The Griffin Monolift attachment 2.0 is a nifty rack attachment I use when lifting heavy.
It allows me to maintain strict form after setting up for squats and bench presses without having to reset once I unrack my barbell.
This is possible because of a spring connected to each hook that retracts the hooks out of the way on liftoff.
Let’s check it out!
Unboxing
The monolifts came packaged really well.
Outer layer has light padding and the inner layer is bubble wrapped so the attachments showed up in mint condition.
They’re fully assembled so I didn’t have anything to put together.
And they come with two magnetic pins that prevent the monolifts from moving side to side.
The build quality on the Griffin monolift 2.0 is solid.
It’s made out of thick steel, springs back quickly, and has UHMW on the hooks and backside to protect my barbells and rack.
Because this is spring loaded and doesn’t require counterweight, it takes up less space than other monolifts from popular brands.
Specs
- Material: Steel
- Weight: 19.3 lbs each, lighter than most monolifts
- Weight capacity: 1000 lbs
- Dimensions: 14.75″ L x 2.5″ W x 14.5″ H
- Finish: Satin black
- Spring: Spring loaded design eliminates clunky counterweights
- Rack compatibility: Fits 3×3 racks with 1″ or 5/8″ holes
- Hooks: Lined with UHMW plastic to protect my barbell and can be locked in place to use as regular J-cups
- Pins: Chrome pin prevents scratching my rack and there’s a second pin prevents side to side swinging
- Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
What Is A Monolift?
A monolift is a squat rack attachment that fits on my rack like a J-cup and lets me unrack my barbell without having to step back.
Each monolift has a spring connected to the hook and it snaps back and out of the way when weight is lifted.
This eliminates having to walk the weight out when doing heavy squats so I don’t have to reset my legs before the lift.
I can go straight up and down right after liftoff which helps me save energy and to maintain good form.
Monolifts are mainly used for squatting but can also be used when benching pressing.
Top Benefits Of The Griffin Monolift Attachment
Safety
When doing heavy squats with J-cups, I have to slowly take a step back to make sure I clear the J-cups and there’s always a risk of losing my balance.
With a monolift attachment I don’t have to worry about stepping back and resetting my feet.
I set my feet, unrack the weight, and once the monolift snaps back, I do my lift.
Saved Energy
When lifting heavy, every little bit of energy I can save matters.
So when I have a lot of weight on my back, the step back seems minor but that’s energy I could save for the squats instead.
Improved Technique
Monolifts eliminate the need to reset after I lift the bar off the hooks.
When I’m squatting, I set my feet and liftoff then go straight up and down.
If I’m bench pressing, I set my shoulders and lift up and down without having to reach behind me.
This helps me to maintain proper form right from the get go.
Best Features Of The Griffin Monolift Attachment
UHMW Plastic
The hooks on Griffin’s monolifts are completely surrounded by UHMW plastic so that my barbells don’t get damaged.
The back of the monolift also has UHMW plastic so it doesn’t scratch up my weight rack.
Locking Pin
When I don’t want to use the spring back feature, I can lock the monolifts in place in two different positions to use as a regular J-cup.
In the first position, the locking pin goes through a hole at the top of the hook and it stays close to my rack.
In the second position, I insert the locking pin behind the hook so that it sticks out further.
Here’s a close up of the second position where you can see the locking pin behind hole on the hooks.
I like the second position more because I have clearance at the top so I can use the monolifts as J-cups for shoulder presses.
This way I don’t have to constantly remove my monolifts and sub them out with J-cups.
Magnetic Pin
The Griffin monolift attachments come with a set of magnetic pins.
They’re knurled and have 8 magnets on the back of the head.
I insert through the back of the monolift and it goes through my weight rack to prevent any side to side motion.
I did notice that every so often the magnetic pin was pushed back from the force of the retracting hook.
So I reached out to Griffin and they said they’re already working on that…
And everyone who purchases will receive pins with stronger magnets.
Spring Loaded
The spring loaded mechanism is my favorite feature on the Griffin monolifts.
In the picture above I’m showing you the spring from the top of the monolift.
Other version of monolifts have a counterweight at the front but this makes the attachment bulky so I feel a spring is a better option.
The spring connects to the back of the hook and it’s only visible when there’s weight on the hook.
In the pic on the left, you can see the loaded barbell pulls the hook down and away from my weight rack.
Then when I lift the weight off, the hook retracts and gets out of my way so I can go straight up and down without stepping back.
Here’s what it looks like when I’m squatting.
I removed the weight plates from the barbell so you could see the hooks in action.
And even though monolifts were made for squatting, I can also use them when bench pressing.
This way I can set my shoulders before the lift, liftoff, and go straight into benching without having to reset.
Griffin Monolift Attachment Alternatives
Titan Fitness Monolift Attachment
The Titan monolift is a budget friendly alternative to the Griffin monolift 2.0
It’s not as beefy as Griffin’s but it will get the job done.
These have a counterweight so they will stick out further.
Rogue Fitness AM-2 Monolift Attachment
Rogue monolift attachments are overbuilt as every Rogue product is.
These use a counterweight that sticks out 5″ further than Griffin’s and also uses a locking key.
The locking key is just like the locking pin where it allows the user to use the monolift like a regular J-cup.
Bells of Steel Monolift Attachment
The Bells of Steel monolift attachments work with their Hydra power racks which are 3×3 and have 5/8″ holes.
Like Griffin’s monolifts, these are spring loaded and have a couple of rollers on each hook to make sliding your barbells easier.
Rep Monolift Still A Thing?
Rep Fitness used to sell a monolift attachment set but their website no longer shows it being available.
I searched the internet for it but wasn’t able to find any information on them so I’m guessing they discontinued them.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Saves energy: Not having to step back or reach behind me with a loaded barbell helps me save energy
- Better form: I can set up before my lifts, liftoff, and don’t have to reset so I can maintain proper form from the beginning of the exercise
- Compact: These only weight 19 lbs, have a height of 14″, and only stick out 11″ off the rack, so they don’t take up a lot of space
- Safety: I can overload my barbell and not worry about losing my balance when stepping back
- Stable: The magnetic pins keep the monolifts from moving side to side
Cons
- Cost: At $380 these are not a budget option but if you’re into powerlifting and want a quality monolift, this is an excellent option
Griffin Fitness Discount Code
Griffin Fitness doesn’t issue any exclusive discount codes but I’ll show you how to get 10% off.
Click here, scroll around their website for a few seconds, and you’ll see a newsletter sign up box pop up.
Enter your info and Griffin will generate a coupon code for you.
My Experience Using Griffin Monolift Attachments
After using the Griffin monolifts for a while, I like the idea of not having to reset when doing heavy squats or bench presses.
This helps me maintain strict form from the moment I lift the bar off the hooks so I can focus on the exercise right from the get go.
I’m not a powerlifter but I can see this being very useful for home gym owners who lift very heavy and those who compete.
Conclusion: Should You Buy Griffin Monolift Attachments?
This is a great rack attachment for powerlifters.
It’s provides safety so there’s no risk of losing your balance when stepping back, saves energy, and helps keep strict form.
The Griffin monolift attachment 2.0 is solidly built and aesthetically pleasing.
Griffin Monolift Attachment 2.0
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