Squat Rack vs Power Rack: The Essential Guide
When in the process of building your home gym, you must be aware of some gym essentials that you should make sure to include among your equipment. When it comes to weightlifting, it might be hard to know what to choose between a squat rack and a power rack. Any of such equipment will most likely become the most important and most used equipment of your home gym, so making the right choice is extremely important.
There is some confusion about the differences between a squat rack and a power rack, and many tend to use the two terms interchangeably. The two are, however, two different types of equipment that will serve you for different purposes and to build a great home gym, you should be aware of which one is most suited for you.
If you don’t know the differences between a squat rack, a power rack, and a squat stand, don’t worry, we got you covered! We will look at what you need them for, why is it so important to have one of the two, and outline the pros and cons for both, to make the choice easier for you. A squat rack or a power rack will be arguably one of the most important investments for your home gym, which is also why you need to carefully consider which type of equipment is best for you. With this guide, we want to assist you in your investigation.
Read this squat rack vs power rack comparison to clarify your doubts and build the perfect home gym for your workouts!
What is a squat rack? What are the pros of using one?
A squat rack’s main purpose is to hold and support your barbell as you get into a position for squatting or other exercises involving a barbell in your weight training routine.
A squat rack is made up of two metal posts whose height can be adjusted according to the exercise you want to perform. A squat rack, contrary to a power rack lacks the four uprights that enclose the barbell almost as if it was a “box”. A squat rack is generally cheaper than a power rack but it also lacks the safety arms which might help you catch a failed repetition.
A squat rack is ideal for performing some very important exercises that you most probably have in your routine already: squats and bench presses and their variations. For basic but still effective training, a squat rack will be more than enough for your home gym. However; if you are looking to work out to different levels and you are dedicated to working heavy iron, the power rack might be your best choice. Keep reading this squat rack vs power rack article to find out why.
Is a Squat Stand any Different from a Squat Rack?
Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about these terms, especially online. Generally, both the term squat stand and squat rack are used to indicate the same thing: support with two vertical bars holding your barbel at a horizontal position, which allows you to perform some basic squatting and bench pressing.
What Is A Power Rack? And What Are Its Benefits?
Power racks are also referred to as power cage, as opposed to squat racks, these types of gym equipment are made out of four metal posts connected by hooks and horizontal frames forming a sort of “cage”. A power rack has safety features that are not present in the simpler squat rack. Such features allow you to do some heavy lifting alone in all safety without worrying about failing a rep. Not only that: a power rack also allows you to perform overhead presses and incorporate some heavier squats and bench press to your routine. What’s more, is that most power racks are equipped with a pull-up bar which can be a great addition to your home gym. If pull-up is an important part of your routine, consider purchasing a power rack, especially if you tend to use heavier weights during your workout.
The Bottomline- Squat Rack vs Power Rack: Which one to Choose?
All in all power racks are safer and allow you for a wider variety of exercises, but squat stands are cheaper and are great if you don’t lift too heavyweights. Squat racks are not as rigid as power racks and do not offer the same absolute confidence for heavy lifting.
What you should also take into account is the amount of space you are at disposal for your home gym. Power racks are bulkier and larger than squat racks. They tend to be taller and require quite a generous ceiling room. Additionally, power racks are hard to move and need a minimum of 10 square feet of space to be installed. On the other hand, a squat rack can fit into a corner and works fine for spaces with a low ceiling.
The biggest drawback of power racks is that they are much more costly than squat racks. Depending on the usage you intend to make out of your home gym and your workout routine as well as your objectives and goals, the higher investment can be more or less worth it.*
Be aware, however, that because squat racks are cheaper, there are some very poor quality squat racks that you should avoid, as they do not have spotter’s arms and might be unstable. Make sure you don’t compromise quality for a cheaper price!
Hopefully, this article helped to clarify for you the differences between a squat rack and a power rack, which should be included in any home gym. As squats and bench pressing do play a major role in weight training, your home gym will not be complete without either one or the other! As you most probably learned from this squat rack vs power rack comparison article, some differences will help you in making your final decision without regrets, according to what is best for you and your workout routine. The space that you have at your disposal, as well as your budget, will also determine your final decision.