Power Rack

The power rack, also known as a squat rack or cage, is the load-bearing structure of any weight room. It's made up of four vertical uprights connected to each other, with holes along the entire height to position J-hooks and safety bars (or pins) at the desired height.

What is it for? Mainly safety. The safety bars act as a net: if you can't complete a rep, the weight rests on them instead of crushing you. This lets you push to failure without needing a spotter, a huge advantage if you train alone. Squat, bench press, overhead press, rack pull: all the fundamental barbell exercises become safer inside a power rack.

Modern racks are often modular and accept attachments: pull-up bar, dip handles, cable pulleys, landmine attachment. This makes them the center of an entire gym in a single piece of equipment. Commercial models have 60x60 mm or 80x80 mm steel uprights, with a load capacity that comfortably exceeds 400 kg.

A half rack takes up less space but offers less lateral protection. If you have the choice, the full power rack (with four uprights) is always preferable. It's the number one purchase for anyone setting up a home gym: with a rack, a barbell and some plates you can build a complete strength program.