Power rack talk

The time has come to purchase home equipment. I was looking at buying a Rogue R-3, but since the gym will be in my finished basement, I can't bolt it to the floor. So now I'm in a position of looking for a high quality rack that does not have to be bolted to the floor. I don't really have any restrictions on size as long as it is reasonable. The R-3 was a rack that I saw as being good dimension, but I was on the fence about going with the bigger R4. I decided to match my budget on the rack with the same price of a one year gym membership which I won't be renewing in August.

What do you guys suggest for a quality, non bolt rack?

first, what's your limit?

I've seen really good 300-500 ones on amazon but they wont be as sturdy as some of the $1000 racks

900 for rack, 200 for bench. I want a bench the incline, flat, 90.

I like that R-3. Why do you need to bolt it to the floor? Kipping pull ups? I'd just get a stud bar for the pull ups and grab that R-3 and be good to go.
We've got a power cage like the R3 at my CF gym and I've never seen it tip over or wobble at all. If you're worried about it tipping over just put some 50-80lb dumbbells on the legs.

http://www.roguefitness.com/s2-squat-stand.php

You'd have to get the spotter arms too.

I think you will be hard pressed to find a good adjustable bench for $200 though.

That R-3 won't move though even without being bolted down unless you want to kip.

Glight, the squat stand would work if there were safety bars. I want to use it for bench press heavy and not die lol.

Originally Posted by kushy

Glight, the squat stand would work if there were safety bars. I want to use it for bench press heavy and not die lol.

thats why you get the spotter arms. They are like $130 extra.

S2 with spotter arms and bench is $998 tax and shipping included. I might do this, what do you guys think?

I think you'll be very happy with it and it will last long enough that your kids could use it.

I'd add the economy bar for $199 and half off shipping if you can afford it. A good bar is the foundation of a good home gym.

what's so great about the bar?

Originally Posted by kushy

S2 with spotter arms and bench is $998 tax and shipping included. I might do this, what do you guys think?

Do it. Rogue stuff and their customer service is awesome.

Originally Posted by Glight

I think you'll be very happy with it and it will last long enough that your kids could use it.

I'd add the economy bar for $199 and half off shipping if you can afford it. A good bar is the foundation of a good home gym.

I'm still messing with my bar from my $199.99 300lb olympic weight set from 2001. Still feels good enough. I don't want to try a "good" bar though because then I'll want one lol.

Damn, they are cheaper than I imagined.

That bar is the cheapest decent bar you can buy. It's the proper diameter and the ends will actually spin. It will last you forever. Once you try a real bar using a bar that you'd find at most commercial gyms is disgusting.

Night and day.

Like solly said though, once you use a good bar it'll be tough to ever go back to a chappy one.

I've got bars that were everywhere from free to $600 and there's a distinct difference blin feel between all of them.

If you are just going to squat and bench with it though a cheap craigslist bar is fine.

A nice bar starts becoming more important when you deadlift and critical for the fast lifts.

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How much weight can those spotter arms hold?

With squats, I'd be more comfortable with a regular rack.

Oh and does someone know what type of bars a gym like la fitness uses?

Originally Posted by Sensi09

How much weight can those spotter arms hold?

With squats, I'd be more comfortable with a regular rack.

Oh and does someone know what type of bars a gym like la fitness uses?

More than you can lift (no being a dick, more than I can lift too. Rogues stuff is way over built).

The bars at La fitness, lifetime fitness etc are ****. 31 or 32mm diameter. No whip, no spin. Good for squatting and benching and not much more.

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Originally Posted by Glight

More than you can lift (no being a dick, more than I can lift too. Rogues stuff is way over built).

The bars at La fitness, lifetime fitness etc are ****. 31 or 32mm diameter. No whip, no spin. Good for squatting and benching and not much more.

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What is whip? Mine spins at least.

Originally Posted by DylloS

What is whip? Mine spins at least.

my very uneducated guess is the extent the bar bends under heavy load

see if my guess is even in the ballpark of being correct lol

great topic guys, lots of great info here (I plan to do this once I move out of condo)

Originally Posted by DylloS

What is whip? Mine spins at least.

Whip is when the bar bends slightly under heavy load. When the weights get heavy on the Olympic lifts it helps to get out of the hole on a clean if you can time it right.

I would guess that yours rotates, not really "spins". When I first got my bar you could put a 45 on one end and put a collar on when it was in the rack and spin the plate and it would spin for 90 seconds or more. Most cheaper bars I've seen will make it one or two rotations and nothing more. That smoothness translates to really good bar paths and the ability to have good mechanics on the Olympic lifts.

Originally Posted by Glight

Whip is when the bar bends slightly under heavy load. When the weights get heavy on the Olympic lifts it helps to get out of the hole on a clean if you can time it right.

I would guess that yours rotates, not really "spins". When I first got my bar you could put a 45 on one end and put a collar on when it was in the rack and spin the plate and it would spin for 90 seconds or more. Most cheaper bars I've seen will make it one or two rotations and nothing more. That smoothness translates to really good bar paths and the ability to have good mechanics on the Olympic lifts.

Yea that's exactly what it does lol. Probably make my cleans better.

I have the PowerLine PPR200x from Amazon.

It goes on sale every so often for under $300, but probably not as good as your Rogue.
It's perfect for me currently as I'm just beginning and won't hit the max weight anytime soon.