Whether you’re looking to outfit a commercial gym, or complete your home gym, no piece of equipment is more versatile than the power rack. Serious lifters know a power rack is an important part of safe solo lifting.
Power racks are an awesome way to make the most out of your workout. The power rack is like the original home gym, but instead of using bands or rods it uses good old fashion free weights. For the most part you can do any traditional exercise like squats, bench press, and military press.
There are many factors one must consider when it comes to purchasing the perfect power rack, all of which can be found here in our power rack buyer’s guide. Power racks at any level can cost a little bit of money so it is important to choose the best one that will fit your weight lifting needs.
Physical Features
The non-lifter may see a power rack as nothing more than just an empty metal rectangle, but we all know it’s much more than that. There are many features which make a power rack what it is and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you could be missing out on important features or over-paying for ones you’ll never end up using.
Size
When it comes to power racks, size is of the utmost importance. You want to make sure that it clears the ceiling, but even more importantly, you have to make sure there’s wall-to-wall clearance. This extends past the actual cage when you think about the 7 foot Olympic bar and the weight plate storage system. Size also matters when it comes to height since you don’t want a tall rack if you’re short and vice versa.
Stations
A good power rack isn’t just a cage with a couple of hooks for the bar as there are multiple stations involved. Make sure you get one with a pull up bar because that should be considered a station and not an accessory. There should also be bar hooks and band hooks all over the rack to provide enough stations to make your power rack a standalone gym.
Accessories
The special additions to your rack don’t mean squat if they are not the ones that you will use. Make sure that you are getting accessories that you will use. Common ones to look out for include a row station, excess plate and bar storage, ladder attachments, and spotter platforms.
Safety Features
Power racks are inherently more dangerous than a machine so every little bit helps when it comes to ensuring your personal safety. Check to see if the rack has a stabilizer bar; these are usually found running along the bottom back side of the rack. Also look for if and how the rack is designed to be anchored. Most racks will either offer holes in the back to anchor into the wall or on the bottom to screw into the floor.
The Intangibles
Some features can’t be seen or touched, but they matter more than those you can sense; the warranty is a great example. Power racks are pretty solid pieces of equipment and most come with lifetime warranties, but you always want to double check for that. The last thing you want is to have you rack fall apart around you with no warranty to cover it.
Is a Power Rack Right for You?
If you’re ready to fully commit to a strength training program and you have the space, then a power rack is absolutely the right move. They’re built to last and won’t need to be replaced every five years like the home gyms of today. Even more importantly, a power rack will grow with you as you can always buy more plates to throw on it.