Folding wall racks are a great space saving alternative to full-size power racks for athletes who want to train in their garage, but who still need to be able to pull the vehicle in at night. Folding racks require only some empty wall space and a few inches of floor space to store, yet they open up into a full-size rack that’s almost as versatile as a normal power rack, and able to support more than enough weight.
Most folding wall racks are less expensive than freestanding power racks, and many can even handle some of the standard rack accessories (dip station, landmine, etc.) Of course, any folding rack worth having will also have a chin-up or kipping bar.
In this article I’ll show you a handful of the available folding wall-mounted racks from many different manufacturers. I’ll talk about the differences in design, construction quality, pricing, and more. Don’t get overwhelmed, there are only a couple racks that really matter; as you’ll see as we go through the list.
Last update: January 2018
Folding Rack Guide – Table of Contents
- What to Look For in a Folding Rack
- Folding Racks
- Honorable Mentions
- Folding Rack Recommendations
- Gallery
For guidance with non-wall mounted units, view the Power Rack & Squat Stand Guide.
*FYI: Most wall-mounted folding racks will require the use of stringers when attaching the rack to wood or metal studs. I strongly suggest doing exactly what the manufacturer of your rack suggests in terms of installing that stringer. You’ll also need to make sure your location for installation has enough space for said stringers.
Rogue’s DIY recommendation for hanging stringers. Expect to have to do exactly this for your folding rack, and twice.
Alternatively, you can now buy 11-gauge steel stringers for Rogue’s folding racks for a pretty reasonable price.
What to Look For in a Folding Rack
Buying a folding wall rack isn’t a whole lot different than buying a standard squat stand or power rack. You’re going to want to pay attention to ceiling height requirements, the steel used (dimensions and gauge), where it’s sourced, the size of the hardware used, the build quality (this has a lot to do with where it is sourced), and what kind of finish the unit has. It goes without saying that price will matter, but most are priced reasonably.
As with non-folding racks, I recommend 2″ x 3″, 11-gauge steel for the uprights. 3″ x 3″ steel is acceptable as well, but it will be more expensive and there isn’t much of an advantage to having it over 2″ x 3″. I’m not a huge fan of 2″x2″ because it feels kind of flimsy to me, but at 11-gauge it will still hold a good amount of weight.
Personally I prefer racks made with US-steel. US steel units have a hefty list of advantages over their imported (Chinese) counterparts including fewer imperfections in the steel, more resilient powder coating, laser cut components and holes, and just a better overall end-user experience (no rust, consistent hole sizing, hardware holes line up, no burrs or sharp edges and/or flashing, and so on.) You’ve got to figure that there is a reason importing racks costs half as much money. It’s not just because of the cheap labor.
In any case, I’ll try to address all of these things along with each product. If you happen to be looking at a folding rack that’s not listed in this article, just use the information you learn here as a guideline in determining whether or not you’re looking at a quality product or not.
PRx Profile Series Rack
The PRx Profile Series is unique in that it stows away vertically rather than to the side like most folding racks. Utilizing gas shocks, it’s probably the quickest and easiest folding rack to pull down and put away. The PRx Profile also is the most compact of any folding racks, sticking out only 4″ from the wall when stowed away.
Sadly PRx racks are still the most expensive folding racks around. Even after coming down in price multiple times (in light of all the new competition), they are still the least competitive in terms of pricing, with some units exceeding $800 before a single accessory is added. That’s twice as much as other folding racks that I’m going to show you, and about as much as a full-size, beefy power rack like the RML-490.
There are other minor drawbacks besides the high price tag. Because of the way this rack stores vertically, it requires more vertical wall space. You need to have 9′ ceilings to install any of the Profiles that have pull-up bars; 8′ ceilings just won’t do. Additionally, because of the short distance between rack and wall, the optional kipping bar is a near-necessity to put some distance between you and the wall when doing any pull-up movements. That’s all well and good, but the basic kipping model is the one that starts at $800.
PRx Profile racks are built with industry standard 2″x3″ 11-gauge steel and 5/8″ hardware, so we’re good there. PRx also makes their racks here in the USA; also good. Now they do not offer as many accessories as Rogue Fitness does, but many Rogue Infinity accessories will fit on the standard Profiles, so that’s not really an issue. All-in-all, very nice, but pricey.
PRx also offers a 3″x3″ Pro Profile that can be ordered in like eight different colors and has etched numbers in the uprights, but for $1100 I just don’t know how appealing that is for the majority. I guess the best way to look at the Pro version is consider it their luxury model for folks with no concern whatsoever for budget (yeah it’s a ripoff.)
Pros: Clever vertical storage method puts this unit closer to the wall than any other unit when stored away (4″); US product, colors and numbered uprights available on Pro racks, compatible with other manufacturer’s accessories, stringer not required according to PRx, but I personally believe it’s still a good idea to use one.
Cons: Most expensive folding rack (the Pro is a total ripoff); kipping model starts at $800, requires 9′ or higher ceilings for install, unit fairly close to wall, gas shocks are wearable.
My Rating: I give the PRx Profile 5-stars for ingenuity & functionality, 3-stars for versatility (9-ft ceilings eliminates a lot of customers), and 3-stars for price. 4-star total.
Rogue Fitness R-3W & RML-3W Folding Rack
Of all the folding racks on the market right now, the Rogue R-3W is currently my favorite. It offers access to all the same lifts as the PRx, but for hundreds of dollars less. It has a semi-adjustable pull-up bar, Westside hole spacing throughout the bench region, and it can be ordered in two different depths. Rogue also offers the largest selection of rack accessories of any company.
The R-3W is made with 2″x3″, 11-gauge steel and uses Rogue’s standard, heavy-duty 5/8″ hardware. The two available rack depths are 20.5″ and 40.5″, and they sell for $475 & $555 respectively. Both depth variations stick out less than 5″ from the wall when stowed away so there is plenty of space when it’s opened yet very compact when closed.
