TITAN X3 half rack vs Rogue HR2 half rack [Article, Video]

This is a comparison of the TITAN X3 half rack and the Rogue HR2 half rack. Follow the links for more details.

Rogue HR 2 Half rack

The Rogue HR2 half rack comes in at $655 and is one of the low-range 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 HR2

The HR2 is a half rack that leaves you with a pull-up station and a lot of storage. If you own a Monster lite squat stand and want to take care of your plates you can use Rogues' conversion kit to have more storage.

The HR2 is built in Ohio, Columbus and comes in black. It is 49'' long and 48'' wide. This brings the HR2 to a total footprint of 48''x49''. You can choose between a 110.375'' or 90.375'' height option. It also provides Westside spacing in case you want to work in small increments for your bench press. The HR2 is compatible with the Infinity and MOnster lite series. The steel notes for the uprights come in 3x3'' 11 gauge steel while the base is made of 2x3'' 11 Gauge steel.

The HR2 is a versatile small option to either upgrade your existing squat stand or store a lot of plates away while providing a small squat and bench station.

Pros of the HR2

The HR2 provides a lot of storage in a very small space. This makes it a good option if you want to compress your entire gym and storage plates into as small a space as possible.

Cons of the HR2

You will most likely do all of your exercises outside of this rack and therefore be less safe for powerlifting. Space between the beams is just too small unless you are very petite.

Alternatives to the HR2

Alternatives to the HR2 are

The RE4 is a full rack from the Rogue Echo series. This will put you in the position to have more space to squat and be safe at the same budget. The downside of this deal is that the Echo series has smaller steel notes and there also fewer upgrades made to this line of production of Rogue.

RML3WC is a good option for anyone who wants to save space in a garage. This rack can be folded to the wall so that you can park a car in front or simply safe space when you are not using the rack. This is a great option for the gym and garages who want to be able to convert their workspace depending on changing needs.

The SM1 squat stand is the simplest version of the Monster squat stands and has no pull-up bar. If you want to pear it back maximally to save cost and still be in the top range of Rogue, this is the way to go.

Overview and review of the X3 half rack

The TITAN X3 half rack will put you back about $550. 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 half rack

The X3 half-rack gives you the safety of a power rack while optimizing for floor space. You can even store your plates on it if you want to. The 3x3 steel tubes of this rack also provide Westside hole spacing which allows for smaller increments on your bench press setup. If this is the rack for you it comes with the following features and specs:

3" x 3" 11 gauge steel uprights.
Westside hole pattern through bench zone.
2" hole spacing above and below.
1,000 + lbs. capacity.
Pair of UHMW lined X-3 J-Hooks included.
Double-sided gusset plates.
Overall height: 92"
Overall width: 49"
Overall depth: 48"
Product Weight: 250 LB
Finish: Black Powder Coating
Floor Space: 16.3 sq ft (49" x 48")
Rack depth: 17"
Front upright height: 92"
Rear upright height: 72"

This is a great option for college dorms or small spaces at home. It can also be used to have high quality in a gym while saving a little in overall floor space for a line of racks.

Pros of the X3 half rack

As with most of the TITAN line up first and furthermost the price for what you are getting. Apart from that, a half rack can be a great space saver whilst still functioning as a full rack. Especially the possibility to store your plates on the second set off uprights might make it superior to a squat stand.

Cons of the X3 half rack

Squatting inside the rack might leave you constrained. Especially if you are very tall and big. Small athletes will have no problems, but if you are the next Eddie Hall or generally like a bit of space to do your exercises, go for a full rack like the T3 instead.

Alternatives to the X3

These are other options for the X3 half-rack:

If you already have a bench or just don’t need one you can invest just a little extra and get a colored rack.

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”.

If you want to stay within budget but start your gym with 3x3 tubing you can go for the X3 squat stand. This is a good option for big and/or experienced lifters who prefer the freedom and flexibility of a squat stand, yet still, move big weights. I recommend that you have enough space and experience on how to drop weights from a squat position if you opt for a squat stand. Spotter arms are nice with a stand but usually useless. You either miss them on a hardcore drop or the entire unit comes down because you didn’t bolt it to the ground.

The T3 folding rack saves you about $200 on the T3 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 for the X3 Half rack

If you are ok with squatting outside the rack and still want 3x3 uprights and are storage this is a great option for you. If you have Eddie Hall’s size, stay away from this as you will constantly bang off the uprights of you are squatting inside your rack. This injury risk is not worth the savings compared to a T3.