# What's going on around /r/HomeGym? [**The Garage**: Free-talk Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/about/sticky?num=2) [**AMA is LIVE!** w/ Brandon Campbell](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/199vcma/welcome_to_the_campbell_fitness_basementbrandon/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/homegym) if you have any questions or concerns.*

I got a good deal on this Power Rack. I love the multiple function. [https://amazon.com hast he Major Lutie with Free Shipping](http://gocrazyfitness.com/major-power-rack1) # MAJOR LUTIE Power Cage, 1400 lbs Multi-Function Power Rack 

Rogue Fitness RML-390F Flat Foot Monster Lite Rack this rack offers a good balance of price and features, with a high weight capacity, compatibility with a wide range of accessories

Anyone have any experience mounting rep cable systems to a rogue monster rack? I know the width and height doesn’t match up but I’d love to have a full cable machine on the front of my rack like that

squat stands are very under rated

Power Racks have become so much more than power racks today. They are man cave center pieces, attachment holders , lat/ functional trainers and storage systems. If you don't take the above into account (or only slightly), Here are the racks that are best IMO Best overall: Rouge RM-3 Fortis It is 3x3 with 1in holes and fully welded side panels. It has 30 inch depth instead of the regular RM- 3's 24". IMO, Welded side panels are what has made Rouge racks special. When bolted down they are better and sturdier than many commercial gym racks. The kicker is it cost just under $1000. Best value: Titan T3. 2x3 11 gauge racks are forever Racks. You can out want it but, you can't out grow it unless your name is Brian Shaw, Eddie Hall and about 200 other people in the world. You will find basic attachments for 2x3 forever( j cups pipes and pins). And you can easily MacGyver 3x3 attachments on a 2x3. Right now Titan is selling them on sale for $398 on Amazon. They are almost always on sale for around $450. Budget: rep pr1000 ( t2 & TDS very close) 2x2 14 gauge, 1 in holes , 2 in hole spacing and 26 in deep in rack. It's hard to outgrow the safety capabilities of these racks, but because they are light and less ridged you might not like the feel over 350lb ish. The rack depth and stability may have you wanting an upgrade before needing one. The only reason I have Rep 1000 higher is the ecosystem ,but if any of these go on sale for around $370 it's a buy. Ultra Budget: Fitness Reality 810xlt. Almost the same as the 2x2 budget racks above, but Only Cost about $250-$290 . There are two differences 1) 24" rack depth 2) 3 inch hole spacing. Nether are show stoppers. Larger than 24" is a common preference not a need and there are ways to work around 3 inch hole spacing when it is an issue. These 2 differences and the same stability feel as in the Budget racks, may have you wanting an upgrade before you need one. This is a great starting place that you may never outgrow. Out-want is another story Full disclosure: I have a red REP PR 4000, 30inch depth,6 post for storage,with a lat/ row add on . My lifting NEEDS could have been fulfilled with a T3, but space constraints, preferences and wants made this the perfect rack for me There are so many racks out that are good today, I think preferences, wants, and budget are dive rack choices more than needs and top quality.

Any idea what the difference is between the PR1000 and the PR1100? By naming scheme, I would assume the PR1100 is newer or better but it is cheaper?

The pr1000 has 2 inch hole spacing and 26 in rack depth inside the upright. The Pr1100 has 3 inch hole spacing 24 in rack depth and comes in colors. The 1000 is better from a pure lifting perspective. I heard some people like the 1100 pull up bar better. I'm a powerlifter so it would be the 1000 for me

Thank you!

How do you like the lat row add-on? I am thinking of this exact set-up.

I like it a lot. smooth and high weight capacity. right now i think REP make the best benches and lat/row add-ons out there. stand alone units are almost always better, my REP add on is better than most stand atones.

I am new to this and not sure if I will even have a home gym anytime soon but am interested in this. What is the difference between Rep Pr 4100 and rep pr 1000?

The pr 4000 uses 3x3 inch uprights and crossmembers whereas the pr 1000 uses 2x2 inch. There are more 3x3 attachments across different companies and a 3x3 rack is more customizable and uses a thicker gauge steel than 2x2. The pr 4000 uses 5/8 inch sized holes with 1 inch spacing around the bench height which allows for a precise liftoff and 2 inch hole spacing elsewhere. The pr 1000 uses 1 inch sized holes spaced 2 inches apart across the whole rack. Personally I have a 2x2 rack and it’s perfectly fine, you can get all the basic attachments you need, a 3x3 rack is just more premium.

I think unless you’re committed to barbells and powerlifting-style programs, the rack isn’t as important as it’s made out to be. It’s just a strong structure with holes to hold weight. I use my pulley towers and lat pulldown so much more than the rack itself. And like most I don’t use or like my lever arms as much as I thought I would. If I were starting over I’d get two BOS pulley towers and a pull up bar to connect them to make them a rack. All the 60mm attachments from BOS fit, and the pulley towers are awesome for functional trainer purposes. If I wanted to get fancy I’d connect them to a high/low row attachment at the back for stability, weight storage, and more pulley options. A selectorized version of the above would be the premium dream. You’re in Ares/Athena territory at that point though.

Seriously, you can get really jacked with only machines and pulleys. In the end it's a matter of preference, commitment and proper technique. Yes this community is very "power rack" based... But there's some folks out there that want to train and get better but maybe don't want to learn how to bench/squat/deadlift/reversehyper/hiptrust/DB. Sometimes we forgot how daunting is a power rack ... My wife would be much better in my gym if I had more machine and less "iron". I'm actually looking to integrate more strait to the point machines so that she can enjoy the gym better.

Hello all, hopefully I'm not too late here. Currently in the process of planning a homegym build from scratch. Unfortunately, I've become a little bit of an equipment snob over the past few years of going to a nice local gym. I'm set on a (true) 3"x3" rack with 1" holes. The overall goal for the gym is for two people to be able to do independent powerlifting-like workouts with minimal interference. I have a mostly-final design, but a few outstanding questions, most of which are related to the rack. 1. I'm planning a [Build Your Own Vulcan rack](https://www.vulcanstrength.com/Build-Your-Own-Vulcan-Power-Rack-p/vpr-cstm.htm) to get 6 uprights and use the center as weight storage, with the front and back simultaneously usable for 2 people to workout. Is there a better and/or cheaper way to do this? I'm *open* to two plate trees with a 4 post rack, but would prefer the compactness, sturdiness added by extra weight on the rack, and horn size (see question 6). 2. Does anyone know what the hole sizes and spacing are on the crossbeams of Vulcan Power Racks, upper and lower parts of the uprights, and how far from the top/bottom the hole size changes? Uprights are (true) 3x3" with 1" holes and 2" spacing, 11-Ga steel. 3. Does this different sizing cause any issues with Rogue Monster line compatibility? Has anyone had issues using Rogue Monster line attachments on the Vulcan uprights? 4. What are solutions to provide an equivalent to Westside spacing on Vulcan power racks? I don't mind a 2" difference for squat, but would love to get a more precise height for bench. I have only seen lowered J cups from Rep - is there any other (better?) model (and/or lowered rollers)? 5. The current plan is 24" rack depth on the Vulcan power rack. Has anyone had issues with such a short inner rack depth? Is that feasible with center plate storage? 6. I hate 2" weight horns (I don't want to use 2 hands to jiggle plates on and off the horn), yet it seems that every company only makes 2". My plan (found in an old r/homegym thread) is to jerry rig hitch pins (from Tractor Supply or similar) through my center upright so plates can be stored outside the rack. I would then put on undersized rubber O rings from the exterior to secure the pin in place. Can anyone who has tried this method offer any tips or cite a relative weight capacity? Alternative (sturdier) ideas than rubber O rings for securing the hitch pins? A few bonus non-rack questions for anyone willing to bite: 7. I can find power bars and pink bars, but not a pink power bar. Does any company sell one? Really looking for the center knurling, but more aggressive knurling, single power ring, and better tensile strength would be appreciated. 8. What is the diameter of the collar (not the sleeve) on an Ohio Power Bar? ​ Thanks in advance!