Rogue also has the option to get 3″x3″ steel with the RML-3W, but unless you already own Monster-Lite accessories for this steel configuration, I can’t see much reason to choose this upgrade. Yes the beefy RML variations are only $20 more than their Infinity counterpart but accessories are going to cost more as well. Your call, of course.
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- UHMW feet
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- Stringer
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- Wall mount
Setting up and stowing away the Rogue R-3W takes a few seconds longer than the Profile, but we’re talking seconds. It’s just a matter of pulling or placing a few pins. The 20″ version folds inwards, and the 40″ versions can fold however works best for you – both left, both right, or both to the outside. All versions are the same 5″ from the wall when stowed away.
Rogue also has added an 11-gauge steel stringer to their store. For only $50 you can add it to your Rogue folding rack order. If you need to purchase this stringer independently for any reason, you can do so here for $65.
Pros: Affordable, available in multiple steel configurations, colors, and depths, Westside hole spacing, UHMW caps to protect floor, easy to use, unit is only 5″ from wall when not in use, largest accessory selection of any rack manufacturer, made in USA.
Cons: Set up and storage takes 15-seconds instead of 5-seconds.
My Rating: I give the all the Rogue Folding Racks 5-stars because there really is nothing to complain about. That’s all customers leave for a rating anyway; who am I to argue with like 100 perfect reviews! 5-stars it is.
AF Wall Mounted Folding Power Rack
This product has been discontinued.
Titan Fitness T3 Fold Back Power Rack
The Titan T3 Folding Rack is an exact clone of the Rogue R-3W Folding Rack. On paper, it looks identical; same design, same size steel and hardware, same height and depths, and so on. In reality the Titan T3 is made with inferior steel, cheap hardware, and it’s just riddled with flaws and inconsistencies. Titan has no shame when it comes to taking the spec sheet of a well-built American product and letting the lowest bidder in China pump out scrap metal clones.
The most common Titan complaint is structural and surface imperfections in the steel; flaws that are easily spotted through the thin powder coat (a coating that will already be flaking off before you even have the thing assembled).
Also fairly common is a lack of consistency in hole size and the location of these holes on the uprights. Hardware and accessories don’t fit through some holes without drilling those holes out yourself, and components won’t always line up true. Removing burrs and flashing in order to eliminate the risk of slicing your hands open may be needed as well.
In my own personal opinion, the T3 is not an overly impressive product, and Titan is not an overly impressive company. That said, if Titan gear is simply all you can afford and you’re willing to endure the shortcomings of Titan products (and you’re also okay with supporting a company that rips off the companies that create things while innovating absolutely nothing themselves), then by all means have at it. Perhaps you won’t notice all of the shortcuts and flaws anyway if you’ve never even used a high-quality rack before; who knows.
Pros: Low price and shipping, looks like a Rogue rack from afar.
Cons: Inferior craftsmanship, low quality control from overseas manufacturer, low-grade steel, sharp flashing around holes and edges, weak powder coat (chips and slips), pins and bolts often don’t fit through hardware holes and holes won’t always line up, no assembly instructions.
My Rating: I want to give it no stars because it’s not even their product to rate, but I’ll give it 5-stars for affordability and functionality, 2-stars for quality, and zero stars for ingenuity.
Valor Pro BD-20 Wall Mounted Rack
Much like the Titan T3, the Valor BD-20 Wall Rack is another economy option. At only $350 it’ll get the job done for a beginner, but intermediate and advanced lifters might just pay the extra $100 for the Rogue because the Valor BD-20 actually has a weight limit. Valor doesn’t advocate the use of a stringer, and the steel uprights are 2.5″ square tubing of an unknown gauge instead of the standard 2″x3″ 11-gauge, so I imagine these two things contribute to the low weight capacity.
You’ll want to keep in mind that this rack’s steel & hole configuration makes it incompatible with most accessories. You’ll not be adding a dip station or landmine attachments with this. Additionally, the J-cups that ship with this unit are garbage, and because of the accessory issue I just mentioned, you’re probably stuck with them. At $350 I think you’d be overpaying and selling yourself short with this particular unit; or any with similar specifications (and max loads.)
Pros: Low price and free shipping.
Cons: Low price is still too much. J-cups are of an awful design, no accessory compatibility, unit has a fairly low maximum capacity (this may be improved with stringers, but I wouldn’t swear to it because gauge of steel used for uprights and crossmembers is not listed.)
My Rating: I give the ValorPro BD-20 a 3-star rating. 4-stars for affordability, 4-stars for functionality (load limit), 3-stars for the bad J-cups, and 2-stars for deviating from normal steel types and eliminating accessory access.
Honorable Mention – The Slim Gym
The Pure-Strength Slim Gym doesn’t fold away, but it does take up a very minimal amount of floor space (as little as one foot in depth.) It’s made with the same 2″ x 3″, 11-gauge steel as the Rogue or PRx folding racks, and it comes standard with a pull-up bar that sits far enough away from the wall to keep you from making contact with that wall when kipping or doing pull-ups. The pull-up bar can also be adjusted to various heights.
The Slim Gym is a fantastic rack. It’s priced similarly to the folding racks; though it has no moving parts. It will need to be anchored to the wall and the floor, but it’s solid, and it’s a US-product with US-sourced steel. Again, just to be clear, it does not fold away, but a foot away from the wall is not that much of a space requirement. You should have no problem pulling the car in. $499
Pros: Slim design is more stable due to being anchored to both the floor and wall, USA product, has accessories including spotters, three depths available (12′, 18″, and 24″), flashy red J-cups.
Cons: Somewhat expensive considering, hole spacing is weird at 2½” (won’t take double-pin accessories designed for standard 2″ spacing), not actually foldable; once installed it is a permanent fixture.
My Rating: This rack is nearly perfect save for the 2½” hole spacing. Makes adding certain accessories impossible despite the hardware holes being the proper size.
