5 Best Squat Racks (Review) in 2021

Sad to say that the vast majority of people, left to their own devices, don’t use gym equipment safely, which can lead to a risk of injury, which creates frustration and before you know it, you have a shiny new squat rack, taking up valuable space and doing nothing more than gathering dust! So we’re going to run you through a couple of key considerations to bear in mind before you part with your hard earned cash and stick yet another piece of equipment into your home gym that never gets properly utilized.

Things To Consider When Purchasing A Squat Rack

Space - Straight up, a squat rack is a bit of a beast! Ask yourself seriously if you have a big enough area to fit one into your home set up comfortably. Sure you can get more compact versions and ones which are both adjustable and multi-functional so perform several all-important exercise functions including doubling up as you pull-up and dip station, but you do need to have a dedicated space that’s fit for purpose so that your power rack isn’t an unsightly inconvenience.

Strength - Clearly, whatever power cage you go for it needs to be able to hold the weight of the barbell size you intend lifting and allow for progression too. As you advance with your training, you will want to increase not just your reps but also your weight. So the overall machine you purchase needs to be both durable and well-constructed from solid materials. That in itself will make the rack heavy. If you are also investing in something that functions as a pull-up or dip station, it also needs to be able to take your own physical weight too. So the strength and quality of the materials are of paramount importance.

Additional accessories - We’ve already touched on this topic, introducing the multi-functional element of investing in a good power rack that allows you also to do tricep dips, pull-ups, and bench presses too. You might therefore also want to purchase a couple of additional accessories too so that you can really get the maximum benefit out of your new workout station. Great add-ons that work incredibly well with a power rack and will compliment your strength and conditioning training include dip bars, plate holders, J-hooks as well as a rope anchor and of course a chin-up bar if your power rack doesn’t have one already incorporated. You can also, of course, buy extra weight plates and bars too.

Safety - Working out safely, respecting your body and knowing your limits, is so important. If you are exercising at home, without the supervision of a fitness professional or a partner to spot you when decide to time to take it up a notch, then it’s even more essential that you consider all the safety elements of squatting. The beauty of a power rack is that it acts in the capacity of a mechanical spotter. Of course, you also need to be adopting the right form and stance so that you don’t injure yourself, engaging your core and paying attention to your body. However, you also need to ensure that your home squat rack is properly set-up before you use it. Can it be anchored to the floor for extra stability? If you do intend to do chin-ups and pull-ups, it would be a good idea to ensure that it’s securely anchored. Have you inserted all your safety pins correctly? If it comes with a stabilizer bar, is it removable or flush to the ground so that it won’t get in the way and inadvertently lead to injuries? Always refer to the comprehensive set-up instructions that will come with your power rack and check out the plethora of resources online that will show you how to squat safely and improve your technique if you are working out from home. You are definitely going to want to squat heavier as you progress, that’s just the competitive streak in you! So squat safely to see those gains.

Squat Rack FAQ

Q: What Is a Power Rack?

A: You may also see a power rack commonly referred to as a power cage, a squat cage or a squat rack. Essentially it’s a piece of weight lifting equipment that functions in the capacity of a mechanical spotter for free barbell weight exercises while allowing the user plenty of free movement. Usually, they are constructed in an upright design with four sturdy posts and two adjustable horizontal supports on either side which might be pins or rails. Many power racks also additionally come equipped with various multi-functional attachments to enhance your overall workout including chin-up or pull-up bars, pull down cable attachments for isolating muscle groups like triceps plus extra pegs for safely storing weight plates when not in use.

Q: What Are The Benefits Of Owning A Squat Rack At Home?

A: For those of you who can’t regularly get to the gym, maybe perhaps because you work unsociable hours, are too busy with work and family commitments then a home workout set-up might be the only chance you get to a squirrel in some valuable training time. Or maybe you already go to the gym, but you really want to focus on your gains and compliment an existing workout program with extra home workouts. The power rack in a pro gym is popular, that’s for sure, so you might get frustrated waiting in line for your turn! Or, you may be new to squatting and just want to test the water in a discreet and anonymous environment first, before you go bowling over confidently to the squat rack in your local commercial gym! If any of the above reasons sound familiar, then you may already be contemplating investing in a home power rack. For sure, you will benefit from increased muscle growth and strength, not to mention give yourself a real confidence boost to boot! So whether you are self-conscious, in need of building your self-esteem, short on time to visit the gym, or not in a position to pay for a costly gym membership, then a home power squat rack could offer the perfect solution for you.