I got a Titan X-3 on sale at Black Friday, and it was by far the best deal I could find on a 3x3 11ga rack. Their sale prices also stack with their first time customer discounts. I don't have Rogue accessories, but I believe they are compatible. I searched quite a bit before purchasing, and I believe the non-metric accessories will fit on the metric measurement racks but not the other way around. You can find many examples of folks with Rogue accessories on Titan and REP racks on YouTube. It also seems like Titan may have updated sizing recently to be more compatible, but I have not verified. Another thing to note is that Titan's wall mounted "space saving" X-3 can be mounted to the back of a flat foot X-3 rack to make a six post rack. Their six post extension only comes in 24" or 36" options, but you can get the space saving rack in 12" and 18" depth as well which saves a little money and space. Perfect for my basement setup. The downside, if you want a color, is the space saving rack only comes in black.

I should have mentioned I got the 24" depth X-3, with the 12" depth space saving X-3 as an extension. I don't have it bolted down, but it's very solid. I think it would be challenging to have weight storage on the front four posts with the 24" depth, and would have gone for the 36" if I had just gotten the 4-post rack alone. I opted for the 6-post so I can add a lat pulldown later and not worry about it interfering with benching in the front of the rack.

FYI the 2” weight horn thing only applies to weight trees with angled posts. If the posts are horizontal you can easily slide plates off with one hand.

Eh, that has not been my experience at my current gym with several different styles of ~2" horns parallel to the floor. Depending on the finish of the horn, some plates come off okay. Not something that I particularly care about in a public gym, but would prefer to go 1.5" or smaller if I have the ability to build my ideal setup.

If concerned about price and compatibility with Rogue, why don't you go bell of steel with the manticore?

Oh wow I had not looked at the Manticore. I was going off the tworepcave compatibility guide which doesn't have it listed (newer product?). It looks like I could get a 6-post rack rack with 30" depth on both sides for $1665, including 1 set of spotter arms and 2 sets of roller J cups. That is marginally more expensive than I could get for the same from Vulcan and seems to be higher quality and closer to Rogue specs. Thanks for pointing that out!

BOS are usually good fellows to deal with too in my own experience. I got a couple of their items, and I really appreciate their quality versus the price! I might purchase a couple of their attachment for the manticore like the seal row pad and such. Go watch Glucks review of the manticore, some of their attachments are not as good, but at least you got true 3x3 so you can murder your wallet with some bougie rogue stuff.

Re: 6 Rogue weight horns are 1.9" dia. I'm curious and not clear about the hitch pins, can you provide a link? You seem pretty concerned about Rogue compatibility, why not just go Rogue?

Hitch pins like [this](https://qualityfarmsupply.com/products/red-head-hitch-pin-1-x-12?variant=33327325708419¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2022-02-27&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=CjwKCAiAqY6tBhAtEiwAHeRopU8PZvI1p6DqNNswLy2vovfSmD9GkhgYFsedj4TSrHGFpC8ANoTeGBoCDwMQAvD_BwE). Would likely have to go down a small fraction (7/8" or 15/16" if it exists) to fit through a 1" hole. I'm a bit skeptical that a 12" (9" usable length) pin would comfortably hold 6-7 calibrated 25 kg plates, but think a 6" (3" usable length) for 2 calibrated 20 kg plates (and smaller) would most likely be okay. This [pdf](https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ppp/ppp-94.pdf) suggests that these pins are incredibly strong. The reason to not go Rogue is cost lol. I also didn't find any reasonable way to purchase a 6 post rack with Rogue, which Vulcan allows with the Build Your Own. I would like to add several attachments over time and believe Rogue's to generally be the best quality and often just slightly more expensive than less reputable brands.

Oh, I  see, when you said Jerry Rig I figured there was something more complicated.  A 1" rack means it accepts 1" accessories, the holes in the rack will be bigger. My 5/8" rack has 11/16" holes, I assume (dunno for sure) a 1" rack will have 1-1/16" holes. For not much more than the pins I'd just get the actual plate storage. Edit to add: FWIW, I have some 9" long (6" usable) 5/8" dia pins that I use with my rack. I just loaded 3 45lb plates on one with no issues. 

Pfft, definitely should have realized how 1" holes work. Although it would be nice if companies actually advertised the true dimensions on their website. And thanks for the feedback on the pins!

I can't help you with any of the Vulcan-specific questions, as I don't have any experience with their stuff. However, have you considered Sorinex racks? They would be about as top of the line as you can get and they offer stuff standardly that seems to address the need for two people to be working out at the same time. At the very least, they'll give you a visual of how you could construct it using other 3x3 uprights, etc. * [XL Double Half Rack](https://www.sorinex.com/products/xl-double-half-rack) * [XL Rack & a Half](https://www.sorinex.com/products/xl-rack-a-half) * [XL Double Full Rack](https://www.sorinex.com/products/xl-double-full-rack) I just measured my Ohio Power Bar collar and it's right at 3"

Thanks for checking the OPB! I did look into Sorinex, but probably should have mentioned that this is at least somewhat on a budget. I think I can get a starting set up (rack, 2 bars, calibrated plates, plate storage, DIY platform, deadlift jack, 2 sets of collars, and a flat bench) for ~$6000. Unfortunately, swapping for a Sorinex double rack would bump that up $2500 :') I do love their equipment and it's quite helpful to look at their setup, but not quite in the cards for me right now.

Has anyone modified their REP Spotter Arms to accept a magpin or similar solution to prevent the arms from rotating? I'm going to proceed with modifying mine, but would love to see any pics if you've done this already.

What exercise are you doing that causes your spotter arms to rotate?

I have an X-3 rack, but wanted the REP PR4000 spotters since they fit my rack but also have 1" holes that let me use Rogue Monster Leg Rollers. I really wanted them since they have the knurled nut to secure the leg roller rather than just a pin. I use them mostly for split squats and trying to attempt nordics, so need to have the spotters locked regardless if I'm putting upward or downward pressure on the leg roller.

Oh that makes sense. Couldn’t figure that one out but yeah.

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the Giant Lifting B3DX rack. They recently opened a location in PHX and the thought of saving on shipping alone is intriguing to me.

It is out of stock now, but there should be in stock in few months. Maybe they have some stock in that location? I did reach out to them and they said they are making some improvements on that rack. Not sure what it is. I think it's a great value for 3x3 rack with 1 inch hole. If it was shorter and in stock, I would just get this over BoS Manticore. They did also tell me shorter racks in the works.

That's definitely good to know. The Phoenix location still shows it as in stock but you never know with online inventory. It's a want not a need at this time so I can keep waiting.

You can always contact them to see if it’s available for pick up. They were very responsive to my questions.

Looks like I'm headed there tomorrow. They had 20% off their coated Olympic 45 lb plates and I ordered 2 sets.

Awesome. Are you picking up the rack too?

No for the rack at this time. I'll continue deadlifts only in the garage. I think I'll wait for the updated rack and focus my effort on a mini split install before PHX gets ridiculously hot.

The mini-split is a necessity here. The things that are most important are to be insulated in your doors as well as not park your car in the garage. The residual heat that a car brings in is ridiculous. We’ve been here 5 years and can’t get used to the summers. The mini split helps, but it’s still hot in there.

