each). This allows for both unilateral and bilateral training. To achieve unilateral movement, use both weight stacks and a cable attachment, like a D-handle, at each attachment point of the lat pulldown and row. This feature is typically found on high-end commercial machines valued at over $10,000, but we've integrated it into the Ares™ at a more accessible price point, without compromising its premium functionality. In addition, the independent stacks allow two athletes to train on the Ares™ simultaneously with separate resistance levels for each, or a single athlete to superset exercises off each trolley without having to change weights between each set.
HIGHER LOW ROW & NEW FOOTPLATE DESIGN
The Ares™ 2.0 features an integrated lat pulldown feature, as well as a seated row, which is new for the 2.0. This slightly higher cable point is more comfortable and functional than a low row and allows you to sit on a bench or the floor; it's your choice. Use the lat and seated row cables for unilateral exercises, as well as standard straight-bar movements. The improved footplate design is angled at the top to provide support while sitting on a bench and adjusts for multiple starting points for better foot positioning. The footplate is also wider on the 2.0 for more comfort and versatility, with the cables in the middle of your feet rather than outside like the original. Lastly, there is a cutout on the sides so you can perfectly center your REP bench (AB-5000 2.0,
BlackWing, AB-3000 2.0)
deeper in the rack for both incline and flat exercises. We pushed the weight stacks farther back to create even more usable space inside the rack, too.
SMOOTH FEEL & BROADER RANGE OF MOTION
The patent-pending Ares™ 2.0 features trolleys that are designed with a smooth, plastic liner that’s easy to adjust up and down with one hand. We also moved the swiveling front trolleys outside of the uprights to create more space and versatility for different sizes of lifters. This also provides a greater range of motion that’s more comparable to a traditional, stand-alone functional trainer. The front and lat/seated row pulleys all swivel, making it easier to perform versatile movements with a natural range of motion, and upgraded cables have a thinner coating that creates a smoother feel. Hot-rolled steel plates with a machined finish assure consistent and durable weights that the magnetized pin slides into smoothly.
We built the Ares™ 2.0 for functionality first. It utilizes a 2:1 cable ratio, which means 100lbs feels like 50lbs, ideal for functional training when you want a faster-traveling cable. Better functionality is also why we switched the resting position of the front trolleys; when not in use, you now store them at the bottom of the uprights, rather than the top on the original Ares™. This creates more usable space on the rack upright at the top, which is important for those that choose the 80" upright height and want to press or squat outside of the rack.
The Ares™ 2.0 comes with a single connection point straight bar; a lat pulldown bar; a clip to connect them to the stack cables; and two fully knurled D-handle attachments – and it’s compatible with a wide range of other
cable attachments. It also comes with two integrated drop-down 5lb add-on weights (that feel like 2.5lbs) for more weight jump options.
Mount the Ares™ 2.0 to a ton of rack configurations: the PR-4000 6-post 16:16, 24:16, 30:16, or 41:16; the PR-4000 4-post 16; the PR-5000 6-post 16:16, 30:16, or 41:16; and the PR-5000 4-post 16. Newly designed brackets enable Ares™ 2.0 4-post configurations to include a straight pull-up bar.
Note: The Ares™ 2.0 4-post needs Front Foot Extensions.
Original Ares™ vs. Ares™ 2.0
•Higher attachment point of low row, offering mid row functionality
•Seated row pulleys spaced closer together for ease of attachment use and better feel
•Footplate is larger, with angled top for support during seated row
•Footplate has bench-centering cutouts for REP benches (AB-5000 2.0, BlackWing, AB-3000 2.0)
•Reorientation of weight stacks allows incline bench within rack
•Pulleys on lat pulldown and row incorporate swivels for natural feel and range of motion on unilateral movements (using D-handles at each attachment point)
•Offset front trolleys increase width of cable flies
•Integrated drop-down micro-weight adjustments (no searching for micro-plates)
•Improved lat bar rest to easily stay seated while using other cables
•Improved cable routing to rest trolley at bottom while working outside of the rack—ideal for lifters with 80” uprights needing maximum height for J-cup placement
