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Power rack with bar [Article,Video]

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Nov 27, 2019 9:00:00 AM

Squat rack with bar

Power rack with bar

 
A good combination is either the Rogue RM4 with the Ohio Bar or the TITAN rack with the Atlas bar. All details in the article below.
 
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Squat rack with Olympic bar 

 
Which rack and bar will fit your budget can ultimately have unlimited different combinations depending on your preferences. 
 
Some questions to ask yourself in the process of getting the right equipment for you are:
 
  • How much space do I have available 
  • Hoch much do I maximally want to spend 
  • Which exercises do I want to do 
  • How many people will use the equipment 
  • What preferences do I have for the conduct of the manufacturer 
  • What type of training will I do 
  • Do I prefer nice design or finish or a maximum amount of equipment per dollar
  • Will the new equipment fit with my old equipment 
  • What is the resell value of my equipment 
  • Will my gym be a single purpose or will I use the space for parking a car too? 
 
All of these questions will narrow your choices down and start progress. As a good rack and Olympic bar combo can put you back anywhere between $500 to $10000 it is worth the while to put some time and thought into it. Unless you make more than $10000 a month. Then this is spare change to you. In that case, buy the Rogue RM8, built a garden house around it and get a combination of rogue calibrated steel and competition plates including a Pyrros and Thor bar. 
 
For a great rack, you will usually spend around $1000. The sky is the limit, but the high-end racks are $8000 to $10000 when they have all bells and whistles. You can also start at $200 but if you want some color or the option to have the best upgrades for the rack in future put down $1000 against the rack. You might get nasty shipping or tax surprises at the end of the check out process which bumps the price tag by 10% to 20%. So put $1000 in the bank so that you have some wiggle room on the rack while not having to get the cheapest option. 
 
Barbells usually range from $100 to $1000. At the lower end you will have lighter barbells or options which do not fit with standard plates. Stay away from those as they do not protect your investment and also mean more hassle than fun with your purchase. At the high end, we have the Eleiko Olympic barbells. The middle ground is barbells from Rogue, Titan and other vendors with a different focus. You have to decide whether you actually want an Olympic barbell in the sense of doing Olympic lifts with them. These usually come in for $400 to $700 as they have bearing on the sleeves instead of bushing for a better spin. If you don’t need bearing you will get a great barbell for $300 for all purposes. 
 
Based on this my personal recommended budget for a rack and barbell combo would be $1300 if you buy new. Good months for discounts are October and November. the brands that I would personally recommend for a US purchase are TITAN and Rogue as they have been around for a while, produce in the US and usually have shipping costs included on a big order. 
 
Rogue is usually perceived as the high-end brand. They have higher costs than other vendors as they invest more in marketing, processes and staff. They also only focus on fitness equipment and have managed to get a big foothold in the CrossFit community. Their owner is an ex-military and brings in metalworking and design ideas from there into the business like the Cerakote coating. With Rogue, you usually find a consistent finish on welds and color on their products and good customer service. Their big downside is the price you pay and that the community starts to perceive the same as the Wall Street of fitness as they start buying and registering parents left, right and center. 
 
TITAN is usually perceived as the budget-friendly US clone of Rogue. TITAN also has another arm to the business which focuses on farming equipment and other heavy machinery. What you save on the purchase comes at a higher risk of an inconsistent finish on their products. Some people are super happy while others literally hate TITAN products. With Rogue people usually complain about the price but not about the product. 
 
The Rogue combo I picked is the RM4 rack with a Rogue Ohio bar. This sets you up in the middle of the portfolio of Rogue for a budget of $1300. You will be in the focus of their product line up with the monster series. Rogue racks usually also have a better resell value as they are in demand. You can downgrade to an R4 to save money to get a Pyrros bar. Look at the alternatives provided as this is only a reference point. 
 
From the TITAN portfolio, I picked the TITAN rack and the ATLAS bar. For the same budget, you get some plate storage pins with the TITAN rack which are not included with the RM4. The atlas bar is the equivalent of the Ohio bar in the Titan portfolio. 
 
You find the detailed reviews for each item below.
 
 
rm4fortis-fb
 

Overview and review of the Rogue RM-4 Monster Rack

Price: 1.300 - 1765$

This review was originally posted in the longer article "Which strength equipment to buy from rogue" in which you can read about 25 products of Rogue which cost more than 1.000$. The Rogue Monster RM4 rack gives a cage for your powerlifting needs without providing a lot of storage options. See the details in this article.

Overview of the RM4

 
The RM4 is the core of the Rogue Monster rack series. This is the full rack that can be built onto in many ways. As it is part of the Monster series you can choose between 90'', 100'' and 108'' in height. The RM4 is 49'' long and wide. The overall footprint comes to 53''x53''. You get westside spacing and a multitude of colors to choose from. These are:
 
  • Bright Blue
  • Bright Green
  • Burnt Orange
  • Dark Blue
  • Gun Metal
  • Light Gray
  • Rogue Red
  • White
  • Satin Clear
  • Satin Black
With the MOnster rack, you are entering Rogue's flagship series of construction. This protects your investment for the future. You can choose from multiple options like Flip down safeties and 2'' Monster Sandwich J cups for your own comfort. 
 

