You’re a heavy bodybuilder. Or maybe you’re just starting out lifting weights. You’ve gone to the gym and done the whole routine and after you thought about it for a while, you realized how much you could save by simply purchasing your own power rack. Now you want the best power rack you can find.
Getting in shape is one thing; bulking up and packing on muscle is another thing entirely. You need discipline. You need to be able to ‘push through the pain’ (remember, no pain, no gain). You need to have somewhere to use your weights. And that ‘somewhere’ needs to be safe, easy to use, and reliable. That’s why you’re looking for a great, reliable, and durable power rack.
Related Buyer’s guide:
Top Rated Power Racks
1. ARCHON Power Rack Squat Deadlift Cage with Bench Racks
2. Rep Power Rack with Dual Pullup Bars, Numbered Uprights
3. Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack with Lat Pull Attachment
4. PowerLine PPR200X Power Rack
5. Cap Barbell Power Rack Exercise Stand
5 Best Power Racks – Top Picks and Reviews
With many different models from which to choose, here are the best five on the market right now.
1. ARCHON Power Rack Squat Deadlift Cage with Benc
h Racks
You want something solid, something durable, and something that won’t take up your entire living room, bedroom, or family room. Heck, you’d take something that wouldn’t overtake your garage!
Well, the ARCHON Power Rack Squat Deadlift Cage with Bench Racks is the ticket for you. One inch round solid steel and safety short pins is a start for what makes this unit exceptional. It also offers an easy to adjust lock on design and is chrome plated, which means it’s not just going to look great, it’s also going to last for a long, long time.
Adjustment is convenient, with two-inch spaces between the holes, which number 28, meaning you’ll be able to get the type of workout you want, even if you have several exercises to do each day.
PROS
- Durable design
- More workout space
- Heavy-duty steel
- Capacity up to 1000 pounds
- New short pegs to handle more weight.
CONS
- Only 16-gauge steel
- Not as steady as some others
- Some consumers complain about missing components
2. Rep Short Power Rack
You know you want something more than just your average power rack, and this one’s it. With the Rep Power Rack, you get an all-in-one fitness machine.
There’s none of the fluff and pomp and circumstance you get with other power racks, such as the brushed look or more appealing design for the average home; you get a solid rack that can stand up with the best of them on the market.
You also enjoy simple to adjust lock pins and j-cups that make it easy as can be to adjust for your specific height. It’s an imposing structure in any home, but for all the best reasons.
PROS
- 72-inch width is great for many workouts
- Plenty of options and add-ons available
- Can grow with you
- 800lb capacity on safety bars
CONS
- Has 700-lb max capacity only
- Possibly not enough support around base poles
3. Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack with Lat Pull Attachment
A solid, strong base provides the Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack with Lat Pull Attachment the right foundation. When you have a strong foundation, everything that gets built on top of that will remain strong.
How important is a strong foundation for a power rack? Just imagine you’re doing pull-ups and the machine is wobbling beneath your weight, even just a little bit. That can throw you off and it could lead to a poor workout or even accidents and injuries.
The Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack with Lat Pull Attachment has a nice wide base and solid feet to keep it locked in place, even when you’re throwing around several hundred pounds of weight.
It has plenty of stations for versatility and steel chrome adjusted weight bars.
PROS
- Nice, wide base for stability
- Comfortable rubber feet for traction
- Protects hardwood floors
- Plenty of adjustment options
- Great pulley system for expanding the fitness routine
CONS
- Some claim it’s not the best materials
- Incline workouts may be an issue
- The pulley system interferes with squats
- Assembly seems to be too complicated for some
4. PowerLine PPR200X Power Rack
The PowerLine PPR200X Power Rack is a decent one for the price. It’s a simple design that doesn’t seem to offer all of the same benefits as some of the higher end models. This model may be better suited for weightlifters who have few routines to keep up with on a daily basis.
It’s ideal for incline presses and squats and offers a relatively decent pull-up bar, but it doesn’t offer the best in stability. Its simple design and size make it ideal for apartments or small homes where space is at a premium.
It comes with two lift-offs and two safety rods, which is fine except that you will need to adjust these for every single different exercise you want to do, in order to stay safe, that is.
PROS
- A simple and safe system
- Decent size for space saving
- Heat tempered lift-offs provide strength
- Offers good side to side movement
CONS
- Not much room for benches and other items
- Locking pins are flimsy
- Steel may bend
- Not ideal for stronger, larger lifters
5. Cap Barbell Power Rack Exercise Stand
The Cap Barbell Power Rack Exercise Stand is basic. It can’t possibly compete with the other larger, more versatile racks and really shouldn’t be considered a power rack, even though it tends to fall into this category.
For those who are simply looking for a rack to use with a bench, to do pull-ups, and to maybe do some squats, it’s not a bad option.
It offers one rack and two safety j-cups. You don’t get the benefit of a safety bar, so you need to make sure you have a spotter when you’re doing this workout.
PROS
- Inexpensive option
- Small size
- Great for tight quarters
- Nice power coat finish
- Decent steel construction
CONS
- Not great for a significant workout
- Not very versatile
- Bar catches don’t make it easy to do bench presses
- Too small for some people
The Value of a Great Power Rack
How important is a power rack? To the average person it’s probably not that big a deal. These men and women simply go for jogs, maybe work out on Nautilus-style machines, and are more concerned with the way they look as opposed to bulking up, adding muscle, and getting ripped.