Q: What Muscles Does The Squat Rack Work?

A: There’s a reason why men and women love to squat. It’s because it’s such an effective compound exercise and by that, we mean that it requires the engagement of the entire body. While a squat rack will primarily train the muscles of the hips and buttocks, thighs and quadriceps to give you strong and well-defined legs it also works the back of the legs too, engaging your hamstrings as well as your calves for an overall full leg workout. Not only that, but squatting also strengthens the bones and ligaments, not just the muscles. A barbell squat which is going to be one of the most common exercises you perform on your home squat rack is a push style exercise and will also strengthen the lower back and your overall core. Throw into the equation a pull up bar, some dumbbells, and a tricep dip station, and you can use a power rack to work your entire upper body too with targeted chest, shoulder, arms and back muscles all coming into play.

Q: How Heavy Is The Bar On The Squat Rack?

A: Let’s talk about the average set up here as of course, you may have bought something different for your own home gym due to restrictions on the space you have available. Most people and certainly most commercial gyms will offer a standard size Olympic barbell for use with the squat rack which is a regulatory size of 7.2 feet and weight 45 lbs before you’ve loaded it with plates. Shorter and longer bars can be purchased, and for those of you on the smaller size, something below 6 foot might work better, however, remember that you are going to want to progress with your training so don’t sell yourself and your expectations short by investing in something that grows in line with your goals.

Q: How Much Do You Have To Lift To Gain Muscle?

A: While it may be tempting to adopt that whole “no pain, no gain” philosophy you have nothing to prove to anyone apart from yourself and the only person you need to be in healthy regular competition with is yourself! Yes, you need to challenge yourself and yes, to do that you need to take yourself out of your comfort zone and test your boundaries in order to make gains. What you don’t want is to load the bar so heavy that you're likely to burst a blood vessel! That’s not a good look in anyone’s book. It’s all about progression and challenging yourself by adding on incremental weights each time your workout to raise the bar so to speak! So lift a weight that is challenging yes, but not that is so heavy that you end up compromising your form and risk getting injured.

Q: How Many Times A Week Do You Need To Lift?

A: There’s much debate around with subject, and in reality, it very much depends upon your own physicality and to a certain extent your general lifestyle too, the amount of sleep you get, how good your diet and nutrition is and how long it takes your body to recover. If you lack in essential vitamins and minerals, sleep deprived, stressed and overworked, then your recovery time will be impacted, and you do need to give your muscles chance to grow and to recover. The rack workout on a squat station will continue to build muscle for up to a staggering 36 hours even after you’ve worked out so if you overdo it and return to lifting heavy again too quickly, you will be putting undue pressure on your body. Generally speaking though, if you are relatively fit and healthy and following a sensible nutritional program, three times per week is a good recommendation.

Q: How Often Should You Increase Your Weights?

A: Here’s where we might get a little bit more technical guys so stay with us as science is just as important as strength and technique when you are looking to increase your muscle mass. There’s a term used in the fitness industry called “progressive overload,” and this is what you want to initially avoid as it will just put your body entirely out of whack and render you incapable of getting out of bed the next day! When you are starting out you need to go slow and steady with your increments and get into a good rhythm that your body responds well to. Plateauing and a lack of on-going results can also be frustrating, but when you reach that point, you know that you are in peak performance and now you start building muscle mass, add on more resistance and upping the ante even further. Until then, the general rule of thumb is that you should increase your weights when you no longer have to put in any effort. When you can smash the reps and aren’t fatigued, and your muscles are nowhere close to being at the failure point. Building muscle takes time, and you need to listen to and respect your body. Set out your goals but don’t be in a hurry to get there. Enjoy the journey and give yourself a big old pat on the back as you make those all-important gains and smash those milestones.