Building a home gym is something that a lot of people have taken on as home projects that will continue to reward them for their efforts many years into the future. Not only will they give you insane strength by letting you train the big compound movements such as the deadlift and squat, but they keep you safe in the process.
If you have looked online for a rack, you will see that getting a quality power rack at the right price is actually pretty hard. There are a lot of products that are expensive, but also others that are cheaply made and are not worth any money at all.
I would like to help you find the power rack that best fits your budget. This will give you a solid review of 6 different racks and a guide for what you should be looking for.
Click here to see all the best power racks in one place
Why You Need One!
First thing is first. Lets go over some of the amazing benefits you will get when using a power rack.
- This is a multi use machine. You can use them for squats and deadlifts, but you will also be able to do a ton of different body weight exercises such as chin ups, dips, pull ups, and you can even bench press inside the rack so you do not need a spotter. The best part? No one is going to judge you for doing these exercises there like a gym. Hell, you can even curl in the squat rack if you REALLY feel like it.
- Safety should always be your first priority. You will get some adjustable pins with your purchase of a power cage and this will allow you to ensure you do not get injured if you fail a rep as they will catch the weight. I remember the first time I failed a rep on bench press and had to do the roll of shame. If you are benching in a power rack, this will never happen to you.
- Since you will be more confident in yourself because of the safety features, you will be able to try and lift a lot more heavy weight. The more weight you lift, the more strength gains you will make and your development will be that much quicker. Hit those squats with confidence!
Things To Keep In Mind
- When you purchase a rack, you are buying just that, the rack. You will still need to buy other equipment to go with it such as the barbell and plates. There are some excellent quality weights and barbells on amazon for very cheap. I would suggest checking those out.
- You need to have the space for it! I suggest putting them in your garage and converting a piece of that area to your home gym if you can. Ensure you check the dimensions of the area you have available to make sure it will fit.
- Finally, know that power racks are not cheap at all, they are actually a bit expensive. If you want quality, you have to pay for it. Think of it instead as an investment in your health and that makes it all worth it.
Looking To Purchase The Best Power Rack
The more exercises you can do on one piece of equipment, the more money you will save when you are building your home gym. Because of this, look for a rack that will give you features such as a pull up bar, a bench, and possible a dip stand. Purchasing these separately may cost you hundreds of extra dollars so just get them included now!
If you have lifted in a commercial gym, you know the amount of weight these are going to be holding. They are meant to take abuse, and it is best if you get one that is very durable and made from some great quality materials. These racks are VERY heavy, but the heavier you can get a rack, the more sturdy it will be. Stay away from the cheap things you see and really purchase something that will last. You do not want it to break mid set on you, so go with a heavy powerhouse.
Also keep in mind how tall you are. If you are a taller individual, you may need to get a power rack that is taller than the average one so you can perform the exercises easily and safely. You want to be able to perform all exercises without trying to avoid the metal. If you can do this, then it is a good size for you.
Finally, these are going to be expensive as I had said, so make sure to keep your eyes out to catch amazing deals. I have found that many times, Amazon carries products and will discount them heavily so they can move volume. If you are in the market for one, take advantage of these as they are usually only available for a day.
Top Power Racks Reviewed!
Alright, so you have the money to afford one, you have the space in your home, and you know that you want to train hard. Excellent, you have just made one of the best decisions to invest in your fitness. This is going to become the most used gym equipment in your entire house. Here are some of the best power racks that are our favorites based on reviews from other people and personal experience. They are currently on sale so simply click the link and check out the price!
PowerLine PPR200X Power Rack Review
This is currently one of the most popular products out there with so many reviews and it is constantly ranked high among other racks. We found the price to be pretty low despite this being excellent quality.
The box it comes in is extremely heavy which should mean this is a durable piece of equipment. When I saw one in person, I found that they was enough room to work inside and be comfortable.
I like that the PowerLine PPR200X is compatible with other things you may want to buy and attach them. You can opt to get a pull down machine to attach to it and this is made from the same company. I would go for this option myself, but it is up to you.
If you are worried about safety, you will get 2 rods that are tempered metal to keep any weight from dropping to the floor and this unit can be used in almost 20 different positions. Not bad!
The only big downside I can see from this is that it does not come with a dip stand like I like to see on some of the power rack reviews. The paint is not that great, but who cares about that!
This unit comes with a 10 year warranty and weighs in at about 133 pounds.
Click here to check the current price
Powertec P-PR Power Rack Review
If you are a more advanced lifter and need something that is going to hold up under heavy weight, this is a good unit to look at. This commands a higher price, but if you take a look at some of the reviews, I do not think you will be disappointed when you set this up in your home gym.
The total weight this can hold is up to 1000 pounds because it made from very thick steel with a few welds. The guy I know with one of these had had it for many years and it still performs as well as it did on day one.