When you get serious about your workouts, when you have a goal of how many inches you want your arms or legs to be, then you’re going to be looking for a power rack.
If you go with a model just to save money, you could end up with limited options. You may also find out that certain (incredibly important) components can break. You don’t want to be worried every time to do some squats whether or not a pin’s going to hold. God forbid you’re doing chest presses and something doesn’t hold.
You need (no, you owe it to yourself) to pay attention to the details that matter when it comes to these power racks. If you workout with a partner every single time, that’s great. Not everyone does, nor do they have that luxury. If you don’t, then the right power rack is going to be even more crucial to your safety and success.
Health Benefits of Exercise
Most doctors around the world recommend that people exercise every single day. That recommendation, or admonishment, isn’t reserved for 20-somethings; it’s for everyone. When you exercise, you have two basic options: gaining stamina and endurance while trimming down or building muscle while bulking up.
If you’re focused on getting more physically fit and maybe adding a little bit of muscle, you might think a basic workout bench is ideal. A full power rack may be a better option, but we’ll discuss the benefits of this in a bit.
If you already know you want to bulk up and add considerable mass to your body, then you’re probably also aware that a power rack is such a vital tool to have at home. You can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars on gym membership fees and you won’t have to worry about people messing with the weight you have on each bar.
The more you exercise, the more strength you gain, the healthier you’ll be. Being healthy improves energy levels and focus. It can also be great for your social life. When you have one of the best power racks on the market in your home, you’ll also become a popular guy as your friends will all suddenly be inspired to follow suit and, of course, hang out with you.
Taking Care of Your Power Rack
When you look at power racks, what do you think? If you’re like most guys, you’re thinking it’s durable, there’s nothing really to worry about. You’re probably thinking this’ll be just fine tucked along the side of your garage because it’s out of the way, not taking up valuable living space, and it’s just fine.
It’s metal. It will corrode if you don’t take care of it. If you choose a power rack that comes complete with a bench or other components, there will be leather or vinyl or other materials you’ll need to keep from deteriorating.
Don’t think of a rack like these as a piece of outdoor furniture or equipment, something you can simply forget about and it’ll be fine. Stainless steel construction is often thought of as impervious to rust and corrosion, but the main components, the main bars very well might be, but bolts and pins might not be made of the same materials.
Keep your rack indoors, wipe it down after use, and keep it from becoming a rack for clothing, boxes, or other items. If you bury it under other things because you don’t have a lot of room at home, you’ll use it less frequently and that’s not why you’re investing in something like this.
Controversy Surrounding Home Fitness Machines
Maybe you’ve heard about some of the controversy that continues to plague home fitness machines, weight stations, and power racks. If you have, then you know there are some who claim they’re a waste of money or they’re dangerous or that they don’t really help the average individual.
Many of these false claims and rumors come from … can you guess? … gym owners and companies. Why would they make such claims? Honestly, they don’t want you skipping their facilities and not paying exorbitant fees just to work out and get in shape.
Yes, there are certain risks when using home fitness machines or racks. You need to understand and accept your limitations. You need to consider working out with a partner, or spotter, especially when you’re getting into higher weights.
People who get injured at home can get injured at the gym just as easily. It’s about common sense, so if you’re considering a power rack for your home, don’t worry about safety as long as you are smart, patient, and willing to avoid lifting more than you can safely handle unless you have a spotter who can take the weight off of you if needed.
Getting the Most Out of Your Power Rack
Depending on which power rack you choose, you could get more out of it than you may with others. Whichever one you purchase, though, the best way to get the most out of it is to study it. Read the manual. Find out the various features, and make the best use of them all.
Keep it in a dry location. You should also keep it warm because cold metal isn’t as pliable; there will be an increased risk of damage or breakage occurring as a result of the weight you use with it.
Focus on height adjustments. Everyone’s different, and if you’re going to be sharing this rack with anyone else, mark off the spots to set each component exactly where it works best for both of you. This will mean moving bars and locking pins constantly, but unless you are both the exact same height and are focusing on the same exact muscle groups, you may prefer different locations for each feature.
Finally, keep it accessible. Nothing defeats fitness quite like keeping a piece of equipment tucked in a corner somewhere, out of sight, buried behind or under boxes or clothes or anything else. Keep it front and center and easy to use. This will encourage you much more than just ‘owning’ one.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, when you’re looking for a power rack that’s going to give you the best opportunity to bulk up, save money on gym memberships, and is durable, you won’t go wrong with the ARCHON Power Rack Squat Deadlift Cage with Bench Racks.
It’s a great deal for the price and you can build around it with other add-ons and features. If you want a power rack you can use daily and one that’ll be able to stand the test of time, then this is certainly one you want to consider.
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Source: Wirybody
Thanks Elizabeth. The compilation is rich, you really did a nice work. I think I can now save some more money by having my own power rack.
Interesting read… I enjoy the privilege of having my own power rack, it makes it possible to easily use the rack at any time of the day without bothering on changing your location or visiting a health center.
I like the Valor Fitness; it has compartments that make it easy to exercise various parts of the body. It would also be great to have one that can be broken down to a smaller size.
Saving money on fitness membership is the primary reason behind the decision to get a power rack. I love the privacy involved while using the rack.
I agree!
good read, having your own power rack makes sense!
My husband has been wanting a power rack for his basement gym since he started using one at my brother’s. He hasn’t gotten one yet so I wanted to surprise him with one but I had no idea what the heck I was looking for! This has helped me out a lot. I think I am going to get him the REP FITNESS Power Rack!