Squat rack for home

[Shinobi]

Looking to buy a squat rack for home any brands people would reccomend? Not looking to put an olympic bar onto it as I just have the standard York Iron weights.

A quick search brought up a York one that seems to cheap or is this money about right?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000N3T0SW/ref=...

or this one that looks a bit better

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcy-SR50-Squat-Rack/dp/B...

[UncleRic]

I'm not sure that a standard (5ft?) York bar will fit the Marcy rack? I think the bar will be too short and the pins will want to sit exactly where the weights are..

[Shinobi]

Hadn't thought about that, oops may have to change all my weights if I want a Marcy one then. What do you think of the York one?

[UncleRic]

Personally, I want to be looking dead-ahead when I'm squating, not left or right to check that I'm lining my bar up with the stand when I go to replace it (especially with heavier weights, unless you plan to squat with spotter?). Can you imagine going to replace the bar and missing a post?

I suppose they would be ok with a weight you can easily handle, but push your limits and you 'may' end up in a bit of a fix..

Cages are much better but are probably prohibative on a cost basis.

Other than that, do you know any scaffolders?

[UncleRic]

Shinobi said:

Hadn't thought about that, oops may have to change all my weights if I want a Marcy one then. What do you think of the York one?

You can get a 6ft or 7ft spinlock York bar which fits the 'standard' sized York weights, they're about £25. They weigh more too, which is good. You best option (of the two racks) would be a longer bar and the Marcy rack.

[Shinobi]

I see your point about lining up the bar, I am looking to do pyramids so probably best to get a cage if I go down the squat rack at home route. I think I have the 6ft York bar, I remember buying an extra spinlock bar for my weights as it was a bit heavier.

[ApexJimi]

UncleRic said:

Personally, I want to be looking dead-ahead when I'm squating, not left or right to check that I'm lining my bar up with the stand when I go to replace it (especially with heavier weights, unless you plan to squat with spotter?). Can you imagine going to replace the bar and missing a post?

I suppose they would be ok with a weight you can easily handle, but push your limits and you 'may' end up in a bit of a fix..

Cages are much better but are probably prohibative on a cost basis.

Other than that, do you know any scaffolders?

Our gym uses the separate stands - I've never had a problem with it. As long as you setup the stands correctly for space and height, there shouldn't be any problems at all.

[tuglet]

Shinobi said:

Looking to buy a squat rack for home any brands people would reccomend? Not looking to put an olympic bar onto it as I just have the standard York Iron weights.

A quick search brought up a York one that seems to cheap or is this money about right?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000N3T0SW/ref=...

or this one that looks a bit better

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcy-SR50-Squat-Rack/dp/B...

I have this in my "home gym": http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf375-... Only £184 at the moment with free delivery. I was very pleasantly suprised with the build quality and finish. There are one or two rough edges but I'll get around to filing them down one day. Assembly was very quick and easy.

I looked at the same options as you but thought, for a few quid more, why not go for something I'm not going to outgrow too quickly. Also, if you're training at home on your own, a power rack is the safest option in my opinion.

I use my rack for chin ups/pull ups, shoulder press, rack pulls, inverted rows, and bench press too. It's very versatile.

I would say that you really need a 7ft bar. A 6ft bar just fits but it's annoying (and potentially dangerous) when you're squatting or benching and the plates keep hitting the safety bars.

Edited by tuglet on Thursday 16th September 18:37

Edited by tuglet on Thursday 16th September 18:39

[samdale]

I'd go for a cage to but out of the 2 you've shown definitely the marcy. Squat stands are a PITA and I have a feeling those are the ones we had in a gym I went to for a while. Both height adjusters were broken within a week, some dodgy square plastic peg thing. Much better with the metal pins like on the marcy one.

[Meoricin]

My cousin and I drew up a simple cage design, then built it out of scaffolding. A solid cage, higher tolerances than most racks you'll get, good for pull-ups and bench as well as squats. Cost us £40~ from the local scaffolding merchant. It's currently sitting in the garage for the winter, though it's been at the bottom of the garden for the last few months.

