When most people hear the term "power rack," they immediately associate this piece of fitness equipment with highly experienced powerlifters. In other words, they don't give themselves a chance to see how a power rack can help them with their own goals because they think it's for more experienced and professional lifters. While the best power racks are used by athletes—both pro and amateur—they are also a fantastic option for any lifter, regardless of experience.
A power rack is an essential piece of equipment for any commercial or home gym. It allows you to perform a variety of exercises safely and securely without the need for a spotter, as well as store and organize your weights for easy access.
REP Fitness has been producing some of the highest-quality power racks on the market for years and the PR-1100 power rack is one of their most popular. Not only is the PR-1100 great for beginners, but it's also touted as one of the best budget power racks.
This REP PR-1100 Review will take a closer look at the construction of this power rack, its most promising features, and whether or not you should buy one.
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A Quick Look at the REP Fitness PR-1100
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SPECS
- Dimensions: 85"L x 58.1"W x 48.5"D
- Weight: 130 lbs.
- Material: 2" x 2" 14-gauge steel
- Weight capacity: 700 lbs.
- Features: Numbered uprights, multi-grip pull-up bar, optional compatible attachments, customizable colors
REP isn't the newest player in the fitness game, but they've certainly made quite an impression since they started back in 2012. Fueled by their shared drive for fitness, two brothers set out to develop elite quality home workout equipment that was available at a price point accessible for most people. What started with two brothers in a cramped 1,200 square-foot garage has blossomed into an expansive and successful company, now employing more than 100 individuals throughout the U.S. within 300,000 square feet of space.
Since their founding in 2012, REP has strived to provide an unparalleled level of customer satisfaction and innovation when it comes to supplying gym equipment that is both high quality and reasonably priced. They are committed to delivering excellence through exceptional service, product selection, and value for money—all the reviews on their website and third-party websites seem to confirm this.
What about the REP PR-1100? Does it help the brand's reputation? Well, that's exactly what we'll be talking about in this REP PR-1100 Power Rack review.
In short, the REP PR-1100 offers an unbeatable combination of affordability and quality, making it the ideal squat rack for your workout needs. With a solid design and no extra bells or whistles, this is the perfect rack to get you moving without breaking the bank!
Equipped with all the features a weightlifter could dream of and an extensive list of add-on attachments, the PR-1100 is a power rack like no other—offering unparalleled strength and flexibility. You might be surprised to learn that this compact and short power rack provides you with a robust 700-pound weight capacity, ensuring you'll be busy chasing after higher PRs for a long time.
What We Like
- Solid construction using 14-gauge steel
- Given its compact footprint, it has an impressive 700-pound weight capacity
- A strong pull-up bar that you can invert to further reduce the footprint of the power rack
- As long as you securely anchor the rack (not bolt it into the floor), you can confidently utilize a TRX System
- With extended safeties, you can add extra weight to your workouts and perform exercises such as rack pulls with ease
What We Don't Like
- If you have used power racks before, you may notice a difference in the rigidity of the PR-1100 compared to other 2x3 and 3x3 racks
- You cannot bolt the REP PR-1100 into the ground
- The REP PR-1100 has a 2x2 steel tube size and this is going to severely limit which third-party attachments you can use
BUY: REP Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
A Closer Look at REP Fitness PR-1100
Let's dive deeper into this REP Fitness Power Rack review by focusing on the specs of the equipment along with its construction, highlights, and who would benefit from this power rack.
Dimensions
The REP PR-1100 offers an attractive footprint for any home that wants a power rack but also wants to save space. The dimensions of the REP power are as follows:
- Rack height: 85"
- Rack width: 58.1"
- Rack depth: 48.5"
Given this compact size, you're not going to get the same weight capacity as you would from a larger model, but you can still load up to 700 pounds, which is going to be more than enough for most people.
Also, the PR-1100 has a pull-up bar that you can invert to give you more room at the top. At just over seven feet, this power rack should be able to fit in most garage gyms, spare rooms, and basements.