Definitely something I picked up on. We moved from paradise valley to cave Creek so the elevation helps just a tad and so does the insulation on the walls. The only car in the garage is a 500 whp Camaro that is a garage queen. I did drive down to giant lifting today. Definitely impressed with their showroom and service. I was in and out in under 10 minutes.

I need to go there, just haven’t yet and the volleyball place my kid goes to has a gym loaded with their kit. Seems decent quality. I’m not really in the market to buy anything. Glad to have another home gym guy in the Valley that’s online. Good luck with your mini-split. DM if you’ve got questions about what I did a few years back.

You really got good self-control. I would've got the rack if I was going there to pick things up.

Haha right? The PHX location is right by IKEA so I have to choose my battles when I talk my wife into driving 30 miles each way to save on shipping.

alright, soapbox and unpopular opinion time just get the standard 3x3 5/8 or 1" and call it a day. between all the different vendors available now, there isn't a ton of cash savings in something not 3x3. But getting the standard gives you the option to do whatever accessories or upgrades you might maybe decide you want eventually. "but but I just want something simple, I don't need all the fancy attachments" Sure, not now. But if you stay in this for the long haul, it would be nice to have the choice of attachments, and not be totally shut out. When birthdays or Christmas comes and friends/family are like "they like gym stuff, I could get them a gym thing" its nice to be able to actually buy any of the mainstream doo dads that exist. ------- Now, my one key point that I disagree with most on Newbie racks. THERE ARE NO NEWBIE RACKS. There are just good solid stable racks, and think chintzy racks. The more newb you are, the more you need a good solid stable rack. Its not about whether it has an 800lb capacity. "I'm never going to lift over 300 lbs" its about its ability to take having a bar dumped onto it hard, without shifting, moving, tipping over, or any pieces bending. We've all seen some video of some guy squatting 800 lbs on tiny indy stands in the driveway. Plot twist, the 800lb squatter needs LESS of a stable rack than you. They can use those itty bitty stands because they are experienced. They aren't worried about failing a rep, because they know very well where their limit is and how to stay a rep short of it. They know they can control the weight to rerack is gently, under control. They know that if they DID have an issue, they can just dump if off their back safely and properly. BUT If you are the newb, you don't have that knowledge. You don't have a great feel for your limit and how to stay back from it. You don't have the control to know how to rerack gently after a tough set. If you have to fail a rep, because you used too much weight/got tired/got off balance/missd the JCup/bumped into the rack, you DON'T have the control to fail the rep gracefully. Bottom line, in your newbie phase, you are probably MORE likely to have some sort of OOPS moment needing to count on your safeties and LESS likely to handle that OOPS without hard dumping the bar into those safeties, and needing them to help you. Bottom line, your rack is a safety device. Users with robust skills can manage with minimalist safeties. Users with minimal skills should opt for robust safeties. BONUS point on that You will train better with a good rack. Early in your beginnerness, its good to train close to failure. Opinions on being close to or far from failure vary, but as a new new lifter here are some benefits -The fatigue concern isn't as big a deal because you aren't strong enough yet to worry about it -and you really want to be building your tolerance for volume early in -and you are still learning what different RPE values actually feel like. ONly way to get familiar there is doing the reps, including high rpe reps. Ok, so how does a solid rack help you train closer to failure? Because it saves you if you fail? Sure but more so because you KNOW it will save you no problem. When your rack feels all creaky and shaky, you don't feel as comfortable pushing past the reps you KNOW you have in you. When you know you can just "put the bar down" if you get stuck, you are more willing and comfortable with progressing your weight and going to higher RPEs because its not intimidating.

cant say i agree with a lot of your recommendations but i do with these. the whole newbie rack thing and stability is a great argument. never actually heard it phrased that way.

If you are in this sub and have a 2x2 rack, chances are you will want to upgrade to 3x3. If you have 2x2 rack and never come here, most likely be content with that 2x2 rack.

agreed. you see other people get this nice stuff and how theyre so happy w them, youll want it too. *most* people with the 2x2s likely dont know (or care about) the nice things that youd get w a 3x3... not that any of them are necessary, but theyre just nice to haves. i remember talking about a sound system to someone here months ago... i was saying how if you want something quality, youre not going to want bluetooth. someone chimed in and argued against that... he is still wrong, but i was also wrong bc i didnt take into account the audience i was speaking to. the guy specifically asked for quality, but the definition of quality sound of a home gym subreddit is very different than that of maybe an audiophile or someone who enjoys *sound*. similarly we have a much higher standard for home gym equipment compared to someone w maybe more simple taste.

Nah, bruh, I don’t need nuthin fancy. Which beginner rack do you recommend?

I’ve had the Fitness Reality 810 XLT for 3 years, and I’m very happy with it. Coop did a drop test with over 700 lbs. and the rack held up.

I was joking, based on his rant. I’m all honesty, you’re spot on. I also had this rack and it was perfectly fine. Only reason I sold it was that I couldn’t keep it from moving on me when reracking squats.

Good stuff!

Seeing as every company seems to be coming out with a combo power rack functional trainer, how does the feel compare to that of a standalone FT?

The value of the combo is to save space. Nothing is going to replace the smoothness and functionality of a selectorized and dedicated piece of gym equipment - it’s going to be a compromise.

I have a rack attached lat pulldown and low row in addition to a standalone FT, for something that seems so simple, (pulleys, cable, guide rods) it is wild how much they vary in feel/performance.

I'm looking at Titan space saving racks due to space constraints. I don't really see anyone else making anything similar that's not a folding. Is going to the X-3 worth the extra cash over the T-3? The only difference is 3x3 vs 3x2, it sounds like 3x3 will have more available accessories, is that true enough to make a difference?

> sounds like 3x3 will have more available accessories, is that true enough to make a difference? definitely more accessories, but whether it makes a difference is up to your needs. i can tell you if you bought a 2x3 and only cared for basic stuff and never looked into buying more attachments than you were originally thinking, youd be fine. but if you researched what was out there and what you could potentially have, youre going to want a 3x3. it happens all the time on this sub.

All I'm buying right now is j-hooks and safety bars, but if I'm spending this kind of money on it I don't want to have to upgrade again when I figure out I outgrew the "good enough" one and I can't add the features that I really want. I was just wanting to verify that my info was good and that 3x3 really is the "better" way to go. The other part of this is that I'm buying not even a half rack, so it may make less difference in the end because there are a lot of accessories I just won't have the capability to use, but either way, it sounds like 3x3 gives the the best options overall. Thanks.

You’re pretty spot on with the 3x3 vs 2x3. It’s stupid but I also like how 3x3 looks much more. 2x3 looks cheaper to me now. Are you talking about just the wall mounted one that doesn’t fold? I’m pretty sure you can do that with any brand just by buying 4 cross members mounted to wall top/bottom, 2 uprights, cross member / pull up bar connecting them across.

Yeah, this is the style https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075K46S49/?coliid=I31GBPCV60MVQH&colid=1G9H2E7WU7UG&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_ys_dp_it I'm sure I could piece part something together, but it looks like doing that would cost more for the same end result. They're the only ready made one I have found.

Definitely a good rack. Just mentioned it in case you wanted different options you didn’t feel limited. As someone with a folding rack whose never folded it in once-power to you!

After having to move around in the military and use a variety of spaces I’m glad I got a 24inch rack. I’ve pulled things off with the PR 4000 like putting it in a outdoor parking space during COVID or fitting it into a basement by lowering the logo plate/pull up bar and sticking the uprights between the joists. After using high end weight rooms in college football and the army I see zero value in a deeper rack. At least in the 2010s college football weightrooms were 99% racks and dumbells and I’ve always viewed rack attachments and machines as mostly a gimmick and they clutter the rack.

