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Power rack with safety bar [Article, Video]

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Dec 27, 2019 9:00:00 AM

Squat rack with safety bar

Power rack with safety bar

 
You have two options depending on what you mean with safety bars. Either you get safety pins to stop the bar or you use a safety squat bar to build the posterior chain and have to balance the bar less on your back. This article looks at all these options.
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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.

T3 tall power rack 36 black

The tall TITAN T3 in black will put you back about $450 - $520. 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 Titan rack to buy for under $500

 

Overview of the T3 black power rack

 
This is the biggest version of the T3 rack you can get from TITAN. It has 2x3 tubing and is 36” deep. The height comes to 91 1/8”. This is a no-nonsense addition to any gym located in the middle of the price range of TITAN. If you want to have money left for other equipment and only use the rack 2 times a week, this is a great piece to add to your home gym. In a professional gym, this can be the go-to rack for everyone except your biggest athletes, unless you coach an NFL team. The features and specifics of the T3 tall rack are: 
 
 
  • 2 uprights featuring 6" side hole spacing
  • 2"x 3" steel tubes. 
  • 1,100 LB rackable capacity
  • 4,400 LB total rack capacity
  • 1.25" and 2" diameter pull up bars
  • Includes J-Hooks and weight holders.
  • Weight: 281 LB 
  • Height: 91 1/8" 
  • Height of Pull Up Bar: 89"
  • Inside Width: 42 1/8"
  • Outside Width: 53 1/4"  
  • Inside Depth: 36"
  • Outside Depth: 44 3/4"  
  • Floor Space: 16.7 square feet
  • Material: Steel
 
This is an affordable rack for big boys. 
 

Pros of the T3 tall rack 

 
As with most TITAN equipment the prices are very attractive for something fresh of the shelf. With the depth and height of this rack, even the tallest athletes can still work freely in the rack. 
 

Cons of the T3 tall rack 

 
It will not fit in every space. If you have limitations consider the X3 Half rack or squat stand. Also, the finish might be not as perfect as with other vendors as there have been repeated reports of TITAN equipment showing inconsistencies on this end. 
 

Alternatives to the T3 tall rack 

 
Alternatives to the T3 tall rack are 
 
 
If you need a tall rack because of your size, but do not have the space to fit a 36” depth rack into your gym, garage or basement you can also opt for the 24” depth version. This way you can save some space. 
 
If you want to save space and have 3x3 steel tubing you can also go for the X3 Half rack. If you use it like a squat stand rather than a full rack, you can use the second set of uprights to store plates on. 
 
If you don’t need plate storage and want the freedom of a squat stand you can opt for the  X3 squat stand instead. Just be aware that it would be good to have space to drop the bar as spotter arms can not always be relied on. 
 

Summary of the T3 tall rack 

 
A good option to save money while still training as a big guy. 
 
 

Overview and review of the Rogue Safety Squat bar

This overview of the  Rogue safety 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. 
 
 

Price: 395$

 

Overview of the Rogue Safety bar

 
This is bar out of the speciality bar selection of RogueSafety bar squats are especially popular among powerlifters. The idea is that the squats become less taxing on your body while still being able to train your posterior chain longer and harder. A very popular combination os to do safety bar squats to a box. You might want to consider to pick up one of Rogue boxes to be able to perform the movement.
 
The Rogue safety bar is tested at 1000lbs and 70lb/35kg. It has a frame and padding attached to it so that you can fully focus on your legs. There will be less balancing needed as with a normal barbell. Also, your elbows will not suffer as much as with extensive heavy squatting. 
 
Safety bar squats are not ideal for beginners. You need to build basic strength first to be able to progress to this beast. Do not think that 140kg of back squat with a barbell is the same as with the safety bar. The name can be a little misleading.
 
 

Pros of the safety bar

 
The safety bar is very popular with seasoned powerlifters. The older you get the more wear and tear your body shows. Especially when you have been lifting heavy for decades. The safety bar addresses these issues. You can lift heavy weights without taxing your ligaments and shoulders as much.
 

Cons of the safety bar

 
This bar can only be used for squats. If you only have a budget of 400 USD for the bar in your home gym do not get this bar. The same goes for gyms. Most of your clients will be intimated by the size of this beast and not know how to use it. You probably will only need one unless you are specialised in powerlifting. It is also huge and awkward to store. It fits on the lowest position of the gun rack. Know exactly why you want this bar before purchasing it. Otherwise, you have 395USD gathering dust in your basement. If the price tag is too high you can also opt for the camber bar. The camber bar comes in at a lower price and has a similar effect to the safety bar with less material protecting the lifter.
 

Conclusion

The Rogue Safety bar is a great tool for seasoned powerlifters to take stress of their lower backs and still train hard. You will also be able to mix things up a little more. You can also look int the Rogue Rhino Belt Squat as an alternative.

 
 
Safety options

Safety options

 
here are three main safety options for a power rack:
 
 
Safety pins are the most common and are available in almost every gym. They are cheap and stable. They are also great for pin squats when you have problems getting out of the hole. The negatives of safety pins are that they can be annoying to set up. Fiddling the steel rod into the hole of the rack can be time-consuming. More often than not you will not set it up parallel to the ground but with a tilt. Another disadvantage is the bounce. Pins deform and bounce the bar back up. This not what you want on a heavy drop.
 
Safety straps are one step up from safety pins. You don't see them as often as safety pins in regular gyms. The two big advantages are that they are easier to set up and have a dead stop when you drop the bar. No bouncing around The disadvantage is that they are harder to set up at the right height and therefore also not as good for pin squat.
 
The rolls Royce of safeties is the flip-down. The flip-down safety is usually hooked into the rack and has a wider space where you can drop the bar to. And can be used for pin squats and rack pulls with more ease and less noise. To some, you can even attach a seat for box squats.
 

Power rack with safety bar 

 
Take care of the pins or straps first. Then, if the budget allows and you like mixing your training up, also invest in a safety bar.
 

Topics: Rogue, TITAN