How many clients should the Rogue RM4 Monster Rack bring you?

 
If you think that the Rogue RM4 will bring you 5 new clients who pay you 50$ on a 1-year retainer it is worth the investment. This will yield 3.000$ net new revenue against an investment of 1.300$. Adjust the numbers for your own gym accordingly.
 

Pros of the Rogue RM4

This is a rack that can be upgraded easily while still being in the Monster series of Rogue. This is one of the most cost-effective options to get into the Monster portfolio with a relatively standard product to build upon. There are less costly options in the Monster series, but they are specialty racks which might lead to challenges when upgrading.
 

Cons of the Rogue RM4

The biggest con for the Monster series is the price tag. You can get a lot more rack for the same price out of the Infinity series. 
 

Alternatives to the Rogue RM4

Here are some alternatives within the Rogue portfolio based on a budget of 1.300$
 
With the Rogue RML 490C, you basically get the same amount of rack space at a lower space. The Monster Lite series is built a bit less sturdy than the Monster series. Some of the bigger machines also do not attach to the Monster Lite series. Apart from this, you save 300$ for more or less the same effect. 
 
If you are considering to upgrade your existing gym you might want to consider metal jerk blocks instead. This will help to attract professional weightlifters to your gym who usually pay more and stay for longer. This is only an option when you have the basics already covered. #
 

Conclusion

The RM4 is a bit friendlier on your purse than its big brother the RM6. You still get a good option out of the Monster series to do your workouts in. Be mindful of where to store your plates when you buy the RM4 as it is very unlikely that there will be enough room on the rack itself.
 
Rogue ohio bar fraser edition
 

Overview and review Rogue Ohio Bar Fraser Edition

Price 375$

This overview of the  Fraser bar was originally published in my comprehensive guide on which Rogue barbell to buy. If you are currently considering to buy a Rogue barbell it is worth a read to get input on the latest models. I update the guide on a yearly basis depending on Rogue's new releases. 
 
 
 
 

Overview of the Fraser bar

 
This barbell is inspired by back to back Crossfit games champion Mat Fraser. After performing a long time in the shadow of the all-time greatest Crossfit athlete Rich Froning he finally managed to make it to the pinnacle of the sport after Froning retired from the individual competitions. He won the title in 2016 and 2017. This long wrestle to the top is ingrained in this bar with Mat Fraser's slogan "Hard work pays off. 
 
The Fraser bar comes in at 20kg and a diameter of 28.5mm. The shaft and sleeves are Cerakote coated. The colour scheme is red and black. The Fraser bar withstands 190K PSI of tensile strength and has a loadable sleeve length of 16.40. The sleeves rotate via bushing. As the Fraser bar is based on the Ohio bar it is designed as an all-purpose bar with a good whip.
 
This is my personal favourite design from Rogue to date. I am harbouring between the Fraser bar and Chan bar as I prefer the design of this bar, but also know that the Chan bar as better value for money in terms of the material it is made of. I ultimately think I will end up buying the Chan bar as I already live and breathe the motto hard work pays off. 
 
This Fraser bar is a great addition to any home gym. The inspirational slogan also makes it a more viable option to be bought in bulk than other designs from Rogue. It still makes about a 100$ USD a bar difference to the Ohio bar. If you do not like this design you might also want to consider the Froning bar. 
 

Pros of the Fraser bar

 
The Fraser bar represents the concept of the underdog who overcomes adversity to rise to the challenge. When this inspires you, this is the bar to get. You will get a solid barbell which makes use of the most modern production techniques Rogue has to offer. If you like the red and black colours, even better. This is a well designed, reliable piece of equipment that will make you proud.
 

Cons of the Fraser bar

 
If you are a big fan of Rich Froning you might want to invest your money in his bar instead. As with the other updated versions of the Ohio Bar the sleeves only come with Cerakote coating. This leaves this bar more exposed wear and tear from metal to metal contact. Try to use bumper plates instead of metal plates to remedy this. 
 

Conclusion

The Rogue Ohio bar Fraser Edition comes from a long line of solid barbells. The slogan "Hard work pays off" is priceless and if you look into the story of Matt Fraser you will agree that this is the barbell with the best story. If you are an underdog underground weekend warrior who is lying in wait to make it big, this is your barbell.
 