Vulcan Slim Fit Wall-Mounted Rig
The Vulcan Slim Fit Rack is very much like the Slim Gym, only it’s made with super beefy 3″x3″ 11-gauge steel rather than 2″x3″. The Vulcan comes in three different crossmember lengths, but the shortest is 18″ versus the 12″ of the Slim Gym. This is still close enough to the wall to be space-saving and allow a car in the garage, but if you need closer because your garage is just too narrow, it’ll have to be the Slim Gym.
With the Vulcan Slim Fit, it’s possible to install this without bolting to the floor by using extra crossmembers; much like the folding racks above. It’s available with 8′ and 9′ uprights, can accept spotter arms (unlike folding racks), plate storage, and a dip station. The Slim Fit Rig also has a kipping/pull-up bar set away from the uprights, and very far away from the wall. The Vulcan is a great alternative to folding racks, and it has no moving parts whatsoever. It is still a good idea to use a stringer though.
Pros: Slim design is more stable due to being anchored to both the floor and wall, but can be used without floor anchors. has accessories including spotters, three depths available (12′, 24″, and 36″), beefy 11-gauge 3″x3″ steel, two upright heights, and a fair price ($539).
Cons: Not actually foldable, no 12″ option available, still have to deal with a stringer.
My Rating: I took half a star away from the Vulcan Slim Fit Rig for no 12″ variant, but gave it back because for 3″x3″ steel the price after shipping is better than the Slim Gym.
My Recommendation
I think that you’ll get the most bang for your buck from the Rogue R-3W. In terms of folding racks it’s among the highest quality, it’s priced reasonably well, and you have access to the most accessories. The Rogue also has the most 5-star reviews of any foldable rack, almost 100 5-stars among all variants. Don’t forget color is available with the Rogue RML-3WC, but only black is available with the R-3W.
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- RML-3WC 41.5″ Rack ready for action
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- RML-3WC 41.5″ Rack stowed away
The PRx Profile Rig is a safe bet as well. It seems to be on par with Rogue in terms of build quality, and the Pro version has some nice features, but you’re looking at a much, much higher price tag, and that’ll be a turn off for many.
The Slim Gym and Vulcan Slim Fit are also interesting options. They’re more permanent in that they require floor anchoring, and technically yes they do require the most floor space among these racks, but both are very well-built, space-saving, and completely functional. These slim units are definitely better options than the economy knock-off units. Actually I don’t consider either the Titan or Valor folding racks to be a particularly good use of funds.
There are other folding racks out there, but most are just clones of the models here. If you see another model that you like and it’s not listed here, you should now have enough good information to make a well-informed, executive decision. Just remember, you get what you pay for.
Good luck, and please share this article.
Great rundown of whats out there. A growing interest with CrossFit members, setting up their “home workstation”. Enjoyed the review and will pass on as well. I’m selling more and more “workstation” bars, plates, kettlebells etc. so this will help some.
First, thanks for your great website. It’s been very helpful to this newbie in getting a home gym going. (Bought a B&R bar from Rogue on close-out for $225 based on your reviews. Thanks!)
Questions from this post:
1. Is there any benefit to the 40.5″ vs 20.5″ Rogue R-3W?
2. Over on Rogue’s site, a review says Rogue doesn’t recommend using their Infinity safety spotter arms with the R-3W, since it isn’t bolted to the floor. Can you see any way to overcome that?
I found the review where this was mentioned, and I’ve emailed Rogue for clarification on the subject. I have been unable to find it suggested that spotter arms should not be used with these racks anywhere else other than that review, so hopefully Rogue will clear this up.
Ok I talked to Rogue. I don’t know why they don’t state this anywhere on their site, but they do not recommend using spotter arms with the wall-mounted racks. As I suspected, the force can basically pull the rack out of the wall. I asked for work-arounds to this issue, but they dodged any and all questions relating to that. I suggested the possibility of shorter spotting arms, and the possibility of using a steel stringer, but they did not comment. I would say that if you’re going to use spotters, only use them for relatively light movements like bench press, and not heavy squats. If you fail, keep the bar as close to the uprights as possible and never let the weight slam down; especially towards the outer ends of the spotters. If you can do anything to further secure the rack to the stringer and the stringer to the wall, then do that. That said, the official word is to not use spotters.
Not that Rogue would ever condone this, but on the 40″ model one could install the safety spotter arms to the interior and squat “inside” the rack for heavy lifts. Any torque would be applied inward to the top stringer and only moderately tug at the lower stringer even at higher weight. Ideally one would be facing outward away from the wall during the squat. Doesn’t work so well for heavy bench but should solve heavy squats pretty well.
I actually asked Rogue a number of times under what conditions spotters could be used with a wall rack. I asked if perhaps with steel stringers, or up to certain weights, and they were adamant about not doing it. They said that during testing they were having issues at heavy weights with stability and I guess that stringer staying together, so to eliminate any liability on the off chance someone hurts themselves or just destroys their wall, they say no no no. You are right though, there are ways to get away with it, but that’s up to everyone to weigh those risks based on how much weight they’re using, and how sure they are of their installation.
“1. Is there any benefit to the 40.5″ vs 20.5″ Rogue R-3W?”
I’m wondering the same thing. What would be the point of spending so much more on the 40.5?
I think 20.5″ is all you need really. That’s already far enough away from the wall not to hit it while kipping, it folds up in a more compact manner, and even costs less. I can’t think of any advantage to being 40″ away from the wall. the 20.5″ is probably more stable as well. shorter distance between wall and uprights should amount to less play. I know the R3 power rack feels sturdier than the R4 because of half-the-length crossmembers, so why not even more so in a unit that already has play to it because of all the hinges and pins.
I have to guess that the 40.5″ was the original idea simply because it mimics a standard wall-mounted rack… like the 48″ sections of a rigging system. The 20.5″ was an after-thought, and an improvement at that. Still, options are nice, and I’ve seen a lot of pictures of the bigger rack on people’s wall, so some people must like them for some reason.