You will get a bar to be able to do chin ups and pull ups and if you want to do dips for your shoulders, chest, or triceps, it has that too! You can even adjust them to go from a close grip to a wide grip in a few seconds. This is the perfect option to work many different body parts.
Just like the Powerline above, this Powertec has units you can purchase that hook up to this unit if you want to get some more.
Dimensions are as follows: 44 X 82 X 60 and this beast weighs in at 206 pounds.
Do yourself a favor and consider buying this one!
Click here for the current price
Valor Athletics 7 Power Rack Review (with Lat Pull!)
With hundreds of 5 star reviews, you can tell just by looking at it that the Valor Athletics power rack is full of great stuff. The best part is that it is cheaper than the competitors!
Lets get into a little bit of what you will be getting.
First, the main frame is 2 inches by 2 inches thick. This thick metal comes with 4 eight inch storage pegs and 4 steel adjustable weight bar supports to hang your weight almost anywhere. Finally you get 2 safety bars for squatting that are made out of solid steel. All of these things comes in handy when you want to save space but also lift heavy!
You will get 17 different positions to place the bar so it does not matter if you are short or tall, there is a position that will fit you.
You can even do rows with this machine as it comes with a lower pulley. The total weight that this unit can handle is similar to the one above at 1000 pounds. I love that it has the lat pull downs so I can work my back out on my “pull” days.
Dimensions: 69 X 15 X 6 and weighs in at 170 pounds.
I would really consider checking this one out as it is extremely equipped for any type of workout you want to do.
Click here for the current price
Body Solid Pro Power Rack Review
Are you tall and still want to move around some weight? This is the perfect rack for you! Not only does it feel great for tall people, but it is made out of very sturdy materials so you can lift big weights without worrying about damaging something.
This cage is pretty wide, so you will have plenty of room to move around inside and exercise. It comes with 20 different levels of adjustment so you can place the bar almost anywhere. The frame is made out steel and is recommended to not go above 800 pounds.
What I like about this unit is that the place that holds the bar is actually square instead of round like most gyms out there. This fits a lot more securly and will keep you safe. it does not come with many attachments, but if you are looking to build a full home gym, there are a ton that can be bought and attached directly to this unit for the perfect strength combination. Check them out on Amazon and see just how many there are.
What it does come with though is a pull up bar, excellent for working many different parts of your body.
Some people who have bought this say that it is a bit hard to set up, but keep in mind that this rack is commercially rated so you may have seen them in a gym and they are heavy. Take your time to set it up properly, and it is one of the best units money can buy.
Dimensions: 82 X 49 X 46
Click here to see the current price
Deltech Fitness Power/Squat Rack Review
Sometimes getting a piece of gym equipment that performs well but also looks great in your space is a bit hard to find. This unit is white, and comes in at a great price along with many of the features it comes with.
First off, it comes with a chin up bar and a pull up bar for added exercises. It also can carry up to 1000 pounds like a lot of the high end units but maintains an affordable price.
I love that you can change the catchers for the weight to place them either inside, or outside the rack. This allows you to open up some room to do other exercises without them getting in the way.
While it is a great price, it does not come with anything else than what I have mentioned above but it made of thick steel, is sturdy, and reliable while looking great in almost any room you will put it in.
Dimensions: 55 X 49 X 81 and weighs in at 190 pounds!
Click here to see the current price
Titan Power Rack/Squat Review
Alright, the list would not be complete without an option for those people that are seriously on a budget! I have never used one before, but it has a lot of great reviews saying it is well made and sturdy which is essential when you are dealing with heavier weights.
You will be able to load up 700 pounds onto this unit and it is made from 2 inch steel tubes that have 1 inch round steel hooks to catch the weight.
It comes with a chin up bar (which I am surprised because it is a cheap power rack), but this is great because you can get in more exercises with this.
The Titan Power rack is very easy to put together and the best part about it is that it has 28 different positions you can put it in. This is a TON of different places to place the bar and can be adjusted to anywhere you feel comfortable lifting at.
The entire box weighs in at 107 pounds and takes up about 48 inches all around on the floor. Nice and compact and gets the job done!
Click here to check the current price
Wrapping It Up
Above I have reviewed some of my favorite power racks available. You will notice that a lot of these link to Amazon. The reason for this is that they are always running great promotions on weight lifting equipment and I want to help you find the best deal possible.
Getting a squat rack (power rack) is one of the best uses for your money if you are building a home gym. You can do so many different exercises with them and 2 of the big compound movements. These are great for building massive amounts of strength and an impressive physique.
The best power racks are listed above and I hope you take the time to invest in your fitness.
Let me know in the comments below which power rack you use or if you have any questions. All the best!
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