Home » How To Choose The Right Squat Rack: 5 Quick Tips

How To Choose The Right Squat Rack: 5 Quick Tips

Having a squat rack on-hand is a crucial way to improve your strength training. But purchasing a squat rack that benefits your physical form isn’t always easy – largely because there are so many varieties available.  



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Aside from considering the cost of the squat rack, there are a few other important things you must consider when choosing your squat rack.

  1. Prioritize Your Safety 

Safety is always an important consideration, whatever you are doing. But you must keep this as a priority whether you are looking to choose a Half Rack, Wall Mount, or a Squat Stand.

When choosing the right squat rack, there are a few things you need to think about. Notably, you must consider the amount of static weight that the rack can handle. But you must also think about whether the squat rack can withstand a bit of rough treatment if the weight were to be slammed back onto it from a distance.

For this purpose, a power rack is usually a much more structurally sound choice and is just generally better suited for the job. It will also see you through if your primary focus is to try out bench presses and squat variations. A power rack will take up around 10 square feet of space and will also cost much more. 







  1. Consider Your Surroundings

If you don’t have the necessary space for a squat rack, then forget it!

There is no use in browsing through the market looking for top-of-the-range power racks, wall mounts, or cages if your home gym is in a low-ceiling garage or basement with thin plaster walls. 

The key is to think realistically and begin the search with exact measurements so that you can maximize your surrounding space. Rigs and Power Racks are quite tall. If you find yourself tight on height and general space, you may want to select a quality squat stand instead.

But if your space is small but has quite a lot of height, choosing a wall-mounted rack that can be folded away might be more applicable.

  1. Pick Quality Material

Remember: you don’t always have to spend lots of money on a squat rack to find something to suit your needs!

You’ll generally want to stick to 12-gauge steel racks and above. Though some home gym squat racks are around 7-gauge, an 11-gauge will be very suitable and will also be sturdy enough to last you.

A lot of new racks have westside hole spacing. This means that the holes in the uprights are located much closer together near the bottom of the rack and are much further apart in the middle and toward the top of the rack. With this spacing, you can safely position the bar for benching. 

Aesthetics are also important. Looking for a squat rack with a powder coat finish will make a much better impression.

  1. Space For Accessories

Picking out accessories and ensuring they are compatible with your rack is essential. After all, what are you going to do with a new set of ill-fitting safety pins or spotter arms?

The holes on your Squat Rack are also important. This is where your accessories, safeties, and j-hooks go. It’s preferable to have them laser-cut into the steel as it ensures the structural maintenance of the rack which will keep you safe.

Working out in home gyms usually means we’re on our own when it comes to performing an exercise routine, and hospitals are full enough without the addition of lift-related injuries. So make sure

  1. Think About Necessity

Choosing a squat rack that provides ease of adjustment is always a good idea.

If you’re a powerlifter, you might want to choose a combo rack as this will meet all of your exercise needs. It is designed to be great for benches, squats, and deadlifts. 

For normal lifters, you might be stuck between a simple stand and a power rack. In this case, you will want to consider a half-rack, which allows for bench presses, lunges, and squats, and also provides you with more flexibility when it comes to executing barbell exercises. These also take up less space. 

With all that said, there’s no piece of equipment that can replace a spotter, or allow for more versatile workouts, than a power rack. So make sure to keep this in mind when making your final choice. 

Summary

Choosing the right squat rack doesn’t always have to be difficult. As long as you consider the above points, you’ll be on your way to finding a new piece of gym equipment in no time at all!

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