I read in a few of the reviews on rogue of people having issues with kipping on the 20.5″ model, do you have an experience that says otherwise? I’m debating between the 40.5″ and 20.5″ for this reason.
That is going to be an issue for some people. 20″ is a great space-saving distance from the wall for lifting, but it’s not ideal for kips.
I have the 20.5 setup, there’s no need in my opinion for the 40.5 unless your a crossfitter that does kipping pull-ups. I also bought the spotter arms, they don’t recommend it probably because of the added stress on the anchoring hardware but I’m not a rookie when it comes to construction so I just mentioned that my house would fall before the racked ever came off the wall.
How do the horizontally folding racks (Rogue) feel/fold out on rubber floormats? Wondering if feet have to be grounded on cement. Working on my garage gym one step at a time. I have the bar, bumpers, & mats. Just started shopping for folding wall racks and wondering if I need to cut the mats.
They still slide fine. You just install the rack to the floor height with the mats, don’t install it without them then try and get them underneath.
Any thoughts on the New One Fit Wonder folding Rack from Fringe Sports?
http://www.fringesport.com/collections/squat-racks/products/onefitwonder-retractable-power-rack
I hadn’t even see that yet. Looks like another copy-cat of the Rogue, and definitely imported by those close up pictures of the steel. Sure it works much the same though, and is about the same price as the rest of them. No Westside though.
The Fringesport one is in no way similar to the Titan or other cheap models. Fringe makes really good stuff that is quality with excellent customer service. The problem is that there isn’t an option that deeper for kipping or muscle ups. An even better option is the Rep Fitness model.
First of all, this website is fantastic and has become my go-to for equipment reviews!
I was curious on your thoughts on this rack (http://www.gorilafitness.ca/racks-rigs/gorila-camo-folding-rack), it’s similar to the rogue but has 7 gauge steel on the portions coming up out of the wall whilst the uprights are 11 gauge. What are your thoughts on 2.5×2.5″? It’s difficult to find competitive prices in Canada!
Thanks
Thanks Greg.
Yeah it looks fine. My only concern with straying from 2×3 or 3×3 is compatibility with accessories, but that’s less of an issue with folding racks, and even less still when your options are limited due to location; as is typical of Canada. No other issues that I can see.
Thanks for the quick reply
Still weighing all my options over power racks, squat stands, folding racks etc… Good to know about the accessories as I hadn’t considered that. Thanks once again for the input
What did you decide on? From all my research, I’m leaning back to Rogue. After shipping and everything, the cost gap to go to Rogue seems small considering it’s quality. *customs fees included in Rogue, so something to consider against other products.
It’s the shipping in Canada that makes you want to puke.
We are looking at shipping to Canada as well with Rogue and it is crazy. The PRX group seems to have the shipping to be almost two-thirds less that Rogue.
Extremely helpful website for first timer looking to build gym. Do you have opinion on ease of repairs for wall mounted rack vs cement floor mounted power rack? First time home owner and want to make sure I don’t affect house value too much if I were to move. Thank you for your assistance
I think I just recently had this question. I think it was one that got lost in the server move though. Lost like 3 days of comments =/
So repairing drywall with holes the size of those lag screws will require patching, re-texturing, and painting. Filling about the same size holes in concrete requires a tube of filler that you just shoot into the holes and let dry. In both cases those are weak spots (I mean, not really though), but in both cases the damage is covered. It’s really just a matter of which you want to do. I say filling holes in concrete is easier, and I also say racks on the ground are superior to wall racks, but that’s just my opinion. Plus wall racks are space saving and so serve that purpose.
Funny, I have had ZERO of those issues with my 41 inch Titan folding rack. Fit and finish have been perfect. I have not had any chipping and no burrs of any kind on the steel. The hardware has also been perfect. I have also had zero issue with hole size or misalignment.
That review seems odd. Like they didn’t actually buy the product but rather relied on other peoples input (or perhaps a beef against a company copying Rogue)
Never the less, my Titan rack has been perfect. And really, it’s a rack. It holds your bar in between sets.
I would personally rather save on the rack and put more money in a bar or weights.
Have you ever had any luck getting Rogue to do any custom work? I may be wrong, but I feel like I remember reading through message boards years ago where people mentioned Rogue fabricating items to spec. If that was ever the case, it doesn’t seem to be something they’re interested in any more.
I would really like to sell my Rogue R4 and switch to a garage rig to make a little extra space for a set of jerk blocks while still being able to park one car in the garage. I love the Pure Strength Slim Gym and the Vulcan Slim Fit rig. I may eventually pick one up, but I’d like to keep my Rogue Infinity accessories rather than starting over from scratch with a different company. Not to mention the Rogue rack looks great along with my Abram GHD, Rogue gun rack, etc. I like a uniform look for what it’s worth.
My thought was that I could purchase a W4 garage rig and have them shorten the crossmembers to 18 or 24 inches. However, to allow for kipping pull-ups/bar muscle ups, I’d need an angled pull-up bar like you see on literally every other slim rig out there. Several companies have them now. In addition to Pure Strength and Vulcan, I know Wright and Lynx are also producing something similar, so I’m assuming other small shops around the country are as well. Folding racks aren’t for me. Too many moving parts.
However, Rogue seems to have no interest in following suit and has shown less interest in fabricating an angled pull-up bar to upgrade the standard W4 for me. I was hoping they’d be willing to cut down one of their flying pull-up bars from three rungs to one, but no dice. Seemed like an easy task, but I guess they’re too big for custom jobs unless you’re Froning or Matt Chan. I’d probably have more luck convincing one of those guys they needed one and then waiting for Rogue to make it for them.
Other than being willing to leave a finish off of a bar, no. I do not think they do fabrication at all, which is too bad. I’ve been trying to get a bench frame for a Thompson Fat Pad from Black Widow, but they could not possibly be any slower in responding to e-mails. I’m a couple weeks in and no payment has been arranged, nothing has been started. Waste of time.