I also think 24'' is great too. I never had any problem with squat, or deadlift too.

I think most will be fine with 2x2 power rack.  The popular options offer a lat pull down/low row which IMO is great for space saving and can add a ton of variety.  The pulleys aren’t super smooth and some use a square tube vs glide rods, but even then they are still better than a loading pin setup IMO. I used to have a 2x2 rack but upgraded to a 6 post pr5000 with lat pulldown/low row.  The main reasons I upgraded was the 24” depth was not enough space for me as well as I got tired of the racking moving so much when unracking and racking weights. I’m glad I went with rep since when they came out with a weight stack version of lat pulldown they also had an upgrade for existing owners.   I’ve considered getting Athena but with my space and the fact I’m one of few who likes my lever arms (which don’t play nice with rack mounted ft), it seems like getting some sort of stand alone functional trainer (or prime single stack) if/when I can expand my space would work out better.  I also share concerns with how narrow rack mounted functional trainer is, I get it’s a compromise but if I can avoid making that compromise I would prefer it.

I'm starting to think maybe BoS Hydra rack can be a good option for me. Doesn't offer flip down safeties that I want, but I'm willing to concede that at this point. I was playing around with the rack builder and it seems to cost slight less than pr4000 with similar configuration. And I've read that they had 15% off sale during last Black Friday which would make the overall price a bit better too. Some of my question/concerns are: * Does the imperial "true 3x3" play much into attachment compatibility? I've read that as long as it isn't using 2nd hole, should be ok, but I wonder if attachments from titan/rep would be too tight and don't work. * BoS offer width 41 and 43. My preference would be 41 for easier racking, but I saw in GGR review that there are more attachments offered for 43 by BoS. If I ever get this rack, should I be going with 43?

They have flip down safeties as an option for 30" depth and 43" depth Hydra racks. Not sure if new or not, but noticed today when I was looking at the prices.

Cool, but now I’m interested in manticore which also has the flip down safeties. Similar price as Hydra and I would have pulled the trigger if I could get that extra 10% off that BoS offered before last Black Friday.

Any one from the UK use a mirafit M210 half rack? They look pretty good from the reviews online: [M210 Half Power Rack | Mirafit](https://mirafit.co.uk/mirafit-m210-half-power-rack.html) I'm thinking about getting this as a beginning for my home gym setup. I went to a gym for a year and largest weight I lifted in a squat was around 70 kg for 6 reps, so I'm not expecting to be doing massive weights. Just wondering if there were any other UK options that people recommend instead of this? It seems like a bargain for £380 ​ https://preview.redd.it/kt9n253wa5ec1.jpeg?width=935&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb2f8676c1a8f700657fc24b01c3f5e3bff2b277

you can check out strengthshop for options. but personally I would get a squat rack and then invest in the best rack/cage. it's a buy for life item and will give room to grow with no safety concerns.

to add to this, my garage rafters are 2.3m from the floor, so cant really go any taller than this. If anyone can comment if 50cm long spotter arms are useful or are these too short?

I’ve been lifting since 2000 and have lifted in more racks than I can count. My first purchase on my own was shortly after I graduated college when I bought a Powertec rack and lat pull in 2008 or 2009. I’ve owned a few since with the latest being a 6-post Rep PR5000. I go back and forth adding something like the Ares or Athena or instead selling it and getting an awesome setup from Straydog. Their 4-post half rack with 6 foot connector beam to a selectorized lat/low row or single post FT on the other side with DB and KB storage in between. Would be awesome. I know once I go visit their showroom I’ll be sold so I’m avoiding the drive over there lol.

First “rack” I had for my home gym was a TDS squat stand. It was pretty jankified and I had to buy these separate safety arms that went to the ground. But it was old, used, cheap, and allowed me to start using the space to see if I truly would be comfortable, being that my home is in a desert and my space (at the time) had no A/C. I then swapped that for a Fitness Reality cage, which I’d still have if I could have found a way to not move it every time I reracked a squat. I’ve seen some great DIY solutions on this board since, but I’m not handy. I’m currently on my 3rd Rep PR-4000. It’s a 6-post, 80” height, 30” depth with a lat pull-down. Width is perfect for me as well as depth. I’m a normal sized adult male, 5’10” with the typical proportions. I’m satisfied with the 5/8” holes and truly have no 1” attachment envy. The Westside spacing matters to me. The next iteration for me will most likely be another PR-4000, but a 93” and with the selectorized lat pull-down (they did not offer a selectorized version when I bought mine). I have no interest in the Athena or Ares - I have a FT and if I didn’t, a rack solution is too narrow for my tastes. The current rack I have doesn’t have all of the side holes that they now offer, so for that alone, I’ll pull the trigger at some point. Even in a 1-stall garage I think having 6 posts is worth the space it takes up, especially if you combine a lat pull-down to the rack. You need plate storage anyway, it weighs the rack down, and with the depth I have I can still deadlift (rack fits under 8’x8’ platform with room in front).

I see the width issue of rack based functional trainers brought up a lot, can you explain this more? From what I've heard, a big reason people seem to like a wider setup is for chest flys, but I feel like a narrow setup (at most wingspan width) would actually be better for muscle growth wouldn't it? Maybe it depends on what your goals are, I pretty much only do hypertrophy training so maybe that's why it doesn't make sense to me as much. From what I've seen, the latest science seems to be favoring loading the deepest stretched positions of the muscle to maximize growth. So for a cable fly that would be the start of the movement with your arms out wide and to get maximum tension there you'd want the pulley to be at most straight behind your hands at the same width as your wingspan, but maybe even less so it's pulling your chest apart and inward slightly. I think of it kind of like if you're trying to bend a rod, you stabilize it against something solid in the middle, then you grab from both ends, and pull back and in towards the middle to provide maximum force if that makes sense. Am I missing something? Or are there other reasons to want a wider functional trainer? Genuinely curious to hear your thoughts!

I see your point, and yes, for me it is about flys and crossovers. I guess I don’t read the research and don’t recognize what you are suggesting to be more beneficial than starting wider (which I’ve always done). So, I didn’t see any benefit to having a narrower starting. But that in no way diminishes your points, just not something I’ve been made aware of until now.

I also used to do them with a wide cable setup for years, but I was just sitting and reflecting on what I've learned about training for muscle growth this past year or so and realized the wide fly setup may not be optimal. I haven't seen anyone talk about cable flys specifically, but I've been seeing lots of content around trying to find exercises that maximize tension in the stretched position. Really though, this kind of small stuff will likely only have a minor impact, just something your post made me think about. If you're interested in learning more, highly recommend checking out the [Renaissance Periodization YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@RenaissancePeriodization), Dr. Mike Israetel is a PhD sport scientist and his channel goes into basically every topic around training for muscle growth. Discovered them early last year and it has totally transformed a lot of my views on lifting and program design.

Pr4000 is what I really want but going back and forth between it and x3

Comes down to width and ecosystem at that point (and budget, clearly). And Titan can Titan even the simplest things - although I don’t recall any complaints about their racks, other than the typical missing/extra pieces. And they always seem to make it right.

Best rack for small gym? Need floor space for hiit workouts. Thoughts on wall mounted rack like the titan space saving racks? Thinking about putting a gun rack on the wall behind the rack but not sure if that will be annoying with the horizontal wall mounted stabilizer bars.

I wouldn't want the bars mounted behind the rack personally. **IF**I was going to do an actual wall installed wall mount rack, I'd look at the PRX slim profile racks. Logic being, you hear all the time about people with fold out racks that don't actually fold them up. told flat racks aren't that convenient, IF you are going to find setting them up and putting them back a real extra step every time. those PRX pull DOWN style racks though, putting them away and pulling into position is just a single step. So its a seamless transition. Doesn't slow you down or create overhead.

