REP fitness PR-4100 rack vs Rogue SM 2.5 squat stand
This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness PR-4100 rack and the Rogue SM2.5. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Rogue SM 2.5 Monster squat stand
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
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-4100 rack
This is an overview of the REP fitness PR-4100 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 PR-4100 Rack $429
The
REP PR-4100 is the folding version of the
PR-4000 rack that outbid the REP fitness rack product line. With this rack, you get two uprights, and the cross-members you need to build a rack that can be bolted to the wall with a folding mechanism. This is the ideal rack for a garage gym in which you still want to park or a floor space that should be transformed into a yoga or playroom after the use of the rack. Some of the specifications for this rack are:
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Choose between 21.5" or 41" depth (from wall to the front outside of upright).
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(1) pair of plastic-lined J-cups.
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(1) easy-to-adjust 1.25" pull-up bar.
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5/8" diameter hardware.
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1" hole spacing in benching area.
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2" hole spacing above and below bench area.
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Uprights: 11-gauge steel, 3x3", 92" tall.
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21.5" Dims: 18.5" inside length x 42.5" inside width.
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41" Dims: 38" inside length x 42.5" inside width.
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48.5" overall width.
This is a solid option to get a lower-cost folding rack of good quality. Especially with folding racks it nightmare sense to invest a few extra dollars as the folding action needs more attentional detail in production than a simple four post rack.
Pros of the REP PR-4100 Rack
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Space efficient
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Budget efficient
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Reliable brand
The biggest plus of folding racks is that they can get out of the way when they are not needed anymore. If you only have one occasional user of the rack in the house O would seriously consider a folding rack.
The
PR-4100 is good on your purse from two perspectives. You are getting your rack from a company that imports their products from China and you are buying a product that uses less metal than a
PR-4000 or
PR-5000. This makes the
PR 4100 a smart buy. Especially if you are not planning on many upgrades and attachments.
Compared to Amazon resellers or TITAN fitness you will buy from a young brand that is still bending over backward to grow its customer base. You will get good, reliable service with this rack in most cases, that is why the price is a little higher than sourcing from Amazon or from TITAN.
Cons of the REP PR-4100 Rack
As this is a folding rack with smaller holes on 3x3 uprights your use of attachments will be very limited. Personally, I think the most you can really get out of a folding rack is a dip station and not much else, but that is just me.
If you buy from REP Fitness your rack will be produced and packaged in China and then send to a warehouse in the US. If that rubs your patriotic streak up the wrong way you have to buy from Rogue Fitness instead and pay the extra money American Labour costs.
My biggest con for a folding rack is that you still have to come up with some solution for storing your plates as you can not do it on the rack. Unless you keep it permanently in place which defeats the purpose. There are good wall storage solutions for plates but those involve more DIY.
Alternatives to the REP PR-4100 Rack
The Rogue RML3WC is what comes closest out of the Rogue fitness portfolio to you the
PR-4100. It has the same uprights with only slightly different drillings for the holes. Some say that the folding action on the RML3WC is a little smoother but that also hugely depends on where it is being installed and who did the job.
The
TITAN X3 folding rack is TITAN’s 3x3 upright folding rack. This is the best option for a low price while still having some proper customer support with it. Other options are Amazon resellers who just stuck produce to flip it for a small
margin in bulk.
The
REP SR 4000 is an alternative option if you believe in squat stands with a big base for stabilizing. I personally don’t but if you think that is a good idea the
SR 4000 is excellent value for money.
Conclusion for the REP PR-4100 Rack
I personally think folding racks are a great idea for home gyms that need to co promise. If you use your garage as a mechanic/workshop in parallel or own a fancy Sunday car, this is the right option for you.