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If you are into hardcore weight training, buying a squat rack that meets your specific needs within your budget and fits well in your small home gym is not as easy as it sounds. There are only a few brands that sell heavy-duty power cages, so you don’t really have too many options to choose from. Plus, most of the available options are made of the same quality of materials and have almost the same features. So, choosing the right product gets even more confusing.
But, don’t worry. We are here to help you.
In this article, we will brief you about the features that you need to look for while buying a heavy-duty squat rack and their importance. We will also share our list of best high-end squat racks that we recommend for advanced trainers, fitness freaks, and anyone who wants to buy a power cage that he wouldn’t have to replace for probably a lifetime.
Let’s get started!
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In a hurry? Here are our top picks!
Our Picks
#1 - Rogue RM Series Monster Racks
What we think
Rogue RM Monster racks series consist of more than 10 types of products, including a wall-mount rack, floor-anchored racks, and standard racks. They are all fully customizable. They are all made of 11-gauge 3” X 3” steel frame. The uprights feature westside hole spacing and have 1” holes that can accommodate only specific accessories designed for them. Thankfully, Rogue Fitness manufactures tons of such accessories that allow you to use your rack in more ways than you can possibly imagine.
Rogue Monster racks are beastly products meant for advanced trainers only.
Pros
- Has bigger, thicker hardware that help improve its overall sturdiness
- Available in various heights to suit various home gym needs
- Can be customized in various ways
- Numerous accessories available to increase the versatility of use of these racks
Cons
- None as such
Summary
Definitely a great buy.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 5.0 out of 5.0.
#2 - Rep Fitness PR-5000
What we think
Rep Fitness PR 5000 power cage is a heavy-duty product made of 3” X 3” 11 gauge steel, which is the standard choice for most commercial-grade products. It has two inches hole spacing throughout the uprights and there are holes on all sides of the uprights so you can add as many accessories as you want and at any spot you want. The rack is available in two different heights and depths. You also get to choose from various colors.
The build quality of the Rep Fitness PR 5000 squat rack is as good as Rogue Monster series rack and yet it is much cheaper.
Pros
- Has 3” X 3” uprights
- Has 1” hardware
- Can be customized in many ways
- Cheaper than many competitive products
- Tons of accessories and add-ons available
Cons
- Westside hole spacing is missing in the benching area
Summary
A heavy-duty power cage that you will never be able to outgrow.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.7 out of 5.0.
#3 - Titan Series Power Rack
What we think
Titan Series power rack is the top-quality product sold by Titan Fitness. This squat rack is meant for hardcore training sessions and therefore, it is rated for up to 2000lbs weight. You need to bolt it down for safe training and the huge 1” hardware gives you enough confidence to trust it for as heavy as you can lift.
The uprights are made of 3” X 3” 11 gauge steel and feature 2” gaps between holes on all four sides. This is something that we don’t like but it’s not a major issue though. It comes with a standard pullup bar and the second one can be a thick bar or a crossmember depending on what you want. You can also customize its height and depth. Plus, you can add as many add-ons as you want because there are plenty of holes on almost all sides of the uprights, the base, and the top.
Pros
- Uses beefy 1” hardware
- Cheaper than most competitive products
- Build quality is as per the industry standard for heavy-duty racks
- Numerous add-ons available to accessorize it as per your workout needs
Cons
- We had expected westside hole spacing in this price range
- A lifetime warranty would have given buyers more confidence to trust Titan Fitness
- Spotter arms need to be bought separately
Summary
One of the beefiest squat racks for advanced trainers, athletes, and bodybuilders.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0.
#4 - Rogue R Series Racks
What we think
Rogue R Series racks are the elder brothers of the Ethos series products. They have 2” X 3” 11 gauge steel frame featuring westside hole spacing in the benching area and 2” in the other parts.
Just like most Rogue racks, the R series products too need to be bolted down to the floor or weightlifting platform, which could be an issue if you are planning to use it in a spare room of your rented house. Plus, the racks are 90” tall, making them unsuitable for basements and other low ceiling areas.
Nevertheless, the Rogue R series squat racks are heavy-duty products meant for people who love to train hard in their home gym.