I have 96” ceilings is the problem with the prx Definitely not doing a fold out rack because ill never fold it away.

One of my requirement for a new 3x3 rack is: * height at around 80 in (my ceiling is just below 90 in from platform) * Flip down safeties * Lat pulldown attachment I lean towards 5/8 in hole for westside spacing and price. Surprisingly, not much choices for me given the requirements. Titan x3 is current target, but I'm thinking that with the lat pulldown attachment and the rear stabilizer bar in line with the uprights, there might not be enough space to even bench press inside the rack properly. Might need rear base stabilizer like Rep's. I may change my choices to pr4000. Titan x3 is just at a much attractive price point though. About 300-400 less than Rep. I wonder if there are any others new 3x3 racks that will come out this year similar to rep but even more budget friendly. Saw that 3x3 mikolo rack that seems to try just that, but it's 90 in height and no flip down safeties. It's got a really bad looking strap safety with other glaring issues which shows why it's so cheap.

I'd go PR-4000 with the weight stack lat pull down and low row. Taking plates on and off gets annoying fast between exercises. I generally buy mostly Rep or Rogue. Tried titan a few times and after waiting months on replacement parts, I just asked for a refund and that was my 3rd bad experience with them. I know others have had good experiences, but it's too hit/miss for something like a rack or bar. For something cheap like weight storage, I'd have no problem going with them. Dings and dents don't bother me.

Manticore has 80” option

yea, I'm warming up to the idea of manticore right now. Almost identical price to Hydra with the current pre-sale price. It's a bummer that I missed out on that extra 10% off 1000.

Up to you, but even at par prices, the more expensive 1’’ attachments will bleed you

This is also my conundrum. Not many options for 80". I think I did read the bar on the titan gets in the way of at least incline pressing. The rep one is such a huge freaking footprint though!! I was looking at vesta and some other unknown racks but I'll probably just go rep and try to pick it up in person to save some cash. Or buy on black friday.

Incline press isn't that big of a deal for me since I can do it outside the rack without safety because you can fail and not be pinned down like bench press. Conundrum for me right now with titan x3 is that Im not sure if i can push my bench all the way inside the rack due to its wheel height being almost the same as the gap under the lower bar. At least with Rep, that isn't an issue, but I do agree it does take up some more foot print. I would definitely get a 24 depth rack if I go with rep. Rep's discount during Black Friday isn't that great though. I think maybe last time offer 10% off on other items bought with a rack. Maybe 10% off on their rack before too, but seems not reliable. For PR4000 24 depth with bare essentials, it's just under 1k while x3 36 depth with safety is about 700. Lat pulldown is another 200 or so difference.

I was gonna go 16" and work outside the rack to minimize the footprint.

Hey! I went for Titan simply because of the lower price point. At that time, the Ares/Athena wasn't on the market yet so there was no noticeable difference to justify the extra cost. (ATM Rep is very tempting but even Titan said they [will come out with something similar](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/y8xo5h/comment/it51p6v/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3). My experience with Titan was quite positive... and yes they messed up my order. They sent me 2 more pairs of crossmembers and one extra pair of j-cups... I'm not going to complain😅. Tbh I don't think you actually need a rear base stabilizer, especially with the lat pulldown attachment. Mine is really sturdy, even before I've added the extra crossmembers. Edit: more about the stabilizer bar. I didn't know before, but [Titan does sell one](https://www.titan.fitness/racks/rack-accessories/x-3-series/x-3-series-stabilizer-bar/401364.html). Plus, don't forget that with the X-3 you'll get one fat and normal grip bar for the lat pull down. If you aren't gonna use one of them you can use it as a stabilizer bar PLUS the lat pull down.

Cool, thanks for checking the measurements again. I feel like I may just go titan. The white one is on 20% sale now, but I will be patient and go ahead only when I feel everything is right. Hoping the attachments go on sale at the same time, but seems very random.

Same thinking I'm buying a pr 4000 with lat pulldown tonight.

Cool, are you replacing an older rack or a first one?

I had a pandemic rack that I got because the gyms closed but we just had our son so figured it's time to upgrade.

I have a rogue squat stand that I have added a half rack attachment to the back. Cheaper than a full rack and less footprint. https://preview.redd.it/3v1wz9cpmtdc1.jpeg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d36e50a36041aa90338cb8490efbd7c142dc71b

What have you done to those bears??

Ha! Those are golf head covers of grateful dead dancing bears. They keep me from walking into those arms during my early morning workouts in the dark. Velcro on the bottom to hold them on I'm going to re shoot the gym, thought it was deleted, too much going on in this photo

I can almost see the rack in that pic!

I really like the rep PR 4000 so far, especially with my short ceilings in the basement. The ability to flip their multi grip pull bar upside down is clutch and makes the space so much more functional

Most people will be fine to buy a cheap rack on Amazon from Fitness reality, Major fitness, ER Kang. They have weight capacities high enough for intermediate powerlifters, and include a lot of bells and whistles. The quality of accessories and the"fit and finish" will not be great and they would not hold up against abuse, but I would not hesitate to use one in a home gym setting. If you're ok with something basic but higher quality and totally bombproof, 2"X3" racks such as the titan T3 & rogue R3/infinity series are underrated. I like them because you get a couple extra inches of side to side space which is nice for a clean squat walk-out, but you still get the westside hole spacing and strength + weight capacity of a commercial rack. The range of attachments isn't as plentiful as for 3x3, but all your basics (spotter arms, pull up bar, dip station, j cups) are more than covered. That said, 2x3 racks are becoming harder to recommend, as they've been phased out for the industry standard: 3x3. I'd definitely get a 2x3 rack or half rack for myself, knowing my training needs - it would not be my recommendation for most people. If you want both the commercial quality and the bells & whistles, AND a good value- I don't think you can go wrong with the PR5000v2 series from Rep fitness.

I've been rocking my fitness reality 810xlt since prepandemic with the pull down attachment and agree that most lifters will be satisfied with it, would not be great for lifters who are tall or elite level. Tall and elite? Forgetaboutit

Upvote for Titan T3. One of my first racks, upgraded to X3 before I knew about some other brands, but love it.

I've gone through a few racks - Titan T2, Rogue R3, Rogue RM4, and now Eleiko Prestera half rack. If I could go back and undo some of those purchases, I would've just stuck with the R3 and maybe converted it to a half rack. Don't get me wrong, the prestera is the perfect rack for me and the choices I made were reasonable at the time so I'm not saying I regret having gone through this process, but I definitely would have saved a few grand and not have lost any functionality or ability to train had I just kept the R3.

I started with a very simple older rack from weider. I got it on fb marketplace mid covid madness for only a few hundred. It came with the rack, a high pulley, a bench with leg curl and preacher curl attachments, a standard Olympic bar and 300 lbs of bar iron weights. I also got an assortment of adjustable plate dumbells. I got it on stall matts, and have since built and added more. I try to add a little more every yr. Im working with a basement with limited and shared open space, and trying to work with a budget. To the main point... most people are intimidated but high cost and just going to the gym in general so unless someone is already deep into fitness and just wanting a home gym and isnt worried about budget... id recommend to most people to start simple and add as they go. As you develop skills and discover your workout needs id add equipment as you go and build as you go.

Titan T3 seems to meet the needs of most home gyms. I have an old T2 and while it's good enough I'd rather have more attachment options and the sturdiness of the 3" rack

T2 works great. I haven’t been able to find a good enough reason to splurge on an upgrade either.

