Top 5 Best Squat Racks – 2017 Reviews And Top Picks
With the popularity of home gyms on the rise, it isn’t surprising that there has been an increase in the number of workout equipment on the market.
Squats — one of the main compound movements would require only the best squat rack for a safe and efficient workout session.
Quality squat racks that enable you to mount the Olympic bar in preparation for your squat can be difficult to find with the vast number of poorly constructed racks populating the market.
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The following list of squat racks may aid you in choosing your next piece of home gym equipment.
Cap Barbell Power Rack Exercise Stand is a sturdy piece of equipment, with its tube seams welded to provide strength and stability. Steel components of this squat rack are also sealed and powder coated to prevent rusting which we felt was a good finishing touch.
Additionally, this squat rack features a reinforced overhead workout bar which is good if you do bodyweight training such as pull-ups, chin ups and leg raises. However, if you’re on the heavier side, it is important to note that the bar supports only a maximum capacity of 300 pounds (136 kg).
Pair of Adjustable Standard Solid Steel Squat Stands is a good alternative if you’re on a budget and looking for a simple equipment that does its job. With adjustable stands and safety catches, light to moderate lifters can consider this squat rack for their home gym.
A good thing to note however is that the squat rack works best with full length (7.2ft / 2.2 metres) Olympic bars to prevent the stands from being too close to each other, which may hinder the setting up of your squat stance.
The Valor Fitness BD-9 Power Squat Stand was built with the serious weight lifter in mind, sustaining up to 500 pounds (226 kg) in weight and reaching a maximum height of 77 inches (195 cm).Perfect for users up to the 7ft (213 cm) height range, this premium squat rack is even sturdy enough for you to do pull ups from under the weight bar. If you have the money to spare, you may consider getting it.
Squat Rack HD Power Weight Bench Racks 72” H 600 Cap. 3 Safety is the ideal squat rack for functionality, with three catches for bench press and shoulder press, great for those on a budget.
Bearing up to 600 pounds (272 kg) in weight, this squat rack is great for heavy weight lifting and CrossFit. One downside though, is the lack of safety bars when performing your workout alone.
Body-Solid Powerline Squat Rack has one of the most stable and wide bases, along with an adjustable bar support for various exercises such as bench presses and curls.
Although it might have a fairly wide base that is reinforced with a steel frame, this also means that the base is not adjustable and may pose a problem for smaller spaces. The lack of a holder bar for weights may also reduce stability when training with heavier weights above 300 pounds (136kg).
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Squat Rack HD Power Weight Bench Racks 72” H 600 Cap. 3 Safety | A | $$ | |
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**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Reviews Of The Best Squat Racks
This squat rack which has an assembled spec of 46 inch by 50 inch by 85 inch (D x W x H) is fairly priced given its powder coat finishing and steel construction of 12 and 14 steel gauge thickness.
With an added overhead bar which is rare for squat racks of this price range, it is great for bodyweight exercises like pull-ups and even the use of resistance bands for training. The storage posts at the back of the squat racks for weight plates and Olympic bars too, allow for increased stability and convenience.
The squat rack is great for amateur to advanced lifters as it can only hold a maximum weight of 300 pounds (136 kg). The ease of assembly and overhead bar however, makes up for these although the lack of safety bars may seem off putting for some.
Finally, if you find that you lack space, this squat rack may not be for you as it is not foldable and rather large when fully assembled.
Pros
- Ease of Assembly (Does not require screwing down to floors)
- Overhead Bar
- Durable Steel Construction
- Padded Hooks to Prevent Scratching of Olympic Bar
Cons
- Lack of Safety Bars
- Not Foldable, Takes Up Space When Assembled
- Not Stable For Heavier Weights
If you’re on a tight budget and looking for squat racks that do the job well, this product by Best Choice Products may suffice. With adjustable bases and spotters (safety bars), this 40 pounds squat rack might do well for intermediate lifters.
The rack has a fully assembled dimension of 17 x 20.1 x 67 inches (D x W x H) and holds a maximum weight of 390 lbs. It doesn’t have a weight holder though, which we felt could have been added to further stabilize the already light squat rack.
Users reported that the squat rack is optimal for use only with a standard sized Olympic bar (7ft / 2.2 metres) and no shorter as it may hinder the setting up of your squat stance during the walk out. Additionally, with adjustable bases comes a loss of stability in the squat racks which users claim become dangerous when moving towards heavier weights.
Furthermore, some users complained that the mechanism for changing the height in this squat rack was too troublesome as the safety pegs had to be removed too and screwed back in. This may prove to be troublesome for those intending to use the squat rack for other variations of exercise besides squatting.
In all, this squat rack is great for its price and space-efficient properties which we felt would do fine for those hoping to get a light workout in or for those that have just started lifting.
Pros
- Extremely Affordable Price
- Space Efficient — Great For Small Rooms
- Safety Spotters
Cons
- Unstable Base When Moving To A Heavier Weight
- Troublesome Mechanism For Changing Height
- May Be Too Narrow For Olympic Bars Shorter Than 7ft
For the serious weight lifter, this squat rack may be one of the best options for you. Holding up to a maximum weight of 500 pounds (226 kg) and extending to a height of 6’5ft (198 cm), this squat rack accommodates users that are in the 7ft (213 cm) height range and below.
