I ordered this squat rack to complete our COVID home gym. We're on a pretty tight budget, but I decided to go for this rack over cheaper squat stands for for safety. I'm glad I did, we love this thing. It's perfect for squats, overhead press, bench press, and any other lifts that require a rack. The pull-up bar is a great addition as well. We are very space limited, so the small footprint of this rack is greatly appreciated. Our flat bench is 41 inches long and fits between the uprights for easy storage. Quality: This squat rack is very sturdy. We have only put 275 on it so far, but it seems very strong and stable. I don't have any worries about putting more weight on the bar. The welds look good, the steel is thick, and it's held together by big bolts. The J-hooks and spotter arms are lined with hard plastic, which protects the barbell. It's holding up well so far to wear and tear. Stability: The squat rack will move around when you rack heavy weights unless you bolt it to the ground or put a bunch of weight on the plate holders. The rack itself only weighs 83 lbs, so if you bulldoze into it with a 300 lb loaded barbell, it will move a bit. I have no fears that it will tip over, but it can be disconcerting. You just have to be gentle when you re-rack. Based on my research, this is an issue with virtually every half rack/squat stand on the market that isn't bolted to the floor. They just don't weigh enough to stay in place on their own. You either need to weight them down with extra plates, bolt them down, or have a spotter stand on the back and hold it. This rack does have holes for floor bolts, but we rent so it's not an option for us. Safety: One of the main reasons I chose this rack was the spotter arms. Many squat racks/stands at this price point either don't have them at all, or they're too short to be useful. Even the CAP Barbell racks similar to this one make you purchase the spotter arms separately (and of course, they're sold out everywhere). Fortunately I haven't needed the spotter arms yet, but I've used them for some rack pulls and they're sturdy. They are a good length and I'm happy to have them, especially if I'm lifting alone. Size: I think this squat rack would work for 99% of people. Height-wise, it's very adjustable. The reason I mention this is because with some of the cheaper squat stands, they don't extend high enough for tall people to squat. It's not an issue here. The rack has holes basically the full length of the uprights where the J-hooks can be placed. Unless you're like 8 feet tall, this rack should be useable anyone. Value: I paid $215 for the rack, with free shipping (I've noticed the price has changed a couple times). It's an excellent value for the money. The other squat stands I was looking at were $150-200, but I think this rack was a much better value for the money, even though it cost a little more. You'll be hard pressed to find another product that has a pull-up bar, safety arms, real J-hooks, and an 800 lb capacity at this price point. Shipping: Some of the comments report damaged parts during shipping. Our rack was securely packaged and undamaged upon arrival. None of the pieces were bent and all the connectors on the end were wrapped in cardboard to protect them. The rack actually arrived a day early (7 days after I ordered), so no shipping delays or anything. Assembly: This rack was a breeze to assemble. Maybe took me half an hour, with some intermittent help from my boyfriend. It will definitely be easier if someone can give you a hand to hold things, but definitely could be done alone. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Tools were included, but assembly will go much faster if you have a socket wrench, FYI. You'll want an 18mm socket. Minor complaints: Overall I really like this rack. I'm glad I purchased it and honestly, would buy again. I do have a couple small gripes. First, the pull-up bar is not knurled. It can be a little slippery, especially if your hands are sweating. Not a deal breaker, but if you're primarily buying this for pull-ups, something to consider. The rack will also move around if you do kipping pullups unless you put heavy weights on the plate holders or bolt it donw. Second, the spotter arms are too narrow for my boyfriend when he benches. He has a pretty long wingspan, so this won't be an issue for most normal sized folks (it's not even close to an issue for me). If you are concerned about it and spotter arms for benching is a deal breaker for you, I'd recommend measuring your wingspan from elbow to elbow. The distance between the uprights (and thus the spotter arms) is 42 inches, so if your elbow-to-elbow width is close to that or greater, you might clip the spotter arms. Overall, I give this squat rack a 5/5 rating. It's a great option if you're on a budget and need a squat rack with a small profile. It is strong and sturdy, and has everything you need to lift safely at home. I might have shelled out more money for a real power rack if I owned a home with a garage. But for my apartment patio gym, this is the perfect piece of equipment.
