Justifying the space for a full squat rack in a city apartment is a tall order. Collapsible squat racks are a unique new addition to the pantheon of equipment that can transform any space into a functional gym in just a few steps. It’s kind of like the Murphy bed is for a guest room office slash. You might say, now it’s an office, now it’s a guest room. With foldable racks, you can now say: Now it’s a gym, now it’s an office, said Chris Howell, founder and CEO of spxfit, a luxury gym design group based in New York City.
What was once a garage, a guest room or an abandoned living area can become a multifaceted gym thanks to a folding rack and the myriad of available accessories.
An added benefit beyond their compact designs is that, for the most part, folding racks are less expensive than their larger full rack counterparts, which leaves room in the budget for add-ons like J-hooks and special barbells. The precarious downside is that even when set up correctly, folding squat racks are less stable and require extra attention to make sure they’re safe to use.
What the experts say
Before purchasing a folding squat rack, it is extremely important that it is installed and assembled correctly. Make sure you mount it very snug into the studs, said Nathan Lewis, a physical therapy doctor and owner of Rogue Physical Therapy. Whether you’re a good do-it-yourselfer or have a handyman, get it right. You can’t fail on yourself. He also said that holding a loaded bar in place before a lift or grabbing it after a release are not only the most common jobs for a rack, they also place a lot of stress on the machine, so it’s worth investing in high-quality equipment. and making sure it can do the job.
Courtesy of Rogue Fitness
BEST EVER
Rogue RML-3WC Collapsible Wall Mount Rack
After much research, Lewis chose this option from Rogue because he can’t afford to gamble with the safety of his equipment and finds more reliable, more reliable brands. The worst that could happen is failure, Lewis said. Failure is never pleasant, but in this case it means a 400-pound barbell lands squarely on the neck, back, or shoulders, so we’d have to agree.
In addition to its reliability, this rack also folds down to take up just five inches of wall space, and the modular design makes it easy to deploy accessories. They are modular and being able to attach to a Land-Mine press is essential and the pull up bar is fine. It’s an efficient use of space, Lewis said.
Howell has personally used and loves Rogue’s collapsible racks as well. I like Rogue because you know what you’re going to get with them, Howell said. Rogue has really hit the folding rack market hard, which has been nice, especially during the pandemic.
Fitness Titan
Titan X-3 Series Collapsible Feeder
Made for: The expert minimalist
The Heavy: Howell cited Titans Folding Squat Racks as a high-quality, reasonably priced option in the folding squat rack space. It is a strong direct-to-consumer company, Howell said. The X-3 is SPY’s pick because it comes in at a price just above the budget pick yet boasts multiple depth-of-the-wall options for different spaces and has a solid 1,100-pound weight capacity.
The hot grip: A simple, robust and effective rack
PRX performance
PRX Profile One Foldable Squat Rack with Multi-Grip Bar
Made for: Fast movements
The Heavy: PRX really pioneered collapsible racks with their push-down storage racks, Howell said. The patented sliding system rather than rocking and using pins to secure the rack like others on this list saves the end user a few minutes with each use. PRX is just faster. Now we’re talking 0-60 between a fast car and a really fast car. It’s not a big difference, but there is still a difference. When it comes to convenience, that can make a difference in how much you use it.
The hot grip: If someone is looking to avoid a lengthy setup before training, this is their best bet
Courtesy of US Force
MORE VERSATILE
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Made for: Fitness enthusiasts who want it all
The Heavy: With ten attachment points and hundreds of possible configurations, Forces MyRack offers the most gym configurations out of all the options on this list. It’s capable of handling a wide variety of exercises and accessories, and the MyRack also has an impressive 2,000-pound capacity thanks to its heavy-duty 12 GA steel uprights.
The hot grip: a large gym with a small footprint
Courtesy of Amazon
BEST OFFER
Mikolo Foldable Wall Mounted Squat Rack
Made for: Price conscious lifters
The Heavy: This sub-$350 option can get the job done and is compatible with an impressive number of accessories. smaller than a large TV console.
The hot grip: Money saver for beginners or lighter weight lifters
Foldable Squat Rack FAQs
How do foldable squat racks work?
There are two emerging technologies in the foldable squat rack space. One is a rack that folds vertically from the wall (think visual analogy of the Howells Murphy Bed) and is patented by the PRX company who make a wide variety of foldable squat racks. The other technology, which all other brands more or less share, swings horizontally from the wall and is secured by pins once deployed. PRX vertical folding saves several minutes on each deployment compared to horizontal folding.
What are the unique benefits of a folding squat rack over a traditional one?
A collapsible rack is low-profile, but if you have the space you should get a standalone one, Lewis said. Although Lewis loves his folding rack, he ultimately prefers something with a more stable sighting system than is available in folding squat racks. You can use four sides, you can go into the rack, you can have the support arms there. A standalone is heavier but that’s a huge amount of space, so for the average garage gym, there’s no way to do it, he said.
How long does it take to set up a folding squat rack?
Some manufacturers claim extremely fast installation times, up to 30 minutes, but installing a collapsible squat rack is not a task that should be rushed. Since wall attachment provides great support for the entire system, poor attachment could be catastrophic. It would be wise to allow a few hours to get the job done properly, or hire a professional to install it for those who aren’t practical.
How long does it take to assemble a folding squat rack once it’s installed?
PRX models take seconds to assemble and disassemble once installed correctly. Others take minutes to assemble and disassemble. A good rule of thumb is to add about 15 minutes to a workout at the start and don’t rush the process. According to Lewis, its timing is diminished by not folding it down after each use, which isn’t necessary depending on the space you’re working with. Takes up less space than a typical freestanding squat rack. It fits quite easily but I almost never take it.
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