Bells of Steel started in Calgary in 2010 and has grown into one of North America's most recognized home gym brands. With warehouses in Canada, the US, UK, and Australia, they've built a reputation for solid equipment at competitive prices.

Their Kolossos is their flagship all-in-one trainer. It combines a Smith machine with their "Kraken" cable system on a power rack frame. It's a serious piece of equipment with a loyal following.

But specs tell a different story than marketing. Here's how the Kolossos stacks up against the Befitnow Mr. Monster.

Quick Comparison: Mr. Monster vs Bells of Steel Kolossos

What's the Price Difference?

The Monster comes in at roughly $3,499. The Kolossos ranges from $4,490 to $4,930 depending on your configuration choices (Hydra vs. Manticore rack system, height, depth).

That's a $1,000 to $1,400 difference. For context, that gap could cover a commercial-grade bench, a set of bumper plates, or flooring for your entire gym space.

Bells of Steel positions itself as value-oriented compared to brands like Rogue. But against the Monster, it's the more expensive option while delivering lower specs in the categories that matter most.

Which Has Higher Weight Capacity?

This isn't close.

Mr. Monster: 1,500+ lb weight rating. Built on 3mm (10/11 gauge) commercial-grade steel with 2,000 lb rated military-grade cables.

Kolossos: 600 lb Smith machine capacity.

That's a 2.5x difference. The Monster was engineered for commercial environments where equipment takes daily abuse from multiple users. The Kolossos is built for home use. Different design targets, different specs.

What About the Warranty?

This is the most significant difference between these machines.

Mr. Monster: Lifetime warranty on all components. Frame, cables, pulleys, upholstery. Everything.

Kolossos: Limited lifetime on the frame. 90 days on cables and pulleys.

Read that again. Ninety days on cables and pulleys.

On a machine that's primarily about cable movements, the cable system has a 90-day warranty. After three months, any cable or pulley replacement is on you.

Bells of Steel even includes a warning on the Kolossos product page: "Minimize single-sided cable use, as it accelerates wear on the cable & pulleys and may cause cable twisting." That's the manufacturer telling you the cables are a wear item.

The Monster's lifetime cable warranty exists because the cables are rated for 2,000 lbs and built to last. Befitnow stands behind them indefinitely.

How Do the Cable Systems Compare?

Both machines include functional trainer cables. The difference is in the architecture.

Kolossos: Uses dual "Kraken" cable units with 210 lb weight stacks operating at a 2:1 ratio. An adapter is included for 1:1 movements. There is no dedicated lat pulldown station. All cable work runs through the same functional trainer system.

Mr. Monster: Three independent cable systems in one frame. The functional trainer runs at a 2:1 ratio with 132 lb stacks per side. A dedicated lat pulldown/low row station operates at a 1:1 ratio, delivering full stack weight. The Smith machine runs on its own guided track system.

The Kolossos has larger weight stacks. The Monster has a dedicated 1:1 back station that doesn't share cables with the functional trainer. Different approaches. The Monster's architecture means you can superset cable movements and lat work without reconfiguring anything.

How Do the Smith Machines Compare?

Kolossos Smith: Fixed-bar Smith machine with linear bearings. 600 lb capacity. Vertical bar path only on the 30" depth configuration. The 43" depth allows for an angled bar path.

Mr. Monster Smith: Linear bearing guided tracks. 1,500+ lb capacity. Integrated into the same commercial-grade frame as the cable systems.

If you're squatting under 600 lbs and staying there, both Smith machines will work. If you're progressing toward heavier loads or want headroom for the future, the Monster's 1,500 lb capacity removes the ceiling.

What About Configuration Options?

The Kolossos offers more configuration flexibility upfront. You can choose between two rack ecosystems (Hydra or Manticore), two height options (84" or 90"), and two depth options (30" or 43"). This modularity is part of the Bells of Steel approach.