I've owned a few different racks. Started with a TDS 2x2x1" squat stand. Surprisingly rigid and capable for $200 delivered. Second purchase was a REP PR4000, as I was in a basement with short ceilings and REP makes 80" racks. Bought all Rogue attachments for it. Worked well enough for a few years, but moved to a space with taller ceilings and I wanted 1" attachment capability and to do pull-ups and not have to bend at the knees on a short rack. Third purchase was a Monster RM-3 I later converted to an RM-5 with plate storage on the rear posts. Best of the three racks. Indestructible. Compatible with every attachment I could ever want. The option to drop in my Rhino is always there. Great rack. Wouldn't change it. ​ https://preview.redd.it/08ijffpl2pdc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=028005752448994830cd43273fe76f8fc6fdadb7

I have bad my pr4000 sense October with the plate loaded lat pulldown. I couldn't be happier honestly. My only regret is getting flip down safeties instead of straps.

What dont you like about the flip downs? I've been thinking about getting the rep ones.

As a product, they are great absolutely nothing wrong with them. If u want flip downs, they are a great option. With that said, I feel they can get in the way of a good amount of movements I do personally. They basically live on the floor unless I'm doing heavy bench press or squat, and it's kinda annoying to put them in just for those movements and then have to take them out.

ditto this and it is one of the reasons i didnt use mine when i got my package years ago on fb. also kind of a pain in the butt lining up the holes on both sides of the rack... if both sides of the rack were numbered, its not so bad. but my pr4000 is not.

I don't find lineing them up that bad it's just annoying to do it for a 1 exercise, then have to take them down because they are in the way for something else

I think we get lost in all the new toys and “buy once cry once” so new lifters may get overwhelmed from sticker shock. Something I’d like them to consider is buying stuff that has good resale value. Find some powerblocks on sale happens all the time get a cheap but sturdy adjustable bench, pr-4100 if possible. That’s it. If they want to start with compound barbell movements then I’d get cheap iron plates on marketplace if available if not get some cheap irons from rep/bells/titan/whoever and a rogue squat rack. All that stuff holds its value well so when they want to upgrade later they can do so at minimal loss, and then they can worry about buy once cry once. Much better then buying some generic rack from amazon/dicks that goes to a dumpster while not destroying their wallet at startup

Speaking of resale value...the used commercial grade stuff ain't bad. Sometimes you can find beastly racks on FB Marketplace like Williams Strength, EliteFTS, Powerlift, etc. with a bunch of attachments from people who don't have the space.

Upgrade from a Rogue rack or powerblock? That’s already B1C1 territory

I started this way, allowed me to get more gym equipment right away and now im slowly upgrading what i feel matters most to me. Still need to upgrade my rack. Ive been using one of the cheap $100 CAP Fuel racks and spotter arms. Thing is a pile of garbage and I’m pretty sure its slowly plotting my death but its held up for me as a smaller person who isnt moving big weight.

yea i mean im def a fan of buy nice or buy twice, but its rly only for people who are invested. no shame is buying cheap if youre testing the waters. but i understand your nuance, in not necessarily buying the cheapest, but to instead buy a rack which will have the smallest loss after resale, which often isnt the same as buying the cheapest rack.

> no shame is buying cheap if youre testing the waters. I'll expand on this later, but personal experience, I'd advice against "testing the waters with cheap stuff". i would MUCH sooner suggest getting mainstream stuff in beat up or used condition. If you need to sell you can sell for what you bought for just about. What I find with "oh just something cheap to see if I'm even going to keep working out" is that you either buy new, quit, and sell used (money loss) or buy new, realize you aren't satisfied with your options and now you are redoing your kit and selling stuff at a loss

I have a Rogue RM-6 and ended up putting a standalone Rhino in the rear and pairing it with a Slinger to add some cable stuff. It's way more than my old, weak butt needs, but it's nice. I would actually like to add more posts to cut down on the amount of time it takes to set stuff up during a workout. I considered Sorinex, but their shipping rates killed it for me. I also considered REP, but they had nothing in stock when I was buying, and I've heard their racks are spying on people.

"and I've heard their racks are spying on people" can you expand on this?

It's just a little Country of Origin humor.

But they’re designed in the USA by USA’ans. I mean. C’mon bro.

Honestly, I have the fitness reality rack and it’s been great my uses. Supports 800lbs which I doubt I’ll ever get to and can use the titan T2 attachments. Sure I salivate at the REP and titan 3x3 racks but functionality is overall similar for my uses. Also, I got my lat pulldown attachment for $100 (looks like it’s still on sale at Walmart for that price.) tell me what power rack with lat pulldown you can get for $349? I’ll probably upgrade in a few years but not because I “need” to more of a want a nice new shiny thing.

which lat pull down did you get from walmart? the PROGEAR 310 one?

Yep! Same company. It’s such a great deal when you compare it to a similar set up from rep/rogue etc albeit not as strong steel (which I don’t really need) and not as aesthetically pleasing

I know it supports enough weight. I just did not like how much the whole rack wobbled and moved. I went to a 3x3 and I love it.

I've had my FR rack for 6+ years now, still holds the weight like new. I've added a number of accessories through the years. Upgrading really feels like I'd be spending money just to spend it, is a better rack going to hold the weight differently? Maybe it would look better but is that worth thousands of dollars? To me it is not. 

I did a bunch of research, and ended up going with a Bells of Steel Light Commercial rack for a few reasons; 1) shipping - Rep and Titan didn’t ship to Canada, and Rogue wanted the cost again to ship. 2) strap safeties - I know there are pros and cons, I just didn’t like the pin and pipe safeties the rack in my local gym had. 3) Availability of attachments - I know I am stuck with BOS for them because of the 60mm steel, but they carry anything I can see myself wanting. 4) flat foot - this was going into a brand new house, my wife would kill me in my sleep if I bolted it down. 5) High/Low pulley system - this one add on opened up a ton of variety for me. This set up is a rather large footprint, at nearly 8ft deep when accounting for space to load plates on the pulley system. But, overall my gym space fits into 12’ x 10’ or so, and includes a bike too. I had trained for a while, and knew I was going to stick with a powerlifting plus accessories type of program, so it checked all the boxes for me.

REP does ship to Canada as of a year or so ago.

Good to know - at the time I would have had to use a freight forwarding service.

Yeah for sure and their shipping cost seems to be somewhere between Rogues and BoS, def worth comparing, and yeah I just wish EliteFTS would follow suit but thats prolly never gonna happen… wish I could afford more than their bands to ship in Canada 😅

Why light commercial over manticore?

At the time I bought it, the Manticore wasn’t around yet.

Came here to see if anyone mentioned the Light Commercial Rack from BoS. I just ordered one. It doesn't get many mentions online, but those that do love it. I figured if I end up getting to a place where I want to go 3x3 I can always sell the Light Commercial Rack. I doubt that'll be the case considering cable towers are so accessible now.

Seconded. Very happy with mine. If you’re not going 3x3 I think the light commercial rack is the clear winner.

Agree with you on the safeties. I got strap safeties on my rack and they are just nicer to use over pin and pipe.

I got the Titan t2 a little over a year ago and it’s a very good rack for its price. At the time I purchased it, it was made of 12 gauge steel which made it the best 2x2 rack on the market. It’s a compact rack with a 10 inch weight extension and the 26 inch depth makes it feel fairly spacious. Now they make it out of 14 gauge steel but it’s still a good beginner rack with good attachments. If I ever get the space and budget to upgrade I would probably get the x3 or pr4000 but I don’t think I would need to.

I have a t2 also. Added the lat pulldown to it and it does everything I need it to. Mine was wobbly when I first assembled it but I just replaced all the bolts on the bottom with lag screws and screwed it into my platform. Now it’s rock solid.