Weight
As a compact power rack, it should come as no surprise that this thing only weighs in at 130 pounds fully assembled. This could be both a blessing and a curse, depending on your fitness goals.
The weight of the power rack could impact which exercises you're able to do during your workout. For example, while it does have a pull-up bar, some functional training movements like muscle-ups are not recommended because of the potential for the power rack to sway. Unfortunately, the PR-1100 Home Gym Power Rack cannot be securely mounted and bolted to the floor.
Again, you can look at this as both a pro and a con. Unlike other types of installations, no bolting or drilling means it will be effortless to reposition the structure. Best of all, you can avoid any potential damage to your property's foundation. However, since you can't bolt it to the ground, you will notice the power rack will sway more than others that are secured to the ground.
On that same note, this lightweight power rack that can't be bolted into the ground also has a risk for tipping because of certain resistance band movements. That's why you won't find the standard peg holes that you normally would with larger models.
With all of that said, as long as you don't plan on swinging around on this power rack (like you would with certain aggressive CrossFit exercises) or exceeding the weight capacity, you won't have an issue. In fact, you'll find that the PR-1100 is incredibly durable and ready to take on your toughest workouts.
Materials Used
The REP PR-1100 is made using 14-gauge steel and is powder coated to prevent scratches and rusting. This combination of quality construction and coating will ensure that the rack stands up to heavy use in any home gym.
Safety Bars
Chrome-plated safety bars that extend from the rack offers extra storage for your barbells. With that said, REP does recommend the J-cup as it is gentler on the bar.
Numbered Uprights
By incorporating laser-engraved numbered uprights, you can easily and quickly adjust attachment settings.
Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar
The pull-up bar is perfect for traditional, neutral, close, or wide-grip pull-ups. It even has attachment points to use with resistance bands! In addition, it can be flipped upside down if you have a lower ceiling or shorter athletes are using it.
Compatible Attachments
Enhance your workout with these optional add-ons: dip station, lat, and low-row barbell holders, weight horns for storage, landmine attachment point, cannonball grips for an extra grip challenge, extended pin-pipe safeties, and the standard J-cups.
Pick Your Color
Make a statement with metallic black, red, or blue; or go for subtle sophistication with matte black.
REP Fitness PR-1100 Construction
The REP PR-1100 is constructed with 14-gauge 2×2 steel. The construction of this power rack is going to be able to support the vast majority of weight loads that people place on it. However, it should be noted that larger, higher-end racks will not only be able to hold more but they will have less sway as well.
One thing that you'll notice in some of the reviews is that the tube size of the PR-1100 is ideal for REP-brand attachments and not many others. Depending on if you currently have power rack attachments at your home that are not REP branded, there's a chance they may not fit this rack, so be sure to check ahead of time. If you don't own any attachments and you want to ensure what you buy is guaranteed to fit, your best bet is to buy the attachments made by REP to complement this rack.
REP Fitness PR-1100 Highlights
Continuing with the idea above regarding attachments, one of the major highlights of the PR-1100 is that can customize and expand the rack with the following:
Weight Storage
To be clear, the PR-1100 comes as a four-post rack, so you will already have plenty of room for weight plates. However, if you want more room for your weights, you can purchase a weight storage attachment, giving you an additional two posts.
Not only is this weight storage attachment ideal if you have a large gym with plenty of plates and nowhere to put them, but this will also provide additional stability to the rack. In other words, you'll have a neatly organized exercise room and a power rack that won't move or sway during workouts.
Lat Pull-down
Take your home gym setup to the next level with the Lat and Low-Row Attachment. Connecting easily onto the PR-1100, this pulley system will give you access to more exercises than ever before—from seated lat pull-downs to triceps push-downs, there's so much potential for improving your strength.
The system offers a 1:1 ratio, ensuring each weight feels like 10 pounds of resistance. This attachment comes with all the necessary accessories such as lat bar and straight bar. It will also work with other attachments such as the triangle row bar and neutral-grip lat bar.
