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9 Best REP Fitness Squat Racks by Budget and Type (Power, Half, Folding, and Other)
REP makes 10 racks… Some are decent, some good, but only a few are great.
Today, we’ll pinpoint the one that’s THE BEST FOR YOU.
“Who’s this guy?”
Good question.
My name is Steve Hoyles. I’m a weightlifting coach, a personal trainer, and a gym owner.
I know racks…I know them inside out…bolt to paint.
I’ve bought, used, and sold them – over and again for the last 20 years.
REP, Rogue, Titan, Sorinex…you name it.
What we did for this guide
To choose the best REP rack, I joined forces with some of the top industry experts and the in-house talent here at Strong Home Gym.
We looked at all of it…
We compared ALL REP racks in 18 categories – from steel thickness to compatibility with attachments, from profile size to colors, from legs to pull-up bars.
OCD meets rack knowledge
We’re borderline OCD about the stuff we recommend.
That attention to detail gets me in trouble when my wife and I need to choose a new color for the bedroom walls.
But it’s also crucial in guides like this one…
…Guides in which you’re splitting hairs because the units are similar, and there’s so few of them.
So, the OCD comes in handy.
We also aimed to make the list versatile – find the perfect rack for different needs, spaces, and budgets.
We have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s dig in…
Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a classic half-rack on a budget.
Pros:
Takes up less room (without compromising stability).
Cheaper than power racks with similar setups.
More customizable color combos.
Cons:
Less versatile than power racks.
You can’t lift “inside” it.
Large base footprint.
*Ares and Athena are popular cable attachments from REP. More about them in a minute…
Summary
The Apollo is the best standalone REP Fitness half-rack…probably because it’s the only one.
Jokes aside…
The operating word here is “standalone.”
At 16 inches of depth, the PR-4000 also becomes a half rack. But you’d have to bolt it down to use it safely.
The Apollo is a classic half rack.
It’s the best of two worlds
Apollo has a big ol’ base but takes up little “air” space.
Here’s what I mean by “air space”…
It’s pretty much the same footprint as the biggest version of the PR-4000 (17.47 and 17.6 , respectively).
However, the uprights are as close as on the smallest version (16 inches).
What that means for you
It means stability without sacrificing too much space.
Moreover…
The flat-foot design* and the bolt-down plates are the cherry on top of the stability cake. Don’t let the half rack element fool you – this thing isn’t budging, no matter what you lift with it.
*Flat-foot design means edge-to-edge contact between the base and the floor.
The purty colors
Apollo is the cheapest REP rack that still allows for fully customized colors.
You can choose the colors of the uprights and cross-members separately.
Personal-grievance moment: The clear coat is as badass as it gets. It’s a shame you can’t get it for the Apollo uprights (only an option for the top crossmembers).
Bottom line
The Apollo is as stable as the biggest version of the PR-4000 but takes up less room. If lifting inside the rack isn’t a must, it’s a great way to save space and money.
So, if you’re tall and into kipping, this is as good as it gets.
Bottom line
If two uprights are all you need, the SR-4000 might be what the doctor ordered. Get it weighed down with spare plates though – the height plus the relatively light weight (less than 240 lbs) can lead to instability if you’re not careful.
Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a solid rack on a shoestring budget.
Pros:
Cheap for a full-sized rack.
Features a multi-grip bar.
Custom colors (not common in the price range).
Cons:
Not as thick or stable as the pricier REP racks.
3-inch hole spacing.
Less versatile than most.
Summary
The PR-1100 is the top-rated budget rack from REP.
Its only competitor for the label is PR-1000.
In that stand-off, the 1100 wins because of the multi-grip pull-up bar.
The addition of a neutral grip is a big plus.
That’s especially true when compatibility with attachment is limited to a handful, which is the case with both the 1000 and the 1100.
The main downside is the 3-inch spacing between holes.
That gives you less control over J-hook placement, which can be a big deal if you’re a powerlifter. If you’re a general lifter after a great deal, look no further than the PR-1100.
Bottom line
If you want to get a REP rack on a budget, we recommend the PR-1100 (if you’re OK with the 3-inch spacing).
If you’re not, go with the PR-1000 (2-inch spacing).
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs a versatile cable machine but doesn’t have the space for the standalone units.
Pros:
Adds versatility of a lat pulldown, functional trainer, and a low row.
Heavy stacks with optional upgrades (260+50 lbs each).
Convenient – selectorized.
Top-notch finishes and attention to detail.
Cons:
Pricey.
Requires extra space.
Summary
What is REP Ares?
It’s a high-end cable attachment for REP PR-4000 and 5000 racks.
