Giselle Castro-Sloboda Fitness and Nutrition Writer
I’m a Fitness & Nutrition writer for CNET who enjoys reviewing the latest fitness gadgets, testing out activewear and sneakers, as well as debunking wellness myths. On my spare time I enjoy cooking new recipes, going for a scenic run, hitting the weight room, or binge-watching many TV shows at once. I am a former personal trainer and still enjoy learning and brushing up on my training knowledge from time to time. I’ve had my wellness and lifestyle content published in various online publications such as: Women’s Health, Shape, Healthline, Popsugar and more.
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Best multifunctional squat rack
HulkFit 1,000-pound Capacity Multifunction Adjustable Power Cage
If you regularly lift weights, you’ve probably used a squat rack — or, at the very least, you know what one is. Adding a squat rack to your home gym will level up your workouts, but there are lots of factors involved in picking the right one — from space requirements to price. That said, there is a range of quality squat racks available to buy today. The question is, which one is the best fit for your needs?
Squat racks tend to be large compared with most gym equipment, so you’ll need ample space. Many people put their squat racks in their backyard or garage. And like most home gym equipment, squat racks can get rather expensive, with the price depending on the brand and style you choose. We suggest carefully weighing pros and cons before shelling out for a squat rack, especially if you are on a tight budget or have limited space, as it is definitely an investment.
In the market to buy a squat rack for home use? I’ve rounded up some of the best options, based on overall customer satisfaction and brand reputability. Here are my top choices.
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Rogue is well-known for its weight-training equipment and is the go-to for Crossfit and big-box gyms. If you’re looking for a tried-and-true squat rack that gets the job done, you’ll appreciate the SML-2 Rogue 90-inch Monster Lite Squat Stand. This compact squat rack is a hybrid between a squat rack and a power rack, which allows you to perform other exercises such as bench presses or deadlifts. It also includes the choice of two pull-up bars: a thicker and thinner bar. This squat rack will fit in a garage gym as long as the ceiling clears over 7.5 feet.
Customers who purchased this squat rack say it was easy to put together and that it’s heavy duty and high quality. Many reviewers say they are able to do various lifts with this rack, and the pull-up bars are height-friendly for even the tallest people. Buyers agree it’s worth buying the spotter arms for extra safety when lifting.
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If you’re limited on space but still want to find the room for a squat rack, the PRX Performance Profile Pro Folding Squat Rack is a solid choice. This squat rack first gained attention when the creators appeared on the TV show Shark Tank to promote the space-saving device.
It’s perfect for a garage because it doesn’t take up a lot of room (4 inches of wall space) and can be folded in when you’re done using it. You’ll need to make sure your garage is tall enough — you need a ceiling that’s at least 7.5 feet high.
Customers love this space-saving squat rack. One reviewer is a musician who uses the garage as a studio space and a gym and says the squat rack is easy to store when not in use. Other buyers say it’s sturdy, worth the investment and has changed their workout routine for the better. It starts at $849, plus $50 if you want to add the reinforcement kit for dips.
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If you have a low-ceiling home gym, then you’ll love the Titan Fitness T-3 Series Short Squat Stand. At only 6 feet tall, this squat rack can fit into just about any room. Despite its size, it’s sturdy enough to hold up to 1,000 pounds and doesn’t need to be drilled into the floor or a wall.
Customers say this squat rack exceeded their expectations for sturdiness and ease of assembly. One powerlifter said they’ve racked up to 600 pounds on the spotter arms without any issues and found that it fit perfectly in their small space. This squat rack is even appropriate for commercial use — one gym owner said he bought several for his gym.
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A power rack is helpful for making your weightlifting safer. It also helps you feel more confident in lifting heavier, even without a spotter. This Hulkfit squat rack includes a pull-up bar, dip bars and J-hooks to rack your barbells. It’s on the larger side, so make sure you have a ceiling that’s at least 7 feet high.
Buyers who purchased this multifunctional squat rack say they got their money’s worth. According to Amazon, the manufacturer is transitioning from safety bars to safety straps, which means depending on when you order, you may receive either one. Some customers say they had issues with the way the squat rack was shipped and said some of the packaging was torn, but the parts themselves weren’t damaged.
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This no-frills squat rack is one of Amazon’s most highly rated pieces of exercise equipment. It can hold up to 800 pounds and fit up to a 7-foot-long Olympic bar. The squat rack includes adjustable spotter arms, storage for Olympic plates and an angled pull-up bar. If you’d like to upgrade this squat rack, there are two other styles that include a lat pulldown attachment and a weight bench. Make sure you have a ceiling that’s over 7 feet tall.
Reviews are positive for the most part. One buyer said their family, including a teenager who is a football player, uses this squat rack for conditioning. A woman who uses the squat rack and the pull-up bar says it can even withstand the intensity of kipping pull-ups. She adds, “The squat rack itself is great, and I’ve used it to squat, bench, and do rack pulls on.”
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If your home gym is in your yard, you know that Mother Nature can rust your equipment. You’ll want a squat rack that’s protected from the weather. The Get RX’d Galvanized Backyard Builder RMU Rig is a great option if you want a squat rack specifically intended for outdoor use.
This squat rack uses hot-dip galvanization to prevent corrosion from the inside out. The process immerses steel in molten zinc to help create a multilayered weather-resistant coat to prevent rusting. Aside from being a sturdy squat rack, this rig can be used by multiple people at the same time, and it has plenty of room to set up gymnastics rings. There are three different pull-up bar options.
Reviewers say this squat rack is ideal for a backyard and lives up to its weather-resistant promises. One buyer said, “Living in Portland with monthly rain, this is perfect for the backyard! Even wet, it has plenty of grip and is definitely all weather!” Another reviewer said they’ve owned this rig for over two and a half years, and they’ve used it consistently without any issues.
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