REP fitness OMNI rack vs Rogue RML3 rack
This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness Omni rack and the Rogue RML3. Follow the links for more details.
RML 3 Rogue Monster lite
What else to consider from Rogue
Overview of the RML3
The
Rogue RML3 is a half
rack from
Rogue that has been inspired by the classic Westside power cage. It comes in black and is made in Columbus, Ohio. This unit saves space and can fill a large establishment with many benches and squatting stations at an affordable price. If you need
to buy a bunch of racks, this might be the option for you.
The
RML3 is 49'' long and 30'' wide. It comes in at a height of 90.375''. The overall footprint comes
to 53''x34''. The stell notes are made from 3x3'' Gauge steel. This
rack is delivered with J CUps, Pin/Pipe safeties, and band pegs
to get you going. As it derives from the Monster lite series it is compatible with the line and provides the Westside hole pattern for your training needs.
Pros of the RML3
A big pro is the price. This is one of the most affordable options out of the Monster lite series which still keeps you in the two upper product ranges of Rogue. If you go any lower in the budget you will have a hard time to get a rack which is either from The MOnster or MOnster Lite series. The Infinity and Echo series just do not get as much attention from Rogue's product development.
Cons of the RML3
The RML 3 is a half
rack so you will have
to look for
plate storage. Otherwise, it will get very crammed
to exercise in there. Compared
to the Monster series you will also have
to wait longer for product upgrades in the future.
Alternatives to the RML3
Alternatives
to the
RML3 are
The
R3 is the
Rogue version of the classic Westside
Barbell Rack. You save another 100$ for about the same real estate of
rack space. Maybe bring your wife out for some dinner instead of buying the bigger
rack to appease her after taking up the floor space in the house.
If you want a full
rack instead of a half
rack for the same amount of money you can go for the
RE4 rack. The
RE4 is part of the
Rogue Echo series
which is the cheapest
to make as it has the least amount of metal. It will do the trick. If you are all for saving money and getting the most of it this might be the
rack for you.
The W4 Garage Gym is a classic from the Rogue portfolio. This will turn any garage into a functioning gym in no time. the of the steel notes have been removed to bolt the W4 system against one wall of your garage. With this, you make some additional savings which can put into equipment instead of rack space.
Overview and review of the REP fitness OMNI rack
This is an overview of the REP fitness OMNI rack including the pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally posted in which rack to buy from REP Fitness. Follow the links for more information.
Related articles
Overview of the REP OMNI Rack $934
The
Rep OMNI rack is a flat foot version of the
REP PR-5000 series which has gained quite some popularity recently. It is a solid rack from a vendor who imports their parts rather than making them in the US as Sorinex and Rogue Fitness would. The main difference to the
PR-5000 is the flat foot base and the numbering on the uprights. The full specifications of this rack are:
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3x3 11-Gauge Steel with 1” diameter holes on upright.
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Compatible with most 5000 Series attachments including the Lat/Low Row.
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Up to 15 potential configurations when paired with the Omni Plus.
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J-cup, color options, and attachments are fully customizable.
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A long, flat-footed base helps promote stability, no need to bolt the rack down.
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Large stainless steel logo plate for additional rigidity and lateral stability.
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Includes: Multi-grip pull-up bar, six-band pegs, and hardware to connect up to six uprights to the base.
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Enough hardware will be provided for all possible configurations, which means that extra hardware may be left over after the build.
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Lat attachment adds 23" depth to the 4-post half-rack or adds 5" depth to the 6-post power rack is mounted to the interior uprights.
This is a good option when you do not want to bolt down your rack and start with a half rack that you will later upgrade. If you are looking for the most space-efficient option in the market it is probably not the best rack you can get.
Pros of the REP OMNI Rack
The main point about this rack is the flat foot design which means that you do not need to bolt it to the ground to make it stable. The bottom has quite some weight to it and a bigger footprint than a regular 4 post-half-rack would have. This is great to keep it from tipping over when you only have four posts and want to work with banded resistance on the deadlift, bench press, and squat.
As REP imports their material they can get away with lower costs for racks that compare in quality to the market leader Rogue Fitness. This means you get a similar quality rack for a lower price. This is one of the most appealing aspects of the REP fitness as they generally seem to do a better job on quality control than TITAN fitness but use overseas to keep costs down.
This is probably the best rack from REP fitness you can get, if you do not want to bolt down your rack but have big plans for it in the future. You will basically get a
PR-5000 with a flat foot design and can add to the base to your heart's contempt with further uprights.
