Weight benches and squat racks or power racks are the ideal combination if you’re aiming to take your home gym to the next level.
The squat rack and bench go hand in hand. The reason is because squat racks are not only compact in size, but the right adjustable squat rack also lets you adjust the width and height. And when you pair it with a weight bench, you get yourself an affordable gym equipment that will allow to perform bench presses, shoulder presses and a number of exercises that are normally seen in in commercial gyms.
So even though squat racks are mainly known for, well… squats, they are much more versatile then the name suggests.
And then you have power racks. These will unlock all your, and your home gym’s, potential.
A power rack is a type of fitness equipment used to perform exercises that require a barbell, such as squats, dead lifts, bench presses. It consists of 4 vertical posts that surround you, forming a “cage” setting. And that’s why the power rack is also known as “power cage”.
When you combine the power rack with a workout bench, you’ll have virtually every compound movement at tip of your fingers.
Do I need a squat rack or power rack?
Imagine you’re going for your PR (personal record) on a bench press, but there’s no one to spot you. That’s where the power rack comes in handy. Power racks are safer because the safety bars will replace the spotter for you.
Squat racks are better suited for home gyms with limited space, but they provide good stability and safety for most workouts. The power rack will indeed require more space than the squat rack, but its main advantages are safety and versatility - thanks to the attachments you can get for the power rack. Some rack attachments are already included with a lot of power racks, like spotter arms and pull up attachments. Others are optional, like the lat pulldown and low pulley attachment.
And when you get a good exercise bench, like an adjustable weight bench, and the proper barbell and weights set, you have what we call a home gym kit and you’re ready to kiss your gym membership goodbye.