You can already buy 24″ cross-members from them, but I don’t think 18″… and as you’ve discovered they probably wouldn’t make an exception for that either. What you could do is ask these other companies like Pure if they could do it for you instead. Pure uses weird 2.5″ hole spacing so by default that wouldn’t work, and Vulcan uses 3×3″ so that wouldn’t work either – of course the distance between uprights could also be different for all I know. I appreciate the uniformity thing definitely, but you might find it simpler to sell the rack and buy the Slim Gym. It’s still a nice looking unit, and not that expensive. Less than what you could probably sell the R4 for.
Agreed. Takes 3-4 days between each email response. No luck. They can’t even shorten their existing flying pull-up bar. Wondering if a W4 with 24 inch crossmembers would allow enough space for kipping pull-ups and/or bar muscle ups. I tend to doubt it.
Pure Strength shot me a quote for a Slim Gym with 24 inch crossmembers, double wall ball target, safety spotter arms, dip attachment, step up, and kid’s pull-up bar with custom paint for only a few hundred more than I could probably sell the R4. I’ll probably get a quote from Vulcan as well but the 3×3 comes at a higher cost, and I’d have to pay shipping vs pick up locally with Pure Strength.
Vulcan has shipping worked into rack prices already I think, so keep that in mind.
I did ask Rogue yesterday about a custom bench frame and they said they could do it. I wonder why that’s okay to cut at that, but not the pull-up bar. Curious.
Probably because you’re jburgeson and I’m not, haha. You’ve got a nice following on here, and it behooves them to stay in your good graces. My singular business doesn’t mean much to them. As such, there will soon be a sell off of Rogue equipment in south Atlanta. Looking forward to a full Vulcan set up.
Oh believe me, they do not care that it’s me. Also, my customer account with Rogue is in no way tied to this site – I don’t use my @garage-gyms.com email to order. It’s possible they know anyway, but it’s never gotten me any special favors before if they do. Still, I cannot explain why the bench is ok to chop, but not the bar. =/
any reason Rogue and the Rogue clones say no to the spotter brackets but the PrX people offer theirs with them? I know its a totally different design and that may be the premium I have to pay.
Rogue did extensive testing with spotters and determined that the odds of an accident exist. Apparently they had at least one instance of the top half of the rack coming clean out of the wall. The clones probably just go with what Rogue said because they designed and tested the unit.
I can’t make a good argument as to why the PRx unit would be much safer for dropping a loaded bar onto spotters because the attachment method isn’t much different, but they say it’s fine. Whether that’s just a risk they take because of how unlikely it is for someone to have an accident versus the lack of sales that would happen should spotters not be option, or if their design is inherently safer is beyond me.
Keep in mind that most people don’t lift enough to dislodge all those lag screws with a failed rep, but some people do. Nobody drops bars on spotters on purpose. Even a failed rep is generally just lowered onto the spotters smoothly. It’s the total mishaps that cause a long drop, and it’s that kind of drop that will destroy your wall. In other words, it’ll always be an accident.
Very insightful review, thank you for putting this together. Do you or anyone else have any installation tips with regards to garages with a slope. My garage has a slight slope, moving towards the door. I want to mount my rack on the back wall of the garage, and obviously want the feet to fit snugly on the floor/rubber mats when fully open. Has anyone installed one under the same circumstances?
Thank you,
There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot you can do about that. All garages have that grade, but some are far worse than others. You can level a rack with shims, but you can’t stop the bar or plates from rolling while on the ground short of somehow leveling your floor, or building a platform that counters the grade for your whole workout space.
Does anyone know if the T-3 foldable power rack 41″ will accommodate a standard bar?
Is there a good source of attachment options for the oddly sized hole spacing on the Slim Gym that you’ve come across? I’m looking for some dip bars, V-shape for multi-width would be preferred.
Oops, please disregard, I found the attachment on their website.
The link from the Slim Gym description is broken.
Thanks!
;)
Hi, any thoughts on the TDS mega fold back power rack? My ceiling is only 87″ and this rack tops out at 84.5″ but I’m a bit apprehensive about purchasing since I’m unsure on quality. seen a couple of posts where guys have cut the rogue to fit but i worry about compromising the rack.
Thx
That is some super thin steel on that TDS rack… I would never feel safe using that. The weight of that rack and your loaded bar will be on those little wheels. No way.
Either having the uprights of a real rack cut (Rogue may do it for you for a fee) or doing it yourself is completely acceptable. You’ll be taking height of the top of the uprights, not the base. You just have to take off only as much as you need though because there are a limited number of holes available that are necessary for the cross-members. You’ll be much happier with a safe, sturdy rack that’s been cut down than some flimsy, janky $200 rack made of super thin steel.
So thinking the slim fit/slim gym thing is the way to go for me but really want multi-grip pull-up options. In the mean time, I read all the above and weird that Fringe wall mount rigs tout american made steel but no mention in the folding unit.
Anyway, so trying to figure out what to buy and came across this option which appears to be small shop that uses quality steel:
https://www.blackwidowtg.com/product_p/rack-wall-mount-3×2.htm. Other than goofy hole spacing, appears they will customize anything you want.
Or also thinking why not just buy individual uprights and other pieces to customize?
http://valorfitness-com.3dcartstores.com/RG-1-Valor-Fitness-825ft-upright_p_342.html
or
http://thefitnessarmory.com/product/rig-parts-and-customization/
Any thoughts? I just wish the slim gym or the vulcan had what I wanted.
Hrm yeah, it’s going to be tough to pull that off and still keep the rack ‘slim’. Multi-grip bars generally attach to the front-to-back cross-members, so if you put something like the Rogue version of that multi-grip on a slim gym you’ll be right up against the wall. Have you seen this? http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-crown-pull-up-bar You may be able to customize a slim rack where instead of having the standard pull up bar you have another beam that something like this can attach to. It’s just an example, I’m sure there are others from other companies… and you can probably have something like that made as well for not a whole lot more cash.