In fact, at the maximum height extended, you can perform pull ups when you have your legs tucked under.
With safety bar catches and an extendable height that are adjusted independently, it provides convenience for you when switching between exercises. Adding to that, this squat rack comes with an adjustable base and weight storage pegs for added stability when moving up to a heavier weight.
The squat rack measures 28 x 20.5 x 77 inches (D x W x H) when fully assembled and may require a little more space in your room. That being said, since the base is not attached to each other, you are free to adjust the distance between the stands to fit a shorter Olympic bar or conserve space when not in use.
Some users complained that it took a little time to set up this squat rack. But many of them complemented it for its stability and convenience in adjusting the height and distance between the squat stands.
Pros
- Adjustable Base And Plate Peg For Great Stability
- High Weight Capacity
- Safety Pegs
- Weight Storage
- High Adjustable Height
Cons
- Expensive
- May Require A Little More Work To Assemble
This squat rack is built with stability and heavy weight users in mind, with dimensions of 48 x 30 x 72 inches (D x W x H). One of the most stable squat racks out on the market, it even has a plate holder to add additional stability if needed.
With 2 by 2 inch steel frames, it holds a maximum capacity of 600 pounds (272 kg) and would easily fit a user that is in the 6ft (182 cm) range. The outside width of 48 inches (122cm) holds a 7ft Olympic bar perfectly, with users reporting that a 6ft bar would fit nicely too.
Furthermore, there are fixed catches at 28, 32 and 36 inches to act as a safety peg when performing the bench press. This squat rack is ideally built for both squats and the bench press in mind.
Many users complemented this squat rack for its impressive stability and ease of assembly. Adding to it, user found the rack to hold up extremely well when moving up to higher weights of 400 pounds (181 kg) and above, with the stands barely moving when racking the weights.
However, with the fixed base of 48 inches in length, this squat rack may not be suitable for those without a permanent space set aside for the equipment.
Pros
- Excellent Stability
- Impressive Weight Capacity For Its Price
- Affordable
- Versatility
Cons
- Takes Up Space When Not In Use
- No Free Shipping
This squat rack is decently built, with 2 x 2 inch steel frames and an extra wide fixed base at 48 inches (122 cm). The full dimensions of the squat rack measures 48 x 37 x 30 inches (D x W x H) and have a height that is adjustable to 60 inches (152 cm).
Weighing 51 pounds (23 kg) and holding up to 300 pounds (136 kg) in weight, it is the only squat rack that comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty and a 10 year frame warranty.
The downside, we felt, was the lack of a weight plate holder to add stability to the base, making the squat rack a little too flimsy when moving up to a higher weight.
Many users were happy with the easy installation of the squat racks, and praised the wide base which was great for multiple exercises such as bench presses. The width fits nicely for a standard sized 7ft (2.2 metres) Olympic bar.
Pros
- Ease Of Assembly
- Fixed Base For Added Stability
- Versatility
- Long Manufacturer’s Warranty
Cons
- Lack of Safety Bars
- Lack of Weight Holders
- Low Weight Capacity Given Its Price
- Expensive Given Lack Of Added Functions
What To Look Out For In Squat Racks?
Squat racks are great basic equipment when looking to start a home gym. This is because most squat racks are versatile and enable you to do the big compound movements like bench press and overhead presses.
To give you a clearer idea on what to look out for in a squat rack, here are some characteristics which we liked in our squat rack:
- Adjustable Stands For Multiple Exercises, To Fit Different Length Barbells And For Space Efficiency
- Adjustable Base / Wide Base For Stability
- Weight Holder For Stability And Storage Convenience
- Safety Bars When Working Out Alone
- Large Variances For Adjustable Height
- High Weight Capacity
- Finished Coating To Prevent Rusting
Special Considerations When Using A Squat Rack At Home
Firstly, it is important that you know what you intend to use your squat rack for. If it is mainly for squatting, and you’re an amateur lifter, getting a squat rack with a lower weight capacity and functionality can save you some money.
Subsequently, you have to have an estimate of the space you’re willing to set aside for your squat rack. If space is not a problem, getting a squat rack with a fixed base where you can leave it permanently would be great.
Always remember to take note the length of barbell you intend to use your squat rack with. Certain barbells may be too small for your squat rack and may be dangerous when doing heavy workouts with inappropriate equipment.
Have a lifting partner with you when using your squat rack. If that is not possible, at least utilize a squat rack with adjustable safety pegs (spotters) to prevent injuries in case of failure (not recommended though).
Conclusion
In culmination of this review, our best squat rack choice would be the Valor Fitness BD-9 Power Squat Stand. Although the most expensive amongst our list, its versatility coupled with stability and efficient use of space makes it our favorite squat rack.
Not to mention this squat rack has a heavy weight capacity, abundance of functionalities and most importantly a safety catch! It possesses all the pros of the other squat racks with the only drawback being its price.
