REP fitness SR-4000 squat stand vs TITAN T3 tough gym

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness SR-4000 rack and the TITAN T3 tough gym. Follow the links for more details.

T3 Titan Tough Home gym $557 - $3200

The T3 Titan Tough Gym will put you back about $500 - $3000. 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 over $500”

Overview of the T3 Tough home gym

The T3 Tough Home gym has the T3 Titan rack at its heart. The main distinguishing point of the T3 is that it has 2x3 beams instead of 2x2 or 3x3. This places it right in the middle of the portfolio in terms of stability and price. Another advantage of the T3 is that it offers many variations on height and depth to better fit into your specific environment. There is currently definitely more to play around with for the T3 than for the flagship TITAN power rack, which is bigger and better, but also newer and therefore less mature in terms of options. Here are the different versions of the T3 which are available:

Short 24" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 230 LB
Height: 82 1/4"
Height of pull up bar: 77"
Outside width: 53 1/4"
Inside width: 42 1/8"
Outside depth: 32 3/4
Inside depth: 24"
Floor space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB

Tall 24" Deep Power Rack

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: 24"
Outside Depth: 32 3/4"
Floor Space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB
Material: Steel

Short 36" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 254 LB
Height: 82 1/4"
Height of pull up bar: 77"
Outside width: 53 1/4"
Inside width: 42 1/8"
Outside depth: 44 3/4
Inside depth: 36"
Floor space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB

Tall 36" Deep Power Rack

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
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB
Material: Steel

To build your home gym, here are some option on barbells to add

Pros of the T3 home gym

A definitive pro for all TITAN products is their price compared to comparable alternatives in the market. You usually pay about half of what you might pay with others. To sweeten the deal shipping is also free with TITAN in the US. THis makes the T3 a very good option if you are on a tight budget or need to buy anything in bulk. You can also choose from multiple colors.

Cons of the T3 home gym

With low prices there come some downsides. TITAN has been repeatedly reported to have inconsistencies in their products in terms of finish or damage on transport. These are usually minor defects which will still make the rack work, but if you pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for products from a company you might expect them to be delivered in top condition. Still, it is gym equipment, so it will get damaged over time anyway.

Alternatives to the T3 home gym

The TITAN rack is the top of the crop rack from TITAN. It has 3x3 uprights and 1” bolts. This is the heaviest and sturdiest rack you can get from TITAN. Compared to market prices it is also very affordable.

The X3 is basically the same model as the Titan rack with two differences. It doesn’t have numbered holes on the uprights and the keyhole design. This means that you can use fewer attachments with it which you have not necessarily bought from Rogue.

The T2 model comes in various shapes and heights and can be configured differently for your home gym to make it fit your space. The main difference to the other Titan racks is that the uprights are 2x2 instead of 2x3 or 3x3.

The T3 rack model is also very similar to the Titan rack but comes at a lower cost. It is the same as the X3 except that it has 2x3 Gauge uprights instead of 3x3. In this version, you get it without any extras.

Summary for the T3 home gym

The middle of the road approach with TITAN to save money compared to other vendors in the market for more extras. Good for anyone who keeps generally fit or is small in size. Elite athletes might want to opt for a bigger cage to throw more weight at.

Overview and review of the REP fitness SR-4000 squat stand

This is an overview of the REP fitness SR-4000 squat stand 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 SR-4000 Squat stand $449

The REP SR-4000 is REP Fitness’s flagship squat stand. It comes in two height variations and with a stable base similar to a combo rack. Here are some of the specifications from the vendor:

Two height options to suit your needs ( 96" &103").
Sturdy 3x3” 11ga steel.
Compatibility with most REP 4000 series attachments.
1” spacing throughout the bench press area.
Base-mounted weight horns for weight storage and added stability.
Long base with pre-drilled feet for optional floor-mounting.
103” height option is great for taller athletes who want to perform kipping movements.
Includes Standard PR-4000 J-cups and 1.25” pull-up bar.
5/8” holes on the uprights, 5/8” holes at the rear of the base, 1” holes on the sides of the base.
Not compatible with: The REP Belt Squat, Lat/Low Row Attachment.
Base dimensions: 73" x 53"
Weight: 96": 230lbs, 103": 237lbs
Weight Capacity: This is based on the j-cup capacity which is <1500lbs.

If you are really into squat stands for the freedom they provide and the money they save then this is good for you. I am personally not a fan, but I will get into the details.

Pros of the REP SR-4000 Squat stand

The pros of the REP SR-4000 squat stand are:

Massive built
Sturdy uprights
Compatibility with some attachments

For a squat stand, the REP SR-4000 is massive. This means a lot of security and stability for anyone who is working in it. If you are concerned about the security with a squat stand, this is a good choice.

The uprights are sturdy and beefy compared to cheap squat stands and even allow for some of the light PR-4000 attachments to be used. This makes it a more versatile option compared to cheap Amazon squat stands.

Cons of the REP SR-4000 Squat stand

Cons of the REP SR-4000 squat stand are:

Footprint
Safety
Storage
Price

The biggest con for me is the footprint of this squat stand and other ones of a similar design. If you put two uprights on the footprint of a four-post rack you might as well get a four-post rack. This is nothing against the SR 4000 per se but the design of these particular squat stands with a big base provides more security. You can also get these from other vendors like Rogue and TITAN.

While this lulls you in a false sense of security whilst saving you the cost of a four-post rack with similar steel, I think in reality it’s suboptimal. If you are in need of added security as a beginner, spotter arms and a squat stand are a good way to get injured. Many set up their spotter arms wrong, miss them when they fail a rep and the base of this squat stand can actually get in the way when you want to bail a squat. If you don’t know what you are doing, get a proper power rack. If you exactly know what you are doing, this squat stand is overkill.

Compared to other, cheaper squat stands without a base, this squat stand can not be easily stored and transported. It is also quite costly if you look at it from a squat stand perspective as you can also get a decent rack for this price.

Alternatives to the REP PR-4000 Squat stand

REP PR-4100
Rogue SML 2C
TITAN X3 Squat stand

The REP PR-4100 is in the same price range as the squat stand. If you are torn between the two, definitely go for the PR-4100. It saves space, is more secure to squat in, and provides a better base for attachments, even though you need to remove them to fold the rack.

Rogue SML 2 is the closest in build-out of the Rogue portfolio to the SR 4000. If you wanted a very similar squat stand at a higher price thatching not imported thistles a good choice. Also, keep in mind which ecosystem you are entering as Rogue has been around for longer and therefore offers a few more options in their portfolio.

The TITAN X3 squat stand is the closest you can get to the SR-4000 in the TITAN Portfolio. If you want to get this show on the road with the lowest budget possible TITAN is a good bet.

Conclusion for the REP SR-4000 Squat stand

The SR-4000 is well built for its design. There are little to no production issues with it. That is if you buy into the concept of a squat stand with a big base which I just simply don’t. You either need the safety that a power rack provides or you don’t. If you are super advanced like Clarence Kennedy, you might as well get a squat stand that is two separate uprights for easy transportation, storage, and saving cost. Be aware that this necessitates that you are either super strong and won’t fail or know exactly what you are doing when you bail a lift. Spotter arms are in my opinion useless. This is the only piece of safety equipment I ever managed to break with rack pulls. You can get a decent rack for 400 dollars or very basic squat stands for a little more than a hundred. Get one of the two, but not a squat stand that eats up 400 bucks and considerable floor space.