Well I was thinking it would extend out some (either with 90 degree or 45 like the vulcan) but not sure how much difference this would make anyway. I would be doing any pull ups with my back towards the wall. Pretty sure 18″ plus whatever distance the bar might extend should be plenty. I don’t kip when I pull either so there isn’t usually much sway. I have a power tower (which I want to get rid of because footprint is too big) in there now and kicking the back of it is never a problem because I’m facing the other way.
I got back here because I just read Alan’s post. Sounds great Alan, glad it worked for you. Anyhow, I ended up buying a couple uprights from Valor Fitness and 24″ cross members from Rogue (I did have to drill an extra hole in the upright to make them fit) and bolted to stringer on wall and through the floor with additional reinforcements underneath. I recently had a custom pull up bar (which is totally awesome) made by Dean at http://www.blackwidowtg.com that now joins the uprights. They apparently make their own wall racks which I’m sure they would customize for my shallow size requirement — if I had found them before I bought from Valor, I probably would have bought everything there and probably would have saved a few coins. Anyhow, I’m very happy. It doesn’t fold but is WAY more space efficient than what I had before and I don’t have to spend any time folding and unfolding. Makes my tiny gym seem a lot bigger and I spend a lot more time exercising than moving stuff around.
Dean took care of you in a timely manner?
Took a couple weeks but worth the wait.
No that’s pretty quick. Good to hear.
LOL, I just read my earlier post and realized I did see custom wall rack from http://www.blackwidowtg.com which was probably shortly before I pulled trigger on Valor uprights. I looked at so many different products and options, I probably should have kept a notebook!
I just purchased and installed the Titan T-3 folding rack. You wrote this post a little over a year ago, so maybe Titan Fitness has increased their quality control and responded to the complaints they were getting since then. Otherwise, I’ll be honest, your assessment is dead wrong. Their product does not contain inferior craftsmanship or a low quality product. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do and at nearly half the cost of the Rogue R-3W rack. You wrote:
Cons: Inferior craftsmanship, low quality control from overseas manufacturer, low-grade steel, sharp flashing around holes and edges, not actually powder coated (chips and slips), pins and bolts often don’t fit through hardware holes and holes won’t always line up, no assembly instructions of any kind (huge complaint btw.)
I literally experienced NONE of these problems. No sharp flashing around holes or edges. Powder coat was completely intact (time will tell if it’s as durable as the Rogue powder coat, but regular maintenance of your equipment really isn’t a big deal), pins and bolts all felt properly through hardware holes and lined up properly. There absolutely were assembly instructions included. The only complaint I have is that installation does require you to troubleshoot a bit if the rack doesn’t open and close properly, but that honestly took me about 15 – 20 minutes to work through.
The bottom line is that this product is 100% competitive with the Rogue product for nearly half the price. There is a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and I had zero issues so I didn’t work with their customer service representatives, but every other review I’ve read says that their customer service is exceptional.
I think Rogue is great and that they make great products, but they finally have a competitor who provides the same quality product at a greatly reduced price. I think it’s great to buy American and that it’s awesome that Rogue uses American steel, but they need to step their game up and drop their prices if they expect to stay relevant. There isn’t a single other folding rack on the market that can compete with this one considering the price.
I think you need to update your review or actually give this rack a fair shake, because otherwise it sounds like you got hung up on some minor details somewhere and decided to completely trash this company.
Alan I apologize this went to spam for some reason, even though there don’t seem to be any links. In any case I’ve un-flagged it.
I am glad you’ve had a positive experience with them. You wouldn’t have to dig around very long to find reference to the issues I’ve brought up though. It’s been no secret there for quite a while that Titan was in every way inferior. Have they taken all those complaints to heart and made some changes? Well maybe… I sure hope so because people do buy their products.
If I continue to hear about Titan improving their products, I may have one of their units delivered and check it out myself, see how they’ve come along. Still, you’re really the first.
I purchased my 41 inch folding rack from Titan back when it was only them and Rogue making folding racks. Looks like TONS of companies are now sourcing their folding rack from the same place in China and pricing is all over the place. But when it comes down to it, you can’t be Titan’s price and free delivery. Their equipment, as the company becomes more popular, is getting well reviewed. http://www.garagegymreviews.com/ recently compared the Titan to Rogue rack and the Titan came away with a very good write up. Sure, their stuff is sourced from China, so is 99% of the stuff other resellers are providing. But their price is great and delivery is free. They just came out with a great sled for under $200 and their $315 GHD has had great reviews in lifting forums. I am not a CF athlete but want good equipment at a good price. I have Titan equipment and a Rogue bar. Both have suited me well. I think everyone needs to consider Titan for all their home gym needs.
If looking at the extended 41.5″ model, one HUGE advantage the Titan has is that each upright can fold to the inside overlapping the other (extended hinges on one side accompanied w/ shortened arms). The Rogue rack DOES NOT do this and therefore takes DOUBLE the space on the wall when collapsed into it (one upright folds in, and the other must fold out). This alone is reason enough for me to go with Titan.
I noticed you didn’t mention the ValorPro BD-20 wall mount foldable squat rack. How does the ValorPro BD-20 compare to the Rogue and the PRx?
Yeah sorry, there are so many variations of these folding units and Valor isn’t normally on my radar. Honestly though, it looks like just another take on the Rogue style folding rack. Steel choice is different being 2½” square, and the hardware may or may not be as beefy (not much tech data), but it’s basically the same design. I will say this, Valor’s J-cups look just awful to use. Very short and stubby with only a partial plastic lining. Not the type of J-cup you can just walk into the rack and let the bar drop. Being that this unit is not standard 2×3″ steel with 5/8″ holes, you would not have the option to use someone else’s J-cups either.
What is the minimum ceiling height that one could get away with for this rack?
For the Rogue Fitness R-3W specifically, or are there any recommendations for a ceiling 96”?