Landmine
You can enhance the usability of your power rack with the landmine attachment. Securely affix it to any of the uprights' holes and you can adjust its height as desired. The band peg is included when buying this product, making set-up a simple process.
You can unleash the full potential of your barbell workouts with the landmine attachment. Use it to perform exercises like landmine presses, landmine rows, Russian twists, single-arm bent-over rows, and more. You can easily use this attachment with any barbells that have a 2-inch or 1-inch sleeve size.
Who should buy the REP Fitness PR-1100?
Something you might have noticed by this point is the phrase "for most people." That's something of the theme for this power rack. It's great for most people but there are certainly specific fitness populations and people who might not find this rack as helpful.
First, let's focus on who will get the most out of this power rack:
Budget Shoppers
If you're looking for a power rack that comes with great features and won't break the bank, the Rep PR-1100 is an ideal choice.
Beginner Lifters Building a Home Gym
For lifters who are just starting out, need something durable to learn on, and can't foresee themselves needing a rack with over a 700-pound capacity, the Rep PR-1100 is perfect. It's strong enough to keep you safe while you begin your fitness journey.
Someone Looking for an Expandable Rack
Let's say that right now you don't have a ton of room, but you want something that you can buy now, get used to, and expand as you get stronger and eventually move into a bigger place. The PR-1100 starts out small and compact but you can purchase several attachments for it over time, turning it into a one-stop shop home gym.
Who shouldn't buy the REP Fitness PR-1100?
Specialty Fitness Niches
If you're a professional bodybuilder or a competitive powerlifter, it's unlikely that the Rep PR-1100 will fit your needs. It has a 700-pound capacity and is great for most people, but if you need something stronger and sturdier, you'll want to look into other options.
Heavy Lifters
The Rep PR-1100 is great for most regular lifters, but if you're lifting in excess of 700 pounds, you'll want to look into something with greater capacity.
People Who Want to Bolt Down Equipment
If you're dedicated to buying a piece of equipment and bolting it down because you're confident it's not going anywhere for years, the PR-1100 will not be for you.
Our Verdict
At the end of the day, the REP PR-1100 is a very solid power rack that is ideal for beginners, those on a budget, and anyone who wants a reliable rack and isn't trying to set a new squatting world record. It's strong enough for the majority of users, it's well-made, and it offers a few worthwhile attachments to add variety to your home gym training. Given its ability to accommodate new attachments, this is a power rack that you can expand over time as you watch yourself improve and achieve new levels of strength, muscle, and athleticism.
BUY: REP Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
FAQs About REP Fitness PR-1100
Are REP Fitness racks good?
Yes, Rep Fitness racks are very good. The Rep PR-1100 is a sturdy and durable rack that will last for many years of use. It also comes with the option to add cable systems and landmines for those who want more variety in their training.
Where are REP Fitness racks made?
Although REP states that they manufacture globally, as of 2022, they are primarily manufacturing their products in China.
How much should I spend on a power rack?
It depends on your specific needs and your budget. The REP PR-1100 is considered an excellent budget-friendly option that is a great choice for the average lifter. However, if you need a rack capable of holding over 700 pounds, being bolted into the floor, and lasting through tough CrossFit workouts, then it might not be the best choice for you. Typically, the larger a rack and the more weight it can hold, the more expensive it will be. With that said, the average price point of a high-quality power rack is around $800, with lower-end models coming in at around $250 and higher-end models costing over $2,500.
How long do power racks last?
Well-made power racks can easily last for many years—even decades—with basic care and proper maintenance. REP Fitness stands behind the quality of their products and offers a limited lifetime warranty on their racks.
About the Author
David has over a decade of experience as a NASM-certified personal trainer, fitness and nutrition specialist, and sports conditioning specialist. David has written blog posts, e-books, training guides, and online courses that cover a range of health and fitness topics.
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