Rogue Fitness is an Ohio-based company that manufactures high-quality home gym, semi-commercial, and commercial-grade workout equipment for people of all fitness levels. Bill Henniger started it in 2007 when he couldn’t find good quality equipment for his new gym. He started his shop in his garage and within just a year or two, Rogue Fitness became a popular name among people who were tired of investing in cheap Chinese products.
Currently, Rogue Fitness is the leading manufacturer of world-class strength and conditioning home gym equipment. Over the years, it has emerged as a brand that is willing to adapt to cutting-edge technology to provide best-in-class products to its buyers.
Rogue’s products are expensive because it never cuts corners only to keep the prices low and competitive. Plus, almost all of them come with a lifetime warranty! This shows the amount of confidence Rogue has in its products. It knows its worth (and so do we).
We have used a couple of Rogue’s products and all of them were near-perfect (perfect products don’t exist because you can always find a scope of improvement in everything). We have reviewed many of them in our blog. Here, we will be reviewing one of its independent squat stands, the S-4 squat stand 2.0. Being an independent squat and bench rack, it is made of two separate (unconnected) uprights that can be adjusted horizontally too. Highly recommended for people who are working with limited space.
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Quick Review Video
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Quick Review Summary
Rogue S-4 Squat stand is a heavy-duty product meant for advanced trainers, athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts who love to experiment with something new every day. It has an exceptional weight-bearing capacity of 1000lbs, which is made possible by its 2″ X 3″ 11 gauge steel uprights with bases made of 7 gauge steel. The stands weigh 130lbs together, making them incredibly sturdy. The manufacturer trusts its products so much that it hasn’t provided weight horns on these stands, something that we would rather prefer, especially if we are lifting heavy.
Pros
- Highly stable and durable
- Offers best value for money
- Has triangular plates that connect the uprights with the base for ensuring extra stability
Cons
- Pricier because you will have to pay for shipping too
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 5.0 out of 5.0.
Full Review
Now on to our full review.
Key Features
- Dimensions: Length-26″ (depth), Width-22″, Height- 72″
- Weight: 130lbs
- Weight-bearing capacity: 1000lbs
- A pair of infinity J-cups included with the Rogue S4 2.0
- Comes with rubber feet for enhanced stability and floor protection. These feet were missing in the original Rogue S4 version.
- Has 1” westside hole pattern through the benching area and the rest have 2” space between the holes.
Before we provide you with more details on Rogue’s squat stands, let's first understand the difference between independent squat stands and Olympic squat rack (also known as power rack or squat cage).
Squat stand versus squat rack/power rack/squat cage
A lot of people assume they are the same thing but they aren’t. Squat stands have independent posts that can be adjusted as per your needs. They are exclusively meant for squatting and bench work. They are often referred to as free standing squat racks. Since squat stands occupy less space and can be pushed towards the wall or inside a cabinet when not in use, they are very popular home gym equipment.
Squat racks or power cages or squat cages require a dedicated space, so they are not recommended for small homes. But, if space (and budget) isn’t a concern for you, squat racks would be better because you can accessorize them with a pullup bar, a lat machine, etc. to create a proper home gym setup. They are heavier and more stable than portable squat racks.
If you think you need a home squat rack instead of this Rogue S4, some options that we recommend are:
- CAP barbell power rack exercise stand. Full review here.
- TDS power rack. Full review here.
- Valor Fitness BD 7 squat rack. Full review here.
- Rogue SML-2C Squat rack
Also, check out our list of best squat racks at Walmart.
Durability of the Rogue S-4 squat stand
Needless to say that this Rogue Fitness squat rack is strong and stable. The parts are welded well and the coating is perfect too.
The uprights are made of 11 gauge steel and feet are of 7 gauge steel. In case you don’t know, the higher the steel gauge, the more brittle it will be. This means, 7 gauge steel is stronger than the 11 or 12 gauge one. None of the squat racks for sale that we have come across uses 7 gauge steel. The inexpensive independent squat stands from CAP Barbell and Yaheetech use 12 gauge steel for the entire frame and feet.
Having stronger feet obviously enhances the stability and durability of a product. You don’t have to worry about the squat rack collapsing or tipping under heavy weights. So, Rogue S4 definitely deserves to be rated as the best squat rack for people who are rather serious about their workout.
Stability of the Rogue S-4 squat stand
The whole set weighs about 130lbs which is much more than what other squat stands weigh. The more the weight, the stabler the unit will be, so this is an important point to consider.
The vertical uprights have an H-shaped base. Although the shape is very common in almost all independent squat stands, its high steel gauge and rubber feet threaded end caps set it apart from the other competitively priced squat stands.
The vertical uprights are connected to the H-shaped base using triangular plates. If you watch the above video, you will see that the triangular plates are not some flimsy things added only to justify the price of this Rogue Fitness squat rack. These plates are quite thick and big enough to actually work towards enhancing the stability and weight-bearing capacity of the Rogue rack.
Also, this is probably the heaviest squat stand that we have come across, which justifies its high price.
Westside hole pattern
The standard space between holes in squat stands is 50mm or 2”. The Westside hole spacing is 25mm i.e. 1”. If you are new to weight training or if you don’t really lift a lot of weight, the space between the holes may not be a major decision-making factor for you. But, if you are lifting a decent amount of weight every day and making progress at it, the space between holes must not be ignored. When you have 150lbs on your arms, going 1” up or down can impede your range of motion and even cause injury.
If you are sincere about improving your strength and stamina, this rogue squat rack should be good home gym equipment to start with. We believe it can last for a good number of years until you get bored of it or maybe willing to spend some more on a better product with some fancy features.
Safety precautions you need to take while using the Rogue S4 2.0 squat stand
Don’t get us wrong; this portable squat rack by Rogue Fitness is absolutely safe and stable to use. But, you need to use it the right way.
If you have never used a freestanding squat rack before, you will have to be careful enough to ensure that the posts are properly set up. They must align exactly parallel to each other. If they remain even a bit off, you won’t be able to place the loaded barbell on it easily and instantly, which will defy the purpose of a squat rack. Maybe you can mark your floor to set their positions. Even then, try using an unloaded barbell first to see if the alignment is correct.
Things that could be improved:
- The uprights do not have any storage pegs that you can use to organize the weights or to weigh down the entire setup.
- The price is definitely higher than the other competitive products. But, Rogue Fitness is a brand that you can count on, so most people don’t mind paying those extra dollars.
Rating
We are giving this a rating of 5.0 out of 5.0.
Wrap Up
We have been using the Rogue S4 2.0 for weeks and, as expected, we couldn’t really think of any reason why we should suggest you the below alternatives, except your budget issues. This is a near-perfect piece of home gym equipment for anyone who has limited floor space or requires more width adjustability.
Cheaper alternatives to consider:
Here are a few top-selling squat stands that we would recommend as the Rogue S4 alternatives:
- Rogue Echo Squat Stand 2.0
- Titan Fitness T 3 Squat stand
- Titan Fitness T 3 series independent squat stand
If you try out any of these products, do share your experience with us so we can share it with our other readers.