REP fitness PR-1100 rack vs Rogue SM2.5 squat stand

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness PR-1100 rack and the Rogue SM 2.5 squat stand. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Rogue SM 2.5 Monster squat stand

The Rogue SM 2.5 squat stand comes in at $744 and is one of the better options for under $1000 from Rogue. Learn more in this review which was originally published in the Article "Which Rack to buy from Rogue for under $1000".

What else to consider from Rogue

Overview of the SM 2.5

The Rogue SM 2.5 Squat stand uses the beams of the Rogue Monster series and creates a very sturdy squat stand. This stand is built in Columbus, Ohio and comes in black. With the flat foot design of Rogue, it does need to be bolted to the ground.

The SM2.5 has 1000 lb weight capacity and comes in at a height of 103''. The steel notes are made from 3x3'' gauge steel. The overall footprint comes to 50''x54''. This stand comes with J Cups in the delivery to get you up and running.

Pros of the SM 2.5

A squat stand is a great alternative when you want to do weightlifting training. It gives you more room to throw the weight about than in a powerlifting cage. It is also less material in case you have to fill an entire gym, have to transport the stand often or want to able to change things quickly. The SM 2.5 will be easy to transport and serve you well in these scenarios.

Cons of the SM 2.5

A squat stand by itself is not ideal for powerlifting. If you count in the safety arm spotters you will be close to $1.000 again and might as well go for a full rack that costs a bit more but leaves you with a full cage and safety for the bench press without having to buy extra accessories.

Alternatives to the SM 2.5

Alternatives to SM 2.5 are:

SM3
SM2
RM4 Fortis rack

The SM3 comes with the same specs except that the height is different. This option is for your tall athletes. If you want to outfit an entire gym maybe mix the SM3, SM2.5, and SM2 to serve various heights. It is also a good way of adding a very high pull up bar to your gym without having to invest in an entire rig or rack.

The SM2 is the smallest of the Rogue Monster squat stands. It comes in at 90.375''. This might be a good option when your ceilings are low or you are a smaller athlete with no need for a very high pull up bar.

The RM4 Fortis rack is an alternative to the squat stands which comes in at roughly the same price if you count the spotter arms. If you want to powerlift this might be the better investment of your money than having a squat stand.

Overview and review of the REP fitness PR-1100 rack

This is an overview of the REP fitness PR-1100 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.

Overview of the REP PR 1100 Rack $269

The REP PR-1100 gives you a choice of color for your low budget rack and a multi grip pull up bar. Unfortunately it strips the 1000er series of the plate storage at the back which makes it my least favorite rack out of the 1000er line. Some of the specifications are:

Height Adjustable Multi-Grip Pullup Arch
Laser Engraved Numbered Uprights
Plastic-Lined J-cups
Extended Safeties

A solid rack if you want a multi-grip bar and a rack for $300. Otherwise I personally would go for the PR-1000.

Pros of the REP PR 1100 Rack

The pros of the REP PR-1100 are:

Choice of color
Multi Grip bar

The main distinguishing parts to the other 1000er racks are the choice of color and the multi grip bar. If that is what you want, go for the 1100. Otherwise i think that the PR-1000 is the better package because of the plate storage at the back.

Cons of the REP PR 1100 Rack

Cons of the REP PR-1100 are:

No included plate storage
700lbs capacity
Imported

The PR-1100 has no included plate storage in the base configuration, which in my opinion makes it inferior to the 1000 and 1050 for the low budget market it is addressing.

With 700 lbs capacity this is not a rack for big guys who move a lot of weight regularly on awkward bar paths. If you are a seasoned strength athlete this rack is too small and flimsy and you are better off with the PR-4000 or PR-5000.

The last con is that this rack is imported from China. If you don’t care, you don’t, but if local production is important to you then REP fitness needs to be ruled out and you need to go with Rogue Fitness or Sorinex.

Alternatives to the REP PR 1100 Rack

I personally think that the PR-1000 is the better option for the same price as you will need plate storage more than a multi-grip pull up bar. That is just based on my personal experiences where flooring and storage is usually being underrated when building a home gym.

The Rogue HR2 is a solid option for a half rack from Rogue under $1000. If you want a locally produced US alternative to the REP 1000er series which is beefier than the HR2 is a great choice.

The TITAN T2 Series is one of the lowest cost racks Form the lowest cost vendor in the market. If you want to go as cheap as possible for your rack TITAN is a good address. TITAN comes with a higher risk of quality issues than the other vendors mentioned in this article.

Conclusion for the REP PR 1100 Rack

The REP 1100 rack is great if you are looking for a rack with a multi-grip bar out of the box. Otherwise, I think the other 1000 racks are a better choice for your hard-earned cash.