Choose a squat rack that fits your needs: “Focus your time and energy researching those racks that fit perfectly into your space and for the height of the people who will be using the rack,” said Steve Stonehouse, VP of education and programming at Body Fit Training. You’ll also want to check the quality of the machine. “There is a different quality and standard for commercial racks as opposed to personal racks,” he explains. When deciding on the quality of the rack, something to consider is the type and thickness of the steel that was used in manufacturing. You should also consider the amount of weight and frequency of use that the squat rack will see.
Decide if you will use it for other exercises: You’ll notice some squat racks are sold as just squat racks with two steel beams intended to hold a barbell and its bare bones. On the other hand, a lot of power cages function as a squat rack, a bench rack, a spotter and more, all of which are more versatile compared to a basic squat rack. Depending on what you’re using it for, you may want to consider a power cage if you want a rack that can be used for squatting, bench pressing or other exercises.
Use the safety bars: Squat racks come with “safety arms” which are supposed to assist you if you fail a lift. Stonehouse also recommends choosing a squat rack with a wide base or platform that prevents the rack from moving around when in use. Additionally, he advises to make sure the thickness or “gauge” of the steel is enough.
“The gauge can often be an important indicator of price and quality,” he explains. He points out that usually commercial gyms use racks that use 7-gauge steel, whereas home-friendly racks use 11-gauge steel. “This is strong enough for almost any home gym scenario and will probably last you a lifetime,” he said.
Bolt down the squat rack: Whenever possible, to add to safety measures, you should aim to have the rack bolted down. If you’re unable to bolt the rack down, then you’ll want to make sure the footprint is wide enough to provide the appropriate stability, even when using heavy weight.
Make sure it can hold a lot of weight: Making sure the squat rack you select can hold a lot of weight is important, especially if multiple people in your home plan on using it. Stonehouse says most standard home gym squat racks have weight capacities that can handle loads ranging from 300 to 1,000 pounds.
