TITAN X3 squat stand vs Rogue HR2 half rack [Article, Video]
This is a comparison between the TITAN X3 squat stand and the Rogue HR2 half rack. Follow the links for more details.
Rogue fitness vs TITAN fitness
Rogue Fitness is the current market leader when it comes to a functional home gym and commercial gym equipment. They have one of the widest portfolios including racks, barbells, benches, dumbbells, and apparel for the weekend warrior and dedicated athlete. The biggest downside of Rogue Fitness is their comparatively high prices to the competition.
TITAN Fitness is the clear cost leader when you want to build a home gym on a budget that is still similar to what Rogue offers in function, look, and feel. While you will save about half on the sticker price you will run a higher risk of inconsistencies in quality compared to a purchase from Rogue. The equipment will be safe but is more likely to have blemishes, quality issues with welds or that pieces will not easily fit into place. That makes TITAN a good option for a DIY enthusiast who does not mind tinkering with their equipment, but not the first choice to get the best equipment and treat yourself.
Rogue HR 2 Half rack
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 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:
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3" x 3" 11 gauge steel uprights
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Westside hole pattern through bench zone
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2" hole spacing above and below.
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1,000 + lb capacity
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Pair of UHMW lined X-3 JHooks included
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Double-sided gusset plates
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Standard 1.25" Pull up bar included
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Mounted at your preferred height.
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Pair of X-3 Spotter Arms included
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Height: 92"
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Width: 49"
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Depth: 48"
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Product Weight: 203 lb
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Finish: Black Power Coating
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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
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.
