Best Power Rack for Heavy Lifting
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Rogue RE3 Echo Power Rack -
Body Solid Power Rack -
NewYork Barbells Power Rack -
Rogue RM-4 Monster Power Rack -
Buyer's Guide
Whether you're looking to outfit a commercial gym, or complete your home gym, no piece of equipment is more versatile than the power rack. Serious lifters know that know that a power rack is an important part of safe solo lifting.
There are many factors that one must consider when it comes to purchasing the perfect power rack. Price, space requirements, safety features, and extra features are just a few of the things that should weigh into your decision.
Power racks at any level can cost a little bit of money so it's important to choose the one that will fit your needs. If you are ready to take your strength training to the next level, check out our list of the best power racks in 2022 and the buyer's guide we've provided below.
Outline of the Best Power Racks for serious gym enthusiasts
Rogue RE3 Echo Power Rack - Best Power Rack Overall
Usually Rogue pedals products that are a little more expensive, but they also understand that money should never get in the way of fitness. The RE3 is a solid piece of equipment at a bargain price for how much it offers. The racks height is over seven feet and the width is nearly four feet which gives plenty of clearance room for most people and even though the depth is only two feet extra wide stabilizing feet give this rack plenty of support. This rack doesn't skimp on safety with optional pin pipe safeties to catch your bar in case of emergency. Upgrades abound with this rack and if your budget allows for some extras you can add a bench, bar, and plates at the time of purchase. This rack doesn't have a max weight which usually means that the manufacturer is confident that you'll never lift enough weight to present any issues. The RE3 rack also comes with a built in fat/skinny bar as an added benefit to your base workout.
Body Solid Power Rack - Runner Up
Body Solid is well known for producing inexpensive fitness equipment with varying results. While some of their fare is questionable the BFPR100 is a thing of beauty in the budget market. Though this rack is one of the least expensive you will find it can still support weights up to 500 pounds which is more than reasonable for the average fitness enthusiast. At just under seven feet, this rack is perfect for almost any room of the house or in the garage and measuring just short of four by four feet, making it perfect to move around inside. This rack is all about free weights and doesn't offer any pulley attachments but it does offer a lot of add-ons including a bench, bar catches, ab slings, and more. This is the perfect rack for someone looking to buy their first power rack or looking to break personal records without breaking the bank in the process.
NewYork Barbells Power Rack - Honorable Mention
Judging from their website they seem like a fly-by-night company, but this is one of the most trusted free weight manufacturers in the world. This rack measures just under seven feet which is a great height for a budget rack and with the width and depth each measuring just under five by five feet so there's an abundant amount of room for you to move around. Additionally, it's not just the size that makes this rack impressive as the units thick steel tubing can support weight up to 1,000 pounds which is much more than the average lifter will need. The base model is pretty bare, but NY Barbell offers a ton of upgrade options including a multipurpose pullup handles, lat and crossover pulleys, multi-angle benches, and more.
Rogue RM-4 Monster Power Rack - Consider
Rogue is one of the best on the market when it comes to equipment like power racks. The RM-4 is made to hold everything you can throw at it with three inch, seven gauge steel tubing, and one inch diameter hardware which combine to make this one of the most solid power racks on the market today. Rogue doesn’t clearly specify the weight capacity of the RM-4, but considering the optional straps are rated at five tons, it’s safe to say this rack can support at least that amount.
This rack doesn’t automatically come with storage options, but it is designed to add as much storage as you want at an additional cost. The RM-4 also does not provide any additional pulley systems, but does offer five different cross bar options and two different J-Cup options to perfectly customize this rack to your needs. If the case arises f you need to upgrade the RM-4, there’s a kit available for converting it to the RM-6. And while your power rack can support Superman-level weight, you’re going to need more than a few flimsy pins for safety. The RM-4 comes with a heavy duty pipe safety system and a strap safety set with the additional option of a secondary flip down safety set.
Buyer's Guide
Whether you’re looking to outfit a commercial gym, or complete your home gym, no piece of equipment is more versatile than the power rack. Serious lifters know a power rack is an important part of safe solo lifting.
Power racks are an awesome way to make the most out of your workout. The power rack is like the original home gym, but instead of using bands or rods it uses good old fashion free weights. For the most part you can do any traditional exercise like squats, bench press, and military press.
There are many factors one must consider when it comes to purchasing the perfect power rack, all of which can be found here in our power rack buyer’s guide. Power racks at any level can cost a little bit of money so it is important to choose the best one that will fit your weight lifting needs.
Physical Features
The non-lifter may see a power rack as nothing more than just an empty metal rectangle, but we all know it’s much more than that. There are many features which make a power rack what it is and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you could be missing out on important features or over-paying for ones you’ll never end up using.
Size
When it comes to power racks, size is of the utmost importance. You want to make sure that it clears the ceiling, but even more importantly, you have to make sure there’s wall-to-wall clearance. This extends past the actual cage when you think about the 7 foot Olympic bar and the weight plate storage system. Size also matters when it comes to height since you don’t want a tall rack if you’re short and vice versa.
Stations
A good power rack isn’t just a cage with a couple of hooks for the bar as there are multiple stations involved. Make sure you get one with a pull up bar because that should be considered a station and not an accessory. There should also be bar hooks and band hooks all over the rack to provide enough stations to make your power rack a standalone gym.
Accessories
The special additions to your rack don’t mean squat if they are not the ones that you will use. Make sure that you are getting accessories that you will use. Common ones to look out for include a row station, excess plate and bar storage, ladder attachments, and spotter platforms.
Safety Features
Power racks are inherently more dangerous than a machine so every little bit helps when it comes to ensuring your personal safety. Check to see if the rack has a stabilizer bar; these are usually found running along the bottom back side of the rack. Also look for if and how the rack is designed to be anchored. Most racks will either offer holes in the back to anchor into the wall or on the bottom to screw into the floor.
The Intangibles
Some features can’t be seen or touched, but they matter more than those you can sense; the warranty is a great example. Power racks are pretty solid pieces of equipment and most come with lifetime warranties, but you always want to double check for that. The last thing you want is to have you rack fall apart around you with no warranty to cover it.
Is a Power Rack Right for You?
If you’re ready to fully commit to a strength training program and you have the space, then a power rack is absolutely the right move. They’re built to last and won’t need to be replaced every five years like the home gyms of today. Even more importantly, a power rack will grow with you as you can always buy more plates to throw on it.