Might be worth thinking about.

[Shinobi]

tuglet said:

Shinobi said:

Looking to buy a squat rack for home any brands people would reccomend? Not looking to put an olympic bar onto it as I just have the standard York Iron weights.

A quick search brought up a York one that seems to cheap or is this money about right?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000N3T0SW/ref=...

or this one that looks a bit better

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcy-SR50-Squat-Rack/dp/B...

I have this in my "home gym": http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf375-... Only £184 at the moment with free delivery. I was very pleasantly suprised with the build quality and finish. There are one or two rough edges but I'll get around to filing them down one day. Assembly was very quick and easy.

I looked at the same options as you but thought, for a few quid more, why not go for something I'm not going to outgrow too quickly. Also, if you're training at home on your own, a power rack is the safest option in my opinion.

I use my rack for chin ups/pull ups, shoulder press, rack pulls, inverted rows, and bench press too. It's very versatile.

I would say that you really need a 7ft bar. A 6ft bar just fits but it's annoying (and potentially dangerous) when you're squatting or benching and the plates keep hitting the safety bars.

Edited by tuglet on Thursday 16th September 18:37

Edited by tuglet on Thursday 16th September 18:39

That does look quite a bit better then the ones I found, thanks for that. Looks like I'll have to replace the bar. Would you reccomend changing to an Olympic bar?

[Shinobi]

Meoricin said:

My cousin and I drew up a simple cage design, then built it out of scaffolding. A solid cage, higher tolerances than most racks you'll get, good for pull-ups and bench as well as squats. Cost us £40~ from the local scaffolding merchant. It's currently sitting in the garage for the winter, though it's been at the bottom of the garden for the last few months.

Might be worth thinking about.

Any chance you could post some pictures of what you built? Having a hard time visualising.

[dirty boy]

Whilst we're talking of squats.

I do 50kgs squats 4 x 10 reps.

When I go down, my legs go just past being parallell to the ground, is that right?

Because there's this guy with awesome upper body who does probably 90kgs, but he goes no-where near parallell.

Who's right? I'm sure I could do 90kgs if I didn't go all the way down.

Because his physique is far better than mine, i'm kind of assuming he's doing something right, although i'd say my legs are bloody strong compared to my upper body.

[Team 17]

dirty boy said:

Whilst we're talking of squats.

I do 50kgs squats 4 x 10 reps.

When I go down, my legs go just past being parallell to the ground, is that right?

Because there's this guy with awesome upper body who does probably 90kgs, but he goes no-where near parallell.

Who's right? I'm sure I could do 90kgs if I didn't go all the way down.

Because his physique is far better than mine, i'm kind of assuming he's doing something right, although i'd say my legs are bloody strong compared to my upper body.

Ass to grass, always.

He is utilising bad form to squat more weight(although 90kg isn't anything to write home about). Keep using correct form (assuming you are) and you will have a physique better than his within the same amount of training time.

Edited by Team 17 on Friday 17th September 15:41

[Halb]

Shinobi said:

Meoricin said:

My cousin and I drew up a simple cage design, then built it out of scaffolding. A solid cage, higher tolerances than most racks you'll get, good for pull-ups and bench as well as squats. Cost us £40~ from the local scaffolding merchant. It's currently sitting in the garage for the winter, though it's been at the bottom of the garden for the last few months.

Might be worth thinking about.

Any chance you could post some pictures of your build? Having a hard time visualising.

Sorry, it just looked obvious

[dirty boy]

Team 17 said:

dirty boy said:

Whilst we're talking of squats.

I do 50kgs squats 4 x 10 reps.

When I go down, my legs go just past being parallell to the ground, is that right?

Because there's this guy with awesome upper body who does probably 90kgs, but he goes no-where near parallell.

Who's right? I'm sure I could do 90kgs if I didn't go all the way down.

Because his physique is far better than mine, i'm kind of assuming he's doing something right, although i'd say my legs are bloody strong compared to my upper body.

Ass to grass, always.

