In order to build muscle and strength, you need to eat right and work out hard. In addition to a wholesome diet, getting a boost from intra-training supplements can also give you a hand to achieve your bodybuilding goals.

Whereas with workouts, one kind of exercise that must be included is free weights. Free weights challenge you to engage your muscles to stabilize your movement. This allows you to develop strength, power, and coordination all in one action. Weights are also adaptable, since they may be used in a variety of settings and methods.

There are several free weight exercises that you can try, many of which have been used for centuries. Strength training isn’t difficult and you can build a powerful, muscular body with nothing more than an Olympic barbell, some weight plates, and collars to keep the weights in place. But if you want to add barbells to your training, then you’ll need to get a strength training rack.

A must-have piece of equipment for both commercial and serious home and garage gyms, such training racks not only make workouts more effective and safer but also increase the number of exercises you can do in a very small space. When paired with a barbell and weight plates, a training rack provides everything you need for a successful exercise.

Choosing a Training Rack Type

Nowadays you can find different types of strength training racks available on the market, each of which might suit your needs in a different way. Most will enable you to do a basic set of moves in a similar manner (barbell squats and presses being the most important). The distinctions are seen in the additional functions or extras that racks provide. Let’s take a look at the most common types and their benefits.

Squat Stands

The squat stands provide the least amount of support while still qualifying as a rack. These are often the most portable stands. They are a lightweight technique of retaining the bar at shoulder height above the ground. The arms are frequently moved up and down to alter the bar height or J-hook location. This makes it an excellent choice in terms of simplicity and adaptability. These are often the least expensive of the varieties available.

Half Rack

The half rack provides more stability and adjustability than squat stands. They also have safety bars and, more often than not, an overhead bar for pull-ups and band attachments. This style of rack gives you a lot of flexibility in your lifting. It can be the ideal choice if you are looking for equipment with a small footprint. The increments on the front columns allow users to accurately position the J-hooks and safety bars.

Because it is ‘open’ at the front, a half rack is a suitable choice for lifts that are completed a few steps away from the rack. This is especially critical for overhead lifts and activities like split jerks and overhead squats.

A conventional half rack should be able to support both a novice and an expert lifter due to the twin vertical supports and horizontal connections. However, because a half rack is lighter and less stable than a power rack, excessively heavy barbells placed upon the safety arms of a half rack (especially if not anchored down) may cause the rack to shift.

Many half racks include plate storage as well as weight bar storage on the rear. That is, you will not need to purchase more toaster racks or a weight plate tree.

Power Rack

While they may appear frightening at first glance, power strength training racks provide the same function as half racks. The “cage” construction, on the other hand, provides additional stability and safety. The cage contains two columns in the front and rear which are supported by horizontal bars on the top and bottom. This enables the power racks to carry weights of more than a half rack. It also ensures that any spilled barbells are less likely to escape onto the gym floor when released.

The disadvantage is that a fully loaded power rack will take up some more room on your gym floor. A professional gym designer should be able to maximize your space for your individual aims and requirements. Generally, a rack would not have enough J-Hooks and safety bars to accomplish so, but they are easily obtained. In your rack, look for weight plate storage and additional pull-up bar alternatives as well as sturdy steel construction and lots of increments for precise training and accessory installation.

What Else Do You Need to Consider?

Once you’ve decided on the best type of strength rack for you, there are other things you’ll also want to keep in mind.

Construction

The majority of power racks are composed of box steel. The thicker the steel, the more powerful the power rack. That strength, however, is also connected to the weight of the power rack. Make certain that your rack is made to last. Welds should also be done correctly since weld spots are the weakest portion of a squat rack.

Weight Capacity

Your power rack will be able to hold anything from 150 to 500 kg, depending on its construction. In a commercial setting, or if you are a really solid home user, you should always look for a rack that is heavier than the weight you intend to use. If a power rack fails due to being overloaded, not only will the warranty be invalidated, but it may also cause significant damage.

Accessories

A simple power rack does not normally come with many frills. Many are just outfitted with J-hooks and safety bars. Pull-up bars, dipping bars, band pegs, plate storage pegs, and other accessories may need to be ordered individually. After you’ve added all of these extras, your inexpensive power rack may no longer be such a deal.

While these additions may not appear to be anything you would utilize, keep in mind that as you grow stronger, you will need to increase your routines, and these add-ons may provide variety and intensity to your workouts. Band pegs, for example, are an excellent technique to increase overload at the extremities of your range of motion.

If you’re having difficulties locking out on squats, deadlifts, or bench presses, including bands in your exercises will help. Check the specs of your power rack to see what is included as standard and what you may need to add to your purchase.