TITAN power rack

Titan Series Power rack

Price $1030

Overview of the TITAN power rack

 
The Titan series power rack is the flagship rack from TITAN which is currently available. You will get an overbuild cage with a lot of space inside to play around with. If you are a massive athlete or just like big, star things, this is a good option for you. It also includes all of the its and bits and plate storage to get you started. A barbell and plates would have to be purchased separately to make a full set. The specifications of the TITAN power rack are: 
 
  • 3” x 3” 11 Gauge Tubing and bolt-together design.
  • Includes (2) 1” Diameter Pins w/ 1.5” Pipes for
  • Includes (4) Bolt-On Weight Plate Holders
  • Includes (4) Band Pegs.
  • Includes a pair (2) Sandwich J-Hooks.
  • numbered laser cut holes
  • Keyhole side spacing 
  • 1” bolts 
  • Max height of 94” for pull-up bar. 
  • Overall Weight: 388 LB
  • Overall Height: 100”
  • Footprint (including bolt-down plates): 53” x 55.5”
  • Overall Depth: 48”
  • Inside Depth: 42
  • Overall Width: 48”
  • Inside Width: 42”
 
This rack will make a fine centerpiece of your gym for years to come. 
 

Pros of the Titan power rack 

 
You will get a massive rack for a very competitive price. TITAN also offers a wide arrange of attachments to tend to all of your own or clients needs in the future. Once bolted down this thing does not move anywhere. Ideal for big guys lifting big things.
 

Cons of the TITAN power rack

 
As Titan seems to operate on lower margins than their competition you might find that the finish or welds of racks can be inconsistent. If you make less money per transaction you usually have to make up for it by cutting corners by buying different quality material from different suppliers on the cheap or pay your staff less. As we are talking racks here, this might not be as bad as with medication. However, if you get furious about little cosmetic blemishes or less than perfect craftsmanship, don’t buy from TITAN. 
 

Alternatives to the TITAN power rack 

 
Here are some alternatives to the TITAN power rack: 
 
 
The X3 is basically the same model as the Titan rack with two differences. It doesn’t have numbered holes on the uprights and the keyhole design. This means that you can use fewer attachments with it which you have not necessarily bought from Rogue. 
 
The T2 model comes in various shapes and heights and can be configured differently for your home gym to make it fit your space. The main difference to the other Titan racks is that the uprights are 2x2 instead of 2x3 or 3x3. 
 
The T3 rack model is also very similar to the Titan rack but comes at a lower cost. It is the same as the X3 except that it has 2x3 Gauge uprights instead of 3x3. 
 

Summary for the TITAN power rack

 
If you only want to buy a rack from TITAN and want the best, this is the one to go for. Also if you want to buy a lot of racks and don’t care about the finish that much, TITAN is a great option. If you are a smaller athlete and want to save money you might want to look at the other TITAN models as well, especially the X3. 
 

Overview and review of the atlas bar

 

The Titan Atlas will put you back about $200. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which barbell to get from TITAN”.

Overview of the Atlas bar 

The Atlas bar is the all-purpose, middle of the road bar from TITAN for all your needs. Only available in steel color this is a nice piece of equipment at a very reasonable price for all purposes. If you want to weightlift and powerlift and don’t care about competitions or fancy colors, this is the one for you. The features and specifications of the Atlas bar are: 
Atlas bar details: 
 
  • 20KG 28.5MM Olympic Weightlifting bar.
  • Medium knurl provides a full, not sharp pattern allowing the lifter to decide their ideal grip.
  • 220,000 PSI tensile strength gives the right amount of whip or flex to the bar for Olympic lifts. 
  • Dual knurl marks allow you to use the Atlas Bar for multiple lifts on and off your Rack. 
  • Bar weight: 20KG (44 LB)
  • Bar Diameter: 28.5MM
  • Knurl: medium
  • Center Knurl: No
  • Knurl Marks: Dual
  • Bushing/Bearing: Combination
  • Tensile Strength: 220,000 PSI
  • Warranty: 1 year
This is a solid first bar to start your home gym or to buy in bulk for commercial purposes. 
 

Pros of the Atlas bar 

 

As with all TITAN equipment, it has a price advantage when compared to their direct competition. That this bar also has partly bearing is especially attractive at this price point. The 220K tensile strength and whip round off the picture. A solid choice for starters and equipping gyms. 
 

Cons of the Atlas bar 

 

TITAN is known for cutting corners on their finishes. This doesn’t make the equipment less usable but at times optically inferior. As this is a budget bar which does the job very well, I doubt that will be a problem unless you open a gym in LA or NY for the rich and famous. If you want to hold official IPF or IWF lifting competitions the Atlas bar is not approved.
 

Alternatives to the Atlas bar 

 
The blues city bar is the alternative from TITAN which will give you the choice of color with the Cerakote coating. This is a type of coating technique which has been adapted from the weapons industry. 
 
The bombshell bar is the female version of the blues city. It also has more whip and would be the choice for Olympic
weightlifters. 
 
The Rogue Ohio bar is the alternative from TITAN’s direct competitor which is built for the same purpose in Columbus, Ohio. 
 

Summary for the Atlas bar 

 is a solid choice if you want to buy your first proper barbell to start your gym on a budget. Also, if you want to outfit a gym for the first time, this can be a good bulk buy as these barbells will last you longer than the York ones.

Power rack with bar

 
Whatever you choose make sure that it meets your needs. A good plan is half the battle. If you already invest in your equipment lean towards the high-quality end. What use it if the stuff at home is worse than in your local gym.
 

Topics: Rogue, TITAN