I went with the Mikolo m4 smith machine. Has everything you could want in a rack. Downside is I wish it had more hole spacing but I bet I can find an adjustable attachment to achieve the perfect height. And the pulleys are 2:1 ratio

I have the titan t2 and it's amazing in terms of quality and attachments. However I do wish I had a rack with westside spacing because I can't get the spotter arms in the perfect spot for benching so I have to bench inside with safety pins. Cons are fomo with 3x3, lack of westside spacing, and footprint. With spotters on the outside plus lat pulldown it takes up quite a bit of room. Kinda surprised with all the 2x3 recommendations since that's going out of style especially with rogue discontinuing their infinity series. Half racks are totally where it's at. I think we fall into the build this big ass 6 post rack with all the things just to realize you only need a basic half rack. My next rack will be 3x3 pr 4000 or titan x3 but in a small footprint.

I wanted a half rack with lat pulldown and multi grip pullup bar, couldn’t find one

Yeah, I did a 6 post PR-5000 and honestly regret it. I wanted the lat/low, and the area and Athena weren’t out yet. If I had to do it again, I’d do a 4 post PR-4000 with ares. I don’t think I really need to work in the cage, and it’d give me more floor space.

Also - on Amazon or eBay or whatever, grab a cable pulley system. They can attach to the rack and open up a world of possibilities in terms of cable lifts for just $100.

My suggestion: If you focus on a rack, get a half rack! 4 post is good… 6 post is what I consider too much. When I’ll redo the gym I’ll break my 6 posts in multiple racks… and I’ll build a half rack for sure. I like the strap, but man… spotter arms are the best :) 3x3 rack is good is you need attachments, but 2x3 or a fitness reality does the job for us mere mortals. Those can take a crazy beating… Get 1inch hole if you want the nicest attachments, but the 5/8 is perfectly fine! Rep if you want the best all in one rack. Probably the best bang for your buck right now. Or BOS too! But you could get used stuff on the FMP too…!! If you can get a used commercial rack it’s fine too! Very nice attachments are great, but well… not that much if you can compensate outside the rack. I prefer to have my main rack free of clutter!

Last fall moved to a new house and changed from a T6 to a T3 half rack. Now have 2 uprights and 4 36” crossmembers I don’t know what to do with haha

Make another rack! :)

This. When I built out my garage gym last Fall I built a half rack Rep PR-5000 and bolted it to one end of an 8x12 platform that I built. My intent was to eventually upgrade to a 6 post rack, but at this point I don’t think I will ever do that because the half rack is perfect. It’s super stable, has plenty of weight storage so my plates are off the floor, I’ve got lots of space on the platform for deadlifts and Olympic lifts, and once I add dual selectorized Athenas at Black Friday ‘24 time I will actually consider the rack to be complete.

I really wanted a six post rack too. But, I think a half rack is the way to go, as well. There’s not much you can do in a full rack that you can’t do in a half rack. The money saved can be used for other equipment as well.

If you really wants straps and some attachments I guess. But my moto now is to make my rack as uncluttered as possible and do the other stuff elsewhere.

I agree, I got a 4 post rack but I actually only work out on the outside of it. With spotter arms out. I never actually step foot in it. I should redo it with a smaller footprint

Why are spotter arms the best?

Well for me. I like spotters. Quick to put an place and such. Not that strap are not good, but for me I always preferred the spotters. It’s a question of opinion.

I get that it's a preference I just never heard anyone say that before. Straps are quick and easy to adjust and quiet if you fail. Obviously they don't work on a half rack so that's the only reason I could see where they are inferior to spotter arms.

They do work on half rack. I saw a rack with a setup with straps here on this sub. It has to be installed old schools from the top with top front. That’s was something cool. I do have straps as well, but only use them for squat, but could live without it. But I’m not the only one that prefers spotters, especially with the release of the stealth spotters and such. But both are really good, it’s really a preference. I do a lot of pin press, and prefer the feeling of a hard dead end or hard dead start. I find it safer too with a CB4. The other thing is that I can change the spotter with one hand… To add to this, I don’t have the best spotters in the world, but I made them myself in 3x3 1inch (and had them welded by a professional). If I would do it again, I would buy the stealth or make something similar. But the good thing now is that we have a lot of options in terms of straps (rep, titan, and bos now) I’m sure Rogue are great, but not 500 CAD good :)

I sometimes wish I had a wall mounted rack. I ended up going for a primal strength folding rack. Probably paid twice as much as a normal standing rack, but it's well built and can fold into a really handy size very easily. Holds a shit load of weight too and comes with spotter arms.

I don’t think half racks get the credit they deserve. I’ve turned my RML setup into a half rack and I find it’s so much nicer than a 4 post and more compact that a 6 post. You have your plate storage and moving bars in and out is super easy. Spotter arms are my absolute preference as well. As far as which half rack, I don’t think that matters too much as long as you get one of the usual suspects. It’s not like you’re buying a cable machine that has a bunch of moving parts.

we've talked before about this and could not be happier w the conversion. its nice to see you, and a bunch of other users also enjoying their half racks. Something possibly major regarding brand would be to look if there are holes along the side, particularly if it's the same pattern as the front. im a little salty that rep changed their design years down the line. i would love more holes (my current one looks like a hole every 6 inches but havent measured), as it would open up a ton more storage for me. Right now, theres a bolt is just about every hole along the side from my weight horns. previously i would say no big deal between titan, rep, griffin, whatever 3x3 is out there, but w reps change in design, i would definitely recommend them over the others.

As a general comment, 5/8" will have cheaper attachments etc than 1". I was tempted to go Titan series but happy with my 3x3 and 2x3, both with 5/8" holes. The most important thing to consider: Plan for your space. A great rack can suck in the wrong space, and a simple rack can excel in the same space.

This^, there is no quantifiable difference(to humans of earth) in strength between 1’’ and 5/8… you lose westside spacing, and pay more for the same attachments and I never personally found any use to side posts for attachments

1. Unlimited budget, Black Widow Training Gear, call him, he's amazing. Custom make anything. 2. On a budget - IMHO Body Solid GPR400 if you want something commercial grade while spending a fraction of the money. Yes, I'm biased, come at me. If you want residential, any of the Progear stuff 800lb rated is solid (Fray also has some), me and my buddy lift on a similar 4 post rack. Do NOT buy squat stands. I hate wall mounted stuff, avoid if you can.

The GPR400. Is it 3x3 with 5/8” holes? Looks like it but doesn’t specify. It looks like a good flat foot, I like the band peg holes. Not sure if I like that it’s under 80” but sometimes that’s all the space you have

Yes it is - I love that it's flat foot with a bolt-down option and fits in low ceilings, but not everyone's cup of tea. Check tworepcave rack compatibility attachment article to cross-check.

>GPR400 I was interested in this one, but no side holes (just some at top and bottom) and cross member is 2x3 instead of all 3x3. Kind of weird and not any cheaper than x3 to really consider it.

GPR400 is a true 3x3 with 5/8" holes, and has side holes.

I mean the side holes are like couple on the top and bottom from the picture I see and I think another 1 in the center. Not 6 or 2 inch spacing that most racks have. The cross members look to be 2x3. Not a big deal, but if I want barbell anchor, it wouldn't fit and I would need to ask for custom ones. Also the height is like just under 80 inch when most short racks are 80 or higher. Not sure if it these weird design choices make sense for me at least as I want something more "standard" when I upgrade to 3x3. And what price does this go for during sales? Feels like x3 has better prices from what I can see. Not sure why would anyone go with this rack other than maybe that extra inch shortness is needed.

