Finding the best power racks for your home gym does not have to be a time consuming, headache inducing affair.
Here’s the top rated power racks all of them independently reviewed by people who actually own them:
In my opinion, a power rack should be the centrepiece of every gym, they really are that good!
Unfortunately the vast majority of mainstream gyms don’t have them, instead they opt for the smith machine which is a poor substitute.
>If you’re lucky enough to have space at home for a gym or a few pieces of workout equipment then a power rack is essential!
Here’s why every gym should have the best power rack they can afford:
- Improved Safety: You can perform any free weight exercises without the fear of getting trapped under the bar
- Low Cost: Power racks are very cheap, for a couple of hundred dollars or pounds you can buy the centrepiece of your gym
- Versatile: From squats to bench presses to rack pulls to shoulder presses, the power rack will be able to accomodate them all!
When it comes to building a cheap home gym you can get buy with a limited amount of equipment, you just have to buy the right equipment.
You don’t need cables and machines, all you need is the best power rack you can afford, some barbell weights, a bench, some home gym flooring, maybe some dumbbells (optional) and you’re good to go!
I’ve got a beef with the smith machine.
Compared to a power rack they simply don’t match up and there’s a number of reasons why it’s an inferior choice. Gym owners buy them with the right intentions (safety) but the reality is they can do more harm than good!
Here’s a quick summary of why the smith machine sucks:
- Fixed Range of Motion Causes Injury: The bar travels on a pre-defined path which assumes that everyone using it has the same range of motion or mechanics. Fixing you into the bars path places undue stress on your lower back, knees and many other joint are therefore placed under pressure
- Creates Imbalances: Another cause of injury, as the smith stabilises the bar, you don’t have to balance it yourself. This causes your stabilising muscles, balance and coordination to suffer all of which can contribute to injuries
- Exercise Technique Out The Window: As the smith travels along a set path you’re not learning how to complete each movement properly. This can make it dangerous if you ever switch to the free weight versions
- Less Muscle: Sure you can put more weight on with a smith but that doesn’t mean you’ll get bigger and stronger. In fact with the smith you’re using fewer muscles so you’d likely make far better gains using free weights