Just has to be under 90″ – the height of the rack. It only swings horizontally so you wouldn’t need any extra clearance. You won’t be doing muscle ups, but you should still be a few inches clear of hitting your head on the ceiling when doing pull-ups as long as you’re not overly aggressive about it.
8′ ceilings are pretty low for a garage – nothing is going to be great for both normal rack usage and pull-ups at that height.
Great review. Thanks for the info, very helpful.
Awesome reviews on all racks. I recently ordered the PRx Profile PRO 3×3 rig. I ordered the rig on July 26th and It has not been shippedz. After reading your review of the product, I have concerns about the gas shocks. I’m also concerned about the attaching bar and frame. It seems a little flimsy to me. I am spent a nice penny for this product and I don’t want it to fail: Should I cancel the order and proceed with the rouge rig or should I stay??
It won’t be flimsy. It’s one of the better wall-mounts, it’s just overpriced by a lot. I wouldn’t worry that it will fail or be dangerous. Why have they not shipped for 2 weeks though? That’s ridiculous.
A smaller version for children’s room would be great! Have you thought of that? We have autistic child who would love it. Just a thought. It is said that 1 out of 63 children are autistic…also how helpfull it would be for any disabled child that can’t get alot of outdoor play.
Great review, and thanks for taking the time. Question on the Rogue- what would be the consideration for choosing which depth?
I would say there is little to no reason for the deeper units. Being further out isn’t an advantage for any conventional lift, not even pull-ups really since the smaller unit is still 2′ out. The 41″ unit requires more wall space and costs more as well.
For mos things, the deeper rack isn’t any better. But the shallow rack isn’t far enough from the wall to work on things such as front levers. Also, if you have a low angled roof in your garage, 2′ out from the wall might be a little low. In my setup, I can do muscle ups ~41″ out, but not 2′ out.
I’ve loaded up spotter arms inside the 40″ with wood stringers attached via tapcons to cinder block. I’m not worried about it collapsing.
Note, Titan does deserve a point for innovation here. They offset one side of the crossmembers on the 40″ This allows both sides to be folded inward. They overlap when folded up.
Have you researched or heard any kind of reviews on the Wright Lean Garage Rack? Their site advertises it as a rack that makes a small footprint <5" and makes up for its space saving by having J-Cups that are 16.5" long and are rated at 1000 lbs (on the Elite model). It seems to be a quality piece of USA steel and manufacture, just looking for some inputs before dropping $600 on something that might not be worth it. Thanks!
Yeah I think they replaced their version of the Rogue-style folding racks for the Lean Racks – was probably a tough sell.
The Lean rack is not a horrible idea or design, but it is pretty expensive for what it is. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it really, it’s mostly the price that bothers me. Some accessories may not work out well with the uprights so close to the wall either, but that may be a non-issue for you.
The question is: do you need to be 5″ inch from the wall at all times? Is space really that tight in your garage? And are you willing to spend $600 on two uprights and a pull-up bar?
Has anyone found a way to ship this to Australia?
Thanks
I recently bought the four post folding power rack from New York Barbells. It is the only one I have found that has four posts and folds. You can buy through Amazon for more customer safety so to speak. The New York Barbell’s website looks like it is from the 90’s.
It has pros and cons, but overall I am very happy with it. I had to have four posts for how I exercise. I had a bad experience with spotter arms so I wanted the safeties from a four post rack.
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/67600-2.html
Great article and very informative! Thank you! Have you looked into Rep Fitness’ PR-3100?
https://www.repfitness.com/strength-equipment/squat-racks/rep-pr-3100-series-folding-power-racks
I feel like I’ve read good reviews from you (and others) about a lot of their stuff but haven’t seen much on their folding rack. Not sure it was out on the market when you did this 2.5 years ago. Also, do you think the 21.5″ is enough for kipping or should I take up more wall space with the 41″?
I think it can be enough space but might not be for everybody. Where ever you currently training I would kind of get a feel for where 21″ is on their rack and see if it looks like you’re clearing 21″.
I think the various ~20″ models are better buys than the ~40″ models though in every other way so if you are clearing it, that’s the way to go. There’s no other reason to be that far from a wall in a folding rack, and all that space inside is basically useless anyway – not to mention more steel = more money.
https://clydebuiltfitness.co.uk/collections/homegym/products/slim-gym
This is still the best one I’ve seen/used
As it doesn’t fix to wall it can be moved slightly off to give more space for kipping
I have watched people kip and do toes to bar on this
Having complete plate, barbell and accessory storage is awesome
Generally speaking, when kipping, your legs and body tend to extend or sway more forward than backward. If you grip the bar in reverse (back facing wall) there should be plenty of room to go nuts. On my rig (that doesn’t fold) I installed the lat/chin up bar I had made on the inside of the rack so I always face away from the wall and have never come close to touching the wall. My uprights are only 24″ from the wall and the bar I am gripping is probably 6 inches closer than that. I don’t do a lot of kipping (I just pull) but I also use ab straps that I suspend from the chin bar and do straight leg extensions.
Been thinking about adding a foldable rack to my garage, but after seeing the discussion about not using spotter arms I’m thinking that’s a deal breaker. I’m always lifting alone and squatting over 400 lbs (hopefully over 500 in the near future) means that spotter arms are a necessity. Safe to say these are probably more for CrossFitters than Powerlifters (not trying to take a shot at CrossFitters as I have tons of respect for that sport)?
I bought the New York Barbell four post folding rack. It is great! Only one I have found the has four posts like a normal rack.
I actually don’t know who they’re intended for to be honest. Without spotters there is no real benching and in most cases no real squatting unless you a) have bumpers b) have flooring and c) know how to ditch a squat and are even willing to ditch squats.
I’m of the opinion that they are for recreational lifters who aren’t following a serious strength program simply because I don’t think they lend themselves to serious programming very well. And before someone with a 405 bench and a folding rack yells at me, I mean by-and-large, not as a blanket statement. I think we can all agree that hardcore powerlifters train in a power rack, not on a wall-mounted squat stand/pull-up bar.