What does it do?
It adds three stations to your rack – a lat pulldown, a functional trainer and a low row.
It effectively turns your rack into a full-on cable machine. It opens the versatility up, transforming your rack from a hanger for a barbell, to a legit multi-gym.
Clarification of compatibility – specific racks and number of posts
Ares is compatible ONLY with two REP racks – the PR-4000 and PR-5000.
Below are some clarification points on the number of posts and depth configurations.
Ares only works with 16-inch crossmembers
Ares can either be a part of a 6-post or a 4-post rack.
In either configuration, it HAS to go on a 16-inch crossmember.
If it’s a 4-post, you save a lot of space but trade-off convenience and some functionality.
“Why’s that?”
Two reasons:
It’s a big stack, and it eats up the space between the 4 posts.
The trolleys of the functional trainer go on the front posts, which means you have to move stuff around to slide the trolleys down. By “stuff,” I mean other attachments like J-hooks or spotter arms.
Bottom line – if you have the space, pair the Ares with a 6-post. It’s the more convenient setup because it puts the functional trainer at the front and J-hooks “inside.”
The picture below shows the two configurations side by side.
Pulley ratio of the Ares – stacks vs. resistance
The stacks are 260 lbs each, which brings the total weight to 520. You can get an extra 50 for each, but most people won’t need it.
Here’s why…
The pulley ratio is 2:1, which means that half of the selected weight turns into effective resistance on your end of the cable.
So, you select 200 lbs, and it feels like a 100.
However, you can double that by using the banana connector or attaching both stacks to the lat bar.
(I recommend the former because it creates a single attachment point, making the pull smoother.)
Is the Ares worth it?
Ares is expensive…no two ways about it.
Pair it with a PR-5000, add a few attachments, and you get to $5K+ real fast.
That’s serious money, and the question of “worth” becomes moot because the Ares doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
At that price range, the question is whether Ares is better for you than an all-in-one gym like the Force USA G-20.
Bottom line
Ares is a crazy versatile cable attachment with a price tag to match. Just make sure you understand the compatibility stuff before swiping the card.
Who it’s for: Anyone looking to add a functional trainer to their rack without wasting extra space.
Pros:
Space-saver – mounts within the rack footprint.
Can be a single-sides stack.
Exists as a plate-loaded version – cheaper.
Comes with resistance bands.
Cons:
Less resistance compared to Ares.
REP doesn’t make a dedicated seat for it.
Summary
Athena is a functional trainer attachment for the REP PR-4000 and 5000 racks.
It mounts between the uprights, and the cables travel to the front trolleys. It’s primarily a functional trainer but can also be used as a lat pulldown.
It’s not as versatile as the Ares, but it’s also cheaper and takes up less space.
For example…
A single-side selectorized Athena will cost 60-70% less than the Ares. That discount could be a sufficient saving for you to opt-in.
If you do take the upgrade, you’re adding serious versatility to your machine.
Some compatibility details
Athena is compatible only with the PR-4000 and 5000.
That’s clear enough.
It’s the details about the 4 and 6 posts that need clarifying.
Specifically:
It can only be mounted onto 16-inch crossmembers.
It does work with 4 and 6 posts, with one exception – REP only makes a 4-post variant for the PR-5000.
The plate-loaded Athena has no 4-post option because there’s no stack to stabilize it.
Less resistance than Ares, but still enough for most people
Athena has a 2:1 resistance with 170 lbs per stack (can be upgraded to 220 lbs).
In reality, you’re limited by the cable capacity (540 lbs per side).
You can add resistance via bend pegs (integrated) or add-on pins and plates.
Still, if you’re buying an attachment with lat pulldowns in mind, Ares is the superior machine.
Bottom line
If you’re not pulling crazy weights and don’t need a low row, Athena might hit the spot for you. The lower price point is an additional bonus, and could make the upgrade within reach for you. If it is, go for it. You won’t regret it.
(I’ll put it into perspective in a minute, so bear with me here…)
The depth starts at 16 inches(measured between the uprights) and goes up to 41.
The edge-to-edge dimensions are approximately 9 inches greater than the distance between the uprights (8.9 to be exact).
The width is 50.8 inches, including the bolt-down plates.
That means the footprint starts at 8.78 square feet (for 16-inch crossmembers) and goes up to 17.60 sqft. (for 41 inches).
NOTE: All the math above is for the 4-post version of the PR-400 and without weight pegs or attachments.
REP doesn’t list it in the specs, but the 6-post version adds 5.9 inches to the depth.
Make a mental note of this.
Why all the math?
Because that’s the best advice I can offer if you’re unsure about the rack size.