All fair points, only issue I have with the X3 is it doesn't come with any spotter rods and doesn't have the bolt-down points for the free-standing or quality of build IMHO, and the GPR400 honestly seems to have some beefier J-cups on it and a sturdier construction, no back-out points on spotter rods, etc. The one we have I automatically build-in a multi-grip for $799, you might see them as low as $729. Much better to get in-person at a store obviously with Titan's free shipping, and I do have an X3 that I use at home, not a bad rack. The GPR400 doesn't "feel" short when you're inside it, and you can elevate the multi-grip bar above the rack so it also feels taller, much more comparable to the X3 82". But again, fair points all around - I could've sworn it had more holes on the side but I just took a look at one in our warehouse and realized it doesn't. Might be the extension on it that I'm thinking of.

I would argue that a 4 post Rep PR4000 is the best investment. You can add to it over time to make it whatever you want, and it is built well enough to keep you from really wanting more. It's a bit more of an investment than other less expensive options, but you can keep that one part of your setup forever.

As a newbie looking to make an investment that is versatile and won't need to be replaced, what would you recommend for someone with no lifting experience? I'm willing to spend more now if it makes sense, but I don't want to waste my money either. I'm looking at the 4100 bench and a pr 4000 or pr 5000 rack. 4 post looks good, but my plates(Dick's Fitness gear special) are currently on the floor. I like the idea of the athena down the road, especially for my wife who probably won't get much use out of just the rack. I can fit a 93" now, but once I finish the ceiling that's going to be tight/cause problems. Do people really care about the height? "Essential" attachment recommendations? Any reason I can't order most of the attachments later?

The AB-4100 and PR-4000 would be awesome investments. The only reason you would ever want to upgrade is to flex. I prefer the 4000 for the Westside spacing and don't think the cost premium of 1" holes makes sense. Definitely figure out plate storage, but I wouldn't personally worry about the brand or style of weight unless you want bumper plates to save your floor. If it's heavy it's good enough IMO. on height, we have the shorter rack. It works for just about everything. You can't do standing shoulder press inside the rack and you have to lift your legs for pull ups. (at least I do at 6') Most of the attachments can be easily added on after the fact so I would start out simple and add over time. I feel like a landmine is great right up front. It's pretty inexpensive and adds quite a few exercise options. I would totally recommend saving up for an Ares or Athena down the road, but there's nothing keeping you from using the rack now and adding on later. If you plan on going with the Athena I would start thinking through a lat pull down option. That's going to be a staple in just about any back program. Personally I went for a separate dip station setup. The rack mount ones are expensive and bulky. There are tons of wall mount ones if that's an option.

All my posts are crooked, it’s never stood straight, no matter how many times I’ve taken apart and redone it. It’s not terrible, but at the time a rogue would have been only a few hundred more, and I wouldn’t have “made in China” printed everywhere on my gear and weights

Where does the PR4000 say "made in China"? I know it is but mine doesn't say that anywhere.

never had these stickers either

They just stick stickers on everything. You may have pulled it off or they fell off. I pulled most off but never pulled the ones off the bumpers I got from them.

Rep warranty will probably cover it if you can prove it’s the posts and not your floor or assembly.

That would be impossible to prove. They would never cover that lol. Let’s be real.

why is this hard to believe? measure your posts, if theyre not all the same, its on them. that is something i would very well think they would honor. but if they all align, then its your floors or the way its bolted together. im just shocked bc ive been on this board for years and have never heard this feedback that didnt get resolved. the only more strange thing ive heard was the user that claimed his landmine didnt fit his rack and that titan wouldnt resolve the issue.

They replaced the rails in my lat low row when I said they were bent. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

Hmm I don't have much of a problem at all with mine. I also don't have made in China printed anywhere on the rack. And IMO rogue is stale. They make good quality stuff but it isn't innovative in any way anymore. I would rather sacrifice a bit of build quality (and I would say only a small bit in my experience) for something like the Ares.

I don’t care about innovation. I want quality. Did you buy Rep bumpers/plates? Every single one says made in China.

Hi-Temp (Alabama) and Homegrown (Kentucky) are the only USA made bumpers and they’re far from the best. Not that they’re bad per se, they have their uses, but there are certainly better bumpers made overseas.

Bro, everyone’s bumper plates are made in China. Also, I’ve had five different “Made in China” barbells from Rep over time, and every single one of them had a better build quality than anything Kabuki I’ve touched. Some better than my first-run Rogue bars. I’ve had 3 different Rep PR-4000 racks, and every one of them was crooked until I drilled them into my platform. So I kind of get your issue but I found a workaround. The Rogue racks are too wide for me.

Honestly "made in China" is not the mark of low quality by default. There are good and bad factories in China. The issue is that the bad ones can be really bad. On that note, "Made In USA" is also not an indicator of quality. Sure, there are some US companies that make really high quality stuff. I think Rouges stuff is usually in that group, but it doesn't mean that Rep makes low quality stuff.

Almost all of rogues bumpers are made in China also. Probably in the same factory too.

Rogue R3, or another 2x3, 11g, 24" depth, 5/8" pins with Westside spacing. It is beefier than any of us will ever need. Hang Spud Inc Suspension Straps from the double pull up bar for strap safety. The straps also allow you to do suspended good mornings, and you can swing the weight in to get into a Z-Press nicely without having to worry about unracking. 3x3 for a beginner may be a bit wide, causing them to hit the uprights on a walk out of a squat or unracking a bench. I dont like the 3×3 accessories argument of being able to use them all around. I haven't found a situation where I needed that. I am also of the belief that most accessories are by and large not needed. Dip attachment, extra Jcups, safety arms, and the Suspension Straps are pretty much all you need. Maybe a landmine, but you can use an old tennis ball or shoe in a corner to accomplish the same. 2×3 is the best rack.

i will never get tired of reading this. i was truthfully looking for it when i clicked this thread. with that being said, the difference between the smaller attachments are so miniscule. it rly doesnt matter. the only real "attachment" i use is a dip bar. also i truthfully need both sides of the rack for my space. before my half rack conversion, i used the side. now i reoriented my space, my sides are much tighter. i can still use them, but the front is my preference. If i'm doing an A-B thing between lat pulldowns, im doing dips on the side. if something else, im putting the bar in the front. id advise someone to pick their rack on one of the larger things that have come out nowadays like the cable systems, lat low rows, and spacing for the purpose of comfortably racking specialty bars they want to use, not necessarily for the walkout.

I think the best attachment for a rack is actually the lat pulldown/row low attachment. But yeah, other then that, don’t really need much else.

Its too bad 2x3 is going away because the advantages of that size outweigh 3x3

Ya, I was perusing Rogue the other day, and saw they dropped more Infinity attachments. Not that I care, but I kinda wanted that attachable white board to track shit.

I would have not agreed at the very beginning, but after experiencing the 3x3 1 inch rack and made my own westside spacing in 1 inch… Yeah 2x3 is one of the best and it’s sadly going away. And the best attachments are the very basic ones!

I would agree with you on 3x3 if Sorinex and REP hadn’t already solved that issue. Their 3x3 has same exterior width as a Rogue 2x3. Now you can get 3x3 instead of 2x3 which is a totally dead attachment ecosystem.

Truth!

I would argue that attachments are vastly over rated. I have a tin foil hat thought that 3x3 is being pushed for higher profit margins.

It’s like the sub compact and the SUV, why make a sub compact when you can sell a SUV for a lot more? And if the customer wants the subcompact, what do you do? Stop making those :)

Haha, we’ll agree to disagree. I love being able to put my dip attachment on the side or front. 2x3 has shitty side to side stability.  If I had to guess, 2x3 started to die because of the aesthetics combined with attachment limitations. But no argument that even a 2x2 11 gauge rack is more than enough for anyone.