Pros
- Value for money
- Heavy-duty products for home use
- Some parts can be customized
- They have dual pull-up bars
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Need to bolted to the floor/weightlifting platform
- Limited add-ons available
Summary
A perfect centerpiece for your home gym.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
#5 - Rep Fitness PR-4000 Power Rack
What we think
Rep Fitness PR 4000 power cage/squat rack is made of 3” X 3” 11 gauge steel frame. It is a heavy-duty product intended for use by intermediate to advanced trainers, athletes, and military personnels. You can buy the 4-post one or the 6-post one as per the availability of space. You also get to choose from two different heights and a wide range of customization options. Floor anchoring is not mandatory but strongly recommended by the manufacturer.
Pros
- Affordable than Rogue products
- Can be customized as per your needs
- Easy to assemble
- Lots of add-ons available so you won’t have to replace it any time soon
Cons
- None as such
Summary
Heavy-duty full-size customizable racks for budget lifters.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
#6 - Titan T3 Series Power Rack
What we think
The Titan T3 series squat rack is made of 2” X 3” 11 gauge steel frame and features a westside hole spacing pattern in the benching area. It has a walk-through design i.e. there is no stability bar connecting the rear uprights. So, obviously you need to bolt it down to your lifting platform or the floor of your home gym. However, if that’s not possible and if you are lifting not so heavy, you may just weigh it down by buying an optional weight holder.
Numerous buyers have agreed that the Titan T3 series squat rack is almost as good as the Rogue R series power cages in terms of build quality and use. But, Titan’s accessories are not that durable. Plus, the welds and the quality of painting and finishing are not that professional. Nevertheless, it works as expected and that’s all we want.
Pros
- Moderately priced
- Heavy-duty rack meant for fitness freaks
- Comes with dual pull-up bars
- Tons of accessories and add-ons available
Cons
- Must be bolted to the floor
- Paint may chip
- Spotter arms have to be bought separately
Summary
Heavy-duty squat rack for budget-conscious buyers.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
#7 - Titan Fitness X-3 Series Bolt-Down Power Rack
What we think
Titan Fitness X 3 series bolt down power rack is part of its X 3 series power racks. It is made of 3” X 3” 11 gauge power racks and needs to be bolted down for optimal safety and minimal wobble. It comes with two pull-up bars and a pair of j-hooks. You need to buy spotter arms and other add-ons separately. As expected from a professional-grade product, it has 1” hole spacing in the benching and clean pull area and 2” in the rest.
The best thing about it is that it costs half the price of other competitive products. And yet, its build quality matches there’s. The only issues we could find are poor welding and painting jobs.
Pros
- Cheaper than most competitive products meant for heavy-duty use
- Made of heavy-duty 3” X 3” 11 gauge steel
- Has westside hole spacing in the benching and clean pull zone
- Height and width can be customized
- Available in 6 different colors
Cons
- Needs to be bolted down for safe use
- Holes are not numbered
- Have fewer holes for adding accessories as compared to other competitive products
Summary
Heavy-duty squat rack available on a budget.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
#8 - Rogue RML-3 Monster Lite Rack
Quick Review Video
What we think
Rogue RML 3 Monster Lite squat rack is made of 3″ X 3″ 11 gauge steel, which is kind-of gold standard for high-end power cages. It has a free-standing design, which means all it has on the floor is 4 pillars. There is no rear stability bar at the base that connects the uprights. This design doesn’t block the rear space so you can place your workout bench or any other tool as you want. But, you will have to bolt it down for use, which anyways is a good way to ensure 100% stability and safety.
Assembling the Rogue RML 3 Monster lite rack is pretty easy. It anyways come almost preassembled, so you won’t have to do a lot of hard work. You will get a pair of j-hooks, a pair of pin and pipe safeties, 4 band pegs, and two pull-up bars with the kit. One of the bar is the standard bar whereas the other one is thick 2″ bar. Westside hole spacing pattern is followed in the benching zone. The holes are not numbered though.
Rogue RML 3 Monster Lite racks are quite tall, so they may not be suitable for basements.
Pros
- Tallest possible rack for home gyms
- Since you have to bolt it for use, you won't feel any wobble while training hard
- heavy-duty frame made of 3" X 3" 11 gauge steel
- Has Westside hole spacing in the benching area
- comes with two pullup bars; a standard one and thick one with 2" diameter
Cons
- Holes are not numbered
- comes with Pin and pipes safety. At this price range, we had expected safety straps
- Needs to be bolted down for use
Summary
One of the top-notch squat rack by Rogue Fitness for heavy-duty use
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
#9 - Ethos power rack 1.0
What we think
Ethos power Rack 1.0 is made of 3”X3” 11 gauge steel and has a weight-bearing capacity of 1000lbs. The frame is not just thick but also has triangular gussets and additional feet that provide exceptional stability even when you don’t bolt this rack to the ground. These features make it strong enough for even powerlifters and bodybuilders.