The Mr. Monster ships as a complete, integrated system at 86" × 86" × 86". It includes J hooks, spotter's arms, a lat bar, a tricep rope, ab/dip bars, a landmine, and a leg press attachment out of the box. Built-in plate storage pegs and resistance band pegs are integrated into the frame.

Both systems support additional attachments. Befitnow offers jammer arms, leg extension/curl attachments, quick-release leg press upgrades, and a separate storage rack. Bells of Steel offers their own attachment ecosystem including lat pulldown rack attachments and leg extension/curl attachments.

The Kolossos gives you more choices at purchase. The Monster gives you more included at purchase.

Who Should Buy the Kolossos?

The Kolossos makes sense if:

You want to build within the Bells of Steel Hydra or Manticore ecosystem over time.

You need specific height or depth configurations the Monster doesn't offer.

You prioritize heavier weight stacks on the functional trainer over a dedicated lat station.

The 90-day cable warranty doesn't concern you.

You'll stay under 600 lbs on Smith machine movements.

Who Should Buy the Mr. Monster?

The Mr. Monster makes sense if:

You want commercial-grade weight capacity (1,500+ lbs).

You need lifetime warranty coverage on cables and pulleys.

You want a dedicated 1:1 lat pulldown station included.

You'd rather save $1,000+ and put it toward plates, dumbbells, or other equipment.

You want a complete system out of the box without configuring options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bells of Steel a good brand?

Bells of Steel has been in business since 2010 and has a solid reputation in the home gym community. They offer good equipment at competitive prices. The Kolossos is a capable machine. The question is whether its specs justify the price premium over alternatives with higher weight capacity and better warranty coverage.

Why is the cable warranty only 90 days?

Bells of Steel's warranty page lists "Pins, Handles, Cables, Pulleys: 90 Day Warranty" as standard across their products. The Kolossos product page also warns users to minimize single-sided cable use to avoid accelerated wear. These are wear items in BOS's warranty structure. Befitnow takes a different approach, covering cables and pulleys for life.

What's the weight capacity difference?

The Mr. Monster is rated at 1,500+ lbs. The Kolossos Smith machine is rated at 600 lbs. That's a 2.5x difference.

Does Befitnow offer free shipping?

Yes, to most locations in the continental US and Canada. Add the Mr. Monster to your cart to verify free shipping for your specific address. If you're in a zone that doesn't qualify, give us a call.

Does the Kolossos have a lat pulldown?

Not as a dedicated station. The Kolossos uses its functional trainer cables with a 2:1 ratio (or 1:1 with the included adapter). Bells of Steel sells a separate Lat Pulldown Rack Attachment if you want a dedicated back station. The Mr. Monster includes a dedicated 1:1 lat pulldown/low row station as part of the base machine.

How many exercises can you do on the Mr. Monster?

We've logged over 1,000 exercises on the Monster setup we ship out. The three independent cable systems, Smith machine, power rack, dip station, pull-up bar, and landmine create a gym's worth of movement options.

The Bottom Line

Bells of Steel makes solid equipment. They've earned their reputation over 15 years in the industry. The Kolossos is a real machine with real capability.

But the specs don't lie.

The Kolossos costs $1,000+ more than the Mr. Monster while offering 600 lbs of capacity versus 1,500 lbs. Its cables and pulleys are covered for 90 days versus lifetime. It lacks a dedicated 1:1 lat station that the Monster includes standard.

A 90-day cable warranty on a machine built around cable movements is a real consideration. When the manufacturer warns you to "minimize single-sided cable use" to avoid wear, they're telling you something about the expected lifespan of those components.

The Monster was built for commercial environments. The warranty reflects that confidence. We've logged over 1,000 exercises on the setup we ship out, and we stand behind every cable, every pulley, every component for life.

Ready to see the Mr. Monster for yourself?

Check out the full specs, photos, and customer reviews at Befitnow – Mr. Monster Smith Machine Functional Trainer.

(Befitnow email subscribers regularly receive exclusive discounts. It's worth joining if you're still deciding.)