In our recent article titled ‘The Ultimate Guide to Building a Home Gym in 2021’ we have stated that Valor Fitness BD-7 is an all-inclusive squat rack for people who want to build their own ‘temple of steel’. It comes with an inbuilt LAT machine, so you don’t have to buy things separately and worry about compatibility, etc.
The BD-7 power rack by Valor Fitness is a great alternative to Rogue power racks that are beyond the reach of most of us. This is why it is in demand these days and has been rated as one of the best power racks for home gyms suitable for people who rather take their fitness routine seriously.
In this article, we will provide you with its in-depth review, so you can decide if it is something that you would like to have in your home gym. Our review is mostly based on our personal experience but we have also double-checked the customer reviews from Amazon and other websites to ensure that we provide you with accurate information and an unbiased review.
Let's get started!
Noteworthy features and specifications of Valor Fitness BD-7 power rack
- Assembled dimension: 80″ height X 23.63″length X 43.25″ width
- Assembled weight: 180 lbs
- Features westside hole spacing i.e. it has 1” gap between the holes
- Comes with 4 solid steel safety catches. One pair is meant to be used on the outside of the cage and the other one for inside the cage
- Two safety bars are also included with the Valor Fitness BD 7 power rack
- Weight-bearing capacity: 500lbs for the safety catchers outside the frame, 650lbs for the inside ones, 750lbs for safety bars, and 200lbs for the pulldown station
- Has 4 weight pegs storage that help weighing it down as well as for keeping the plates organized
- Comes with a knurled pull up bar
- Has three different workout stations. Read below to learn more about them.
- Warranty: 3 years on frame, 2 years on cable system, and 10 years on hardware
Assembly is easy
Assembling Valor Fitness BD7 power rack could take about 2.5 hours or more depending on your assembly skills. Thankfully, the process is pretty straightforward. You can build it yourself but an extra pair of helping hands could be be a good thing to have.
You will get an assembly manual, which offers step-by-step instructions. But the manufacturer doesn't send the tools required for putting it together. You will have to arrange two adjustable wrenches; one for holding the bolt still and the other to tighten the nuts.
The bolts are of slightly different sizes
The larger bolts look almost the same but they are not. Some of them are slightly shorter and are meant to be used inside the cage. The longer ones need to go on the outside of the cage. To avoid any confusion, separate these bolts before you start building the cage.
Overall construction and build quality of the Valor Fitness BD 7 squat cage
Has a solid and durable frame
It is made of 2″ X 2″ 12 gauge steel tubing.
Just in case you don't know; the higher the Steel gauge is the more brittle it will be. So, this means 7 gauge steel is stronger than 12 gauge.
The commercial grade gym equipment are usually made of 7 gauge steel. That's because they are meant for rough use. Since you will be using the BD7 power rack at home, 12 guage steel is more than enough for you, unless you are an athlete or a powerlifter preparing for competition. And, in that case, you might want to choose products from Rogue, Eleiko, Kabuki Strength, etc.
Can’t be bolted down to the floor but can be made stable by adding weight to it
But don't worry; you won't feel the need of bolting it down to the floor.
A lot of people (including us) want to anchor their power cage to the floor because it helps minimize the wobble. Plus, an anchored power cage is less likely to slip or trip over when you are training with heavy weights.
We would have loved the floor anchoring option but, as we mentioned above, this BD 7 squat cage by Valor Fitness is highly stable. It's assembled weight is 135 lbs. Plus it has four weight pegs that you can use to store your plates and, ultimately, weigh it down for additional stability.
The base has grippy rubber end caps that prevent the frame from sliding or slipping while performing pull ups and other exercises.
3-in-1 workout station makes it highly versatile
That's the USP of Valor Fitness BD7 power cage. The three workout stations are:
- A high pulley station with Lat pulldown bar-
- A low police station with straight T Bar
- A pull up station
A lap bar and a low row and curl bar is also included in the Lat pulldown station. You can buy dip handles separately and attach them to the vertical bars of the frame.
As obvious, it is a highly versatile piece of home gym equipment. The two different pulley positions help you do a wide range of exercises and target almost all muscle groups of your body.
Watch this video to learn about some of the exercises that you can do with this power cage by Valor Fitness.
The cable of the pulley station might wear out after a few years
That’s a common issue with almost all cable pulley systems, so this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.
The cable of the pulley basically has a rubber coating around it, which could wear down with use. The more you use it, the sooner it will come apart. Plus, the heavier you lift, the sooner it will fail. One of our team members has been using it for almost a year and the plastic is still in good condition but we are pretty sure it won't last beyond its warranty period.
Nevertheless, you can buy a replacement cable from any hardware store near you or online. A few buyers have mentioned that they got a free replacement from the manufacturer because theirs was within the warranty period.
The pulley system is not as smooth as it could be
And you shouldn’t even expect that because it isn’t a $1500 product.
The pulley system may feel stiff initially but, after greasing, it should be good to use. But, the motion will still be a bit bumpy.
Compact footprint means less depth and height compared to other power racks
A lot of buyers actually do not visualize the dimensions and end up feeling cramped inside the cage.
The Valor Fitness BD7 power cage has much smaller dimensions compared to other squat cages. It measures 80″ height X 23.63″length X 43.25″ width. 80” height is not enough if you are taller than 6ft. You will have to fold up your legs to prevent them from touching the ground.
The width is small too. The REP FITNESS PR-1100 Power Rack is 48” wide whereas this one has a width of just 43”. So, it is obvious that you may feel a bit cramped inside but we didn’t experience any major problems with that.
Who is it suitable for?
We believe the Valor Fitness BD 7 squat rack is suitable for intermediate to advanced trainers. Beginners too can buy it provided they are committed enough to stick to their fitness journey.
But, if you are a powerlifter or other strength athlete, who needs a rack that can safely handle a lot of weight, we would recommend you to go with something sturdier and more heavy duty with a floor anchoring option such as Rogue RML-3 Monster Lite Rack.
Our Rating: 4.5/5
Our Verdict:
This super-versatile power cage is highly recommended for anyone who wants something more than just a standard squat rack. It doesn’t come with a weight bench, so make sure you buy it additionally, in case you don’t already have one. Here are some of the best flat benches and best adjustable benches that we recommend.
If you are just getting started with weight training and need something basic, here are some of the Best Budget Squat Racks that we recommend for beginners. Also, here is a brief list of the Best Squat Racks at Walmart that we would recommend for people who are on a budget.
Looking for power cages that are as good as Rogue but much more affordable? We bet you are, which is why we have come up with a list of Best Squat Racks Besides Rogue’s. We hope these articles help you find the right equipment for your workout needs.
