Quick Power Rack VS Squat Rack Buying Guide

Did you know that, according to the Australian Government Department of Health, almost half of adults who are of working age in Australia spend a large amount of their workday in a seated position? Additionally, they report that COVID-19 has made being active more difficult because of extra barriers. However, it’s incredibly important for people to exercise. More people today are finding ways to exercise in the comfort of their own home, so buying the right piece of equipment in line with their fitness goals is crucial. Some would say the most obvious piece of equipment would either be the Power Rack or the Squat Rack, but how do you know which to choose?

You may not be sure where to get started when it comes to buying exercise equipment, which can be stressful.

We will review everything you need to know about buying this type of workout equipment, and hopefully help you achieve your fitness goals.

Power Rack vs. Squat Rack

Before we go into how you can buy the right exercise equipment for you, it's important to review the main difference between a power rack and a squat rack.

A squat rack is specifically designed for doing squats and other barbell based exercises. It's made of two metal posts.

A power rack, on the other hand, is made of four metal posts. You can lift confidently with the power rack and the options of exercises are endless with this piece of equipment.

The Right Power Rack and Squat Rack System

When it comes to adding the right Power Rack and Squat Rack to your home gym, you first have to decide which system type you want. There are two types. One is the modular type, which is when you buy the base rack and then add whichever attachments you want.

The benefit of this type, is that you won’t have to pay for stations or attachments you wouldn’t use.

The other type is the fixed package system. With this type of home gym equipment, stations and attachments are included, making the set up simple and efficient.

The Right Attachments

For this gym equipment type, there are different stations and attachments you can choose from to get the best workout for you. The most common attachments include monkey bars, chin-up bars, the lat pull-down type of seat, and cable crossover.

They also include low row and lat pulldown, knee holder for your lats, monolift systems, J-hooks, core trainers, band pegs, plate holders, dip handle, and benches.

There are so many different attachments to consider including with your fixed package system or rather add to your modular system, based on your fitness requirements. 

The Weight Capacity

It’s important to choose a Power Rack and Squat Rack that has support for a larger amount of weight than what you think you’ll be using. This is important for safety reasons. A good starting weight capacity to aim for, is 1000 pounds or more.

Speaking of safety, look for safety additions such as safeties, spotter arm attachments, and being able to anchor your rack to your floor.

Dimensions and More

The rack itself has to fit in your home gym, or commercial space, so make sure you check the dimensions before making the purchase. Other physical considerations to think about include the hole spacing, hole number, and how easy it will be to adjust the Power Rack and Squat Rack.

Ready to Buy a Power Rack or Squat Rack?

Now that you’ve learnt everything you need to know about how to buy a Power Rack and Squat Rack, you might be looking to actually purchase one. In this case, look no further than VERVE Fitness. We are an Australian-owned and operated fitness company and pride ourselves on our fitness equipment. We have written a full Guide to Buying a Power Rack if that's the piece of equipment you've chosen. Plus, you can have a look at the comparison chart:

To learn more about the variety of fitness equipment we sell, check out our Rack collection now.

VERVE Zen Power Rack $1,399 $2,199 The VERVE Zen Power Rack is the greatest Power Rack we've built. It now comes with a heavy duty safety strap system, laser cut numbering on a premium powder coating and sandwich j-hooks as standard included in the box. It is the most… read more View Product
VERVE Satori Power Rack $1,199 $1,299   Satori (悟り) is a Japanese Buddhist term for awakening, "comprehension; understanding". In the Zen Buddhist tradition, satori refers to a deep experience of kenshō, "seeing into one's true nature". Ken means "seeing," shō means "nature" or "essence". The VERVE… read more View Product	VERVE Commercial Half Rack $1,199 $1,499 The new upgraded VERVE Commercial Half Rack is the perfect companion for anyone who trains with free weights and is keen to save a bit of space. Designed to withstand the use (and abuse) of even the busiest gym, the VERVE… read more View Product
	VERVE Wall Mounted Folding Squat Rack | Pre-Order ETA Mid November $949 $1,099 The VERVE® Folding Rack is the ultimate space saving power rack option and now comes with Westside hole spacing to facilitate more precise positioning for bench press. Perfect for the home or commercial gym that needs commercial grade strength in the construction and… read more View Product
Power Rack - Arnold Series with Logo $2,699 $4,999 The VERVE Arnold Power Rack is without question THE statement piece for any commercial gym or professional home facility.  Built with the biggest lifts in mind, standard features include high-vis numbering and fully welded, single-piece uprights and high quality commercial grade… read more View Product	VERVE Squat Stands V3 $199 $399   The VERVE Squat Stands V3 are an extremely heavy duty alternative to a power rack. The VERVE Squat Stands are heavy duty uprights with an extremely stable base that can be moved and adjusted to almost any exercise that… read more View Product