Rogue Fitness manufactures more than 20 different types of half squat racks, power cages, and squat stands. So, choosing between them can get quite overwhelming. To help you choose the right product, we have been reviewing the various Rogue Fitness squat stands/racks series on our website. Once you know what these series are and who they are meant for, you will be able to narrow down your choices.
We have already reviewed the Rogue Monster Lite RML series squat racks, which are full-size power racks with 4 uprights made of 3” X 3” 11 gauge steel tubes. As we said, these are power racks, so they are expensive and they need a decent amount of space.
That’s where the Rogue Fitness SML Monster light series half racks come in. These are half racks with only two uprights. They are good for smaller spaces.
In this article, we will be reviewing the Rogue Fitness SML half racks, which also belong to the Monster light series and have all the features that are specific to this series. Read our detailed review below to know more.
PS: Looking for affordable but equally good alternatives? Check out some of the best squat racks besides Rogue’s that we have selected for you.
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Quick Review Video
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Quick Review Summary
Rogue Fitness SML monster lite squat racks are basically half racks with two uprights connected to a base. The uprights are made of 11 gauge steel and have 3” X 3” posts. The base is made of 2” X 3” steel tubing. The SML 1 half rack doesn’t come with a pullup bar and is only meant for weight training. Others come with an option of skinny bar or a fat/skinny bar.
The Rogue Fitness SML monster lite series half racks are heavy-duty products recommended for intermediate to advanced trainers. But, they do not come with a floor anchoring option. You need to buy the kit separately, which is what we don’t like. Plus, the spotter arms are also sold separately.
Excellent product but quite expensive than other competitive products.
Pros
- Heavy-duty product with 3” X 3” thick frame
- Has compact footprint
- Available in three different heights including the one meant for areas with low ceiling
- Comes with lifetime warranty
Cons
- Pricey for what it is
- Spotter arms sold separately
- Floor anchoring kit sold separately
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
Full Review
Now on to our full review.
Features and specifications of Rogue Fitness SML (Monster lite) series half rack
The above table should give you clarity on the difference between various squat racks/power cages and squat stands that Rogue manufactures.
As obvious from the above table, the monster lite series power cages and squat stands are heavy-duty products meant for hardcore training sessions. Here are some noteworthy features of the SML monster light series half racks.
- Dimensions: 48” length X 49” width. Height varies between 72” and 100”
- Weight- varies between 122lbs to 167lbs
- Material: 11 gauge steel
- Frame: 3” X 3” steel tubing uprights and 2” X 3” base
- Hole size: ⅝”
- Comes with a pair of j-hooks. You can buy spotter arms separately for benching.
- Compatible with all accessories made for Monster lite series products
- Features westside hole spacing in the benching area
- Lifetime warranty
With 3” X 3” uprights, the Rogue SML monster lite series half racks are one of the best options for intermediate and advanced trainers
The SML squat stands of monster lite series basically consist of SML1, SML 2, SML 3, and a SLIM rack. Look at the table below to learn more about them.
Image Source: Rogue Fitness
The slim rack is a wall-mountable and foldable product suitable for compact home gyms. It is heavier and taller than the Ethos wall mounted squat rack, which is one of top-rated foldable squat racks recommended for home gyms.
All these squat stands have 3” X 3” uprights, which are the widest and strongest possible uprights sold in the market so far. The wider frames of the Rogue SML monster lite series half racks give them a beastly look. They are made of 11 gauge steel and can be trusted to hold up to 1000lbs of weight.
The SML series Rogue squat stands have a very minimal wobble, so you can trust them for training with heavy weights as well as for calisthenics. The SML 3 rack has a max height of 110” so you can even add gymnastic rings of your choice. Here are some of the best gymnastic rings that we recommend for home gyms.
Please note: If you are planning to use the Rogue Fitness SML monster lite series half racks for calisthenics, please make sure you bolt it down to the floor or your weightlifting platform to minimize the wobble as much as possible. You can buy the mounting kit separately.
Floor anchoring is the safest and most effective way to stabilize a squat stand.
You can either buy a skinny bar or a fat/skinny bar
And, you don’t need to pay anything extra for your choice.
Just in case you don’t know, most pull up bars that you get with squat racks or power cages are usually a skinny bar with 1.25” diameter. These bars are pretty standard; the only thing that varies is the build quality and knurling pattern.
A fat/skinny bar is actually a combination of two bars (see image below). One of the bars has the standard 1.25” diameter and the other has a 2” diameter. You can only use the bottom bar for exercising, so you need to keep flipping it as and when you want to change the diameter.
Image source: Rogue Fitness
Well, the fat/skinny bar combination is a great option but, if we have to choose, we would rather want to go with the skinny one.
Having a bar on the top of the main bar only restricts the type of movements you can do. Plus, you will have to keep flipping it to change the bar that you want to use. So, we would rather buy a single fat bar separately.
Spotter arms and foot mounting feet are sold separately
These are two very basic things that you need for safe and hassle-free workouts.
For benching exercises, especially compound exercises such as decline bench press, the spotter arms are easier to use than j-hooks. They provide a larger contact area so you can quickly and safely release the barbell when done. Spotter arms are also meant for catching the barbell just in case you fail your reps. If you are lifting more than 100lbs, you must use them.
Similarly, if you are into calisthenic exercises such as kipping, we strongly recommend bolting the squat rack or power cage to the ground or the weightlifting platform. Numerous buyers have stated that the SML half racks wobble more than expected, especially when you use them for bodyweight exercises.
Most squat racks come with a floor mounting kit but Rogue doesn’t include them with its SML Monster lite series half rack.
Now, the main issue here is that if you buy the spotter arms and the floor anchoring kit separately, you will probably have to pay much more than what you would have expected because the spotter arms cost around $200!
If you have that high budget, you should rather go with full-size Rogue Fitness RML monster lite squat racks.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
Wrap Up
The only reason why we are not giving it a 5/5 star is because of the missing floor anchoring option. Most squat racks come with pre-drilled holes, so even if the hardware is missing, you can quickly grab some from your local hardware store and secure the rack to the ground.
But, that’s not the case with Rogue Fitness SML monster lite series half racks. There are no pre-drilled holes, so you will have to spend an extra $30 + shipping (if applicable). Rogue should at least start providing these holes to make its products more affordable.
We hope this blog provides you all the necessary information that you need to decide if you should go with the Rogue SML monster lite racks or not. For more such detailed, genuine product reviews and helpful information, keep reading our website and get in touch with us if you have any suggestions.