REP fitness PR-5000 V2 rack vs TITAN X3 squat stand

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness PR-5000 rack and the TITAN X3 squat stand. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the X-3 Squat stand with pull up bar

The TITAN X3 Squat stand will put you back about $490. 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 X3 squat stand

The X3 is a squat stand which boasts 3x3 steel tubes. It is, therefore, a very sturdy squat stand compared to other 2x3 or 2x2 options. The X3 comes with Westside spacing in the lower part of the rack to allow for smaller increments on the bench press. The flat foot design saves you bolting it to the floor which makes it a very good option in some home gym scenarios. It also comes with spotter arms. The specifics and features of the squat stand are:

3" x 3" 11 gauge steel uprights
Westside hole pattern through bench zone
2" hole spacing above and below.
1,000 + lb capacity
Pair of UHMW lined X-3 JHooks included
Double-sided gusset plates
Standard 1.25" Pull up bar included
Mounted at your preferred height.
Pair of X-3 Spotter Arms included
Height: 92"
Width: 49"
Depth: 48"
Product Weight: 203 lb
Finish: Black Power Coating
Floor Space: 16.3 sq ft (49" x 48")

This is as sturdy as they come as far as squat stands go.

Pros of the X3 squat stand

As with all TITAN equipment, the first thing to note is the competitive price. You will have a challenge to find a good quality 3x3 squat stand for the same price. A squat stand also gives you the ability to drop weight easier than in a power rack. If you prefer the Olympic lifts over powerlifting this might be the better choice for you. A squat stand also saves space and can be easily transported.

Cons of the X3 squat stand

Especially for beginners, you have less protection. The spotter arms are fine and nice, but in practice, safety pins in a full rack are a lot more secure as you won’t miss them. The whole structure is also led likely to tip over if installed correctly. In addition, TITAN is known for inconsistencies on their finish.

Alternatives to the X3 squat stand

These are other options for the X3 squat stand:

For almost the same amount of money, you can get a colored version of the T3 rack. While the tubes are only 2x3 you will get a full rack in the color of your choice.

Another way to go is to save on the color to have more budget for different size options on the T3 and maybe even adding some plate holders. The T3 is available in a short and tall version to adjust the height. For depth, you can choose between 24” and 36”.

The T3 folding rack saves you about $100 on the X3 and can be installed in your garage. If you only train on the weekends or two days a week, this is a good option so that you can still use the garage or basement for your car/ miscellaneous rubbish you think is important ( I have that stuff in my attic). The savings can be put towards a barbell like the blues city or Atlas bar.

Summary of the X3 squat stand

A great option for anyone planning on a home gym for Olympic lifting or a gym that still has a corner left and does not j ow what to do with it. If you get the squat stand make sure you can store your plates somewhere separate.

Overview and review of the REP fitness PR-5000 V2 rack

This is an overview of the REP fitness PR-5000 V2 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-5000 V2 Rack $751

The Rep Fitness PR-5000 V2 rack has gained a lot of popularity as a good quality alternative at a reasonable price to the Rogue fitness lineup. This rack can be configured as a 4 post or 6 post rack and uses 3x3 11 Gauge steel posts. It also uses bigger holes and nuts and bolts to keep the construction together, which are similar to the Rogue Monster series. The PR-5000 is the safest bet out of the REP fitness rack portfolio for a first-time buyer.

Laser-cut numbering on the front and back of uprights and each side of crossmembers for ease of lining up j-cups, safeties, and other attachments.
1" diameter hardware for the ultimate in peace-of-mind under heavy load.
2" hole spacing throughout the entire rack.
Large logo brace with stainless steel faceplate for additional rigidity and side-to-side stability.
Stainless steel accents on j-cups and other attachments for a high-end classic look.
Exclusive attachments taking advantage of the 1" diameter holes.
All attachments include protective liners to protect bar knurl and/or paint on your uprights where appropriate.
Compatibility: The PR-5000 V2 is only compatible with PR-5000 uprights. Omni uprights are not compatible with this rack.
Rated to 1500lbs.

You can not do a lot wrong by purchasing the PR-5000 as you will get the top line rack from REP Fitness that works with most of their accessories. You will also save some money compared to the Rogue options out there. If you want to grow your setup over time the PR-5000 is also very modular. The only thing you need to think about is whether you want to bolt our rack down and buy something that is imported from China.

Pros of the REP PR-5000 V2 Rack

The pros of the REP PR-5000 are:

Price
Bread and Butter
Numbering on Uprights

The biggest pro of the PR-5000 is that you are basically getting a Rogue Monster rack for a lower price as REP Fitness imports this as a clone from China. If you want to work with the accessories from Rogue that are designed for the Monster series these will also somewhat work with the PR-5000. So if you have a budget that you want to stretch to also get things like a barbell, plates, landmine attachments, and all the other toys around, then this is a great way to go.

The PR-5000 is the most hailed rack out of the REP Fitness lineup. If you go for REP fitness you usually do so because you think that Rogue is footing too big a bill and you still want more toys. The good thing about the PR-5000 is that it is a solid best-seller of REP fitness and you, therefore, can get a ton of attachments with them and the company will bank on that product line for a long time to come. If you are making continuous upgrades to your rack rather than getting everything in one big bang, then this is the bread and butter product from REP fitness to rely on.