You can get the spotter arms with the folding rack, I have them, customer service just advised me that they don’t like to sell the products together. As long as you don’t suck at mounting it to the wall you shouldn’t have a problems, 5″ truss locks centered on the studs and you’ll be fine. -and for the comment above, I am a serious lifter/strongman who doesn’t have room in my garage for a full rack so i have the folding rack and my squat it over 5 bills…
Thanks for the feedback Steve. It would seem like most experienced lifters won’t be dropping a loaded bar onto the spotters, so I suspect Rogue’s testing included someone ditching a loaded bar and that caused the issues. Good to know that it’s working well for you and your impressive squat… Hope I can join that club sooner than later.
Steve, do you ever do banded work with the bands anchored to the folding rack? If so, how do you manage that?
I’ve played around with bands a little with the rack but only on bench. i typically hook my bands to some extra 5/8″ pins that I have. The problem is you have to put those pins on the legs of rack which tends to make the bar want to put backwards when benching. I need to mock something up that I can attach to the safety arms, that way the band tension will be out over the range of motion. I just don’t care enough to use bands to where I have dedicated the time to do this, I can get away with chains and not have to make any homemade attachments.
It’s one of the drawbacks of wall mounts and many half rack/squat rack builds – bands just don’t work as well outside of a rack because you can’t line them up directly with your bar path; short of wrapping them around heavy dumbbells or something.
Agreed with both of you. I’ve been using chains instead of bands in most cases and I think it’s an acceptable substitute. As far as the rack pulling away from the wall, I’m going to have a friend make a custom support for my safety arms to they won’t be putting the strain on the wall anchors.
I recently came across the Rogue folding rack on Craigslist for a $teal. Went ahead and ordered the metal stringers from Rogue. Just waiting for them to arrive. I live in Florida and my garage is block. Reading all the feedback got me wondering about installation for me. Will Rogue have directions included for this installation? Do you have any recommendations for this installation? Thank You
The stringers should come with installation instructions that tell you what size anchors to use, but I’m fairly sure they won’t actually come with the hardware. You’ll have to hit up Home Depot or Lowes.
Do you know if any of those racks offer the option to do neutral grip pullups (by changing the standard pull up bar)?
Btw: Here is another one foldable rack you didn’t mention yet: https://www.strengthshop.de/riot-wm-foldable-rack.html
I don’t think so, Sarah. That is, I haven’t seen that.
Have anyone used either of the slim racks?
I have similar half rack (Australian brand) but it’s a heavy duty unit with wall supports that are 18″ long (450mm).
This length of support leaves little room for the car and i’m considering shortening the supports to make them 12″ (305mm). Just wondering if there are any real disadvantages, I can’t think of any.
Thank you for your time.
Does anyone know if Get Rxd’s Slim and Lean racks are from Titan Fitness or their own product line just titled Titan… its kinda confusing. I cant find anything resembling these racks on the titan fitness webpage…
https://www.getrxd.com/rackslim.html
https://www.getrxd.com/titan-rig-lean-4ft.html
Great reviews? My only question is I’m 6’2 and I want to be able to do muscle ups and some times lipping/butterfly pull ups, witch rig would you recommend for that?
I recommend not a folding rack. Maybe a slim wall rack but not folding. Height just depends on your ceilings
Have you had an opportunity to try the Ethos folding wall rack? It’s seems comparable to Rogue’s but at a much better price point.
Ethos isn’t the worst economy brand out there, but it’s not at all comparable to Rogue in terms of quality and features. There’s limited J-cup positions on the Ethos, no accessory or safety options (or compatibility without the holes), the need for those little stabilizer feet, etc.
I’m not even suggesting that you buy the Rogue over the Ethos (or over the many other good options), I’m just saying they have very little in common other than the fact that they’re both folding racks.
For wall-mounted racks like the Rogue RML slim rack that don’t have to be anchored to the ground, do you recommend installing right on top of mats or cutting holes in mat for uprights to be against concrete?
I’ve seen both done, but I would personally suggest cutting out holes in the mats that match the feet and anchoring directly to the foundation. It’s just more secure because you’ve got that anchor in another 3/4″, and you’re drilling into the concrete either way so why not, you know?
Looking at the Rogue folding wall mount racks but not installed in the garage. Due to the heat in DFW, not working out in the garage. Are there any issues/concerns with installation in a downstairs room which is laminate wood floor, moisture barrier on top of the concrete foundation? My wife also uses it as a dance space so the folding option is great for us but also don’t want to destroy the floor where the posts meet the floor. Thoughts and suggestions?
I have a feeling that over time laminate will, at the very least, get scratched up; if not outright destroyed after years of use. Other than installing some other temporary surface on your flooring and installing the rack for that raised surface (like a couple of stall mats), I just don’t know. These racks are definitely not meant for interior floors like laminate, hardwood, and tile.
Is there a folding rack that will work with a 7’ ceiling?
I believe PRx has one. Folds down though, not to sides (not that this is bad; just saying)
I’ve been looking at folding racks and I came across this post. Thank you so much for all the info! I probably would have gone for the cheaper ones and regretted it. I wanted to ask if you could assess one more for me. Gorila Fitness folding racks. https://gorilafitness.ca/en/power/racks-rigs/wallmount
Is it worth it?
I don’t know much of anything about the company itself, but the racks and hardware look like clones of the Rogue and similar. I can’t imagine there would be anything wrong with going with them if it’s what you can currently get your hands on and the price works for you.
I’m considering the Rogue RML-3W folding rack and installing it in my basement, where it is only concrete/cement. Whats the most secure way of installing it? Would a wood stringer be better (less vibration impact on the screws) as opposed to the metal stringers they sell?
Metal stringers with concrete anchors is the way to go. In terms of vibration, I can’t see that being an issue with wood or metal stringers. Metal certainly looks cleaner though.