He is utilising bad form to squat more weight(although 90kg isn't anything to write home about). Keep using correct form (assuming you are) and you will have a physique better than his within the same amount of training time.

Edited by Team 17 on Friday 17th September 15:41

Okay, I kind of assumed mine seemed better, but you always wonder.

Would love to up mine, but 50kgs is a lot, I really struggle with the last two reps.

No idea what my one rep max would be - currently weigh 165lbs though, so never going to win any strong man comps!

[Buzz word]

I would definatly go for the power rack tuglet suggested. I guess it depends what your home gym is like. I have floor boards all over my house so could never just dump a weight. It's tons safer when pushing a one rep max too.

In regards to technique:
http://stronglifts.com/how-to-squat-with-proper-te...

Dirty boy, always go low. So many people in the gym cheat. Try it out going half way and all the way down. All the way is so much harder and is a proper lift. 50kg is good going but maybe too many reps. I squat once a week and have switched my routine to: front squat, back squat, front squat, back squat, One rep max run on one type. Repping is all well and good but here are better ways to grow. I build the weight and reps throughout a session until I am doing about 3 at my max weight. You really need to stress yourself if you want to lift more. I started squatting 30kgs and have eventually got to 115 1rm on the front and 110*4 on the back. I can't wait for a good back run I think I have ~125kg in me. I'm 67kgs so lighter than you, you just have to put the time in.

[tuglet]

Shinobi said:

tuglet said:

Shinobi said:

Looking to buy a squat rack for home any brands people would reccomend? Not looking to put an olympic bar onto it as I just have the standard York Iron weights.

A quick search brought up a York one that seems to cheap or is this money about right?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000N3T0SW/ref=...

or this one that looks a bit better

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcy-SR50-Squat-Rack/dp/B...

I have this in my "home gym": http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf375-... Only £184 at the moment with free delivery. I was very pleasantly suprised with the build quality and finish. There are one or two rough edges but I'll get around to filing them down one day. Assembly was very quick and easy.

I looked at the same options as you but thought, for a few quid more, why not go for something I'm not going to outgrow too quickly. Also, if you're training at home on your own, a power rack is the safest option in my opinion.

I use my rack for chin ups/pull ups, shoulder press, rack pulls, inverted rows, and bench press too. It's very versatile.

I would say that you really need a 7ft bar. A 6ft bar just fits but it's annoying (and potentially dangerous) when you're squatting or benching and the plates keep hitting the safety bars.

Edited by tuglet on Thursday 16th September 18:37

Edited by tuglet on Thursday 16th September 18:39

That does look quite a bit better then the ones I found, thanks for that. Looks like I'll have to replace the bar. Would you reccomend changing to an Olympic bar?

I've only been weight/strength training for about 3 months so I'm still an absolute beginner. I don't think you really need an olympic bar unless you're lifting really heavy and a standard bar isn't rated for the weight. Standard bars use plates with a 1" hole and olympic bars use a 2" hole. If you've got a lot of standard plates, I'd say just buy a 7ft standard bar.

[Lost_BMW]

I recently bought these http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf310-...



for my new garage gym - mainly for positioning the bar(s) of a grappler for presses when I'm on my own.

Very unimpressed. They are wobbly, though admittedly on judo mats rather than a hard floor, have stiff, notchy but weak adjustments and the rubber has already peeled from one of the catch bars.

I wouldn't trust them for squats. Had I the room - or in fact could turn the clock back I'd go for a cage too.

Second time I've had squat stands - and the last!

Edited by Lost_BMW on Wednesday 22 September 14:30

[Meoricin]

Shinobi said:

Meoricin said:

My cousin and I drew up a simple cage design, then built it out of scaffolding. A solid cage, higher tolerances than most racks you'll get, good for pull-ups and bench as well as squats. Cost us £40~ from the local scaffolding merchant. It's currently sitting in the garage for the winter, though it's been at the bottom of the garden for the last few months.

Might be worth thinking about.

Any chance you could post some pictures of what you built? Having a hard time visualising.

Sure, I'll take a photo or two of it tomorrow, and post it up. (Unless I forget)