Cons of the REP OMNI Rack
-
Space requirements
-
Numbering on uprights
-
Website ordering system
The flat foot base of the
OMNI rack is laid out to accommodate a six-post design. While this makes it one of the few flat foot designs in the market for a six-post rack, it eats up too much space in a home gym with limited space. If you want to optimize for space a folding rack or a regular half-rack are the better options.
The numbering on the uprights does not go through every hole. While this saves cost in production it is a little inconsequential for ease of use. Either have no numbers to maximize my savings or number all holes to maximize the ease of use. This is especially true if you are buying in a commercial setting rather than a home gym.
Ordering an
OMNI rack is a little tricky and I wouldn't recommend it for first-time rack buyers. With these modular systems, it is better to really have an idea of the dimensions and accessories you are buying before configuring it. Compared to their main competitor rogue the configuration system on the website is also not as easy to use. But that is just my personal taste.
Alternatives to the REP OMNI Rack
This selection of racks is based in 3x3 11 Gauge steel uprights to avoid presenting too many options to you. If you want to save more money you can also look into 2x3 Gauge uprights. The smaller you are and the lighter the weights you move, the more likely it is that you should try to save some money for your home gym by going with a smaller frame. Commercial buyers should go as big as they possibly can on their budget based on insurance questions and that you can not predict as well who will use your equipment.
If you stick with the idea of "I want a Rogue quality rack at the lowest possible price" then the
REP-PR 5000 and the
REP PR-4100 are two other options to consider. The
REP PR-5000 has been hailed as one of the best, if not the best, rack for home gym users based on its good value for money. You can configure it as a 4 post or 6 post rack. The main difference to the
OMNI rack is that it does not come with a flat foot design. The
REP PR-4100 would be the folding rack option from REP Fitness. This is a good way to go if you still want to park your car in your garage when you are not training.
If you are toying with the idea of a flat foot 6 post rack the
OMNI rack is one of the few, if not the only option out there. Another option would be the
RM6 rack from Rogue which needs to be bolted to the ground. Go with the
RM6 if you are planning to get a belt squat, as currently, the Rhino Drop-in is the superior option to the belt squats from REP Fitness. The
Rogue RM3 is the half rack option from Rogue with 3x3 Gauge steel. If you have the budget for an
Omni rack you can probably also afford the
RM3. With the
RM3 you are saving footprint compared to the
OMNI rack, as it comes with four uprights without a flat foot design. The uprights will also have all the holes numbered instead of just a few on the
OMNI rack. With this rack, you will be buying from the current market leader in home gym equipment in terms of quality and units sold. Rogue also goes to lengths to make sure that their product is as American as possible by sourcing metal and staff locally and keeping production lines in Ohio. This comes at a higher price than their competitors to the consumer. The
Rogue RM3W is the folding variation of the
RM3. If you want the best and can afford it and you are not that much into the flat foot idea, this can be a good route to explore.
The
TITAN series rack is the flagship of the TITAN rack lineup. This is TITAN's go at being like Rogue Fitness. You will also get a 3x3 11 Gauge steel uprights setting, but this is a full rack, rather than a half rack. If you were toying with the idea of a full rack that does not need to be bolted to the ground, then this might be the right option for you. If you want a 3x3 folding rack then the X-3 from TITAN would be the right choice. TITAN is known to undercut most of the other vendors on the market considerably when you compare like for like. This is why I am presenting you with their top-line rack as an alternative to the
OMNI rack. The downside of TITAN is that the same to have the most incidents with quality issues between Rogue, REP Fitness, and TITAN fitness. This makes sense as you need to cut some corners to undercut everyone else in the market. If you don't mind a potential risk of minor blemishes, some inconsistency in paint, or on the drilling of the holes, then TITAN is right for you. A good option for the DIY enthusiast who wants to save money for a new drill to fix their rack setup and then have it for other home projects.
Conclusion for the REP OMNI Rack
The
REP OMNI rack is in my opinion the REP fitness approach to tailoring their portfolio to universities. This is the right rack for the strength coach that does not want to explain to the dean why he has to drill holes into the resurfaced gym floor that was paid out of taxpayer's money. The same goes for someone who is renting a mansion and wants to put a six-post rack into it without damaging the 100-year-old original floor. For anyone who can drill into the floor or just uses a rack without bolting it to the ground, I think it is not the ideal option. Why create an unnecessary unused footprint in your limited home gym space for a half-rack?