It is a full-fledged power cage with spotter arms, J-hooks, multi-grip monkey bar, safety catches, and a pull-up bar. Weight pegs and resistance band pegs are missing though.
The only thing that we don’t like about the Ethos power rack 1.0 is that it has a non-standard hole size. Most squat rack accessories are designed for 1” holes but this one has ⅝” holes. This makes it really difficult to find compatible accessories. Thankfully, Ethos manufactures most of the accessories but again, it means you will have to stick to the same brand, even if you have much better, cheaper options.
Pros
- Ensures high level of stability even when not bolted to the floor
- Comes with a multi-grip monkey bar, a pullup bar, and spotter arms
Cons
- Doesn’t have resistance bands pegs
- Doesn’t have any option to add landmine attachment
- Has non-standard hole size so you can’t easily find compatible attachments
- Taller, better racks available in this price range
Summary
Perfect piece of home gym equipment for athletes, bodybuilders, and advanced trainers.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.
Buying Guide and Frequently Asked Questions
Things to consider while buying a squat rack
Quality of steel used for making the frame
Needless to mention, the quality of steel will determine the racks’ durability. Fragile frames will bend or sway too much under heavy weights. If you are lifting more than 400lbs, you must buy power cages that are made of 11 gauge steel.
12 or 13 gauge steel frames are good for squat racks that are meant for beginners or recreational lifters. We have already created a list of the best budget squat racks just in case you want to check.
If you don’t know, the higher the steel gauge is, the more fragile it will be. So, 7 gauge steel is stronger than 11 gauge steel and 11 gauge is stronger than 12 gauge steel.
Dimensions of the uprights
Squat racks are made of 2” X 2”/ 2” X 3”/3” X 3” uprights.
As obvious 3” X 3” uprights are thicker and wider than their younger brothers. They are used for manufacturing heavy-duty squat racks meant for advanced trainers, athletes, bodybuilders, military training, and various other purposes where they will be exposed to rigorous use.
Some heavy-duty products are made of 2” X 3” frames. They are usually the less expensive ones and they are a great option for home gym owners like us who do not really want to train like a hulk.
The 2” X 2” uprights are used for budget squat racks. Although these products are rated for 800 to 1000 lbs, we do not recommend them to anyone who wants to train with more than 400lbs.
Overall footprint of the rack
Squat racks are available in various heights, widths, and depths. Some are just 83” high whereas others are as tall as 108”. Each of them has a specific use.
If you want to use your power cage for calisthenic workouts, go for a taller one. If you have ample space in your home gym, you should go with wider and deeper racks so you can train comfortably and use as many accessories and add-ons as possible. But if you have a home gym in the basement, you can accommodate only the shorter racks.
Floor anchoring option
You would need that if you want to train rigorously.
No matter how heavy-duty or expensive your squat rack is, it will wobble during your training. It might not trip over but even the slightest wobble may shake your confidence when you have 500lbs of weight on your shoulders.
If your rack wobbles, you may not be able to put your barbell on it as quickly as you want to, and during this process, you might just miss your grip or control and end up with an accident.
We, therefore, strongly recommend you bolt your squat rack to the floor or a weightlifting platform. Most heavy-duty racks anyways have a bolt-to-the-floor design, so you don’t have a choice. But, they still come with optional weight storage pegs that you can use to weigh the rack down until you're ready to anchor it.
Most budget squat racks too come with holes in their feet that you can use for anchoring. But, if you are a beginner or a recreational lifter, you might skip this step, provided you weigh the rack down adequately.
Quality of j-hooks and spotter arms
They are the ones that are going to take all the beating when you will re-rack your heavily loaded barbell on them or when you will miss a rep. So, you need to buy a squat rack that comes with high-quality, generously-sized, and well-padded j-hooks.
Usually, j-hooks are lined with plastic, which helps protect the barbell’s knurling as well as absorb the noise and vibration. The padding will obviously wear out with time, so you will have to replace them when needed. Here are some replacement j-hooks that you may buy.
Wrap Up
The power cages we have chosen above are tested and tried products from brands that have a solid reputation in the market. We hope they will help you set a new PR as frequently as possible.
Don’t know what PR is?
Our article on ‘What Does PR Mean in the Gym’ should help you. Also find out what is a 4×12 workout and how you can quickly get rid of man boobs.
If you have any questions or queries, feel free to contact us.