It should be small enough to fit your space.
And yet big enough for your needs.
SO, DO THE MATH!
It comes down to these steps:
Put pen to paper and draw your gym from a bird’s perspective.
Do the math above and add the rack to the floor plan.
Consider the ceiling height. If you’re doing chin-ups, add no less than 18 inches to the rack height.
Add a minimum of 2.5 feet to the sides of the REP rack for maneuvering.
For weight pegs on the back uprights, add a minimum of 12 inches behind the rack (that’s half the diameter of a standard 50-lbs plate plus 5 inches).
Think of any attachments you’ll need.
The space needed to effectively use an attachment is pretty common sense; just think in terms of biomechanics – i.e. how you’ll move when using it. To make that easier, below is an example of how that looks with a landmine attachment.
Do a few iterations of the math – with 4 and 6 posts, with and without weight pegs, with and without a cable attachment.
If it’s a folding rack – have the setup in mind (fold arches).
Move stuff around and if things don’t fit, consider a smaller rack (or a shallower version).
Nine times out of ten, these steps will reveal a clear winner for your space.
The graphs for reference
Below are two sizing graphs for REP racks – the minimal and maximum footprint.
The two footprints are different for racks with optional depth, like the Omni, PR-4000, and 5000.
For the other units (fixed depth), they’re the same.
#3 – Height of the REP racks
(0 to 11.5 points in two separate categories)
Exactly 60% of REP Fitness racks allow you to choose the height.
The 4 that don’t are in the table below – 3 budget units and 1 folding.
Rack
Fixed height in inches
PR-1000
85
PR-1050
72
PR-1100
85
PR-4100 (folding)
92.3
The rest of them are in the 77 to 103 inches range
The classic REP rack typically offers two heights;
Lower – at 80 inches.
Higher – at 92, 93, or 103 inches.
That’s all standard.
Here‘s the critical part – the outliers
The extra tall
If you’re extra tall and into kipping(and other crazy sh**), 90-93 inches might not be enough.
The outlier for you is the SR-4000, which offers a height of 103 inches.
That puts your pull-up bar at 100+ inches.
The extra low
If you have a basement gym or just low ceilings, you have two options from REP.
The low outliers are the PR-1050 and the Oxylus Yoke (72 and 77 inches tall, respectively).
Graphs for reference
Below are two graphs that show the minimal and maximum height of REP racks.
#4 – Structural build of REP Fitness racks – steel thickness and profile size
(0 to 13.8 points across three rated categories)
In terms of build and weight capacity, all 10 REP racks fall into 2 groups:
3×3 profile, 11-gauge steel with a 1,000 capacity (7 of them)
2×2 profile, 14 gauge steel with 700 lbs capacity (PR-1000, 1050, and 1100)
That simplifies the choice.
Ultimately, it comes down to stability and the inherent wobble of the thinner units.
Why?
Because if you’re squatting over 500 lbs, you’re considered an elite athlete.
At 600, you’re world-class.
All REP racks can handle that.
For the thicker racks, it’s shoulder dust.
#5 – Compatibility with attachments
(no specific number of points in our ratings, but reflected in other categories)
All the main REP attachments are made for the 4000 or the 5000 series.
So, if the rack you’ve chosen is a 3×3, you’re good.
If it’s a 2×2, it’s slim pickings
If you go with something like the PR-1000, the choices narrow down to a few attachments.
Beyond the basics (like weight pegs, j-cups, and safeties), there’s the dip bar, lat-pulldown, landmine, and cannonball grips.
In the specs, REP says that’s “a ton.”
Let’s be real here…it’s not A TON.
Furthermore…some more bad news
I’m just looking at our database of 466 attachments (from all brands), and only 15 are for 2×2 profiles with 1-inch holes.
That’s a meager 3.2%.
The good news
There are easy workarounds for the sizing issue.
Sizing adapters like these F&F Kaizen will allow you to use any 5000 attachments with the 2×2 racks.
#6 – Compatibility with Ares and Athena cable attachments
(0 to 4.6 points in our ratings)
Ares and Athena are only compatible with the PR-4000 and PR-5000 racks.
Even with those two racks, there are exceptions.
For example, if you want to get the Athena on 4-posts, you’ll have to go with the PR-5000.
They don’t make it for the 4000 series.
I’ve already outlined details like this in the mini reviews.
That’s why I like to see bolt-down gussets at the ends.
They might need to be bolted down, but they allow you to use resistance bands (unlike flat feet).
End-caps – the least stable
Finally, the budget racks feature a flat base with end-caps.