Compared to the OMNI rack and the PR-4000 the numbering on the Uprights for the PR-5000 goes all the way for each hole This is one of the most common complaints about the smaller PR-4000 and OMNI line compared to the Rogue fitness monster line.

Cons of the REP PR-5000 V2 Rack

The cons of the REP PR-5000 rack are:

Imported
Colors
Sharp edges
Bolted

The big one is probably that this rack is being produced, packaged, and imported in China. This brings the cost down but creates jobs somewhere else. If you are buying for a public entity from the US you might not even be allowed to buy from REP fitness because of this. If this does not matter to you and you mainly look at the money in your pocket, then REP fitness is a serious contender to make it stretch.

There can be some issues with the quality of colors and how they are mixed. Using fewer pigments in the colors and not smoothing out edges are great ways to cut the production process short and save some money, which is the goal of this rack. Not to the extent of what TITAN fitness does, which can get outright subpar, but still noticeable. Of course, if you are of the mindset that your rack will be banged up anyway, then this is not really an issue. I like my things nice and crisp.

While REP does a good job and putting their logo on the rack with metal rather than a sticker, the edges can be sharp. All around the finish of the product is not as well thought through as with Rogue Fitness, especially when you consider the parts that are not in plain sight or you rarely touch. If you buy Apple, you probably care about these things. If you don't, you probably will enjoy spending less money.

To gain full stability for kipping pull-ups or using the lever attachment this rack needs to be bolted to the ground or weighed down with plates. If you are looking to avoid this you can look into the Omni rack as an alternative.

Alternatives to the REP PR-5000 V2 Rack

The REP OMNI rack comes with a base that stabilizes it without bolting it to the ground. If you want to avoid drilling your rack into the floor, this is a good option. The only drawback is that the base takes up the footprint of a 6 post rack. If you want to save space, the OMNI rack is not really an option.

The REP PR-4000 is the equivalent of the Rogue Monster Lite series from REP Fitness. It also uses 3x3 Gauge steel but with smaller holes for nuts, bolts, and attachments. If you want westside spacing for the bench area this is the way to go. The PR-4000 is also available in a very short rack configuration to fit into smaller spaces. For any buyer who is looking for a 6 post rack setup, the PR-4000 can be a money saver with the compromise of getting fewer attachment options.

The REP PR-4100 is a great alternative when you want to save space in your garage and still be able to park in it after you are done training. Fold racks also save money as you pay for less metal than with a 4 post or 6 post setup. The only downside with a folding rack is that the use of attachments becomes cumbersome as you have to uninstall them every time you put them into the folded configuration.

The Rogue RM4 is the full rack 4 post option from Rogue which I use in my own gym. This is a solid rack with the option to upgrade to 6 post when you want that is part of the Rogue Monster series. If you want the best finish in the market with the best available accessories this is the way to go. The only downside is that Rogue will charge you more money than REP fitness and a big home gym build will translate to a couple of thousand dollars in difference for getting the same equipment.

The Rogue RM3 is the half rack option that is equivalent to the PR-5000 uprights and crossmembers. If you want to start small, but have access to the best attachments in the market, then this is the right rack for you. You can also toy with the idea of turning it into a Rhino belt squat and squat outside of it. The only downside of this rack is that it is getting quite expensive for a very little rack to go around. If you are budget and space-limited products from TITAN and rep might be the better choice for you.

The Rogue RM3W is the folding version of the RM3. This is a solid 3x3 11 Gauge folding rack with the Monster nuts and bolts. If you are worried about your folding rack becoming too flimsy as the frame is flimsy and foldable you can at least address one of these two challenges with the RM3W. The rack also has one of the smoothest folding actions in the market which you will actually enjoy using.

The TITAN series rack is the flagship rack from TITAN which is taking a stab at the Rogue Monster and REP PR-5000 line. This is TITAN's response to the trend of overbuilt racks which is emerging in the home gym space. The challenge with TITAN is that you will find the most reports about them when it comes to inconsistencies in the quality of product, service, or shipment. Sometimes even a combination of three. Rogue and REP are also not free of problems, but you hear considerably less about it. In return for the minimal quality control at TITAN, they are also the cheapest in the market when comparing like for like. There is always a trade-off.

The TITAN X3 folding series is the 3x3 Gauge steel folding version of TITAN's racks. If you want to save space and money this is a really solid option.

Conclusion for the REP PR-5000 V2 Rack

The REP PR-5000 is the ideal rack for the home gym buyer who wants to deck out an entire gym with good quality in one purchase but does not want to spend more than $5000. With this, you can get anything you could ask for at REP fitness if you are willing to use equipment that has been imported from China and that you know there might be one job ess in the American rust belt because of the choice you made to have more stuff for your hard-earned cash. If you want to optimize for space and money and go all the way you might want to look at the TITAN lineup. Rogue fitness will give you a solid home gym for $5000, but you might not get all the bells and whistles in attachments. The same thought process applies down the product lines with the Monster lite series and the PR-4000, just on a smaller budget.