The base here doesn’t touch the ground (so there’s no extra friction to stabilize the rack) , and it’s not high enough to take band pegs.
That’s the worst of the two worlds.
Bonus safety tip: If you’re lifting heavy and using safety spotter arms, bolt your rack down. That angular momentum outside of the footprint skyrockets the tipping risk.
The alternative is packing enough plates on the storage pegs to “sink” the thing in place. Although it sounds basic, it’s actually a really effective method (as long as you have enough spare plates!)
#8 – Price of the top REP Fitness racks
(0 to 28.74 points in our ratings)
You’ll pay anywhere from $350 to $2.8K for a REP rack.
On the lower end of that range, you have the PR-1050 short rack.
The top-tier is the biggest version of the PR-5000, covered in a clear coat and with the “high-end” attachment package.
Note:The high-end package does not include the Ares or the Athena. Getting the whole shebang can set you back over $5.5K.
That’s a lot!
I’m not saying it’s not worth it, but I’ve seen people create awesome home gyms for that money.
#9 – Warranty on REP racks
(0 to 8.05 points in our ratings, awarded for the purposes of comparing REP to other brands)
All REP racks have a lifetime warranty on the frame.
That adds to the brand’s value proposition, especially in lower price ranges.
Methodology – how we assess and rate REP Fitness racks
Our methodology is unique in the home-gym space.
It’s all driven by data and only shaped by personal experience and first-hand testing.
It’s a brag but it’s true…
That also goes for rating and choosing the best among the REP squat racks.
Here’s a step-by-step overview of that process:
We created a database of all the good racks on the market – all types, all prices, and all brands.
That’s 460 racks and growing.
We filtered it down to only REP racks and then checked that against the REP website.
We created a mini-database with only 10 racks that REP currently makes.
We worked with some of the top industry experts to define the rating criteria and balance their importance (gravity) in the overall score.
We ended up with 18 factors.
The gravities range from 2.3 (for low-impact factors like compatibility with Ares and Athena) to 28.74 for price.
We decided on the number of REP racks to present in the guide.
The goal was to cover all types, price ranges, and needs. We landed on 7 racks and 2 attachments.
We update the REP-rack guide regularly to make sure the information is relevant.
FAQs about REP Fitness power racks
Let’s address a few of the most commonly asked questions about REP racks.
Do Rogue attachments fit on REP racks?
Yes, one-pin Rogue attachments (like the Matador dip bar) will fit REP racks.
Monster Series attachments will fit the PR-5000 racks and the Monster Lite Series will fit the PR-4000 racks.
The opposite (REP attachment on Rogue racks) isn’t always a fit because REP uprights are smaller for the same listed dimensions. The difference is a fraction of an inch, but it can be a problem.
What is the difference between REP 4000 and 5000 power racks?
The main difference between the REP 4000 and REP 5000 racks is the hole diameter and distribution.
PR-4000 has ⅝-inch holes distributed in a Westside pattern (1-inch in the benching area), while the PR-5000 has 1-inch holes with 2-inch spacing.
The PR-5000 also costs about 10-30% more.
What’s the best REP power rack?
PR-4000 is the best REP power rack because it’s versatile, has good value for money, and features Westside spacing.
REP racks that cost more (like the PR-5000) don’t offer any game-changing benefits.
There are cheaper racks, but they’re not as robust or stable as the 4000 series.
Other REP Fitness racks – close-but-no-cigar
Three REP racks didn’t make the cut, and none of them has any deal-breaking flaws.
Any of these might be THE RACK for you:
PR-5000 – PR-4000’s beefier twin with 1-inch pegs. It costs more, both in terms of the initial investment and the attachments.
Oxylus Yoke rack – built with powerlifters in mind. You can drag or carry the whole thing. The appeal is not universal enough to make it a top pick.
PR-1000 – structurally the same as the PR-1100, only with better 2-inch spacing. The multi-grip pull-up ultimately gave the 1100 a slight edge, despite the 3-inch spacing.
Best REP Fitness power racks – resume and key takeaways
I honestly believe this page is the ultimate guide on REP racks.
We dug deep and clarified some gray areas (like the Ares and Athena situation).
The deep dig yielded bits of information you won’t find anywhere else.
Here’s a quick resume
The best value overall is the PR-4000 rack. That goes beyond the REP brand and extends to the whole rack industry.
Steve Hoyles is a certified personal trainer and gym owner. Since graduating with his Sports Science degree in 2004 he's worked in the fitness industry, helping thousands of people reach their health and fitness goals. His writing has been read by millions of people in over 200 countries as he inspires to help as many people as possible live a healthy lifestyle.
